LAMAR ADVERTISING CO/NEW - Annual Report: 2020 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(Mark One)

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

For the transition period from          to          

Commission File Number 1-36756

Lamar Advertising Company

Commission File Number 1-12407

Lamar Media Corp.

(Exact names of registrants as specified in their charters)

Registrants’ telephone number, including area code: (225) 926-1000

SECURITIES OF LAMAR ADVERTISING COMPANY

REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

SECURITIES OF LAMAR ADVERTISING COMPANY

REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:

None

SECURITIES OF LAMAR MEDIA CORP.

REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

None

SECURITIES OF LAMAR MEDIA CORP.

REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:

None

Indicate by check mark if Lamar Advertising Company is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark if Lamar Advertising Company is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark if Lamar Media Corp. is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark if Lamar Media Corp. is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether each 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  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Date File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether Lamar Advertising Company is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “accelerated filer”, “large accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if Lamar Advertising Company has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether Lamar Advertising Company has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether Lamar Media Corp. is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “accelerated filer”, “large accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if Lamar Media Corp. has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether Lamar Media Corp. has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

Indicate by check mark if either registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of Lamar Advertising Company was $5,693,120,893 based on $66.76 per share as reported at the close of trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on June 30, 2020, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

As of June 30, 2020, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of Lamar Media Corp. was $0.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers’ classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

This combined Form 10-K is separately filed by (i) Lamar Advertising Company and (ii) Lamar Media Corp. (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lamar Advertising Company). Lamar Media Corp. meets the conditions set forth in general instruction I(1) (a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is, therefore, filing this form with the reduced disclosure format permitted by such instruction.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain information included in this report is forward-looking in nature within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This report uses terminology such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “future,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements in this report include statements about: (i) our future financial performance and condition; (ii) our business plans, objectives, prospects, growth and operating strategies; (iii) our future capital expenditures and level of acquisition activity; (iv) our ability to integrate acquired assets and realize operating efficiency from acquisitions; (v) market opportunities and competitive positions; (vi) our future cash flows and expected cash requirements; (vii) expected timing and amount of distributions to our stockholders; (viii) estimated risks; (ix) our ability to maintain compliance with applicable covenants and restrictions included in Lamar Media Corp’s (“Lamar Media”) senior credit facility, Accounts Receivable Securitization Program (as defined herein) and the indentures relating to its outstanding notes; (x) stock price; and (xi) our ability to remain qualified as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”).

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors, including but not limited to the following, any of which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: (i) the severity and duration of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations; (ii) the state of the economy and financial markets generally (including the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic) and their effects on the markets in which we operate and the broader demand for advertising; (iii) the levels of expenditures on advertising in general and outdoor advertising in particular; (iv) risks and uncertainties relating to our significant indebtedness; (v) the demand for outdoor advertising and its continued popularity as an advertising medium; (vi) our need for, and ability to obtain, additional funding for acquisitions, operations and debt refinancing; (vii) increased competition within the outdoor advertising industry; (viii) the regulation of the outdoor advertising industry by federal, state and local governments; (ix) our ability to renew expiring contracts at favorable rates; (x) the integration of businesses that we acquire and our ability to recognize cost savings and operating efficiencies as a result of these acquisitions; (xi) our ability to successfully implement our digital deployment strategy; (xii) the market for our Class A common stock; (xiii) changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; (xiv) our ability to effectively mitigate the threat of and damages caused by hurricanes and other kinds of severe weather; (xv) our ability to maintain our status as a REIT; and (xvi) changes in tax laws applicable to REITs or in the interpretation of those laws.

The forward-looking statements in this report are based on our current good faith beliefs; however, actual results may differ due to inaccurate assumptions, the factors listed above or other foreseeable or unforeseeable factors. Consequently, we cannot guarantee that any of the forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. The forward-looking statements in this report speak only as of the date of this report, and Lamar Advertising Company and Lamar Media Corp. expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this report, except as required by law.

INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

The industry and market data presented throughout this report are based on the experience and estimates of our management and the data in reports issued by third-parties, including the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA). In each case, we believe this industry and market data is reasonable. We have not, however, independently verified the industry and market data derived from third-party sources, and no independent source has verified the industry and market data derived from management’s experience and estimates.

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PART I

GENERAL

Lamar Advertising Company is one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in the United States based on number of displays and has operated under the Lamar name since 1902. We operate in a single operating and reporting segment, advertising. We rent space for advertising on billboards, buses, shelters, benches, logo plates and in airport terminals. We offer our customers a fully integrated service, satisfying all aspects of their display requirements from ad copy production to placement and maintenance.

We operate three types of outdoor advertising displays: billboards, logo signs and transit advertising displays.

Billboards. As of December 31, 2020, we owned and operated approximately 153,200 billboard advertising displays in 45 states and Canada. We rent most of our advertising space on two types of billboards: bulletins and posters.

In addition to traditional billboards, we also rent space on digital billboards, which are generally located on major traffic arteries and city streets. As of December 31, 2020, we owned and operated over 3,600 digital billboard advertising displays in 43 states and Canada.

Logo signs. We rent advertising space on logo signs located near highway exits.

We are the largest provider of logo signs in the United States, operating 23 of the 26 privatized state logo sign contracts. As of December 31, 2020, we operated over 137,100 logo sign advertising displays in 23 states and the province of Ontario, Canada.

Transit advertising displays. We also rent advertising space on the exterior and interior of public transportation vehicles, in airport terminals, and on transit shelters and benches in over 75 markets. As of December 31, 2020, we operated over 47,700 transit advertising displays in 22 states and Canada.

CORPORATE HISTORY

We have operated under the Lamar name since our founding in 1902 and have been publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol “LAMR” since 1996.

During 2014, we completed a reorganization in order to qualify as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) for federal income tax purposes.

In this Annual Report, unless the context otherwise requires, we refer to Lamar Advertising Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (and its predecessor and its consolidated subsidiaries), as applicable, as the “Company”, “Lamar Advertising” or “we”, and we refer to Lamar Advertising’s wholly owned subsidiary Lamar Media Corp. as “Lamar Media.”

OPERATING STRATEGIES

We strive to be a leading provider of outdoor advertising services in each of the markets that we serve, and our operating strategies for achieving that goal include:

Continuing to provide high quality local sales and service. We seek to identify and closely monitor the needs of our tenants and to provide them with a full complement of high quality advertising services. Local advertising constituted approximately 78% of our net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020, which management believes is higher than the industry average. We believe that the experience of our regional, territory and local managers has contributed greatly to our success. For example, our regional managers have been with us for an average of 35 years. In an effort to provide high quality sales and service at the local level, we employed approximately 975 local account executives as of December 31, 2020. Local account executives are typically supported by

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additional local staff and have the ability to draw upon the resources of our central office, as well as our offices in other markets, in the event business opportunities or customers’ needs support such an allocation of resources.

Continuing a centralized control and decentralized management structure. Our management believes that, for our particular business, centralized control and a decentralized organization provide for greater economies of scale and are more responsive to local market demands. Therefore, we maintain centralized accounting and financial control over our local operations, but our local managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations in each local market and are compensated according to that market’s financial performance.

Continuing to focus on internal growth. Within our existing markets we seek to increase our revenue and improve cash flow by employing highly-targeted local marketing efforts to improve our display occupancy rates and by increasing advertising rates where and when demand can absorb rate increases. Our local offices spearhead this effort and respond to local customer demands quickly.

In addition, we routinely invest in upgrading our existing displays and constructing new displays. Since January 1, 2011, we invested approximately $1.1 billion in capitalized expenditures, which include improvements to our existing real estate portfolio and the construction of new locations. Our regular improvement and expansion of our advertising display inventory allows us to provide high quality service to our current tenants and to attract new tenants.

