AMERICAN TOWER CORP /MA/ - Annual Report: 2015 (Form 10-K)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One):
ý | Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015
¨ | 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: 001-14195
American Tower Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 65-0723837 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
116 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(Address of principal executive offices)
Telephone Number (617) 375-7500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each Class | Name of exchange on which registered | |
Common Stock, $0.01 par value | New York Stock Exchange | |
5.25% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, $0.01 par value | New York Stock Exchange | |
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/10th ownership interest in a share of 5.50% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, $0.01 par value | New York Stock Exchange | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act: Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act: Yes ¨ No ý
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 ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):
Large accelerated filer x | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer o | Smaller reporting company o | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act): Yes ¨ No ý
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2015 was $39.2 billion, based on the closing price of the registrant’s common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter.
As of February 19, 2016, there were 423,897,556 shares of common stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the definitive proxy statement (the “Definitive Proxy Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission relative to the Company’s 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015
Page | ||
PART I | ||
ITEM 1. | ||
ITEM 1A. | ||
ITEM 1B. | ||
ITEM 2. | ||
ITEM 3. | ||
ITEM 4. | ||
PART II | ||
ITEM 5. | ||
ITEM 6. | ||
ITEM 7. | ||
ITEM 7A. | ||
ITEM 8. | ||
ITEM 9. | ||
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS—(Continued)
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015
Page | ||
ITEM 9A. | ||
PART III | ||
ITEM 10. | ||
ITEM 11. | ||
ITEM 12. | ||
ITEM 13. | ||
ITEM 14. | ||
PART IV | ||
ITEM 15. | ||
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report contains statements about future events and expectations, or forward-looking statements, all of which are inherently uncertain. We have based those forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future results. When we use words such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects” or similar expressions, we do so to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding future prospects of growth in the communications site leasing industry, the level of future expenditures by companies in this industry and other trends in this industry, the effects of consolidation among companies in our industry and among our tenants and other competitive pressures, changes in zoning, tax and other laws and regulations, economic, political and other events, particularly those relating to our international operations, our substantial leverage and debt service obligations, our future financing transactions, our plans to fund our future liquidity needs, our future capital expenditure levels, our ability to maintain or increase our market share, our future operating results, our ability to remain qualified for taxation as a real estate investment trust (REIT), the amount and timing of any future distributions including those we are required to make as a REIT, our ability to protect our rights to the land under our towers and natural disasters and similar events. These statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions, which in turn are based on currently available information. These assumptions could prove inaccurate. These forward-looking statements may be found under the captions “Business” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” as well as in this Annual Report generally.
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You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement we make in this Annual Report or elsewhere speaks only as of the date on which we make it. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. In any event, these and other important factors, including those set forth in Item 1A of this Annual Report under the caption “Risk Factors,” may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by our forward-looking statements. We have no duty and do not intend to update or revise the forward-looking statements we make in this Annual Report, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that the future events or circumstances described in any forward-looking statement we make in this Annual Report or elsewhere might not occur. References in this Annual Report to “we,” “our” and the “Company” refer to American Tower Corporation and its predecessor, as applicable, individually and collectively with its subsidiaries as the context requires.
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS |
Overview
We are one of the largest global real estate investment trusts and a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate. Our primary business is the leasing of space on communications sites to wireless service providers, radio and television broadcast companies, wireless data providers, government agencies and municipalities and tenants in a number of other industries. We refer to this business as our property operations, which accounted for 98% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015. We also offer tower-related services in the United States, including site acquisition, zoning and permitting and structural analysis, which primarily support our site leasing business, including the addition of new tenants and equipment on our sites. We refer to this business as our services operations.
Our portfolio primarily consists of towers that we own and towers that we operate pursuant to long-term lease arrangements, as well as distributed antenna system (“DAS”) networks, which provide seamless coverage solutions in certain in-building and outdoor wireless environments. In addition to the communications sites in our portfolio, we manage rooftop and tower sites for property owners under various contractual arrangements. We also hold property interests that we lease to communications service providers and third-party tower operators. Our communications real estate portfolio of 100,615 communications sites, as of December 31, 2015, included 40,426 communications sites in the U.S., 15,074 communications sites in Asia, 12,176 communications sites in Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) and 32,939 communications sites in Latin America.
American Tower Corporation was originally created as a subsidiary of American Radio Systems Corporation in 1995 and was spun off into a free-standing public company in 1998. Since inception, we have grown our communications real estate portfolio through acquisitions, long-term lease arrangements and site development. In 2015, we significantly expanded our portfolio by (i) obtaining the exclusive right to lease, acquire or otherwise operate and manage 11,449 wireless communications sites from Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon”) in the United States (the “Verizon Transaction”) and (ii) acquiring 4,716 communications sites in Nigeria from certain subsidiaries of Bharti Airtel Limited (“Airtel”). In addition, in October 2015, we signed a definitive agreement pursuant to which we expect to acquire a 51% controlling ownership interest in Viom Networks Limited (“Viom”), a telecommunications infrastructure company that owns and operates over 42,000 wireless communications towers and 200 indoor DAS networks in India.
We are a holding company and conduct our operations through our directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures. Our principal domestic operating subsidiaries are American Towers LLC and SpectraSite Communications, LLC. We conduct our international operations primarily through our subsidiary, American Tower International, Inc., which in turn conducts operations through its various international holding and operating subsidiaries and joint ventures.
We operate as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes (“REIT”). Accordingly, we generally are not subject to U.S. federal income taxes on income generated by our U.S. REIT operations, including the income derived from leasing space on our towers, as we receive a dividends paid deduction for distributions to stockholders that generally offsets our income and gains. However, we remain obligated to pay U.S. federal income taxes on earnings from our domestic taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”). In addition, our international assets and operations, regardless of their designation for U.S. tax purposes, continue to be subject to taxation in the foreign jurisdictions where those assets are held or those operations are conducted.
The use of TRSs enables us to continue to engage in certain businesses while complying with REIT qualification requirements. We may, from time to time, change the election of previously designated TRSs to be included as part of the REIT. As of December 31, 2015, our U.S. REIT qualified businesses included our U.S. tower leasing business, most of our operations in Costa Rica, Germany and Mexico and a majority of our services segment and indoor DAS networks business.
During the fourth quarter of 2015, as a result of recent investment activity, including signed acquisitions, we reviewed and changed our reportable segments to divide our international segment into regional segments. We now operate in five reportable segments: U.S. property, Asia property, EMEA property, Latin America property and services. We believe this change provides more visibility into these operating segments as they continue to grow and corresponds with management’s current approach of allocating costs and resources, managing the growth and profitability of the business and assessing our operating performance.
For more information about our business segments, as well as financial information about the geographic areas in which we operate, see Item 7 of this Annual Report under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and note 19 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
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Products and Services
Property Operations
Our property operations accounted for 98% of our total revenues for each of the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. Our revenue is primarily generated from tenant leases. Our tenants lease space on our communications real estate, where they install and maintain their individual communications network equipment. Rental payments vary considerably depending upon numerous factors, including, but not limited to, tower location, amount and type of tenant equipment on the tower, ground space required by the tenant and remaining tower capacity. Our costs typically include ground rent (which is primarily fixed, with annual cost escalations) and power and fuel costs, some or all of which may be passed through to our tenants, as well as property taxes and repairs and maintenance expenses. Our property operations have generated consistent incremental growth in revenue and typically have low cash flow volatility due to the following characteristics:
• | Long-term tenant leases with contractual rent escalations. In general, a tenant lease has an initial non-cancellable term of ten years with multiple renewal terms, with provisions that periodically increase the rent due under the lease, typically annually, based on a fixed escalation percentage (approximately 3% in the United States) or an inflationary index in our international markets, or a combination of both. Based upon foreign currency exchange rates and the tenant leases in place as of December 31, 2015, we expect to generate over $30 billion of non-cancellable tenant lease revenue over future periods, absent the impact of straight-line lease accounting. |
• | Consistent demand for our sites. As a result of rapidly growing usage of wireless services and the corresponding wireless industry capital spending trends in the markets we serve, we anticipate consistent demand for our communications sites. We believe that our global asset base positions us well to benefit from the increasing proliferation of advanced wireless devices and the increasing usage of high bandwidth applications on those devices. We have the ability to add new tenants and new equipment for existing tenants on our sites, which typically results in incremental revenue. Our legacy site portfolio and our established tenant base provide us with a solid platform for new business opportunities, which has historically resulted in consistent and predictable organic revenue growth. |
• | High lease renewal rates. Our tenants tend to renew leases because suitable alternative sites may not exist or be available and repositioning a site in their network may be expensive and may adversely affect the quality of their network. Historically, churn has been approximately 1% to 2% of total property revenue per year. We define churn as revenue lost when a tenant cancels or does not renew its lease or, in limited circumstances, when the lease rates on existing leases are reduced. We derive our churn rate for a given year by dividing our revenue lost on this basis by our prior year property segment revenue. |
• | High operating margins. Incremental operating costs associated with adding new tenants to an existing communications site are relatively minimal. Therefore, as tenants are added, the substantial majority of incremental revenue flows through to gross margin and operating profit. In addition, in many of our international markets, certain expenses, such as ground rent or power and fuel costs, are reimbursed and shared by our tenant base. |
• | Low maintenance capital expenditures. On average, we require relatively low amounts of annual capital expenditures to maintain our communications sites. |
Our property business includes the operation of communications sites, managed networks, the leasing of property interests and the provision of backup power through shared generators. Our presence in a number of markets, at different relative stages of wireless development, provides us with significant diversification and long-term growth potential. Our property segments accounted for the following percentage of total revenue for the years ended December 31,:
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
U.S. | 66 | % | 64 | % | 65 | % | ||
Asia | 5 | % | 6 | % | 6 | % | ||
EMEA | 8 | % | 8 | % | 9 | % | ||
Latin America | 19 | % | 20 | % | 18 | % | ||
Communications Sites. Approximately 95%, 95% and 96% of revenue in our property segments was attributable to our communications sites for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
We lease space on our communications sites to tenants providing a diverse range of communications services, including cellular voice and data, broadcasting, mobile video and a number of other applications. Our top tenants by revenue are as follows for the year ended December 31, 2015:
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• | U.S.: AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile accounted for an aggregate of 87% of U.S. property segment revenue. |
• | Asia: Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Airtel and Aircel accounted for an aggregate of 73% of Asia property segment revenue. |
• | EMEA: MTN Group Limited, Airtel, Cell C and Vodafone accounted for an aggregate of 82% of EMEA property segment revenue. |
• | Latin America: Telefónica, AT&T, Nextel International and Telecom Italia accounted for an aggregate of 70% of Latin America property segment revenue. |
Accordingly, we are subject to certain risks, as set forth in Item 1A of this Annual Report under the caption “Risk Factors—A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from a small number of tenants, and we are sensitive to changes in the creditworthiness and financial strength of our tenants.” In addition, we are subject to risks related to our international operations, as set forth under the caption “Risk Factors—Our foreign operations are subject to economic, political and other risks that could materially and adversely affect our revenues or financial position, including risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.”
Managed Networks, Property Interests and Shared Generators. In addition to our communications sites, we also own and operate several types of managed network solutions, provide communications site management services to third parties, manage and lease property interests under carrier or other third-party communications sites and provide back-up power sources to tenants at our sites.
• | Managed Networks. We own and operate DAS networks in the United States and certain international markets. We obtain rights from property owners to install and operate in-building DAS networks, and we grant rights to wireless service providers to attach their equipment to our installations. We also offer outdoor DAS networks as a complementary shared infrastructure solution for our tenants in the United States and in certain international markets. Typically, we design, build and operate our outdoor DAS networks in areas in which zoning restrictions or other barriers may prevent or delay deployment of more traditional wireless communications sites. We also hold lease rights and easement interests on rooftops capable of hosting communications equipment in locations where towers are generally not a viable solution based on area characteristics. In addition, we provide management services to property owners in the United States who elect to retain full rights to their property while simultaneously marketing the rooftop for wireless communications equipment installation. As the demand for advanced wireless devices in urban markets evolves, we continue to evaluate a variety of infrastructure solutions, including small cells, that may support our tenants’ networks in these areas. |
• | Property Interests. We own a portfolio of property interests in the United States under carrier or other third-party communications sites, which provides recurring cash flow under complementary leasing arrangements. |
• | Shared Generators. We have contracts with certain of our tenants in the United States pursuant to which we provide access to shared backup power generators. |
Services Operations
We offer tower-related services, including site acquisition, zoning and permitting and structural analysis services. Our services operations primarily support our site leasing business, including through the addition of new tenants and equipment on our sites. This segment accounted for 2% of our total revenue for each of the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Site Acquisition, Zoning and Permitting. We engage in site acquisition services on our own behalf in connection with our tower development projects, as well as on behalf of our tenants. We typically work with our tenants’ engineers to determine the geographic areas where new communications sites will best address the tenants’ needs and meet their coverage objectives. Once a new site is identified, we acquire the rights to the land or structure on which the site will be constructed, and we manage the permitting process to ensure all necessary approvals are obtained to construct and operate the communications site.
Structural Analysis. We offer structural analysis services to wireless carriers in connection with the installation of their communications equipment on our towers. Our team of engineers can evaluate whether a tower structure can support the additional burden of the new equipment or if an upgrade is needed, which enables our tenants to better assess potential sites before making an installation decision. Our structural analysis capabilities enable us to provide higher quality service to our existing tenants by, among other things, reducing the time required to achieve operational readiness, while also providing opportunities to offer structural analysis services to third parties.
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Strategy
Operational Strategy
Our operational strategy is to capitalize on the global growth in the use of wireless services and the evolution of advanced wireless handsets, tablets and other mobile devices, and the corresponding expansion of communications infrastructure required to deploy current and future generations of wireless communications technologies. To achieve this, our primary focus is to (i) increase the occupancy of our existing communications real estate portfolio, (ii) invest in and selectively grow our communications real estate portfolio, (iii) further improve upon our operational performance and (iv) maintain a strong balance sheet. We believe these efforts will further support and enhance our ability to capitalize on the growth in demand for wireless infrastructure.
• | Increase the occupancy of our existing communications real estate portfolio. We believe that our highest returns will be achieved by leasing additional space on our existing communications sites. Increasing demand for wireless services in our served markets has resulted in significant capital spending by major wireless carriers. As a result, we anticipate consistent demand for our communications sites because they are attractively located for wireless service providers and typically have capacity available for additional tenants. In the United States, incremental carrier network activity is being driven primarily by the build-out of fourth generation (4G) networks, while in our international markets, carriers are deploying a combination of second generation (2G), third generation (3G) and 4G networks, depending on the specific market. As of December 31, 2015, we had a global average of approximately 1.8 tenants per tower. We believe that the majority of our towers have capacity for additional tenants and that substantially all of our towers that are currently at or near full structural capacity can be upgraded or augmented to meet future tenant demand with relatively modest capital investment. Therefore, we will continue to target our sales and marketing activities to increase the utilization and return on investment of our existing communications sites. |
• | Invest in and selectively grow our communications real estate portfolio. We seek opportunities to invest in and grow our operations through our capital programs, new site construction and acquisitions. We believe we can achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns by pursuing such investments. In addition, we seek to secure property interests under our communications sites to improve operating margins as we reduce our cash operating expense related to ground leases. A significant portion of our inorganic growth has been focused on properties with lower initial tenancy because we believe that over time, we can significantly increase tenancy levels, and therefore, drive strong returns on those assets. |
• | Further improve upon our operational performance. We continue to seek opportunities to improve our operational performance throughout the organization. This includes investing in our systems and people as we strive to improve efficiency and provide superior service to our customers. To achieve this, we intend to continue to focus on customer service, such as reducing cycle times for key functions, including lease processing and tower structural analysis. |
• | Maintain a strong balance sheet. We remain committed to disciplined financial policies, which we believe result in our ability to maintain a strong balance sheet and will support our overall strategy and focus on asset growth and operational excellence. As a result of these policies, we currently have investment grade credit ratings. We expect to continue to support these policies through, among other things, a combination of debt repayment and our continued growth. We continue to focus on maintaining a robust liquidity position and, as of December 31, 2015, had $1.9 billion of available liquidity. We believe that our investment grade credit ratings provide us consistent access to the capital markets and our liquidity provides us the ability to selectively invest in our portfolio. |
Capital Allocation Strategy
The objective of our capital allocation strategy is to simultaneously increase adjusted funds from operations and our return on invested capital over the long term. To maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT, we are required to distribute to our stockholders annually an amount equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined before the deduction for distributed earnings and excluding any net capital gain). After complying with our REIT distribution requirements and paying dividends on our preferred stock, we plan to continue to allocate our available capital among investment alternatives that meet our return on investment criteria, while taking into account the repayment of debt, as necessary, consistent with our long-term financial policies.
• | Capital expenditure program. We will continue to invest in and expand our existing communications real estate portfolio through our annual capital expenditure program. This includes capital expenditures associated with maintenance, increasing the capacity of our existing sites, and projects such as new site construction, land interest acquisitions and shared generator installations. |
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• | Acquisitions. We intend to pursue acquisitions of communications sites in our existing or new markets where we can meet our risk-adjusted return on investment criteria. Our risk-adjusted hurdle rates consider additional risks such as the country and counter-parties involved, investment and economic climate, legal and regulatory conditions and industry risk. |
• | Return excess capital to stockholders. If we have excess capital available after funding (i) our required distributions, (ii) our capital expenditures, (iii) repayment of debt, as necessary, consistent with our long-term financial policies and (iv) anticipated future investments, including acquisition opportunities, we will seek to return such excess capital to stockholders. |
International Growth Strategy
We believe that, in certain international markets, we can create substantial value by either establishing a new, or expanding our existing, communications real estate leasing business. Therefore, we expect we will continue to seek international growth opportunities where we believe our risk-adjusted return objectives can be achieved. We strive to maintain a diversified approach to our international growth strategy by operating in a geographically diverse array of markets in a variety of stages of wireless network development. Our international growth strategy includes a disciplined, individualized market evaluation, in which we conduct the following analyses, among others:
• | Country analysis. Prior to entering a new market, we conduct an extensive review of the country’s historical and projected macroeconomic fundamentals, including inflation outlook and foreign currency exchange rate trends, capital markets, tax regime and investment alternatives, and the general business, political and legal environments, including property rights and regulatory regime. |
• | Wireless industry analysis. To confirm the presence of sufficient demand to support an independent tower leasing model, we analyze the competitiveness of the country’s wireless market, such as the pricing environment, past and potential industry consolidation and the stage of its wireless network development. Characteristics that result in an attractive investment opportunity include (i) multiple competitive wireless service providers who are actively seeking to invest in deploying voice and data networks and (ii) ongoing or expected deployment of incremental spectrum from auctions that have occurred or are anticipated to occur. |
• | Opportunity and counterparty analysis. Once an investment opportunity is identified within a geographic area with an attractive wireless industry, we conduct a multifaceted opportunity and counterparty analysis. This includes evaluating (i) the type of transaction, (ii) its ability to meet our risk-adjusted return criteria given the country and the counterparties involved, including the anticipated anchor tenant and (iii) how the transaction fits within our long-term strategic objectives, including future potential investment and expansion within the region. |
Recent Transactions
Acquisitions
We increased our communications site portfolio by 25,368 sites in 2015, including 3,235 build-to-suits. We believe these assets will be an important component of our long-term growth. Significant transactions in 2015 included the Verizon Transaction, the acquisition of 5,483 communications sites in Brazil from TIM Celular S.A. (“TIM”) and the acquisition of 4,716 communications sites in Nigeria from certain subsidiaries of Airtel. In addition, in October 2015, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 51% controlling ownership interest in Viom.
We continue to evaluate opportunities to acquire communications real estate portfolios that we believe we can effectively integrate into our existing business and generate returns that meet or exceed our criteria. For more information about our acquisitions, see note 6 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Financing Transactions
During 2015, to complement our operational strategy to selectively invest in and grow our communications real estate portfolio, while maintaining our long-term financial policies, we completed a number of key financing initiatives, which, among others, included the following:
• | Refinancing of GTP Acquisition Partners securitization with proceeds from a private issuance of American Tower Secured Revenue Notes. |
• | Completion of registered public offerings of our common and preferred stock, the net proceeds of which were used to fund a portion of the Verizon Transaction. |
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• | Completion of a registered public offering of senior unsecured notes due 2020 and 2025, the proceeds of which were used to repay indebtedness under our existing credit facilities. |
For more information about our financing transactions, see Item 7 of this Annual Report under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” and notes 8 and 14 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Regulatory Matters
Towers and Antennas. Our U.S. and international tower leasing business is subject to national, state and local regulatory requirements with respect to the registration, siting, construction, lighting, marking and maintenance of our towers. In the United States, which accounted for 67% of our total property segment revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015, the construction of new towers or modifications to existing towers may require pre-approval by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) and the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”), depending on factors such as tower height and proximity to public airfields. Towers requiring pre-approval must be registered with the FCC and maintained in accordance with FAA standards. Similar requirements regarding pre-approval of the construction and modification of towers are imposed by regulators in other countries. Non-compliance with applicable tower-related requirements may lead to monetary penalties or site deconstruction orders.
In India, each of our operating subsidiaries holds an Infrastructure Provider Category-I (“IP-I”) Registration Certificate issued by the Indian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, which permits us to provide tower space to companies licensed as telecommunications service providers under the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885. As a condition to the IP-I, the Indian government has the right to take over telecommunications infrastructure in the case of emergency or war. In Ghana, our subsidiary holds a Communications Infrastructure License, issued by the National Communications Authority (“NCA”), which permits us to establish and maintain passive telecommunications infrastructure services and DAS networks for communications service providers licensed by the NCA. In Uganda, our subsidiary holds a Public Infrastructure Service License, issued by the Uganda Communications Commission (“UCC”), which permits us to establish and maintain passive telecommunications infrastructure and DAS networks for communication service providers licensed by the UCC. In Nigeria, our subsidiary holds a license for Infrastructure Sharing and Collocation Services, issued by the Nigerian Communications Authority (“NCC”), which permits us to establish and maintain passive telecommunications infrastructure for communication service providers licensed by the NCC. In Chile, our subsidiary is classified as a Telecom Intermediate Service Provider. We have received a number of site specific concessions and are working with the Chilean Subsecretaria de Telecommunicaciones to receive concessions on our remaining sites in Chile. In many of the markets in which we operate we are required to provide tower space to service providers on a non-discriminatory basis, subject to negotiation of mutually agreeable terms.
Our international business operations may be subject to increased licensing fees or ownership restrictions. For example, in South Africa, the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003 (the “BBBEE Act”) has established a legislative framework for the promotion of economic empowerment of South African citizens disadvantaged by Apartheid. Accordingly, the BBBEE Act and related codes measure BBBEE Act compliance and good corporate practice by the inclusion of certain ownership, management control, employment equity and other metrics for companies that do business there. In addition, certain municipalities have sought to impose permit fees based upon structural or operational requirements of towers. Our foreign operations may be affected if a country’s regulatory authority restricts or revokes spectrum licenses of certain wireless service providers or implements limitations on foreign ownership.
In all countries where we operate, we are subject to zoning restrictions and restrictive covenants imposed by local authorities or community organizations. While these regulations vary, they typically require tower owners or tenants to obtain approval from local authorities or community standards organizations prior to tower construction or the addition of a new antenna to an existing tower. Local zoning authorities and community residents often oppose construction in their communities, which can delay or prevent new tower construction, new antenna installation or site upgrade projects, thereby limiting our ability to respond to tenant demand. This opposition and existing or new zoning regulations can increase costs associated with new tower construction, tower modifications, and additions of new antennas to a site or site upgrades, as well as adversely affect the associated timing or cost of such projects. Further, additional regulations may be adopted that cause delays or result in additional costs to us. These factors could materially and adversely affect our operations. In the United States, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 prohibits any action by state and local authorities that would discriminate between different providers of wireless services or ban altogether the construction, modification or placement of communications sites. It also prohibits state or local restrictions based on the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent the facilities comply with FCC regulations. Further, in February 2012, the United States government adopted regulations requiring that local and state governments approve modifications or collocations that qualify as eligible facilities under the regulations.
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Portions of our business are subject to additional regulations, for example, in a number of states throughout the United States, certain of our subsidiaries hold Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) or other status, in connection with the operation of our outdoor DAS networks business. In addition, we, or our tenants, may be subject to new regulatory policies in certain jurisdictions from time to time that may materially and adversely affect our business or the demand for our communications sites.
Environmental Matters. Our U.S. and international operations are subject to various national, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including those relating to the management, use, storage, disposal, emission and remediation of, and exposure to, hazardous and non-hazardous substances, materials and wastes and the siting of our towers. We may be required to obtain permits, pay additional property taxes, comply with regulatory requirements and make certain informational filings related to hazardous substances or devices used to provide power such as batteries, generators and fuel at our sites. Violations of these types of regulations could subject us to fines or criminal sanctions.
Additionally, in the United States and other international markets where we do business, before constructing a new tower or adding an antenna to an existing site, we must review and evaluate the impact of the action to determine whether it may significantly affect the environment and whether we must disclose any significant impacts in an environmental assessment. If a tower or new antenna might have a material adverse impact on the environment, FCC or other governmental approval of the tower or antenna could be significantly delayed.
Health and Safety. In the United States and in other countries where we operate, we are subject to various national, state and local laws regarding employee health and safety, including protection from radio frequency exposure.
Competition
We compete, both for new business and for the acquisition of assets, with other public tower companies, such as Crown Castle International Corp., SBA Communications Corporation, Telesites S.A.B. de C.V. and GTL Infrastructure Limited, wireless carrier tower consortia such as Indus Towers Limited and private tower companies, private equity sponsored firms, independent wireless carriers, tower owners, broadcasters and owners of non-communications sites, including rooftops, utility towers, water towers and other alternative structures. We believe that site location and capacity, network density, price, quality and speed of service have been, and will continue to be, significant competitive factors affecting owners, operators and managers of communications sites.
Our services business competes with a variety of companies offering individual, or combinations of, competing services. The field of competitors includes site acquisition consultants, zoning consultants, real estate firms, right-of-way consultants, structural engineering firms, tower owners/managers, telecommunications equipment vendors who can provide turnkey site development services through multiple subcontractors and our tenants’ personnel. We believe that our tenants base their decisions for services on various criteria, including a company’s experience, local reputation, price and time for completion of a project.
Customer Demand
Our strategy is predicated on the belief that wireless service providers will continue to invest in the coverage, quality and capacity of their networks in both our U.S. and international markets, driving demand for our communications sites.
• | U.S. wireless network investments. According to industry data, aggregate annual wireless capital spending in the United States has averaged over $30 billion, resulting in consistent demand for our sites. Demand for our U.S. communications sites is driven by: |
• | Increasing wireless data usage, which continues to incentivize wireless service providers to focus on network quality and make incremental investments in the coverage and capacity of their networks; |
• | Subscriber adoption of advanced wireless data applications such as mobile Internet and video, increasingly advanced devices and the corresponding deployments and densification of advanced networks by wireless service providers to satisfy this incremental demand for high-bandwidth wireless data; |
• | Deployment of newly acquired spectrum; and |
• | Deployment of wireless and backhaul networks by new market entrants. |
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As consumer demand for and use of advanced wireless services in the United States grow, wireless service providers may be compelled to deploy new technology and equipment, further increase the cell density of their existing networks and expand their network coverage.
• | International (Asia, EMEA and Latin America) wireless network investments. The wireless networks in most of our international markets are typically less advanced than those in our U.S. market with respect to the density of voice networks and the current technologies generally deployed for wireless services. Accordingly, demand for our international communications sites is primarily driven by: |
• | Incumbent wireless service providers investing in existing voice networks to improve or expand their coverage and increase capacity; |
• | In certain of our international markets, increasing subscriber adoption of wireless data applications, such as email, Internet and video; |
• | Spectrum auctions, which result in new market entrants, as well as initial and incremental data network deployments; and |
• | The increasing availability of lower cost smartphones internationally. |
We believe demand for our communications sites will continue as wireless service providers seek to increase the quality, coverage area and capacity of their existing networks, while also investing in next generation data networks. To meet these network objectives, we believe wireless carriers will continue to outsource their communications site infrastructure needs as a means to accelerate network development and more efficiently use their capital, rather than construct and operate their own communications sites and maintain their own communications site operation and development capabilities. In addition, because our services operations are complementary to our property business, we believe demand for our services will continue, consistent with industry trends.
Demand for our communications sites could be negatively impacted by an increase in network sharing or consolidation among our tenants, as set forth in Item 1A of this Annual Report under the caption “Risk Factors—If our tenants share site infrastructure to a significant degree or consolidate or merge, our growth, revenue and ability to generate positive cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.” In addition, the emergence and growth of new technologies could reduce demand for our sites, as set forth under the caption “Risk Factors—New technologies or changes in a tenant’s business model could make our tower leasing business less desirable and result in decreasing revenues.” Further, our tenants may be subject to new regulatory policies from time to time that materially and adversely affect the demand for our communications sites.
Employees
As of December 31, 2015, we employed 3,371 full-time individuals and consider our employee relations to be satisfactory.
Available Information
Our Internet website address is www.americantower.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report, and you should not consider information contained on our website as part of this Annual Report. You may access, free of charge, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, plus amendments to such reports as filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), through the “Investor Relations” portion of our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
We have adopted a written Code of Ethics and Business Conduct Policy (the “Code of Conduct”) that applies to all of our employees and directors, including, but not limited to, our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Conduct is available on the “Corporate Responsibility” portion of our website and our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters of the audit, compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees of our Board of Directors are available on the “Investor Relations” portion of our website. In the event we amend the Code of Conduct, or provide any waivers of the Code of Conduct to our directors or executive officers, we will disclose these events on our website as required by the regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and applicable law.
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In addition, paper copies of these documents may be obtained free of charge by writing us at the following address: 116 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, Attention: Investor Relations; or by calling us at (617) 375-7500.
ITEM 1A. | RISK FACTORS |
Decrease in demand for our communications sites would materially and adversely affect our operating results, and we cannot control that demand.
A significant reduction in leasing demand for our communications sites and, to a lesser extent, demand for our services, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. Factors that may affect such demand include:
• | increased use of network sharing or mergers or consolidations among wireless service providers; |
• | zoning, environmental, health, tax or other government regulations or changes in the application and enforcement thereof; |
• | governmental licensing of spectrum or restricting or revoking our customers’ spectrum licenses; |
• | a decrease in consumer demand for wireless services, including due to general economic conditions or disruption in the financial and credit markets; |
• | the ability and willingness of wireless service providers to maintain or increase capital expenditures on network infrastructure; |
• | the financial condition of wireless service providers; |
• | delays or changes in the deployment of next generation wireless technologies; and |
• | technological changes. |
If our tenants share site infrastructure to a significant degree or consolidate or merge, our growth, revenue and ability to generate positive cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.
Extensive sharing of site infrastructure, roaming or resale arrangements among wireless service providers as an alternative to leasing our communications sites, without compensation to us, may cause new lease activity to slow if carriers utilize shared equipment rather than deploy new equipment, or may result in the decommissioning of equipment on certain existing sites because portions of the tenants’ networks may become redundant. In addition, significant consolidation among our tenants may materially and adversely affect our growth and revenues. Certain combined companies have rationalized duplicative parts of their networks or modernized their networks, and these and other tenants could determine not to renew leases with us as a result. Our ongoing contractual revenues and our future results may be negatively impacted if a significant number of these leases are not renewed.
Increasing competition for tenants in the tower industry may materially and adversely affect our pricing.
Our industry is highly competitive and our tenants have numerous alternatives in leasing antenna space. Competitive pricing from competitors could materially and adversely affect our lease rates. We may not be able to renew existing tenant leases or enter into new tenant leases, or if we are able to renew or enter new leases, it may be at rates lower than our current rates, resulting in a material adverse impact on our results of operations and growth rate. In addition, should inflation rates exceed our fixed escalator percentages in markets where our leases include fixed escalators, our income could be adversely affected.
Competition for assets could adversely affect our ability to achieve our return on investment criteria.
We may experience increased competition for assets, which could make the acquisition of high quality assets significantly more costly or prohibitive. Some of our competitors are larger and may have greater financial resources than we do, while other competitors may apply less stringent investment criteria than we do. In addition, we may not anticipate increased competition entering a particular market or competing for the same assets. Higher prices for assets could make it more difficult to achieve our anticipated returns on investment or future growth, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Our business is subject to government and tax regulations and changes in current or future laws or regulations could restrict our ability to operate our business as we currently do.
Our business and that of our tenants are subject to federal, state, local and foreign regulations. In certain jurisdictions, these regulations could be applied or enforced retroactively, which could require that we modify or dismantle existing towers. Zoning authorities and community organizations are often opposed to construction of communications sites in their communities, which can delay, prevent or increase the cost of new tower construction, modifications, additions of new antennas to a site or site upgrades, thereby limiting our ability to respond to tenant demands. Existing regulatory policies may materially
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and adversely affect the timing or cost of construction projects associated with our communications sites and new regulations may be adopted that increase delays or result in additional costs to us, or that prevent such projects in certain locations, and noncompliance could result in the imposition of fines or an award of damages to private litigants. In certain jurisdictions, there may be changes to zoning regulations or construction laws based on site location, which may result in increased costs to modify certain of our existing towers or decreased revenue due to the removal of certain towers to ensure compliance with such changes. In addition, in certain jurisdictions, we are required to pay annual license fees, which may be subject to substantial increases by the government, or new fees may be enacted and apply retroactively. Furthermore, the tax laws, regulations and interpretations governing our business in jurisdictions that we operate may change at any time, perhaps with retroactive effect. This includes potential changes in tax laws or the interpretation of tax laws arising out of the “base erosion profit shifting” or “BEPS” project initiated by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In addition, some of these changes could have a more significant impact on us as a REIT as compared to other REITs due to the nature of our business and our use of TRSs. These factors could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Our leverage and debt service obligations may materially and adversely affect us, including our ability to raise additional financing to fund capital expenditures, future growth and expansion initiatives and to satisfy our distribution requirements.
Our leverage and debt service obligations could have significant negative consequences to our business, results of operations or financial condition, including:
• | impairing our ability to meet one or more of the financial ratio covenants contained in our debt agreements or to generate cash sufficient to pay interest or principal due under those agreements, which could result in an acceleration of some or all of our outstanding debt and the loss of the towers securing such debt if an uncured default occurs; |
• | increasing our borrowing costs if our current investment grade debt ratings decline; |
• | limiting our ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing, thereby increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions and placing us at a possible competitive disadvantage to less leveraged competitors and competitors that may have better access to capital resources, including with respect to acquiring assets; |
• | requiring the dedication of a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service our debt, thereby reducing the amount of our cash flow available for other purposes, including capital expenditures, REIT distributions and preferred stock dividends; and |
• | limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the markets in which we compete. |
We may need to raise additional capital through debt financing activities, assets sales or equity issuances, even if the then-prevailing market conditions are not favorable, to fund capital expenditures, future growth and expansion initiatives and to satisfy our distribution requirements and debt service obligations. An increase in our total leverage could lead to a downgrade of our credit rating below investment grade, which could negatively impact our ability to access credit markets or preclude us from obtaining funds on investment grade terms and conditions. Further, certain of our current debt instruments limit the amount of indebtedness we and our subsidiaries may incur. Additional financing, therefore, may be unavailable, more expensive or restricted by the terms of our outstanding indebtedness.
Our expansion initiatives involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those related to integration of acquired or leased assets, that could adversely affect our operating results, disrupt our operations or expose us to additional risk.
As we continue to acquire communications sites in our existing markets and expand into new markets, we are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including not meeting our return on investment criteria and financial objectives, increased costs, assumed liabilities and the diversion of managerial attention due to acquisitions. Achieving the benefits of acquisitions depends in part on timely and efficiently integrating operations, communications tower portfolios and personnel. Integration may be difficult and unpredictable for many reasons, including, among other things, portfolios without requisite permits, differing systems, cultural differences, and conflicting policies, procedures and operations. Significant acquisition-related integration costs, including certain non-recurring charges, could materially and adversely affect our results of operations in the period in which such charges are recorded or our cash flow in the period in which any related costs are actually paid. In addition, integrating businesses may significantly burden management and internal resources, including the potential loss or unavailability of key personnel. For example, the integration of the Verizon assets into our operations is a significant undertaking, and we anticipate that we will continue to incur certain non-recurring charges associated with that integration, including costs for tower visits and audits and ground and tenant lease verifications. If we fail to successfully integrate the assets we acquire or fail to utilize such assets to their full capacity, we may not realize the benefits we expect from our acquired
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portfolios, and our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected. Our international expansion initiatives are subject to additional risks such as those described in the risk factor immediately below.
As a result of prior acquisitions, we have a substantial amount of intangible assets and goodwill. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), we are required to assess our goodwill and other intangible assets annually or more frequently in the event of circumstances indicating potential impairment to determine if they are impaired. If the testing performed indicates that an asset may not be recoverable, we are required to record a non-cash impairment charge for the difference between the carrying value of the goodwill or other intangible assets and the implied fair value of the goodwill or the estimated fair value of other intangible assets in the period the determination is made.
Our expansion initiatives may not be successful or we may be required to record impairment charges for our goodwill or for other intangible assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Our foreign operations are subject to economic, political and other risks that could materially and adversely affect our revenues or financial position, including risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
Our international business operations and our expansion into new markets in the future exposes us to potential adverse financial and operational problems not typically experienced in the United States. We anticipate that our revenues from our international operations will continue to grow. Accordingly, our business is subject to risks associated with doing business internationally, including:
• | changes to existing or new tax laws or methodologies impacting our international operations, fees directed specifically at the ownership and operation of communications sites or our international acquisitions, any of which may be applied or enforced retroactively, or failure to obtain an expected tax status for which we have applied; |
• | laws or regulations that tax or otherwise restrict repatriation of earnings or other funds or otherwise limit distributions of capital; |
• | changes in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic conditions, including inflation or currency devaluation; |
• | changes to zoning regulations or construction laws, which could be applied retroactively to our existing communications sites; |
• | expropriation or governmental regulation restricting foreign ownership or requiring reversion or divestiture; |
• | actions restricting or revoking our customers’ spectrum licenses or suspending or terminating business under prior licenses; |
• | failure to comply with anti-bribery laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or similar local anti-bribery laws, or Office of Foreign Assets Control requirements; |
• | material site security issues; |
• | significant increase in or implementation of new license surcharges on our revenue; |
• | price setting or other similar laws or regulations for the sharing of passive infrastructure; and |
• | uncertain or inconsistent laws, regulations, rulings or results from legal or judicial systems, which may be enforced retroactively, and delays in the judicial process. |
We also face risks associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates, including those arising from our operations, investments and financing transactions related to our international business. Volatility in foreign currency exchange rates can also affect our ability to plan, forecast and budget for our international operations and expansion efforts. Our revenues earned from our international operations are primarily denominated in their respective local currencies. We have not historically engaged in significant currency hedging activities relating to our non-U.S. Dollar operations, and a weakening of these foreign currencies against the U.S. Dollar would negatively impact our reported revenues, operating profits and income.
In our international operations, many of our tenants are subsidiaries of global telecommunications companies. These subsidiaries may not have the explicit or implied financial support of their parent entities.
In addition, as we continue to invest in joint venture opportunities internationally, our partners may have business or economic goals that are inconsistent with ours, be in positions to take action contrary to our interests, policies or objectives, have competing interests in our, or other, markets that could create conflict of interest issues, withhold consents contrary to our requests or become unable or unwilling to fulfill their commitments, any of which could expose us to additional liabilities or costs, including requiring us to assume and fulfill the obligations of that joint venture.
New technologies or changes in a tenant’s business model could make our tower leasing business less desirable and result in decreasing revenues.
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The development and implementation of new technologies designed to enhance the efficiency of wireless networks or changes in a tenant’s business model could reduce the need for tower-based wireless services, decrease demand for tower space or reduce previously obtainable lease rates. In addition, tenants may allocate less of their budgets to lease space on our towers, as the industry is trending towards deploying increased capital to the development and implementation of new technologies. Examples of these technologies include spectrally efficient technologies, which could relieve a portion of our tenants’ network capacity needs and as a result, could reduce the demand for tower-based antenna space. Additionally, certain small cell complementary network technologies could shift a portion of our tenants’ network investments away from the traditional tower-based networks, which may reduce the need for carriers to add more equipment at certain communications sites. Moreover, the emergence of alternative technologies could reduce the need for tower-based broadcast services transmission and reception. Further, a tenant may decide to no longer outsource tower infrastructure or otherwise change its business model, which would result in a decrease in our revenue. The development and implementation of any of these and similar technologies to any significant degree or changes in a tenant’s business model could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from a small number of tenants, and we are sensitive to changes in the creditworthiness and financial strength of our tenants.
A substantial portion of our total operating revenues is derived from a small number of tenants. If any of these tenants is unwilling or unable to perform its obligations under our agreements with it, our revenues, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity could be materially and adversely affected. In the ordinary course of our business, we do occasionally experience disputes with our tenants, generally regarding the interpretation of terms in our leases. Historically, we have resolved these disputes in a manner that did not have a material adverse effect on us or our tenant relationships. However, it is possible that such disputes could lead to a termination of our leases with tenants or a material modification of the terms of those leases, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. If we are forced to resolve any of these disputes through litigation, our relationship with the applicable tenant could be terminated or damaged, which could lead to decreased revenue or increased costs, resulting in a corresponding adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Due to the long-term nature of our tenant leases, we depend on the continued financial strength of our tenants. Many wireless service providers operate with substantial leverage. Sometimes our tenants, or their parent companies, face financial difficulty or file for bankruptcy.
In addition, many of our tenants and potential tenants rely on capital raising activities to fund their operations and capital expenditures, which may be more difficult or expensive in the event of downturns in the economy or disruptions in the financial and credit markets. If our tenants or potential tenants are unable to raise adequate capital to fund their business plans, they may reduce their spending, which could materially and adversely affect demand for our communications sites and our services business. If, as a result of a prolonged economic downturn or otherwise, one or more of our significant tenants experienced financial difficulties or filed for bankruptcy, it could result in uncollectible accounts receivable and an impairment of our deferred rent asset, tower asset, network location intangible asset or customer-related intangible asset. The loss of significant tenants, or the loss of all or a portion of our anticipated lease revenues from certain tenants, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
If we fail to remain qualified for taxation as a REIT, we will be subject to tax at corporate income tax rates, which may substantially reduce funds otherwise available, and even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may face tax liabilities that impact earnings and available cash flow.
Commencing with the taxable year beginning January 1, 2012, we have operated as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. If we fail to remain qualified as a REIT, we will be taxed at corporate income tax rates unless certain relief provisions apply.
Qualification for taxation as a REIT requires the application of certain highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which provisions may change from time to time, to our operations as well as various factual determinations concerning matters and circumstances not entirely within our control. Further, tax reform proposals, if enacted, may adversely affect our ability to remain qualified for taxation as a REIT or the benefits of remaining so qualified. There are limited judicial or administrative interpretations of the relevant provisions of the Code.
If, in any taxable year, we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT and are not entitled to relief under the Code:
• | we will not be allowed a deduction for distributions to stockholders in computing our taxable income; |
• | we will be subject to federal and state income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate tax rates; and |
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• | we will be disqualified from REIT tax treatment for the four taxable years immediately following the year during which we were so disqualified. |
We are subject to certain federal, state, local and foreign taxes on our income and assets, including alternative minimum taxes, taxes on any undistributed income and state, local or foreign income, franchise, property and transfer taxes. While state and local income tax regimes often parallel the U.S. federal income tax regime for REITs, many of these jurisdictions do not completely follow U.S. federal rules and some may not follow them at all. For example, some state and local jurisdictions currently or in the future may limit or eliminate a REIT’s deduction for dividends paid, which could increase our income tax expense. We are also subject to the continuous examination of our income tax returns by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and state, local and foreign tax authorities. The results of an audit and examination of previously filed tax returns and continuing assessments of our tax exposures may have an adverse effect on our provision for income taxes and cash tax liability.
Our domestic TRS assets and operations will continue to be subject, as applicable, to federal and state corporation income taxes. Our foreign operations, whether in the REIT or TRSs, will continue to be subject to foreign taxes in jurisdictions in which those assets and operations are located.
Any corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for other purposes. If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may need to borrow additional funds or liquidate some investments to pay any additional tax liability. Accordingly, funds available for investment, operations and distribution would be reduced.
Furthermore, as a result of our acquisition of MIP Tower Holdings LLC (“MIPT”), we owned an interest in a subsidiary REIT. Effective July 25, 2015, we filed a tax election, pursuant to which MIPT no longer operates as a separate REIT. The statute of limitations is still open for certain years and MIPT’s qualification as a REIT could still be challenged. As such, for all open years, we must demonstrate that the subsidiary REIT complied with the same REIT requirements that we must satisfy in order to qualify as a REIT, together with all other rules applicable to REITs. If the subsidiary REIT is determined to have failed to qualify as a REIT for any of the open years, and certain relief provisions do not apply, then (i) the subsidiary REIT would have been subject to federal income tax for such year, which tax we would inherit along with applicable penalties and interest; (ii) the subsidiary REIT would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the remaining taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost; (iii) for those years in which the subsidiary REIT failed to qualify as a REIT, our ownership of shares in such subsidiary REIT would have failed to be a qualifying asset for purposes of the asset tests applicable to REITs and any dividend income or gains derived by us from such subsidiary REIT may cease to be treated as income that qualifies for purposes of the 75% gross income test and (iv) we may have failed certain of the asset tests applicable to REITs, in which event we would fail to qualify as a REIT for those periods unless we are able to avail ourselves of specified relief provisions.
Complying with REIT requirements may limit our flexibility or cause us to forego otherwise attractive opportunities.
Our use of TRSs enables us to engage in non-REIT qualifying business activities. Under the Code, no more than 25% of the value of the assets of a REIT may be represented by securities of one or more TRSs and other non-qualifying assets. Effective January 1, 2018, this limitation is reduced to 20%. This limitation may hinder our ability to make certain attractive investments, including the purchase of non-qualifying assets, the expansion of non-real estate activities and investments in the businesses to be conducted by our TRSs, and to that extent limit our opportunities and our flexibility to change our business strategy.
Specifically, this limitation may affect our ability to make additional investments in our managed networks business or services segment as currently structured and operated, in other non-REIT qualifying operations or assets, or in international operations conducted through TRSs that we do not elect to bring into the REIT structure. Further, acquisition opportunities in U.S. and international markets may be adversely affected if we need or require the target company to comply with certain REIT requirements prior to closing.
Further, as a REIT, we must distribute to our stockholders an amount equal to at least 90% of the REIT taxable income (determined before the deduction for distributed earnings and excluding any net capital gain). To meet our annual distribution requirements, we may be required to distribute amounts that may otherwise be used for our operations, including amounts that may otherwise be invested in future acquisitions, capital expenditures or repayment of debt. As no more than 25% of our gross income may consist of dividend income from our TRSs and other non-qualifying types of income, our ability to receive distributions from our TRSs may be limited and may impact our ability to fund distributions to our stockholders or to use income of our TRSs to fund other investments.
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In addition, the majority of our income and cash flows from our TRSs are generated from our international operations. In many cases, there are local withholding taxes and currency controls that may impact our ability or willingness to repatriate funds to the United States to help satisfy REIT distribution requirements.
If we are unable to protect our rights to the land under our towers, it could adversely affect our business and operating results.
Our real property interests relating to our towers consist primarily of leasehold and sub-leasehold interests, fee interests, easements, licenses and rights-of-way. A loss of these interests at a particular tower site may interfere with our ability to operate tower sites and generate revenues. For various reasons, we may not always have the ability to access, analyze and verify all information regarding titles and other issues prior to completing an acquisition of communications sites, which can affect our rights to access and operate a site. From time to time we also experience disputes with landowners regarding the terms of ground agreements for land under towers, which can affect our ability to access and operate tower sites. Further, for various reasons, landowners may not want to renew their ground agreements with us, they may lose their rights to the land, or they may transfer their land interests to third parties, including ground lease aggregators, which could affect our ability to renew ground agreements on commercially viable terms. A significant number of the communications sites in our portfolio are located on land we lease pursuant to long-term operating leases. Further, for various reasons, title to property interests in some of the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate may not be as certain as title to our property interests in the United States. Our inability to protect our rights to the land under our towers may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
If we are unable or choose not to exercise our rights to purchase towers that are subject to lease and sublease agreements at the end of the applicable period, our cash flows derived from such towers will be eliminated.
Our communications real estate portfolio includes towers that we operate pursuant to lease and sublease agreements that include a purchase option at the end of each lease period. We may not have the required available capital to exercise our right to purchase leased or subleased towers at the end of the applicable period, or we may choose, for business or other reasons, not to exercise our right to purchase such towers. In the event that we do not exercise these purchase rights, or are otherwise unable to acquire an interest that would allow us to continue to operate these towers after the applicable period, we will lose the cash flows derived from such towers. In the event that we decide to exercise these purchase rights, the benefits of the acquisitions of a significant number of towers may not exceed the associated acquisition, compliance and integration costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Restrictive covenants in the agreements related to our securitization transactions, our credit facilities and our debt securities and the terms of our preferred stock could materially and adversely affect our business by limiting flexibility, and we may be prohibited from paying dividends on our common stock, which may jeopardize our qualification for taxation as a REIT.
The agreements related to our securitization transactions include operating covenants and other restrictions customary for loans subject to rated securitizations. Among other things, the borrowers under the agreements are prohibited from incurring other indebtedness for borrowed money or further encumbering their assets. A failure to comply with the covenants in the agreements could prevent the borrowers from taking certain actions with respect to the secured assets and could prevent the borrowers from distributing any excess cash from the operation of such assets to us. If the borrowers were to default on any of the loans, the servicer on such loan could seek to foreclose upon or otherwise convert the ownership of the secured assets, in which case we could lose such assets and the cash flow associated with such assets.
The agreements for our credit facilities also contain restrictive covenants and leverage and other financial maintenance tests that could limit our ability to take various actions, including incurring additional debt, guaranteeing indebtedness or making distributions to stockholders, including our required REIT distributions, and engaging in various types of transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and sales of assets. Additionally, our debt agreements restrict our and our subsidiaries’ ability to incur liens securing our or their indebtedness. These covenants could have an adverse effect on our business by limiting our ability to take advantage of financing, new tower development, mergers and acquisitions or other opportunities. Further, reporting and information covenants in our credit agreements and indentures require that we provide financial and operating information within certain time periods. If we are unable to provide the required information on a timely basis, we would be in breach of these covenants. For more information regarding the covenants and requirements discussed above, please see Item 7 of this Annual Report under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Factors Affecting Sources of Liquidity” and note 8 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
The terms of our preferred stock provide that, unless full cumulative dividends have been paid or set aside for payment on all outstanding preferred stock for all prior dividend periods, no dividends may be declared or paid on our common stock. A
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failure to pay dividends on both our preferred and our common stock might jeopardize our qualification for taxation as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Even if these limits do not jeopardize our qualification for taxation as a REIT, they may prevent us from distributing 100% of our REIT taxable income, making us subject to federal corporate income tax, and potentially a nondeductible excise tax, on the retained amounts.
Our costs could increase and our revenues could decrease due to perceived health risks from radio emissions, especially if these perceived risks are substantiated.
Public perception of possible health risks associated with cellular and other wireless communications technology could slow the growth of wireless companies, which could in turn slow our growth. In particular, negative public perception of, and regulations regarding, these perceived health risks could undermine the market acceptance of wireless communications services and increase opposition to the development and expansion of tower sites. If a scientific study or court decision resulted in a finding that radio frequency emissions pose health risks to consumers, it could negatively impact our tenants and the market for wireless services, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. We do not maintain any significant insurance with respect to these matters.
We could have liability under environmental and occupational safety and health laws.
Our operations are subject to the requirements of various federal, state, local and foreign environmental and occupational safety and health laws and regulations, including those relating to the management, use, storage, disposal, emission and remediation of, and exposure to, hazardous and non-hazardous substances, materials and wastes. As the owner, lessee or operator of real property and facilities, including generators, we may be liable for substantial costs of investigation, removal or remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated by hazardous materials, and for damages and costs relating to off-site migration of hazardous materials, without regard to whether we, as the owner, lessee or operator, knew of, or were responsible for, the contamination. We may also be liable for certain costs of remediating contamination at third-party sites to which we sent waste for disposal, even if the original disposal may have complied with all legal requirements at the time. Many of these laws and regulations contain information reporting and record keeping requirements. We may not be at all times in compliance with all environmental requirements. We may be subject to potentially significant fines or penalties if we fail to comply with any of these requirements. The requirements of these laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and could become more stringent in the future. In certain jurisdictions these laws and regulations could be applied or enforced retroactively. It is possible that these requirements will change or that liabilities will arise in the future in a manner that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Our towers, data centers or computer systems may be affected by natural disasters and other unforeseen events for which our insurance may not provide adequate coverage.
Our towers are subject to risks associated with natural disasters, such as ice and wind storms, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes, as well as other unforeseen events, such as acts of terrorism. Any damage or destruction to, or inability to access, our towers or data centers may impact our ability to provide services to our tenants and lead to tenant loss, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
As part of our normal business activities, we rely on information technology and other computer resources to carry out important operational, reporting and compliance activities and to maintain our business records. Our computer systems could fail on their own accord and are subject to interruption or damage from power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, security breaches (including through cyber attack and data theft), usage errors, catastrophic events such as natural disasters and other events beyond our control. Although we have disaster recovery programs and security measures in place, if our computer systems and our backup systems are compromised, degraded, damaged, or breached, or otherwise cease to function properly, we could suffer interruptions in our operations or unintentionally allow misappropriation of proprietary or confidential information (including information about our tenants or landlords), which could damage our reputation and require us to incur significant costs to remediate or otherwise resolve these issues.
While we maintain insurance coverage for natural disasters, we may not have adequate insurance to cover the associated costs of repair or reconstruction for a major future event. We carry business interruption insurance, but our insurance may not adequately cover all of our lost revenue, including from new tenants that could have been added to our towers but for the event. Further, we may be liable for damage caused by towers that collapse for any number of reasons including structural deficiencies, which could harm our reputation and require us to incur costs for which we may not have adequate insurance coverage.
15
ITEM 1B. | UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS |
None.
16
ITEM 2. | PROPERTIES |
Details of each of our principal offices as of December 31, 2015 are provided below:
Country | Function | Size (approximate square feet) | Property Interest | ||||
U.S. Offices | |||||||
Boston, MA | Corporate Headquarters and American Tower International Headquarters | 39,800 | Leased | ||||
Boca Raton, FL | Managed Sites Headquarters | 25,200 | Leased | ||||
Miami, FL | Latin America Operations Center | 6,300 | Leased | ||||
Atlanta, GA | U.S. Tower Division Accounting Headquarters, Network Operations and Program Management Office Field Personnel | 21,400 | Leased | ||||
Marlborough, MA | Information Technology Headquarters | 24,200 | Leased | ||||
Woburn, MA | U.S. Tower Division Headquarters, Lease Administration, Site Leasing Management and Broadcast Division Headquarters | 163,200 | Owned | ||||
Cary, NC | U.S. Tower Division, Network Operations Center and Engineering Services Headquarters | 43,400 | Owned(1) | ||||
Asia Offices | |||||||
Delhi, India | India Headquarters | 7,200 | Leased | ||||
Mumbai, India | India Operations Center | 13,600 | Leased | ||||
EMEA Offices | |||||||
Düsseldorf, Germany | Germany Headquarters | 9,100 | Leased(2) | ||||
Accra, Ghana | Ghana Headquarters | 18,500 | Leased | ||||
Lagos, Nigeria | Nigeria Headquarters | 8,500 | Leased | ||||
Johannesburg, South Africa | South Africa Headquarters | 16,100 | Leased | ||||
Kampala, Uganda | Uganda Headquarters | 8,800 | Leased | ||||
Latin America Offices | |||||||
Sao Paulo, Brazil | Brazil Headquarters | 48,600 | Leased | ||||
Santiago, Chile | Chile Headquarters | 6,900 | Leased | ||||
Bogota, Colombia | Colombia Headquarters | 13,800 | Leased | ||||
San Jose, Costa Rica | Costa Rica Headquarters | 2,400 | Leased | ||||
Mexico City, Mexico | Mexico Headquarters | 32,700 | Leased | ||||
Lima, Peru | Peru Headquarters | 3,700 | Leased | ||||
_______________
(1) | The Cary facility is approximately 48,300 square feet. Currently, our offices occupy approximately 43,400 square feet. We lease the remaining space to an unaffiliated tenant. |
(2) | We lease two office spaces that together occupy an aggregate of approximately 9,100 square feet. |
In addition to the principal offices set forth above, we maintain offices in the geographic areas we serve through which we operate our tower leasing and services businesses, as well as an office through which we pursue international business development initiatives. We believe that our owned and leased facilities are suitable and adequate to meet our anticipated needs.
As of December 31, 2015, we owned and operated a portfolio of 100,615 communications sites. See the table in Item 7 of this Annual Report, under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Executive Overview” for more detailed information on the geographic locations of our communications sites. In addition, we own property interests that we lease to communications service providers and third-party tower operators in the United States, which are included in our U.S. property segment.
Our interests in our communications sites are comprised of a variety of ownership interests, including leases created by long-term ground lease agreements, easements, licenses or rights-of-way granted by government entities.
17
A typical tower site consists of a compound enclosing the tower site, a tower structure and one or more equipment shelters that house a variety of transmitting, receiving and switching equipment. In addition, our international sites typically include backup or auxiliary power generators and batteries. The principal types of our towers are guyed, self-supporting lattice and monopole, and rooftops in our international markets.
• | A guyed tower includes a series of cables attaching separate levels of the tower to anchor foundations in the ground and can reach heights of up to 2,000 feet. A guyed tower site for a typical broadcast tower can consist of a tract of land of up to 20 acres. |
• | A self-supporting lattice tower typically tapers from the bottom up and usually has three or four legs. A lattice tower can reach heights of up to 1,000 feet. Depending on the height of the tower, a lattice tower site for a typical wireless communications tower can consist of a tract of land of 10,000 square feet for a rural site or fewer than 2,500 square feet for a metropolitan site. |
• | A monopole tower is a tubular structure that is used primarily to address space constraints or aesthetic concerns. Monopoles typically have heights ranging from 50 to 200 feet. A monopole tower site used in metropolitan areas for a typical wireless communications tower can consist of a tract of land of fewer than 2,500 square feet. |
• | Rooftop towers are primarily used in metropolitan areas in our Asia, EMEA and Latin America markets, where locations for traditional tower structures are unavailable. Rooftop towers typically have heights ranging from 10 to 100 feet. |
U.S. Property Segment. As of December 31, 2015, the loan underlying the securitization transaction completed in March 2013 (the “2013 Securitization”) is secured by mortgages, deeds of trust and deeds to secure the loan on substantially all of the 5,186 towers owned by the borrowers (the “2013 Secured Towers”) and the secured revenue notes issued in a private transaction completed in May 2015 (the “2015 Securitization”) are secured by mortgages, deeds of trust and deeds to secure debt on substantially all of the 3,609 communications sites owned by subsidiaries of the issuer (the “2015 Secured Sites”). In connection with our acquisition of MIPT, a private REIT at the time of acquisition and parent company to Global Tower Partners (“GTP”), we assumed four separate classes, of Secured Tower Cellular Site Revenue Notes, Series 2012-1 and Series 2012-2 (the “2012 GTP Notes”), issued by GTP Cellular Sites, LLC (“GTP Cellular Sites”) in securitization transactions. The 2012 GTP Notes are secured by, among other things, 105 towers and 1,064 property interests and other related assets. In addition, 1,516 property interests are subject to mortgages and deeds of trust to secure three separate classes of Secured Cellular Site Revenue Notes (the “Unison Notes”) assumed in connection with the acquisition of certain legal entities from Unison Holdings LLC and Unison Site Management II, L.L.C. (the “Unison Acquisition”).
EMEA Property Segment. Our outstanding indebtedness in South Africa is secured by an aggregate of 1,899 towers.
Latin America Property Segment. In Brazil, the debentures issued by BR Towers S.A. (“BR Towers”) are secured by an aggregate of 1,912 towers and the Brazil credit facility is secured by an aggregate of 145 towers. Our outstanding indebtedness in Colombia is secured by an aggregate of 3,563 towers.
Ground Leases. Of the 100,131 towers in our portfolio as of December 31, 2015, 88% were located on land we lease. Typically, we seek to enter ground leases with terms of twenty to twenty-five years, which are comprised of initial terms of approximately five to ten years with one or more automatic or exercisable renewal periods. As a result, 65% of the ground agreements for our sites have a final expiration date of 2025 and beyond.
Tenants. Our tenants are primarily wireless service providers, broadcasters and other communications service providers. As of December 31, 2015, our top four tenants by total revenue were AT&T (24%), Verizon Wireless (16%), Sprint (13%) and T-Mobile (10%). In general, our tenant leases have an initial non-cancellable term of ten years, with multiple renewal terms. As a result, 64% of our current tenant leases have a renewal date of 2021 or beyond.
ITEM 3. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
We periodically become involved in various claims and lawsuits that are incidental to our business. In the opinion of management, after consultation with counsel, there are no matters currently pending that would, in the event of an adverse outcome, have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES |
N/A.
18
PART II
ITEM 5. | MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES |
The following table presents reported quarterly high and low per share sale prices of our common stock on the NYSE for the years 2015 and 2014.
2015 | High | Low | ||||||
Quarter ended March 31 | $101.88 | $93.21 | ||||||
Quarter ended June 30 | 98.64 | 91.99 | ||||||
Quarter ended September 30 | 101.54 | 86.83 | ||||||
Quarter ended December 31 | 104.12 | 87.23 | ||||||
2014 | High | Low | ||||||
Quarter ended March 31 | $84.90 | $78.38 | ||||||
Quarter ended June 30 | 90.73 | 80.10 | ||||||
Quarter ended September 30 | 99.90 | 89.05 | ||||||
Quarter ended December 31 | 106.31 | 90.20 | ||||||
On February 19, 2016, the closing price of our common stock was $87.32 per share as reported on the NYSE. As of February 19, 2016, we had 423,897,556 outstanding shares of common stock and 159 registered holders.
Dividends
As a REIT, we must annually distribute to our stockholders an amount equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined before the deduction for distributed earnings and excluding any net capital gain). Generally, we have distributed and expect to continue to distribute all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income after taking into consideration our utilization of net operating losses (“NOLs”).
We have two series of preferred stock outstanding, 5.25% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, issued in May 2014 (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), with a dividend rate of 5.25%, and the 5.50% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), issued in March 2015, with a dividend rate of 5.50%. Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears, subject to declaration by our Board of Directors.
The amount, timing and frequency of future distributions will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent upon various factors, a number of which may be beyond our control, including our financial condition and operating cash flows, the amount required to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT and reduce any income and excise taxes that we otherwise would be required to pay, limitations on distributions in our existing and future debt and preferred equity instruments, our ability to utilize NOLs to offset our distribution requirements, limitations on our ability to fund distributions using cash generated through our TRSs and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant.
We have distributed an aggregate of approximately $2.3 billion to our common stockholders, including the dividend paid in January 2016, primarily subject to taxation as ordinary income.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we declared the following cash distributions:
19
Declaration Date | Payment Date | Record Date | Distribution per share | Aggregate Payment Amount (in millions) (1) | ||||||||
Common Stock | ||||||||||||
March 5, 2015 | April 28, 2015 | April 10, 2015 | $0.42 | $177.7 | ||||||||
May 21, 2015 | July 16, 2015 | June 17, 2015 | 0.44 | 186.2 | ||||||||
September 10, 2015 | October 7, 2015 | September 23, 2015 | 0.46 | 194.8 | ||||||||
December 3, 2015 | January 13, 2016 | December 16, 2015 | 0.49 | 207.7 | ||||||||
Series A Preferred Stock | ||||||||||||
April 14, 2015 | May 15, 2015 | May 1, 2015 | $1.3125 | $7.9 | ||||||||
July 15, 2015 | August 17, 2015 | August 1, 2015 | 1.3125 | 7.9 | ||||||||
October 20, 2015 | November 16, 2015 | November 1, 2015 | 1.3125 | 7.9 | ||||||||
Series B Preferred Stock | ||||||||||||
April 14, 2015 | May 15, 2015 | May 1, 2015 | $11.1528 | $15.3 | ||||||||
July 15, 2015 | August 17, 2015 | August 1, 2015 | 13.75 | 18.9 | ||||||||
October 20, 2015 | November 16, 2015 | November 1, 2015 | 13.75 | 18.9 | ||||||||
_______________
(1) For common stock, aggregate payment does not include amounts accrued for distributions payable related to unvested restricted stock units.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, we declared the following cash distributions:
Declaration Date | Payment Date | Record Date | Distribution per share | Aggregate Payment Amount (in millions) (1) | ||||||||
Common Stock | ||||||||||||
March 6, 2014 | April 25, 2014 | April 10, 2014 | $0.32 | $126.6 | ||||||||
May 21, 2014 | July 16, 2014 | June 17, 2014 | 0.34 | 134.6 | ||||||||
September 10, 2014 | October 7, 2014 | September 23, 2014 | 0.36 | 142.7 | ||||||||
December 2, 2014 | January 13, 2015 | December 16, 2014 | 0.38 | 150.7 | ||||||||
Series A Preferred Stock | ||||||||||||
May 21, 2014 | August 15, 2014 | August 1, 2014 | $1.3563 | $8.1 | ||||||||
September 10, 2014 | November 17, 2014 | November 1, 2014 | 1.3125 | 7.9 | ||||||||
December 2, 2014 | February 16, 2015 | February 1, 2015 | 1.3125 | 7.9 | ||||||||
_______________
(1) For common stock, aggregate payment does not include amounts accrued for distributions payable related to unvested restricted stock units.
Performance Graph
This performance graph is furnished and shall not be deemed ‘‘filed’’ with the SEC or subject to Section 18 of the Exchange Act, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock with the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Index, the Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications Equipment Index and the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index. The performance graph assumes that on December 31, 2010, $100 was invested in each of our common stock, the S&P 500 Index, the Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications Equipment Index and the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index. The cumulative return shown in the graph assumes reinvestment of all dividends. The performance of our common stock reflected below is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
20
Cumulative Total Returns | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
12/10 | 12/11 | 12/12 | 12/13 | 12/14 | 12/15 | |||||||||||||||||||
American Tower Corporation | $ | 100.00 | $ | 116.91 | $ | 152.49 | $ | 159.80 | $ | 200.96 | $ | 200.95 | ||||||||||||
S&P 500 Index | 100.00 | 102.11 | 118.45 | 156.82 | 178.29 | 180.75 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications Equipment Index | 100.00 | 92.10 | 101.08 | 122.75 | 141.42 | 126.14 | ||||||||||||||||||
FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index | 100.00 | 108.28 | 129.62 | 133.32 | 170.68 | 175.51 | ||||||||||||||||||
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ITEM 6. | SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA |
The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes to those consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Year-over-year comparisons are significantly affected by our acquisitions, dispositions and construction of towers. Our acquisition of MIPT and the Verizon Transaction, which closed in October 2013 and March 2015, respectively, significantly impact the comparability of reported results between periods. Our principal acquisitions are described in note 6 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
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Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Statements of Operations Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Property | $ | 4,680,388 | $ | 4,006,854 | $ | 3,287,090 | $ | 2,803,490 | $ | 2,386,185 | ||||||||||
Services | 91,128 | 93,194 | 74,317 | 72,470 | 57,347 | |||||||||||||||
Total operating revenues | 4,771,516 | 4,100,048 | 3,361,407 | 2,875,960 | 2,443,532 | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of operations (exclusive of items shown separately below) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Property | 1,275,436 | 1,056,177 | 828,742 | 686,681 | 590,272 | |||||||||||||||
Services | 33,432 | 38,088 | 31,131 | 35,798 | 30,684 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 1,285,328 | 1,003,802 | 800,145 | 644,276 | 555,517 | |||||||||||||||
Selling, general, administrative and development expense | 497,835 | 446,542 | 415,545 | 327,301 | 288,824 | |||||||||||||||
Other operating expenses | 66,696 | 68,517 | 71,539 | 62,185 | 58,103 | |||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 3,158,727 | 2,613,126 | 2,147,102 | 1,756,241 | 1,523,400 | |||||||||||||||
Operating income | 1,612,789 | 1,486,922 | 1,214,305 | 1,119,719 | 920,132 | |||||||||||||||
Interest income, TV Azteca, net | 11,209 | 10,547 | 22,235 | 14,258 | 14,214 | |||||||||||||||
Interest income | 16,479 | 14,002 | 9,706 | 7,680 | 7,378 | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (595,949 | ) | (580,234 | ) | (458,296 | ) | (401,665 | ) | (311,854 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss on retirement of long-term obligations | (79,606 | ) | (3,473 | ) | (38,701 | ) | (398 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Other expense (1) | (134,960 | ) | (62,060 | ) | (207,500 | ) | (38,300 | ) | (122,975 | ) | ||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income on equity method investments | 829,962 | 865,704 | 541,749 | 701,294 | 506,895 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax provision | (157,955 | ) | (62,505 | ) | (59,541 | ) | (107,304 | ) | (125,080 | ) | ||||||||||
Income on equity method investments | — | — | — | 35 | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Net income | 672,007 | 803,199 | 482,208 | 594,025 | 381,840 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | 13,067 | 21,711 | 69,125 | 43,258 | 14,622 | |||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation stockholders | 685,074 | 824,910 | 551,333 | 637,283 | 396,462 | |||||||||||||||
Dividends on preferred stock | (90,163 | ) | (23,888 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | $ | 594,911 | $ | 801,022 | $ | 551,333 | $ | 637,283 | $ | 396,462 | ||||||||||
Net income per common share amounts: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Basic net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | $ | 1.42 | $ | 2.02 | $ | 1.40 | $ | 1.61 | $ | 1.00 | ||||||||||
Diluted net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | $ | 1.41 | $ | 2.00 | $ | 1.38 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 0.99 | ||||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 418,907 | 395,958 | 395,040 | 394,772 | 395,711 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted | 423,015 | 400,086 | 399,146 | 399,287 | 400,195 | |||||||||||||||
Distribution declared per common share | $ | 1.81 | $ | 1.40 | $ | 1.10 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.35 | ||||||||||
Distribution declared per preferred share, Series A | $ | 3.94 | $ | 3.98 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Distribution declared per preferred share, Series B | $ | 38.65 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Other Operating Data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2) | 1.99x | 2.11x | 1.89x | 2.32x | 2.19x | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends (2) | 1.80x | 2.05x | 1.89x | 2.32x | 2.19x | |||||||||||||||
23
As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 (3) | 2013 (3) | 2012 (3) | 2011 (3) | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data: (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) (5) | $ | 462,879 | $ | 473,698 | $ | 446,492 | $ | 437,934 | $ | 372,406 | ||||||||||
Property and equipment, net | 9,866,424 | 7,590,112 | 7,177,728 | 5,765,856 | 4,981,722 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets | 26,904,272 | 21,263,565 | 20,213,937 | 14,045,810 | 12,199,222 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term obligations, including current portion | 17,119,009 | 14,540,341 | 14,408,550 | 8,709,757 | 7,193,135 | |||||||||||||||
Total American Tower Corporation equity | 6,651,679 | 3,953,560 | 3,534,165 | 3,573,101 | 3,287,220 | |||||||||||||||
_______________
(1) | For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011, amount includes unrealized foreign currency losses of $71.5 million, $49.3 million, $211.7 million, $34.3 million and $131.1 million, respectively. |
(2) | For the purpose of this calculation, “earnings” consists of income from continuing operations before income taxes and income on equity method investments, as well as fixed charges (excluding interest capitalized and amortization of interest capitalized). “Fixed charges” consists of interest expensed and capitalized, amortization of debt discounts, premiums and related issuance costs and the component of rental expense associated with operating leases believed by management to be representative of the interest factor thereon. |
(3) | Balances have been revised to reflect debt issuance cost adjustments. |
(4) | Balances have been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments. |
(5) | As of December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011, amount includes $142.2 million, $160.2 million, $152.9 million, $69.3 million, and $42.2 million, respectively, of restricted funds pledged as collateral to secure obligations and cash, the use of which is otherwise limited by contractual provisions. |
ITEM 7. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations that follow are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates and such differences could be material to the financial statements. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report and the accompanying notes, and the information set forth under the caption “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” below.
During the fourth quarter of 2015, as a result of recent investment activity, including signed acquisitions, we reviewed and changed our reportable segments to divide our international segment into regional segments. We now operate in five reportable segments: U.S. property, Asia property, EMEA property, Latin America property and services. In evaluating financial performance in each business segment, management uses, among other factors, segment gross margin and segment operating profit (see note 19 to our consolidated financial statements included herein).
Executive Overview
We are one of the largest global REITs and a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate. Our primary business is the leasing of space on communications sites to wireless service providers, radio and television broadcast companies, wireless data providers, government agencies and municipalities and tenants in a number of other industries. In addition to the communications sites in our portfolio, we manage rooftop and tower sites for property owners under various contractual arrangements. We also hold property interests that we lease to communications service providers and third-party tower operators. We refer to this business as our property operations, which accounted for 98% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 and includes our U.S. property segment, Asia property segment, EMEA property segment and Latin America property segment.
We also offer tower-related services, including site acquisition, zoning and permitting and structural analysis services, which primarily support our site leasing business, including the addition of new tenants and equipment on our sites.
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The following table details the number of communications sites, excluding managed sites, we owned or operated as of December 31, 2015:
Number of Owned Towers | Number of Operated Towers (1) | Number of Owned DAS Sites | |||||||
Domestic: | |||||||||
United States | 21,854 | 18,235 | 337 | ||||||
Asia: | |||||||||
India | 15,046 | — | 28 | ||||||
EMEA: | |||||||||
Germany | 2,028 | — | — | ||||||
Ghana | 2,097 | — | 16 | ||||||
Nigeria | 4,716 | — | — | ||||||
South Africa | 1,926 | — | — | ||||||
Uganda | 1,393 | — | — | ||||||
EMEA total | 12,160 | — | 16 | ||||||
Latin America: | |||||||||
Brazil | 15,758 | 2,268 | 47 | ||||||
Chile | 1,195 | — | 6 | ||||||
Colombia | 3,026 | 706 | 1 | ||||||
Costa Rica | 483 | — | — | ||||||
Mexico | 8,591 | 199 | 49 | ||||||
Peru | 610 | — | — | ||||||
Latin America total | 29,663 | 3,173 | 103 | ||||||
_______________
(1) | Approximately 97% of the operated towers are held pursuant to long-term capital leases, including those subject to purchase options. |
On October 21, 2015, we signed a definitive agreement pursuant to which we expect to acquire a 51% controlling ownership interest in Viom, a telecommunications infrastructure company that owns and operates over 42,000 wireless communications towers and 200 indoor DAS networks in India. Upon closing, we expect to consolidate the full financial results for Viom.
The majority of our tenant leases with wireless carriers have an initial non-cancellable term of at least ten years, with multiple renewal terms. Accordingly, nearly all of the revenue generated by our property operations during the year ended December 31, 2015 was recurring revenue that we should continue to receive in future periods. Based upon foreign currency exchange rates and the tenant leases in place as of December 31, 2015, we expect to generate over $30 billion of non-cancellable tenant lease revenue over future periods, absent the impact of straight-line lease accounting. Most of our tenant leases have provisions that periodically increase the rent due under the lease, typically annually based on a fixed escalation (approximately 3% in the United States) or an inflationary index in our international markets, or a combination of both. In addition, certain of our tenant leases provide for additional revenue to cover costs, such as ground rent or power and fuel costs.
The revenues generated by our property operations may be affected by cancellations of existing tenant leases. As discussed above, most of our tenant leases with wireless carriers and broadcasters are multiyear contracts, which typically are non-cancellable; however, in some instances, a lease may be cancelled upon the payment of a termination fee.
Revenue lost from either cancellations of leases at the end of their terms or rent negotiations historically has not had a material adverse effect on the revenues generated by our property operations. During the year ended December 31, 2015, loss of revenue from tenant lease cancellations or renegotiations represented less than 2% of our property operations revenues.
Property Operations Revenue Growth. Due to our diversified communications site portfolio, our tenant lease rates vary considerably depending upon numerous factors, including, but not limited to, amount and type of tenant equipment on the tower, remaining tower capacity and tower location. We measure the remaining tower capacity by assessing several factors, including tower height, tower type, environmental conditions, existing equipment on the tower and zoning and permitting
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regulations in effect in the jurisdiction where the tower is located. In many instances, tower capacity can be increased with relatively modest tower augmentation expenditures.
The primary factors affecting the revenue growth in our property segments are:
• | Organic revenue from tenant leases attributable to sites that existed in our portfolio as of the beginning of the prior year period (“legacy sites”); |
• | Contractual rent escalations on existing tenant leases, net of churn; |
• | New revenue attributable to leasing additional space on our legacy sites; and |
• | New revenue attributable to sites acquired or constructed since the beginning of the prior year period (“new sites”). |
We continue to believe that our site leasing revenue is likely to increase due to the growing use of wireless services and our ability to meet the corresponding incremental demand for our wireless real estate. By adding new tenants and new equipment for existing tenants on our sites, we are able to increase these sites’ utilization and profitability. We believe the majority of our site leasing activity will continue to come from wireless service providers. Our legacy site portfolio and our established tenant base provide us with new business opportunities, which have historically resulted in consistent and predictable organic revenue growth as wireless carriers seek to increase the coverage and capacity of their existing networks, while also deploying next generation wireless technologies. In addition, we intend to continue to supplement the organic growth on our legacy sites by selectively developing or acquiring new sites in our existing and new markets where we can achieve our risk-adjusted return on investment objectives. In a majority of our international markets, revenue also often includes the reimbursement of direct costs such as ground rent or power and fuel costs.
Property Operations Organic Revenue Growth. Consistent with our strategy to increase the utilization and return on investment of our legacy sites, our objective is to add new tenants and new equipment for existing tenants through collocation and lease amendments. Our ability to lease additional space on our sites is primarily a function of the rate at which wireless carriers deploy capital to improve and expand their wireless networks. This rate, in turn, is influenced by the growth of wireless services, the penetration of advanced wireless devices, the financial performance of our tenants and their access to capital and general economic conditions.
Based on industry research and projections, we expect that a number of key industry trends will result in incremental revenue opportunities for us:
• | In less advanced wireless markets where initial voice and data networks are still being deployed, we expect these deployments to drive demand for our tower space as carriers seek to expand their footprints and increase the scope and density of their networks. We have established operations in many of these markets at the early stages of wireless development, which we believe will enable us to meaningfully participate in these deployments. |
• | Subscribers’ use of wireless data continues to grow rapidly given increasing smartphone and other advanced device penetration, the proliferation of bandwidth-intensive applications on these devices and the continuing evolution of the mobile ecosystem. We believe carriers will be compelled to deploy additional equipment on existing networks while also rolling out more advanced wireless networks to address coverage and capacity needs resulting from this increasing wireless data usage. |
• | The deployment of advanced wireless technology across existing wireless networks will provide higher speed data services and further enable fixed broadband substitution. As a result, we expect our tenants to continue deploying additional equipment across their existing networks. |
• | Wireless service providers compete based on the quality of their existing wireless networks, which is driven by capacity and coverage. To maintain or improve their network performance as overall network usage increases, our tenants continue deploying additional equipment across their existing sites while also adding new cell sites. We anticipate increasing network densification over the next several years, as existing network infrastructure is anticipated to be insufficient to account for rapidly increasing levels of wireless data usage. |
• | Wireless service providers continue to acquire additional spectrum, and as a result are expected to add additional sites and equipment to their network as they seek to optimize their network configuration and utilize additional spectrum. |
As part of our international expansion initiatives, we have targeted markets in various stages of network development to diversify our international exposure and position us to benefit from a number of different wireless technology deployments over
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the long term. In addition, we have focused on building relationships with large multinational carriers such as Airtel, Telefónica S.A. and Vodafone Group PLC. We believe that consistent carrier investments in their networks across our international markets position us to generate meaningful organic revenue growth going forward.
In emerging markets, such as Ghana, India, Nigeria and Uganda, wireless networks tend to be significantly less advanced than those in the United States, and initial voice networks continue to be deployed in underdeveloped areas. A majority of consumers in these markets still utilize basic wireless services, predominantly on feature phones, while advanced device penetration remains low. In more developed urban locations within these markets, early-stage data network deployments are underway. Carriers are focused on completing voice network build-outs while also investing in initial data networks as wireless data usage and smartphone penetration within their customer bases begin to accelerate.
In markets with rapidly evolving network technology, such as South Africa and most of the countries in Latin America where we do business, initial voice networks, for the most part, have already been built out, and carriers are focused on 3G network build outs, with select investments in 4G technology. Consumers in these regions are increasingly adopting smartphones and other advanced devices, and as a result, the usage of bandwidth-intensive mobile applications is growing materially. Recent spectrum auctions in these rapidly evolving markets have allowed incumbent carriers to accelerate their data network deployments and have also enabled new entrants to begin initial investments in data networks. Smartphone penetration and wireless data usage in these markets are growing rapidly, which typically requires that carriers continue to invest in their networks in order to maintain and augment their quality of service.
Finally, in markets with more mature network technology, such as Germany, carriers are focused on deploying 4G data networks to account for rapidly increasing wireless data usage amongst their customer base. With higher smartphone and advanced device penetration and significantly higher per capita data usage, carrier investment in networks is focused on 4G coverage and capacity.
We believe that the network technology migration we have seen in the United States, which has led to significantly denser networks and meaningful new business commencements for us over a number of years, will ultimately be replicated in our less advanced international markets. As a result, we expect to be able to leverage our extensive international portfolio of approximately 60,190 communications sites and the relationships we have built with our carrier customers to drive sustainable, long-term growth.
We have holistic master lease agreements with certain of our tenants that provide for consistent, long-term revenue and a reduction in the likelihood of churn. Our holistic master lease agreements build and augment strong strategic partnerships with our tenants and have significantly reduced collocation cycle times, thereby providing our tenants with the ability to rapidly and efficiently deploy equipment on our sites.
Property Operations New Site Revenue Growth. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we grew our portfolio of communications real estate through the acquisition and construction of approximately 25,370 sites. In a majority of our Asia, EMEA and Latin America markets, the acquisition or construction of new sites resulted in increases in both tenant and pass-through revenues (such as ground rent or power and fuel costs) and expenses. We continue to evaluate opportunities to acquire communications real estate portfolios, both domestically and internationally, to determine whether they meet our risk-adjusted hurdle rates and whether we believe we can effectively integrate them into our existing portfolio.
New Sites (Acquired or Constructed) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||
U.S. | 11,595 | 900 | 5,260 | |||||
Asia | 2,330 | 1,560 | 1,260 | |||||
EMEA | 4,910 | 190 | 485 | |||||
Latin America | 6,535 | 5,800 | 6,065 | |||||
Property Operations Expenses. Direct operating expenses incurred by our property segments include direct site level expenses and consist primarily of ground rent and power and fuel costs, some or all of which may be passed through to our tenants, as well as property taxes, repairs and maintenance. These segment direct operating expenses exclude all segment and corporate selling, general, administrative and development expenses, which are aggregated into one line item entitled Selling, general, administrative and development expense in our consolidated statements of operations. In general, our property segments’ selling, general, administrative and development expenses do not significantly increase as a result of adding incremental tenants to our legacy sites and typically increase only modestly year-over-year. As a result, leasing additional space to new tenants on our legacy sites provides significant incremental cash flow. We may, however, incur additional segment
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selling, general, administrative and development expenses as we increase our presence in our existing markets or expand into new markets. Our profit margin growth is therefore positively impacted by the addition of new tenants to our legacy sites and can be temporarily diluted by our development activities.
Services Segment Revenue Growth. As we continue to focus on growing our property operations, we anticipate that our services revenue will continue to represent a small percentage of our total revenues.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Included in our analysis of our results of operations are discussions regarding earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, as adjusted (“Adjusted EBITDA”), Funds From Operations, as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT FFO”) and Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”).
We define Adjusted EBITDA as Net income before Income (loss) on equity method investments; Income tax benefit (provision); Other income (expense); Gain (loss) on retirement of long-term obligations; Interest expense; Interest income; Other operating income (expense); Depreciation, amortization and accretion; and stock-based compensation expense.
NAREIT FFO is defined as net income before gains or losses from the sale or disposal of real estate, real estate related impairment charges, real estate related depreciation, amortization and accretion and dividends on preferred stock, and including adjustments for (i) unconsolidated affiliates and (ii) noncontrolling interest.
We define AFFO as NAREIT FFO before (i) straight-line revenue and expense; (ii) stock-based compensation expense; (iii) the non-cash portion of our tax provision; (iv) non-real estate related depreciation, amortization and accretion; (v) amortization of deferred financing costs, capitalized interest, debt discounts and premiums and long-term deferred interest charges; (vi) other income (expense); (vii) gain (loss) on retirement of long-term obligations; (viii) other operating income (expense); and adjustments for (ix) unconsolidated affiliates and (x) noncontrolling interest, less cash payments related to capital improvements and cash payments related to corporate capital expenditures.
We present AFFO for the year ended December 31, 2015 before the one-time cash charge incurred in connection with a tax election, pursuant to which one of our subsidiaries no longer operates as a separate REIT, as it is nonrecurring and we do not believe it is an indication of our operating performance.
Adjusted EBITDA, NAREIT FFO and AFFO are not intended to replace net income or any other performance measures determined in accordance with GAAP. Neither NAREIT FFO nor AFFO represent cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and, therefore, these measures should not be considered indicative of cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity or of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions. Rather, Adjusted EBITDA, NAREIT FFO and AFFO are presented as we believe each is a useful indicator of our current operating performance. We believe that these metrics are useful to an investor in evaluating our operating performance because (1) each is a key measure used by our management team for purposes of decision making and for evaluating the performance of our operating segments; (2) Adjusted EBITDA is a component of the calculation used by our lenders to determine compliance with certain debt covenants; (3) Adjusted EBITDA is widely used in the tower industry to measure operating performance as depreciation, amortization and accretion may vary significantly among companies depending upon accounting methods and useful lives, particularly where acquisitions and non-operating factors are involved; (4) each provides investors with a meaningful measure for evaluating our period-to-period operating performance by eliminating items that are not operational in nature; and (5) each provides investors with a measure for comparing our results of operations to those of other companies.
Our measurement of Adjusted EBITDA, NAREIT FFO and AFFO may not, however, be fully comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA, NAREIT FFO and AFFO to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, have been included below.