Continuing to pursue other outdoor advertising opportunities. We plan to renew existing logo sign contracts and pursue additional logo sign contracts. Logo sign opportunities arise periodically, both from states initiating new logo sign programs and states converting from government-owned and operated programs to privately-owned and operated programs. Furthermore, we plan to pursue additional tourist oriented directional sign programs in both the United States and Canada and also other motorist information signing programs as opportunities present themselves. In addition, in an effort to maintain market share, we continue to pursue attractive transit advertising opportunities as they become available.

Reinvesting in capital expenditures including digital technology. We have a history of investing in capital expenditures, particularly in our digital platform. We spent approximately $62.3 million in total capital expenditures in fiscal year 2020, of which approximately $22.6 million was spent on digital technology. While our capital expenditures were sharply reduced during 2020 due to the pandemic, we expect our 2021 capitalized expenditures to be approximate $150.0 million, which is consistent with pre-pandemic historical spending.

CAPITAL ALLOCATION STRATEGY

The objective of our capital allocation strategy is to simultaneously increase adjusted funds from operations and our return on invested capital. To maintain our REIT status, we are required to distribute to our stockholders annually an amount equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gains. After complying with our REIT distribution requirements, we plan to continue to allocate our available capital among investment alternatives that meet our return on investment criteria. During 2020, we generated $569.9 million of cash from operating activities, which was used to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions, dividends to our stockholders, and a portion of the expenses incurred in connection with financing transactions.

COMPANY OPERATIONS

Billboard Advertising

We rent most of our advertising space on two types of billboard advertising displays: bulletins and posters. As of December 31, 2020, we owned and operated approximately 153,200 billboard advertising displays in 45 states and Canada.  In 2020, we derived approximately 76% of our billboard advertising net revenues from bulletin rentals and 24% from poster rentals.

Bulletins are large, advertising structures (the most common size is 14 feet high by 48 feet wide, or 672 square feet) consisting of panels on which advertising copy is displayed. We wrap advertising copy printed with computer-generated graphics on a single

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sheet of vinyl around the structure. To attract more attention, some of the panels may extend beyond the linear edges of the display face and may include three-dimensional embellishments. Because of their greater impact and higher cost, bulletins are usually located on major highways and target vehicular traffic. At December 31, 2020, we operated approximately 74,400 bulletin displays.

We generally rent individually-selected bulletin space to advertisers for the duration of the contract (ranging from 4 to 52 weeks). We also rent bulletins as part of a rotary plan under which we rotate the advertising copy from one bulletin location to another within a particular market at stated intervals (usually every sixty to ninety days) to achieve greater reach within that market.

Posters are smaller advertising structures (the most common size is 11 feet high by 23 feet wide, or 253 square feet; we also operate junior posters, which are 5 feet high by 11 feet wide, or 55 square feet). Poster panels utilize a single flexible sheet of polyethylene material that inserts onto the face of the panel. Posters are concentrated on major traffic arteries and target vehicular traffic, and junior posters are concentrated on city streets and target hard-to-reach pedestrian traffic and nearby residents. At December 31, 2020, we operated approximately 78,800 poster displays.

We generally rent poster space for 4 to 26 weeks, determined by the advertiser’s campaign needs.  Posters are sold in packages of Target Rating Point (“TRP”) levels, which determine the percentage of a target audience an advertiser needs to reach.  A package may include a combination of poster locations in order to meet reach and frequency campaign goals.

In addition to the traditional static displays, we also rent digital billboards. Digital billboards are large electronic light emitting diode (“LED”) displays (the most common sizes are 14 feet high by 48 feet wide, or 672 square feet; 10.5 feet high by 36 feet wide, or 378 square feet; and 10 feet high by 21 feet wide, or 210 square feet) that are generally located on major traffic arteries and city streets. Digital billboards are capable of generating over one billion colors and vary in brightness based on ambient conditions. They display completely digital advertising copy from various advertisers in a slide show fashion, rotating each advertisement approximately every 6 to 8 seconds.  At December 31, 2020, our inventory included over 3,600 digital display billboards in various markets.  These 3,600 digital billboards generated approximately 26% of billboard advertising net revenue.

We own the physical structures on which the advertising copy is displayed. We build the structures on locations we either own or lease. In each local office, one employee typically performs site leasing activities for the markets served by that office. See Item 2. — “Properties.”

In the majority of our markets, our local production staffs perform the full range of activities required to create and install billboard advertising displays. Production work includes creating the advertising copy design and layout, coordinating its printing and installing the designs on the displays. Our talented design staff uses state-of-the-art technology to prepare creative, eye-catching displays for our tenants. We can also help with the strategic placement of advertisements throughout an advertiser’s market by using software that allows us to analyze the target audience and its demographics. Our artists also assist in developing marketing presentations, demonstrations and strategies to attract new tenant advertisers.

In marketing billboard displays to advertisers, we compete with other forms of out-of-home advertising and other media. When selecting the media and provider through which to advertise, advertisers consider a number of factors and advertising providers, which are described in the section titled — “Competition” below.

Logo Sign Advertising

We entered the logo sign advertising business in 1988 and have become the largest provider of logo sign services in the United States, operating 23 of the 26 privatized state logo contracts. We erect logo signs, which generally advertise nearby gas, food, camping, lodging and other attractions, and directional signs, which direct vehicle traffic to nearby services and tourist attractions, near highway exits. As of December 31, 2020, we operated approximately 41,950 logo sign structures containing over 137,100 logo advertising displays in the United States and Canada.

We operate the logo sign contracts in the province of Ontario, Canada and in the following states:

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We also operate the tourist oriented directional signing (“TODS”) programs for the states of Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, and the province of Ontario, Canada,  providing approximately 16,600 advertising displays.

Our logo and TODS operations are decentralized. Generally, each office is staffed with an experienced local general manager, local sales and office staff and a local signing sub-contractor. This decentralization allows the management staff of Interstate Logos, L.L.C. (the subsidiary that operates all of the logo and directional sign-related businesses) to travel extensively to the various operations and serve in a technical and management advisory capacity and monitor regulatory and contract compliance. We also run a silk screening operation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and a display construction company in Atlanta, Georgia.

State logo sign contracts represent the exclusive right to erect and operate logo signs within a state for a period of time. The terms of the contracts vary, but generally range from five to ten years, with additional renewal terms. Each logo sign contract generally allows the state to terminate the contract prior to its expiration and, in most cases, with compensation for the termination to be paid to the Company. When a logo sign contract expires, we transfer ownership of the advertising structures to the state. Depending on the contract, we may or may not be entitled to compensation at that time. Of our 24 logo sign contracts in place, in the United States and Canada, at December 31, 2020, four are subject to renewal or expiration in 2021.

States usually award new logo sign contracts and renew expiring logo sign contracts through an open proposal process. In bidding for new and renewal contracts, we compete against other logo sign providers, as well as local companies based in the state soliciting proposals.

In marketing logo signs to advertisers, we compete with other forms of out-of-home advertising and other media. When selecting the media and provider through which to advertise, advertisers consider a number of factors and advertising providers which are described in the section titled — “Competition” below.

Transit Advertising

We entered into the transit advertising business in 1993 as a way to complement our existing business and maintain market share in certain markets. Transit contracts are generally with the local municipalities and airport authorities and allow us the exclusive right to rent advertising space to customers in airports and on buses, benches or shelters. The terms of the contracts vary but generally range between 3-15 years, many with renewable options for contract extension. We rent transit advertising displays in airport terminals and on bus shelters, benches and buses in over 75 transit markets, and our production staff provides a full range of creative and installation services to our transit advertising tenants. As of December 31, 2020, we operated over 47,700 transit advertising displays in 22 states and Canada.