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Results of Operations
Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013
(in thousands, except percentages)
Revenue
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Property | |||||||||||||||||
U.S. | $ | 3,157,501 | $ | 2,639,790 | $ | 2,189,365 | 20 | % | 21 | % | |||||||
Asia | 242,223 | 219,566 | 191,355 | 10 | 15 | ||||||||||||
EMEA | 395,092 | 315,053 | 295,681 | 25 | 7 | ||||||||||||
Latin America | 885,572 | 832,445 | 610,689 | 6 | 36 | ||||||||||||
Total property | 4,680,388 | 4,006,854 | 3,287,090 | 17 | 22 | ||||||||||||
Services | 91,128 | 93,194 | 74,317 | (2 | ) | 25 | |||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 4,771,516 | $ | 4,100,048 | $ | 3,361,407 | 16 | % | 22 | % | |||||||
For the year ended December 31, 2015:
• | The increase in U.S. property segment revenue was primarily attributable to growth of (i) 11% due to 11,449 new sites from the Verizon Transaction, which resulted in an increase of $296.8 million in revenue and (ii) 7% from legacy sites, including 6% from new tenant leases and amendments to existing tenant leases and 1% from contractual rent escalations, net of churn. The remaining revenue increase was attributable to approximately 1,045 new sites (excluding the Verizon Transaction) and the impact of straight-line lease accounting. |
• | The increase in Asia property segment revenue was attributable to growth of (i) 11% due to approximately 3,890 new sites and (ii) 5% from legacy sites, including 7% generated from new tenant leases, partially offset by a 1% reduction in pass-through revenue due to declining fuel costs and consumption and a 1% decrease due to churn, net of contractual rent escalations. Revenue growth was partially offset by the negative impact from foreign currency translation of 6% related to fluctuations in Indian Rupee (“INR”). |
• | The increase in EMEA property segment revenue was attributable to growth of (i) 37% due to approximately 5,100 new sites, including 4,716 new sites from the Airtel acquisition in Nigeria, which contributed $109.7 million in revenue and (ii) 9% from legacy sites, including 6% from contractual rent escalations, net of churn, and 4% from new tenant leases and amendments to existing tenant leases, partially offset by a 1% reduction in pass-through revenue due to declining fuel costs and consumption. Revenue growth was partially offset by a decrease of 20% attributable to the negative impact from foreign currency translation, which included, among others, 8% related to fluctuations in Ghanaian Cedi (“GHS”), 4% related to fluctuations in both South African Rand (“ZAR”) and Uganda Shilling, as well as the impact of straight-line lease accounting. |
• | The increase in Latin America property segment revenue was primarily attributable to growth of (i) 26% due to approximately 12,335 new sites, including 5,483 sites acquired from TIM and (ii) 11% growth from legacy sites, including 7% generated from new tenant leases and amendments to existing tenant leases and 4% from contractual rent escalations, net of churn. The remaining revenue increase was due to the impact of straight-line lease accounting. Revenue growth was partially offset by a decrease of 32% attributable to the negative impact from foreign currency translation, which included, among others, 20% related to fluctuations in Brazilian Reais (“BRL”) and 8% related to fluctuations in Mexican Pesos (“MXN”). |
• | The decrease in services segment revenue was primarily attributable to a decrease in structural engineering services. |
For the year ended December 31, 2014:
• | The increase in U.S. property segment revenue was primarily attributable to growth of (i) 11% due to approximately 4,860 new sites, as well as managed rooftop and tower sites and land interests under third-party sites, in connection with our acquisition of MIPT, which accounted for $247.1 million of additional revenue and (ii) 9% from legacy sites, including 8% from new tenant leases and amendments to existing tenant leases and 1% from contractual rent escalations, net of churn. The remaining increase was due to approximately 1,300 new sites (excluding MIPT), partially offset by the impact of straight-line lease accounting. |
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• | The increase in Asia property segment revenue was attributable to growth of (i) 10% from legacy sites, including 12% from new tenant leases, partially offset by a decrease of 2% due to churn, net of contractual rent escalations and (ii) 11% due to approximately 2,820 new sites. Revenue growth was partially offset by a decrease of 5% attributable to the negative impact from foreign currency translation related to fluctuations in INR, as well as the impact of straight-line lease accounting. |
• | The increase in EMEA property segment revenue was primarily attributable to growth of (i) 19% from legacy sites, including 13% from new tenant leases and amendments to existing tenant leases and 6% attributable to contractual rent escalations, net of churn and (ii) 6% due to approximately 675 new sites. The remaining revenue growth was due to the impact of straight-line lease accounting. Revenue growth was partially offset by a decrease of 19% attributable to the negative impact from foreign currency translation, which included, among others, 15% related to fluctuations in GHS. |
• | The increase in Latin America property segment revenue was primarily attributable to growth of (i) 30% due to approximately 11,865 new sites (including approximately 460 sites in Costa Rica in connection with our acquisition of MIPT) and (ii) 13% from legacy sites, including 10% from new tenant leases and amendments to existing tenant leases and 3% from contractual rent escalations, net of churn. The remaining revenue increase was due to the impact of straight-line lease accounting. Revenue growth was partially offset by a decrease of 9% attributable to the negative impact from foreign currency translation, which included, among others, 5% related to fluctuations in BRL. |
• | The increase in services segment revenue was primarily attributable to site acquisition, zoning and permitting services associated with certain tenants’ next generation technology network upgrade projects, including an increase in volume as a result of the additional sites acquired as part of the acquisition of MIPT. |
Gross Margin
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Property | |||||||||||||||||
U.S. | $ | 2,479,002 | $ | 2,124,048 | $ | 1,783,946 | 17 | % | 19 | % | |||||||
Asia | 115,349 | 97,769 | 81,710 | 18 | 20 | ||||||||||||
EMEA | 231,272 | 188,339 | 174,559 | 23 | 8 | ||||||||||||
Latin America | 592,152 | 552,465 | 441,345 | 7 | 25 | ||||||||||||
Total property | 3,417,775 | 2,962,621 | 2,481,560 | 15 | 19 | ||||||||||||
Services | 58,135 | 55,546 | 43,753 | 5 | % | 27 | % | ||||||||||
For the year ended December 31, 2015:
• | The increase in U.S. property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to growth of 8% from legacy sites and 7% due to new sites from the Verizon Transaction, primarily associated with the increase in revenue described above. The remaining gross margin growth was due to new sites (excluding the Verizon Transaction) and the impact of straight-line lease accounting. |
• | The increase in Asia property segment gross margin was attributable to growth of 14% from legacy sites and 11% due to new sites, primarily associated with the increase in revenue described above. Gross margin growth was partially offset by a decrease of 6% attributable to the negative impact from foreign currency translation related to fluctuations in INR, as well as the impact of straight-line lease accounting. |
• | The increase in EMEA property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to growth of 27% due to new sites from the Airtel acquisition, as well as 16% from legacy sites, primarily associated with the increase in revenue described above. The remaining gross margin growth was from new sites (excluding Airtel) and the impact of straight-line lease accounting. Gross margin growth was partially offset by a decrease of 21% attributable to the negative impact from foreign currency translation, which included, among others, 7% related to fluctuations in GHS and 5% related to fluctuations in both ZAR and the Euro. |
• | The increase in Latin America property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to growth of 24% due to new sites and 11% from legacy sites, primarily associated with the increase in revenue described above. The remaining gross margin growth was due to the impact of straight-line lease accounting. Gross margin growth was partially offset |
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by a decrease of 31% attributable to the negative impact from foreign currency translation, which included, among others, 20% related to fluctuations in BRL and 8% related to fluctuations in MXN.
• | The increase in services segment gross margin was primarily attributable to efficiencies in our tower services. |
For the year ended December 31, 2014:
• | The increase in U.S. property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to growth of 10% due to new sites from our acquisition of MIPT, as well as 9% from legacy sites, primarily associated with the increase in revenue as described above. The remaining gross margin growth was due to new sites (excluding MIPT), partially offset by the impact of straight-line lease accounting. |
• | The increase in Asia property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to growth of 13% from legacy sites and 11% due to new sites, primarily associated with the increase in revenue described above. The remaining gross margin growth was due to the impact of straight-line lease accounting. Gross margin growth was partially offset by 5% attributable to the negative impact from foreign currency translation related to fluctuations in INR. |
• | The increase in EMEA property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to growth of 19% from legacy sites and 6% due to new sites, primarily associated with the increase in revenue described above. The remaining gross margin growth was due to the impact of straight-line lease accounting. Gross margin growth was partially offset by a decrease of 18% attributable to the negative impact from foreign currency translation, which included, among others, 14% related to fluctuations in GHS. |
• | The increase in Latin America property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to growth of 20% due to new sites (including MIPT) as well as 11% from legacy sites, primarily associated with the increase in revenue described above, and included the negative impact of 1% as a result of the early termination of a portion of the notes receivable with TV Azteca, which provided a positive impact to 2013 gross margin. The remaining gross margin growth was due to the impact of straight-line lease accounting. Gross margin growth was partially offset by 8% attributable to the negative impact from foreign currency translation, which included, among others, 5% related to fluctuations in BRL. |
• | The increase in services segment gross margin was due to the increase in revenue as described above. |
Selling, General, Administrative and Development Expense
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Property | |||||||||||||||||
U.S. | $ | 138,617 | $ | 124,944 | $ | 103,989 | 11 | % | 20 | % | |||||||
Asia | 22,771 | 19,632 | 15,630 | 16 | 26 | ||||||||||||
EMEA | 48,672 | 39,553 | 39,076 | 23 | 1 | ||||||||||||
Latin America | 62,111 | 66,890 | 62,756 | (7 | ) | 7 | |||||||||||
Total property | 272,171 | 251,019 | 221,451 | 8 | 13 | ||||||||||||
Services | 15,724 | 12,469 | 9,257 | 26 | 35 | ||||||||||||
Other (1) | 209,940 | 183,054 | 184,837 | 15 | (1 | ) | |||||||||||
Total selling, general, administrative and development expense | $ | 497,835 | $ | 446,542 | $ | 415,545 | 11 | % | 7 | % | |||||||
_______________
(1) | Certain expenses previously reflected in segment SG&A for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 have been reclassified and are now reflected as Other SG&A. |
Year Ended December 31, 2015
The increases in our U.S., Asia and EMEA property segments’ selling, general, administrative and development expense (“SG&A”) were primarily driven by increasing personnel costs to support our business, including additional costs associated with transactions such as the Verizon Transaction in our U.S. property segment and the Airtel acquisition in our EMEA property segment. The EMEA property SG&A increase included an increase in bad debt expense and was partially offset by a decrease attributable to the impacts of foreign currency fluctuations.
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The decrease in our Latin America property segment SG&A was primarily due to the impacts of foreign currency fluctuations, partially offset by increased personnel costs to support the growth of our business and an increase in bad debt expense.
The increase in services segment SG&A was primarily due to increased personnel costs.
The increase in other SG&A was due to an increase in corporate SG&A of $16.7 million and an increase in stock-based compensation expense of $10.2 million. Corporate SG&A reflects an increase in legal costs, as corporate SG&A during the year ended December 31, 2014 was favorably impacted by the recovery of legal expenses. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2015, corporate SG&A increased due to an increase in personnel costs to support our business.
Year Ended December 31, 2014
The increases in our property segments’ SG&A were primarily driven by increasing personnel costs to support our business, including additional costs associated with our acquisitions, such as MIPT in our U.S. property segment. U.S. property segment SG&A also included an increase of $11.0 million associated with project cancellation costs. The Asia, EMEA and Latin America property segment SG&A increases were partially offset by decreases attributable to impacts of foreign currency fluctuations. In each of our Latin America and EMEA property segments, the increase was partially offset by the reversal of bad debt expense for amounts previously reserved.
The increase in services segment SG&A was primarily due to higher personnel costs related to the additional site acquisition, zoning and permitting services associated with certain tenants’ next generation technology network upgrade projects, including an increase in volume as a result of the additional sites acquired as part of the acquisition of MIPT.
The decrease in other SG&A was primarily due to a decrease in corporate SG&A of $15.5 million, which was partially offset by an increase of $11.7 million related to stock-based compensation expense. The decrease in corporate SG&A was primarily related to a reduction in legal expenses of $22.5 million, including the recovery of expenses during the year ended December 31, 2014, and the reversal of a $2.8 million reserve associated with a non-recurring state tax item. The decrease in corporate SG&A was partially offset by an increase in personnel costs to support our business.
Operating Profit
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Property | |||||||||||||||||
U.S. | $ | 2,340,385 | $ | 1,999,104 | $ | 1,679,957 | 17 | % | 19 | % | |||||||
Asia | 92,578 | 78,137 | 66,080 | 18 | 18 | ||||||||||||
EMEA | 182,600 | 148,786 | 135,483 | 23 | 10 | ||||||||||||
Latin America | 530,041 | 485,575 | 378,589 | 9 | 28 | ||||||||||||
Total property | 3,145,604 | 2,711,602 | 2,260,109 | 16 | 20 | ||||||||||||
Services | 42,411 | 43,077 | 34,496 | (2 | )% | 25 | % | ||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, 2015
The growth in operating profit for each of our U.S., Asia and EMEA property segments was primarily attributable to an increase in our segment gross margin, partially offset by an increase in our segment SG&A.
The growth in operating profit in our Latin America property segment was primarily attributable to an increase in our segment gross margin and a decrease in our segment SG&A.
The decrease in services segment operating profit was primarily attributable to an increase in our services segment SG&A and was partially offset by an increase in our segment gross margin.
Year Ended December 31, 2014
The growth in operating profit for each of our reportable segments was primarily attributable to an increase in our segment gross margin and was partially offset by an increase in our segment SG&A.
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Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | $ | 1,285,328 | $ | 1,003,802 | $ | 800,145 | 28 | % | 25 | % | |||||||
The increase for each period was primarily attributable to the depreciation, amortization and accretion expense associated with the acquisition, lease or construction of new sites since the beginning of the prior period, which resulted in an increase in property and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization.
Other Operating Expenses
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Other operating expenses | $ | 66,696 | $ | 68,517 | $ | 71,539 | (3 | )% | (4 | )% | |||||||
The decrease in other operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily attributable to a net decrease of $3.1 million in integration, acquisition and merger related expenses, partially offset by an increase of $1.3 million in losses on sales or disposals of assets and impairments.
The decrease in other operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 was primarily attributable to a decrease of $4.0 million from impairment charges and net losses on sales or disposals of long-lived assets and was partially offset by a net increase of $2.4 million in integration, acquisition and merger related costs.
Interest Income, TV Azteca, net
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Interest income, TV Azteca, net | $ | 11,209 | $ | 10,547 | $ | 22,235 | 6 | % | (53 | )% | |||||||
The increase for the year ended December 31, 2015 was due to a decrease in the offsetting interest expense under the agreement with TV Azteca.
The decrease for the year ended December 31, 2014 was due to a payment from TV Azteca received during the year ended December 31, 2013, which included $28.0 million of principal on notes receivable, related interest and a prepayment penalty of $4.9 million. In addition, we recorded additional interest income of $2.7 million related to the write-off of a portion of the unamortized discount associated with the original notes receivable.
Interest Expense
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | $ | 595,949 | $ | 580,234 | $ | 458,296 | 3 | % | 27 | % | |||||||
The increases in interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were primarily attributable to an increase of $1.9 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively, in our average debt outstanding, partially offset by a decrease in our annualized weighted average cost of borrowing from 4.06% to 3.67% and 4.40% to 4.06%, respectively. The weighted average contractual interest rate was 3.45% at December 31, 2015.
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Loss on Retirement of Long-Term Obligations
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Loss on retirement of long-term obligations | $ | 79,606 | $ | 3,473 | $ | 38,701 | 2,192 | % | (91 | )% | |||||||
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we redeemed all of the outstanding 7.000% senior notes due 2017 (the “7.000% Notes”) and 4.625% senior notes due 2015 (the “4.625% Notes”) and recorded a loss of $74.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively, which included prepayment consideration, the remaining portion of unamortized deferred financing costs and, with respect to the 7.000% Notes, the write-off of the remaining settlement cost of a treasury rate lock.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, we paid prepayment consideration primarily in connection with the prepayment of certain assumed debt, which was partially offset by the write-off of unamortized premium associated with the fair value adjustments of assumed debt. In addition, we recorded a loss of $1.4 million as a result of settling a previously existing interest rate swap agreement in Colombia.
During the year ended December 31, 2013, we recorded a loss of $35.3 million due to the repayment of $1.75 billion of secured debt and incurred prepayment consideration and recorded the acceleration of deferred financing costs. In addition, we recorded a loss of $3.4 million related to the acceleration of the remaining deferred financing costs associated with the termination of a revolving credit facility and term loan.
Other Expense
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Other expense | $ | 134,960 | $ | 62,060 | $ | 207,500 | 117 | % | (70 | )% | |||||||
Other expense consists primarily of realized and unrealized foreign currency gains and losses. We record unrealized foreign currency gains or losses as a result of foreign currency fluctuations primarily associated with our intercompany notes and similar unaffiliated balances denominated in a currency other than the subsidiaries’ functional currencies.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we recorded net realized foreign currency losses of $63.2 million and net unrealized foreign currency losses of $71.5 million in Other expense.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, we recorded net foreign currency losses of $482.5 million, of which $419.3 million was recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) and $63.2 million was recorded as foreign currency losses in Other expense. We recorded $209.5 million of net foreign currency losses in Other expense during the year ended December 31, 2013.
Income Tax Provision
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | ||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||
Income tax provision | $ | 157,955 | $ | 62,505 | $ | 59,541 | 153 | % | 5 | % | ||||||||
Effective tax rate | 19.0 | % | 7.2 | % | 11.0 | % | ||||||||||||
The effective tax rate (“ETR”) on income from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to our qualification for taxation as a REIT as well as adjustments for foreign items. As a REIT, we may deduct earnings distributed to stockholders against the income generated by our REIT operations. In addition, we are able to offset certain income by utilizing our NOLs, subject to specified limitations.
Effective July 25, 2015, we filed a tax election, pursuant to which MIPT no longer operates as a separate REIT for federal and state income tax purposes. In connection with this and related elections, we incurred a one-time cash tax charge of $93.0 million and a one-time deferred income tax benefit of $5.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2015. We also recorded a charge of $13.1 million resulting from a change in income tax law in Ghana.
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The ETR for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 included an expense of $2.6 million and $21.5 million, respectively, resulting from the restructuring of certain of our domestic TRSs.
Net Income/Adjusted EBITDA
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | ||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 672,007 | $ | 803,199 | $ | 482,208 | (16 | )% | 67 | % | ||||||||
Income tax provision | 157,955 | 62,505 | 59,541 | 153 | 5 | |||||||||||||
Other expense | 134,960 | 62,060 | 207,500 | 117 | (70 | ) | ||||||||||||
Loss on retirement of long-term obligations | 79,606 | 3,473 | 38,701 | 2,192 | (91 | ) | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | 595,949 | 580,234 | 458,296 | 3 | 27 | |||||||||||||
Interest income | (16,479 | ) | (14,002 | ) | (9,706 | ) | 18 | 44 | ||||||||||
Other operating expenses | 66,696 | 68,517 | 71,539 | (3 | ) | (4 | ) | |||||||||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 1,285,328 | 1,003,802 | 800,145 | 28 | 25 | |||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 90,537 | 80,153 | 68,138 | 13 | 18 | |||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 3,066,559 | $ | 2,649,941 | $ | 2,176,362 | 16 | % | 22 | % | ||||||||
Year Ended December 31, 2015
The decrease in net income was primarily due to increases in depreciation, amortization and accretion expense, income tax provision, loss on retirement of long-term obligations, other expenses, other SG&A and interest expense, which were partially offset by an increase in our operating profit.
The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributable to the increase in our gross margin and was partially offset by an increase in SG&A of $41.1 million, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense.
Year Ended December 31, 2014
The increase in net income was primarily due to the increase in our operating profit, as well as decreases in other expense and loss on retirement of long-term obligations. The increase in net income was partially offset by increases in depreciation, amortization and accretion expense, interest expense and stock-based compensation expense.
The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributable to the increase in our gross margin, and was partially offset by an increase in SG&A of $19.3 million, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense.
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Net Income/NAREIT FFO/AFFO
Year Ended December 31, | % Change 2015 vs 2014 | % Change 2014 vs 2013 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 672,007 | $ | 803,199 | $ | 482,208 | (16 | )% | 67 | % | |||||||
Real estate related depreciation, amortization and accretion | 1,128,340 | 878,714 | 701,292 | 28 | 25 | ||||||||||||
Losses from sale or disposal of real estate and real estate related impairment charges | 29,427 | 18,160 | 32,475 | 62 | (44 | ) | |||||||||||
Dividends on preferred stock | (90,163 | ) | (23,888 | ) | — | 277 | N/A | ||||||||||
Adjustments for unconsolidated affiliates and noncontrolling interest | (6,429 | ) | (1,815 | ) | 41,000 | (254 | ) | (104 | ) | ||||||||
NAREIT FFO | $ | 1,733,182 | $ | 1,674,370 | $ | 1,256,975 | 4 | 33 | |||||||||
Straight-line revenue | (154,959 | ) | (123,716 | ) | (147,664 | ) | 25 | (16 | ) | ||||||||
Straight-line expense | 56,076 | 38,378 | 29,732 | 46 | 29 | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 90,537 | 80,153 | 68,138 | 13 | 18 | ||||||||||||
Non-cash portion of tax provision | 897 | (6,707 | ) | 7,865 | 113 | (185 | ) | ||||||||||
Non-real estate related depreciation, amortization and accretion | 156,988 | 125,088 | 98,853 | 26 | 27 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs, capitalized interest, debt discounts and premiums and long-term deferred interest charges | 22,575 | 8,622 | 22,955 | 162 | (62 | ) | |||||||||||
Other expense (1) | 134,960 | 62,060 | 207,500 | 117 | (70 | ) | |||||||||||
Loss on retirement of long-term obligations | 79,606 | 3,473 | 38,701 | 2,192 | (91 | ) | |||||||||||
Other operating expenses (2) | 37,269 | 50,357 | 39,064 | (26 | ) | 29 | |||||||||||
Capital improvement capital expenditures | (89,867 | ) | (75,041 | ) | (81,218 | ) | 20 | (8 | ) | ||||||||
Corporate capital expenditures | (16,447 | ) | (24,146 | ) | (30,383 | ) | (32 | ) | (21 | ) | |||||||
Adjustments for unconsolidated affiliates and noncontrolling interest | 6,429 | 1,815 | (41,000 | ) | 254 | 104 | |||||||||||
MIPT one-time cash tax charge (3) | 93,044 | — | — | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||
AFFO | $ | 2,150,290 | $ | 1,814,706 | $ | 1,469,518 | 18 | % | 23 | % | |||||||
_______________
(1) | Primarily includes realized and unrealized losses on foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. |
(2) | Primarily includes acquisition-related costs, integration costs, losses from sale of assets and impairment charges. |
(3) | As the one-time tax charge incurred in connection with the MIPT tax election is nonrecurring, we do not believe it is an indication of our operating performance and believe it is more meaningful to present AFFO excluding this impact. Accordingly, we present AFFO for the year ended December 31, 2015 before this charge. |
AFFO growth for the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily attributable to the increase in our operating profit and was partially offset by increases in dividends on preferred stock, corporate SG&A and a net increase in capital improvement and corporate capital expenditures.
AFFO growth for the year ended December 31, 2014 was primarily attributable to the increase in our operating profit and a decrease in capital improvement and corporate capital expenditures, partially offset by increases in cash paid for interest and taxes and dividends on preferred stock.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we increased our financial flexibility and our ability to grow our business while maintaining our long-term financial policies. Our significant 2015 financing transactions included:
• | The issuance of 13,750,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/10th interest in a share of the Series B Preferred Stock, and 25,850,000 shares of common stock. We used the aggregate net proceeds of $3.78 billion to fund a portion of the Verizon Transaction. |
• | The completion of registered public offerings of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.800% senior unsecured notes due 2020 (the “2.800% Notes”) and $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.000% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (the “4.000% Notes”). We used the net proceeds of $1.48 billion to repay existing indebtedness under our multi-currency senior unsecured revolving credit facility entered into in June 2013, as amended (the “2013 Credit Facility”). |
• | The receipt of incremental commitments under the 2013 Credit Facility and our senior unsecured credit facility entered into in January 2012, as amended and restated in September 2014 (the “2014 Credit Facility”), giving us the ability to borrow up to $2.75 billion under the 2013 Credit Facility and $2.0 billion under the 2014 Credit Facility. |
• | The repayment of the Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Global Tower Series 2011-1, Class C, Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Global Tower Series 2011-2, Class C and Class F and Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Global Tower Series 2013-1, Class C and Class F (collectively, the “GTP AP Notes”) with proceeds from the 2015 Securitization. |
As a holding company, our cash flows are derived primarily from the operations of, and distributions from, our operating subsidiaries or funds raised through borrowings under our credit facilities and debt or equity offerings.
The following table summarizes our liquidity as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
Available under the 2013 Credit Facility | $ | 1,525,000 | |
Available under the 2014 Credit Facility | 20,000 | ||
Letters of credit | (10,624 | ) | |
Total available under credit facilities, net | 1,534,376 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | 320,686 | ||
Total liquidity | $ | 1,855,062 | |
Subsequent to December 31, 2015, we repaid the $1.2 billion outstanding under the 2013 Credit Facility using proceeds from the issuance of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 3.300% senior unsecured notes due 2021 (the “3.300% Notes”) and $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 4.400% senior unsecured notes due 2026 (the “4.400% Notes”) and cash on hand. As a result, our liquidity increased by $1.2 billion.
Summary cash flow information is set forth below for the years ended December 31, (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by (used for): | |||||||||||
Operating activities | $ | 2,183,052 | $ | 2,134,589 | $ | 1,599,047 | |||||
Investing activities | (7,741,735 | ) | (1,949,548 | ) | (5,173,337 | ) | |||||
Financing activities | 5,589,101 | (134,591 | ) | 3,525,565 | |||||||
Net effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents | (23,224 | ) | (30,534 | ) | (26,317 | ) | |||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 7,194 | $ | 19,916 | $ | (75,042 | ) | ||||
We use our cash flows to fund our operations and investments in our business, including tower maintenance and improvements, communications site construction and managed network installations and tower and land acquisitions. Additionally, we use our cash flows to make distributions, including distributions of our REIT taxable income to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT under the Code. We may also repay or repurchase our existing indebtedness from time to time. We typically fund our international expansion efforts primarily through a combination of cash on hand, intercompany debt and equity contributions.
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As of December 31, 2015, we had total outstanding indebtedness of $17.2 billion, with a current portion of $50.2 million. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we generated sufficient cash flow from operations to fund our capital expenditures and debt service obligations, as well as our required distributions. We believe the cash generated by operating activities during the year ending December 31, 2016, together with our borrowing capacity under our credit facilities, will be sufficient to fund our required distributions, capital expenditures, debt service obligations (interest and principal repayments) and signed acquisitions. As of December 31, 2015, we had $223.5 million of cash and cash equivalents held by our foreign subsidiaries, of which $68.1 million was held by our joint ventures. While certain subsidiaries may pay us interest or principal on intercompany debt, it has not been our practice to repatriate earnings from our foreign subsidiaries primarily due to our ongoing expansion efforts and related capital needs. However, in the event that we do repatriate any funds, we may be required to accrue and pay taxes.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Adjusted EBITDA growth of $416.6 million was offset by higher working capital as well as higher cash taxes and interest costs, resulting in a $48.5 million increase in cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2015. The primary factors that impacted cash provided by operating activities as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014, include:
• | An increase of approximately $87.8 million in cash paid for taxes, driven primarily by the MIPT one-time cash tax charge of $93.0 million; |
• | A decrease in capital contributions, tenant settlements and other prepayments of approximately $99.0 million; |
• | An increase of approximately $29.9 million in cash paid for interest; |
• | A decrease of approximately $34.9 million in termination and decommissioning fees; |
• | A decrease of approximately $49.0 million in customer receipts due to timing; and |
• | A decrease due to the non-recurrence of a 2014 value added tax refund of approximately $60.3 million. |
For the year ended December 31, 2014, cash provided by operating activities increased $535.5 million as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the operating profit of our property segments, cash provided by working capital and a decrease in restricted cash, partially offset by increases in cash paid for interest and taxes. Working capital was positively impacted by the receipt of capital contributions from tenants and a value added tax refund, partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Our significant investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2015 are highlighted below:
• | We spent $5.059 billion for the Verizon Transaction. |
• | We spent $796.9 million for the acquisition of 5,483 communications sites from TIM in Brazil. |
• | We spent $1.1 billion for the acquisition of 4,716 communications sites from certain of Airtel’s subsidiaries in Nigeria. |
• | We spent $728.8 million for capital expenditures, as follows (in millions): |
Discretionary capital projects (1) | $ | 245.1 | |
Ground lease purchases | 140.5 | ||
Capital improvements and corporate expenditures | 106.3 | ||
Redevelopment | 162.1 | ||
Start-up capital projects | 74.8 | ||
Total capital expenditures | $ | 728.8 | |
_______________
(1) | Includes the construction of 3,235 communications sites globally and the installation of 17 shared generators domestically. |
Our significant investing transactions in 2014 included the following:
• | We completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity interests of BR Towers for a preliminary purchase price of $568.9 million, net of debt assumed and outstanding preferred stock. |
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• | We spent $441.7 million for the acquisition of approximately 400 communications sites in Brazil, Ghana, Mexico, Uganda and the United States, as well as to satisfy obligations related to sites acquired during the year ended December 31, 2013 in Brazil, South Africa and the United States. |
• | We spent $974.4 million for capital expenditures, as follows (in millions): |
Discretionary capital projects (1) | $ | 521.6 | |
Ground lease purchases | 133.7 | ||
Capital improvements and corporate expenditures | 99.2 | ||
Redevelopment | 194.4 | ||
Start-up capital projects | 25.5 | ||
Total capital expenditures | $ | 974.4 | |
(1) | Includes the construction of 3,133 communications sites globally and the installation of 530 shared generators domestically. |
We plan to continue to allocate our available capital, after satisfying our distribution requirements, among investment alternatives that meet our return on investment criteria, while taking into account the repayment of debt, as necessary, consistent with our long-term financial policies. Accordingly, we expect to continue to deploy our capital through our annual capital expenditure program, including land purchases and new site construction, and through acquisitions. We expect that our 2016 total capital expenditures, including expected capital expenditures related to Viom, will be between $700 million and $800 million, as follows (in millions):
Discretionary capital projects (1) | $ | 170 | to | $ | 200 | ||
Ground lease purchases | 130 | to | 150 | ||||
Capital improvements and corporate expenditures | 120 | to | 130 | ||||
Redevelopment | 190 | to | 210 | ||||
Start-up capital projects | 90 | to | 110 | ||||
Total capital expenditures | $ | 700 | to | $ | 800 | ||
_______________
(1) | Includes the construction of approximately 2,500 to 3,000 communications sites globally. |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Our significant financing transactions were as follows (in millions):
Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||
Proceeds from term loan, net | $ | 500.0 | $ | — | $ | 750.0 | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net | 1,492.3 | 1,415.8 | 2,221.8 | |||||||
Proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock, net | 1,337.9 | 583.1 | — | |||||||
Proceeds from issuance of securitized debt | 875.0 | — | 1,778.5 | |||||||
Repayment of securitized debt | (964.9 | ) | — | (1,750.0 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net | 2,440.3 | — | — | |||||||
Repayment of senior notes | (1,100.0 | ) | — | — | ||||||
Proceeds from (repayments of) credit facilities, net | 2,105.0 | (841.0 | ) | 684.0 | ||||||
Distributions paid on common stock (1) | (710.9 | ) | (404.6 | ) | (434.7 | ) | ||||
_______________
(1) | The fourth quarter 2014 dividend was paid in January 2015. |
Refinancing of GTP Acquisition Partners Securitization. On May 29, 2015, GTP Acquisition Partners I, LLC (“GTP Acquisition Partners”), one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, repaid all amounts outstanding under the GTP AP Notes, plus prepayment consideration and other costs and expenses related thereto, with cash on hand and proceeds from the issuance of $350.0 million of American Tower Secured Revenue Notes, Series 2015-1, Class A (the “Series 2015-1 Notes”) and $525.0 million of American Tower Secured Revenue Notes, Series 2015-2, Class A (the “Series
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2015-2 Notes,” and, together with the Series 2015-1 Notes, the “2015 Notes”) in the 2015 Securitization. The 2015 Notes were issued by GTP Acquisition Partners pursuant to a Third Amended and Restated Indenture and related series supplements, each dated as of May 29, 2015 (collectively, the “2015 Indenture”), between GTP Acquisition Partners and its subsidiaries (the “GTP Entities”) and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. The Series 2015-1 Notes have an interest rate of 2.350%, an anticipated repayment date of June 15, 2020 and a final repayment date of June 15, 2045. The Series 2015-2 Notes have an interest rate of 3.482%, an anticipated repayment date of June 16, 2025 and a final repayment date of June 15, 2050.
Amounts due under the 2015 Notes will be paid solely from the cash flows generated from the operation of the 3,609 2015 Secured Sites. GTP Acquisition Partners is required to make monthly payments of interest on the 2015 Notes, commencing in July 2015. Subject to certain limited exceptions (described below), no payments of principal will be required to be made prior to June 15, 2020, which is the anticipated repayment date for the Series 2015-1 Notes.
The 2015 Notes may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time, provided such payment is accompanied by the applicable prepayment consideration. If prepayment occurs within 12 months of the anticipated repayment date with respect to the Series 2015-1 Notes, or 18 months of the anticipated repayment date with respect to the Series 2015-2 Notes, no prepayment consideration is due. If the Series 2015-1 Notes or the Series 2015-2 Notes have not been repaid in full on the applicable anticipated repayment date, additional interest will accrue on the unpaid principal balance of the applicable series of the 2015 Notes and such series will begin to amortize on a monthly basis from excess cash flow.
The 2015 Notes are secured by (i) mortgages, deeds of trust and deeds to secure debt on substantially all of the 2015 Secured Sites and their operating cash flows, (ii) a security interest in substantially all of the personal property and fixtures of the GTP Entities, including GTP Acquisition Partners’ equity interests in its subsidiaries and (iii) the rights of the GTP Entities under a management agreement. American Tower Holding Sub II, LLC, whose only material assets are its equity interests in GTP Acquisition Partners, has guaranteed repayment of the 2015 Notes and pledged its equity interests in GTP Acquisition Partners as security for such payment obligations.
The 2015 Indenture includes covenants and other restrictions customary for notes issued in rated securitizations. Among other things, the GTP Entities are prohibited from incurring other indebtedness for borrowed money or further encumbering their assets. The organizational documents of the GTP Entities contain provisions consistent with rating agency securitization criteria for special purpose entities, including the requirement that they maintain independent directors. The 2015 Indenture also contains certain covenants that require GTP Acquisition Partners to provide the trustee with regular financial reports and operating budgets, promptly notify the trustee of events of default and material breaches under the Indenture and other agreements related to the 2015 Secured Sites and allow the trustee reasonable access to the 2015 Secured Sites, including the right to conduct site investigations. Further, under the 2015 Indenture, GTP Acquisition Partners is required to maintain reserve accounts, including for amounts received or due from tenants related to future periods, property taxes, insurance, ground rents, certain expenses and debt service.
Common Stock Offering. On March 3, 2015, we completed a registered public offering of 23,500,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at $97.00 per share. On March 5, 2015, we issued an additional 2,350,000 shares of our common stock in connection with the underwriters’ exercise in full of their over-allotment option. Aggregate net proceeds were $2.44 billion after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. We used the net proceeds from this offering to fund a portion of the Verizon Transaction.
Preferred Stock Offering. On March 3, 2015, we completed a registered public offering of 12,500,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/10th interest in a share of the Series B Preferred Stock, at $100.00 per depositary share. On March 5, 2015, we issued an additional 1,250,000 depositary shares in connection with the underwriters’ exercise in full of their over-allotment option. Aggregate net proceeds were $1.34 billion after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. We used the net proceeds from this offering to fund a portion of the Verizon Transaction.
Unless converted or redeemed earlier, each share of the Series B Preferred Stock will convert automatically on February 15, 2018, into between 8.5911 and 10.3093 shares of common stock, depending on the applicable market value of our common stock and subject to anti-dilution adjustments. Subject to certain restrictions, at any time prior to February 15, 2018, holders of the Series B Preferred Stock may elect to convert all or a portion of their shares into our common stock at the minimum conversion rate then in effect.
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Dividends on shares of the Series B Preferred Stock are payable on a cumulative basis when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors at an annual rate of 5.50% on the liquidation preference of $1,000.00 per share (and, correspondingly, $100.00 per share with respect to the depositary shares) on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on May 15, 2015 to, and including, February 15, 2018. We may pay dividends in cash or, subject to certain limitations, in shares of common stock or any combination of cash and shares of common stock. The terms of the Series B Preferred Stock provide that, unless full cumulative dividends have been paid or set aside for payment on all outstanding Series B Preferred Stock for all prior dividend periods, no dividends may be declared or paid on common stock.
Senior Notes Offerings
2.800% Senior Notes and 4.000% Senior Notes Offering. On May 7, 2015, we completed a registered public offering of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2.800% Notes and $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 4.000% Notes. The net proceeds from this offering were approximately $1,480.1 million, after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. We used the proceeds to repay existing indebtedness under the 2013 Credit Facility.
The 2.800% Notes will mature on June 1, 2020 and bear interest at a rate of 2.800% per annum. The 4.000% Notes will mature on June 1, 2025 and bear interest at a rate of 4.000% per annum. Accrued and unpaid interest on the notes will be payable in U.S. Dollars semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2015. Interest on the notes is computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months and commenced accruing on May 7, 2015.
3.300% Senior Notes and 4.400% Senior Notes Offering. On January 12, 2016, we completed a registered public offering of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 3.300% Notes and $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 4.400% Notes. The net proceeds from this offering were approximately $1,237.2 million, after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. We used the proceeds to repay existing indebtedness under the 2013 Credit Facility and for general corporate purposes.
The 3.300% Notes will mature on February 15, 2021 and bear interest at a rate of 3.300% per annum. The 4.400% Notes will mature on February 15, 2026 and bear interest at a rate of 4.400% per annum. Accrued and unpaid interest on the notes will be payable in U.S. Dollars semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on August 15, 2016. Interest on the notes is computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months and commenced accruing on January 12, 2016.
We may redeem each series of the notes at any time, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes plus a make-whole premium, together with accrued interest to the redemption date. If we redeem the 2.800% Notes on or after May 1, 2020, the 4.000% Notes on or after March 1, 2025, the 3.300% Notes on or after January 15, 2021 or the 4.400% Notes on or after November 15, 2025, we will not be required to pay a make-whole premium. In addition, if we undergo a change of control and corresponding ratings decline, each as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture, we may be required to repurchase all of the applicable notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including additional interest, if any), up to but not including the repurchase date. Each of the notes rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured debt and are structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of our subsidiaries.
Each of the applicable supplemental indentures for the 2.800% Notes, the 4.000% Notes, the 3.300% Notes and the 4.400% Notes contains certain covenants that restrict our ability to merge, consolidate or sell assets and our (together with our subsidiaries’) ability to incur liens. These covenants are subject to a number of exceptions, including that we, and our subsidiaries, may incur certain liens on assets, mortgages or other liens securing indebtedness, if the aggregate amount of such liens does not exceed 3.5x Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture.
Bank Facilities
In February 2015, we entered into amendment agreements with respect to the (i) Term Loan, (ii) 2013 Credit Facility and (iii) 2014 Credit Facility. After giving effect to these amendments, our permitted ratio of Total Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the loan agreements for each of the facilities) is (i) 7.00 to 1.00 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 and (ii) 6.00 to 1.00 thereafter. In addition, we increased the maximum Incremental Term Loan
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Commitments (as defined in the agreement governing the Term Loan) to $1.0 billion and increased the maximum Revolving Loan Commitments, after giving effect to any Incremental Commitments (each as defined in the loan agreements for each of the revolving credit facilities) to $3.5 billion and $2.5 billion under the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility, respectively.
Effective October 28, 2015, we entered into additional amendment agreements to the Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility, which, among other things, (i) extended the maturity dates to January 29, 2021, June 28, 2019 and January 29, 2021, respectively, and (ii) increased the threshold for certain defaults with respect to judgments, attachments or acceleration of indebtedness from $250.0 million to $300.0 million. All of the other material terms of the Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility remain in full force and effect.
Term Loan. Effective February 20, 2015, we borrowed an additional $500.0 million under the Term Loan. As a result, we have $2.0 billion outstanding under the Term Loan.
2013 Credit Facility. On February 20, 2015, we received incremental commitments of $750.0 million and, as a result, have the ability to borrow up to $2.75 billion under the 2013 Credit Facility, which includes a $1.0 billion sublimit for multicurrency borrowings, a $200.0 million sublimit for letters of credit and a $50.0 million sublimit for swingline loans.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we borrowed an aggregate of $4.0 billion and repaid an aggregate of $2.7 billion of revolving indebtedness under the 2013 Credit Facility. We primarily used the borrowings to (i) fund a portion of the Verizon Transaction, (ii) fund the Airtel acquisition, (iii) fund the TIM acquisition and (iv) repay other indebtedness. We currently have $3.2 million of undrawn letters of credit and maintain the ability to draw down and repay amounts under the 2013 Credit Facility in the ordinary course.
2014 Credit Facility. On February 20, 2015, we received incremental commitments of $500.0 million and, as a result, have the ability to borrow up to $2.0 billion under the 2014 Credit Facility, which includes a $200.0 million sublimit for letters of credit and a $50.0 million sublimit for swingline loans.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we borrowed an aggregate of $2.1 billion and repaid an aggregate of $1.3 billion of revolving indebtedness under the 2014 Credit Facility. We primarily used the borrowings to fund a portion of the Verizon Transaction. We currently have $7.4 million of undrawn letters of credit and maintain the ability to draw down and repay amounts under the 2014 Credit Facility in the ordinary course.
The Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility do not require amortization of principal and may be paid prior to maturity in whole or in part at our option without penalty or premium. We have the option of choosing either a defined base rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) as the applicable base rate for borrowings under the Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility. The interest rates range between 1.000% to 2.000% above LIBOR for LIBOR based borrowings or up to 1.000% above the defined base rate for base rate borrowings, in each case based upon our debt ratings. The margin over LIBOR for each of the Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility is 1.250%.
The 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility are subject to two optional renewal periods. A quarterly commitment fee on the undrawn portion of the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility is required, ranging from 0.100% to 0.400% per annum, based upon our debt ratings, and is currently 0.150%.
The loan agreements for each of the Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility contain certain reporting, information, financial and operating covenants and other restrictions (including limitations on additional debt, guaranties, sales of assets and liens) with which we must comply. Failure to comply with the financial and operating covenants of the loan agreements could not only prevent us from being able to borrow additional funds under the revolving credit facilities, but may constitute a default, which could result in, among other things, the amounts outstanding, including all accrued interest and unpaid fees, becoming immediately due and payable.
Redemption of Senior Notes. On February 11, 2015, we redeemed all of the outstanding 4.625% Notes at a price equal to 100.5898% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest up to, but excluding, February 11, 2015, for an aggregate redemption price of $613.6 million, including $10.0 million in accrued and unpaid interest. On April 29, 2015, we redeemed all of the outstanding 7.000% Notes at a price equal to 114.0629% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, April 29, 2015, for an aggregate redemption price of $571.7 million, including $1.4 million in accrued and unpaid interest. These redemptions were funded with borrowings under our
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existing credit facilities and cash on hand. Upon completion of these redemptions, none of the 4.625% Notes or the 7.000% Notes remained outstanding.