Municipalities usually award new transit advertising contracts and renew expiring transit advertising contracts through an open bidding process. In bidding for new and renewal contracts, we compete against national outdoor advertising providers and local, on-premise sign providers and sign construction companies. Transit advertising operators incur significant start-up costs to build and install the advertising structures (such as transit shelters) upon being awarded contracts.

In marketing transit advertising displays to advertisers, we compete with other forms of out-of-home advertising and other media. When selecting the media and provider through which to advertise, advertisers consider a number of factors and advertising providers which are described in the section titled — “Competition” below.

COMPETITION

Although the outdoor advertising industry has encountered a wave of consolidation, the industry remains fragmented. The industry is comprised of several large outdoor advertising and media companies with operations in multiple markets, as well as smaller, local companies operating a limited number of structures in one or a few local markets.

Although we primarily focus on small to mid-size markets where we can attain a strong market share, in each of our markets we compete against other providers of outdoor advertising and other types of media, including:

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In selecting the form of media through which to advertise, advertisers evaluate their ability to target audiences having a specific demographic profile, lifestyle, brand or media consumption or purchasing behavior or audiences located in, or traveling through, a particular geography. Advertisers also compare the relative costs of available media, evaluating the number of impressions (potential viewings), exposure (the opportunity for advertising to be seen) and circulation (traffic volume in a market), as well as potential effectiveness, quality of related services (such as advertising copy design and layout) and customer service. In competing with other media, we believe that outdoor advertising is relatively more cost-efficient than other media, allowing advertisers to reach broader audiences and target specific geographic areas or demographic groups within markets.

We believe that our strong emphasis on sales and customer service and our position as a major provider of advertising services in each of our primary markets enables us to compete effectively with the other outdoor advertising companies, as well as with other media, within those markets.

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GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSIFICATION

Our advertising displays are geographically diversified across the United States and Canada. The following table sets forth information regarding the geographic diversification of our advertising displays, which are listed in order of contribution to total revenue. Markets with less than 1% of total displays are grouped in the category “all other United States.”

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TAXABLE REIT SUBSIDIARIES

We hold and operate certain of our assets that cannot be held and operated directly by a REIT through taxable REIT subsidiaries, or TRSs. A TRS is a subsidiary of a REIT that pays corporate taxes on its taxable income. The assets held in our TRSs primarily consist of our transit advertising business, advertising services business and our foreign operations. We may, from time to time, change the election of previously designated TRSs to be treated as qualified REIT subsidiaries (“QRSs”) or other disregarded entities, and may reorganize and transfer certain assets or operations from ‎our TRSs to other subsidiaries, including QRSs.‎

Our TRS assets and operations will continue to be subject, as applicable, to U.S. federal and state corporate income taxes. Furthermore, our assets and operations outside the United States will continue to be subject to foreign taxes in the jurisdictions in which those assets and operations are located. Net income from our TRSs will either be retained by our TRSs and used to fund their operations, or distributed to us, where it will be reinvested in our business or be available for distribution to Lamar Advertising’s stockholders. As of December 31, 2020, the annual revenue generated by our TRSs in the aggregate was approximately $232.5 million.

ADVERTISING TENANTS

Our tenant base is diverse. The table below sets forth the ten industries from which we derived most of our billboard advertising revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020, as well as the percentage of billboard advertising revenues attributable to the advertisers in those industries. The individual advertisers in these industries accounted for approximately 75% of our billboard advertising net revenues in the year ended December 31, 2020. No individual tenant accounted for more than 2.0% of our billboard advertising net revenues in that period.

REGULATION

Outdoor advertising is subject to governmental regulation at the federal, state and local levels. Regulations generally restrict the size, spacing, lighting and other aspects of advertising structures and pose a significant barrier to entry and expansion in many markets.  Federal law, principally the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (the “HBA”), regulates outdoor advertising on Federal — Aid Primary, Interstate and National Highway Systems roads. The HBA requires states, through the adoption of individual Federal/State agreements, to “effectively control” outdoor advertising along these roads, and mandates a state compliance program and state standards regarding size, spacing and lighting. These state standards, or their local and municipal equivalents, may be modified over time in response to legal challenges or otherwise, which may have an adverse effect on our business. The HBA requires any state or political subdivision that compels the removal of a lawful billboard along a Federal — Aid Primary or Interstate highway to pay just compensation to the billboard owner.

All states have passed billboard control statutes and regulations at least as restrictive as the federal requirements, including laws requiring the removal of illegal signs at the owner’s expense (and without compensation from the state). Although we believe that the number of our billboards that may be subject to removal as illegal is immaterial, and no state in which we operate has banned billboards entirely, from time to time governments have required us to remove signs and billboards legally erected in accordance with federal, state and local permit requirements and laws. Municipal and county governments generally also have sign controls as part of their zoning laws and building codes. We contest laws and regulations that we believe unlawfully restrict our constitutional or other legal rights and may adversely impact the growth of our outdoor advertising business.

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Using federal funding for transportation enhancement programs, state governments have purchased and removed billboards for beautification, and may do so again in the future. Under the power of eminent domain, state or municipal governments have laid claim to property and forced the removal of billboards. Under a concept called amortization by which a governmental body asserts that a billboard operator has earned compensation by continued operation over time, local governments have attempted to force removal of legal but nonconforming billboards (i.e., billboards that conformed with applicable zoning regulations when built but which do not conform to current zoning regulations). Although the legality of amortization is questionable, it has been upheld in some instances. Often, municipal and county governments also have sign controls as part of their zoning laws, with some local governments prohibiting construction of new billboards or allowing new construction only to replace existing structures. Although we have generally been able to obtain satisfactory compensation for those of our billboards purchased or removed as a result of governmental action, there is no assurance that this will continue to be the case in the future.

We have also introduced and intend to continue to expand the deployment of digital billboards that display static digital advertising copy from various advertisers that change every 6 to 8 seconds. We have encountered some existing regulations that restrict or prohibit these types of digital displays but it has not yet materially impacted our digital deployment. Since digital billboards have been developed and introduced relatively recently into the market on a large scale, existing regulations that currently do not apply to them by their terms could be revised or new regulations could be enacted to impose greater restrictions. These regulations may impose greater restrictions on digital billboards due to alleged concerns over aesthetics or driver safety.

Relatively few large scale studies have been conducted to date regarding driver safety issues, if any, related to digital billboards. The results of future studies may result in regulations at the federal or state level that impose greater restrictions on digital billboards. Any new restrictions on digital billboards could have a material adverse effect on both our existing inventory of digital billboards and our plans to expand our digital deployment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, we are involved in litigation in the ordinary course of business, including disputes involving advertising contracts, site leases, employment claims and construction matters. We are also involved in routine administrative and judicial proceedings regarding billboard permits, fees and compensation for condemnations. We are not a party to any lawsuit or proceeding which, in the opinion of management, is likely to have a material adverse effect on us.

REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO

Our management headquarters is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We also own 125 local operating facilities with front office administration and sales office space connected to back-shop poster and bulletin production space. In addition, we lease an additional 146 operating facilities at an aggregate lease expense for 2020 of approximately $8.5 million.