Stock Repurchase Program. In March 2011, our Board of Directors approved a $1.5 billion stock repurchase program, pursuant to which we are authorized to purchase up to an additional $1.1 billion of our common stock. Since September 2013, we have temporarily suspended repurchases under the program.
Sales of Equity Securities. We receive proceeds from sales of our equity securities pursuant to our employee stock purchase plan (the “ESPP”) and upon exercise of stock options granted under our equity incentive plans. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we received an aggregate of $50.7 million in proceeds upon exercises of stock options and from the ESPP.
Distributions. As a REIT, we must annually distribute to our stockholders an amount equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined before the deduction for distributed earnings and excluding any net capital gain). Generally, we have distributed, and expect to continue to distribute all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income after taking into consideration our utilization of NOLs.
The amount, timing and frequency of future distributions will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent upon various factors, a number of which may be beyond our control, including our financial condition and operating cash flows, the amount required to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT and reduce any income and excise taxes that we otherwise would be required to pay, limitations on distributions in our existing and future debt and preferred equity instruments, our ability to utilize NOLs to offset our distribution requirements, limitations on our ability to fund distributions using cash generated through our TRSs and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant.
We have two series of preferred stock outstanding, the Series A Preferred Stock, with a dividend rate of 5.25%, and the Series B Preferred Stock, with a dividend rate of 5.50%. Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears, subject to declaration by our Board of Directors. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we paid an aggregate of:
• | $5.25 per share, or $31.6 million, to Series A preferred stockholders of record, including the fourth quarter dividend of $1.3125 per share, or $7.9 million, and |
• | $38.6528 per share, or $53.1 million, to Series B preferred stockholders of record, including the fourth quarter dividend of $13.75 per share, or $18.9 million. |
In addition, on February 16, 2016, we paid dividends of $1.3125 per share, or $7.9 million, to Series A preferred stockholders of record at the close of business on February 1, 2016 and $13.75 per share, or $18.9 million, to Series B preferred stockholders of record at the close of business on February 1, 2016.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we declared an aggregate of $766.4 million in regular cash distributions payable to our common stockholders, which included our fourth quarter distribution of $0.49 per share ($207.7 million) payable on January 13, 2016 to common stockholders of record at the close of business on December 16, 2015.
We accrue distributions on unvested restricted stock units, which are payable upon vesting. As of December 31, 2015, the amount accrued for distributions payable related to unvested restricted stock units was $5.1 million. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we paid $1.3 million of distributions upon the vesting of restricted stock units.
For more details on the cash distributions paid to our common and preferred stockholders during the year ended December 31, 2015, see note 14 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Contractual Obligations. The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
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Contractual Obligations | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Thereafter | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt, including current portion: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
American Tower subsidiary debt: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series 2013-1A Securities (1) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 500,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 500,000 | |||||||||||||||
Series 2013-2A Securities (2) | — | — | — | — | — | 1,300,000 | 1,300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Series 2015-1 Notes (3) | — | — | — | — | 350,000 | — | 350,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Series 2015-2 Notes (4) | — | — | — | — | — | 525,000 | 525,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 GTP Notes (5) | 5,640 | 93,503 | — | 172,987 | — | — | 272,130 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Unison Notes (6) | — | 67,000 | — | — | 129,000 | — | 196,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
BR Towers debentures (7) | 6,049 | 7,465 | 8,614 | 12,043 | 11,951 | 39,097 | 85,219 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Shareholder loans (8) | — | — | — | 145,540 | — | — | 145,540 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
South African facility (9) | 10,731 | 10,731 | 10,731 | 10,731 | 10,733 | — | 53,657 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Colombian credit facility (10) | 6,350 | 9,525 | 9,525 | 9,525 | 12,701 | 12,702 | 60,328 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Brazil credit facility (11) | — | — | — | — | — | 21,868 | 21,868 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Indian working capital facility (12) | 8,752 | — | — | — | — | — | 8,752 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total American Tower subsidiary debt | 37,522 | 188,224 | 528,870 | 350,826 | 514,385 | 1,898,667 | 3,518,494 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
American Tower Corporation debt: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Term Loan | — | — | — | — | — | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 Credit Facility | — | — | — | 1,225,000 | — | — | 1,225,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 Credit Facility | — | — | — | — | — | 1,980,000 | 1,980,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4.500% senior notes | — | — | 1,000,000 | — | — | — | 1,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3.40% senior notes | — | — | — | 1,000,000 | — | — | 1,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
7.25% senior notes | — | — | — | 300,000 | — | — | 300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2.800% Notes | — | — | — | — | 750,000 | — | 750,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
5.050% senior notes | — | — | — | — | 700,000 | — | 700,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3.450% senior notes | — | — | — | — | — | 650,000 | 650,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
5.900% senior notes | — | — | — | — | — | 500,000 | 500,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4.70% senior notes | — | — | — | — | — | 700,000 | 700,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3.50% senior notes | — | — | — | — | — | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
5.00% senior notes | — | — | — | — | — | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4.000% Notes | — | — | — | — | — | 750,000 | 750,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total American Tower Corporation debt | — | — | 1,000,000 | 2,525,000 | 1,450,000 | 8,580,000 | 13,555,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term obligations, excluding capital leases | 37,522 | 188,224 | 1,528,870 | 2,875,826 | 1,964,385 | 10,478,667 | 17,073,494 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash interest expense | 584,164 | 577,391 | 524,677 | 456,734 | 378,094 | 682,120 | 3,203,180 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital lease payments (including interest) | 20,697 | 17,711 | 16,876 | 15,423 | 11,753 | 173,398 | 255,858 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total debt service obligations | 642,383 | 783,326 | 2,070,423 | 3,347,983 | 2,354,232 | 11,334,185 | 20,532,532 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating lease payments (13) | 721,596 | 709,377 | 690,184 | 669,562 | 643,124 | 6,416,213 | 9,850,056 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other non-current liabilities (14)(15) | 6,131 | 6,923 | 14,975 | 7,219 | 707 | 2,595,602 | 2,631,557 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,370,110 | $ | 1,499,626 | $ | 2,775,582 | $ | 4,024,764 | $ | 2,998,063 | $ | 20,346,000 | $ | 33,014,145 | |||||||||||||||
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(1) | Represents anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is March 15, 2043. |
(2) | Represents anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is March 15, 2048. |
(3) | Represents anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is June 15, 2045. |
(4) | Represents anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is June 15, 2050. |
(5) | Assumed by us in connection with the acquisition of MIPT. |
(6) | Secured debt assumed by us in connection with the Unison Acquisition. Anticipated repayment dates begin April 15, 2017; final legal maturity date is April 15, 2040. |
(7) | Publicly issued debentures assumed in connection with our acquisition of BR Towers and denominated in BRL. The BR Towers debentures amortize through October 15, 2023. |
(8) | Reflects balances owed to our joint venture partners in Ghana and Uganda. The Ghana loan is denominated in GHS and the Uganda loan is denominated in USD. |
(9) | Denominated in ZAR and amortizes through December 17, 2020. |
(10) | Denominated in COP and amortizes through April 24, 2021. |
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(11) | Denominated in BRL and matures on January 15, 2022. |
(12) | Denominated in INR. |
(13) | Includes payments under non-cancellable initial terms, as well as payments for certain renewal periods at our option, which we expect to renew because failure to renew could result in a loss of the applicable communications sites and related revenues from tenant leases. |
(14) | Primarily represents our asset retirement obligations and excludes certain other non-current liabilities included in our consolidated balance sheet, primarily our straight-line rent liability for which cash payments are included in operating lease payments and unearned revenue that is not payable in cash. |
(15) | Excludes $14.7 million of liabilities for unrecognized tax positions and $16.7 million of accrued income tax related interest and penalties included in our consolidated balance sheet as we are uncertain as to when and if the amounts may be settled. Settlement of such amounts could require the use of cash flows generated from operations. We expect the unrecognized tax benefits to change over the next 12 months if certain tax matters ultimately settle with the applicable taxing jurisdiction during this timeframe. However, based on the status of these items and the amount of uncertainty associated with the outcome and timing of audit settlements, we are currently unable to estimate the impact of the amount of such changes, if any, to previously recorded uncertain tax positions. |
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of SEC Regulation S-K.
Factors Affecting Sources of Liquidity
Our liquidity is dependent on our ability to generate cash flow from operating activities, borrow funds under our credit facilities and maintain compliance with the contractual agreements governing our indebtedness. We believe that the debt agreements discussed below represent our material debt agreements that contain covenants, our compliance with which would be material to an investor’s understanding of our financial results and the impact of those results on our liquidity.
Internally Generated Funds. Because the majority of our tenant leases are multi-year contracts, a significant majority of the revenues generated by our property operations as of the end of 2015 is recurring revenue that we should continue to receive in future periods. Accordingly, a key factor affecting our ability to generate cash flow from operating activities is to maintain this recurring revenue and to convert it into operating profit by minimizing operating costs and fully achieving our operating efficiencies. In addition, our ability to increase cash flow from operating activities is dependent upon the demand for our communications sites and our related services and our ability to increase the utilization of our existing communications sites.
Restrictions Under Loan Agreements Relating to Our Credit Facilities. The loan agreements for the 2014 Credit Facility, the 2013 Credit Facility and the Term Loan contain certain financial and operating covenants and other restrictions applicable to us and our subsidiaries that are not designated as unrestricted subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. These include limitations on additional debt, distributions and dividends, guaranties, sales of assets and liens. The loan agreements also contain covenants that establish three financial tests with which we and our restricted subsidiaries must comply related to total leverage and senior secured leverage, as set forth in the table below. In the event that our debt ratings fall below investment grade, we must maintain an interest coverage ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to Interest Expense (each as defined in the applicable loan agreement) of at least 2.50:1.00. As of December 31, 2015, we were in compliance with each of these covenants.
Compliance Tests For 12 Months Ended December 31, 2015 ($ in billions) | ||||||
Ratio (1) | Additional Debt Capacity Under Covenants (2) | Capacity for Adjusted EBITDA Decrease Under Covenants (3) | ||||
Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio | Total Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ≤ 7.00:1.00 (4) | ~ $5.3 | ~ $0.8 | |||
Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio | Senior Secured Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ≤ 3.00:1.00 | ~ $6.1 (5) | ~ $2.0 (5) | |||
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(1) Each component of the ratio as defined in the applicable loan agreement.
(2) Assumes no change to Adjusted EBITDA.
(3) Assumes no change to our existing debt levels.
(4) | The required ratio is ≤ 7.00:1.00 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 and ≤ 6.00:1.00 thereafter. If the required ratio as of December 31, 2015 had been ≤6.00: 1.00, our additional debt capacity would have been $2.1 billion and our capacity for Adjusted EBITDA decrease would have been $0.3 billion. |
(5) Effectively, however, the capacity under this ratio would be limited to the capacity under the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio.
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The loan agreements for our credit facilities also contain reporting and information covenants that require us to provide financial and operating information within certain time periods. If we are unable to provide the required information on a timely basis, we would be in breach of these covenants.
Failure to comply with the financial maintenance tests and certain other covenants of the loan agreements for our credit facilities could not only prevent us from being able to borrow additional funds under these credit facilities, but may constitute a default under these credit facilities, which could result in, among other things, the amounts outstanding, including all accrued interest and unpaid fees, becoming immediately due and payable. If this were to occur, we may not have sufficient cash on hand to repay such indebtedness. The key factors affecting our ability to comply with the debt covenants described above are our financial performance relative to the financial maintenance tests defined in the loan agreements for these credit facilities and our ability to fund our debt service obligations. Based upon our current expectations, we believe our operating results during the next 12 months will be sufficient to comply with these covenants.
Restrictions Under Agreements Relating to the 2015 Securitization and the 2013 Securitization. The 2015 Indenture and the loan agreement related to the 2013 Securitization include certain financial ratios and operating covenants and other restrictions customary for transactions subject to rated securitizations. Among other things, American Tower Asset Sub, LLC and American Tower Asset Sub II, LLC (together, the “AMT Asset Subs”) and GTP Acquisition Partners are prohibited from incurring other indebtedness for borrowed money or further encumbering their assets subject to customary carve-outs for ordinary course trade payables and permitted encumbrances (as defined in the applicable agreement).
Under the terms of the agreements, amounts due will be paid from the cash flows generated by the assets securing the 2015 Notes or the assets securing the nonrecourse loan that secures the Secured Tower Revenue Securities, Series 2013-1A and Series 2013-2A issued in the 2013 Securitization (the “Loan”), as applicable, which must be deposited into certain reserve accounts, and thereafter distributed, solely pursuant to the terms of the applicable agreement. On a monthly basis, after payment of all required amounts under the applicable agreement, subject to the conditions described in the table below, the excess cash flows generated from the operation of such assets are released to GTP Acquisition Partners or the AMT Asset Subs, as applicable, which can then be distributed to, and used by, us. As of December 31, 2015, $111.3 million held in such reserve accounts was classified as restricted cash.
Certain information with respect to each of the 2015 Securitization and the 2013 Securitization is set forth below ($ in millions). The debt service coverage ratio (“DSCR”) is generally calculated as the ratio of the net cash flow (as defined in the applicable agreement) to the amount of interest, servicing fees and trustee fees required to be paid over the succeeding 12 months on the principal amount of the 2015 Notes or the Loan, as applicable, that will be outstanding on the payment date following such date of determination.
Issuer or Borrower | Notes/Securities Issued | Conditions Limiting Distributions of Excess Cash | Excess Cash Distributed During Year Ended December 31, 2015 | DSCR as of December 31, 2015 | Capacity for Decrease in Net Cash Flow Before Triggering Cash Trap DSCR (1) | Capacity for Decrease in Net Cash Flow Before Triggering Minimum DSCR (1) | ||
Cash Trap DSCR | Amortization Period | |||||||
2015 Securitization | GTP Acquisition Partners | American Tower Secured Revenue Notes, Series 2015-1 and Series 2015-2 | 1.30x, Tested Quarterly (2) | (3)(4) | $145.3 (5) | 7.10x | $154.8 | $158.8 |
2013 Securitization | AMT Asset Subs | Secured Tower Revenue Securities, Series 2013-1A and Series 2013-2A | 1.30x, Tested Quarterly (2) | (3)(6) | $621.9 | 10.78x | $455.7 | $462.9 |
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(1) | Based on the net cash flow of the applicable issuer or borrower as of December 31, 2015 and the expenses payable over the next 12 months on the 2015 Notes or the Loan, as applicable. |
(2) | Once triggered, a Cash Trap DSCR condition continues to exist until the DSCR exceeds the Cash Trap DSCR for two consecutive calendar quarters. |
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(3) | An amortization period commences if the DSCR is equal to or below 1.15x (the “Minimum DSCR”) at the end of any calendar quarter and continues to exist until the DSCR exceeds the Minimum DSCR for two consecutive calendar quarters. |
(4) | No amortization period is triggered if the outstanding principal amount of a series has not been repaid in full on the applicable anticipated repayment date. However, in such event, additional interest will accrue on the unpaid principal balance of the applicable series, and such series will begin to amortize on a monthly basis from excess cash flow. |
(5) | Includes amounts distributed pursuant to the GTP AP Notes prior to the repayment on May 29, 2015. |
(6) | An amortization period exists if the outstanding principal amount has not been paid in full on the applicable anticipated repayment date and continues to exist until such principal has been repaid in full. |
A failure to meet the noted DSCR tests could prevent GTP Acquisition Partners or the AMT Asset Subs from distributing excess cash flow to us, which could affect our ability to fund our capital expenditures, including tower construction and acquisitions, meet REIT distribution requirements and make preferred stock dividend payments. During an “amortization period” all excess cash flow and any amounts then in the reserve accounts because the DSCR was equal to or below the Cash Trap DSCR would be applied to pay principal of the 2015 Notes or the Loan, as applicable, on each monthly payment date, and so would not be available for distribution to us. Further, additional interest will begin to accrue with respect to any series of the 2015 Notes or subclass of Loan from and after the anticipated repayment date at a per annum rate determined in accordance with the applicable agreement. With respect to the 2015 Notes, upon occurrence and during an event of default, the applicable trustee may, in its discretion or at direction of holders of more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal of any series of the 2015 Notes, declare such series of 2015 Notes immediately due and payable, in which case any excess cash flow would need to be used to pay holders of such notes. Furthermore, if GTP Acquisition Partners or the AMT Asset Subs were to default on a series of the 2015 Notes or the Loan, the applicable trustee may seek to foreclose upon or otherwise convert the ownership of all or any portion of the 3,609 2015 Secured Sites or the 5,186 2013 Secured Towers, respectively, in which case we could lose such sites and the revenue associated with those assets.
As discussed above, we use our available liquidity and seek new sources of liquidity to repay or repurchase our outstanding indebtedness. In addition, in order to fund capital expenditures, future growth and expansion initiatives and satisfy our distribution requirements, we may need to raise additional capital through financing activities. If we determine that it is desirable or necessary to raise additional capital, we may be unable to do so, or such additional financing may be prohibitively expensive or restricted by the terms of our outstanding indebtedness. If we are unable to raise capital when our needs arise, we may not be able to fund capital expenditures, future growth and expansion initiatives, satisfy our REIT distribution requirements, pay preferred stock dividends or refinance our existing indebtedness.
In addition, our liquidity depends on our ability to generate cash flow from operating activities. As set forth under Item 1A of this Annual Report under the caption “Risk Factors,” we derive a substantial portion of our revenues from a small number of tenants and, consequently, a failure by a significant tenant to perform its contractual obligations to us could adversely affect our cash flow and liquidity.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate our policies and estimates on an ongoing basis. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We have reviewed our policies and estimates to determine our critical accounting policies for the year ended December 31, 2015. We have identified the following policies as critical to an understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. This is not a comprehensive list of our accounting policies. See note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report for a summary of our significant accounting policies. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP, with no need for management’s judgment in its application. There are also areas in which management’s judgment in selecting any available alternative would not produce a materially different result.
• | Impairment of Assets—Assets Subject to Depreciation and Amortization: We review long-lived assets for impairment at least annually or whenever events, changes in circumstances or other indicators or evidence indicate that the carrying amount of our assets may not be recoverable. |
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We review our tower portfolio and network location intangible assets for indicators of impairment at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows, typically at an individual tower basis. Possible indicators include a tower not having current tenant leases or having expenses in excess of revenues. A cash flow modeling approach is utilized to assess recoverability and incorporates, among other items, the tower location, the tower location demographics, the timing of additions of new tenants, lease rates and estimated length of tenancy and ongoing cash requirements.
We review our customer-related intangible assets on a customer by customer basis for indicators of impairment, such as high levels of turnover or attrition, non-renewal of a significant number of contracts, or the cancellation or termination of a relationship. We assess recoverability by determining whether the carrying amount of the customer-related intangible assets will be recovered through projected undiscounted cash flows.
If the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows of our long-lived assets is less than the carrying amount of the assets, an impairment loss may be recognized. An impairment loss would be based on the fair value of the asset, which is based on an estimate of discounted future cash flows to be provided from the asset. We record any related impairment charge in the period in which we identify such impairment.
• | Impairment of Assets—Goodwill: We review goodwill for impairment at least annually (as of December 31) or whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. |
Goodwill is recorded in the applicable segment and assessed for impairment at the reporting unit level. We utilize the two step impairment test when testing goodwill for impairment and we employ a discounted cash flow analysis. The key assumptions utilized in the discounted cash flow analysis include current operating performance, terminal sales growth rate, management’s expectations of future operating results and cash requirements, the current weighted average cost of capital and an expected tax rate. Under the first step of this test, we compare the fair value of the reporting unit, as calculated under an income approach using future discounted cash flows, to the carrying amount of the applicable reporting unit. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, we conduct the second step of this test, in which the implied fair value of the applicable reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss would be recognized for the amount of the excess.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, no potential impairment was identified under the first step of the test. The fair value of each of our reporting units was in excess of its carrying amount by a substantial margin.
• | Asset Retirement Obligations: When required, we recognize the fair value of obligations to remove our tower assets and remediate the leased land upon which certain of our tower assets are located. Generally, the associated retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related tower assets and depreciated over their estimated useful lives and the liability is accreted through the obligation’s estimated settlement date. |
We updated our assumptions used in estimating our aggregate asset retirement obligation, which resulted in a net increase in the estimated obligation of $6.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. The change in 2015 primarily resulted from changes in timing of certain settlement date and cost assumptions. Fair value estimates of liabilities for asset retirement obligations generally involve discounting of estimated future cash flows. Periodic accretion of such liabilities due to the passage of time is included in Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense in the consolidated statements of operations. The significant assumptions used in estimating our aggregate asset retirement obligation are: timing of tower removals; cost of tower removals; timing and number of land lease renewals; expected inflation rates; and credit-adjusted risk-free interest rates that approximate our incremental borrowing rate. While we feel the assumptions are appropriate, there can be no assurances that actual costs and the probability of incurring obligations will not differ from these estimates. We will continue to review these assumptions periodically and we may need to adjust them as necessary.
• | Acquisitions: For those acquisitions that meet the definition of a business combination, we apply the acquisition method of accounting where assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value at the date of each acquisition, and the results of operations are included with those of the Company from the dates of the respective acquisitions. Any excess of the purchase price paid over the amounts recognized for assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. We continue to evaluate acquisitions for a period not to exceed one year after the applicable acquisition date of each transaction to determine whether any additional adjustments are needed to the allocation of the purchase price paid for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is typically determined by using either estimates of replacement costs or discounted cash flow valuation methods. When determining the fair value of tangible assets acquired, we must estimate the cost to |
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replace the asset with a new asset taking into consideration such factors as age, condition and the economic useful life of the asset. When determining the fair value of intangible assets acquired, we must estimate the applicable discount rate and the timing and amount of future customer cash flows, including rate and terms of renewal and attrition.
• | Revenue Recognition: Our revenue from leasing arrangements, including fixed escalation clauses present in non-cancellable lease arrangements, is reported on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective leases when collectibility is reasonably assured. Escalation clauses tied to the Consumer Price Index or other inflation-based indices, and other incentives present in lease agreements with our tenants are excluded from the straight-line calculation. Total property straight-line revenues for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 approximated $155.0 million, $123.7 million and $147.7 million, respectively. Amounts billed upfront in connection with the execution of lease agreements are initially deferred and reflected in Unearned revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and recognized as revenue over the terms of the applicable leases. Amounts billed or received for services prior to being earned are deferred and reflected in Unearned revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets until the criteria for recognition have been met. |
We derive the largest portion of our revenues, corresponding trade receivables and the related deferred rent asset from a small number of tenants in the telecommunications industry, and 63% of our revenues are derived from four tenants in the industry. In addition, we have concentrations of credit risk in certain geographic areas. We mitigate the concentrations of credit risk with respect to notes and trade receivables by actively monitoring the credit worthiness of our borrowers and tenants. In recognizing customer revenue we assess the collectibility of both the amounts billed and the portion recognized on a straight-line basis. This assessment takes tenant credit risk and business and industry conditions into consideration to ultimately determine the collectibility of the amounts billed. To the extent the amounts, based on management’s estimates, may not be collectible, recognition is deferred until such point as the uncertainty is resolved. Any amounts that were previously recognized as revenue and subsequently determined to be uncollectible are charged to bad debt expense. Accounts receivable are reported net of allowances for doubtful accounts related to estimated losses resulting from a tenant’s inability to make required payments and allowances for amounts invoiced whose collectibility is not reasonably assured.
• | Rent Expense: Many of the leases underlying our tower sites have fixed rent escalations, which provide for periodic increases in the amount of ground rent payable over time. In addition, certain of our tenant leases require us to exercise available renewal options pursuant to the underlying ground lease if the tenant exercises its renewal option. We calculate straight-line ground rent expense for these leases based on the fixed non-cancellable term of the underlying ground lease plus all periods, if any, for which failure to renew the lease imposes an economic penalty to us such that renewal appears to be reasonably assured. |
• | Stock-Based Compensation: The fair value of a stock option is determined using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model that takes into account a number of assumptions at the accounting measurement date including the stock price, the exercise price, the expected life of the option, the volatility of the underlying stock, the expected distributions, and the risk-free interest rate over the expected life of the option. These assumptions are highly subjective and could significantly impact the value of the option and the compensation expense. In addition, the amount we record as stock-based compensation expense is required to include an estimate of the awards that will not fully vest and be forfeited. The fair value of both time-based and performance-based restricted stock units is based on the fair value of our common stock on the grant date. We recognize stock-based compensation in either selling, general, administrative and development expense, costs of operations or as part of the costs associated with the construction of our tower assets. |
• | Income Taxes: Accounting for income taxes requires us to estimate the timing and impact of amounts recorded in our financial statements that may be recognized differently for tax purposes. To the extent that the timing of amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes differs from the timing of recognition for tax reporting purposes, deferred tax assets or liabilities are required to be recorded. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured based on the rate at which we expect these items to be reflected in our tax returns, which may differ from the current rate. We do not expect to pay federal taxes on our REIT taxable income. |
We periodically review our deferred tax assets, and we record a valuation allowance if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to use the existing deferred tax assets. Valuation allowances would be reversed as a reduction to the provision for income taxes, if related deferred tax assets are deemed realizable based on changes in facts and circumstances relevant to the assets’ recoverability.
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We recognize the benefit of uncertain tax positions when, in management’s judgment, it is more likely than not that positions we have taken in our tax returns will be sustained upon examination, which are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. We adjust our tax liabilities when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information or information not previously available. Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from our current estimate of the tax liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which additional information is available or the position is ultimately settled under audit.
We consider the earnings of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries to be indefinitely invested outside the United States on the basis of estimates that future domestic cash generation will be sufficient to meet future domestic cash needs. Should we decide to repatriate the foreign earnings, we may have to adjust the income tax provision in the period we determined that the earnings will no longer be indefinitely invested outside of the United States.
Accounting Standards Update
For a discussion of recent accounting standards updates, see note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
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ITEM 7A. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2015 about our market risk exposure associated with changing interest rates. For long-term debt obligations, the table presents principal cash flows by maturity date and average interest rates related to outstanding obligations. For interest rate swaps, the table presents notional principal amounts and weighted-average interest rates (in thousands, except percentages). For more information, see Item 7 of this Annual Report under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” and note 8 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Long-Term Debt | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Thereafter | Total | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed Rate Debt (a) | $ | 27,071 | $ | 167,814 | $ | 1,508,788 | $ | 1,551,089 | $ | 1,934,643 | $ | 6,495,394 | $ | 11,684,799 | $ | 11,930,026 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted-Average Interest Rate (a) | 7.41 | % | 4.51 | % | 3.54 | % | 5.21 | % | 3.85 | % | 4.06 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Variable Rate Debt (b) | $ | 23,131 | $ | 27,722 | $ | 28,871 | $ | 1,332,526 | $ | 35,383 | $ | 4,053,667 | $ | 5,501,300 | $ | 5,491,298 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted-Average Interest Rate (b)(c) | 8.62 | % | 8.70 | % | 8.65 | % | 2.07 | % | 8.64 | % | 1.81 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Interest Rate Swaps | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notional Amount | $ | 3,175 | $ | 4,763 | $ | 4,763 | $ | 4,763 | $ | 6,350 | $ | 6,350 | $ | 30,164 | $ | 692 | |||||||||||||||
Fixed Rate Debt Rate (d) | 9.74 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_______________
(a) | Fixed rate debt consisted of: Securities issued in the 2013 Securitization; 2012 GTP Notes assumed in connection with our acquisition of MIPT; 2015 Notes issued in the 2015 Securitization; Unison Notes assumed in connection with the Unison Acquisition; the 4.500% senior notes due 2018; the 3.40% senior notes due 2019; the 7.25% senior notes due 2019; the 2.800% Notes; the 5.050% senior notes due 2020, the 3.450% senior notes due 2021; the 5.900% senior notes due 2021; the 4.70% senior notes due 2022; the 3.50% senior notes due 2023; the 5.00% senior notes due 2024; the 4.000% Notes; the Ghana loan; and other debt including capital leases. |
(b) | Variable rate debt included the Term Loan, which matures on January 29, 2021; the 2014 Credit Facility, which matures on January 29, 2021; and the 2013 Credit Facility, which matures on June 28, 2019. Variable rate debt also included: the BR Towers debentures, which amortize through October 15, 2023, the Uganda loan, which matures on June 29, 2019, the South African facility, which amortizes through December 17, 2020; the Colombian credit facility, which amortizes through April 24, 2021; and the Brazil credit facility, which matures on January 15, 2022. |
(c) | Based on rates effective as of December 31, 2015. |
(d) | Represents the weighted average fixed rate of interest based on contractual notional amount as a percentage of total notional amounts. |
Interest Rate Risk
We have one interest rate swap agreement in Colombia as of December 31, 2015. The interest rate swap agreement has been designated as a cash flow hedge, has a notional amount of $30.2 million, an interest rate of 5.74% and expires in April 2021.
Changes in interest rates can cause interest charges to fluctuate on our variable rate debt. Variable rate debt as of December 31, 2015 was comprised of $1,980.0 million under the 2014 Credit Facility, $1,225.0 million under the 2013 Credit Facility, $2,000.0 million under the Term Loan, $75.2 million under the Uganda loan, $53.7 million under the South African facility, $30.2 million under the Colombian credit facility after giving effect to our interest rate swap agreement, $85.2 million under the BR Towers debentures and $21.9 million under the Brazil credit facility. A 10% increase in current interest rates would result in an additional $10.8 million of interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Foreign Currency Risk
We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates primarily in connection with our foreign subsidiaries and joint ventures internationally. Any transaction denominated in a currency other than the U.S. Dollar is reported in U.S. Dollars at the applicable exchange rate. All assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars at exchange rates in effect at the end of the applicable fiscal reporting period and all revenues and expenses are translated at average rates for the period. The cumulative translation effect is included in equity as a component of AOCI. We may enter into additional foreign currency financial instruments in anticipation of future transactions in order to minimize the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. For the year ended December 31, 2015, 32% of our revenues and 36% of our total operating expenses were denominated in foreign currencies.
As of December 31, 2015, we have incurred intercompany debt that is not considered to be permanently reinvested, and similar unaffiliated balances that were denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the subsidiary in which it is recorded. As this debt had not been designated as being a long-term investment in nature, any changes in the foreign currency exchange rates will result in unrealized gains or losses, which will be included in our determination of net income. An adverse change of 10% in the underlying exchange rates of our unsettled intercompany debt and similar unaffiliated balances
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would result in $71.7 million of unrealized losses that would be included in Other expense in our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2015.
ITEM 8. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA |
See Item 15 (a).
ITEM 9. | CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE |
None.
ITEM 9A. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have established disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that material information relating to us, including our consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the officers who certify our financial reports and to other members of senior management and the Board of Directors.
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2015 and designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the requisite time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. In making its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013). Based on this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2015, our internal control over financial reporting is effective.
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm that audited our financial statements included in this Annual Report, has issued an attestation report on management’s internal control over financial reporting, which is included in this Item 9A under the caption “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
American Tower Corporation
Boston, Massachusetts
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of American Tower Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 of the Company and our report dated February 26, 2016, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 26, 2016
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PART III
ITEM 10. | DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
Our executive officers and their respective ages and positions as of February 19, 2016 are set forth below:
James D. Taiclet, Jr. | 55 | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
Thomas A. Bartlett | 57 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
Edmund DiSanto | 63 | Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary | |||
William H. Hess | 52 | Executive Vice President, International Operations and President, Latin America and EMEA | |||
Steven C. Marshall | 54 | Executive Vice President, and President, U.S. Tower Division | |||
Robert J. Meyer, Jr. | 52 | Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Controller | |||
Amit Sharma | 65 | Executive Vice President and President, Asia | |||
James D. Taiclet, Jr. is our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Taiclet was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer in September 2001, was named Chief Executive Officer in October 2003 and was selected as Chairman of the Board in February 2004. Prior to joining us, Mr. Taiclet served as President of Honeywell Aerospace Services, a unit of Honeywell International, and prior to that as Vice President, Engine Services at Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corporation. He was also previously a consultant at McKinsey & Company, specializing in telecommunications and aerospace strategy and operations. Mr. Taiclet began his career as a United States Air Force officer and pilot. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from Princeton University, where he was awarded a fellowship at the Woodrow Wilson School, and is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with majors in Engineering and International Relations. Mr. Taiclet is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the Board of Governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), a member of the Business Roundtable, was named to the U.S.-India CEO Forum by the U.S. Department of Commerce and serves on the Board of Trustees of Brigham and Women’s Healthcare, Inc., in Boston, Massachusetts.
Thomas A. Bartlett is our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Bartlett joined us in April 2009 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and assumed the role of Treasurer from February 2012 until December 2013. Prior to joining us, Mr. Bartlett served as Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller with Verizon Communications, Inc. since November 2005. In this role, he was responsible for corporate-wide accounting, tax planning and compliance, SEC financial reporting, budget reporting and analysis and capital expenditures planning functions. Mr. Bartlett previously held the roles of Senior Vice President and Treasurer, as well as Senior Vice President Investor Relations. During his twenty-five year career with Verizon Communications and its predecessor companies and affiliates, he served in numerous operations and business development roles, including as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bell Atlantic International Wireless from 1995 through 2000, where he was responsible for wireless activities in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia, and was also an area President in Verizon’s U.S. wireless business responsible for all operational aspects in both the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Mr. Bartlett began his career at Deloitte, Haskins & Sells. Mr. Bartlett currently serves on the board of directors of Equinix, Inc. Mr. Bartlett earned an M.B.A. from Rutgers University, a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Lehigh University, and became a Certified Public Accountant.
Edmund DiSanto is our Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary. Prior to joining us in April 2007, Mr. DiSanto was with Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corporation. Mr. DiSanto started with United Technologies in 1989, where he first served as Assistant General Counsel of its Carrier subsidiary, then corporate Executive Assistant to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Technologies. From 1997, he held various legal and business roles at its Pratt & Whitney unit, including Deputy General Counsel and most recently, Vice President, Global Service Partners, Business Development. Prior to joining United Technologies, Mr. DiSanto served in a number of legal and related positions at United Dominion Industries and New England Electric Systems. Mr. DiSanto earned a J.D. from Boston College Law School and a Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University. In 2013, Mr. DiSanto became a member of the board of directors of the Business Council for International Understanding.
William H. Hess is our Executive Vice President, International Operations and President, Latin America and EMEA. Mr. Hess joined us in March 2001 as Chief Financial Officer of American Tower International and was appointed Executive Vice President in June 2001. Mr. Hess was appointed Executive Vice President, General Counsel in September 2002, and in February 2007, Mr. Hess was also appointed Executive Vice President, International Operations. Mr. Hess relinquished the position of General Counsel in April 2007 when he was named President of our Latin American operations. In March 2009, Mr.
54
Hess also became responsible for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) territory. Prior to joining us, Mr. Hess had been a partner in the corporate and finance practice group of the law firm of King & Spalding LLP, which he joined in 1990. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Hess practiced as a Certified Public Accountant with Arthur Young & Co. Mr. Hess received a J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law and is a graduate of Harding University.
Steven C. Marshall is our Executive Vice President and President, U.S. Tower Division. Mr. Marshall served as our Executive Vice President, International Business Development from November 2007 through March 2009, at which time he was appointed to his current position. Prior to joining us, Mr. Marshall was with National Grid Plc, where he served in a number of leadership and business development positions since 1997. Between 2003 and 2007, Mr. Marshall was Chief Executive Officer, National Grid Wireless, where he led National Grid’s wireless tower infrastructure business in the United States and United Kingdom, and held directorships with Digital UK and FreeView during this period. In addition, during his tenure at National Grid, as well as at Costain Group Plc and Tootal Group Plc, he led operational and business development efforts in Latin America, India, Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In October 2010, Mr. Marshall was appointed a director of PCIA -The Wireless Infrastructure Association. In April 2011, he was appointed a director of the Competitive Carriers Association, formerly known as the Rural Cellular Association. Mr. Marshall earned an M.B.A. from Manchester Business School in Manchester, England and a Bachelor of Science with honors in Building and Civil Engineering from the Victoria University of Manchester, England.
Robert J. Meyer, Jr. is our Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Controller. Mr. Meyer joined us in August 2008. Prior to joining us, Mr. Meyer was with Bright Horizons Family Solutions since 1998, a provider of child care, early education and work/life consulting services, where he most recently served as Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Meyer also served as Corporate Controller and Vice President of Finance while at Bright Horizons. Prior to that, from 1997 to 1998, Mr. Meyer served as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at First Security Services Corp. Mr. Meyer earned a Masters in Finance from Bentley University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Marquette University, and is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Amit Sharma is our Executive Vice President and President, Asia. Mr. Sharma joined us in September 2007. Prior to joining us, since 1992, Mr. Sharma worked at Motorola, where he led country teams in India and Southeast Asia, including as Country President, India and as Head of Strategy, Asia-Pacific. Mr. Sharma also served on Motorola’s Asia-Pacific Board and was a member of its senior leadership team. Mr. Sharma also worked at GE Capital, serving as Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, and prior to that, with McKinsey, New York, serving as a core member of the firm's Electronics and Marketing Practices. Mr. Sharma earned an M.B.A. in International Business from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where he was on the Dean’s List and the Director’s Honors List. Mr. Sharma also holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from the Moore School, University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.
The information under “Election of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” from the Definitive Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference. Information required by this item pursuant to Item 407(c)(3) of SEC Regulation S-K relating to our procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors, and pursuant to Item 407(d)(4) and 407(d)(5) of SEC Regulation S-K relating to our audit committee financial experts and identification of the audit committee of our Board of Directors, is contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement under “Corporate Governance” and is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding our Code of Conduct applicable to our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer, our controller and other senior financial officers appears in Item 1 of this Annual Report under the caption “Business—Available Information.”
ITEM 11. | EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
The information under “Compensation and Other Information Concerning Directors and Officers” from the Definitive Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. | SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS |
The information under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” from the Definitive Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
55
ITEM 13. | CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE |
Information required by this item pursuant to Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K relating to approval of related party transactions is contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement under “Corporate Governance” and is incorporated herein by reference.
Information required by this item pursuant to Item 407(a) of SEC Regulation S-K relating to director independence is contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement under “Corporate Governance” and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES |
The information under “Independent Auditor Fees and Other Matters” from the Definitive Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
ITEM 15. | EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES |
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this report:
1. Financial Statements. See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements, which appears on page F-1 hereof. The financial statements listed in the accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial Statements are filed herewith in response to this Item.
2. Financial Statement Schedules. American Tower Corporation and Subsidiaries Schedule III – Schedule of Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation is filed herewith in response to this Item.
3. Exhibits. See Index to Exhibits. The exhibits listed in the Index to Exhibits immediately preceding the exhibits are filed herewith in response to this Item.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on the 26th day of February, 2016.
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION | ||||
By: | /S/ JAMES D. TAICLET, JR. | |||
James D. Taiclet, Jr. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been duly signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/S/ JAMES D. TAICLET, JR. | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | February 26, 2016 | ||
James D. Taiclet, Jr. | ||||
/S/ THOMAS A. BARTLETT | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | February 26, 2016 | ||
Thomas A. Bartlett | ||||
/S/ ROBERT J. MEYER, JR | Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) | February 26, 2016 | ||
Robert J. Meyer, Jr. | ||||
/S/ RAYMOND P. DOLAN | Director | February 26, 2016 | ||
Raymond P. Dolan | ||||
/S/ ROBERT D. HORMATS | Director | February 26, 2016 | ||
Robert D. Hormats | ||||
/S/ CAROLYN F. KATZ | Director | February 26, 2016 | ||
Carolyn F. Katz | ||||
/S/ GUSTAVO LARA CANTU | Director | February 26, 2016 | ||
Gustavo Lara Cantu | ||||
/S/ CRAIG MACNAB | Director | February 26, 2016 | ||
Craig Macnab | ||||
/S/ JOANN A. REED | Director | February 26, 2016 | ||
JoAnn A. Reed | ||||
/S/ PAMELA D. A. REEVE | Director | February 26, 2016 | ||
Pamela D. A. Reeve | ||||
/S/ DAVID E. SHARBUTT | Director | February 26, 2016 | ||
David E. Sharbutt | ||||
/S/ SAMME L. THOMPSON | Director | February 26, 2016 | ||
Samme L. Thompson | ||||
57
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page | ||
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
American Tower Corporation
Boston, Massachusetts
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of American Tower Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards 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. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 26, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 26, 2016
F-2
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
December 31, 2015 | December 31, 2014 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 320,686 | $ | 313,492 | ||||
Restricted cash | 142,193 | 160,206 | ||||||
Short-term investments | — | 6,302 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net | 227,354 | 199,074 | ||||||
Prepaid and other current assets | 306,235 | 264,793 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | — | 14,000 | ||||||
Total current assets | 996,468 | 957,867 | ||||||
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net | 9,866,424 | 7,590,112 | ||||||
GOODWILL | 4,091,805 | 4,032,174 | ||||||
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net | 9,837,876 | 6,824,273 | ||||||
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES | 212,041 | 253,186 | ||||||
DEFERRED RENT ASSET | 1,166,755 | 1,030,707 | ||||||
NOTES RECEIVABLE AND OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS | 732,903 | 575,246 | ||||||
TOTAL | $ | 26,904,272 | $ | 21,263,565 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 96,714 | $ | 90,366 | ||||
Accrued expenses | 516,413 | 417,836 | ||||||
Distributions payable | 210,027 | 159,864 | ||||||
Accrued interest | 115,672 | 130,265 | ||||||
Current portion of long-term obligations | 50,202 | 897,386 | ||||||
Unearned revenue | 211,001 | 233,819 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 1,200,029 | 1,929,536 | ||||||
LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS | 17,068,807 | 13,642,955 | ||||||
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS | 856,936 | 609,035 | ||||||
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES | 1,065,682 | 1,028,687 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 20,191,454 | 17,210,213 | ||||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | ||||||||
EQUITY: | ||||||||
Preferred stock: $.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; | ||||||||
5.25%, Series A, 6,000,000 shares issued and outstanding; aggregate liquidation value of $600,000 | 60 | 60 | ||||||
5.50%, Series B, 1,375,000 and no shares issued and outstanding, respectively; aggregate liquidation value of $1,375,000 | 14 | — | ||||||
Common stock: $.01 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 426,695,279 and 399,508,751 shares issued; and 423,885,253 and 396,698,725 shares outstanding, respectively | 4,267 | 3,995 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 9,690,609 | 5,788,786 | ||||||
Distributions in excess of earnings | (998,535 | ) | (837,320 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (1,836,996 | ) | (794,221 | ) | ||||
Treasury stock (2,810,026 shares at cost) | (207,740 | ) | (207,740 | ) | ||||
Total American Tower Corporation equity | 6,651,679 | 3,953,560 | ||||||
Noncontrolling interest | 61,139 | 99,792 | ||||||
Total equity | 6,712,818 | 4,053,352 | ||||||
TOTAL | $ | 26,904,272 | $ | 21,263,565 | ||||
F-3
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
REVENUES: | |||||||||||
Property | $ | 4,680,388 | $ | 4,006,854 | $ | 3,287,090 | |||||
Services | 91,128 | 93,194 | 74,317 | ||||||||
Total operating revenues | 4,771,516 | 4,100,048 | 3,361,407 | ||||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES: | |||||||||||
Costs of operations (exclusive of items shown separately below): | |||||||||||
Property (including stock-based compensation expense of $1,614, $1,397 and $977, respectively) | 1,275,436 | 1,056,177 | 828,742 | ||||||||
Services (including stock-based compensation expense of $439, $440 and $567, respectively) | 33,432 | 38,088 | 31,131 | ||||||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 1,285,328 | 1,003,802 | 800,145 | ||||||||
Selling, general, administrative and development expense (including stock-based compensation expense of $88,484, $78,316 and $66,594, respectively) | 497,835 | 446,542 | 415,545 | ||||||||
Other operating expenses | 66,696 | 68,517 | 71,539 | ||||||||
Total operating expenses | 3,158,727 | 2,613,126 | 2,147,102 | ||||||||
OPERATING INCOME | 1,612,789 | 1,486,922 | 1,214,305 | ||||||||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE): | |||||||||||
Interest income, TV Azteca, net of interest expense of $820, $1,482 and $1,483, respectively | 11,209 | 10,547 | 22,235 | ||||||||
Interest income | 16,479 | 14,002 | 9,706 | ||||||||
Interest expense | (595,949 | ) | (580,234 | ) | (458,296 | ) | |||||
Loss on retirement of long-term obligations | (79,606 | ) | (3,473 | ) | (38,701 | ) | |||||
Other expense (including unrealized foreign currency losses of $71,473, $49,319 and $211,722, respectively) | (134,960 | ) | (62,060 | ) | (207,500 | ) | |||||
Total other expense | (782,827 | ) | (621,218 | ) | (672,556 | ) | |||||
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 829,962 | 865,704 | 541,749 | ||||||||
Income tax provision | (157,955 | ) | (62,505 | ) | (59,541 | ) | |||||
NET INCOME | 672,007 | 803,199 | 482,208 | ||||||||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | 13,067 | 21,711 | 69,125 | ||||||||
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS | 685,074 | 824,910 | 551,333 | ||||||||
Dividends on preferred stock | (90,163 | ) | (23,888 | ) | — | ||||||
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS | $ | 594,911 | $ | 801,022 | $ | 551,333 | |||||
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE AMOUNTS: | |||||||||||
Basic net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | $ | 1.42 | $ | 2.02 | $ | 1.40 | |||||
Diluted net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | $ | 1.41 | $ | 2.00 | $ | 1.38 | |||||
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: | |||||||||||
BASIC | 418,907 | 395,958 | 395,040 | ||||||||
DILUTED | 423,015 | 400,086 | 399,146 | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
Net income | $ | 672,007 | $ | 803,199 | $ | 482,208 | ||||||
Other comprehensive (loss) income: | ||||||||||||
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax expense (benefit) of $73, $(151) and $374, respectively | 948 | (1,931 | ) | 1,107 | ||||||||
Reclassification of unrealized losses on cash flow hedges to net income, net of tax expense (benefit) of $84, $(158) and $(237), respectively | 2,440 | 3,448 | 2,572 | |||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax benefit of $24,857, $14,247 and $9,207, respectively | (1,078,950 | ) | (526,890 | ) | (135,079 | ) | ||||||
Other comprehensive loss | (1,075,562 | ) | (525,373 | ) | (131,400 | ) | ||||||
Comprehensive (loss) income | (403,555 | ) | 277,826 | 350,808 | ||||||||
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | 45,854 | 64,083 | 72,652 | |||||||||
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to American Tower Corporation stockholders | $ | (357,701 | ) | $ | 341,909 | $ | 423,460 | |||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(in thousands, except share data)
Preferred Stock - Series A | Preferred Stock - Series B | Common Stock | Treasury Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Distributions in Excess of Earnings | Noncontrolling Interest | Total Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issued Shares | Amount | Issued Shares | Amount | Issued Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 2013 | — | $ | — | — | $ | — | 395,963,218 | $ | 3,959 | (872,005 | ) | $ | (62,728 | ) | $ | 5,012,124 | $ | (183,347 | ) | $ | (1,196,907 | ) | $ | 111,080 | $ | 3,684,181 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation related activity | — | — | — | — | 1,633,380 | 16 | — | — | 113,566 | — | — | — | 113,582 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock—stock purchase plan | — | — | — | — | 77,752 | 1 | — | — | 4,926 | — | — | — | 4,927 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Treasury stock activity | — | — | — | — | — | — | (1,938,021 | ) | (145,012 | ) | — | — | — | — | (145,012 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 867 | — | 240 | 1,107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of unrealized losses on cash flow hedges to net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2,420 | — | 152 | 2,572 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (131,160 | ) | — | (3,919 | ) | (135,079 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions from noncontrolling interest | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18,020 | 18,020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (573 | ) | (573 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock distributions declared | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (435,893 | ) | — | (435,893 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 551,333 | (69,125 | ) | 482,208 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2013 | — | $ | — | — | $ | — | 397,674,350 | $ | 3,976 | (2,810,026 | ) | $ | (207,740 | ) | $ | 5,130,616 | $ | (311,220 | ) | $ | (1,081,467 | ) | $ | 55,875 | $ | 3,590,040 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation related activity | — | — | — | — | 1,753,286 | 18 | — | — | 119,716 | — | — | — | 119,734 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock—stock purchase plan | — | — | — | — | 81,115 | 1 | — | — | 5,717 | — | — | — | 5,718 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of preferred stock | 6,000,000 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 582,599 | — | — | — | 582,659 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (1,966 | ) | — | 35 | (1,931 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of unrealized losses on cash flow hedges to net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3,288 | — | 160 | 3,448 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (484,323 | ) | — | (42,567 | ) | (526,890 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions from noncontrolling interest | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 123,526 | 123,526 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (566 | ) | (566 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of noncontrolling interest | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (49,862 | ) | — | — | (14,960 | ) | (64,822 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock distributions declared | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (556,875 | ) | — | (556,875 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock dividends declared | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (23,888 | ) | — | (23,888 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 824,910 | (21,711 | ) | 803,199 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2014 | 6,000,000 | $ | 60 | — | $ | — | 399,508,751 | $ | 3,995 | (2,810,026 | ) | $ | (207,740 | ) | $ | 5,788,786 | $ | (794,221 | ) | $ | (837,320 | ) | $ | 99,792 | $ | 4,053,352 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation related activity | — | — | 1,253,236 | 12 | — | — | 117,206 | — | — | — | 117,218 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock—stock purchase plan | — | — | 83,292 | 1 | — | — | 6,617 | — | — | — | 6,618 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock | — | — | — | — | 25,850,000 | 259 | — | — | 2,440,068 | — | — | — | 2,440,327 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of preferred stock | — | — | 1,375,000 | 14 | — | — | — | — | 1,337,932 | — | — | — | 1,337,946 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 901 | — | 47 | 948 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification of unrealized losses on cash flow hedges to net income, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2,494 | — | (54 | ) | 2,440 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (1,046,170 | ) | — | (32,780 | ) | (1,078,950 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions from noncontrolling interest | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8,073 | 8,073 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (872 | ) | (872 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock distributions declared | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (769,517 | ) | — | (769,517 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred stock dividends declared | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (76,772 | ) | — | (76,772 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 685,074 | (13,067 | ) | 672,007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2015 | 6,000,000 | $ | 60 | 1,375,000 | $ | 14 | 426,695,279 | $ | 4,267 | (2,810,026 | ) | $ | (207,740 | ) | $ | 9,690,609 | $ | (1,836,996 | ) | $ | (998,535 | ) | $ | 61,139 | $ | 6,712,818 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 672,007 | $ | 803,199 | $ | 482,208 | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 1,285,328 | 1,003,802 | 800,145 | |||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 90,537 | 80,153 | 68,138 | |||||||||
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash | 16,112 | 7,522 | (52,717 | ) | ||||||||
Loss on investments, unrealized foreign currency loss and other non-cash expense | 142,697 | 65,881 | 222,390 | |||||||||
Impairments, net loss on sale of long-lived assets, non-cash restructuring and merger related expenses | 29,852 | 26,143 | 32,672 | |||||||||
Loss on early retirement of long-term obligations | 79,750 | 3,379 | 35,288 | |||||||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs, debt discounts and premiums and other non-cash interest | 6,932 | (4,870 | ) | 7,596 | ||||||||
Provision for losses on (recovery of) accounts receivable | 3,473 | (1,748 | ) | (1,410 | ) | |||||||
Deferred income taxes | 7,764 | 1,384 | (29,485 | ) | ||||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: | ||||||||||||
Accounts receivable | (56,312 | ) | (84,529 | ) | (19,080 | ) | ||||||
Prepaid and other assets | (91,113 | ) | (1,437 | ) | (96,038 | ) | ||||||
Deferred rent asset | (154,959 | ) | (122,230 | ) | (145,689 | ) | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 95,858 | 34,711 | 83,746 | |||||||||
Accrued interest | (15,641 | ) | 45,514 | 51,076 | ||||||||
Unearned revenue | 12,945 | 218,393 | 108,487 | |||||||||
Deferred rent liability | 56,076 | 38,378 | 30,246 | |||||||||
Other non-current liabilities | 1,746 | 20,944 | 21,474 | |||||||||
Cash provided by operating activities | 2,183,052 | 2,134,589 | 1,599,047 | |||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Payments for purchase of property and equipment and construction activities | (728,753 | ) | (974,404 | ) | (724,532 | ) | ||||||
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (1,961,056 | ) | (1,010,637 | ) | (4,461,764 | ) | ||||||
Payment for Verizon transaction | (5,059,462 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of cash | — | 15,464 | — | |||||||||
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments and other non-current assets | 1,032,320 | 1,434,831 | 421,714 | |||||||||
Payments for short-term investments | (1,022,816 | ) | (1,395,316 | ) | (427,267 | ) | ||||||
Deposits, restricted cash and other | (1,968 | ) | (19,486 | ) | 18,512 | |||||||
Cash used for investing activities | (7,741,735 | ) | (1,949,548 | ) | (5,173,337 | ) | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Proceeds from short-term borrowings, net | 9,043 | — | 8,191 | |||||||||
Borrowings under credit facilities | 6,126,618 | 2,187,000 | 3,507,000 | |||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net | 1,492,298 | 1,415,844 | 2,221,792 | |||||||||
Proceeds from term loan | 500,000 | — | 1,500,000 | |||||||||
Proceeds from other long-term borrowings | 54,549 | 102,070 | 402,688 | |||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of securities in securitization transaction | 875,000 | — | 1,778,496 | |||||||||
Repayments of notes payable, credit facilities, term loan, senior notes and capital leases | (6,393,405 | ) | (3,903,144 | ) | (5,337,339 | ) | ||||||
Contributions from noncontrolling interest holders, net | 7,201 | 9,098 | 17,447 | |||||||||
Purchases of common stock | — | — | (145,012 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from stock options and stock purchase plan | 50,716 | 62,276 | 45,496 | |||||||||
Distributions paid on common stock | (710,852 | ) | (404,631 | ) | (434,687 | ) | ||||||
Distributions paid on preferred stock | (84,647 | ) | (16,013 | ) | — | |||||||
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net | 2,440,327 | — | — | |||||||||
Proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock, net | 1,337,946 | 583,105 | — | |||||||||
Purchase of preferred stock assumed in acquisition | — | (59,111 | ) | — | ||||||||
Payment for early retirement of long-term obligations | (85,672 | ) | (11,593 | ) | (29,234 | ) | ||||||
Deferred financing costs and other financing activities | (30,021 | ) | (34,670 | ) | (9,273 | ) | ||||||
Purchase of noncontrolling interest | — | (64,822 | ) | — | ||||||||
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities | 5,589,101 | (134,591 | ) | 3,525,565 | ||||||||
Net effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents | (23,224 | ) | (30,534 | ) | (26,317 | ) | ||||||
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 7,194 | 19,916 | (75,042 | ) | ||||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR | 313,492 | 293,576 | 368,618 | |||||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR | $ | 320,686 | $ | 313,492 | $ | 293,576 | ||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-7
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Business—American Tower Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “ATC” or the “Company”) is one of the largest global real estate investment trusts and a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate. The Company’s primary business is the leasing of space on communications sites to wireless service providers, radio and television broadcast companies, wireless data providers, government agencies and municipalities and tenants in a number of other industries, which the Company refers to as its property operations. Additionally, the Company offers tower-related services in the United States, including site acquisition, zoning and permitting and structural analysis, which primarily support its site leasing business, including the addition of new tenants and equipment on its sites, which the Company refers to as its services operations.
The Company’s portfolio primarily consists of towers it owns and towers it operates pursuant to long-term lease arrangements, as well as distributed antenna system (“DAS”) networks, which provide seamless coverage solutions in certain in-building and outdoor wireless environments. In addition to the communications sites in its portfolio, the Company manages rooftop and tower sites for property owners under various contractual arrangements. The Company also holds property interests that it leases to communications service providers and third-party tower operators.
ATC is a holding company that conducts its operations through its directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries and its joint ventures. ATC’s principal domestic operating subsidiaries are American Towers LLC and SpectraSite Communications, LLC. ATC conducts its international operations primarily through its subsidiary, American Tower International, Inc., which in turn conducts operations through its various international holding and operating subsidiaries and joint ventures.
The Company operates as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes (“REIT”). Accordingly, the Company generally is not subject to U.S. federal income taxes on income generated by its U.S. REIT operations, including the income derived from leasing space on its towers, as the Company receives a dividends paid deduction for distributions to stockholders that generally offsets its income and gains. However, the Company remains obligated to pay U.S. federal income taxes on earnings from its domestic taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”). In addition, the Company’s international assets and operations, regardless of their designation for U.S. tax purposes, continue to be subject to taxation in the foreign jurisdictions where those assets are held or those operations are conducted.
The use of TRSs enables the Company to continue to engage in certain businesses while complying with REIT qualification requirements. The Company may, from time to time, change the election of previously designated TRSs to be included as part of the REIT. As of December 31, 2015, the Company’s U.S. REIT qualified business included its U.S. tower leasing business, most of its operations in Costa Rica, Germany and Mexico and a majority of its services segment and indoor DAS networks business.
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation—The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those entities in which it has a controlling interest. Investments in entities that the Company does not control are accounted for using the equity or cost method, depending upon the Company’s ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. As of December 31, 2015, the Company has a controlling interest in two joint ventures. The Company established joint ventures in Ghana and Uganda with MTN Group Limited (“MTN Group”). The joint ventures are controlled by a holding company of which a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company holds a 51% interest and a wholly owned subsidiary of MTN Group holds a 49% interest. In addition, the Company holds an approximate 75% controlling interest in a subsidiary of the Company in South Africa and the South African investors hold an approximate 25% noncontrolling interest.
Significant Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material to the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The significant estimates in the accompanying consolidated financial statements include impairment of long-lived assets (including goodwill), asset retirement obligations, revenue recognition, rent expense, stock-based compensation, income taxes and accounting for business combinations and acquisitions of assets. The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued as additional evidence for certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure.
F-8
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Accounts Receivable and Deferred Rent Asset—The Company derives the largest portion of its revenues, corresponding accounts receivable and the related deferred rent asset from a relatively small number of tenants in the telecommunications industry, and 63% of its current year revenues are derived from four tenants.
The Company’s deferred rent asset is associated with non-cancellable tenant leases that contain fixed escalation clauses over the terms of the applicable lease in which revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company mitigates its concentrations of credit risk with respect to notes and trade receivables and the related deferred rent assets by actively monitoring the creditworthiness of its borrowers and tenants. In recognizing customer revenue, the Company assesses the collectibility of both the amounts billed and the portion recognized in advance of billing on a straight-line basis. This assessment takes tenant credit risk and business and industry conditions into consideration to ultimately determine the collectibility of the amounts billed. To the extent the amounts, based on management’s estimates, may not be collectible, recognition is deferred until such point as collectibility is determined to be reasonably assured. Any amounts that were previously recognized as revenue and subsequently determined to be uncollectible are charged to bad debt expense included in Selling, general, administrative and development expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Accounts receivable is reported net of allowances for doubtful accounts related to estimated losses resulting from a tenant’s inability to make required payments and allowances for amounts invoiced whose collectibility is not reasonably assured. These allowances are generally estimated based on payment patterns, days past due and collection history, and incorporate changes in economic conditions that may not be reflected in historical trends, such as tenants in bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization. Receivables are written-off against the allowances when they are determined to be uncollectible. Such determination includes analysis and consideration of the particular conditions of the account. Changes in the allowances were as follows for the years ended December 31, (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Balance as of January 1 | $ | 17,306 | $ | 19,895 | $ | 20,406 | |||||
Current year increases | 19,878 | 8,243 | 7,025 | ||||||||
Write-offs, net of recoveries and other | (14,088 | ) | (10,832 | ) | (7,536 | ) | |||||
Balance as of December 31 | $ | 23,096 | $ | 17,306 | $ | 19,895 | |||||
Functional Currency—The functional currency of each of the Company’s foreign operating subsidiaries is the respective local currency, except for Costa Rica, where the functional currency is the U.S. Dollar. All foreign currency assets and liabilities held by the subsidiaries are translated into U.S. Dollars at the exchange rate in effect at the end of the applicable fiscal reporting period and all foreign currency revenues and expenses are translated at the average monthly exchange rates. Translation adjustments are reflected in equity as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (“AOCI”) in the consolidated balance sheets and included as a component of comprehensive loss (income) in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
Transactional gains and losses on foreign currency transactions are reflected in Other expense in the consolidated statements of operations. However, the effect from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on intercompany debt that is considered to be permanently reinvested is reflected in AOCI in the consolidated balance sheets and included as a component of comprehensive income. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded net foreign currency losses of $867.6 million, of which $732.9 million was recorded in AOCI and $134.7 million was recorded in Other expense.
Cash and Cash Equivalents—Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits and short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less. The Company maintains its deposits at high quality financial institutions and monitors the credit ratings of those institutions.
Restricted Cash—Restricted cash includes cash pledged as collateral to secure obligations and all cash whose use is otherwise limited by contractual provisions.
Property and Equipment—Property and equipment is recorded at cost or, in the case of acquired properties at estimated fair value on the date acquired. Cost for self-constructed towers includes direct materials and labor, capitalized interest and certain indirect costs associated with construction of the tower, such as transportation costs, employee benefits and payroll taxes. The Company begins the capitalization of costs during the pre-construction period, which is the period during which costs are incurred to evaluate the site, and continues to capitalize costs until the tower is substantially completed and ready for occupancy by a tenant. Labor costs capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $44.7 million, $48.5 million
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
and $44.1 million, respectively. Interest costs capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $1.8 million, $2.8 million and $1.8 million, respectively.
Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Augmentation and improvements that extend an asset’s useful life or enhance capacity are capitalized.
Depreciation expense is recorded using the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives. Towers and related assets on leased land are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the term of the corresponding ground lease, taking into consideration lease renewal options and residual value.
Towers or assets acquired through capital leases are recorded net at the present value of future minimum lease payments or the fair value of the leased asset at the inception of the lease. Property and equipment and assets held under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of the applicable lease term or the estimated useful life of the respective assets for periods generally not exceeding twenty years.
The Company reviews its tower portfolio for indicators of impairment on an individual tower basis. Impairments primarily result from a tower not having current tenant leases or from having expenses in excess of revenues. The Company reviews other long-lived assets for impairment whenever events, changes in circumstances or other evidence indicate that the carrying amount of the Company’s assets may not be recoverable. The Company records impairment charges in Other operating expenses in the consolidated statement of operations in the period in which the Company identifies such impairment.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—The Company reviews goodwill for impairment at least annually (as of December 31) or whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.
Goodwill is recorded in the applicable segment and assessed for impairment at the reporting unit level. The Company utilizes the two-step impairment test when testing goodwill for impairment and employs a discounted cash flow analysis. The key assumptions utilized in the discounted cash flow analysis include current operating performance, terminal sales growth rate, management’s expectations of future operating results and cash requirements, the current weighted average cost of capital and an expected tax rate. Under the first step of this test, the Company compares the fair value of the reporting unit, as calculated under an income approach using future discounted cash flows, to the carrying amount of the applicable reporting unit. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, the Company conducts the second step of this test, in which the implied fair value of the applicable reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss would be recognized for the amount of the excess.
During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, no potential impairment was identified under the first step of the test, as the fair value of each of the reporting units was in excess of its carrying amount.
Intangible assets that are separable from goodwill and are deemed to have a definite life are amortized over their useful lives, generally ranging from three to twenty years and are evaluated separately for impairment at least annually or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
The Company reviews its network location intangible assets for indicators of impairment on an individual tower basis. Impairments primarily result from a tower not having current tenant leases or from having expenses in excess of revenues. The Company monitors its customer-related intangible assets on a customer by customer basis for indicators of impairment, such as high levels of turnover or attrition, non-renewal of a significant number of contracts, or the cancellation or termination of a relationship. The Company assesses recoverability by determining whether the carrying amount of the related assets will be recovered, either through projected undiscounted future cash flows or anticipated proceeds from sales of the assets. If the Company determines that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, the Company measures any impairment loss based on the projected future discounted cash flows to be provided from the asset or available market information relative to the asset’s fair value, as compared to the asset’s carrying amount. The Company records impairment charges in Other operating expenses in the consolidated statement of operations in the period in which the Company identifies such impairment.
Derivative Financial Instruments—Derivatives are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value. If a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in AOCI, as well as a component of comprehensive income, and are recognized in the results of operations when the hedged item affects earnings. Changes in fair value of the ineffective portions of cash flow hedges are recognized in the results of operations. For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, changes in fair value are recognized in the results of operations in the period that the change occurs.
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The primary risk managed through the use of derivative instruments is interest rate risk. From time to time, the Company enters into interest rate protection agreements to manage exposure to variability in cash flows relating to forecasted interest payments. Under these agreements, the Company is exposed to credit risk to the extent that a counterparty fails to meet the terms of a contract. The Company’s credit risk exposure is limited to the current value of the contract at the time the counterparty fails to perform. The Company assesses, both at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. The Company does not hold derivatives for trading purposes.
Fair Value Measurements—The Company determines the fair value of its financial instruments based on the fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.
Asset Retirement Obligations—When required, the Company recognizes the fair value of obligations to remove its tower assets and remediate the leased land upon which certain of its tower assets are located. Generally, the associated retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related tower assets and depreciated over their estimated useful lives and the liability is accreted through the obligation’s estimated settlement date. Fair value estimates of asset retirement obligations generally involve discounting of estimated future cash flows. Periodic accretion of such liabilities due to the passage of time is included in Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense in the consolidated statements of operations. Adjustments are also made to the asset retirement obligation liability to reflect changes in the estimates of timing and amount of expected cash flows, with an offsetting adjustment made to the related tangible long-lived asset. The significant assumptions used in estimating the Company’s aggregate asset retirement obligation are: timing of tower removals; cost of tower removals; timing and number of land lease renewals; expected inflation rates; and credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rates that approximate the Company’s incremental borrowing rate.
Income Taxes—As a REIT, the Company generally is not subject to U.S. federal income taxes on income generated by its U.S. REIT operations. However, the Company remains obligated to pay U.S. federal income taxes on certain earnings and continues to be subject to taxation in its foreign jurisdictions. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements reflect provisions for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, as well as operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company measures deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences and carryforwards are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities as a result of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company periodically reviews its deferred tax assets, and provides valuation allowances if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to use the existing deferred tax assets. Valuation allowances would be reversed as a reduction to the provision for income taxes if related deferred tax assets are deemed realizable based on changes in facts and circumstances relevant to the assets’ recoverability.
The Company classifies uncertain tax positions as non-current income tax liabilities unless expected to be paid within one year. The Company reports penalties and tax-related interest expense as a component of the income tax provision and interest income from tax refunds as a component of Other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)—Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to items excluded from net income that are recorded as an adjustment to equity, net of tax. The Company’s other comprehensive income (loss) is primarily comprised of changes in fair value of effective derivative cash flow hedges, foreign currency translation adjustments and reclassification of unrealized losses on effective derivative cash flow hedges. The balance in AOCI related to foreign currency translation adjustments was losses of $1,837.3 million, $790.6 million and $306.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Distributions—As a REIT, the Company must annually distribute to its stockholders an amount equal to at least 90% of its REIT taxable income (determined before the deduction for distributed earnings and excluding any net capital gain). Generally, the Company has distributed, and expects to continue to distribute all or substantially all of its REIT taxable income after taking into consideration its utilization of net operating losses (“NOLs”).
The amount, timing and frequency of future distributions will be at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and will be dependent upon various factors, a number of which may be beyond the Company’s control, including the Company’s financial
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
condition and operating cash flows, the amount required to maintain its qualification for taxation as a REIT and reduce any income and excise taxes that the Company otherwise would be required to pay, limitations on distributions in the Company’s existing and future debt and preferred equity instruments, the Company’s ability to utilize NOLs to offset the Company’s distribution requirements, limitations on its ability to fund distributions using cash generated through its TRSs and other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant.
Acquisitions—For acquisitions that meet the definition of a business combination, the Company applies the acquisition method of accounting where assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value at the date of each acquisition, and the results of operations are included with those of the Company from the dates of the respective acquisitions. Any excess of the purchase price paid by the Company over the amounts recognized for assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The Company continues to evaluate acquisitions for a period not to exceed one year after the applicable acquisition date of each transaction to determine whether any additional adjustments are needed to the allocation of the purchase price paid for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is typically determined by using either estimates of replacement costs or discounted cash flow valuation methods. When determining the fair value of tangible assets acquired, the Company must estimate the cost to replace the asset with a new asset taking into consideration such factors as age, condition and the economic useful life of the asset. When determining the fair value of intangible assets acquired, the Company must estimate the applicable discount rate and the timing and amount of future customer cash flows, including rate and terms of renewal and attrition.
Revenue Recognition—The Company’s revenue from leasing arrangements, including fixed escalation clauses present in non-cancellable lease agreements, is reported on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective leases when collectibility is reasonably assured. Escalation clauses tied to the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) or other inflation-based indices, and other incentives present in lease agreements with the Company’s tenants are excluded from the straight-line calculation. Total property straight-line revenues for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $155.0 million, $123.7 million and $147.7 million, respectively. Amounts billed upfront in connection with the execution of lease agreements are initially deferred and reflected in Unearned revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and recognized as revenue over the terms of the applicable leases. Amounts billed or received for services prior to being earned are deferred and reflected in Unearned revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets until the criteria for recognition have been met.
Services revenues are derived under contracts or arrangements with customers that provide for billings either on a fixed price basis or a variable price basis, which includes factors such as time and expenses. Revenues are recognized as services are performed, and include estimates for percentage completed. Amounts billed or received for services prior to being earned are deferred and reflected in Unearned revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets until the criteria for recognition have been met.
Rent Expense—Many of the leases underlying the Company’s tower sites have fixed rent escalations, which provide for periodic increases in the amount of ground rent payable by the Company over time. In addition, certain of the Company’s tenant leases require the Company to exercise available renewal options pursuant to the underlying ground lease if the tenant exercises its renewal option. The Company calculates straight-line ground rent expense for these leases based on the fixed non-cancellable term of the underlying ground lease plus all periods, if any, for which failure to renew the lease imposes an economic penalty to the Company such that renewal appears to be reasonably assured.
Total property straight-line ground rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $56.1 million, $38.4 million and $29.7 million, respectively. The Company records a liability for straight-line ground rent expense in Other non-current liabilities. The Company records prepaid ground rent in Prepaid and other current assets and Notes receivable and other non-current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets according to the anticipated period of benefit.
Selling, General, Administrative and Development Expense—Selling, general and administrative expense consists of overhead expenses related to the Company’s property and services operations and corporate overhead costs not specifically allocable to any of the Company’s individual business operations. Development expense consists of costs related to the Company’s acquisition efforts, costs associated with new business initiatives and project cancellation costs.
Stock-Based Compensation—Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the accounting measurement date based on the fair value of the award and is generally recognized as an expense over the service period, which generally represents the vesting period. The Company’s Compensation Committee adopted a death, disability and retirement benefits program in connection with equity awards granted on or after January 1, 2013, which provides for accelerated vesting and extended exercise periods of stock options and restricted stock units upon an employee’s death or permanent disability, or upon an employee’s qualified retirement, provided certain eligibility criteria are met. Accordingly, for grants made on or after January 1, 2013, the Company
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
recognizes compensation expense for stock options and time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) over the shorter of (i) the four-year vesting period or (ii) the period from the date of grant to the date the employee becomes eligible for such retirement benefits, which may occur upon grant. The expense recognized includes an estimate of awards that will not fully vest and be forfeited.
In March 2015, the Company granted performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) to its executive officers. Threshold, target and maximum parameters were established for the metric for each year in the three-year performance period, and will be used to calculate the number of shares that will be issuable when the award vests, which may range from zero to 200% of the target amount. The Company recognizes compensation expense for PSUs over the three-year vesting period, subject to adjustment based on the date the employee becomes eligible for such retirement benefits.
The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the fair value of restricted stock units is based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The Company recognizes all stock-based compensation expense in either Selling, general, administrative and development expense, costs of operations or as part of the costs associated with the construction of the tower assets. Compensation expense for PSUs may be adjusted based on the Compensation Committee’s assessment of performance relative to grant parameters.
Litigation Costs—The Company periodically becomes involved in various claims and lawsuits that are incidental to its business. The Company regularly monitors the status of pending legal actions to evaluate both the magnitude and likelihood of any potential loss. The Company accrues for these potential losses when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss, or possible range of loss, can be reasonably estimated. Should the ultimate losses on contingencies or litigation vary from estimates, adjustments to those liabilities may be required. The Company also incurs legal costs in connection with these matters and records estimates of these expenses, which are reflected in Selling, general, administrative and development expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Earnings Per Common Share—Basic and Diluted—Basic net income per common share represents net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share represents net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period and any dilutive common share equivalents, including (A) shares issuable upon (i) the vesting of RSUs, (ii) exercise of stock options, and (iii) conversion of the Company’s mandatory convertible preferred stock and (B) shares earned upon the achievement of the parameters established for the PSUs, each to the extent not anti-dilutive. Dilutive common share equivalents also include the dilutive impact of the shares issuable in the ALLTEL transaction, which is described in note 17. The Company uses the treasury stock method to calculate the effect of its outstanding RSUs, PSUs and stock options and uses the if-converted method to calculate the effect of its outstanding mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Retirement Plan—The Company has a 401(k) plan covering substantially all employees who meet certain age and employment requirements. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company matched 75% of the first 6% of a participant’s contributions. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company contributed $7.4 million, $6.5 million and $6.0 million to the plan, respectively.
Accounting Standards Updates—In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued new revenue recognition guidance, which requires an entity to recognize revenue in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP and will become effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method and leases are not included in the scope of this standard. The Company is evaluating the impact this standard will have on its financial statements.
In June 2014, the FASB issued stock-based compensation guidance, which requires a performance target that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition that affects vesting, rather than a condition that affects the grant-date fair value. The Company early adopted this guidance on a prospective basis during the year ended December 31, 2015, and it did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
In February 2015, the FASB issued consolidation guidance, which changes the guidance with respect to the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. All legal entities are subject to reevaluation under the revised consolidation model. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is evaluating the impact this standard will have on its financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on the presentation of debt issuance costs. The guidance requires debt issuance costs be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability, consistent with debt discounts and premiums. In August 2015, the FASB clarified that debt issuance costs associated with line of credit arrangements may continue to be presented as an asset, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line of credit arrangement. The Company early adopted this guidance during the year ended December 31, 2015 and applied the guidance retrospectively. As a result, the Company reclassified $75.9 million of deferred financing costs at December 31, 2014 from Other intangible assets, net. The Company recorded $68.2 million and $0.2 million as a direct reduction to Long-term obligations and Current portion of long-term obligations, respectively. Debt issuance costs of $7.5 million related to the Company’s credit facilities have been reclassified from Other intangible assets, net and are recorded in Notes receivable and other non-current assets in the consolidated balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2014.
In September 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on the accounting for measurement-period adjustments related to business combinations. The guidance requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined rather than retrospectively. The effect on earnings as a result of the change to the provisional amounts is calculated as if the accounting had been completed as of the acquisition date. The update requires prospective application and the update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
In November 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on the balance sheet classification of all deferred income taxes. The guidance requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with the related valuation allowance, be classified as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. The Company has early adopted this guidance for the year ended December 31, 2015, and it did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted.
In January 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. The guidance amends certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. This standard is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the accounting for leases. The guidance amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including the requirement that lessees recognize assets and liabilities for lease terms greater than twelve months in the statement of financial position. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, including interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is evaluating the impact this standard will have on its financial statements.
2. PREPAID AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
Prepaid and other current assets consisted of the following as of December 31, (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 (1) | ||||||
Prepaid operating ground leases | $ | 128,542 | $ | 88,053 | |||
Prepaid income tax | 45,056 | 34,512 | |||||
Unbilled receivables | 34,173 | 25,352 | |||||
Prepaid assets | 32,892 | 23,848 | |||||
Value added tax and other consumption tax receivables | 30,239 | 23,228 | |||||
Other miscellaneous current assets | 35,333 | 69,800 | |||||
Balance | $ | 306,235 | $ | 264,793 | |||
_______________
(1) December 31, 2014 balances have been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments.
F-14
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment (including assets held under capital leases) consisted of the following as of December 31, (in thousands):
Estimated Useful Lives (years) (1) | 2015 | 2014 (2) | |||||||
Towers | Up to 20 | $ | 10,726,656 | $ | 8,265,732 | ||||
Equipment | 2 - 15 | 1,095,906 | 995,667 | ||||||
Buildings and improvements | 3 - 32 | 607,661 | 617,064 | ||||||
Land and improvements (3) | Up to 20 | 1,728,115 | 1,565,871 | ||||||
Construction-in-progress | 238,960 | 214,760 | |||||||
Total | 14,397,298 | 11,659,094 | |||||||
Less accumulated depreciation | (4,530,874 | ) | (4,068,982 | ) | |||||
Property and equipment, net | $ | 9,866,424 | $ | 7,590,112 | |||||
_______________
(1) | Assets on leased land are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the term of the corresponding ground lease taking into consideration lease renewal options and residual value. |
(2) | December 31, 2014 balances have been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments. |
(3) | Estimated useful lives apply to land improvements only. |
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $661.4 million, $551.8 million and $483.6 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2015, property and equipment included $5,112.4 million and $1,414.6 million of capital lease assets and accumulated depreciation, respectively, which included the consideration transferred for the exclusive right to lease 11,286 communications sites from Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon”). As of December 31, 2014, property and equipment included $2,921.4 million and $1,256.3 million of capital lease assets and accumulated depreciation, respectively. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, capital lease assets were primarily classified as towers and land and improvements.
4. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The changes in the carrying value of goodwill for the Company’s business segments were as follows (in thousands):
Property | Services | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. | Asia | EMEA | Latin America | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2014 | $ | 3,293,899 | $ | 182,114 | $ | 90,035 | $ | 286,754 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 3,854,802 | ||||||||||||
Additions (1) | 62,197 | — | 40 | 170,068 | — | 232,305 | ||||||||||||||||||
Effect of foreign currency translation | — | (3,593 | ) | (11,428 | ) | (36,259 | ) | — | (51,280 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other (2) | — | — | — | (3,641 | ) | (12 | ) | (3,653 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2014 (1) | $ | 3,356,096 | $ | 178,521 | $ | 78,647 | $ | 416,922 | $ | 1,988 | $ | 4,032,174 | ||||||||||||
Additions | 23,067 | 610 | 68,663 | 122,345 | — | 214,685 | ||||||||||||||||||
Effect of foreign currency translation | — | (8,412 | ) | (14,740 | ) | (131,902 | ) | — | (155,054 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2015 | $ | 3,379,163 | $ | 170,719 | $ | 132,570 | $ | 407,365 | $ | 1,988 | $ | 4,091,805 | ||||||||||||
_______________
(1) | Balances have been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments. |
(2) | Other represents the goodwill associated with the Company’s operations in Panama and the Company’s third-party structural analysis business. Both businesses were sold during the year ended December 31, 2014 (see note 11). |
The Company’s other intangible assets subject to amortization consisted of the following (in thousands):
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As of December 31, 2015 | As of December 31, 2014 (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Useful Lives | Gross Carrying Value | Accumulated Amortization | Net Book Value | Gross Carrying Value | Accumulated Amortization | Net Book Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
(years) | (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquired network location intangibles (2) | Up to 20 | $ | 3,980,281 | $ | (1,052,393 | ) | $ | 2,927,888 | $ | 2,513,788 | $ | (901,903 | ) | $ | 1,611,885 | |||||||||||
Acquired customer-related intangibles | 15-20 | 8,640,554 | (1,763,853 | ) | 6,876,701 | 6,594,469 | (1,429,572 | ) | 5,164,897 | |||||||||||||||||
Acquired licenses and other intangibles | 3-20 | 28,293 | (5,486 | ) | 22,807 | 38,443 | (3,514 | ) | 34,929 | |||||||||||||||||
Economic Rights, TV Azteca | 70 | 21,688 | (11,208 | ) | 10,480 | 25,522 | (12,960 | ) | 12,562 | |||||||||||||||||
Total other intangible assets | $ | 12,670,816 | $ | (2,832,940 | ) | $ | 9,837,876 | $ | 9,172,222 | $ | (2,347,949 | ) | $ | 6,824,273 | ||||||||||||
_______________
(1) | December 31, 2014 balances have been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments. |
(2) | Acquired network location intangibles are amortized over the shorter of the term of the corresponding ground lease taking into consideration lease renewal options and residual value or up to 20 years, as the Company considers these intangibles to be directly related to the tower assets. |
The acquired network location intangibles represent the value to the Company of the incremental revenue growth that could potentially be obtained from leasing the excess capacity on acquired communications sites, as well as those in the Verizon Transaction. The acquired customer-related intangibles typically represent the value to the Company of customer contracts and relationships in place at the time of an acquisition or similar transaction, including assumptions regarding estimated renewals.
The Company amortizes its acquired network location intangibles and customer-related intangibles on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives. As of December 31, 2015, the remaining weighted average amortization period of the Company’s intangible assets, excluding the TV Azteca Economic Rights detailed in note 5, was 16 years. Amortization of intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $568.3 million, $411.7 million and $282.5 million, respectively. Based on current exchange rates, the Company expects to record amortization expense as follows over the next five subsequent years (in millions):
Year Ending December 31, | |||
2016 | $ | 598.8 | |
2017 | 597.1 | ||
2018 | 596.0 | ||
2019 | 593.7 | ||
2020 | 576.0 | ||
5. NOTES RECEIVABLE AND OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Notes receivable and other non-current assets consisted of the following as of December 31, (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 (1) | ||||||
Long-term prepaid ground rent | $ | 388,790 | $ | 311,502 | |||
Notes receivable | 83,658 | 87,515 | |||||
Other miscellaneous assets | 260,455 | 176,229 | |||||
Balance | $ | 732,903 | $ | 575,246 | |||
_______________
(1) December 31, 2014 balances have been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments and debt issuance costs.
TV Azteca Note Receivable—In 2000, the Company loaned TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. (“TV Azteca”), the owner of a major national television network in Mexico, $119.8 million. The loan has an interest rate of 13.11%, payable quarterly, which at the time of issuance was determined to be below market and therefore a corresponding discount was recorded. The term of the loan
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
is 70 years; however, the loan may be prepaid by TV Azteca without penalty during the last 50 years of the agreement. The discount on the loan is being amortized to Interest income, TV Azteca, net of interest expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations, using the effective interest method over the 70-year term of the loan.
Since inception, TV Azteca has repaid $28.0 million of principal on the loan. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the outstanding balance on the loan was $91.8 million, or $82.9 million, net of discount.
TV Azteca Economic Rights—Simultaneous with the signing of the loan agreement, the Company also entered into a 70-year Economic Rights Agreement with TV Azteca regarding space not used by TV Azteca on approximately 190 of its broadcast towers. In exchange for the issuance of the below market interest rate loan and the annual payment of $1.5 million to TV Azteca (under the Economic Rights Agreement), the Company has the right to market and lease the unused tower space on the broadcast towers (the “Economic Rights”). TV Azteca retains title to these towers and is responsible for their operation and maintenance. The Company is entitled to 100% of the revenues generated from leases with tenants on the unused space and is responsible for any incremental operating expenses associated with those tenants.
The term of the Economic Rights Agreement is 70 years; however, TV Azteca has the right to purchase, at fair market value, the Economic Rights from the Company at any time during the last 50 years of the agreement. Should TV Azteca elect to purchase the Economic Rights, in whole or in part, it would also be obligated to repay a proportional amount of the loan discussed above at the time of such election. The Company’s obligation to pay TV Azteca $1.5 million annually would also be reduced proportionally.
The Company accounted for the annual payment of $1.5 million as a capital lease by initially recording an asset and a corresponding liability of $18.6 million. The capital lease asset also included the original discount on the note. The capital lease asset and original discount on the note aggregated $30.2 million at the time of the transaction and represents the cost to acquire the Economic Rights. The Economic Rights asset was recorded as an intangible asset and is being amortized over the 70-year life of the Economic Rights Agreement.
6. ACQUISITIONS
The estimates of the fair value of the assets or rights acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the applicable acquisition are subject to adjustment during the measurement period (up to one year from the particular acquisition date). The primary areas of the accounting for the acquisitions that are not yet finalized relate to the fair value of certain tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which may include contingent consideration, residual goodwill and any related tax impact. The fair value of these net assets acquired are based on management’s estimates and assumptions, as well as other information compiled by management, including valuations that utilize customary valuation procedures and techniques. While the Company believes that such preliminary estimates provide a reasonable basis for estimating the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, it evaluates any necessary information prior to finalization of the fair value. During the measurement period, the Company will adjust assets or liabilities if new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have resulted in the revised estimated values of those assets or liabilities as of that date. The effect of measurement period adjustments to the estimated fair value is reflected as if the adjustments had been completed on the acquisition date. The impact of all changes that do not qualify as measurement period adjustments are included in current period earnings. If the actual results differ from the estimates and judgments used in these fair values, the amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements could be subject to a possible impairment of the intangible assets or goodwill, or require acceleration of the amortization expense of intangible assets in subsequent periods. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company made certain measurement period adjustments related to several acquisitions consummated in 2014 and therefore, retrospectively adjusted the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014.
Impact of current year acquisitions—The Company typically acquires communications sites from wireless carriers or other tower operators and subsequently integrates those sites into its existing portfolio of communications sites. The financial results of the Company’s acquisitions have been included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 from the date of the respective acquisition. The date of acquisition, and by extension the point at which the Company begins to recognize the results of an acquisition, may be dependent upon, among other things, the receipt of contractual consents, the commencement and extent of leasing arrangements and the timing of the transfer of title or rights to the assets, which may be accomplished in phases. Sites acquired from communications service providers may never have been operated as a business and may have been utilized solely by the seller as a component of its network infrastructure. An acquisition may or may not involve the transfer of business operations or employees.
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The estimated aggregate impact of the 2015 acquisitions and the Verizon Transaction (described below) on the Company’s revenues and gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2015 was approximately $455.8 million and $218.9 million, respectively. The revenues and gross margin amounts also reflect incremental revenues from the addition of new tenants to such sites subsequent to the transaction date. Incremental amounts of segment selling, general, administrative and development expense have not been reflected as the amounts attributable to transactions are not comparable.