We own over 9,700 parcels of property beneath our advertising displays. As of December 31, 2020, we leased over 69,700 outdoor sites, accounting for an annualized lease expense of approximately $283.3 million. This amount represented approximately 20% of billboard advertising net revenues for that period. These leases are for varying terms ranging from month-to-month to a term of over ten years, and many provide us with renewal options. Our lease agreements generally permit us to use the land for the construction, repair and relocation of outdoor advertising displays, including all rights necessary to access and maintain the site. Approximately 72% of our leases will expire or be subject to renewal in the next 5 years, 18% will expire or be subject to renewal in 6 to 10 years and 10% thereafter. There is no significant concentration of displays under any one lease or subject to negotiation with any one landlord. An important part of our management activity is to manage our lease portfolio and negotiate suitable lease renewals and extensions.

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The following table illustrates the number of leased and owned sites by state as of December 31, 2020, which is sorted from greatest to least in number and percentage of leased sites. States in which we lease less than 2% of our portfolio are grouped in the category “All Other States”.

CONTRACT EXPIRATIONS

We derive revenues primarily from renting advertising space to customers on our advertising displays. Our contracts with customers generally cover periods ranging from one week to one year and are generally billed every four weeks. Since contract terms are short-term in nature, we do not consider revenues by year of contract expiration to be meaningful.

HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES

We employed approximately 3,300 people as of December 31, 2020. Approximately 270 employees were engaged in overall management and general administration at our corporate headquarters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the remainder, including approximately 975 local account executives, were employed in our operating offices.

Fifteen of our local offices employ billposters and construction personnel who are covered by collective bargaining agreements. We believe that our relationship with our employees, including our approximately 105 unionized employees, is favorable, and we have never experienced a strike or work stoppage.

As Lamar’s business continues to grow, so does the Company’s strong commitment to recruiting a work force with diverse talents, as well as to developing and retaining the successful members of our sales and management teams. Our 975 local account executives and approximately 170 local management employees have been with the Company for an average of 11 years. We regularly provide on-site training and remote sales training videos to enhance the skills of our sales and management team members.

We employ approximately 1,100 operations employees, including operations management. These employees are responsible for installing advertising copy, maintaining our billboard inventory and ensuring our billboards, logos and transit displays are in safe operating condition. We empower these employees to have a safety-first mentality, which includes the authority to stop an installation or other work job for any safety concern. We also provide training and certification to our operations employees, including training for crane operations and climbing safety. Our management regularly conducts scheduled safety meetings and unscheduled job observations to ensure that we maintain a safety mindset every day.

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Due to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have implemented a number of health and safety precautions for our employees. These precautions include office and vehicle occupancy limitations to maintain proper social distancing, daily temperature checks, mask requirements, additional office cleaning and contact tracing in the event of a positive COVID-19 case. We also monitor updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local government guidelines to ensure our health and safety precautions stay up to date.

INFLATION

In the last three years, inflation has not had a significant impact on our business.

SEASONALITY

Our revenues and operating results are subject to seasonality. Typically, we experience our strongest financial performance in the summer and fall, and our weakest financial performance in the first quarter of the calendar year, partly because retailers cut back their advertising spending immediately following the holiday shopping season. We expect this trend to continue in the future. Because a significant portion of our expenses is fixed, a reduction in revenues in any quarter is likely to result in a period-to-period decline in operating performance and net earnings.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We make our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to these reports available free of charge through our website, www.lamar.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing them with, or furnishing them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained on our website is not part of this Annual Report.

Risks Related to Our Capital Structure

The Company’s substantial debt may adversely affect its business, financial condition and financial results.

The Company has borrowed substantially in the past and will continue to borrow in the future. At December 31, 2020, Lamar Advertising Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Lamar Media, had approximately $2.89 billion of total debt outstanding, net of deferred financing costs, consisting of approximately $586.9 million in bank debt outstanding under Lamar Media’s senior credit facility, $2.18 billion in various series of senior notes, $122.1 million under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Program and $2.8 million in other seller notes. Despite the level of debt presently outstanding, the terms of the indentures governing Lamar Media’s notes and the terms of the senior credit facility and Accounts Receivable Securitization Program allow Lamar Media to incur substantially more debt, including approximately $736.0 million and $52.5 million available for borrowing under the revolving credit facility and Accounts Receivable Securitization Program, respectively, as of December 31, 2020. Furthermore, on January 22, 2021, Lamar Media issued $550.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 3 5/8% Senior Notes due 2031, the proceeds of which, together with cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility and Accounts Receivable Securitization Program, were used to redeem all $650.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5 3/4% Senior Notes on February 3, 2021.

The Company’s substantial debt and its use of cash flow from operations to make principal and interest payments on its debt may, among other things:

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Any of these problems could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and financial results.

The Company may be unable to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy its significant debt service obligations. ‎

The Company’s ability to generate cash flow from operations to make principal and interest payments on its debt will depend on its future performance, which will be affected by a range of economic, competitive and business ‎factors. The Company cannot control many of these factors, including general economic conditions (including, but not limited to, ‎the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the general economy), its customers’ allocation of advertising ‎expenditures among available media and the amount spent on advertising in general, and its business would be ‎negatively impacted if the general economy were to deteriorate in the future. If its operations do not generate sufficient ‎cash flow from operations to satisfy its debt service obligations, the Company may need to borrow additional funds to make ‎these payments or undertake alternative financing plans, such as refinancing or restructuring its debt, or reducing or ‎delaying capital investments and acquisitions. The Company cannot guarantee that such additional funds or alternative financing will ‎be available on favorable terms, if at all. The Company’s inability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or obtain ‎additional funds or alternative financing on acceptable terms could have a material adverse effect on our business, ‎financial condition and results of operations.

Restrictions in the Company’s and Lamar Media’s debt agreements reduce operating flexibility and contain covenants and restrictions that create the potential for defaults, which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and financial results.

The terms of Lamar Media’s senior credit facility and the indentures relating to Lamar Media’s outstanding notes restrict the ability of the Company and Lamar Media to, among other things:

At December 31, 2020, the terms of Lamar Media’s senior credit facility and of its Accounts Receivable Securitization Program also restrict the Company from exceeding a specified secured debt ratio.  Lamar Media is also subject to certain other financial covenants relating to the incurrence of additional debt. Please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources” for a description of the specific financial ratio requirements under the senior credit facility.

The Company’s ability to comply with the financial covenants in the senior credit facility, Accounts Receivable Securitization Program and the indentures governing Lamar Media’s outstanding notes (and to comply with similar covenants in any future agreements) depends on its operating performance, which in turn depends significantly on prevailing economic, financial and business conditions and other factors that are beyond the Company’s control. Therefore, despite its best efforts and execution of its strategic plan, the Company may be unable to comply with these financial covenants in the future.

The Company is currently in compliance with all financial covenants. However, if in the future there are economic declines the Company can make no assurance that these declines will not negatively impact the Company’s financial results and, in turn, its ability to meet these financial covenant requirements. If Lamar Media fails to comply with its financial covenants, Lamar Media could be in default under the senior credit facility and the Accounts Receivable Securitization Program‎ (which could result in an event of default under the indentures governing its outstanding notes). In the event of such a default under the senior credit facility, the lenders under the senior credit facility could accelerate ‎all of the debt outstanding, could elect to institute foreclosure proceedings against Lamar Media’s assets, and it could be forced ‎into bankruptcy or liquidation. Any of these events could adversely affect Lamar Media’s business, financial condition and financial ‎results. In the event of such a default under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Program, the lenders under the ‎Accounts Receivable Securitization Program could accelerate all of the debt outstanding, could elect to institute ‎foreclosure proceedings against the assets of the Special Purpose Subsidiaries (as defined herein), and the Special Purpose

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Subsidiaries ‎could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. ‎Any of these events could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and financial results.

In addition, these restrictions reduce the Company’s operating flexibility and could prevent the Company from exploiting investment, acquisition, marketing, or other time-sensitive business opportunities.