For those acquisitions accounted for as business combinations, the Company recognizes acquisition and merger related expenses in the period in which they are incurred and services are received. Acquisition and merger related expenses may include finder’s fees, advisory, legal, accounting, valuation and other professional or consulting fees, fair value adjustments to contingent consideration and general administrative costs directly related to the transaction. Integration costs include incremental and non-recurring costs necessary to convert data, retain employees and otherwise enable the Company to operate new businesses efficiently. The Company records acquisition and merger related expenses, as well as integration costs in Other operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 the Company recorded the following acquisition and merger related expenses and integration costs (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
Acquisition and merger related expenses (1) | $ | 18,799 | $ | 26,969 | $ | 36,172 | ||||||
Integration costs | $ | 18,097 | $ | 13,057 | $ | 1,424 | ||||||
_______________
(1) | Acquisition and merger related expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 does not reflect transaction costs related to the Verizon Transaction, as these costs have been capitalized as part of the assets’ fair value. |
Verizon Transaction
On March 27, 2015, the Company completed its acquisition of the exclusive right to lease, acquire or otherwise operate and manage 11,449 wireless communications sites from Verizon in the United States (the “Verizon Transaction”) pursuant to the Master Agreement entered into on February 5, 2015 and the related Master Prepaid Lease, Management Agreement, Sale Site Master Lease Agreement and MPL Site Master Lease Agreement, subject to certain post-closing adjustments.
The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, leased or subleased from certain Verizon subsidiaries 11,286 communications sites, including the interest in the land, the tower and certain related improvements and tower related assets pursuant to the Master Prepaid Lease. Under the Master Prepaid Lease, the Company has the exclusive right to lease and operate the Verizon communications sites for a weighted average term of approximately 28 years and the Company will have the option to purchase the communications sites in various tranches at the end of the respective lease or sublease terms at a fixed amount stated in the sublease for such tranche plus the fair market value of certain alterations made to the related towers. The Company accounted for the payment with respect to the leased sites as a capital lease and the respective lease and non-lease elements related to tower assets and intangible assets, as described below.
In addition, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired 163 communications sites. The Company accounted for these sites as a business combination and the purchase price is reflected below in “2015 Acquisitions.”
Upon closing, the Company agreed to lease, sublease or otherwise make available collocation space at each of the communications sites to Verizon for an initial non-cancellable term of ten years, subject to automatic extension for eight additional five-year renewal terms. The initial collocation rent is $1,900 per month for each communications site, with annual rent increases of 2%.
The Company funded the Verizon Transaction with (i) proceeds from its concurrent registered public offerings of its common stock and 5.50% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), (ii) borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facilities and (iii) cash on hand.
The Company included the Verizon Transaction in the unaudited pro forma financial results included herein as if the capital lease began on January 1, 2014. Management relied on various estimates and assumptions due to the fact that Verizon did not operate the sites as a business and the sites were utilized primarily by Verizon as a component of its network infrastructure.
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The consideration for the Verizon Transaction consisted of the following (in thousands):
Cash consideration for sites under the Master Prepaid Lease | $ | 4,959,006 | ||
Capitalized transaction costs | 8,037 | |||
Total consideration for sites under the Master Prepaid Lease | 4,967,043 | |||
Cash consideration for acquired sites | 99,000 | |||
Total consideration for the Verizon Transaction (1) | $ | 5,066,043 | ||
_______________
(1) Includes $6.6 million of accrued costs that have not been paid as of December 31, 2015.
The following table summarizes the final allocation of consideration transferred for the 11,286 communications sites under the Master Prepaid Lease (in thousands). Balances are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015 and represent the asset balances of the capital lease.
Current assets | $ | 14,132 | ||
Non-current assets | 53,339 | |||
Property and equipment | 2,094,678 | |||
Intangible assets (1): | ||||
Customer-related intangible assets | 1,886,443 | |||
Network location intangible assets | 1,186,428 | |||
Current liabilities | (31,012 | ) | ||
Other non-current liabilities (2) | (236,965 | ) | ||
Fair value of consideration transferred | $ | 4,967,043 | ||
_______________
(1) Customer-related intangible assets and network location intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods of up to 20 years.
(2) Primarily represents liabilities recorded for asset retirement obligations.
The acquisitions described below under “2015 Acquisitions” and “2014 Acquisitions” are accounted for as business combinations and are consistent with the Company’s strategy to expand in selected geographic areas.
2015 Acquisitions
Airtel Acquisition—On July 1, 2015, the Company acquired 4,699 communications sites in Nigeria from certain subsidiaries of Bharti Airtel Limited (“Airtel”), and subsequently acquired 17 additional sites, pursuant to its previously announced agreement for a total purchase price of $1.112 billion, including value added tax. The purchase price is subject to post-closing adjustments.
TIM Acquisition—On April 29, 2015, the Company acquired 4,176 communications sites from TIM Celular S.A. (“TIM”) pursuant to its previously announced agreement for a purchase price of 1.9 billion Brazilian Reais (“BRL”) ($644.3 million at the date of acquisition). On September 30, 2015, the Company acquired an additional 1,125 communications sites from TIM for an initial aggregate purchase price of 516.9 million BRL ($130.9 million at the date of acquisition). On December 16, 2015, the Company acquired an additional 182 communications sites from TIM for an initial aggregate purchase price of 84.1 million BRL ($21.7 million at the date of acquisition). The purchase price for each TIM acquisition is subject to post-closing adjustments. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the Company has the ability to purchase the remaining sites as they become available through October 2016.
Following these closings, the amount of the letters of credit with Banco Santander was reduced to 40.6 million BRL ($10.4 million), corresponding to certain obligations under the terms of the agreement.
Other Acquisitions—During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company acquired a total of 439 communications sites and related assets in Brazil, India, Mexico and Uganda for an aggregate purchase price of $22.5 million (including $0.3 million for the estimated fair value of contingent consideration), which was satisfied with cash consideration and by the issuance of credits to be applied against trade accounts receivable. The Company also acquired a total of 210 communications sites and equipment, as well as four property interests, in the United States for an aggregate purchase price of $142.4 million (including
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
$1.3 million for the estimated fair value of contingent consideration), which included the 163 communications sites acquired as part of the Verizon Transaction, described above. The purchase prices are subject to post-closing adjustments.
The following table summarizes the preliminary allocation of the purchase price for the fiscal year 2015 acquisitions based upon their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition (in thousands). Balances are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015.
EMEA | Latin America | Other | ||||||||||
Airtel | TIM | |||||||||||
Current assets | $ | 15,828 | $ | — | $ | 1,113 | ||||||
Non-current assets | 69,277 | — | 995 | |||||||||
Property and equipment | 415,246 | 275,630 | 42,716 | |||||||||
Intangible assets (1): | ||||||||||||
Customer-related intangible assets | 231,788 | 361,822 | 63,001 | |||||||||
Network location intangible assets | 328,334 | 115,562 | 37,691 | |||||||||
Current liabilities | (4,246 | ) | (3,192 | ) | (624 | ) | ||||||
Other non-current liabilities | (12,534 | ) | (74,966 | ) | (4,028 | ) | ||||||
Net assets acquired | 1,043,693 | 674,856 | 140,864 | |||||||||
Goodwill (2) | 68,663 | 122,011 | 24,011 | |||||||||
Fair value of net assets acquired | 1,112,356 | 796,867 | 164,875 | |||||||||
Debt assumed | — | — | — | |||||||||
Purchase Price | $ | 1,112,356 | $ | 796,867 | $ | 164,875 | ||||||
_______________
(1) Customer-related intangible assets and network location intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods of up to 20 years.
(2) | Goodwill was allocated to the Company’s property segments. The Company expects goodwill recorded in its U.S. and Asia property segments will be deductible for local tax purposes. The Company expects goodwill recorded in its Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) property segment will not be deductible for local tax purposes and goodwill recorded in its Latin America property segment will be deductible in certain jurisdictions for local tax purposes. |
2014 Acquisitions
BR Towers Acquisition—On November 19, 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity interests of BR Towers S.A. (“BR Towers”). At closing, BR Towers owned 2,504 towers and four property interests, as well as the exclusive use rights for 2,113 additional towers and 43 property interests in Brazil. The Company completed the acquisition for an estimated preliminary purchase price of $568.9 million, which was subsequently reduced to $558.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. In addition, the Company paid $61.1 million to acquire all outstanding preferred equity and assumed $261.1 million of BR Towers’ existing indebtedness. As of December 31, 2015, the remaining balance of the debt assumed was $85.2 million.
Richland Acquisition—On April 3, 2014, the Company, through one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, acquired entities holding a portfolio of 59 communications sites, which at the time of acquisition were leased primarily to radio and television broadcast tenants, and four property interests in the United States from Richland Properties LLC and other related entities (“Richland”) for an aggregate purchase price of $189.4 million, which was subsequently reduced to $188.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. In addition, the Company assumed $196.5 million of Richland’s existing indebtedness, which it repaid in June 2014.
Other Acquisitions—During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company acquired 159 additional communications sites and related assets in Brazil, Ghana, Mexico and Uganda, for an aggregate purchase price of $28.3 million (including value added tax of $1.2 million). The Company also acquired 299 communications sites in Mexico for a purchase price of $40.3 million (including value added tax of $5.6 million), which reflected $3.4 million of net liabilities assumed. Total purchase price was satisfied by the issuance of $36.3 million of credits to be applied against trade accounts receivable and cash consideration of $4.0 million. Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company acquired 184 additional communications sites and equipment, as well as six property interests, in the United States for an aggregate purchase price of $180.8 million (including $6.3 million for the estimated fair value of contingent consideration).
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following table summarizes the preliminary and final allocations of the purchase prices paid and the amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for the fiscal year 2014 acquisitions based upon their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition (in thousands). Preliminary balances are reflected in the consolidated balance sheets in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Final balances are reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets herein.
Preliminary Allocation | Final Allocation (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. | Latin America | Other | U.S. | Latin America | Other | |||||||||||||||||||
Richland | BR Towers | Richland | BR Towers | |||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets | $ | 8,583 | $ | 31,832 | $ | 7,869 | $ | 8,583 | $ | 31,568 | $ | 7,404 | ||||||||||||
Non-current assets | — | 9,135 | 1,521 | — | 9,365 | 2,562 | ||||||||||||||||||
Property and equipment | 185,777 | 141,422 | 70,638 | 154,899 | 135,916 | 70,317 | ||||||||||||||||||
Intangible assets (2): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Customer-related intangible assets | 169,452 | 495,279 | 110,207 | 186,455 | 495,151 | 108,707 | ||||||||||||||||||
Network location intangible assets | 1,700 | 136,233 | 50,199 | 3,409 | 135,549 | 49,199 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other intangible assets | — | 37,664 | — | — | 33,095 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities | (3,635 | ) | (23,930 | ) | (2,860 | ) | (3,635 | ) | (24,012 | ) | (2,860 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other non-current liabilities | (2,922 | ) | (101,508 | ) | (7,938 | ) | (2,922 | ) | (101,814 | ) | (7,938 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net assets acquired | 358,955 | 726,127 | 229,636 | 346,789 | 714,818 | 227,391 | ||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill (3) | 32,423 | 164,955 | 19,835 | 44,128 | 166,097 | 22,080 | ||||||||||||||||||
Fair value of net assets acquired | 391,378 | 891,082 | 249,471 | 390,917 | 880,915 | 249,471 | ||||||||||||||||||
Debt assumed (4) | (201,999 | ) | (261,136 | ) | — | (201,999 | ) | (261,136 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Preferred stock outstanding | — | (61,056 | ) | — | — | (61,056 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
Purchase Price | $ | 189,379 | $ | 568,890 | $ | 249,471 | $ | 188,918 | $ | 558,723 | $ | 249,471 | ||||||||||||
_______________
(1) | The allocation of the purchase price was finalized during the year ended December 31, 2015. |
(2) | Customer-related intangible assets and network location intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods of up to 20 years. Other intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease, which is a period of 11 years. |
(3) | Goodwill was allocated to the Company’s property operating segments, as applicable, and the Company expects goodwill recorded will be deductible for local tax purposes except for goodwill associated with BR Towers, where goodwill is expected to be partially deductible. |
(4) | Assumed BR Towers debt approximated fair value at the date of acquisition and included $11.5 million of current indebtedness. Assumed Richland debt included $196.5 million of Richland’s indebtedness and a fair value adjustment of $5.5 million. The fair value adjustments were based primarily on reported market values using Level 2 inputs. |
Pro Forma Consolidated Results (Unaudited)
The following table presents the unaudited pro forma financial results as if the 2015 acquisitions, as well as the Verizon Transaction described above, had occurred on January 1, 2014 and the 2014 acquisitions had occurred on January 1, 2013 (in thousands, except per share data). Management relied on various estimates and assumptions due to the fact that some of the transactions never operated as a business and were utilized solely by the seller as a component of their network infrastructure. As a result, historical operating results may not be available. The pro forma results do not include any anticipated cost synergies, costs or other integration impacts. Accordingly, such pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of the results that actually would have occurred had the transactions been completed on the dates indicated, nor are they indicative of the future operating results of the Company.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
Pro forma revenues | $ | 5,034,746 | $ | 5,000,208 | ||||
Pro forma net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | $ | 564,579 | $ | 587,999 | ||||
Pro forma net income per common share amounts: | ||||||||
Basic net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | $ | 1.33 | $ | 1.39 | ||||
Diluted net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | $ | 1.32 | $ | 1.38 | ||||
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Other Signed Acquisitions
Viom—On October 21, 2015, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, ATC Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (“ATC Asia”), entered into a definitive agreement (the “Share Purchase Agreement”) with Viom Networks Limited (“Viom”), a telecommunications infrastructure company that owns and operates over 42,000 wireless communications towers and 200 indoor DAS networks in India, and certain existing Viom shareholders, including the current managing shareholder, SREI Infrastructure Finance Limited, several other minority shareholders and Tata Teleservices Limited (collectively, the “Selling Shareholders”), to acquire a 51% controlling ownership interest in Viom from the Selling Shareholders for cash consideration of approximately 76 billion Indian Rupee (“INR”) (approximately $1.2 billion at December 31, 2015), subject to certain adjustments (the “Viom Transaction”). The Viom Transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2016, subject to certain conditions, and the Company anticipates that it will consolidate the full financial results for Viom.
On October 21, 2015, ATC Asia also entered into a shareholders agreement (the “Shareholders Agreement”) with Viom and certain remaining Viom shareholders, including Tata Sons Limited, Tata Teleservices Limited, IDFC Private Equity Fund III, Macquarie SBI Investments Pte Limited and SBI Macquarie Infrastructure Trust (collectively, the “Remaining Shareholders”). The Shareholders Agreement will become effective on the closing date of the Viom Transaction. The Shareholders Agreement provides that, among other things, the Remaining Shareholders will have certain governance, anti-dilution and contractual rights. The Remaining Shareholders will have put options and ATC Asia will have a call option pursuant to the time periods and conditions outlined in the Shareholders Agreement.
Acquisition-Related Contingent Consideration
The Company may be required to pay additional consideration under certain agreements for the acquisition of communications sites if specific conditions are met or events occur. In Colombia and Ghana, the Company may be required to pay additional consideration upon the conversion of certain barter agreements with other wireless carriers to cash-paying lease agreements. In the United States and India, the Company may be required to pay additional consideration if certain pre-designated tenant leases commence during a specified period of time.
A summary of the value of the Company’s contingent consideration is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum potential value (1) | Estimated value at December 31, 2015 (2) | Additions (3) | Settlements | Change in Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||
Colombia | $ | 22,444 | $ | 9,829 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (5,011 | ) | |||||||||
Costa Rica | — | — | — | (1,898 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Ghana | 569 | 569 | — | — | 99 | |||||||||||||||
India | 1,164 | 163 | 315 | (139 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
United States | 1,875 | 1,875 | 1,311 | (5,906 | ) | 131 | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 26,052 | $ | 12,436 | $ | 1,626 | $ | (7,943 | ) | $ | (4,781 | ) | ||||||||
_______________
(1) | The maximum potential value is based on exchange rates at December 31, 2015. The minimum value could be zero. |
(2) | Estimate is determined using a probability weighted average of expected outcomes as of December 31, 2015. |
(3) | Based on preliminary acquisition accounting upon closing of certain acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2015. |
For more information regarding contingent consideration, see note 11.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
7. ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses consisted of the following as of December 31, (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 (1) | ||||||
Accrued property and real estate taxes | $ | 75,827 | $ | 61,206 | |||
Payroll and related withholdings | 62,334 | 57,110 | |||||
Accrued rent | 54,732 | 34,074 | |||||
Accrued construction costs | 19,857 | 46,024 | |||||
Other accrued expenses | 303,663 | 219,422 | |||||
Balance | $ | 516,413 | $ | 417,836 | |||
_______________
(1) December 31, 2014 balances have been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments.
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
8. LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
Outstanding amounts under the Company’s long-term obligations, reflecting discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs, consisted of the following as of December 31, (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 (1) | Contractual Interest Rate (2) | Maturity Date (2) | |||||||||
Series 2013-1A Securities (3) | $ | 497,478 | $ | 496,314 | 1.551 | % | March 15, 2018 | |||||
Series 2013-2A Securities (4) | 1,288,689 | 1,287,110 | 3.070 | % | March 15, 2023 | |||||||
Series 2015-1 Notes (5) | 346,262 | — | 2.350 | % | June 15, 2020 | |||||||
Series 2015-2 Notes (6) | 518,776 | — | 3.482 | % | June 16, 2025 | |||||||
GTP AP Notes (7) | — | 973,397 | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
2012 GTP Notes (7)(8) | 281,902 | 290,586 | 3.721% - 7.358% | Various | ||||||||
Unison Notes (9) | 201,930 | 203,683 | 5.349% - 9.522% | Various | ||||||||
BR Towers Debentures (10) | 85,219 | 118,688 | 7.400 | % | October 15, 2023 | |||||||
Shareholder loans (11) | 145,540 | 137,655 | Various | Various | ||||||||
South African Facility (12) | 53,175 | 73,156 | 8.575 | % | December 17, 2020 | |||||||
Colombian Credit Facility (13) | 59,640 | 82,501 | 9.853 | % | April 24, 2021 | |||||||
Brazil Credit Facility (14) | 21,868 | — | Various | January 15, 2022 | ||||||||
Indian Working Capital Facility (15) | 8,752 | — | 9.700 | % | January 31, 2016 | |||||||
Mexican Loan | — | 263,426 | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
BR Towers Credit Facility | — | 16,389 | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
Total American Tower subsidiary debt | 3,509,231 | 3,942,905 | ||||||||||
2013 Credit Facility (16) | 1,225,000 | — | 1.652 | % | June 28, 2019 | |||||||
Term Loan (16) | 1,993,601 | 1,495,284 | 1.680 | % | January 29, 2021 | |||||||
2014 Credit Facility (16) | 1,980,000 | 1,100,000 | 1.680 | % | January 29, 2021 | |||||||
4.625% Notes | — | 599,720 | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
7.000% Notes | — | 497,750 | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
4.500% Notes | 997,693 | 996,571 | 4.500 | % | January 15, 2018 | |||||||
3.40% Notes | 999,769 | 999,607 | 3.400 | % | February 15, 2019 | |||||||
7.25% Notes | 296,242 | 295,229 | 7.250 | % | May 15, 2019 | |||||||
2.800% Notes | 743,557 | — | 2.800 | % | June 1, 2020 | |||||||
5.050% Notes | 697,216 | 696,560 | 5.050 | % | September 1, 2020 | |||||||
3.450% Notes | 642,786 | 641,579 | 3.450 | % | September 15, 2021 | |||||||
5.900% Notes | 497,188 | 496,715 | 5.900 | % | November 1, 2021 | |||||||
4.70% Notes | 695,374 | 694,694 | 4.700 | % | March 15, 2022 | |||||||
3.50% Notes | 987,966 | 986,389 | 3.500 | % | January 31, 2023 | |||||||
5.00% Notes | 1,003,453 | 1,003,628 | 5.000 | % | February 15, 2024 | |||||||
4.000% Notes | 739,057 | — | 4.000 | % | June 1, 2025 | |||||||
Total American Tower Corporation debt | 13,498,902 | 10,503,726 | ||||||||||
Other debt, including capital lease obligations | 110,876 | 93,710 | ||||||||||
Total | 17,119,009 | 14,540,341 | ||||||||||
Less current portion long-term obligations | (50,202 | ) | (897,386 | ) | ||||||||
Long-term obligations | $ | 17,068,807 | $ | 13,642,955 | ||||||||
_______________
(1) | December 31, 2014 balances have been revised to reflect debt issuance costs as a direct deduction from the carrying amounts, with the exception of debt issuance costs associated with the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility (as defined below) which are reflected in Notes receivable and other |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Amortization of deferred financing costs is included in interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations.
(2) | Represents the interest rate or maturity date as of December 31, 2015 and does not reflect the impact of interest rate swap agreements. |
(3) | Maturity date reflects the anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is March 15, 2043. |
(4) | Maturity date reflects the anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is March 15, 2048. |
(5) | Maturity date reflects the anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is June 15, 2045. |
(6) | Maturity date reflects the anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is June 15, 2050. |
(7) | Secured debt assumed in connection with the acquisition of MIP Tower Holdings LLC (“MIPT”). |
(8) | Anticipated repayment dates begin March 15, 2017. |
(9) | Secured debt assumed in connection with the acquisition of certain legal entities holding a portfolio of property interests from Unison Holdings, LLC and Unison Site Management II, L.L.C. (together, “Unison”). Anticipated repayment dates begin April 15, 2017; final legal maturity date is April 15, 2040. |
(10) | Publicly issued debentures assumed in connection with the acquisition of BR Towers and denominated in BRL. Debt accrues interest at a variable rate. |
(11) | Reflects balances owed to the Company’s joint venture partners in Ghana and Uganda. The Ghana loan is denominated in Ghanaian Cedi (“GHS”) and the Uganda loan is denominated in U.S. Dollars (“USD”). The Uganda loan accrues interest at a variable rate. |
(12) | Denominated in South African Rand (“ZAR”). Debt accrues interest at a variable rate. |
(13) | Denominated in Colombian Pesos (“COP”). Debt accrues interest at a variable rate. |
(14) | Denominated in BRL. Debt accrues interest at variable rate. |
(15) | Denominated in INR. This agreement provides that the maturity date may be extended for additional 30-day periods. |
(16) | Debt accrues interest at a variable rate. |
American Tower Subsidiary Debt
Securitized Debt
The Company has several securitizations in place. Cash flows generated by the sites that secure the securitized debt are only available for payment of such debt and are not available to pay the Company’s other obligations or the claims of its creditors. However, subject to certain restrictions, the Company holds the right to the excess cash flows not needed to pay the securitized debt and other obligations arising out of the securitizations. The securitized debt is the obligation of the issuers thereof or borrowers thereunder, as applicable, and their subsidiaries, and not of the Company or its other subsidiaries.
Secured Tower Revenue Securities, Series 2013-1A and Series 2013-2A—In March 2013, the Company completed a private issuance (the “2013 Securitization”) of $1.8 billion of Secured Tower Revenue Securities, Series 2013-1A and Series 2013-2A (the “2013 Securities”) issued by American Tower Trust I (the “Trust”), a trust established by American Tower Depositor Sub, LLC, an indirect wholly owned special purpose subsidiary of the Company. The net proceeds of the transaction were $1.78 billion. The assets of the Trust consist of a nonrecourse loan (the “Loan”) to American Tower Asset Sub, LLC and American Tower Asset Sub II, LLC (the “AMT Asset Subs”), pursuant to a First Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of March 15, 2013 (the “Loan Agreement”).
The Loan is secured by (i) mortgages, deeds of trust and deeds to secure debt on substantially all of the 5,186 wireless and broadcast communications towers owned by the AMT Asset Subs (the “2013 Secured Towers”), (ii) a pledge of the AMT Asset Subs’ operating cash flows from the Secured Towers, (iii) a security interest in substantially all of the AMT Asset Subs’ personal property and fixtures and (iv) the AMT Asset Subs’ rights under the tenant leases and the management agreement entered into in connection with the 2013 Securitization. American Tower Holding Sub, LLC, whose only material assets are its equity interests in each of the AMT Asset Subs, and American Tower Guarantor Sub, LLC, whose only material asset are its equity interests in American Tower Holding Sub, LLC, each have guaranteed repayment of the Loan and pledged their equity interests in their respective subsidiary or subsidiaries as security for such payment obligations.
The 2013 Securities were issued in two separate series of the same class pursuant to a First Amended and Restated Trust and Servicing Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”), with terms identical to the Loan. The effective weighted average life and interest rate of the 2013 Securities was 8.6 years and 2.648%, respectively, as of the date of issuance.
Refinancing of GTP Acquisition Partners Securitization—On May 29, 2015, GTP Acquisition Partners I, LLC (“GTP Acquisition Partners”), one of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, repaid all amounts outstanding under the Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Global Tower Series 2011-1, Class C, Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Global Tower Series 2011-2, Class C and Class F and Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Global Tower Series 2013-1, Class C and Class F, (collectively, the “GTP AP Notes”) plus prepayment consideration and other costs and expenses related thereto, with cash on hand and proceeds from a private issuance (the “2015 Securitization”) of $350.0 million of American Tower Secured Revenue Notes, Series 2015-1, Class A (the “Series 2015-1 Notes”) and $525.0 million of American Tower Secured Revenue Notes, Series 2015-2, Class A (the “Series 2015-2 Notes,” and together with the Series 2015-1 Notes, the “2015 Notes”).
The 2015 Notes are secured by (i) mortgages, deeds of trust and deeds to secure debt on substantially all of the 3,609 communications sites (the “2015 Secured Sites”) owned by GTP Acquisition Partners and its subsidiaries (the “GTP Entities”)
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
and their operating cash flows, (ii) a security interest in substantially all of the personal property and fixtures of the GTP Entities, including GTP Acquisition Partners’ equity interests in its subsidiaries and (iii) the rights of the GTP Entities under a management agreement. American Tower Holding Sub II, LLC, whose only material assets are its equity interests in GTP Acquisition Partners, has guaranteed repayment of the 2015 Notes and pledged its equity interests in GTP Acquisition Partners as security for such payment obligations.
The 2015 Notes were issued by GTP Acquisition Partners pursuant to a Third Amended and Restated Indenture and related series supplements, each dated as of May 29, 2015 (collectively, the “2015 Indenture”), between the GTP Entities and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. The effective weighted average life and interest rate of the 2015 Notes was 8.1 years and 3.029%, respectively, as of the date of issuance.
Under the terms of the Loan Agreement and 2015 Indenture, amounts due will be paid from the cash flows generated by the 2013 Secured Towers or the 2015 Secured Sites, as applicable, which must be deposited into certain reserve accounts, and thereafter distributed solely pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement or 2015 Indenture, as applicable. On a monthly basis, after payment of all required amounts under the Loan Agreement or 2015 Indenture, as applicable, including interest payments, subject to the conditions described below, the excess cash flows generated from the operation of such assets are released to the AMT Asset Subs or GTP Acquisition Partners, as applicable, which can then be distributed to, and used by, the Company.
In order to distribute any excess cash flow to the Company, the AMT Asset Subs and GTP Acquisition Partners must each maintain a specified debt service coverage ratio (the “DSCR”), generally defined as the net cash flow divided by the amount of interest, servicing fees and trustee fees required to be paid over the succeeding 12 months on the principal amount of the Loan or the 2015 Notes, as applicable, that will be outstanding on the payment date following such date of determination. If the DSCR were equal to or below 1.30x (the “Cash Trap DSCR”) for such quarter, and the DSCR continues to be equal to or below the Cash Trap DSCR for two consecutive calendar quarters, then all cash flow in excess of amounts required to make debt service payments, to fund required reserves, to pay management fees and budgeted operating expenses and to make other payments required under the applicable transaction documents, referred to as excess cash flow, will be deposited into a reserve account instead of being released to the AMT Asset Subs or GTP Acquisition Partners, as applicable. The funds in the reserve account will not be released to the AMT Asset Subs or GTP Acquisition Partners unless the DSCR, as applicable, exceeds the Cash Trap DSCR for two consecutive calendar quarters.
Additionally, an “amortization period” commences if, as of the end of any calendar quarter, the DSCR falls below 1.15x (the “Minimum DSCR”) and will continue to exist until the DSCR exceeds the Minimum DSCR for two consecutive calendar quarters. With respect to the 2013 Securities, an “amortization period” also commences if, on the anticipated repayment date the component of the Loan corresponding to the applicable subclass of the 2013 Securities has not been repaid in full, provided that such amortization period shall apply with respect to such component that has not been repaid in full. If either series of the 2015 Notes have not been repaid in full on the applicable anticipated repayment date, additional interest will accrue on the unpaid principal balance of the applicable series of the 2015 Notes, and such series will begin to amortize on a monthly basis from excess cash flow. During an amortization period, all excess cash flow and any amounts then in the applicable reserve account because the Cash Trap DSCR was not met would be applied to payment of the principal on the Loan or the 2015 Notes, as applicable.
The Loan and the 2015 Notes may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time, provided such payment is accompanied by the applicable prepayment consideration. If the prepayment occurs within 12 months of the anticipated repayment date with respect to the Series 2013-1A Securities or the Series 2015-1 Notes, or 18 months of the anticipated repayment date with respect to the Series 2013-2A Securities or the Series 2015-2 Notes, no prepayment consideration is due. The Loan may be defeased in whole at any time prior to the anticipated repayment date for any component of the Loan then outstanding.
The Loan Agreement and the 2015 Indenture include operating covenants and other restrictions customary for transactions subject to rated securitizations. Among other things, the AMT Asset Subs and the GTP Entities, as applicable, are prohibited from incurring other indebtedness for borrowed money or further encumbering their assets subject to customary carve-outs for ordinary course trade payables and permitted encumbrances (as defined in the Loan Agreement or the 2015 Indenture, as applicable). The organizational documents of the AMT Asset Subs and the GTP Entities contain provisions consistent with rating agency securitization criteria for special purpose entities, including the requirement that they maintain independent directors. The Loan Agreement and the 2015 Indenture also contain certain covenants that require the AMT Asset Subs or GTP Acquisition Partners, as applicable, to provide the respective trustee with regular financial reports and operating budgets, promptly notify such trustee of events of default and material breaches under the Loan Agreement and other agreements related
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
to the 2013 Secured Towers or the 2015 Indenture and other agreements related to the 2015 Secured Sites, as applicable, and allow the applicable trustee reasonable access to the sites, including the right to conduct site investigations.
A failure to comply with the covenants in the Loan Agreement or the 2015 Indenture could prevent the AMT Asset Subs or GTP Acquisition Partners from distributing excess cash flow to the Company. Furthermore, if the AMT Asset Subs or GTP Acquisition Partners were to default on the Loan or a series of the 2015 Notes, the applicable trustee may seek to foreclose upon or otherwise convert the ownership of all or any portion of the 2013 Secured Towers or the 2015 Secured Sites, respectively, in which case the Company could lose the revenue associated with those assets. With respect to the 2015 Notes, upon occurrence and during an event of default, the trustee may, in its discretion or at direction of holders of more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal of any series of the 2015 Notes, declare such series of 2015 Notes immediately due and payable, in which case any excess cash flow would need to be used to pay holders of such notes.
Further, under the Loan Agreement and the 2015 Indenture, the AMT Asset Subs or GTP Acquisition Partners, as applicable, are required to maintain reserve accounts, including for amounts received or due from tenants related to future periods, property taxes, insurance, ground rents, certain expenses and debt service. Based on the terms of the Loan Agreement and the 2015 Indenture, all rental cash receipts received for each month are reserved for the succeeding month and held in an account controlled by the applicable trustee and then released. The $95.0 million held in the reserve accounts with respect to the 2013 Securitization and the $16.3 million held in the reserve accounts with respect to the 2015 Securitization as of December 31, 2015 are classified as Restricted cash on the Company’s accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Assumed Securitized Debt
2012 GTP Notes—In connection with the acquisition of MIPT, the Company assumed existing indebtedness issued by certain subsidiaries of Global Tower Partners (“GTP”) in several securitization transactions, including the Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2012-1 Class A, Series 2012-2 Class A, Series 2012-2 Class B, and Series 2012-2 Class C (collectively, the “2012 GTP Notes”) issued by GTP Cellular Sites, LLC (“GTP Cellular Sites”). The four classes of 2012 GTP Notes bear interest at rates of 3.721%, 4.336%, 6.413% and 7.358%, respectively, with anticipated repayment dates of March 15, 2017 for the Series 2012-1 Class A Notes and March 15, 2019 for each class of Series 2012-2 Notes and a final maturity date of March 15, 2042. As of December 31, 2015, the aggregate amount outstanding was $272.1 million plus $9.8 million of unamortized premium.
Unison Notes—In connection with the acquisition of Unison, the Company assumed $196.0 million of existing indebtedness under the Secured Cellular Site Revenue Notes, Series 2010-1 Class C, Series 2010-2 Class C and Series 2010-2 Class F (collectively, the “Unison Notes”) issued by Unison Ground Lease Funding, LLC (the “Unison Issuer”) in a securitization transaction (the “Unison Securitization”). The three classes of Unison Notes bear interest at rates of 5.349%, 6.392% and 9.522%, respectively, with anticipated repayment dates of April 15, 2017, April 15, 2020 and April 15, 2020, respectively, and a final maturity date of April 15, 2040. As of December 31, 2015, the aggregate amount outstanding was $196.0 million plus $5.9 million of unamortized premium.
The 2012 GTP Notes and the Unison Notes may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time, provided such payment is accompanied by applicable prepayment consideration. No prepayment consideration is due if, with respect to the 2012 GTP Notes, the prepayment occurs within one year of the anticipated repayment date, or, with respect to the Unison Notes, the prepayment occurs within six months of the anticipated repayment date.
As of December 31, 2015, the 2012 GTP Notes are secured by, among other things, an aggregate of 105 sites and 1,064 property interests owned by certain subsidiaries of GTP and other related assets (the “GTP Secured Sites”) and the Unison Notes are secured by, among other things, liens on 1,516 real property interests owned by two special purpose subsidiaries of the Unison Issuer (together with the Unison Issuer, the “Unison Obligors”) and other related assets (the “Unison Secured Sites”).
The indenture and each series supplement governing the 2012 GTP Notes (collectively, the “GTP Indenture”) and the indenture governing the Unison Notes (the “Unison Indenture”) each include certain financial ratios and operating covenants and other restrictions customary for notes subject to rated securitizations. Among other things, GTP Cellular Sites and the Unison Obligors are restricted from incurring other indebtedness or further encumbering their applicable assets.
Under the terms of the applicable indentures, amounts due will be paid from the cash flows generated by the GTP Secured Sites or the Unison Secured Sites (as applicable), which must be deposited into certain reserve accounts, and thereafter distributed, solely pursuant to the terms of the applicable agreement. The Unison Indenture requires the Unison Issuer to make monthly payments of interest to holders of the Unison Notes. The GTP Indenture requires GTP Cellular Sites to make monthly payments
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
of principal and interest to holders of the 2012 GTP Notes from available funds. On a monthly basis, cash flows in excess of amounts needed to make debt service payments and other payments required under the GTP Indenture of the Unison Indenture, as applicable, are to be distributed to GTP Cellular Sites or the Unison Issuer, which may then be distributed to, and used by, the Company. Additionally, under the GTP Indenture or the Unison Indenture, GTP Cellular Sites and the Unison Obligors, respectively, are required to maintain reserve accounts, including for amounts received or due from tenants related to future periods, property taxes, insurance, ground rents, certain expenses and debt service. The $5.3 million held in the reserve accounts with respect to the 2012 GTP Notes and the $4.9 million held in the reserve accounts with respect to the Unison Securitization, as of December 31, 2015 are classified as Restricted cash on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
A failure to comply with the covenants in the GTP Indenture or the Unison Indenture could prevent GTP Cellular Sites or the Unison Obligors, as applicable, from taking certain actions with respect to each of their sites and from distributing excess cash flow to the Company. In addition, with respect to the 2012 GTP Notes, upon occurrence and during an event of default, the trustee may, in its discretion or at direction of holders of more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal of any series of the 2012 GTP Notes, declare such series of the 2012 GTP Notes immediately due and payable, in which case any excess cash flow would need to be used to pay holders of such series of the 2012 GTP Notes. Furthermore, if GTP Cellular Sites or the Unison Issuer were to default on their respective notes, the applicable trustee could seek to foreclose upon the GTP Secured Sites or the Unison Secured Sites, as applicable, in which case the Company could lose ownership of such property interests and the revenue associated with them.
Other Subsidiary Debt
BR Towers Debt—In connection with the acquisition of BR Towers in November 2014, the Company assumed 313.1 million BRL ($80.2 million at December 31, 2015) of publicly issued simple debentures (“BR Towers Debentures”) (with an original principal amount of 300.0 million BRL) issued by a subsidiary of BR Towers (the “BRT Issuer”), and a BRL denominated credit facility with Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (“BNDES”), which allowed a subsidiary of BR Towers to borrow up to 48.1 million BRL through an intermediary bank (the “BR Towers Credit Facility”). On March 30, 2015, the Company repaid all amounts outstanding and terminated the BR Towers Credit Facility.
The aggregate principal amount of the BR Towers Debentures may be adjusted periodically relative to changes in the National Extended Consumer Price Index. Any such increase in the principal amount will be capitalized in a manner consistent with the agreement governing the BR Towers Debentures (the “Debenture Agreement”). Payments of principal and interest are made quarterly, beginning on January 15, 2014, in accordance with the amortization schedule set forth in the Debenture Agreement.
The Company may redeem the BR Towers Debentures beginning on October 15, 2018 at the then outstanding principal amount plus a surcharge, calculated in accordance with the Debenture Agreement, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon. As of December 31, 2015, 332.8 million BRL ($85.2 million) aggregate principal amount is outstanding under the BR Towers Debentures.
The BR Towers Debentures are secured by (i) 100% of the shares of the BRT Issuer and (ii) all proceeds and rights from the issuance of the BR Towers Debentures, including amounts in a Resource Account, as defined in the applicable agreement. The Debenture Agreement includes contractual covenants and other restrictions customary for public debentures.
Shareholder Loans—In connection with the establishment of certain of the Company’s joint ventures and related acquisitions of communications sites in Ghana and Uganda, the Company’s majority owned subsidiaries entered into shareholder loan agreements, as the borrower, with wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company and of the Company’s joint venture partners, as lenders. The portions of the loans made by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries are eliminated in consolidation and the portions of the loans made by each of the Company’s joint venture partner’s wholly owned subsidiaries are reported as outstanding debt of the Company. Outstanding amounts under each of the Company’s shareholder loans consisted of the following as of December 31, (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 | Contractual Interest Rate | Maturity Date | |||||||||
Ghana loan (1) | $ | 70,314 | $ | 68,651 | 21.87 | % | December 31, 2019 | |||||
Uganda loan (2)(3) | 75,226 | 69,004 | 6.066 | % | June 29, 2019 | |||||||
_______________
(1) | Denominated in GHS. As of December 31, 2015, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Ghana loan was 267.5 million GHS, which included 46.7 million GHS ($12.3 million) of interest which was capitalized during the year ended December 31, 2015. |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(2) | Interest rate as of December 31, 2015. Interest accrues at a variable rate. |
(3) | Includes $6.3 million of interest which was capitalized during the year ended December 31, 2015. |
South African Facility—On December 19, 2015, one of the Company’s South African subsidiaries (the “SA Borrower”) entered into a loan agreement for a new 830.0 million ZAR denominated credit facility (the “South African Facility”). On December 23, 2015, the SA Borrower borrowed 830.0 million ZAR ($54.5 million at the date of borrowing), which it used primarily to repay its previously existing ZAR-denominated credit facility. The South African Facility provides that the SA Borrower may request increases up to an aggregate of an additional 830.0 million ZAR.
Principal and interest are payable quarterly in arrears with principal due in accordance with the repayment schedule included in the loan agreement. Outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest will be due and payable in full at maturity. The South African Facility may be prepaid in whole or in part without prepayment consideration.
The South African Facility is secured by, among other things, liens on towers owned by the SA Borrower. The loan agreement contains certain reporting, information, financial ratios and operating covenants. Failure to comply with certain of the financial and operating covenants would constitute a default, which could result in, among other things, the amounts outstanding, including all accrued interest and unpaid fees, becoming immediately due and payable. Under the terms of the South African Facility, interest is payable quarterly at a rate per annum equal to 1.95%, plus the three month Johannesburg Interbank Agreed Rate (JIBAR). As of December 31, 2015, 830.0 million ZAR ($53.7 million) was outstanding under the South African Facility.
Colombian Credit Facility—In October 2014, one of the Company’s Colombian subsidiaries (“ATC Sitios”) entered into a loan agreement for a 200.0 billion COP ($63.5 million at December 31, 2015) long-term credit facility (the “Colombian Credit Facility”).
Any outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest will be due and payable in full at maturity. The Colombian Credit Facility may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time, subject to certain limitations and prepayment consideration.
Principal and interest are payable quarterly in arrears with principal due in accordance with the repayment schedule included in the loan agreement. Interest accrues at a per annum rate equal to 4.00% above the three-month Inter-bank Rate (“IBR”) in effect at the beginning of each Interest Period, as defined in the loan agreement. The loan agreement also requires that ATC Sitios manage exposure to variability in interest rates on certain of the amounts outstanding under the Colombian Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2015, the interest rate, after giving effect to the interest rate swap agreements, was 9.80%.
The Colombian Credit Facility is secured by, among other things, liens on towers owned by ATC Sitios. The loan agreement contains certain reporting, information, financial ratios and operating covenants. Failure to comply with certain of the financial and operating covenants would constitute a default, which could result in, among other things, the amounts outstanding, including all accrued interest and unpaid fees, becoming immediately due and payable. As of December 31, 2015, 190.0 billion COP ($60.3 million) was outstanding under the Colombian Credit Facility.
Brazil Credit Facility—In December 2014, one of the Company’s Brazilian subsidiaries (“ATC Brazil”) entered into a 271.0 million BRL ($69.4 million at December 31, 2015) credit facility with BNDES, (the “Brazil Credit Facility”). ATC Brazil maintains the ability to draw on the Brazil Credit Facility until December 30, 2016. The Brazil Credit Facility bears interest at a margin over the long-term interest rate, as defined by BNDES (“TJLP”), and the Special Clearance and Escrow System (“SELIC”). Outstanding amounts and key terms under the Brazil Credit Facility consisted of the following as of December 31, 2015 (in millions):
Amounts Outstanding (BRL) | Amounts Outstanding (USD at December 31, 2015) | Maximum Borrowing Amount (BRL) | Maximum Borrowing Amount (USD at December 31, 2015) | Contractual Interest Rate | ||||||||||||
Tranche A | 23.4 | $ | 6.0 | 34.8 | $ | 8.9 | TJLP + 4.25% | |||||||||
Tranche B | 24.5 | $ | 6.3 | 34.8 | $ | 8.9 | SELIC + 4.25% | |||||||||
Tranche C | 37.5 | $ | 9.6 | 200.0 | $ | 51.2 | 6.00 | % | ||||||||
Tranche D | — | $ | — | 1.4 | $ | 0.4 | TJLP | |||||||||
Indian Working Capital Facility—In April 2013, one of the Company’s Indian subsidiaries (“ATC India”) entered into a working capital facility agreement (the “Indian Working Capital Facility”), which allows ATC India to borrow an amount not to
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
exceed the INR equivalent of $10.0 million through two separate facilities. Advances under one facility (“Facility A”) are payable on the earlier of demand or six months following the borrowing date and advances under the other facility (“Facility B”) are payable on the earlier of demand or thirty days following the borrowing date, with the option to extend for additional 30-day periods. The interest rate is determined at the time of advance by the bank. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had no amounts outstanding under Facility A and 579.0 million INR ($8.8 million) outstanding under Facility B. ATC India maintains the ability to draw down and repay amounts under the Indian Working Capital Facility in the ordinary course.