The Company is controlled by significant stockholders who have the power to determine the outcome of all matters submitted to the stockholders for approval and whose interest in the Company may be different than yours.

As of December 31, 2020, members of the Reilly family, including Kevin P. Reilly, Jr., the Company’s Executive Chairman, and Sean Reilly, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and their affiliates, owned in the aggregate approximately 15% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, assuming the conversion of all Class B common stock to Class A common stock. As of that date, their combined holdings represented approximately 63% of the voting power of Lamar Advertising’s outstanding capital stock, which would give the Reilly family and their affiliates the power to:

The Reilly family may have interests that are different than yours in making these decisions.

Risks Related to Our Business

The Company’s growth through acquisitions may be difficult, which could adversely affect our future financial performance. In addition, if we are unable to successfully integrate any completed acquisitions, our financial performance would also be adversely affected.

The Company has historically grown through acquisitions. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we completed acquisitions for a total cash purchase price of approximately $45.6 million. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company limited acquisition activity as a means to conserve liquidity in 2020. The Company plans to resume strategic acquisition activities during 2021 as the economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic improve and opportunities arise.

The future success of our acquisition strategy could be adversely affected by many factors, including the following:

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These obstacles to our opportunistic acquisition strategy may have an adverse effect on our future financial results.

The Company could suffer losses due to asset impairment charges for goodwill and other intangible assets.

The Company tested goodwill for impairment on December 31, 2020. Based on the Company’s review at December 31, 2020, no impairment charge was required. The Company continues to assess whether factors or indicators become apparent that would require an interim impairment test between our annual impairment test dates. For instance, if our market capitalization is below our equity book value for a period of time without recovery, we believe there is a strong presumption that would indicate a triggering event has occurred and it is more likely than not that the fair value of one or both of our reporting units are below their carrying amount. This would require us to test the reporting units for impairment of goodwill. If this presumption cannot be overcome a reporting unit could be impaired under ASC 350 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” and a non-cash charge would be required. Any such charge could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s net earnings.

The Company’s logo sign contracts are subject to state award and renewal.

In 2020, the Company generated approximately 5% of its revenues from state-awarded logo sign contracts. In bidding for these contracts, the Company competes against other national logo sign providers as well as numerous smaller local logo sign providers. As a logo sign provider, the Company incurs significant start-up costs upon being awarded a new contract. These contracts generally have a term of five to ten years, with additional renewal periods. Some states reserve the right to terminate a contract early, and most contracts require the state to pay compensation to the Company as a logo sign provider for early termination. At the end of the contract term, the Company, as a logo sign provider, transfers ownership of the logo sign structures to the state. Depending on the contract, the logo provider may or may not be entitled to compensation for the structures at the end of the contract term.

Of the Company’s 24 logo sign contracts in place at December 31, 2020, four are subject to renewal or expiration in 2021. The Company may be unable to renew its expiring contracts. The Company may also lose the bidding on new contracts.

If the Company’s contingency plans relating to hurricanes and other natural disasters fail, the resulting losses could hurt the Company’s business.

The Company has determined that it is uneconomical to insure against losses resulting from hurricanes and other natural disasters. Although the Company has developed contingency plans designed to mitigate the threat posed by hurricanes and other forms of inclement weather to its real estate portfolio (e.g., removing advertising faces at the onset of a storm, when possible, which better permits the structures to withstand high winds during the storm), these plans could fail and significant losses could result.

Our cash distributions are not guaranteed and may fluctuate.

A REIT generally is required to distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. The Company may have available net operating loss (“NOL”) carry forwards that could reduce or substantially eliminate its REIT taxable income, and thus it may not be required to distribute material amounts of cash to qualify for taxation as a REIT. The Company expects that, for the foreseeable future, it may utilize available NOL carry forwards to reduce its REIT taxable income.

The Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole discretion, will determine on a quarterly basis the amount of cash to be distributed to its stockholders based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the Company’s results of operations, cash flow and capital requirements, economic conditions, tax considerations, borrowing capacity and other factors, including debt covenant restrictions that may impose limitations on cash payments, future acquisitions and divestitures, any stock repurchase program, and general market demand for its advertising space available for rent. Consequently, the Company’s distribution levels may fluctuate.

The Lamar Advertising charter, the Lamar Advertising bylaws and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover that stockholders consider favorable and could also limit the market price of Lamar Advertising stock.

Provisions of the Lamar Advertising charter, the Lamar Advertising bylaws and applicable provisions of Delaware law may make it more difficult for or prevent a third party from acquiring control of Lamar Advertising without the approval of the Board of Directors. These provisions:

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In addition, Section 203 of the DGCL generally limits the Company’s ability to engage in any business combination with certain persons who own 15% or more of its outstanding voting stock or any of its associates or affiliates who at any time in the past three years have owned 15% or more of its outstanding voting stock.

These provisions may have the effect of entrenching the Company’s management team and may deprive the Company’s stockholders of the opportunity to sell their shares to potential acquirers at a premium over prevailing prices. This potential inability to obtain a control premium could reduce the price of Lamar Advertising common stock.

Risks Related to Our Industry

The Company’s revenues are sensitive to the state of the economy and the financial markets generally and other external events beyond the Company’s control.

The Company rents advertising space on outdoor structures to generate revenues. Advertising spending is particularly sensitive to changes in economic conditions.

Additionally, the occurrence of any of the following external events could further depress the Company’s revenues:

The Company faces competition from larger and more diversified outdoor advertisers and other forms of advertising that could hurt its performance.

While the Company enjoys a significant market share in many of its small and medium-sized markets, the Company faces competition from other outdoor advertisers and other media in all of its markets. Although the Company is one of the largest companies focusing exclusively on outdoor advertising in a relatively fragmented industry, it competes against larger companies with diversified operations, such as television, radio and other broadcast media. These diversified competitors have the advantage of cross-selling complementary advertising products to advertisers.

The Company also competes against an increasing variety of out-of-home advertising media, such as advertising displays in shopping centers, malls, airports, stadiums, movie theaters and supermarkets, and on taxis, trains and buses. To a lesser extent, the Company also faces competition from other forms of media, including radio, newspapers, direct mail advertising, telephone directories and the Internet. The industry competes for advertising revenue along the following dimensions: exposure (the number of “impressions” an advertisement makes), advertising rates (generally measured in cost-per-thousand impressions), ability to target specific demographic groups or geographies, effectiveness, quality of related services (such as advertising copy design and layout) and customer service. The Company may be unable to compete successfully along these dimensions in the future, and the competitive pressures that the Company faces could adversely affect its profitability or financial performance.

Federal, state and local regulation impact the Company’s operations, financial condition and financial results.

Outdoor advertising is subject to governmental regulation at the federal, state and local levels. Regulations generally restrict the size, spacing, lighting and other aspects of advertising structures and pose a significant barrier to entry and expansion in many markets.  Federal law, principally the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, or the HBA, regulates outdoor advertising on Federal — Aid Primary, Interstate and National Highway Systems roads. The HBA requires states, through the adoption of individual Federal/State Agreements, to “effectively control” outdoor advertising along these roads, and mandates a state compliance program and state standards regarding size, spacing and lighting. These state standards, or their local and municipal equivalents, may be modified over time in response to legal challenges or otherwise, which may have an adverse effect on our business.  The HBA

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requires any state or political subdivision that compels the removal of a lawful billboard along a Federal — Aid Primary or Interstate highway to pay just compensation to the billboard owner.

All states have passed billboard control statutes and regulations at least as restrictive as the federal requirements, including laws requiring the removal of illegal signs at the owner’s expense (and without compensation from the state). Although the Company believes that the number of our billboards that may be subject to removal as illegal is immaterial, and no state in which we operate has banned billboards entirely, from time to time governments have required us to remove signs and billboards legally erected in accordance with federal, state and local permit requirements and laws. Municipal and county governments generally also have sign controls as part of their zoning laws and building codes. We contest laws and regulations that we believe unlawfully restrict our constitutional or other legal rights and may adversely impact the growth of our outdoor advertising business.

Using federal funding for transportation enhancement programs, state governments have purchased and removed billboards for beautification, and may do so again in the future. Under the power of eminent domain, state or municipal governments have laid claim to property and forced the removal of billboards. Under a concept called amortization by which a governmental body asserts that a billboard operator has earned compensation by continued operation over time, local governments have attempted to force removal of legal but nonconforming billboards (i.e., billboards that conformed to applicable zoning regulations when built but which do not conform to current zoning regulations). Although the legality of amortization is questionable, it has been upheld in some instances. Often, municipal and county governments also have sign controls as part of their zoning laws, with some local governments prohibiting construction of new billboards or allowing new construction only to replace existing structures. Although we have generally been able to obtain satisfactory compensation for those of our billboards purchased or removed as a result of governmental action, there is no assurance that this will continue to be the case in the future.

We also intend to expand the deployment of digital billboards that display static digital advertising copy from various advertisers that change every 6 to 8 seconds. We have encountered some existing regulations that restrict or prohibit these types of digital displays but it has not yet materially impacted our digital deployment. Since digital billboards have been developed and introduced relatively recently into the market on a large scale, however, existing regulations that currently do not apply to them by their terms could be revised or new regulations could be enacted to impose greater restrictions. These regulations may impose greater restrictions on digital billboards due to alleged concerns over aesthetics or driver safety.

Relatively few large scale studies have been conducted to date regarding driver safety issues, if any, related to digital billboards. The results of future studies may result in regulations at the federal or state level that impose greater restrictions on digital billboards. Any new restrictions on digital billboards could have a material adverse effect on both our existing inventory of digital billboards and our plans to expand our digital deployment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Pandemics or disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19, have affected and are expected to continue to materially affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Any outbreaks of contagious diseases and other adverse public health developments could have a significant adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 resulted in the implementation of significant governmental measures to control the spread of the virus, including quarantines, travel restrictions, business shutdowns and restrictions on non-essential activities in the United States and abroad. Such restrictions have had and may continue to have an adverse impact on the volume of vehicles on roadways (particularly in larger markets), pedestrians in airports and riders on public transit, which has temporarily reduced the size of the audience for our advertising in certain jurisdictions. The restrictions have also negatively affected the financial condition of numerous advertising customer segments including, but not limited to, entertainment, retail, restaurant and automotive advertisers, which have temporarily or permanently closed or limited their operations, and caused certain of our advertisers to decrease or eliminate the amount they spend on advertising with us on a temporary basis.

The Company’s business has been affected adversely due to decreased demand for its advertising in jurisdictions that have imposed such restrictions. In the United States, state and local governments have begun to lift certain of these restrictions in many locations, however, the extension of existing measures or implementation of new similar measures may further adversely affect the Company’s business in the future. Even if such measures are further relaxed, the perceived risk of infection may continue to alter the behavior of the audience for our advertising, which may continue to negatively affect the Company’s business. Such risks are also expected to continue to affect the financial condition of certain of our advertising customers, which may have a negative effect on the Company’s business if advertising customers continue to reduce advertising expenditures generally or for outdoor advertising specifically.

In addition to the above, the general market volatility resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has caused fluctuations in the Company’s stock price.

These and other potential impacts of COVID-19 (or other epidemics, pandemics or other health crises) have and are expected to continue to adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. The ultimate extent of the impact of COVID-19 or any epidemic, pandemic or other health crisis on our business, financial condition and results of operations will

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depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions taken to contain COVID-19 and address its impact, among others. To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects the Company’s business and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk factors” section.

Risks Related to Our Status as a REIT

If Lamar Advertising fails to remain qualified as a REIT, both Lamar Advertising and Lamar Media would be taxed as regular C corporations and would not be able to deduct distributions to the stockholders of Lamar Advertising when computing their taxable income.

Lamar Advertising elected to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes starting with its taxable year ended December 31, 2014 and for each subsequent taxable year thereafter.  REIT qualification involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) to Lamar Advertising’s assets and operations as well as various factual determinations concerning matters and circumstances not entirely within our control. There are limited judicial or administrative interpretations of these provisions. Although Lamar Advertising plans to operate in a manner consistent with the REIT qualification rules, the Company cannot assure you that it will so qualify or remain so qualified. Lamar Media is treated as a qualified REIT subsidiary of Lamar Advertising that is disregarded as separate from its parent REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If, in any taxable year, Lamar Advertising fails to qualify for taxation as a REIT, and is not entitled to relief under the Code:

Any such corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distributions to Lamar Advertising’s stockholders, may require it to borrow funds (under Lamar Media’s senior credit facility or otherwise) or liquidate some investments to pay any such additional tax liability. This adverse impact could last for five or more years because, unless it is entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, it will be taxable as a corporation, beginning in the year in which the failure occurs, and it will not be allowed to re-elect to be taxed as a REIT for the following four years.

Even if it qualifies as a REIT, certain of Lamar Advertising’s and its subsidiaries’ business activities will be subject to U.S. and foreign taxes which will continue to reduce its cash flows, and it will have potential deferred and contingent tax liabilities.

Even if it qualifies as a REIT, Lamar Advertising may be subject to certain U.S. federal, state and local taxes and foreign taxes on its income and assets, including any applicable state-level alternative minimum taxes, taxes on any undistributed income, and state, local or foreign income, franchise, property and transfer taxes. In addition, the Company could in certain circumstances be required to pay an excise or penalty tax, which could be significant in amount, in order to utilize one or more relief provisions under the Code to maintain qualification for taxation as a REIT.

In order to maintain its qualification as a REIT, the Company holds certain of its non-qualifying REIT assets and receives certain non-qualifying items of income through one or more TRSs. These non-qualifying REIT assets consist principally of the Company’s advertising services business and its transit advertising business. Those TRS assets and operations will continue to be subject, as applicable, to U.S. federal and state corporate income taxes. Furthermore, the Company’s assets and operations outside the United States are subject to foreign taxes in the jurisdictions in which those assets and operations are located. In addition, the Company may incur a 100% excise tax on transactions with a TRS if they are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. Any of these taxes would decrease the Company’s earnings and its cash available for distributions to stockholders.

The Company was subject to a U.S. federal income tax at the highest regular corporate rate (currently 21%) on all or a portion of the gain recognized from a sale of assets occurring within five years after the effective date of our REIT conversion, to the extent of the built-in gain based on the fair market value of those assets held by the Company on the effective date of REIT conversion in excess of the Company’s then tax basis in those assets. Such five-year period has expired with respect to the Company but certain tax years for which this rule applied remain open such that additional taxes could be assessed with respect to sales in those tax years. The same rules apply to any assets we acquire from a “C” corporation in a carry-over basis transaction with built-in gain at the time of the acquisition by us. Gain from a sale of an asset occurring after the specified period ends will not be subject to this corporate level tax.

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Failure to make sufficient distributions would jeopardize Lamar Advertising’s qualification as a REIT and/or would subject it to U.S. federal income and excise taxes.

As a REIT, Lamar Advertising is required to distribute to its stockholders with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its REIT taxable income (excluding capital gains and net of any available NOL carry forwards) in order to qualify as a REIT, and 100% of its REIT taxable income (excluding capital gains and net of any available NOL carry forwards) in order to avoid U.S. federal income and excise taxes. For these purposes, Lamar Advertising’s subsidiaries that are not TRSs, including Lamar Media, will be treated as part of the REIT and therefore Lamar Advertising also will be required to distribute out their taxable income.