Mexican Loan—In May 2015, upon maturity of its 5.2 billion Mexican Peso (“MXN”) denominated unsecured bridge loan, the Company repaid the remaining outstanding principal balance of 3.9 billion MXN ($251.2 million on the date of repayment) with cash on hand and borrowings under its multicurrency senior unsecured revolving credit facility entered into in June 2013, as amended (the “2013 Credit Facility”).
American Tower Corporation Debt
Bank Facilities—In February 2015, the Company entered into amendment agreements with respect to (i) its unsecured term loan entered into in October 2013 (the “Term Loan”), (ii) the 2013 Credit Facility and (iii) its senior unsecured revolving credit facility entered into in January 2012, as amended and restated in September 2014 (the “2014 Credit Facility”). After giving effect to these amendments, the permitted ratio of Total Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the loan agreements for each of the facilities) is (i) 7.00 to 1.00 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 and (ii) 6.00 to 1.00 thereafter. In addition, the maximum Incremental Term Loan Commitments (as defined in the agreement governing the Term Loan) was increased to $1.0 billion and the maximum Revolving Loan Commitments, after giving effect to any Incremental Commitments (each as defined in the loan agreements for each of the revolving credit facilities) was increased to $3.5 billion and $2.5 billion under the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility, respectively.
Effective October 28, 2015, the Company entered into additional amendment agreements to the Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility, which, among other things, (i) extended the maturity dates to January 29, 2021, June 28, 2019 and January 29, 2021, respectively, and (ii) increased the threshold for certain defaults with respect to judgments, attachments or acceleration of indebtedness from $250.0 million to $300.0 million. All of the other material terms of the Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility remain in full force and effect.
Term Loan—Effective February 20, 2015, the Company borrowed an additional $500.0 million under the Term Loan. As a result, there is $2.0 billion outstanding under the Term Loan.
2013 Credit Facility—On February 20, 2015, the Company received incremental commitments of $750.0 million and, as a result, has the ability to borrow up to $2.75 billion under the 2013 Credit Facility, which includes a $1.0 billion sublimit for multicurrency borrowings, a $200.0 million sublimit for letters of credit and a $50.0 million sublimit for swingline loans.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company borrowed an aggregate of $4.0 billion and repaid an aggregate of $2.7 billion of revolving indebtedness under the 2013 Credit Facility. The Company primarily used the borrowings to (i) fund a portion of the Verizon Transaction, (ii) fund the Airtel acquisition, (iii) fund the TIM acquisition and (iv) repay other indebtedness. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $3.2 million of undrawn letters of credit and maintains the ability to draw down and repay amounts under the 2013 Credit Facility in the ordinary course.
2014 Credit Facility—On February 20, 2015, the Company received incremental commitments of $500.0 million and, as a result, has the ability to borrow up to $2.0 billion under the 2014 Credit Facility, which includes a $200.0 million sublimit for letters of credit and a $50.0 million sublimit for swingline loans.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company borrowed an aggregate of $2.1 billion and repaid an aggregate of $1.3 billion of revolving indebtedness under the 2014 Credit Facility. The Company primarily used the borrowings to fund a portion of the Verizon Transaction. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $7.4 million of undrawn letters of credit and maintains the ability to draw down and repay amounts under the 2014 Credit Facility in the ordinary course.
The Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility do not require amortization of principal and may be paid prior to maturity in whole or in part at the Company’s option without penalty or premium. The Company has the option of choosing either a defined base rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) as the applicable base rate for borrowings under the Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility. The interest rates range between 1.000% to 2.000% above LIBOR for LIBOR based borrowings or up to 1.000% above the defined base rate for base rate borrowings, in each case
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
based upon the Company’s debt ratings. As of December 31, 2015, the margin over LIBOR for each of the Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility was 1.250%.
The 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility are subject to two optional renewal periods. A quarterly commitment fee on the undrawn portion of the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility is required, ranging from 0.100% to 0.400% per annum, based upon the Company’s debt ratings, and is currently 0.150%.
The loan agreements for each of the Term Loan, the 2013 Credit Facility and the 2014 Credit Facility contain certain reporting, information, financial and operating covenants and other restrictions (including limitations on additional debt, guaranties, sales of assets and liens) with which the Company must comply. Failure to comply with the financial and operating covenants of the loan agreements could not only prevent the Company from being able to borrow additional funds under the revolving credit facilities, but may constitute a default, which could result in, among other things, the amounts outstanding, including all accrued interest and unpaid fees, becoming immediately due and payable.
Senior Notes
2.800% Senior Notes and 4.000% Senior Notes Offering—On May 7, 2015, the Company completed a registered public offering of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.800% senior unsecured notes due 2020 (the “2.800% Notes”) and $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.000% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (the “4.000% Notes”). The net proceeds from this offering were approximately $1,480.1 million, after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. The Company used the proceeds to repay existing indebtedness under the 2013 Credit Facility. Interest on the notes is computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months and commenced accruing on May 7, 2015.
The following table outlines key terms related to the Company’s outstanding senior notes as of December 31, 2015:
Adjustments to Principal Amount (1) | |||||||||||||||||
Aggregate Principal Amount | 2015 | 2014 (2) | Semi-annual interest payments due | Issue Date | Maturity Date | ||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
4.500% Notes | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | (2,307 | ) | $ | (3,429 | ) | January 15 and July 15 | December 7, 2010 | January 15, 2018 | ||||||
3.40 % Notes (3) | 1,000,000 | (231 | ) | (393 | ) | February 15 and August 15 | August 19, 2013 | February 15, 2019 | |||||||||
7.25% Notes | 300,000 | (3,758 | ) | (4,771 | ) | May 15 and November 15 | June 10, 2009 | May 15, 2019 | |||||||||
2.800% Notes | 750,000 | (6,443 | ) | — | June 1 and December 1 | May 7, 2015 | June 1, 2020 | ||||||||||
5.050% Notes | 700,000 | (2,784 | ) | (3,440 | ) | March 1 and September 1 | August 16, 2010 | September 1, 2020 | |||||||||
3.450% Notes | 650,000 | (7,214 | ) | (8,421 | ) | March 15 and September 15 | August 7, 2014 | September 15, 2021 | |||||||||
5.900% Notes | 500,000 | (2,812 | ) | (3,285 | ) | May 1 and November 1 | October 6, 2011 | November 1, 2021 | |||||||||
4.70% Notes | 700,000 | (4,626 | ) | (5,306 | ) | March 15 and September 15 | March 12, 2012 | March 15, 2022 | |||||||||
3.50% Notes | 1,000,000 | (12,034 | ) | (13,611 | ) | January 31 and July 31 | January 8, 2013 | January 31, 2023 | |||||||||
5.00% Notes (3) | 1,000,000 | 3,453 | 3,628 | February 15 and August 15 | August 19, 2013 | February 15, 2024 | |||||||||||
4.000% Notes | 750,000 | (10,943 | ) | — | June 1 and December 1 | May 7, 2015 | June 1, 2025 | ||||||||||
_______________
(1) Includes unamortized discounts, premiums, and debt issuance costs.
(2) December 31, 2014 balances have been revised to reflect debt issuance costs.
(3) | The original issue date for the 3.40% Notes and the 5.00% Notes was August 19, 2013. The issue date for the reopened 3.40% Notes and the reopened 5.00% Notes was January 10, 2014. |
The Company may redeem each of the series of senior notes at any time, subject to the terms of the applicable indenture, which generally provide for a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such notes, plus a make-whole premium, together with accrued interest to the redemption date. Each of the applicable indentures, including any supplemental indentures (the “Indentures”) for the notes contain certain covenants that restrict the Company’s ability to merge, consolidate or sell assets and its (together with its subsidiaries’) ability to incur liens. These covenants are subject to a number of exceptions, including that the Company and its subsidiaries may incur certain liens on assets, mortgages or other liens securing indebtedness, if the aggregate amount of such liens shall not exceed 3.5x Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the applicable Indenture for each of the notes. If the Company undergoes a change of control and corresponding ratings decline, each as defined in the Indentures, the Company may be required to repurchase one or more series of notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount,
F-31
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
plus accrued and unpaid interest (including additional interest, if any) up to, but not including, the date of repurchase. The notes rank equally with all of the Company’s other senior unsecured debt and are structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of the Company’s subsidiaries.
Redemption of Senior Notes—On February 11, 2015, the Company redeemed all of the outstanding 4.625% senior notes due 2015 (the “4.625% Notes”) at a price equal to 100.5898% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest up to, but excluding, February 11, 2015, for an aggregate redemption price of $613.6 million, including $10.0 million in accrued and unpaid interest. On April 29, 2015, the Company redeemed all of the outstanding 7.000% senior notes due 2017 (the “7.000% Notes”) at a price equal to 114.0629% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, April 29, 2015, for an aggregate redemption price of $571.7 million, including $1.4 million in accrued and unpaid interest.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded a loss on retirement of long-term obligations of $74.3 million related to the redemption of the 7.000% Notes, and $3.7 million related to the redemption of the 4.625% Notes, each of which included prepayment consideration and the remaining portion of the unamortized discount and deferred financing costs, and with respect to the 7.000% Notes, the write-off of the unamortized portion of the settlement cost of a treasury rate lock. These redemptions were funded with borrowings under the Company’s existing credit facilities and cash on hand. Upon completion of these redemptions, none of the 4.625% Notes or the 7.000% Notes remained outstanding.
Capital Lease and Other Obligations—The Company’s capital lease and other obligations approximated $110.9 million and $93.7 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. These obligations are secured by the related assets, bear interest at rates of 2.40% to 9.25%, and mature in periods ranging from less than one year to approximately seventy years.
Maturities—As of December 31, 2015, aggregate principal maturities of long-term debt, including capital leases, for the next five years and thereafter are expected to be (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31, | |||
2016 | $ | 50,202 | |
2017 | 195,536 | ||
2018 | 1,537,659 | ||
2019 | 2,883,615 | ||
2020 | 1,970,026 | ||
Thereafter | 10,549,061 | ||
Total cash obligations | 17,186,099 | ||
Unamortized discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs, net | (67,090 | ) | |
Balance as of December 31, 2015 | $ | 17,119,009 | |
9. OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Other non-current liabilities consisted of the following as of December 31, (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 (1) | ||||||
Unearned revenue | $ | 451,844 | $ | 415,809 | |||
Deferred rent liability | 348,532 | 303,442 | |||||
Other miscellaneous liabilities | 265,306 | 309,436 | |||||
Balance | $ | 1,065,682 | $ | 1,028,687 | |||
_______________
(1) | December 31, 2014 balances have been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments. |
F-32
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
10. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The changes in the carrying amount of the Company’s asset retirement obligations were as follows (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 | ||||||
Beginning balance as of January 1, | $ | 609,035 | $ | 549,548 | |||
Additions | 277,982 | 52,623 | |||||
Accretion expense | 55,592 | 40,325 | |||||
Revisions in estimates (1) | (83,636 | ) | (32,311 | ) | |||
Settlements | (2,037 | ) | (1,150 | ) | |||
Balance as of December 31, | $ | 856,936 | $ | 609,035 | |||
_______________
(1) | Revisions in estimates include the negative impact of $81.7 million and $38.5 million of foreign currency translation for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. |
As of December 31, 2015, the estimated undiscounted future cash outlay for asset retirement obligations was $2.6 billion.
11. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company determines the fair value of its financial instruments based on the fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Below are the three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1 | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. | |
Level 2 | Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. | |
Level 3 | Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. | |
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis—The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are required to be measured on a recurring basis at fair value was as follows (in thousands):
December 31, 2015 | December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value Measurements Using | Assets/Liabilities at Fair Value | Fair Value Measurements Using | Assets/Liabilities at Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Short-term investments (1) | — | — | — | — | — | $ | 6,302 | — | $ | 6,302 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | — | $ | 692 | — | $ | 692 | — | $ | 88 | — | $ | 88 | ||||||||||||||||||
Embedded derivative in lease agreement | — | — | $ | 14,176 | $ | 14,176 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition-related contingent consideration | — | — | $ | 12,436 | $ | 12,436 | — | — | $ | 28,524 | $ | 28,524 | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | — | — | — | — | — | $ | 647 | — | $ | 647 | ||||||||||||||||||||
_______________
(1) Consists of highly liquid investments with original maturities in excess of three months.
Interest Rate Swap Agreements
F-33
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have entered into interest rate swap agreements, which have been designated as cash flow hedges, to manage exposure to variability in interest rates on debt. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements is determined using pricing models with inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. The Company records the change in fair value for the effective portion of the cash flow hedges in Other comprehensive income (“OCI”) in the consolidated balance sheets and reclassifies a portion of the value from OCI into Interest expense on a quarterly basis as the cash flows from the hedged item affects earnings. The Company records the settlement of interest rate swap agreements in Loss on retirement of long-term obligations in the consolidated statement of operations in the period in which the settlement occurs.
One of the Company’s Colombian subsidiaries entered into an interest rate swap agreement with an aggregate notional value of 100.0 billion COP ($31.8 million) with certain of the lenders under the Colombian Credit Facility. The interest rate swap agreement requires the payment of a fixed interest rate of 5.74% and pays variable interest at the three-month IBR through the earlier of termination of the underlying debt or April 24, 2021. The notional value is reduced in accordance with the repayment schedule under the Colombian Credit Facility. In December 2015, one of the Company’s South African subsidiaries settled the interest rate swap agreements related to its previously existing ZAR-denominated South African credit facility.
The notional amount and fair value of the interest rate swap agreements were as follows as of December 31, (in thousands):
2015 (1) | 2014 (2) | ||||||||
Local | USD | Local | USD | ||||||
South Africa (ZAR) | |||||||||
Notional | — | — | 440,614 | 38,080 | |||||
Fair Value | — | — | 1,016 | 88 | |||||
Colombia (COP) | |||||||||
Notional | 95,000,000 | 30,164 | 100,000,000 | 41,798 | |||||
Fair Value | 2,179,374 | 692 | (1,548,688 | ) | (647 | ) | |||
_______________
(1) | As of December 31, 2015, the interest rate swap agreement in Colombia was included in Notes receivable and other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. |
(2) | As of December 31, 2014, the interest rate swap agreement in Colombia was included in Other non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet and the interest rate swap agreements in South Africa were included in Notes receivable and other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. |
Embedded Derivative in Lease Agreement
In connection with the acquisition of communications sites in Nigeria, the Company entered into a site lease agreement where a portion of the monthly rent to be received is escalated based on an index outside the lessor’s economic environment. The fair value of the portion of the lease tied to the U.S. CPI was $14.6 million at the date of acquisition and was recorded in Notes receivable and other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of the Company’s embedded derivative is determined using a discounted cash flow approach, which takes into consideration Level 3 unobservable inputs, including expected future cash flows over the period in which the associated payment is expected to be received and applies a discount factor that captures uncertainties in the future periods associated with the expected payment. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded $0.4 million of a fair value adjustment which was recorded in Other expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Acquisition-Related Contingent Consideration
Acquisition-related contingent consideration is initially measured and recorded at fair value as an element of consideration paid in connection with an acquisition with subsequent adjustments recognized in Other operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration, and any subsequent changes in fair value, is determined by using a discounted probability-weighted approach, which takes into consideration Level 3 unobservable inputs including assessments of expected future cash flows over the period in which the obligation is expected to be settled and applies a discount factor that captures the uncertainties associated with the obligation. Changes in the unobservable inputs of Level 3 assets or liabilities could significantly impact the fair value of these assets or liabilities recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, with the adjustments being recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company estimates that the value of all potential acquisition-related contingent consideration required payments to be between zero and $26.1 million. The changes in fair value of the contingent consideration were as follows during the years ended December 31, (in thousands):
F-34
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2015 | 2014 | ||||||
Balance as of January 1 | $ | 28,524 | $ | 31,890 | |||
Additions | 1,626 | 6,412 | |||||
Settlements | (7,943 | ) | (3,889 | ) | |||
Change in fair value | (4,781 | ) | (225 | ) | |||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | (4,990 | ) | (4,934 | ) | |||
Other (1) | — | (730 | ) | ||||
Balance as of December 31 | $ | 12,436 | $ | 28,524 | |||
_______________
(1) | In connection with the sale of operations in Panama in September 2014, the buyer assumed the Company’s potential obligations related to additional purchase price consideration. |
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Assets Held and Used—The Company’s long-lived assets are recorded at amortized cost and, if impaired, are adjusted to fair value using Level 3 inputs. During the year ended December 31, 2015, certain long-lived assets held and used with a carrying value of $12.6 billion were written down to their net realizable value as a result of an asset impairment charge of $15.1 million. During the year ended December 31, 2014, certain long-lived assets held and used with a carrying value of $8.9 billion were written down to their net realizable value as a result of an asset impairment charge of $11.2 million. The asset impairment charges are recorded in Other operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. These adjustments were determined by comparing the estimated fair value utilizing projected future discounted cash flows to be provided from the long-lived assets to the asset’s carrying value.
Sale of Assets—During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company completed the sale of its operations in Panama and its third-party structural analysis business for an aggregate sale price of $17.9 million, plus a working capital adjustment. At the time of sale, the carrying amount of these assets primarily included $8.1 million of property and equipment, $7.8 million of intangible assets and $3.6 million of goodwill. The Company recorded a net charge of $2.2 million in Other operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
There were no other items measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the year ended December 31, 2015.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The Company’s financial instruments for which the carrying value reasonably approximates fair value at December 31, 2015 and 2014 include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The Company’s estimates of fair value of its long-term obligations, including the current portion, are based primarily upon reported market values. For long-term debt not actively traded, fair value is estimated using either indicative price quotes or a discounted cash flow analysis using rates for debt with similar terms and maturities. As of December 31, 2015, the carrying value and fair value of long-term obligations, including the current portion, were $17.1 billion and $17.4 billion, respectively, of which $8.7 billion was measured using Level 1 inputs and $8.7 billion was measured using Level 2 inputs. As of December 31, 2014, the carrying value and fair value of long-term obligations, including the current portion, were $14.5 billion and $15.0 billion, respectively, of which $9.7 billion was measured using Level 1 inputs and $5.3 billion was measured using Level 2 inputs.
12. INCOME TAXES
The Company has filed, for prior taxable years through its taxable year ended December 31, 2011, consolidated U.S. federal tax returns, which included all of its then wholly owned domestic subsidiaries. For its taxable year commencing January 1, 2012, the Company filed, and intends to continue to file, as a REIT, and its domestic TRSs filed, and intend to continue to file, as C corporations. The Company also files tax returns in various states and countries. The Company’s state tax returns reflect different combinations of the Company’s subsidiaries and are dependent on the connection each subsidiary has with a particular state. The following information pertains to the Company’s income taxes on a consolidated basis.
F-35
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The income tax provision from continuing operations consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Current: | |||||||||||
Federal | $ | (73,930 | ) | $ | (2,390 | ) | $ | (30,322 | ) | ||
State | (21,216 | ) | (797 | ) | (13,731 | ) | |||||
Foreign | (55,045 | ) | (57,934 | ) | (44,973 | ) | |||||
Deferred: | |||||||||||
Federal | 9,131 | (4,180 | ) | (16,318 | ) | ||||||
State | 8 | (973 | ) | (5,139 | ) | ||||||
Foreign | (16,903 | ) | 3,769 | 50,942 | |||||||
Income tax provision | $ | (157,955 | ) | $ | (62,505 | ) | $ | (59,541 | ) | ||
The effective tax rate on income from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to our qualification for taxation as a REIT, as well as adjustments for foreign items. As a REIT, the Company may deduct earnings distributed to stockholders against the income generated by its REIT operations. In addition, the Company is able to offset certain income by utilizing its NOLs, subject to specified limitations.
Effective July 25, 2015, the Company filed a tax election, pursuant to which MIPT no longer operates as a separate REIT for federal and state income tax purposes. In connection with this and related elections, the Company incurred a one-time cash tax charge of $93.0 million and a one-time deferred income tax benefit of $5.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in the income tax provision during the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily attributable to the MIPT tax election and charge of $13.1 million resulting from a change in income tax law in Ghana.
During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the income tax provision included an expense of $2.6 million and $21.5 million, respectively, resulting from the restructuring of certain of the Company’s domestic TRSs.
Reconciliation between the U.S. statutory rate and the effective rate from continuing operations is as follows for the years ended December 31:
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Statutory tax rate | 35 | % | 35 | % | 35 | % | ||
Tax adjustment related to REIT (1) | (35 | ) | (35 | ) | (35 | ) | ||
State taxes, net of federal benefit | — | 1 | 3 | |||||
Foreign taxes | 3 | 2 | (5 | ) | ||||
Foreign withholding taxes | 3 | 3 | 6 | |||||
Domestic TRS restructuring | — | — | 4 | |||||
Change in tax law | 2 | — | — | |||||
MIPT tax election (2) | 11 | — | — | |||||
Other | — | 1 | 3 | |||||
Effective tax rate | 19 | % | 7 | % | 11 | % | ||
_______________
(1) Includes 36%, 24% and 28% from dividend paid deductions in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
(2) Includes federal and state taxes, net of federal benefit.
The domestic and foreign components of income from continuing operations before income taxes are as follows for the years ended December 31, (in thousands):
F-36
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
United States | $ | 785,201 | $ | 857,457 | $ | 766,772 | |||||
Foreign | 44,761 | 8,247 | (225,023 | ) | |||||||
Total | $ | 829,962 | $ | 865,704 | $ | 541,749 | |||||
The components of the net deferred tax asset and related valuation allowance were as follows as of December 31, (in thousands):
2015 (1) | 2014 (2) | ||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Allowances, accruals and other items not currently deductible | $ | — | $ | 19,893 | |||
Current deferred liabilities | — | (2,799 | ) | ||||
Subtotal | — | 17,094 | |||||
Valuation allowance | — | (3,094 | ) | ||||
Net current deferred tax assets | $ | — | $ | 14,000 | |||
Non-current items: | |||||||
Assets: | |||||||
Net operating loss carryforwards | 277,977 | 242,788 | |||||
Accrued asset retirement obligations | 92,295 | 103,975 | |||||
Stock-based compensation | 3,889 | 693 | |||||
Unearned revenue | 25,654 | 18,947 | |||||
Unrealized loss on foreign currency | 37,440 | 15,952 | |||||
Items not currently deductible and other | 31,432 | 22,142 | |||||
Liabilities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | (194,230 | ) | (131,678 | ) | |||
Deferred rent | (20,720 | ) | (18,355 | ) | |||
Other | (11,077 | ) | (1,791 | ) | |||
Subtotal | 242,660 | 252,673 | |||||
Valuation allowance | (136,952 | ) | (138,147 | ) | |||
Net non-current deferred tax assets | $ | 105,708 | $ | 114,526 | |||
_______________
(1) Change in accounting pronouncement, as described below.
(2) December 31, 2014 balances have been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments.
In November 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on the balance sheet classification of all deferred income taxes. The guidance requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with the related valuation allowance, be classified as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. The Company has early adopted this guidance for the year ended December 31, 2015, and it did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted.
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company has provided a valuation allowance of $137.0 million and $141.2 million, respectively, which primarily relates to foreign items. During 2015, the Company increased the amounts recorded as valuation allowances due to the uncertainty as to the timing of, and the Company’s ability to recover, net deferred tax assets in certain foreign operations in the foreseeable future. The increase in the valuation allowance for the year ending December 31, 2015, was offset by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and a reversal of previously reserved deferred tax assets resulting from a change in income tax law in Ghana. The amount of deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if objective evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present and additional weight may be given to subjective evidence such as the Company’s projections for growth.
A summary of the activity in the valuation allowance is as follows (in thousands):
F-37
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, | $ | 141,241 | $ | 136,006 | $ | 95,558 | ||||||
Additions (1) | 19,512 | 40,124 | 48,411 | |||||||||
Reversals | — | (10,769 | ) | — | ||||||||
Foreign currency translation | (23,801 | ) | (24,120 | ) | (7,963 | ) | ||||||
Balance as of December 31, | $ | 136,952 | $ | 141,241 | $ | 136,006 | ||||||
_______________
(1) Includes net charges to expense and allowances established through goodwill at acquisition.
The recoverability of the Company’s net deferred tax asset has been assessed utilizing projections based on its current operations. Accordingly, the recoverability of the net deferred tax asset is not dependent on material asset sales or other non-routine transactions. Based on its current outlook of future taxable income during the carryforward period, the Company believes that the net deferred tax asset will be realized.
The Company considers the earnings of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries to be indefinitely invested outside the United States on the basis of estimates that future domestic cash generation will be sufficient to meet future domestic cash needs. The Company has not recorded a deferred tax liability related to the U.S. federal and state income taxes and foreign withholding taxes on $490.6 million of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries indefinitely invested outside of the United States. Should the Company decide to repatriate the foreign earnings, it may have to adjust the income tax provision in the period it determined that the earnings will no longer be indefinitely invested outside of the United States.
At December 31, 2015, the Company had net federal, state and foreign operating loss carryforwards available to reduce future taxable income, which includes losses of $51.6 million related to employee stock options. If not utilized, the Company’s net operating loss carryforwards expire as follows (in thousands):
Years ended December 31, | Federal | State | Foreign | ||||||||
2016 to 2020 | $ | — | $ | 79,928 | $ | 14,727 | |||||
2021 to 2025 | — | 281,061 | 195,694 | ||||||||
2026 to 2030 | 51,596 | 188,030 | — | ||||||||
2031 to 2035 | 23,670 | 10,853 | — | ||||||||
Indefinite carryforward | — | — | 695,052 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 75,266 | $ | 559,872 | $ | 905,473 | |||||
In addition, the Company has Mexican tax credits of $1.8 million, which if not utilized will expire in 2017.
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate, if recognized, is $28.1 million and $31.9 million, respectively. The Company expects the unrecognized tax benefits to change over the next 12 months if certain tax matters ultimately settle with the applicable taxing jurisdiction during this timeframe, or if the applicable statute of limitations lapses. The impact of the amount of such changes to previously recorded uncertain tax positions could range from zero to $14.3 million.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits are as follows for the years ended December 31, (in thousands):
F-38
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Balance at January 1 | $ | 31,947 | $ | 32,545 | $ | 34,337 | |||||
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year | 5,042 | 4,187 | 1,427 | ||||||||
Additions for tax positions of prior years | — | 3,780 | — | ||||||||
Reductions for tax positions of prior years | — | — | (320 | ) | |||||||
Foreign currency | (5,371 | ) | (3,216 | ) | (1,681 | ) | |||||
Reduction as a result of the lapse of statute of limitations and effective settlements | (3,504 | ) | (5,349 | ) | (1,218 | ) | |||||
Balance at December 31 | $ | 28,114 | $ | 31,947 | $ | 32,545 | |||||
During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the statute of limitations on certain unrecognized tax benefits lapsed and certain positions were effectively settled, which resulted in a decrease of $3.5 million, $5.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in the liability for uncertain tax benefits, all of which reduced the income tax provision.
The Company recorded penalties and tax-related interest expense (benefit) to the tax provision of $0.1 million, ($3.4 million) and $3.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the total amount of accrued income tax-related interest and penalties included the consolidated balance sheets were $20.2 million and $24.9 million, respectively.
The Company has filed for prior taxable years, and for its taxable year ended December 31, 2015 will file, numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns, including U.S. federal and state tax returns and foreign tax returns. The Company is subject to examination in the U.S. and various state and foreign jurisdictions for certain tax years. As a result of the Company’s ability to carryforward federal, state and foreign NOLs, the applicable tax years generally remain open to examination several years after the applicable loss carryforwards have been used or expired. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of additional assessments in each of the tax jurisdictions resulting from these examinations. The Company believes that adequate provisions have been made for income taxes for all periods through December 31, 2015.
13. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Plans—The Company maintains equity incentive plans that provide for the grant of stock-based awards to its directors, officers and employees. The 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2007 Plan”) provides for the grant of non-qualified and incentive stock options, as well as restricted stock units, restricted stock and other stock-based awards. Exercise prices in the case of non-qualified and incentive stock options are not less than the fair value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Equity awards typically vest ratably, generally over four years for RSUs and stock options and three years for PSUs. Stock options generally expire ten years from the date of grant. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had the ability to grant stock-based awards with respect to an aggregate of 11.6 million shares of common stock under the 2007 Plan. In addition, the Company maintains an employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”) pursuant to which eligible employees may purchase shares of the Company’s common stock on the last day of each bi-annual offering period at a 15% discount of the lower of the closing market value on the first or last day of such offering period. The offering periods run from June 1 through November 30 and from December 1 through May 31 of each year.
The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $90.5 million, $80.2 million and $68.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company capitalized stock-based compensation expense of $2.1 million and $1.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, as property and equipment.
Stock Options—The fair value of each option granted during the period was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the assumptions noted in the table below. The expected life of stock options (estimated period of time outstanding) was estimated using the vesting term and historical exercise behavior of the Company’s employees. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield which term approximated the estimated life in effect at the accounting measurement date. The expected volatility of the underlying stock price was based on historical volatility for a period equal to the expected life of the stock options. The expected annual dividend yield was the Company’s best estimate of expected future dividend yield.
Key assumptions used to apply this pricing model were as follows:
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||
Range of risk-free interest rate | 1.32% - 1.62% | 1.46% - 1.74% | 0.75% - 1.42% | ||
Weighted average risk-free interest rate | 1.61% | 1.64% | 0.91% | ||
Expected life of stock options | 4.5 years | 4.5 years | 4.4 years | ||
Range of expected volatility of the underlying stock price | 21.09% - 21.24% | 21.94% - 23.35% | 24.43% - 36.09% | ||
Weighted average expected volatility of underlying stock price | 21.09% | 23.08% | 33.37% | ||
Range of expected annual dividend yield | 1.50% - 1.85% | 1.50% | 1.50% | ||
The weighted average grant date fair value per share during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $15.06, $14.86 and $19.05, respectively. The intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $32.1 million, $58.0 million and $42.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options was $29.2 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately two years. The amount of cash received from the exercise of stock options was $44.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2015.
The Company’s option activity for the year ended December 31, 2015 was as follows:
Options | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions) | ||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2015 | 6,508,435 | $62.14 | |||||||||||
Granted | 2,059,600 | 94.43 | |||||||||||
Exercised | (779,615 | ) | 56.56 | ||||||||||
Forfeited | (105,226 | ) | 82.47 | ||||||||||
Expired | (2,375 | ) | 23.74 | ||||||||||
Outstanding as of December 31, 2015 | 7,680,819 | $71.10 | 6.72 | $198.6 | |||||||||
Exercisable as of December 31, 2015 | 3,549,709 | $54.13 | 4.76 | $152.0 | |||||||||
Vested or expected to vest as of December 31, 2015 | 7,674,324 | $71.08 | 6.72 | $198.6 | |||||||||
The following table sets forth information regarding options outstanding at December 31, 2015:
Options Outstanding | Options Exercisable | |||||||||||||||
Outstanding Number of Options | Range of Exercise Price Per Share | Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share | Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years) | Options Exercisable | Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share | |||||||||||
2,064,426 | $25.43 - $50.78 | $40.73 | 3.21 | 2,064,426 | $40.73 | |||||||||||
852,265 | 51.03 - 74.06 | 61.88 | 6.16 | 578,340 | 61.43 | |||||||||||
1,091,181 | 76.90 - 79.45 | 76.94 | 7.17 | 467,735 | 76.92 | |||||||||||
1,707,519 | 81.18 - 94.23 | 81.63 | 8.21 | 376,025 | 81.35 | |||||||||||
1,965,428 | 94.57 - 99.67 | 94.60 | 9.12 | 63,183 | 94.57 | |||||||||||
7,680,819 | $25.43 - $99.67 | $71.10 | 6.72 | 3,549,709 | $54.13 | |||||||||||
Restricted Stock Units and Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units—The Company’s RSU and PSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2015 was as follows:
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
RSUs | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | PSUs (1) | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | ||||||||||
Outstanding as of January 1, 2015 | 1,758,817 | $73.80 | — | $— | |||||||||
Granted | 715,379 | 94.55 | 33,377 | 94.57 | |||||||||
Vested | (703,955 | ) | 69.24 | — | — | ||||||||
Forfeited | (113,248 | ) | 82.20 | — | — | ||||||||
Outstanding as of December 31, 2015 | 1,656,993 | $84.12 | 33,377 | $94.57 | |||||||||
Expected to vest, net of estimated forfeitures, as of December 31, 2015 | 1,578,040 | $83.87 | 33,377 | $94.57 | |||||||||
_______________
(1) | Represents the target number of shares issuable at the end of the three-year performance cycle attributable to the first year’s performance period and incremental shares issuable based on exceeding the performance metric for the first year’s performance period. |
Restricted Stock Units—The total fair value of RSUs that vested during the year ended December 31, 2015 was $67.0 million.
As of December 31, 2015, total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSUs granted under the 2007 Plan was $77.0 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately two years.
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units—During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Compensation Committee granted an aggregate of 70,135 PSUs to its executive officers and established the performance metric for this award. Threshold, target and maximum parameters were established for the metric for each year in the three-year performance period, and will be used to calculate the number of shares that will be issuable when the award vests, which may range from zero to 200% of the target amount. At the end of the three-year performance period, the number of shares that are earned and vest will depend on the degree of achievement against the pre-established performance goal. PSUs that have been earned over the performance period will be paid out in common stock at the end of the performance period, subject generally to the executive’s continued employment and will accrue dividend equivalents prior to vesting, which will be paid out only in respect of shares actually earned and vested. As the performance metric is tied to year-over-year growth and actual results for the metric will not be determined until the end of each respective fiscal year, as of December 31, 2015, the Company was unable to determine the annual target for the second and third years of the performance period for this award. Accordingly, an aggregate of 46,756 PSUs granted on March 10, 2015 were not included in the table above.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded $2.5 million in stock-based compensation expense for equity awards in which the performance goals have been established and were probable of being achieved. The remaining unrecognized compensation expense related to these awards at December 31, 2015 was $0.7 million based on the Company’s current assessment of the probability of achieving the performance goals. The weighted-average period over which the cost will be recognized is approximately one year.
14. EQUITY
Common Stock Offering—On March 3, 2015, the Company completed a registered public offering of 23,500,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at $97.00 per share. On March 5, 2015, the Company issued an additional 2,350,000 shares of its common stock in connection with the underwriters’ exercise in full of their over-allotment option. Aggregate net proceeds were approximately $2.44 billion after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. The Company used the net proceeds from this offering to fund a portion of the Verizon Transaction.
Series B Preferred Stock Offering—On March 3, 2015, the Company completed a registered public offering of 12,500,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/10th interest in a share of its Series B Preferred Stock, at $100.00 per depositary share. On March 5, 2015, the Company issued an additional 1,250,000 depositary shares in connection with the underwriters’ exercise in full of their over-allotment option. Aggregate net proceeds were approximately $1.34 billion after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. The Company used the net proceeds from this offering to fund a portion of the Verizon Transaction. On March 3, 2015, upon receipt of the proceeds of this offering and the common stock offering described above, the Company terminated the commitment letter dated February 5, 2015 with Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC entered into in connection with the Verizon Transaction.
Unless converted or redeemed earlier, each share of the Series B Preferred Stock will convert automatically on February 15, 2018, into between 8.5911 and 10.3093 shares of common stock, depending on the applicable market value of the Company’s common stock and subject to anti-dilution adjustments. Subject to certain restrictions, at any time prior to February 15, 2018,
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
holders of the Series B Preferred Stock may elect to convert all or a portion of their shares into common stock at the minimum conversion rate then in effect.
Dividends on shares of the Series B Preferred Stock are payable on a cumulative basis when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors at an annual rate of 5.50% on the liquidation preference of $1,000.00 per share (and, correspondingly, $100.00 per share with respect to the depositary shares) on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on May 15, 2015 to, and including, February 15, 2018.
Series A Preferred Stock—The Company has 6,000,000 shares outstanding of its 5.25% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock” and, together with the Series B Preferred Stock, the “Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock”), which was originally issued on May 12, 2014.
Unless converted earlier, each share of the Series A Preferred Stock will automatically convert on May 15, 2017, into between 0.9174 and 1.1468 shares of the Company’s common stock, depending on the applicable market value of the Company’s common stock and subject to anti-dilution adjustments. Subject to certain restrictions, at any time prior to May 15, 2017, holders of the Series A Preferred Stock may elect to convert all or a portion of their shares into common stock at the minimum conversion rate then in effect.
Dividends on shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are payable on a cumulative basis when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors at an annual rate of 5.25% on the liquidation preference of $100.00 per share, on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on August 15, 2014 to, and including, May 15, 2017.
The Company may pay dividends in cash or, subject to certain limitations, in shares of common stock or any combination of cash and shares of common stock. The terms of the Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock provide that, unless full cumulative dividends have been paid or set aside for payment on all outstanding Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock for all prior dividend periods, no dividends may be declared or paid on common stock.
Stock Repurchase Program—In March 2011, the Board of Directors approved a $1.5 billion stock repurchase program, pursuant to which the Company is authorized to purchase up to an additional $1.1 billion of the Company’s common stock. Since September 2013, the Company has temporarily suspended repurchases under the program.
Sales of Equity Securities—The Company receives proceeds from sales of its equity securities pursuant to the ESPP and upon exercise of stock options granted under its equity incentive plans.
Distributions—During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company declared regular cash distributions to its common stockholders of an aggregate of $766.4 million, or $1.81 per share, $554.6 million, or $1.40 per share, and $434.5 million, or $1.10 per share, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company declared an aggregate of $23.7 million, or $3.94 per share, and $23.9 million, or $3.98 per share, respectively, in cash distributions to holders of the Series A Preferred Stock. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company declared an aggregate of $53.1 million, or $38.65 per share, in cash distributions to holders of the Series B Preferred Stock. The following table characterizes the tax treatment of distributions declared per share of common stock and Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock.
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 (1) | 2013 (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
Per Share | % | Per Share | % | Per Share | % | ||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ordinary dividend | $ | 1.2694 | 70.13 | % | $ | 1.4000 | 100.00 | % | $ | 1.1000 | 100.00 | % | |||||||||
Capital gains distribution | 0.5406 | 29.87 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1.8100 | 100.00 | % | $ | 1.4000 | 100.00 | % | $ | 1.1000 | 100.00 | % | |||||||||
Series A Preferred Stock | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ordinary dividend | $ | 3.6818 | (2) | 70.13 | % | $ | 2.6688 | 100.00 | % | $ | — | — | % | ||||||||
Capital gains distribution | 1.5682 | 29.87 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 5.2500 | 100.00 | % | $ | 2.6688 | 100.00 | % | $ | — | — | % | |||||||||
Series B Preferred Stock (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ordinary dividend | $ | 2.7107 | 70.13 | % | $ | — | — | % | $ | — | — | % | |||||||||
Capital gains distribution | 1.1546 | 29.87 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 3.8653 | 100.00 | % | $ | — | — | % | $ | — | — | % | |||||||||
_______________
(1) | The Company had no Series A Preferred Stock outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2013 and no Series B Preferred Stock outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. |
(2) | Includes dividend declared on December 2, 2014 of $1.3125 per share, payable on February 16, 2015 to preferred stockholders of record at the close of business on February 1, 2015. |
(3) | Represents the tax treatment on dividends per depositary share, each of which represents a 1/10th interest in a share of Series B Preferred Stock. |
The Company accrues distributions on unvested restricted stock units, which are payable upon vesting. As of December 31, 2015, the amount accrued for distributions payable related to unvested restricted stock units was $5.1 million. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company paid $1.3 million of distributions payable upon the vesting of restricted stock units.
To maintain its qualification for taxation as a REIT, the Company expects to continue paying distributions, the amount, timing and frequency of which will be determined and subject to adjustment by the Company’s Board of Directors.
15. IMPAIRMENTS, NET LOSS ON SALES OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded impairment charges and net losses on sales or disposals of long-lived assets of $29.8 million, $28.5 million and $32.5 million, respectively. These charges were primarily related to assets included in the Company’s U.S. property segment and are included in Other operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
Included in these amounts were impairment charges of $15.1 million, $15.3 million and $15.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, to write down certain assets to net realizable value after an indicator of impairment was identified. These assets consisted primarily of towers, which are assessed on an individual basis, and network location intangibles, which relate directly to towers. Also included in these amounts were net losses associated with the sale or disposal of certain non-core towers, other assets and other miscellaneous items of $14.7 million, $13.2 million and $16.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
16. EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
The following table sets forth basic and diluted net income per common share computational data for the years ended December 31, (in thousands, except per share data):
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation stockholders | $ | 685,074 | $ | 824,910 | $ | 551,333 | |||||
Dividends on preferred stock | (90,163 | ) | (23,888 | ) | — | ||||||
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | 594,911 | 801,022 | 551,333 | ||||||||
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 418,907 | 395,958 | 395,040 | ||||||||
Dilutive securities | 4,108 | 4,128 | 4,106 | ||||||||
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 423,015 | 400,086 | 399,146 | ||||||||
Basic net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders per common share | $ | 1.42 | $ | 2.02 | $ | 1.40 | |||||
Diluted net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders per common share | $ | 1.41 | $ | 2.00 | $ | 1.38 | |||||
Shares Excluded From Dilutive Effect
The following shares were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would be anti-dilutive for the years ended December 31, (in thousands, on a weighted average basis):
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
Restricted stock awards | — | 5 | — | |||||
Stock options | 1,606 | 1,290 | 1,161 | |||||
Preferred stock | 15,408 | 4,303 | — | |||||
17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation—The Company periodically becomes involved in various claims, lawsuits and proceedings that are incidental to its business. In the opinion of Company management, after consultation with counsel, there are no matters currently pending that would, in the event of an adverse outcome, materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Lease Obligations—The Company leases certain land, office and tower space under operating leases that expire over various terms. Many of the leases contain renewal options with specified increases in lease payments upon exercise of the renewal option. Escalation clauses present in operating leases, excluding those tied to CPI or other inflation-based indices, are recognized on a straight-line basis over the non-cancellable term of the leases.
Future minimum rental payments under non-cancellable operating leases include payments for certain renewal periods at the Company’s option because failure to renew could result in a loss of the applicable communications sites and related revenues from tenant leases, thereby making it reasonably assured that the Company will renew the leases. Such payments at December 31, 2015 are as follows (in millions):
Year Ending December 31, | |||
2016 | $ | 722 | |
2017 | 709 | ||
2018 | 690 | ||
2019 | 670 | ||
2020 | 643 | ||
Thereafter | 6,416 | ||
Total | $ | 9,850 | |
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Aggregate rent expense (including the effect of straight-line rent expense) under operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 approximated $804.8 million, $655.0 million and $495.2 million, respectively.
Future minimum payments under capital leases in effect at December 31, 2015 were as follows (in millions):
Year Ending December 31, | |||
2016 | $ | 21 | |
2017 | 18 | ||
2018 | 17 | ||
2019 | 15 | ||
2020 | 12 | ||
Thereafter | 173 | ||
Total minimum lease payments | 256 | ||
Less amounts representing interest | (143 | ) | |
Present value of capital lease obligations | $ | 113 | |
Tenant Leases—The Company’s lease agreements with its tenants vary depending upon the region and the industry of the tenant, and typically have initial terms of ten years with multiple renewal terms at the option of the tenant.
Future minimum rental receipts expected from tenants under non-cancellable operating lease agreements in effect at December 31, 2015 were as follows (in millions):
Year Ending December 31, | |||
2016 | $ | 4,082 | |
2017 | 4,004 | ||
2018 | 3,874 | ||
2019 | 3,654 | ||
2020 | 3,369 | ||
Thereafter | 11,294 | ||
Total | $ | 30,277 | |
Verizon Transaction—On March 27, 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with various operating entities of Verizon that provides for the lease, sublease or management of 11,286 wireless communications sites from Verizon commencing March 27, 2015. The average term of the lease or sublease for all sites at the inception of the agreement was approximately 28 years, assuming renewals or extensions of the underlying ground leases for the sites. The Company has the option to purchase the leased sites in tranches, subject to the applicable lease, sublease or management right upon its scheduled expiration. Each tower is assigned to an annual tranche, ranging from 2034 to 2047, which represents the outside expiration date for the sublease rights to the towers in each tranche. The purchase price for each tranche is a fixed amount stated in the lease for such tranche plus the fair market value of certain alterations made to the related towers. The aggregate purchase option price for the towers leased and subleased is approximately $5.0 billion. Verizon will occupy the sites as a tenant for an initial term of ten years with eight optional successive five-year terms; each such term shall be governed by standard master lease agreement terms established as a part of the transaction.
AT&T Transaction—The Company has an agreement with SBC Communications Inc., a predecessor entity to AT&T Inc. (“AT&T”), that currently provides for the lease or sublease of approximately 2,370 towers from AT&T with the lease commencing between December 2000 and August 2004. Substantially all of the towers are part of the 2013 Securitization. The average term of the lease or sublease for all sites at the inception of the agreement was approximately 27 years, assuming renewals or extensions of the underlying ground leases for the sites. The Company has the option to purchase the sites subject to the applicable lease or sublease upon its expiration. Each tower is assigned to an annual tranche, ranging from 2013 to 2032, which represents the outside expiration date for the sublease rights to that tower. The purchase price for each site is a fixed amount stated in the lease for that site plus the fair market value of certain alterations made to the related tower by AT&T. As of December 31, 2015, the Company has purchased an aggregate of 60 of the subleased towers upon expiration of the applicable agreement. The aggregate purchase option price for the remaining towers leased and subleased is $697.2 million and will
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
accrete at a rate of 10% per annum through the applicable expiration of the lease or sublease of a site. For all such sites purchased by the Company prior to June 30, 2020, AT&T will continue to lease the reserved space at the then-current monthly fee which shall escalate in accordance with the standard master lease agreement for the remainder of AT&T’s tenancy. Thereafter, AT&T shall have the right to renew such lease for up to four successive five-year terms. For all such sites purchased by the Company subsequent to June 30, 2020, AT&T has the right to continue to lease the reserved space for successive one-year terms at a rent equal to the lesser of the agreed upon market rate and the then-current monthly fee, which is subject to an annual increase based on changes in the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
ALLTEL Transaction—In December 2000, the Company entered into an agreement with ALLTEL, a predecessor entity to Verizon Wireless, to acquire towers through a 15-year sublease agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, as amended, with Verizon Wireless, the Company acquired rights to approximately 1,800 towers in tranches between April 2001 and March 2002. The Company has the option to purchase each tower at the expiration of the applicable sublease, which will occur in tranches between April 2016 and March 2017 based on the original closing date for such tranche of towers. The purchase price per tower as of the original closing date was $27,500 and will accrete at a rate of 3% per annum through the expiration of the applicable sublease. The aggregate purchase option price for the subleased towers is $75.3 million as of December 31, 2015. At the expiration of the sublease, the purchase price would be payable in cash or, at Verizon Wireless’s or its assignee’s option, as applicable, with 769 shares of the Company’s common stock per tower.
Guaranties and Indemnifications—The Company enters into agreements from time to time in the ordinary course of business pursuant to which it agrees to guarantee or indemnify third parties for certain claims. The Company has also entered into purchase and sale agreements relating to the sale or acquisition of assets containing customary indemnification provisions. The Company’s indemnification obligations under these agreements generally are limited solely to damages resulting from breaches of representations and warranties or covenants under the applicable agreements, but do not guaranty future performance. In addition, payments under such indemnification clauses are generally conditioned on the other party making a claim that is subject to whatever defenses the Company may have and are governed by dispute resolution procedures specified in the particular agreement. Further, the Company’s obligations under these agreements may be limited in duration and/or amount, and in some instances, the Company may have recourse against third parties for payments made by the Company. The Company has not historically made any material payments under these agreements and, as of December 31, 2015, is not aware of any agreements that could result in a material payment.
Other Contingencies—The Company is subject to income tax and other taxes in the geographic areas where it operates, and periodically receives notifications of audits, assessments or other actions by taxing authorities. The Company evaluates the circumstances of each notification based on the information available and records a liability for any potential outcome that is probable or more likely than not unfavorable if the liability is also reasonably estimable.
18. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Supplemental cash flow information and non-cash investing and financing activities are as follows for the years ended December 31, (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Supplemental cash flow information: | |||||||||||
Cash paid for interest | $ | 577,952 | $ | 548,089 | $ | 397,366 | |||||
Cash paid for income taxes (net of refunds of $7,053, $8,476 and $19,701, respectively) | 157,058 | 69,212 | 51,676 | ||||||||
Non-cash investing and financing activities: | |||||||||||
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses for purchases of property and equipment and construction activities | 2,780 | 1,121 | 9,147 | ||||||||
Purchases of property and equipment under capital leases | 36,851 | 36,486 | 27,416 | ||||||||
Fair value of debt assumed through acquisitions | — | 463,135 | 1,576,186 | ||||||||
Settlement of accounts receivable related to acquisitions | 899 | 31,849 | — | ||||||||
Conversion of third-party debt to equity | — | 111,181 | — | ||||||||
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AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
19. BUSINESS SEGMENTS
During the fourth quarter of 2015, as a result of recent investment activity, including signed acquisitions, the Company reviewed and changed its reportable segments to divide its international segment into three regional segments: Asia property, EMEA property and Latin America property. Prior to this revision, the Company operated in three business segments: (i) domestic rental and management, (ii) international rental and management and (iii) network development services. In addition, the Company changed the title of its domestic segment from domestic rental and management to U.S. property and changed the title of its network development services segment to services. There were no other changes to the U.S. property or the services segments. The change is consistent with how the chief operating decision maker reviews financial performance and operating and business management strategies for each of the five segments. The change in reportable segments had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for any periods. However, certain expenses previously reflected in segment selling, general, administrative and development expense have been reclassified and are now reflected as Other selling, general, administrative and development expense. Historical financial information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been adjusted to reflect the change in reportable segments.
The Company’s primary business is leasing space on multitenant communications sites to wireless service providers, radio and television broadcast companies, wireless data providers, government agencies and municipalities and tenants in a number of other industries. This business is referred to as the Company’s property operations, which as of December 31, 2015, consisted of the following:
• | U.S.: property operations in the United States; |
• | Asia: property operations in India; |
• | EMEA: property operations in Germany, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda; and |
• | Latin America: property operations in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Peru. |
The Company has applied the aggregation criteria to operations within the EMEA and Latin America property operating segments on a basis consistent with management’s review of information and performance evaluations of these regions.
The Company’s services segment offers tower-related services in the United States, including site acquisition, zoning and permitting services and structural analysis services, which primarily support its site leasing business and the addition of new tenants and equipment on its sites. The services segment is a strategic business unit that offers different services from the property operating segments and requires different resources, skill sets and marketing strategies.
The accounting policies applied in compiling segment information below are similar to those described in note 1. Among other factors, in evaluating financial performance in each business segment, management uses segment gross margin and segment operating profit. The Company defines segment gross margin as segment revenue less segment operating expenses excluding stock-based compensation expense recorded in costs of operations; Depreciation, amortization and accretion; Selling, general, administrative and development expense; and Other operating expenses. The Company defines segment operating profit as segment gross margin less Selling, general, administrative and development expense attributable to the segment, excluding stock-based compensation expense and corporate expenses. For reporting purposes, the Latin America property segment gross margin and segment operating profit also include Interest income, TV Azteca, net. These measures of segment gross margin and segment operating profit are also before Interest income, Interest expense, Gain (loss) on retirement of long-term obligations, Other income (expense), Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, Income (loss) on equity method investments, and Income tax benefit (provision). The categories of expenses indicated above, such as depreciation, have been excluded from segment operating performance as they are not considered in the review of information or the evaluation of results by management. There are no significant revenues resulting from transactions between the Company’s operating segments. All intercompany transactions are eliminated to reconcile segment results and assets to the consolidated statements of operations and consolidated balance sheets.
Summarized financial information concerning the Company’s reportable segments for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 is shown in the following tables. The “Other” column (i) represents amounts excluded from specific segments, such as business development operations, stock-based compensation expense and corporate expenses included in Selling, general, administrative and development expense; Other operating expenses; Interest income; Interest expense; Gain (loss) on retirement of long-term obligations; and Other income (expense), and (ii) reconciles segment operating profit to Income from continuing operations before income taxes, as the amounts are not utilized in assessing each segment’s performance.
F-47
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Property | Total Property | Services | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2015 | U.S. | Asia | EMEA | Latin America | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment revenues | $ | 3,157,501 | $ | 242,223 | $ | 395,092 | $ | 885,572 | $ | 4,680,388 | $ | 91,128 | $ | 4,771,516 | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment operating expenses (1) | 678,499 | 126,874 | 163,820 | 304,629 | 1,273,822 | 32,993 | 1,306,815 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income, TV Azteca, net | — | — | — | 11,209 | 11,209 | — | 11,209 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment gross margin | 2,479,002 | 115,349 | 231,272 | 592,152 | 3,417,775 | 58,135 | 3,475,910 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense (1) | 138,617 | 22,771 | 48,672 | 62,111 | 272,171 | 15,724 | 287,895 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment operating profit | $ | 2,340,385 | $ | 92,578 | $ | 182,600 | $ | 530,041 | $ | 3,145,604 | $ | 42,411 | $ | 3,188,015 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | $ | 90,537 | 90,537 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other selling, general, administrative and development expense | 121,456 | 121,456 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 1,285,328 | 1,285,328 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other expense (2) | 860,732 | 860,732 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes | $ | 829,962 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | $ | 367,663 | $ | 75,407 | $ | 66,625 | $ | 201,806 | $ | 711,501 | $ | — | $ | 17,252 | $ | 728,753 | ||||||||||||||||
_______________
(1) | Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $2.1 million and $88.5 million, respectively. |
(2) | Primarily includes interest expense. |
Property | Total Property | Services | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2014 | U.S. | Asia | EMEA | Latin America | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment revenues | $ | 2,639,790 | $ | 219,566 | $ | 315,053 | $ | 832,445 | $ | 4,006,854 | $ | 93,194 | $ | 4,100,048 | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment operating expenses (1) | 515,742 | 121,797 | 126,714 | 290,527 | 1,054,780 | 37,648 | 1,092,428 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income, TV Azteca, net | — | — | — | 10,547 | 10,547 | — | 10,547 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment gross margin | 2,124,048 | 97,769 | 188,339 | 552,465 | 2,962,621 | 55,546 | 3,018,167 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense (1) | 124,944 | 19,632 | 39,553 | 66,890 | 251,019 | 12,469 | 263,488 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment operating profit | $ | 1,999,104 | $ | 78,137 | $ | 148,786 | $ | 485,575 | $ | 2,711,602 | $ | 43,077 | $ | 2,754,679 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | $ | 80,153 | 80,153 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other selling, general, administrative and development expense (2) | 104,738 | 104,738 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 1,003,802 | 1,003,802 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other expense (3) | 700,282 | 700,282 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes | $ | 865,704 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | $ | 576,153 | $ | 74,334 | $ | 70,126 | $ | 229,645 | $ | 950,258 | $ | — | $ | 24,146 | $ | 974,404 | ||||||||||||||||
_______________
(1) | Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $1.8 million and $78.3 million, respectively. |
(2) Includes $7.9 million of expense previously recorded as segment selling, general, administrative and development expense.
F-48
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(3) Primarily includes interest expense.
Property | Total Property | Services | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2013 | U.S. | Asia | EMEA | Latin America | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment revenues | $ | 2,189,365 | $ | 191,355 | $ | 295,681 | $ | 610,689 | $ | 3,287,090 | $ | 74,317 | $ | 3,361,407 | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment operating expenses (1) | 405,419 | 109,645 | 121,122 | 191,579 | 827,765 | 30,564 | 858,329 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income, TV Azteca, net | — | — | — | 22,235 | 22,235 | — | 22,235 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment gross margin | 1,783,946 | 81,710 | 174,559 | 441,345 | 2,481,560 | 43,753 | 2,525,313 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment selling, general, administrative and development expense (1) | 103,989 | 15,630 | 39,076 | 62,756 | 221,451 | 9,257 | 230,708 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment operating profit | $ | 1,679,957 | $ | 66,080 | $ | 135,483 | $ | 378,589 | $ | 2,260,109 | $ | 34,496 | $ | 2,294,605 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | $ | 68,138 | 68,138 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other selling, general, administrative and development expense (2) | 118,243 | 118,243 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 800,145 | 800,145 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other expense (3) | 766,330 | 766,330 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes | $ | 541,749 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | $ | 416,239 | $ | 55,914 | $ | 67,462 | $ | 154,534 | $ | 694,149 | $ | — | $ | 30,383 | $ | 724,532 | ||||||||||||||||
_______________
(1) | Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $1.5 million and $66.6 million, respectively. |
(2) Includes $5.9 million of expense previously recorded as segment selling, general, administrative and development expense.
(3) Primarily includes interest expense.
Additional information relating to the total assets of the Company’s operating segments for the years ended December 31, is as follows (in thousands):
2015 | 2014 (1) (2) | 2013 (2) | |||||||||
U.S. property | $ | 19,286,465 | $ | 14,335,731 | $ | 13,608,818 | |||||
Asia property (3) | 736,149 | 738,290 | 743,671 | ||||||||
EMEA property (3) | 2,249,634 | 1,275,253 | 1,472,143 | ||||||||
Latin America property (3) | 4,401,258 | 4,700,357 | 4,184,135 | ||||||||
Services | 68,388 | 57,367 | 47,607 | ||||||||
Other (4) | 162,378 | 156,567 | 157,563 | ||||||||
Total assets | $ | 26,904,272 | $ | 21,263,565 | $ | 20,213,937 | |||||
_______________
(1) Balances have been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments.
(2) Balances have been revised to reflect debt issuance cost adjustments.
(3) Balances are translated at the applicable period end exchange rate and therefore may impact comparability between periods.
(4) | Balances include corporate assets such as cash and cash equivalents, certain tangible and intangible assets and income tax accounts which have not been allocated to specific segments. |
Summarized geographic information related to the Company’s operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and long-lived assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, is as follows (in thousands):
F-49
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Operating Revenues: | |||||||||||
United States | $ | 3,248,629 | $ | 2,732,984 | $ | 2,263,682 | |||||
Asia (1): | |||||||||||
India | 242,223 | 219,566 | 191,355 | ||||||||
EMEA (1): | |||||||||||
Germany | 55,965 | 64,946 | 62,756 | ||||||||
Ghana | 94,549 | 95,486 | 92,114 | ||||||||
Nigeria | 109,701 | — | — | ||||||||
South Africa | 80,510 | 98,334 | 91,906 | ||||||||
Uganda | 54,367 | 56,287 | 48,905 | ||||||||
Latin America (1): | |||||||||||
Brazil | 408,644 | 331,089 | 212,201 | ||||||||
Chile | 29,650 | 31,756 | 28,978 | ||||||||
Colombia | 78,351 | 89,421 | 70,901 | ||||||||
Costa Rica | 17,244 | 16,742 | 4,055 | ||||||||
Mexico | 340,461 | 354,116 | 288,306 | ||||||||
Panama (2) | — | 1,243 | 424 | ||||||||
Peru | 11,222 | 8,078 | 5,824 | ||||||||
Total operating revenues | $ | 4,771,516 | $ | 4,100,048 | $ | 3,361,407 | |||||
_______________
(1) | Balances are translated at the applicable exchange rate and therefore may impact comparability between periods. |
(2) | In September 2014, the Company completed the sale of the operations in Panama. |
2015 | 2014 (1) | ||||||
Long-Lived Assets (2): | |||||||
United States | $ | 17,516,535 | $ | 12,771,089 | |||
Asia (3): | |||||||
India | 619,370 | 616,266 | |||||
EMEA (3): | |||||||
Germany | 388,727 | 456,698 | |||||
Ghana | 217,530 | 235,523 | |||||
Nigeria | 1,018,980 | — | |||||
South Africa | 133,088 | 184,292 | |||||
Uganda | 162,346 | 185,956 | |||||
Latin America (3): | |||||||
Brazil | 2,204,494 | 2,152,953 | |||||
Chile | 121,938 | 147,413 | |||||
Colombia | 256,892 | 319,260 | |||||
Costa Rica | 120,292 | 127,436 | |||||
Mexico | 976,707 | 1,188,183 | |||||
Peru | 59,206 | 61,490 | |||||
Total long-lived assets | $ | 23,796,105 | $ | 18,446,559 | |||
_______________
(1) | Balances have been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments and debt issuance costs related to the Company’s credit facilities (see note 1). |
(2) | Includes Property and equipment, net, Goodwill and Other intangible assets, net. |
(3) | Balances are translated at the applicable period end exchange rate and therefore may impact comparability between periods. |
F-50
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following tenants within the property segments and services segment individually accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated operating revenues for the years ended December 31, is as follows:
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
AT&T | 24 | % | 20 | % | 18 | % | ||
Verizon Wireless | 16 | % | 11 | % | 11 | % | ||
Sprint | 13 | % | 15 | % | 16 | % | ||
T-Mobile | 10 | % | 10 | % | 11 | % | ||
20. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, the Company had no significant related party transactions.
21. SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
Selected quarterly financial data for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
Three Months Ended | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
March 31, | June 30, | September 30, | December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2015: | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenues | $ | 1,079,190 | $ | 1,174,375 | $ | 1,237,910 | $ | 1,280,041 | $ | 4,771,516 | |||||||||
Costs of operations (1) | 264,640 | 322,458 | 365,389 | 356,381 | 1,308,868 | ||||||||||||||
Operating income | 419,966 | 389,774 | 400,925 | 402,124 | 1,612,789 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | 195,492 | 157,180 | 97,740 | 221,595 | 672,007 | ||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation stockholders | 193,317 | 156,056 | 102,999 | 232,702 | 685,074 | ||||||||||||||
Dividends on preferred stock | (9,819 | ) | (26,782 | ) | (26,781 | ) | (26,781 | ) | (90,163 | ) | |||||||||
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | 183,498 | 129,274 | 76,218 | 205,921 | 594,911 | ||||||||||||||
Basic net income per share attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | 0.45 | 0.31 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 1.42 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted net income per share attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | 0.45 | 0.30 | 0.18 | 0.48 | 1.41 | ||||||||||||||
F-51
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Three Months Ended | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||
March 31, | June 30, | September 30, | December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2014: | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenues | $ | 984,089 | $ | 1,031,457 | $ | 1,038,188 | $ | 1,046,314 | $ | 4,100,048 | |||||||||
Costs of operations (1) | 260,769 | 272,275 | 284,202 | 277,019 | 1,094,265 | ||||||||||||||
Operating income | 353,637 | 402,499 | 384,807 | 345,979 | 1,486,922 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | 193,313 | 221,659 | 206,630 | 181,597 | 803,199 | ||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation stockholders | 202,499 | 234,431 | 207,593 | 180,387 | 824,910 | ||||||||||||||
Dividends on preferred stock | — | (4,375 | ) | (7,700 | ) | (11,813 | ) | (23,888 | ) | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | 202,499 | 230,056 | 199,893 | 168,574 | 801,022 | ||||||||||||||
Basic net income per share attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | 0.51 | 0.58 | 0.50 | 0.43 | 2.02 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted net income per share attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders | 0.51 | 0.58 | 0.50 | 0.42 | 2.00 | ||||||||||||||
_______________
(1) | Represents Operating expenses, exclusive of Depreciation, amortization and accretion, Selling, general, administrative and development expense, and Other operating expenses. |
22. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
3.300% Senior Notes and 4.400% Senior Notes Offering—On January 12, 2016, the Company completed a registered public offering of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.300% senior unsecured notes due 2021 (the “3.300% Notes”) and $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.400% senior unsecured notes due 2026 (the “4.400% Notes”). The net proceeds from this offering were approximately $1,237.2 million, after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. The Company used the proceeds to repay existing indebtedness under the 2013 Credit Facility and for general corporate purposes.
The 3.300% Notes will mature on February 15, 2021 and bear interest at a rate of 3.300% per annum. The 4.400% Notes will mature on February 15, 2026 and bear interest at a rate of 4.400% per annum. Accrued and unpaid interest on the notes will be payable in U.S. Dollars semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on August 15, 2016. Interest on the notes is computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months and commenced accruing on January 12, 2016.
F-52
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE III—SCHEDULE OF REAL ESTATE
AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
(dollars in thousands)
Description | Encumbrances | Initial cost to company | Cost capitalized subsequent to acquisition | Gross amount carried at close of current period | Accumulated depreciation at close of current period | Date of construction | Date acquired | Life on which depreciation in latest income statements is computed | |||||||||||||||
100,131 | sites (1) | $3,364,202 | (2) | (3) | (3) | $ | 13,046,291 | (4) | $ | (3,994,874 | ) | Various | Various | Up to 20 years | |||||||||
_______________
(1) No single site exceeds 5% of the total amounts indicated in the table above.
(2) Certain assets secure debt of $3.4 billion.
(3) The Company has omitted this information, as it would be impracticable to compile such information on a site-by-site basis.
(4) Does not include those sites under construction.
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Gross amount at beginning (1) | $ | 10,434,326 | $ | 9,921,276 | $ | 8,290,313 | |||||
Additions during period: | |||||||||||
Acquisitions | 2,620,778 | 397,837 | 1,415,171 | ||||||||
Discretionary capital projects (2) | 210,421 | 437,720 | 314,126 | ||||||||
Discretionary ground lease purchases (3) | 144,695 | 159,637 | 102,991 | ||||||||
Redevelopment capital expenditures (4) | 114,089 | 96,782 | 89,960 | ||||||||
Capital improvements (5) | 42,417 | 41,967 | 58,960 | ||||||||
Start-up capital expenditures (6) | 35,561 | 21,173 | 15,757 | ||||||||
Other (7) | 201,118 | 22,069 | 8,764 | ||||||||
Total additions | 3,369,079 | 1,177,185 | 2,005,729 | ||||||||
Deductions during period: | |||||||||||
Cost of real estate sold or disposed | (60,975 | ) | (60,147 | ) | (48,467 | ) | |||||
Other (8) | (696,139 | ) | (569,107 | ) | (243,958 | ) | |||||
Total deductions: | (757,114 | ) | (629,254 | ) | (292,425 | ) | |||||
Balance at end | $ | 13,046,291 | $ | 10,469,207 | $ | 10,003,617 | |||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
Gross amount of accumulated depreciation at beginning | $ | (3,613,078 | ) | $ | (3,297,033 | ) | $ | (2,968,230 | ) | ||
Additions during period: | |||||||||||
Depreciation | (557,052 | ) | (457,135 | ) | (408,693 | ) | |||||
Other | — | (761 | ) | (264 | ) | ||||||
Total additions | (557,052 | ) | (457,896 | ) | (408,957 | ) | |||||
Deductions during period: | |||||||||||
Amount of accumulated depreciation for assets sold or disposed | 30,083 | 20,953 | 17,462 | ||||||||
Other (8) | 145,173 | 120,898 | 62,692 | ||||||||
Total deductions | 175,256 | 141,851 | 80,154 | ||||||||
Balance at end | $ | (3,994,874 | ) | $ | (3,613,078 | ) | $ | (3,297,033 | ) | ||
_______________
(1) Balance has been revised to reflect purchase accounting measurement period adjustments.
(2) Includes amounts incurred primarily for the construction of new sites.
(3) Includes amounts incurred to purchase or otherwise secure the land under communications sites.
(4) Includes amounts incurred to increase the capacity of existing sites, which results in new incremental tenant revenue.
(5) Includes amounts incurred to maintain existing sites.
(6) Includes amounts incurred in connection with acquisitions and new market launches and costs that are contemplated in the business cases for these investments.
(7) Primarily includes regional improvements and other additions.
(8) Primarily includes foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
F-53
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company has filed certain agreements as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These agreements may contain representations and warranties by the parties. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other party or parties to such agreements and (i) may have been qualified by disclosures made to such other party or parties, (ii) were made only as of the date of such agreements or such other date(s) as may be specified in such agreements and are subject to more recent developments, which may not be fully reflected in the Company’s public disclosure, (iii) may reflect the allocation of risk among the parties to such agreements and (iv) may apply materiality standards different from what may be viewed as material to investors. Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the Company’s actual state of affairs at the date hereof and should not be relied upon.
The exhibits below are included, either by being filed herewith or by incorporation by reference, as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Exhibits are identified according to the number assigned to them in Item 601 of SEC Regulation S-K. Documents that are incorporated by reference are identified by their Exhibit number as set forth in the filing from which they are incorporated by reference. The filings of the Registrant from which various exhibits are incorporated by reference into this Annual Report are indicated by parenthetical numbering which corresponds to the following key:
(1 | ) | Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on April 2, 2001; | |
(2 | ) | Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on March 15, 2006; | |
(3 | ) | Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (File No. 005-55211) filed on November 29, 2006; | |
(4 | ) | Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (File No. 001-14195) filed on March 22, 2007; | |
(5 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on May 22, 2007; | |
(6 | ) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14195) filed on August 6, 2008; | |
(7 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on March 5, 2009; | |
(8 | ) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14195) filed on May 8, 2009; | |
(9 | ) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14195) filed on August 6, 2009; | |
(10 | ) | Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on March 1, 2010; | |
(11 | ) | Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-166805) filed on May 13, 2010; | |
(12 | ) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14195) filed on November 5, 2010; | |
(13 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on December 9, 2010; | |
(14 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on August 25, 2011; | |
(15 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on October 6, 2011; | |
(16 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on January 3, 2012; | |
(17 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on March 12, 2012; | |
(18 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on January 8, 2013; | |
(19 | ) | Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on February 27, 2013; | |
(20 | ) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14195) filed on May 1, 2013; | |
(21 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on May 22, 2013; | |
(22 | ) | Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-188812) filed on May 23, 2013; | |
(23 | ) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14195) filed on July 31, 2013; | |
(24 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on August 19, 2013; | |
(25 | ) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14195) filed on October 30, 2013; | |
(26 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on December 12, 2013; | |
(27 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on May 12, 2014; | |
EX-1
(28 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-141195) filed on August 7, 2014; | |
(29 | ) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14195) filed on October 30, 2014; | |
(30 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-141195) filed on February 23, 2015; | |
(31 | ) | Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on February 24, 2015; | |
(32 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-141195) filed on March 3, 2015; | |
(33 | ) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14195) filed on April 30, 2015; | |
(34 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-141195) filed on May 7, 2015; | |
(35 | ) | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-14195) filed on July 29, 2015; | |
(36 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-141195) filed on January 12, 2016; and | |
(37 | ) | Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-141195) filed on February 16, 2016. | |
EX-2
Exhibit No. | Description of Document | Exhibit File No. | ||
2.1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between American Tower Corporation and American Tower REIT, Inc., dated as of August 24, 2011 | 2.1 (14) | ||
3.1 | Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, effective as of December 31, 2011 | 3.1 (16) | ||
3.2 | Certificate of Merger, effective as of December 31, 2011 | 3.2 (16) | ||
3.3 | Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company, effective as of February 12, 2016 | 3.1 (37) | ||
3.4 | Certificate of Designations of the 5.25% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, of the Company as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, effective as of May 12, 2014 | 3.1 (27) | ||
3.5 | Certificate of Designations of 5.50% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, of the Company as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, effective as of March 3, 2015 | 3.1 (32) | ||
4.1 | Indenture dated as of June 10, 2009, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as Trustee, for the 7.25% Senior Notes due 2019 | 10.1 (9) | ||
4.2 | Indenture dated May 13, 2010, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as Trustee | 4.3 (11) | ||
4.3 | Indenture dated May 23, 2013, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee | 4.12 (22) | ||
4.4 | Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated August 16, 2010, to Indenture dated May 13, 2010, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as Trustee, for the 5.05% Senior Notes due 2020 | 4 (12) | ||
4.5 | Supplemental Indenture No. 2, dated December 7, 2010, to Indenture dated May 13, 2010, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as Trustee, for the 4.50% Senior Notes due 2018 | 4.1 (13) | ||
4.6 | Supplemental Indenture No. 3, dated as of October 6, 2011, to Indenture dated May 13, 2010, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as Trustee, for the 5.90% Senior Notes due 2021 | 4.1 (15) | ||
4.7 | Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of December 30, 2011, to Indenture dated as of June 10, 2009, with respect to the Predecessor Registrant’s 7.25% Senior Notes, by and among, the Predecessor Registrant, the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as Trustee | 4.4 (16) | ||
4.8 | Supplemental Indenture No. 4, dated as of December 30, 2011, to Indenture dated May 13, 2010, by and among, the Predecessor Registrant, the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as Trustee | 4.6 (16) | ||
4.9 | Supplemental Indenture No. 5, dated as of March 12, 2012, to Indenture dated May 13, 2010, by and between the Company and the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as Trustee, for the 4.70% Senior Notes due 2022 | 4.1 (17) | ||
4.10 | Supplemental Indenture No. 6, dated as of January 8, 2013, to Indenture dated May 13, 2010, by and between the Company and the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company N.A., as Trustee, for the 3.50% Senior Notes due 2023 | 4.1 (18) | ||
4.11 | Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of August 19, 2013, to Indenture dated May 23, 2013, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, for the 3.40% Senior Notes due 2019 and the 5.00% Senior Notes due 2024 | 4.1 (24) | ||
EX-3
Exhibit No. | Description of Document | Exhibit File No. | ||
4.12 | Supplemental Indenture No. 2, dated as of August 7, 2014, to Indenture dated May 23, 2013, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, for the 3.450% Senior Notes due 2021 | 4.1 (28) | ||
4.13 | Supplemental Indenture No. 3, dated as of May 7, 2015, to Indenture dated May 23, 2013, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, for the 2.800% Senior Notes due 2020 and the 4.000% Senior Notes due 2025 | 4.1 (34) | ||
4.14 | Supplemental Indenture No. 4, dated as of January 12, 2016, to Indenture dated May 23, 2013, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, for the 3.300% Senior Notes due 2021 and the 4.400% Senior Notes due 2026 | 4.1 (36) | ||
4.15 | Deposit Agreement, dated March 3, 2015, among the Company, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., Computershare Inc. and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares, for the 5.50% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B | 4.1 (32) | ||
4.16 | Third Amended and Restated Indenture, dated May 29, 2015, by and between GTP Acquisition Partners I, LLC, ACC Tower Sub, LLC, DCS Tower Sub, LLC, GTP South Acquisitions II, LLC, GTP Acquisition Partners II, LLC, GTP Acquisition Partners, III, LLC, GTP Infrastructure I, LLC, GTP Infrastructure II, LLC, GTP Infrastructure III, LLC, GTP Towers VIII, LLC, GTP Towers I, LLC, GTP Towers II, LLC, GTP Towers IV, LLC, GTP Towers V, LLC, GTP Towers VII, LLC, GTP Towers IX, LLC, PCS Structures Towers, LLC and GTP TRS I LLC, as obligors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee | 4.2 (35) | ||
4.17 | Series 2015-1 Supplement, dated May 29, 2015, to the Third Amended and Restated Indenture dated May 29, 2015 | 4.3(35) | ||
4.18 | Series 2015-2 Supplement, dated May 29, 2015, to the Third Amended and Restated Indenture dated May 29, 2015 | 4.4 (35) | ||
10.1 | American Tower Systems Corporation 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended | (d)(1) (3)* | ||
10.2 | American Tower Corporation 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and restated | 10.5 (10) | ||
10.3 | American Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive Plan | Annex A (4)* | ||
10.4 | Form of Notice of Grant of Nonqualified Stock Option and Option Agreement (U.S. Employee) Pursuant to the American Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive Plan | 10.6 (19)* | ||
10.5 | Form of Notice of Grant of Nonqualified Stock Option and Option Agreement (Non-U.S. Employee) Pursuant to the American Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive Plan | 10.31 (19)* | ||
10.6 | Notice of Grant of Nonqualified Stock Option and Option Agreement (Non-Employee Director) Pursuant to the American Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive Plan | 10.4 (5)* | ||
10.7 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (U.S. Employee/ Non-U.S. Employee Director) Pursuant to the American Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive Plan | 10.8 (19)* | ||
10.8 | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Non-U.S. Employee) Pursuant to the American Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive Plan | 10.9 (19)* | ||
10.9 | Form of Notice of Grant of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units Agreement (U.S. Employee) Pursuant to the American Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive Plan | 10.1 (30)* | ||
10.10 | Noncompetition and Confidentiality Agreement dated as of January 1, 2004 between American Tower Corporation and William H. Hess | 10.10 (2)* | ||
EX-4
Exhibit No. | Description of Document | Exhibit File No. | ||
10.11 | Amendment, dated August 6, 2009, to Noncompetition and Confidentiality Agreement dated as of January 1, 2004 between American Tower Corporation and William H. Hess | 10.1 (6)* | ||
10.12 | First Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2013, by and between American Tower Asset Sub, LLC and American Tower Asset Sub II, LLC, as Borrowers, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for American Tower Trust I Secured Tower Revenue Securities, as Lender | 10.1 (20) | ||
10.13 | First Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2013, by and between American Tower Asset Sub, LLC and American Tower Asset Sub II, LLC, as Owners, and SpectraSite Communications, LLC, as Manager | 10.2 (20) | ||
10.14 | First Amended and Restated Cash Management Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2013, by and among American Tower Asset Sub, LLC and American Tower Asset Sub II, LLC, as Borrowers, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for American Tower Trust I Secured Tower Revenue Securities, as Lender, Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association, as Servicer, U.S. Bank National Association, as Agent, and SpectraSite Communications, LLC, as Manager | 10.3 (20) | ||
10.15 | First Amended and Restated Trust and Servicing Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2013, by and among American Tower Depositor Sub, LLC, as Depositor, Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association, as Servicer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee | 10.4 (20) | ||
10.16 | Lease and Sublease by and among ALLTEL Communications, Inc. and the other entities named therein and American Towers, Inc. and American Tower Corporation, dated , 2001 | 2.1 (1) | ||
10.17 | Agreement to Sublease by and among ALLTEL Communications, Inc. the ALLTEL entities and American Towers, Inc. and American Tower Corporation, dated December 19, 2000 | 2.2 (1) | ||
10.18 | Lease and Sublease, dated as of December 14, 2000, by and among SBC Tower Holdings LLC, Southern Towers, Inc., SBC Wireless, LLC and SpectraSite Holdings, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 to the SpectraSite Holdings, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-27217) filed on May 11, 2001) | 10.2 | ||
10.19 | Summary Compensation Information for Current Named Executive Officers (incorporated by reference from Item 5.02(e) of Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-14195) filed on February 23, 2015) | * | ||
10.20 | Amendment to Lease and Sublease, dated September 30, 2008, by and between SpectraSite, LLC, American Tower Asset Sub II, LLC, SBC Wireless, LLC and SBC Tower Holdings LLC | 10.7 (8)** | ||
10.21 | Form of Waiver and Termination Agreement | 10.4 (7) | ||
10.22 | American Tower Corporation Severance Plan, as amended | 10.35 (10)* | ||
10.23 | American Tower Corporation Severance Plan, Program for Executive Vice Presidents and Chief Executive Officer, as amended | 10.36 (10)* | ||
10.24 | Letter Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2015 by and between the Company and Steven C. Marshall | 10.24 (31) | ||
EX-5
Exhibit No. | Description of Document | Exhibit File No. | ||
10.26 | Securities Purchase and Merger Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2013, among American Tower Investments LLC, as buyer, LMIF Pylon Guernsey Limited, Macquarie Specialised Asset Management Limited, solely in its capacity as responsible entity of Macquarie Global Infrastructure Fund IIIA, Macquarie Specialised Asset Management 2 Limited, solely in its capacity as responsible entity of Macquarie Global Infrastructure Fund IIIB, Macquarie Infrastructure Partners II U.S., L.P., Macquarie Infrastructure Partners II International, L.P., Macquarie Infrastructure Partners Canada, L.P., Macquarie Infrastructure Partners A, L.P., Macquarie Infrastructure Partners International, L.P., Stichting Depositary PGGM Infrastructure Funds, as sellers, Macquarie GTP Investments LLC, GTP Investments LLC, Macquarie Infrastructure Partners Inc., and the other parties thereto | 10.1 (25) | ||
10.27 | First Amendment to the Securities Purchase and Merger Agreement, dated as of September 20, 2013, to the Securities Purchase and Merger Agreement dated September 6, 2013 | 10.2 (25) | ||
10.28 | Second Amendment to the Securities Purchase and Merger Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2013, to the Securities Purchase and Merger Agreement dated September 6, 2013 | 10.3 (25) | ||
10.29 | Amended and Restated Indenture, dated as of February 28, 2012, by and between GTP Cellular Sites, LLC, Cell Tower Lease Acquisition LLC, GLP Cell Site I, LLC, GLP Cell Site II, LLC, GLP Cell Site III, LLC, GLP Cell Site IV, LLC, GLP Cell Site A, LLC, Cell Site NewCo II, LLC, as obligors, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as indenture trustee | 10.15 (25) | ||
10.30 | Series 2012-1 and Series 2012-2 Indenture Supplement, dated as of February 28, 2012, to the Amended and Restated Indenture dated February 28, 2012 | 10.16 (25) | ||
10.31 | Loan Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2013, among the Company, as Borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as Administrative Agent and Swingline Lender, Barclays Bank PLC, Citibank, N.A. and Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agents, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Documentation Agent, TD Securities (USA) LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated, as Co-Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners, and the several other lenders that are parties thereto | 10.1 (23) | ||
10.32 | First Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated as of September 20, 2013, among the Company, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent, and a majority of the lenders under the Company’s Loan Agreement entered into on June 28, 2013 | 10.7 (25) | ||
10.33 | Term Loan Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2013, among the Company, as borrower, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as administrative agent, Royal Bank of Canada and TD Securities (USA) LLC, as co-syndication agents, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Citibank, N.A, Morgan Stanley MUFG Loan Partners, LLC and CoBank, ACB as co-documentation agents, RBS Securities Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Barclays Bank PLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and the several other lenders that are parties thereto | 10.8 (25) | ||
10.34 | Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2014, among the Company, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent, and swingline lender, TD Securities (USA) LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley MUFG Loan Partners, LLC and RBS Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, Citibank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley MUFG Loan Partners, LLC and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as co-syndication agents, and the other lenders that are parties thereto | 10.1 (29) | ||
10.35 | Second Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2014, among the Company, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent, and all of the lenders under the Company’s Loan Agreement entered into on June 28, 2013 | 10.2 (29) | ||
EX-6
Exhibit No. | Description of Document | Exhibit File No. | ||
10.36 | First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2014, among the Company, as borrower, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as administrative agent, and a majority of the lenders under the Company’s Term Loan Agreement entered into on October 29, 2013 | 10.3 (29) | ||
10.37 | First Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated as of February 5, 2015, among the Company, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent, and a majority of the lenders under the Company’s Amended and Restated Loan Agreement entered into on September 19, 2014 | 10.51 (31) | ||
10.38 | Second Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated as of February 5, 2015, among the Company, as borrower, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as administrative agent, and a majority of the lenders under the Company’s Term Loan Agreement entered into on October 29, 2013 | 10.52 (31) | ||
10.39 | Third Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated as of February 5, 2015, among the Company, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent, and a majority of the lenders under the Company’s Loan Agreement entered into on June 28, 2013 | 10.53 (31) | ||
10.40 | Second Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2015, among the Company, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent, and a majority of the lenders under the Company’s Amended and Restated Loan Agreement entered into on September 19, 2014 | 10.54 (31) | ||
10.41 | Third Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2015, among the Company, as borrower, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as administrative agent, and a majority of the lenders under the Company’s Term Loan Agreement entered into on October 29, 2013 | 10.55 (31) | ||
10.42 | Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2015, among the Company, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent, and a majority of the lenders under the Company’s Loan Agreement entered into on June 28, 2013 | 10.56 (31) | ||
10.43 | Third Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2015, among the Company, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent, and a majority of the lenders under the Company’s Amended and Restated Loan Agreement entered into on September 19, 2014 | Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.43 | ||
10.44 | Fourth Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2015, among the Company, as borrower, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (successor to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc), as administrative agent, and a majority of the lenders under the Company’s Term Loan Agreement entered into on October 29, 2013 | Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.44 | ||
10.45 | Fifth Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2015, among the Company, as borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent, and a majority of the lenders under the Company’s Loan Agreement entered into on June 28, 2013 | Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.45 | ||
10.46 | Master Agreement, dated as of February 5, 2015, among the Company and Verizon Communications, Inc. | 10.45 (31) | ||
10.47 | Commitment Letter, dated as of February 5, 2015, among the Company, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC | 10.50 (31) | ||
10.48 | Master Prepaid Lease, dated as of March 27, 2015, among certain subsidiaries of the Company and Verizon Communications Inc. | 10.8 (33) | ||
10.49 | Sale Site Master Lease Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2015, among certain subsidiaries of the Company, Verizon Communications Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries | 10.9 (33) | ||
10.50 | MPL Site Master Lease Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2015, among Verizon Communications Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries and ATC Sequoia LLC | 10.10 (33) | ||
10.51 | Management Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2015, among Verizon Communications Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries and ATC Sequoia LLC | 10.11 (33) | ||
EX-7
Exhibit No. | Description of Document | Exhibit File No. | ||
10.52 | Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2015, amongst ATC Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., American Tower International, Inc., Viom Networks Limited and certain of its existing shareholders | Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.52 | ||
10.53 | Shareholders Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2015, by and amongst Viom Networks Limited, Tata Sons Limited, Tata Teleservices Limited, IDFC Private Equity Fund III, Macquarie SBI Investments Pte Limited, SBI Macquarie Infrastructure Trust and ATC Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. | Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.53 | ||
12 | Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends | Filed herewith as Exhibit 12 | ||
21 | Subsidiaries of the Company | Filed herewith as Exhibit 21 | ||
23 | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm—Deloitte & Touche LLP | Filed herewith as Exhibit 23 | ||
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | Filed herewith as Exhibit 31.1 | ||
31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | Filed herewith as Exhibit 31.2 | ||
32 | Certifications filed pursuant to 18. U.S.C. Section 1350 | Filed herewith as Exhibit 32 | ||
101 | The following materials from American Tower Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): 101.INS—XBRL Instance Document 101.SCH—XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document 101.CAL—XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document 101.LAB—XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document 101.PRE—XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document 101.DEF—XTRL Taxonomy Extension Definition | Filed herewith as Exhibit 101 | ||
* | Management contracts and compensatory plans and arrangements required to be filed as exhibits to this Form 10-K pursuant to Item 15(a)(3). |
** | The exhibit has been filed separately with the Commission pursuant to an application for confidential treatment. The confidential portions of the exhibit have been omitted and are marked by an asterisk. |
EX-8