Because the REIT distribution requirements will prevent us from retaining earnings, we may be required to refinance debt at maturity with additional debt or equity, which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all.

Covenants specified in our existing and future debt instruments may limit Lamar Advertising’s ability to make required REIT distributions.

Lamar Media’s senior credit facility and the indentures relating to Lamar Media’s outstanding notes contain certain covenants that could limit Lamar Advertising’s distributions to its stockholders. If these limits prevent Lamar Advertising from satisfying its REIT distribution requirements, it could fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT. If these limits do not jeopardize Lamar Advertising’s qualification for taxation as a REIT but do nevertheless prevent it from distributing 100% of its REIT taxable income, it will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax, and potentially a nondeductible excise tax, on the retained amounts.

Lamar Advertising and its subsidiaries may be required to borrow funds, sell assets, or raise equity to satisfy its REIT distribution requirements or maintain the asset tests.

In order to meet the REIT distribution requirements and maintain its qualification and taxation as a REIT and avoid corporate income taxes, Lamar Advertising and/or its subsidiaries, including Lamar Media, may need to borrow funds, sell assets or raise equity, even if the then-prevailing market conditions are not favorable for these borrowings, sales or offerings. Any insufficiency of its cash flows to cover Lamar Advertising’s REIT distribution requirements could require it to raise short- and long-term debt, to sell assets, or to offer equity securities in order to fund distributions required to maintain its qualification and taxation as a REIT and avoid corporate income taxes. Furthermore, the REIT distribution requirements may increase the financing Lamar Advertising needs to fund capital expenditures, future growth and expansion initiatives. This would increase its total leverage.

In addition, if Lamar Advertising fails to comply with certain asset tests at the end of any calendar quarter, it must correct the failure within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter or qualify for certain statutory relief provisions to avoid losing its REIT qualification. As a result, it may be required to liquidate otherwise attractive investments. These actions may reduce its income and amounts available for distribution to its stockholders.

Complying with REIT requirements may cause Lamar Advertising, its subsidiaries (other than TRSs) to forego otherwise attractive opportunities.

To qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Lamar Advertising must continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the sources of its income, the nature and diversification of its assets, the amounts it distributes to its stockholders and the ownership of Lamar Advertising common stock. For these purposes, Lamar Advertising is treated as owning the assets of and receiving or accruing the income of its subsidiaries (other than TRSs). Thus, compliance with these tests will require Lamar Advertising and its subsidiaries to refrain from certain activities and may hinder their ability to make certain attractive investments, including investments in the businesses to be conducted by TRSs, and to that extent limit their opportunities. Furthermore, acquisition opportunities in domestic and international markets may be adversely affected if Lamar Advertising needs or requires the target company to comply with certain REIT requirements prior to closing.

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Ownership limitations contained in the Lamar Advertising charter may restrict stockholders from acquiring or transferring certain amounts of shares.

In order for Lamar Advertising to remain qualified as a REIT, no more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of its stock may be owned, directly or indirectly or through application of certain attribution rules, by five or fewer “individuals” (as defined in the Code) at any time during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first taxable year for which an election to be a REIT has been made). To preserve its REIT qualification, the Lamar Advertising charter generally prohibits any person or entity from owning actually and by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Lamar Advertising common stock. These ownership limitations could restrict stockholders from acquiring or transferring certain amounts of shares of its stock. The Lamar Advertising charter also provides a separate share ownership limitation for certain members of the Reilly family and their affiliates that allows them to own actually and by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions no more than 19% of the outstanding shares of Lamar Advertising common stock and, during the second half of any taxable year other than its first taxable year as a REIT, no more than 33% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of all classes and series of its stock, in each case excluding any shares of its stock that are not treated as outstanding for federal income tax purposes.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the CARES Act, as well as any future tax legislation, may impact the Company’s business and security holders.  

On December 22, 2017, H.R. 1, informally titled the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”) was signed into law. The TCJA made major changes to the Code, including a number of provisions of the Code that affect the taxation of REITs and their stockholders. Among the changes made by the TCJA are permanently reducing the generally applicable corporate tax rate, generally reducing the tax rate applicable to individuals and other non-corporate taxpayers for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, eliminating or modifying certain previously allowed deductions (including substantially limiting interest deductibility and, for individuals, the deduction for non-business state and local taxes). On March 27, 2020, legislation intended to support the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), was signed into law. The CARES Act made technical corrections, or temporary modifications, to certain of the provisions of the TCJA, including, without limitation, the provisions of the TCJA concerning NOLs and interest expense deductions. Certain CARES Act related interest expense deduction changes are discussed in the following subsection. With respect to NOLs, effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, the TCJA limited the deduction for NOL carryforwards to 80% of taxable income (before the deduction) and eliminated NOL carrybacks for individuals and non-REIT corporations (NOL carrybacks did not apply to REITs under prior law), but allows for indefinite NOL carryforwards. The CARES Act repealed such 80% limitation for carryforwards to taxable years beginning before January 1, 2021. The CARES Act also allows a five-year carryback for NOLs arising in 2018, 2019, or 2020. The TCJA’s NOL limitations (even as modified by the CARES Act) may result in Lamar Advertising having to make additional distributions in order to comply with REIT distribution requirements or avoid taxes on retained income and gains.

The individual and collective impact of the changes made by the TCJA and the CARES Act on REITs and their security holders are uncertain and may not become evident for some period of time. The effect of any technical corrections with respect to the TCJA and the CARES Act could have an adverse effect on Lamar Advertising, its subsidiaries, and holders of its securities. It is also possible additional tax legislation could be enacted in the future, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, which could have an adverse effect on Lamar Advertising, its subsidiaries, and holders of its securities.

Lamar Advertising may potentially be unable to deduct the full amount of its interest expense pursuant to the TCJA and the CARES Act.

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, interest deductions for businesses with average annual gross receipts of over $25 million are capped at 30% of the business’ “adjusted taxable income” plus business interest income pursuant to the TCJA. For these purposes, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2022, “adjusted taxable income” is computed without regard to deductions allowable for depreciation, amortization, or depletion. The CARES Act increased the aforementioned 30% limitation to 50% for taxable years beginning in 2019 or 2020 and permitted an entity to elect to use its 2019 adjusted taxable income to calculate the applicable limitation for its 2020 taxable year. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021, “adjusted taxable income” is calculated by taking deductions allowable for depreciation, amortization, or depletion into account. This limitation, however, does not apply to an “electing real property trade or business.” As a REIT, Lamar Advertising would generally constitute a real property trade or businesses, and thus would retain the ability to fully deduct interest expenses if it makes such an election. However, an entity making such an election must use a longer depreciation cost recovery period for its property. Lamar Advertising has not made such election to date and has not yet determined whether it will make such election at a later date.

Legislative changes or other actions affecting REITs could have a negative effect on Lamar Advertising and its subsidiaries.

At any time, the U.S. federal income tax laws governing REITs or the administrative and judicial interpretations of those laws may be amended or interpreted in a different manner. Federal and state tax laws are constantly under review by persons involved

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in the legislative process, the IRS, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and state taxing authorities. Additional changes to the tax laws, regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations, which may have retroactive application, could adversely affect Lamar Advertising and its subsidiaries. The Company cannot predict with certainty whether, when, in what forms, or with what effective dates, the tax laws, regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations applicable to Lamar Advertising may be changed. Accordingly, the Company cannot assure you that any such change will not significantly affect Lamar Advertising’s ability to qualify for taxation as a REIT or the U.S. federal income tax consequences to it of such qualification.

The ability of the Board of Directors of Lamar Advertising to revoke its REIT election, without stockholder approval, may cause adverse consequences to its stockholders.

The Lamar Advertising charter provides that the Board of Directors may revoke or otherwise terminate the REIT election, without the approval of its stockholders, if the board determines that it is no longer in the Company’s best interest to continue to qualify as a REIT. If the Company ceases to be a REIT, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates and applicable state and local corporate taxes, which may have adverse consequences on its total return to its stockholders.

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None.

Our management headquarters is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We also own 125 local operating facilities with front office administration and sales office space connected to back-shop poster and bulletin production space. In addition, the Company leases an additional 146 operating facilities at an aggregate lease expense for 2020 of approximately $8.5 million.

We own over 9,700 parcels of property beneath our outdoor advertising structures. As of December 31, 2020, we leased over 69,700 active outdoor sites, accounting for a total annual lease expense of approximately $283.3 million. This amount represented approximately 20% of billboard advertising net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020. These leases are for varying terms ranging from month-to-month to a term of over ten years, and many provide the Company with renewal options. There is no significant concentration of displays under any one lease or subject to negotiation with any one landlord. An important part of our management activity is to manage our lease portfolio and negotiate suitable lease renewals and extensions.

The Company from time to time is involved in litigation in the ordinary course of business, including disputes involving advertising contracts, site leases, employment claims and construction matters. The Company is also involved in routine administrative and judicial proceedings regarding billboard permits, fees and compensation for condemnations. The Company is not a party to any lawsuit or proceeding which, in the opinion of management, is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Not applicable.

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PART II

The Company’s Class A common stock has been publicly traded since August 2, 1996 and is currently listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LAMR.” As of December 31, 2020, the Class A common stock was held by 96 stockholders of record. The Company believes, however, that the actual number of beneficial holders of the Class A common stock may be substantially greater than the stated number of holders of record because a substantial portion of the Class A common stock is held in street name.

The Company’s Class B common stock is not publicly traded and is held of record by members of the Reilly family and their affiliated entities, including the Reilly Family, LLC (the “RFLLC”), formerly the Reilly Family Limited Partnership. Kevin P. Reilly, Jr., our Executive Chairman of the Board, is the executive manager of the RFLLC and Sean E. Reilly, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Wendell Reilly and Anna Reilly, each of whom is a member of our Board of Directors are also managers of the RFLLC.

The Company’s Series AA preferred stock is entitled to preferential dividends, in an annual aggregate amount of $364,904, before any dividends may be paid on the common stock. All dividends related to the Company’s preferred stock are paid on a quarterly basis. In addition, the Company’s senior credit facility and other indebtedness have terms restricting the payment of dividends.

Dividends

As a REIT, we must annually distribute to our common 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 expect to distribute all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income to avoid being subject to income tax or excise tax on undistributed REIT taxable income. The amount, timing and frequency of future distributions will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will be declared based 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 REIT status and reduce any income and excise taxes that we otherwise would be required to pay, limitations on distributions in our existing and future debt instruments, our ability to utilize net operating losses (“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.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On March 16, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $250.0 million of the Company’s Class A common stock. The repurchase program will expire on September 30, 2021 unless extended by the Board of Directors. There were no repurchases under the program as of December 31, 2020. The Company’s management may opt not to make any repurchases under the program, or may make aggregate purchases less than the total amount authorized.

The following table sets forth shares of Class A common stock withheld by the Company to satisfy withholding obligations arising in connection with stock awards to employees: 

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Lamar Advertising Company

The selected consolidated statement of income, statement of cash flows and balance sheet data presented below are derived from the year ended December 31 audited consolidated financial statements of the Company, which are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The data presented below should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements, related notes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included herein.

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This report contains forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties including those described in Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in this Annual Report, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this document. These statements speak only as of the date of this document, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements, except as may be required by law.

LAMAR ADVERTISING COMPANY

The following is a discussion of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the related notes.

OVERVIEW

The Company’s net revenues are derived primarily from the rental of advertising space on outdoor advertising displays owned and operated by the Company. Revenue growth is based on many factors that include the Company’s ability to increase occupancy of its existing advertising displays; raise advertising rates; and acquire new advertising displays and its operating results are therefore affected by general economic conditions, as well as trends in the advertising industry. Advertising spending is particularly sensitive to changes in general economic conditions, which affect the rates the Company is able to charge for advertising on its displays and its ability to maximize advertising sales or occupancy on its displays.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The unprecedented and rapid spread of COVID-19 and the related government-imposed restrictions and social distancing measures implemented throughout the world have reduced demand for out-of-home advertising. Beginning in late March 2020, large public events were cancelled, and governments began imposing restrictions on non-essential activities, which in turn led to advertisers suspending, delaying or cancelling their advertising campaigns.  The government-imposed restrictions have had an adverse impact on the volume of vehicles on roadways (particularly in larger markets), pedestrians in airports and riders on public transit and numerous advertising customer segments including, but not limited to, entertainment, retail, restaurant and amusement advertisers.

As a result, demand for billboard, transit and airport advertising declined, which has had an adverse impact on our revenues and financial position. The decrease in outdoor advertising demand during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 resulted in a 10.5% decrease in our consolidated net revenues as compared to the same period in 2019. As revenues declined, the Company responded with a variety of cost saving and liquidity measures as discussed below. While we cannot predict the length and severity of the reduction in demand due to the pandemic, we observed an improvement in customer activity beginning in June and through December as the government-imposed restrictions on travel were eased. However, the pace of the recovery remains uncertain given the continued impact of the pandemic on the overall U.S. and global economy, and new or renewed government-imposed restrictions on travel may be enacted in the future. Our liquidity measures and expense management initiatives may be modified as we monitor the timing of economic recovery.

In response to the ongoing pandemic, we have implemented measures to mitigate the impact on our financial position and operations. These measures include, but are not limited to, the following: 

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We will continue to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and we may access the debt and/or equity capital markets for additional liquidity, if necessary.

The Company’s management and Board of Directors are continuing to evaluate our quarterly dividend plans for 2021. This evaluation includes ensuring the Company remains in compliance with its REIT dividend requirements for the year. On February 25, 2021, the Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.75 per common share to be paid on March 31, 2021. Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, the Company expects aggregate dividends for 2021 to be $3.00 per common share, including the dividend payable on March 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2020, we did not incur any impairment charges related to goodwill or long-lived assets (including operating lease right of use assets). We also did not incur any significant credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2020.

While some of our corporate, front office and sales workforce continues to work from home, a large majority has returned to their offices while adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local governmental guidelines and recommendations. The impacts of working from home have been minimal on productivity. Also, while working from home has minimally impacted our processes, there have been no material impacts to our internal control environment.

We continue to actively monitor the situation and may take further actions that alter our business operations as may be required by federal, state or local authorities, or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners and stockholders.

Acquisitions and capital expenditures

Historically, the Company has made strategic acquisitions of outdoor advertising assets to increase the number of outdoor advertising displays it operates in existing and new markets. The Company continues to evaluate and pursue strategic acquisition opportunities as they arise. The Company has financed its historical acquisitions and intends to finance any future acquisition activity from available cash, borrowings under the senior credit facility or the issuance of debt or equity securities. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources-Sources of Cash,” for more information. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company completed acquisitions for a total cash purchase price of approximately $45.6 million.  See “Uses of Cash-Acquisitions,” for more information.

The Company’s business requires expenditures for maintenance and capitalized costs associated with the construction of new billboard displays, the entrance into and renewal of logo sign and transit contracts, and the purchase of real estate and operating equipment. The following table presents a breakdown of capitalized expenditures for the past three years: