SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORP - Quarter Report: 2020 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020
OR
¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission file number: 001-16853
SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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Florida | 65-0716501 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
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8051 Congress Avenue |
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Boca Raton, Florida | 33487 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (561) 995-7670
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share | SBAC | The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC |
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| (NASDAQ Global Select Market) |
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data 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 x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large Accelerated Filer | x | Accelerated Filer | ¨ |
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Non-Accelerated filer | ¨ | Smaller Reporting Company | ¨ |
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| Emerging Growth Company | ¨ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant 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 the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) Yes ¨ No x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 111,624,887 shares of Class A common stock as of April 27, 2020.
Table of Contents
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except par values)
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| March 31, |
| December 31, | ||
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| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
ASSETS |
| (unaudited) |
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| |
Current assets: |
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|
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Cash and cash equivalents |
| $ | 184,137 |
| $ | 108,309 |
Restricted cash |
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| 43,012 |
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| 30,243 |
Accounts receivable, net |
|
| 107,200 |
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| 132,125 |
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts |
|
| 18,823 |
|
| 26,313 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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| 41,886 |
|
| 37,281 |
Total current assets |
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| 395,058 |
|
| 334,271 |
Property and equipment, net |
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| 2,697,778 |
|
| 2,794,602 |
Intangible assets, net |
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| 3,294,369 |
|
| 3,626,773 |
Right-of-use assets, net |
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| 2,420,363 |
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| 2,572,217 |
Other assets |
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| 551,934 |
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| 432,078 |
Total assets |
| $ | 9,359,502 |
| $ | 9,759,941 |
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS, |
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AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT |
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Current Liabilities: |
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Accounts payable |
| $ | 26,939 |
| $ | 31,846 |
Accrued expenses |
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| 54,175 |
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| 67,618 |
Current maturities of long-term debt |
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| 522,691 |
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| 522,090 |
Deferred revenue |
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| 133,548 |
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| 113,507 |
Accrued interest |
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| 32,697 |
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| 49,269 |
Current lease liabilities |
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| 231,385 |
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| 247,015 |
Other current liabilities |
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| 18,117 |
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| 16,948 |
Total current liabilities |
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| 1,019,552 |
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| 1,048,293 |
Long-term liabilities: |
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Long-term debt, net |
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| 10,050,737 |
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| 9,812,335 |
Long-term lease liabilities |
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| 2,153,917 |
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| 2,279,400 |
Other long-term liabilities |
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| 438,048 |
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| 270,868 |
Total long-term liabilities |
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| 12,642,702 |
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| 12,362,603 |
Redeemable noncontrolling interests |
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| 14,478 |
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| 16,052 |
Shareholders' deficit: |
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Preferred stock - par value $0.01, 30,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding |
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Common stock - Class A, par value $0.01, 400,000 shares authorized, 111,559 shares and |
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111,775 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, |
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respectively |
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| 1,116 |
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| 1,118 |
Additional paid-in capital |
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| 2,471,886 |
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| 2,461,335 |
Accumulated deficit |
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| (5,943,386) |
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| (5,560,695) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net |
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| (846,846) |
|
| (568,765) |
Total shareholders' deficit |
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| (4,317,230) |
|
| (3,667,007) |
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders' deficit |
| $ | 9,359,502 |
| $ | 9,759,941 |
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts)
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| For the three months | ||||
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| ended March 31, | ||||
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| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
Revenues: |
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Site leasing |
| $ | 492,356 |
| $ | 452,183 |
Site development |
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| 24,711 |
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| 41,110 |
Total revenues |
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| 517,067 |
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| 493,293 |
Operating expenses: |
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Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion, |
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and amortization shown below): |
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Cost of site leasing |
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| 95,799 |
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| 92,714 |
Cost of site development |
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| 19,715 |
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| 31,101 |
Selling, general, and administrative expenses (1) |
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| 49,617 |
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| 50,959 |
Acquisition and new business initiatives related |
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adjustments and expenses |
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| 3,799 |
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| 2,437 |
Asset impairment and decommission costs |
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| 14,355 |
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| 5,771 |
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization |
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| 182,579 |
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| 171,038 |
Total operating expenses |
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| 365,864 |
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| 354,020 |
Operating income |
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| 151,203 |
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| 139,273 |
Other income (expense): |
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Interest income |
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| 885 |
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| 1,800 |
Interest expense |
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| (95,851) |
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| (98,667) |
Non-cash interest expense |
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| (2,406) |
|
| (641) |
Amortization of deferred financing fees |
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| (5,139) |
|
| (5,061) |
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net |
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| (16,864) |
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| — |
Other income (expense), net |
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| (226,299) |
|
| (508) |
Total other expense, net |
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| (345,674) |
|
| (103,077) |
(Loss) income before income taxes |
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| (194,471) |
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| 36,196 |
Benefit (provision) for income taxes |
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| 66,538 |
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| (10,207) |
Net (loss) income |
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| (127,933) |
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| 25,989 |
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
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| 875 |
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| — |
Net (loss) income attributable to SBA Communications |
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Corporation |
| $ | (127,058) |
| $ | 25,989 |
Net (loss) income per common share attributable to SBA |
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Communications Corporation: |
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Basic |
| $ | (1.14) |
| $ | 0.23 |
Diluted |
| $ | (1.14) |
| $ | 0.23 |
Weighted average number of common shares |
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Basic |
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| 111,908 |
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| 112,708 |
Diluted |
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| 111,908 |
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| 114,344 |
(1)Includes non-cash compensation of $15,553 and $22,605 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(unaudited) (in thousands)
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| For the three months | ||||
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| ended March 31, | ||||
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| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
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Net (loss) income |
| $ | (127,933) |
| $ | 25,989 |
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps |
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| (103,240) |
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| (15,312) |
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
|
| (174,841) |
|
| (4,544) |
Comprehensive (loss) income |
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| (406,014) |
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| 6,133 |
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
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| 2,058 |
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| — |
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to SBA |
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Communications Corporation |
| $ | (403,956) |
| $ | 6,133 |
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(unaudited) (in thousands)
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| Accumulated |
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| Class A |
| Additional |
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| Other |
| Total | ||||||
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| Common Stock |
| Paid-In |
| Accumulated |
| Comprehensive |
| Shareholders' | |||||||
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| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Deficit |
| Loss, Net |
| Deficit | |||||
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BALANCE, December 31, 2019 |
| 111,775 |
| $ | 1,118 |
| $ | 2,461,335 |
| $ | (5,560,695) |
| $ | (568,765) |
| $ | (3,667,007) |
Net loss attributable to SBA |
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Communications Corporation |
| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| (127,058) |
|
| — |
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| (127,058) |
Common stock issued in connection with equity |
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awards and stock purchase plans, offset |
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by the impact of net share settlements |
| 621 |
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| 6 |
|
| (5,625) |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (5,619) |
Non-cash stock compensation |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 16,660 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
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| 16,660 |
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (103,240) |
|
| (103,240) |
Repurchase and retirement of common stock |
| (837) |
|
| (8) |
|
| — |
|
| (203,322) |
|
| — |
|
| (203,330) |
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (174,841) |
|
| (174,841) |
Dividends on common stock |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (52,311) |
|
| — |
|
| (52,311) |
Adjustment to fair value related to |
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noncontrolling interests |
| — |
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| — |
|
| (484) |
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| — |
|
| — |
|
| (484) |
BALANCE, March 31, 2020 |
| 111,559 |
| $ | 1,116 |
| $ | 2,471,886 |
| $ | (5,943,386) |
| $ | (846,846) |
| $ | (4,317,230) |
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| Accumulated |
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| Class A |
| Additional |
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| Other |
| Total | ||||||
|
| Common Stock |
| Paid-In |
| Accumulated |
| Comprehensive |
| Shareholders' | |||||||
|
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Deficit |
| Loss |
| Deficit | |||||
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BALANCE, December 31, 2018 |
| 112,433 |
| $ | 1,124 |
| $ | 2,270,326 |
| $ | (5,136,368) |
| $ | (511,905) |
| $ | (3,376,823) |
Net income attributable to SBA |
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Communications Corporation |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 25,989 |
|
| — |
|
| 25,989 |
Common stock issued in connection with equity |
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awards and stock purchase plans, offset |
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by the impact of net share settlements |
| 762 |
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| 8 |
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| 63,467 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
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| 63,475 |
Non-cash stock compensation |
| — |
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| — |
|
| 23,722 |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 23,722 |
Common stock issued in connection with |
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acquisitions |
| 10 |
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| — |
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| 1,680 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 1,680 |
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (15,312) |
|
| (15,312) |
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
| — |
|
| — |
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| — |
|
| — |
|
| (4,544) |
|
| (4,544) |
Impact of adoption of ASU 2016-02 |
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related to leases |
| — |
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| — |
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| — |
|
| (20,968) |
|
| — |
|
| (20,968) |
BALANCE, March 31, 2019 |
| 113,205 |
| $ | 1,132 |
| $ | 2,359,195 |
| $ | (5,131,347) |
| $ | (531,761) |
| $ | (3,302,781) |
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited) (in thousands)
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| For the three months ended March 31, | ||||
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| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
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Net (loss) income |
| $ | (127,933) |
| $ | 25,989 |
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
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Depreciation, accretion, and amortization |
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| 182,579 |
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| 171,038 |
Non-cash asset impairment and decommission costs |
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| 13,997 |
|
| 5,451 |
Non-cash compensation expense |
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| 16,278 |
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| 23,414 |
Amortization of deferred financing fees |
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| 5,139 |
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| 5,061 |
Loss on remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans |
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| 230,132 |
|
| 2,080 |
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense |
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| (72,204) |
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| 3,470 |
Other non-cash items reflected in the Statements of Operations |
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| 13,127 |
|
| (2,494) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: |
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Accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of |
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billings on uncompleted contracts, net |
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| 19,712 |
|
| 1,931 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
| (1,643) |
|
| (130) |
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net |
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| 30,181 |
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| 24,116 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
| (4,725) |
|
| (5,050) |
Accrued interest |
|
| (18,197) |
|
| (13,663) |
Long-term lease liabilities |
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| (24,712) |
|
| (19,652) |
Other liabilities |
|
| 16,011 |
|
| 1,104 |
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
| 277,742 |
|
| 222,665 |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |
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Acquisitions |
|
| (89,531) |
|
| (55,287) |
Capital expenditures |
|
| (39,291) |
|
| (36,374) |
Purchase of investments |
|
| (610,012) |
|
| (150,053) |
Proceeds from sale of investments |
|
| 610,000 |
|
| 150,557 |
Other investing activities |
|
| (3,178) |
|
| 6,181 |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
| (132,012) |
|
| (84,976) |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |
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|
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Borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility |
|
| 500,000 |
|
| — |
Repayments under Revolving Credit Facility |
|
| (505,000) |
|
| (215,000) |
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes, net of fees |
|
| 988,516 |
|
| — |
Repayment of Senior Notes |
|
| (759,143) |
|
| — |
Proceeds from employee stock purchase/stock option plans |
|
| 38,869 |
|
| 69,690 |
Payments related to taxes on stock options and restricted stock units |
|
| (44,488) |
|
| (6,215) |
Repurchase and retirement of common stock |
|
| (203,330) |
|
| — |
Payment of dividends on common stock |
|
| (52,201) |
|
| — |
Other financing activities |
|
| (6,558) |
|
| (6,522) |
Net cash used in financing activities |
|
| (43,335) |
|
| (158,047) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
|
| (13,900) |
|
| (14,071) |
NET CHANGE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH |
|
| 88,495 |
|
| (34,429) |
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH: |
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|
|
Beginning of period |
|
| 141,120 |
|
| 178,300 |
End of period |
| $ | 229,615 |
| $ | 143,871 |
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
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| For the three months ended March 31, | ||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
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SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: |
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Cash paid during the period for: |
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|
|
Interest |
| $ | 114,033 |
| $ | 112,378 |
Income taxes |
| $ | 5,981 |
| $ | 5,593 |
|
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SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES: |
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|
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities |
| $ | 11,250 |
| $ | 28,881 |
Operating lease modifications and reassessments |
| $ | 15,264 |
| $ | (21,063) |
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities |
| $ | 893 |
| $ | 865 |
Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions |
| $ | — |
| $ | 1,680 |
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
1.BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 for SBA Communications Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, omit or condense certain footnotes and other information normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair financial statement presentation have been made. The results of operations for an interim period may not give a true indication of the results for the year. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts or balances to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year.
The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. While the Company believes that such estimates are fair when considered in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, the actual amounts, when known, may vary from these estimates.
Foreign Currency Translation
All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that do not utilize the U.S. dollar as its functional currency are translated at period-end exchange rates, while revenues and expenses are translated at monthly average exchange rates during the period. Unrealized remeasurement gains and losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments through Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss in the Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Deficit.
For foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, monetary assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries, which are not denominated in U.S. dollars, are remeasured at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are remeasured at monthly average rates prevailing during the year. Unrealized translation gains and losses are reported as other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Intercompany Loans Subject to Remeasurement
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 830, the Company remeasures foreign denominated intercompany loans with the corresponding change in the balance being recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as settlement is anticipated or planned in the foreseeable future. The Company recorded a $152.8 million loss and a $1.4 million loss, net of taxes, on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, due to changes in foreign exchange rates. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the aggregate amount outstanding under the intercompany loan agreements subject to remeasurement with the Company’s foreign subsidiaries was $915.1 million and $899.7 million, respectively.
Coronavirus
On January 20, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a “public health emergency of international concern” related to the emergence of the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) outbreak which could negatively affect the global economy. As of March 31, 2020, the Company has experienced minimal impact to its business or the consolidated financial statements. The extent to which COVID-19 could adversely affect the Company’s future business operations will depend on future developments such as the duration of the outbreak, new information on the severity of COVID-19, and methods taken to contain or treat the outbreak of COVID-19. While the full impact of COVID-19 is not yet known, the Company will continue to monitor this recent outbreak and the potential effects on its business.
Credit Losses
Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”) prospectively. ASU 2016-13 replaces the incurred loss impairment model with an expected credit loss impairment model for financial instruments, including trade receivables. The amendment requires entities to consider forward-looking information to estimate expected credit losses over the lifetime of the asset,
resulting in earlier recognition of losses for receivables that are current or not yet due, which were not considered under the previous accounting guidance. The impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-13 was not material individually or in the aggregate to the Company.
ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (“ASU 2018-19”) clarified that operating lease receivables are not within the scope of ASC 326-20 and should instead be accounted for under the new leasing standard, ASC 842. The Company is exposed to credit losses primarily through the site development business segment which provides consulting and construction related services The Company’s expected loss allowance methodology for accounts receivable is developed using historical collection experience, current and future economic and market conditions, and a review of the current status of customers’ trade accounts receivables. Due to the short-term nature of such receivables, the estimate of amount of accounts receivable that may not be collected is based on aging of the accounts receivable balances and the financial condition of customers. Additionally, specific allowance amounts are established to record the appropriate provision for customers that have a higher probability of default. The Company’s monitoring activities include timely account reconciliation, dispute resolution, payment confirmation, consideration of customers’ financial condition and macroeconomic conditions. Balances are written off when determined to be uncollectible.
2.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis— The Company’s earnout liabilities related to business combinations are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs and are recorded in Accrued expenses in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in estimates are recorded in Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company determines the fair value of earnouts (contingent consideration) and any subsequent changes in fair value using a discounted probability-weighted approach using Level 3 inputs. Level 3 valuations rely on unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. The fair value of the earnouts is reviewed quarterly and is based on the payments the Company expects to make based on historical internal observations related to the anticipated performance of the underlying assets. The maximum potential obligation related to the performance targets for acquisitions, which have not been recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet, were $27.8 million and $29.7 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
The Company’s asset retirement obligations are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs and are recorded in Other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of the asset retirement obligations is calculated using a discounted cash flow model.
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis— The Company’s long-lived and intangible assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 inputs. The Company considers many factors and makes certain assumptions when making this assessment, including but not limited to: general market and economic conditions, historical operating results, geographic location, lease-up potential and expected timing of lease-up. The fair value of the long-lived and intangible assets is calculated using a discounted cash flow model.
Asset impairment and decommission costs for all periods presented and the related impaired assets primarily relate to the Company’s site leasing operating segment. The following summarizes the activity of asset impairment and decommission costs (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months | ||||
|
| ended March 31, | ||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
|
|
|
|
| ||
Asset impairment (1) |
| $ | 11,009 |
| $ | 3,303 |
Write-off of carrying value of decommissioned towers |
|
| 2,699 |
|
| 2,157 |
Other (including third party decommission costs) |
|
| 647 |
|
| 311 |
Total asset impairment and decommission costs |
| $ | 14,355 |
| $ | 5,771 |
(1)Represents impairment charges resulting from the Company’s regular analysis of whether the future cash flows from certain towers are adequate to recover the carrying value of the investment in those towers.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments— The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted cash, accounts payable, and short-term investments approximate their estimated fair values due to the shorter maturity of these instruments. The Company’s estimate of its short term investments are based primarily upon Level 1 reported market values. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had $0.8 million and $0.5 million of short-term investments, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company purchased and sold $610.0 million of short-term investments.
The Company determines fair value of its debt instruments utilizing various Level 2 sources including quoted prices and indicative quotes (non-binding quotes) from brokers that require judgment to interpret market information including implied credit spreads for similar borrowings on recent trades or bid/ask prices. The fair value of the Revolving Credit Facility is considered to approximate the carrying value because the interest payments are based on Eurodollar rates that reset monthly or more frequently. The Company does not believe its credit risk has changed materially from the date the applicable Eurodollar Rate was set for the Revolving Credit Facility (112.5 to 175.0 basis points). Refer to Note 10 for the fair values, principal balances, and carrying values of the Company’s debt instruments.
For discussion of the Company’s derivatives and hedging activities, refer to Note 17.
3.CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH
The cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balances on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consist of the following:
|
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|
|
| As of |
| As of |
|
| ||
|
| March 31, 2020 |
| December 31, 2019 |
| Included on Balance Sheet | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) |
|
| ||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
| $ | 184,137 |
| $ | 108,309 |
|
|
Securitization escrow accounts |
|
| 42,848 |
|
| 30,046 |
| Restricted cash - current asset |
Payment and performance bonds |
|
| 164 |
|
| 197 |
| Restricted cash - current asset |
Surety bonds and workers compensation |
|
| 2,466 |
|
| 2,568 |
| Other assets - noncurrent |
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
| $ | 229,615 |
| $ | 141,120 |
|
|
Pursuant to the terms of the Tower Securities (see Note 10), the Company is required to establish a securitization escrow account, held by the indenture trustee, into which all rents and other sums due on the towers that secure the Tower Securities are directly deposited by the lessees. These restricted cash amounts are used to fund reserve accounts for the payment of (1) debt service costs, (2) ground rents, real estate and personal property taxes and insurance premiums related to towers, (3) trustee and servicing expenses, and (4) management fees. The restricted cash in the securitization escrow account in excess of required reserve balances is subsequently released to the Borrowers (as defined in Note 10) monthly, provided that the Borrowers are in compliance with their debt service coverage ratio and that no event of default has occurred. All monies held by the indenture trustee are classified as restricted cash on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Payment and performance bonds relate primarily to collateral requirements for tower construction currently in process by the Company. Cash is pledged as collateral related to surety bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or its affiliates in the ordinary course of business and primarily related to the Company’s tower removal obligations. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had $41.5 million and $41.7 million in surety, payment and performance bonds, respectively, for which no collateral was required to be posted. The Company periodically evaluates the collateral posted for its bonds to ensure that it meets the minimum requirements. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had also pledged $2.3 million as collateral related to its workers compensation policy.
4.COSTS AND ESTIMATED EARNINGS ON UNCOMPLETED CONTRACTS
The Company’s costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts are comprised of the following:
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| As of |
| As of | ||
|
| March 31, 2020 |
| December 31, 2019 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | ||||
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts |
| $ | 51,768 |
| $ | 52,339 |
Estimated earnings |
|
| 20,316 |
|
| 19,954 |
Billings to date |
|
| (53,931) |
|
| (47,401) |
|
| $ | 18,153 |
| $ | 24,892 |
These amounts are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets under the following captions:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| As of |
| As of | ||
|
| March 31, 2020 |
| December 31, 2019 | ||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | ||||
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts |
| $ | 18,823 |
| $ | 26,313 |
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on |
|
|
|
|
|
|
uncompleted contracts (included in Other current liabilities) |
|
| (670) |
|
| (1,421) |
|
| $ | 18,153 |
| $ | 24,892 |
At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, eight customers comprised 93.3% and 94.4% of the costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net of billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings, respectively.
5.PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS AND OTHER ASSETS
The Company’s prepaid expenses and other current assets are comprised of the following:
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|
|
|
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| As of |
| As of | ||
|
| March 31, 2020 |
| December 31, 2019 | ||
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|
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|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | |||
Prepaid ground rent |
| $ | 2,310 |
| $ | 1,632 |
Prepaid real estate taxes |
|
| 3,178 |
|
| 3,003 |
Prepaid taxes |
|
| 6,429 |
|
| 4,924 |
Other |
|
| 29,969 |
|
| 27,722 |
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| $ | 41,886 |
| $ | 37,281 |
The Company’s other assets are comprised of the following:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| As of |
| As of | ||
|
| March 31, 2020 |
| December 31, 2019 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | |||
Straight-line rent receivable |
| $ | 320,388 |
| $ | 330,660 |
Interest rate swap asset |
|
| 114,724 |
|
| 47,583 |
Loan receivables |
|
| 11,586 |
|
| 8,295 |
Deferred lease costs, net |
|
| 5,059 |
|
| 4,865 |
Deferred tax asset - long term |
|
| 63,815 |
|
| 4,342 |
Other |
|
| 36,362 |
|
| 36,333 |
Total other assets |
| $ | 551,934 |
| $ | 432,078 |
6.ACQUISITIONS
The following table summarizes the Company’s acquisition activity:
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|
|
| For the three months | ||||
|
| ended March 31, | ||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | ||||
Acquisitions of towers and related intangible assets (1) |
| $ | 82,274 |
| $ | 42,148 |
Land buyouts and other assets (2) |
|
| 7,257 |
|
| 13,139 |
Total cash acquisition capital expenditures |
| $ | 89,531 |
| $ | 55,287 |
(1)The three months ended March 31, 2019 excludes $1.7 million of acquisition costs funded through the issuance of 10,000 shares of Class A common stock.
(2)In addition, the Company paid $1.7 million and $3.8 million for ground lease extensions and term easements on land underlying the Company’s towers during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recorded these amounts in prepaid rent on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company allocated the purchase price of 69 acquired towers and related assets and liabilities consisting of $11.3 million of property and equipment, $69.0 million of intangible assets, and $2.0 million of other net assets and liabilities assumed. All acquisitions in the three months ended March 31, 2020 were accounted for as asset acquisitions.
7.PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property and equipment, net consists of the following:
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|
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|
|
|
| As of |
| As of | ||
|
| March 31, 2020 |
| December 31, 2019 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | ||||
Towers and related components |
| $ | 5,107,533 |
| $ | 5,164,104 |
Construction-in-process (1) |
|
| 33,023 |
|
| 33,644 |
Furniture, equipment, and vehicles |
|
| 48,747 |
|
| 51,654 |
Land, buildings, and improvements |
|
| 740,579 |
|
| 736,378 |
Total property and equipment |
|
| 5,929,882 |
|
| 5,985,780 |
Less: accumulated depreciation |
|
| (3,232,104) |
|
| (3,191,178) |
Property and equipment, net |
| $ | 2,697,778 |
| $ | 2,794,602 |
(1)Construction-in-process represents costs incurred related to towers that are under development and will be used in the Company’s site leasing operations.
Depreciation expense was $71.8 million and $69.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, unpaid capital expenditures that are included in accounts payable and accrued expenses were $7.4 million and $14.7 million, respectively.
8.INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
The following table provides the gross and net carrying amounts for each major class of intangible assets:
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|
|
|
| As of March 31, 2020 |
| As of December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||
|
| Gross carrying |
| Accumulated |
| Net book |
| Gross carrying |
| Accumulated |
| Net book | ||||||
|
| amount |
| amortization |
| value |
| amount |
| amortization |
| value | ||||||
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|
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Current contract intangibles |
| $ | 4,722,163 |
| $ | (2,228,412) |
| $ | 2,493,751 |
| $ | 4,996,591 |
| $ | (2,218,404) |
| $ | 2,778,187 |
Network location intangibles |
|
| 1,732,381 |
|
| (931,763) |
|
| 800,618 |
|
| 1,764,484 |
|
| (915,898) |
|
| 848,586 |
Intangible assets, net |
| $ | 6,454,544 |
| $ | (3,160,175) |
| $ | 3,294,369 |
| $ | 6,761,075 |
| $ | (3,134,302) |
| $ | 3,626,773 |
All intangible assets noted above are included in the Company’s site leasing segment. Amortization expense relating to the intangible assets above was $110.7 million and $101.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
9.ACCRUED EXPENSES
The Company’s accrued expenses are comprised of the following:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| As of |
| As of | ||
|
| March 31, 2020 |
| December 31, 2019 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | ||||
Salaries and benefits |
| $ | 9,938 |
| $ | 19,838 |
Real estate and property taxes |
|
| 9,390 |
|
| 9,598 |
Unpaid capital expenditures |
|
| 7,387 |
|
| 14,669 |
Other |
|
| 27,460 |
|
| 23,513 |
Total accrued expenses |
| $ | 54,175 |
| $ | 67,618 |
10.DEBT
The principal values, fair values, and carrying values of debt consist of the following (in thousands):
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|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| As of |
| As of | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
| March 31, 2020 |
| December 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||
|
| Maturity Date |
| Principal |
| Fair Value |
| Carrying |
| Principal |
| Fair Value |
| Carrying | ||||||
Revolving Credit Facility |
| Apr. 11, 2023 |
| $ | 485,000 |
| $ | 485,000 |
| $ | 485,000 |
| $ | 490,000 |
| $ | 490,000 |
| $ | 490,000 |
2018 Term Loan |
| Apr. 11, 2025 |
|
| 2,358,000 |
|
| 2,181,150 |
|
| 2,340,952 |
|
| 2,364,000 |
|
| 2,369,910 |
|
| 2,346,183 |
2013-2C Tower Securities (1) |
| Apr. 11, 2023 |
|
| 575,000 |
|
| 607,373 |
|
| 571,161 |
|
| 575,000 |
|
| 585,954 |
|
| 570,866 |
2014-2C Tower Securities (1) |
| Oct. 8, 2024 |
|
| 620,000 |
|
| 679,297 |
|
| 615,433 |
|
| 620,000 |
|
| 644,912 |
|
| 615,205 |
2015-1C Tower Securities (1) |
| Oct. 8, 2020 |
|
| 500,000 |
|
| 504,845 |
|
| 498,691 |
|
| 500,000 |
|
| 502,095 |
|
| 498,090 |
2016-1C Tower Securities (1) |
| Jul. 9, 2021 |
|
| 700,000 |
|
| 715,036 |
|
| 697,431 |
|
| 700,000 |
|
| 704,095 |
|
| 696,936 |
2017-1C Tower Securities (1) |
| Apr. 11, 2022 |
|
| 760,000 |
|
| 782,663 |
|
| 755,580 |
|
| 760,000 |
|
| 763,405 |
|
| 755,061 |
2018-1C Tower Securities (1) |
| Mar. 9, 2023 |
|
| 640,000 |
|
| 681,299 |
|
| 634,763 |
|
| 640,000 |
|
| 658,266 |
|
| 634,344 |
2019-1C Tower Securities (1) |
| Jan. 12, 2025 |
|
| 1,165,000 |
|
| 1,227,491 |
|
| 1,153,499 |
|
| 1,165,000 |
|
| 1,158,057 |
|
| 1,153,086 |
2014 Senior Notes |
| Jul. 15, 2022 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 750,000 |
|
| 760,313 |
|
| 743,580 |
2016 Senior Notes |
| Sep. 1, 2024 |
|
| 1,100,000 |
|
| 1,089,000 |
|
| 1,086,899 |
|
| 1,100,000 |
|
| 1,142,625 |
|
| 1,086,241 |
2017 Senior Notes |
| Oct. 1, 2022 |
|
| 750,000 |
|
| 738,750 |
|
| 745,278 |
|
| 750,000 |
|
| 764,063 |
|
| 744,833 |
2020 Senior Notes |
| Feb. 15, 2027 |
|
| 1,000,000 |
|
| 980,000 |
|
| 988,741 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
Total debt |
|
|
| $ | 10,653,000 |
| $ | 10,671,904 |
| $ | 10,573,428 |
| $ | 10,414,000 |
| $ | 10,543,695 |
| $ | 10,334,425 |
Less: current maturities of long-term debt |
|
|
|
|
| (522,691) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (522,090) | |||||
Total long-term debt, net of current maturities |
|
|
|
| $ | 10,050,737 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $ | 9,812,335 |
(1) The maturity date represents the anticipated repayment date for each issuance.
The table below reflects cash and non-cash interest expense amounts recognized by debt instrument for the periods presented:
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|
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| For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||
|
| Interest |
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||||||||
|
| Rates as of |
| Cash |
| Non-cash |
| Cash |
| Non-cash | ||||
|
| March 31, 2020 |
| Interest |
| Interest |
| Interest |
| Interest | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||
Revolving Credit Facility |
| 2.206% |
| $ | 2,714 |
| $ | — |
| $ | 2,836 |
| $ | — |
2018 Term Loan (1) |
| 3.600% |
|
| 22,203 |
|
| 2,022 |
|
| 26,922 |
|
| 186 |
2013-2C Tower Securities |
| 3.722% |
|
| 5,396 |
|
| — |
|
| 5,396 |
|
| — |
2014 Tower Securities (2) |
| 3.869% |
|
| 6,046 |
|
| — |
|
| 12,785 |
|
| — |
2015-1C Tower Securities |
| 3.156% |
|
| 3,985 |
|
| — |
|
| 3,985 |
|
| — |
2016-1C Tower Securities |
| 2.877% |
|
| 5,090 |
|
| — |
|
| 5,090 |
|
| — |
2017-1C Tower Securities |
| 3.168% |
|
| 6,085 |
|
| — |
|
| 6,085 |
|
| — |
2018-1C Tower Securities |
| 3.448% |
|
| 5,570 |
|
| — |
|
| 5,570 |
|
| — |
2019-1C Tower Securities |
| 2.836% |
|
| 8,357 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
2014 Senior Notes |
| 4.875% |
|
| 3,352 |
|
| 112 |
|
| 9,141 |
|
| 196 |
2016 Senior Notes |
| 4.875% |
|
| 13,406 |
|
| 272 |
|
| 13,406 |
|
| 259 |
2017 Senior Notes |
| 4.000% |
|
| 7,500 |
|
| — |
|
| 7,500 |
|
| — |
2020 Senior Notes |
| 3.875% |
|
| 6,135 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
Other |
|
|
|
| 12 |
|
| — |
|
| (49) |
|
| — |
Total |
|
|
| $ | 95,851 |
| $ | 2,406 |
| $ | 98,667 |
| $ | 641 |
(1) The 2018 Term Loan has a blended rate of 3.600% which includes the impact of the interest rate swaps entered into in 2019 which swapped $1.95 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 3.78% per annum through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan. Excluding the impact of the interest rate swaps, the 2018 Term Loan was accruing interest at 2.74% as of March 31, 2020.
(2) The 2014-1C Tower Securities, which was repaid September 13, 2019, accrued interest at 2.898%. The 2014-2C Tower Securities accrue interest at 3.869%.
Revolving Credit Facility under the Senior Credit Agreement
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company borrowed $500.0 million and repaid $505.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2020, the balance outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility was $485.0 million. In addition, SBA Senior Finance II was required to pay a commitment fee of 0.25% per annum on the amount of the unused commitment. As of March 31, 2020, SBA Senior Finance II was in compliance with the financial covenants contained in the Senior Credit Agreement.
Subsequent to March 31, 2020, the Company borrowed $15.0 million and repaid $120.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of the date of this filing, $380.0 million was outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.
Term Loan under the Senior Credit Agreement
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company repaid an aggregate of $6.0 million of principal on the 2018 Term Loan. As of March 31, 2020, the 2018 Term Loan had a principal balance of $2.4 billion.
Secured Tower Revenue Securities
As of March 31, 2020, the entities that are borrowers on the mortgage loan (the “Borrowers”) met the debt service coverage ratio required by the mortgage loan agreement and were in compliance with all other covenants as set forth in the agreement. The sole asset of the Trust consists of a non-recourse mortgage loan made in favor of the Borrowers.
Senior Notes
2014 Senior Notes
On February 20, 2020, the Company redeemed the entire $750.0 million balance on the 2014 Senior Notes with proceeds from the 2020 Senior Notes (defined below). In addition, the Company paid a $9.1 million call premium and expensed $7.7 million for the write-off of the original issue discount and financing fees related to the redemption of the 2014 Senior Notes which are reflected in loss from extinguishment of debt on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
2020 Senior Notes
On February 4, 2020, the Company issued $1.0 billion of unsecured senior notes due February 15, 2027 (the “2020 Senior Notes”). The 2020 Senior Notes accrue interest at a rate of 3.875% per annum. Interest on the 2020 Senior Notes is due semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on August 15, 2020. The Company incurred financing fees of $11.5 million to date in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date. Net proceeds from this offering were used to redeem all of the outstanding principal amount of the 2014 Senior Notes and repay a portion of the amount outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.
The 2020 Senior Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part on or after February 15, 2023 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to February 15, 2023, the Company may, at its option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Senior Notes originally issued at a redemption price of 103.875% of the principal amount of the 2020 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings. The Company may redeem the 2020 Senior Notes during the twelve-month period beginning on the following dates at the following redemption prices: February 15, 2023 at 101.938%, February 15, 2024 at 100.969%, or February 15, 2025 until maturity at 100.000%, of the principal amount of the 2020 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest.
11.SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common Stock Equivalents
The Company has outstanding stock options, time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) which were considered in the Company’s diluted earnings per share calculation (see Note 15).
Stock Repurchases
The Company’s Board of Directors authorizes the Company to purchase, from time to time, outstanding Class A common stock through open market repurchases in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act and/or in privately negotiated transactions at management’s discretion based on market and business conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. Once authorized, the repurchase plan has no time deadline and will continue until otherwise modified or terminated by the Company’s Board of Directors at any time in its sole discretion. Shares repurchased are retired. As of the date of this filing, the Company had $424.3 million of authorization remaining under the current stock repurchase plan.
The following is a summary of the Company’s share repurchases:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months | ||||
|
| ended March 31, | ||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total number of shares purchased (in millions) (1) |
|
| 0.8 |
|
|
|
Average price paid per share (1) |
| $ | 242.86 |
| $ |
|
Total price paid (in millions) (1) |
| $ | 200.0 |
| $ |
|
(1) Amounts are calculated based on the trade date. This differs from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows which calculate share repurchases based on the settlement date and includes an additional $3.3 million spent to repurchase 13,870 shares which settled on January 2, 2020.
Dividends
As of March 31, 2020, the Company paid the following cash dividend:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Payable to Shareholders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| of Record At the Close |
| Cash Paid |
| Aggregate Amount |
|
|
Date Declared |
| of Business on |
| Per Share |
| Paid |
| Date Paid |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
February 20, 2020 |
| March 10, 2020 |
| $0.465 |
| $52.2 million |
| March 26, 2020 |
Subsequent to March 31, 2020, the Company declared the following cash dividend:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Payable to Shareholders |
| Cash to |
|
|
|
| of Record At the Close |
| be Paid |
|
|
Date Declared |
| of Business on |
| Per Share |
| Date to be Paid |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 5, 2020 |
| May 28, 2020 |
| $0.465 |
| June 18, 2020 |
12.STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Commencing with the 2020 equity award, the Company modified the type of equity granted to certain employees to align long-term compensation with Company performance. Under the new structure, the Company continued to issue RSUs; however, RSUs will now vest ratably over three years rather than four years. The Company further replaced stock options with PSUs which will cliff vest at the end of three years. PSUs have performance metrics for which threshold, target, and maximum parameters are established at the time of the grant. The performance metrics are used to calculate the number of shares that will be issuable when the awards vest, which may range from zero to 200% of the target amounts. At the end of each three year performance period, the number of shares that vest will depend on the results achieved against the pre-established performance metrics. The Company recognizes compensation expense for RSUs and PSUs on a straight-line basis over the vesting period; however, compensation expense related to certain PSUs are subject to adjustment on performance relative to the established targets. Furthermore, effective with the 2020 grant, RSUs and PSUs will accrue dividend equivalents prior to vesting, which will be paid out only in respect to shares that actually vest.
On February 25, 2020, the Company’s 2010 Performance and Equity Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”) expired by its terms.
Stock Options
The Company records compensation expense for employee stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the assumptions included in the table below. The Company uses a combination of historical data and historical volatility to establish the expected volatility, as well as to estimate the expected option life. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the option. The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months ended | |||
|
|
|
|
|
| March 31, | |||
|
|
|
|
|
| 2020 |
|
| 2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Risk free interest rate |
|
|
|
|
| 1.66% |
|
| 2.47% |
Dividend yield |
|
|
|
|
| 1.3% |
|
| 1.3% |
Expected volatility |
|
|
|
|
| 20% |
|
| 20% |
Expected lives |
|
|
|
|
| 4.6 years |
|
| 4.6 years |
The following table summarizes the Company’s activities with respect to its stock option plans for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as follows (dollars and shares in thousands, except for per share data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weighted- |
| Weighted-Average |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| Average |
| Remaining |
|
|
| |
|
| Number |
| Exercise Price |
| Contractual |
| Aggregate | ||
|
| of Shares |
| Per Share |
| Life (in years) |
| Intrinsic Value | ||
Outstanding at December 31, 2019 |
| 4,507 |
| $ | 133.68 |
|
|
|
|
|
Granted |
| 10 |
| $ | 240.99 |
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised |
| (813) |
| $ | 104.80 |
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited/canceled |
| (17) |
| $ | 172.71 |
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at March 31, 2020 |
| 3,687 |
| $ | 140.15 |
| 4.4 |
| $ | 478,738 |
Exercisable at March 31, 2020 |
| 2,155 |
| $ | 123.52 |
| 3.7 |
| $ | 315,601 |
Unvested at March 31, 2020 |
| 1,532 |
| $ | 163.53 |
| 5.3 |
| $ | 163,137 |
The weighted-average per share fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $41.09. The total intrinsic value for options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $145.7 million.
Restricted Stock Units and Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units
The following table summarizes the Company’s RSU and PSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2020:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| RSUs |
| PSUs | ||||||
|
|
|
| Weighted-Average |
|
|
| Weighted-Average | ||
|
| Number of |
| Grant Date Fair |
| Number of |
| Grant Date Fair | ||
|
| Shares |
| Value per Share |
| Shares |
| Value per Share | ||
|
| (in thousands) |
|
|
|
| (in thousands) |
|
|
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2019 |
| 313 |
| $ | 152.98 |
|
|
| $ |
|
Granted (1) |
| 93 |
| $ | 291.09 |
| 147 |
| $ | 376.50 |
Vested |
| (124) |
| $ | 141.00 |
|
|
| $ |
|
Forfeited/canceled |
| (3) |
| $ | 182.99 |
|
|
| $ |
|
Outstanding at March 31, 2020 |
| 279 |
| $ | 204.12 |
| 147 |
| $ | 376.50 |
(1)PSUs represent the target number of shares granted that are issuable at the end of the three year performance period. Fair value for a portion of the PSUs was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation model.
13.INCOME TAXES
The primary reasons for the difference between the Company’s effective tax rate and the U.S. statutory rate are the Company’s REIT election and the Company’s full valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets of the U.S. taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”). The Company has concluded that it is not more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be realized and has
recorded a full valuation allowance. A foreign tax provision is recognized because certain foreign subsidiaries of the Company have profitable operations or are in a net deferred tax liability position.
The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2016. As a REIT, the Company generally will be entitled to a deduction for dividends that it pays, and therefore, not subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on that portion of its net income that it distributes to its shareholders. As a REIT, the Company will continue to pay U.S. federal income tax on earnings, if any, from assets and operations held through its TRSs. These assets and operations currently consist primarily of the Company’s site development services and its international operations. The Company’s international operations would continue to be subject, as applicable, to foreign taxes in the jurisdictions in which those operations are located. The Company may also be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local, and foreign income, property, and other taxes on its assets and operations. The Company’s determination as to the timing and amount of future dividend distributions will be based on a number of factors, including REIT distribution requirements, its existing federal net operating losses (“NOLs”) of approximately $652.9 million as of December 31, 2019, the Company’s financial condition, earnings, debt covenants, and other possible uses of such funds. The Company may use these NOLs to offset its REIT taxable income, and thus any required distributions to shareholders may be reduced or eliminated until such time as the NOLs have been fully utilized.
14.SEGMENT DATA
The Company operates principally in two business segments: site leasing and site development. The Company’s site leasing business includes two reportable segments, domestic site leasing and international site leasing. The Company’s business segments are strategic business units that offer different services. They are managed separately based on the fundamental differences in their operations. The site leasing segment includes results of the managed and sublease businesses. The site development segment includes the results of both consulting and construction related activities. The Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker utilizes segment operating profit and operating income as his two measures of segment profit in assessing performance and allocating resources at the reportable segment level. The Company has applied the aggregation criteria to operations within the international site leasing segment on a basis that is consistent with management’s review of information and performance evaluations of the individual markets in this region.
Revenues, cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion and amortization), capital expenditures (including assets acquired through the issuance of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock) and identifiable assets pertaining to the segments in which the Company continues to operate are presented below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Domestic Site |
| Int'l Site |
| Site |
|
|
|
| |||||
|
| Leasing |
| Leasing |
| Development |
| Other |
| Total | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2020 |
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||
Revenues |
| $ | 386,345 |
| $ | 106,011 |
| $ | 24,711 |
| $ | — |
| $ | 517,067 |
Cost of revenues (2) |
|
| 63,905 |
|
| 31,894 |
|
| 19,715 |
|
| — |
|
| 115,514 |
Operating profit |
|
| 322,440 |
|
| 74,117 |
|
| 4,996 |
|
| — |
|
| 401,553 |
Selling, general, and administrative expenses |
|
| 27,323 |
|
| 7,931 |
|
| 4,456 |
|
| 9,907 |
|
| 49,617 |
Acquisition and new business initiatives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
related adjustments and expenses |
|
| 2,597 |
|
| 1,202 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 3,799 |
Asset impairment and decommission costs |
|
| 10,826 |
|
| 3,529 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 14,355 |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |
|
| 133,806 |
|
| 46,612 |
|
| 616 |
|
| 1,545 |
|
| 182,579 |
Operating income (loss) |
|
| 147,888 |
|
| 14,843 |
|
| (76) |
|
| (11,452) |
|
| 151,203 |
Other expense (principally interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and other income (expense)) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (345,674) |
|
| (345,674) |
Loss before income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (194,471) |
Cash capital expenditures (3) |
|
| 101,306 |
|
| 26,433 |
|
| 782 |
|
| 1,194 |
|
| 129,715 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
| $ | 362,838 |
| $ | 89,345 |
| $ | 41,110 |
| $ | — |
| $ | 493,293 |
Cost of revenues (2) |
|
| 65,114 |
|
| 27,600 |
|
| 31,101 |
|
| — |
|
| 123,815 |
Operating profit |
|
| 297,724 |
|
| 61,745 |
|
| 10,009 |
|
| — |
|
| 369,478 |
Selling, general, and administrative expenses |
|
| 28,893 |
|
| 5,688 |
|
| 5,706 |
|
| 10,672 |
|
| 50,959 |
Acquisition and new business initiatives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
related adjustments and expenses |
|
| 708 |
|
| 1,729 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 2,437 |
Asset impairment and decommission costs |
|
| 3,634 |
|
| 2,137 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 5,771 |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |
|
| 130,244 |
|
| 38,795 |
|
| 562 |
|
| 1,437 |
|
| 171,038 |
Operating income (loss) |
|
| 134,245 |
|
| 13,396 |
|
| 3,741 |
|
| (12,109) |
|
| 139,273 |
Other expense (principally interest expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and other income (expense)) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (103,077) |
|
| (103,077) |
Income before income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 36,196 |
Cash capital expenditures (3) |
|
| 61,509 |
|
| 29,517 |
|
| 925 |
|
| 575 |
|
| 92,526 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Domestic Site |
| Int'l Site |
| Site |
|
|
|
| |||||
|
| Leasing |
| Leasing |
| Development |
| Other (1) |
| Total | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets |
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2020 |
| $ | 6,123,184 |
| $ | 2,920,223 |
| $ | 59,175 |
| $ | 256,920 |
| $ | 9,359,502 |
As of December 31, 2019 |
| $ | 6,157,511 |
| $ | 3,381,448 |
| $ | 81,772 |
| $ | 139,210 |
| $ | 9,759,941 |
(1)Assets in Other consist primarily of general corporate assets.
(2)Excludes depreciation, amortization, and accretion.
(3)Includes cash paid for capital expenditures and acquisitions and financing leases.
Other than Brazil, no foreign country represented a material amount of the Company’s total revenues in any of the periods presented. Site leasing revenue in Brazil was $63.1 million and $56.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Total long-lived assets in Brazil were $1,069.2 million and $1,404.1 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
15.EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share was computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to SBA Communications Corporation by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding for each respective period. Diluted earnings per share was calculated by dividing net income (loss) attributable to SBA Communications Corporation by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding adjusted for any dilutive Common Stock equivalents, including unvested RSUs, PSUs, and shares issuable upon exercise of stock options as determined under the “Treasury Stock” method.
The following table sets forth basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except per share data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months | ||||
| ended March 31, | ||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
Numerator: |
|
|
|
|
|
Net (loss) income attributable to SBA |
|
|
|
|
|
Communications Corporation | $ | (127,058) |
| $ | 25,989 |
Denominator: |
|
|
|
|
|
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding |
| 111,908 |
|
| 112,708 |
Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted shares |
| — |
|
| 1,636 |
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding |
| 111,908 |
|
| 114,344 |
Net (loss) income per common share attributable to SBA |
|
|
|
|
|
Communications Corporation: |
|
|
|
|
|
Basic | $ | (1.14) |
| $ | 0.23 |
Diluted | $ | (1.14) |
| $ | 0.23 |
For the three months ended March 31, 2020, all potential common stock equivalents, including 3.7 million shares of stock options outstanding, 0.3 million shares of RSUs outstanding, and 0.1 million shares of PSUs outstanding, were excluded as the effect would be anti-dilutive.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding excluded an additional 0.4 million shares issuable upon exercise of the Company’s stock options because the impact would be anti-dilutive.
16. REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
In August 2019, the Company acquired an additional interest of a previously unconsolidated joint venture in South Africa which operated under the name Atlas Tower South Africa (“Atlas SA”). As a result of the transaction, the Company has consolidated the results of the entity into its financial statements. As of March 31, 2020, the fair market value of the 6% noncontrolling interest was $14.5 million. The fair value assigned to the redeemable noncontrolling interest is estimated using Level 3 inputs.
In connection with the acquisition of the additional interest in Atlas SA, the parties agreed to both a put option exercisable by the noncontrolling interest holder and a call option exercisable by the Company. The put option allows the noncontrolling interest holder to sell its 6% noncontrolling interest to the Company for an amount to be determined using a formulaic approach. The call option allows the Company to purchase the remaining 6% minority interest using the same formulaic approach. Both the put and call options can be exercised on or after August 30, 2020. As the put option is outside of the Company’s control, the estimated redemption value of the minority interest is presented as a redeemable noncontrolling interest outside of permanent equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company allocates income and losses to the noncontrolling interest holder based on the applicable membership interest percentage. At each reporting period, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is recognized at the higher of (1) the initial carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest as adjusted for accumulated income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest holder, or (2) the contractually-defined redemption value as of the balance sheet date. Adjustments to the carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interest are charged against retained earnings (or additional paid-in capital if there are no retained earnings).
The components of the redeemable noncontrolling interest as of March 31, 2020 are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| March 31, |
| December 31, | ||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
|
| (unaudited) |
|
|
| |
Beginning balance |
| $ | 16,052 |
| $ |
|
Purchase of noncontrolling interests |
|
| — |
|
| 13,990 |
Additional investment |
|
| — |
|
| 179 |
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
|
| (1,183) |
|
| 460 |
Adjustment to fair value |
|
| 484 |
|
| 1,130 |
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
| (875) |
|
| 293 |
Ending balance |
| $ | 14,478 |
| $ | 16,052 |
17.DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
The Company enters into interest rate swaps to hedge the future interest expense from variable rate debt and reduce the Company’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The Company has an interest rate swap which has been designated as a cash flow hedge. As of March 31, 2020, the hedge remains highly effective; therefore, subsequent changes in the fair value are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net.
The Company has interest rate swaps that are not designated as cash flow hedges. On a quarterly basis, the Company re-evaluates the fair value of the interest rate swaps using Level 2 inputs, and any changes in the fair value are recorded as gains or losses on the interest rate swap in Other income (expense), net.
Additionally, the Company is exposed to counterparty credit risk to the extent that a counterparty fails to meet the terms of a contract. The Company’s exposure is limited to the current value of the contract at the time the counterparty fails to perform.
The disclosures below provide additional information about the effects of these interest rate swaps on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), and Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Deficit. The cash flows associated with all of these activities are reported in Net cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
The table below outlines the effects of the Company’s interest rate swaps on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
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|
|
| Fair Value as of | ||||
|
|
| Balance Sheet |
| March 31, |
| December 31, | ||
|
|
| Location |
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments |
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | ||||
Interest rate swap agreement in a fair value liability position |
|
| Other long-term liabilities |
| $ | 147,757 |
| $ | 42,698 |
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest rate swap agreements in a fair value asset position |
|
| Other assets |
| $ | 114,724 |
| $ | 47,583 |
Interest rate swap agreements in a fair value liability position |
|
| Other long-term liabilities |
| $ | 110,758 |
| $ | 47,583 |
The table below outlines the effects of the Company’s derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Deficit for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.
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| For the three months | ||||
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| ended March 31, | ||||
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| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Cash Flow Hedge - Interest Rate Swap Agreement |
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | ||||
Change in fair value recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net |
| $ | (107,882) |
| $ |
| |||
Amount recognized in Non-cash interest expense |
| $ | (2,822) |
| $ |
| |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges - Interest Rate Swap Agreements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
loss, net into Non-cash interest expense |
| $ | 4,642 |
| $ |
| |||
Change in fair value recorded in Other income (expense), net |
|
|
|
| $ | 3,966 |
| $ |
|
18. CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
The Company’s credit risks consist primarily of accounts receivable with national, regional, and local wireless service providers and federal and state government agencies. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and provides allowances for doubtful accounts, as required, based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends, and other information. The Company generally does not require collateral.
Subsequent to March 31, 2020, T-Mobile finalized a merger with Sprint. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, T-Mobile and Sprint represented 17.7% and 15.6% of the Company’s total revenue, respectively. For the three months ended March 31,
2020, T-Mobile and Sprint represented 22.0% and 19.0% of the Company’s total domestic site leasing revenue, respectively, and 24.9% and 29.7% of the Company’s site development revenue.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
We are a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure, including tower structures, rooftops and other structures that support antennas used for wireless communications, which we collectively refer to as “towers” or “sites.” Our principal operations are in the United States and its territories. In addition, we own and operate towers in South America, Central America, Canada, and South Africa. Our primary business line is our site leasing business, which contributed 98.8% of our total segment operating profit for the three months ended March 31, 2020. In our site leasing business, we (1) lease antenna space to wireless service providers on towers that we own or operate and (2) manage rooftop and tower sites for property owners under various contractual arrangements. As of March 31, 2020, we owned 32,515 towers, a substantial portion of which have been built by us or built by other tower owners or operators who, like us, have built such towers to lease space to multiple wireless service providers. Our other business line is our site development business, through which we assist wireless service providers in developing and maintaining their own wireless service networks.
Site Leasing
Our primary focus is the leasing of antenna space on our multi-tenant towers to a variety of wireless service providers under long-term lease contracts in the United States, South America, Central America, Canada, and South Africa. As of March 31, 2020, (1) no U.S. state or territory accounted for more than 10% of our total tower portfolio by tower count, and (2) no U.S. state or territory accounted for more than 10% of our total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2020. In addition, as of March 31, 2020, approximately 30.5% of our total towers are located in Brazil and less than 3% of our total towers are located in any of our other international markets (each country is considered a market). We derive site leasing revenues primarily from wireless service provider tenants, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, Oi S.A., Telefonica, Claro, and TIM. Wireless service providers enter into tenant leases with us, each of which relates to the lease or use of space at an individual site. In the United States and Canada, our tenant leases are generally for an initial term of five years to 10 years with multiple five year renewal periods at the option of the tenant. These tenant leases typically contain specific rent escalators, which average 3-4% per year, including the renewal option periods. Tenant leases in South Africa and our Central and South American markets typically have an initial term of 10 years with multiple five year renewal periods. In Central America, we have similar rent escalators to that of leases in the United States and Canada while our leases in South America and South Africa escalate in accordance with a standard cost of living index. Site leases in South America typically provide for a fixed rental amount and a pass through charge for the underlying rent related to ground leases and other property interests.
Cost of site leasing revenue primarily consists of:
Cash and non-cash rental expense on ground leases and other underlying property interests;
Property taxes;
Site maintenance and monitoring costs (exclusive of employee related costs);
Utilities;
Property insurance; and
Lease initial direct cost amortization.
In the United States and our international markets, ground leases and other property interests are generally for an initial term of five years to 10 years with multiple renewal periods, which are at our option. Ground leases and other property interests provide for rent escalators which typically average 2-3% annually, or in our South American markets and South Africa, adjust in accordance with a standard cost of living index. As of March 31, 2020, approximately 70% of our tower structures were located on parcels of land that we own, land subject to perpetual easements, or parcels of land in which we have a leasehold interest that extends beyond 20 years. For any given tower, costs are relatively fixed over a monthly or an annual time period. As such, operating costs for owned towers do not generally increase as a result of adding additional customers to the tower. The amount of property taxes varies from site to site depending on the taxing jurisdiction and the height and age of the tower. The ongoing maintenance requirements are typically minimal and include replacing lighting systems, painting a tower, or upgrading or repairing an access road or fencing.
In our Central American markets and Ecuador, significantly all of our revenue, expenses, and capital expenditures arising from our new build activities are denominated in U.S. dollars. Specifically, most of our ground leases and other property interests, tenant leases, and tower-related expenses are paid in U.S. dollars. In our Central American markets, our local currency obligations are principally limited to (1) permitting and other local fees, (2) utilities, and (3) taxes. In Brazil, Canada, Chile, and South Africa significantly all of our revenue, expenses, and capital expenditures, including tenant leases, ground leases and other property interests, and other tower-related expenses are denominated in local currency. In Colombia, Argentina, and Peru, our revenue, expenses, and
capital expenditures, including tenant leases, ground leases and other property interests, and other tower-related expenses are denominated in a mix of local currency and U.S. dollars.
As indicated in the table below, our site leasing business generates substantially all of our total segment operating profit. For information regarding our operating segments, see Note 14 of our condensed notes to consolidated financial statements included in this quarterly report.
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| For the three months ended | ||||
|
| March 31, | ||||
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|
Segment operating profit as a percentage of total |
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Domestic site leasing |
|
| 80.3% |
|
| 80.6% |
International site leasing |
|
| 18.5% |
|
| 16.7% |
Total site leasing |
|
| 98.8% |
|
| 97.3% |
We believe that the site leasing business continues to be attractive due to its long-term contracts, built-in rent escalators, high operating margins, and low customer churn (which refers to when a customer does not renew its lease or cancels its lease prior to the end of its term) other than in connection with customer consolidation or cessation of a particular technology. We believe that over the long-term, site leasing revenues will continue to grow as wireless service providers lease additional antenna space on our towers due to increasing minutes of network use and data transfer, network expansion and network coverage requirements. During the remainder of 2020, we expect organic site leasing revenue in both our domestic and international segments to increase over 2019 levels due in part to wireless carriers deploying unused spectrum. We believe our site leasing business is characterized by stable and long-term recurring revenues, predictable operating costs and minimal non-discretionary capital expenditures. Due to the relatively young age and mix of our tower portfolio, we expect future expenditures required to maintain these towers to be minimal. Consequently, we expect to grow our cash flows by (1) adding tenants to our towers at minimal incremental costs by using existing tower capacity or requiring wireless service providers to bear all or a portion of the cost of tower modifications and (2) executing monetary amendments as wireless service providers add or upgrade their equipment. Furthermore, because our towers are strategically positioned, we have historically experienced low tenant lease terminations as a percentage of revenue other than in connection with customer consolidation or cessations of a specific technology.
Site Development
Our site development business, which is conducted in the United States only, is complementary to our site leasing business and provides us the ability to keep in close contact with the wireless service providers who generate substantially all of our site leasing revenue and to capture ancillary revenues that are generated by our site leasing activities, such as antenna and equipment installation at our tower locations. Site development revenues are earned primarily from providing a full range of end to end services to wireless service providers or companies providing development or project management services to wireless service providers. Our services include: (1) network pre-design; (2) site audits; (3) identification of potential locations for towers and antennas on existing infrastructure; (4) support in leasing of the location; (5) assistance in obtaining zoning approvals and permits; (6) tower and related site construction; (7) antenna installation; and (8) radio equipment installation, commissioning, and maintenance. We provide site development services at our towers and at towers owned by others on a local basis, through regional, market, and project offices. The market offices are responsible for all site development operations.
For information regarding our operating segments, see Note 14 of our condensed notes to consolidated financial statements in this quarterly report.
Customers
We lease tower space to and perform site development services for all of the large U.S. wireless service providers. In both our site leasing and site development businesses, we work with large national providers and smaller regional, local, or private operators. Internationally, we lease tower space to all major service providers in South America, Central America, Canada, and South Africa.
Subsequent to March 31, 2020, T-Mobile finalized a merger with Sprint. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, T-Mobile and Sprint represented 17.7% and 15.6% of our total revenue, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, T-Mobile and Sprint represented 22.0% and 19.0% of our total domestic site leasing revenue, respectively, and 24.9% and 29.7% of our site development revenue.
Capital Allocation Strategy
Our capital allocation strategy is aimed at increasing shareholder value through investment in quality assets that meet our return criteria, stock repurchases when we believe our stock price is below its intrinsic value and by returning cash generated by our operations in the form of cash dividends. While the addition of a cash dividend to our capital allocation strategy has provided us with a new tool to return value to our shareholders, we will also continue to make investments focused on increasing Adjusted Funds From Operations per share. To achieve this, we expect to continue to deploy capital to portfolio growth and stock repurchases, subject to compliance with REIT distribution requirements, available funds and market conditions, while maintaining our target leverage levels. Key elements of our capital allocation strategy include:
Portfolio Growth. We intend to continue to grow our asset portfolio, domestically and internationally, primarily through tower acquisitions and the construction of new towers that meet our internal return on invested capital criteria.
Stock Repurchase Program. We currently utilize stock repurchases as part of our capital allocation policy when we believe our share price is below its intrinsic value. We believe that share repurchases, when purchased at the right price, will facilitate our goal of increasing our Adjusted Funds From Operations per share.
Dividend. In 2019, we added dividends as an additional component of our strategy of returning value to shareholders. We do not expect our dividend to require any changes in our leverage and, we believe, it will allow us to continue to focus on building and buying quality assets and opportunistically buying back our stock. While the timing and amount of future dividends will be subject to approval by our Board of Directors, we believe that our future cash flow generation will permit us to grow our cash dividend in the future.
COVID-19 Update
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we experienced minimal impact to our business or results of operations from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The extent to which COVID-19 could adversely affect our future business operations will depend on future developments such as the duration of the outbreak, new information on the severity of COVID-19, and methods taken to contain or treat the outbreak of COVID-19. While the full impact of COVID-19 is not yet known, we will continue to monitor this recent outbreak and the potential effects on our business.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
We have identified the policies and significant estimation processes listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our results of operations. The listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, with no need for management’s judgment in their application. In other cases, management is required to exercise judgment in the application of accounting principles with respect to particular transactions. The impact and any associated risks related to these policies on our business operations is discussed throughout “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” where such policies affect reported and expected financial results. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 of our consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Our preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from those estimates and such differences could be significant.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This report presents our financial results and other financial metrics after eliminating the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe that providing these financial results and metrics on a constant currency basis, which are non-GAAP measures, gives management and investors the ability to evaluate the performance of our business without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We eliminate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates by dividing the current period’s financial results by the average monthly exchange rates of the prior year period, as well as by eliminating the impact of the remeasurement of our intercompany loans.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
Revenues and Segment Operating Profit:
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| For the three months ended |
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|
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| Constant | |||||
|
| March 31, |
| Foreign |
| Constant |
| Currency | |||||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Currency Impact |
| Currency Change |
| % Change | |||||
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Revenues |
| (in thousands) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
Domestic site leasing |
| $ | 386,345 |
| $ | 362,838 |
| $ | — |
| $ | 23,507 |
|
| 6.5% |
International site leasing |
|
| 106,011 |
|
| 89,345 |
|
| (12,058) |
|
| 28,724 |
|
| 32.1% |
Site development |
|
| 24,711 |
|
| 41,110 |
|
| — |
|
| (16,399) |
|
| (39.9%) |
Total |
| $ | 517,067 |
| $ | 493,293 |
| $ | (12,058) |
| $ | 35,832 |
|
| 7.3% |
Cost of Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Domestic site leasing |
| $ | 63,905 |
| $ | 65,114 |
| $ | — |
| $ | (1,209) |
|
| (1.9%) |
International site leasing |
|
| 31,894 |
|
| 27,600 |
|
| (3,923) |
|
| 8,217 |
|
| 29.8% |
Site development |
|
| 19,715 |
|
| 31,101 |
|
| — |
|
| (11,386) |
|
| (36.6%) |
Total |
| $ | 115,514 |
| $ | 123,815 |
| $ | (3,923) |
| $ | (4,378) |
|
| (3.5%) |
Operating Profit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Domestic site leasing |
| $ | 322,440 |
| $ | 297,724 |
| $ | — |
| $ | 24,716 |
|
| 8.3% |
International site leasing |
|
| 74,117 |
|
| 61,745 |
|
| (8,135) |
|
| 20,507 |
|
| 33.2% |
Site development |
|
| 4,996 |
|
| 10,009 |
|
| — |
|
| (5,013) |
|
| (50.1%) |
Revenues
Domestic site leasing revenues increased $23.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year, primarily due to (1) revenues from 200 towers acquired and 29 towers built since January 1, 2019 and (2) organic site leasing growth, primarily from monetary lease amendments for additional equipment added to our towers as well as new leases and contractual rent escalators, partially offset by lease non-renewals.
International site leasing revenues increased $16.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing revenues increased $28.7 million. These changes were primarily due to (1) revenues from 2,312 towers acquired and 443 towers built since January 1, 2019 and (2) organic site leasing growth from new leases, amendments, and contractual escalators. Site leasing revenue in Brazil represented 12.8% of total site leasing revenue for the period. No other individual international market represented more than 3% of our total site leasing revenue.
Site development revenues decreased $16.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to prior year, as a result of decreased carrier activity driven primarily by Sprint and T-Mobile.
Operating Profit
Domestic site leasing segment operating profit increased $24.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year, primarily due to additional profit generated by (1) towers acquired and built since January 1, 2019 and organic site leasing growth as noted above, (2) continued control of our site leasing cost of revenue, and (3) the positive impact of our ground lease purchase program.
International site leasing segment operating profit increased $12.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing segment operating profit increased $20.5 million. These changes were primarily due to additional profit generated by (1) towers acquired and built since January 1, 2019 and organic site leasing growth as noted above, (2) continued control of our site leasing cost of revenue, and (3) the positive impact of our ground lease purchase program.
Site development segment operating profit decreased $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year, as a result of decreased carrier activity driven primarily by Sprint and T-Mobile.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses:
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|
| For the three months ended |
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|
|
|
|
|
| Constant | |||||
|
| March 31, |
| Foreign |
| Constant |
| Currency | |||||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Currency Impact |
| Currency Change |
| % Change | |||||
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|
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| (in thousands) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
Domestic site leasing |
| $ | 27,323 |
| $ | 28,893 |
| $ | — |
| $ | (1,570) |
|
| (5.4%) |
International site leasing |
|
| 7,931 |
|
| 5,688 |
|
| (439) |
|
| 2,682 |
|
| 47.2% |
Total site leasing |
| $ | 35,254 |
| $ | 34,581 |
| $ | (439) |
| $ | 1,112 |
|
| 3.2% |
Site development |
|
| 4,456 |
|
| 5,706 |
|
| — |
|
| (1,250) |
|
| (21.9%) |
Other |
|
| 9,907 |
|
| 10,672 |
|
| — |
|
| (765) |
|
| (7.2%) |
Total |
| $ | 49,617 |
| $ | 50,959 |
| $ | (439) |
| $ | (903) |
|
| (1.8%) |
Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased $0.9 million. These changes were primarily as a result of a decrease in noncash compensation due to the acceleration of unrecognized stock compensation expense in the prior year related to the adoption of the retirement plan. This was partially offset by increases in personnel costs, benefits, and other support-related costs due in part to our continued international expansion.
Acquisition and New Business Initiatives Related Adjustments and Expenses:
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|
|
| For the three months ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Constant | |||||
|
| March 31, |
| Foreign |
| Constant |
| Currency | |||||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Currency Impact |
| Currency Change |
| % Change | |||||
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| (in thousands) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
Domestic site leasing |
| $ | 2,597 |
| $ | 708 |
| $ | — |
| $ | 1,889 |
|
| 266.8% |
International site leasing |
|
| 1,202 |
|
| 1,729 |
|
| (124) |
|
| (403) |
|
| (23.3%) |
Total |
| $ | 3,799 |
| $ | 2,437 |
| $ | (124) |
| $ | 1,486 |
|
| 61.0% |
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses increased $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses increased $1.5 million. These changes were primarily as a result of incremental costs incurred in support of new business initiatives.
Asset Impairment and Decommission Costs:
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| For the three months ended |
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| Constant | |||||
|
| March 31, |
| Foreign |
| Constant |
| Currency | |||||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Currency Impact |
| Currency Change |
| % Change | |||||
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| (in thousands) |
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|
| ||||||||||
Domestic site leasing |
| $ | 10,826 |
| $ | 3,634 |
| $ | — |
| $ | 7,192 |
|
| 197.9% |
International site leasing |
|
| 3,529 |
|
| 2,137 |
|
| (97) |
|
| 1,489 |
|
| 69.7% |
Total |
| $ | 14,355 |
| $ | 5,771 |
| $ | (97) |
| $ | 8,681 |
|
| 150.4% |
Asset impairment and decommission costs increased $8.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year. This change was primarily as a result of a $7.7 million increase in impairment charges resulting from our regular analysis of whether the future cash flows from certain towers are adequate to recover the carrying value of the investment in those towers and a $0.9 million increase in the impairment charge recorded due to sites decommissioned in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the prior year period.
Depreciation, Accretion, and Amortization Expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Constant | |||||
|
| March 31, |
| Foreign |
| Constant |
| Currency | |||||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Currency Impact |
| Currency Change |
| % Change | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
Domestic site leasing |
| $ | 133,806 |
| $ | 130,244 |
| $ | — |
| $ | 3,562 |
|
| 2.7% |
International site leasing |
|
| 46,612 |
|
| 38,795 |
|
| (5,364) |
|
| 13,181 |
|
| 34.0% |
Total site leasing |
| $ | 180,418 |
| $ | 169,039 |
| $ | (5,364) |
| $ | 16,743 |
|
| 9.9% |
Site development |
|
| 616 |
|
| 562 |
|
| — |
|
| 54 |
|
| 9.6% |
Other |
|
| 1,545 |
|
| 1,437 |
|
| — |
|
| 108 |
|
| 7.5% |
Total |
| $ | 182,579 |
| $ | 171,038 |
| $ | (5,364) |
| $ | 16,905 |
|
| 9.9% |
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense increased $11.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense increased $16.9 million. These changes were primarily due to an increase in the number of towers we acquired and built since January 1, 2019, partially offset by the impact of assets that became fully depreciated since the prior year period.
Operating Income (Expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Constant | |||||
|
| March 31, |
| Foreign |
| Constant |
| Currency | |||||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Currency Impact |
| Currency Change |
| % Change | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
Domestic site leasing |
| $ | 147,888 |
| $ | 134,245 |
| $ | — |
| $ | 13,643 |
|
| 10.2% |
International site leasing |
|
| 14,843 |
|
| 13,396 |
|
| (2,111) |
|
| 3,558 |
|
| 26.6% |
Total site leasing |
| $ | 162,731 |
| $ | 147,641 |
| $ | (2,111) |
| $ | 17,201 |
|
| 11.7% |
Site development |
|
| (76) |
|
| 3,741 |
|
| — |
|
| (3,817) |
|
| (102.0%) |
Other |
|
| (11,452) |
|
| (12,109) |
|
| — |
|
| 657 |
|
| (5.4%) |
Total |
| $ | 151,203 |
| $ | 139,273 |
| $ | (2,111) |
| $ | 14,041 |
|
| 10.1% |
Domestic site leasing operating income increased $13.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher segment operating profit and a decrease in selling, general, and administrative expenses, partially offset by increases in asset impairment and decommission costs, depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense, and acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses.
International site leasing operating income increased $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing operating income increased $3.6 million. These changes were primarily due to higher segment operating profit and a decrease in acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses, partially offset by increases in depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense, selling, general, and administrative expenses, and asset impairment and decommission costs.
Site development operating income decreased $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year, primarily due to lower segment operating profit, partially offset by a decrease in selling, general, and administrative expenses.
Other Income (Expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Constant | |||||
|
| March 31, |
| Foreign |
| Constant |
| Currency | |||||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Currency Impact |
| Currency Change |
| % Change | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
Interest income |
| $ | 885 |
| $ | 1,800 |
| $ | (65) |
| $ | (850) |
|
| (47.2%) |
Interest expense |
|
| (95,851) |
|
| (98,667) |
|
| (1) |
|
| 2,817 |
|
| (2.9%) |
Non-cash interest expense |
|
| (2,406) |
|
| (641) |
|
| — |
|
| (1,765) |
|
| 275.4% |
Amortization of deferred financing fees |
|
| (5,139) |
|
| (5,061) |
|
| — |
|
| (78) |
|
| 1.5% |
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net |
|
| (16,864) |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (16,864) |
|
| —% |
Other expense, net |
|
| (226,299) |
|
| (508) |
|
| (228,334) |
|
| 2,543 |
|
| 180.1% |
Total |
| $ | (345,674) |
| $ | (103,077) |
| $ | (228,400) |
| $ | (14,197) |
|
| 14.0% |
Interest expense decreased $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year primarily due to a lower weighted average interest rate as compared to the prior year, partially offset by a higher average principal amount of cash-interest bearing debt outstanding as compared to the prior year.
Non-cash interest expense increased $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year primarily related to amortization on our interest rate swaps de-designated as cash flow hedges.
Loss from extinguishment of debt was $16.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 due to the payment of a $9.1 million call premium and the write-off of $7.7 million of the original issuance discount and financing fees related to the redemption of the 2014 Senior Notes.
Other expense, net includes a $230.1 million loss on the remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with foreign subsidiaries as well as a $4.0 million net gain on the change in fair value related to interest rate swaps not designated as hedges for the three months ended March 31, 2020. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, other expense, net included a $2.1 million loss on the remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with foreign subsidiaries.
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Constant | |||||
|
| March 31, |
| Foreign |
| Constant |
| Currency | |||||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Currency Impact |
| Currency Change |
| % Change | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
Benefit (provision) for income taxes |
| $ | 66,538 |
| $ | (10,207) |
| $ | 74,989 |
| $ | 1,756 |
|
| (16.2%) |
Benefit for income taxes increased $76.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, provision for income taxes decreased primarily due to a decrease in the state current tax provision.
Net (Loss) Income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Constant | |||||
|
| March 31, |
| Foreign |
| Constant |
| Currency | |||||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Currency Impact |
| Currency Change |
| % Change | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
Net (loss) income |
| $ | (127,933) |
| $ | 25,989 |
| $ | (155,522) |
| $ | 1,600 |
|
| 5.9% |
Net income decreased $153.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, net income increased primarily due to an increase in operating income and decreases in interest expense and provision for income taxes, partially offset by a loss from extinguishment of debt in the current year period.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
This report contains information regarding Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure. We have provided below a description of Adjusted EBITDA, a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP measure and an explanation as to why management utilizes this measure. This report also presents our financial results and other financial metrics after eliminating the
impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe that providing these financial results and metrics on a constant currency basis, which are non-GAAP measures, gives management and investors the ability to evaluate the performance of our business without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We eliminate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates by dividing the current period’s financial results by the average monthly exchange rates of the prior year period, as well as by eliminating the impact of the remeasurement of our intercompany loans.
Adjusted EBITDA
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income excluding the impact of non-cash straight-line leasing revenue, non-cash straight-line ground lease expense, non-cash compensation, net loss from extinguishment of debt, other income and expenses, acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses, asset impairment and decommission costs, interest income, interest expenses, depreciation, accretion, and amortization, and provision for or benefit from taxes.
We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors or other interested parties in evaluating our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is the primary measure used by management (1) to evaluate the economic productivity of our operations and (2) for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to, and assessing the performance of, our operations. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA helps investors or other interested parties to meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of our operations (1) from period to period and (2) to our competitors, by excluding the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest charges from our outstanding debt) and asset base (primarily depreciation, amortization and accretion) from our financial results. Management also believes Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by investors or other interested parties in the evaluation of REITs. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is similar to the measure of current financial performance generally used by our lenders to determine compliance with certain covenants under our Senior Credit Agreement and the indentures relating to the 2016 Senior Notes, 2017 Senior Notes, and 2020 Senior Notes. Adjusted EBITDA should be considered only as a supplement to net income computed in accordance with GAAP as a measure of our performance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Constant | |||||
|
| March 31, |
| Foreign |
| Constant |
| Currency | |||||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Currency Impact |
| Currency Change |
| % Change | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) |
|
|
| ||||||||||
Net (loss) income |
| $ | (127,933) |
| $ | 25,989 |
| $ | (155,522) |
| $ | 1,600 |
|
| 5.9% |
Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue |
|
| (2,341) |
|
| (2,645) |
|
| 31 |
|
| 273 |
|
| (10.3%) |
Non-cash straight-line ground lease expense |
|
| 3,848 |
|
| 6,089 |
|
| (7) |
|
| (2,234) |
|
| (36.7%) |
Non-cash compensation |
|
| 16,278 |
|
| 23,414 |
|
| (335) |
|
| (6,801) |
|
| (29.0%) |
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net |
|
| 16,864 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 16,864 |
|
| —% |
Other (income) expense, net |
|
| 226,299 |
|
| 508 |
|
| 228,334 |
|
| (2,543) |
|
| 180.1% |
Acquisition and new business initiatives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
related adjustments and expenses |
|
| 3,799 |
|
| 2,437 |
|
| (124) |
|
| 1,486 |
|
| 61.0% |
Asset impairment and decommission costs |
|
| 14,355 |
|
| 5,771 |
|
| (97) |
|
| 8,681 |
|
| 150.4% |
Interest income |
|
| (885) |
|
| (1,800) |
|
| 65 |
|
| 850 |
|
| (47.2%) |
Total interest expense (1) |
|
| 103,396 |
|
| 104,369 |
|
| 1 |
|
| (974) |
|
| (0.9%) |
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization |
|
| 182,579 |
|
| 171,038 |
|
| (5,364) |
|
| 16,905 |
|
| 9.9% |
(Benefit) provision for income taxes (2) |
|
| (66,311) |
|
| 10,404 |
|
| (74,990) |
|
| (1,725) |
|
| (15.6%) |
Adjusted EBITDA |
| $ | 369,948 |
| $ | 345,574 |
| $ | (8,008) |
| $ | 32,382 |
|
| 9.4% |
(1)Total interest expense includes interest expense, non-cash interest expense, and amortization of deferred financing fees.
(2)Provision for taxes includes $227 and $197 of franchise taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, reflected in selling, general, and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Adjusted EBITDA increased $24.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the prior year period. On a constant currency basis, Adjusted EBITDA increased $32.4 million. These changes were primarily due to an increase in segment operating profit, partially offset by an increase in cash selling, general, and administrative expenses.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
SBAC is a holding company with no business operations of its own. SBAC’s only significant asset is 100% of the outstanding capital stock of SBA Telecommunications, LLC (“Telecommunications”), which is also a holding company that owns equity interests in entities that directly or indirectly own all of our domestic and international towers and assets. We conduct all of our business operations through Telecommunications’ subsidiaries. Accordingly, our only source of cash to pay our obligations, other than
financings, is distributions with respect to our ownership interest in our subsidiaries from the net earnings and cash flow generated by these subsidiaries.
A summary of our cash flows is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months ended | ||||
|
| March 31, 2020 |
| March 31, 2019 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | ||||
Cash provided by operating activities |
| $ | 277,742 |
| $ | 222,665 |
Cash used in investing activities |
|
| (132,012) |
|
| (84,976) |
Cash used in financing activities |
|
| (43,335) |
|
| (158,047) |
Change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
|
| 102,395 |
|
| (20,358) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equiv., and restricted cash |
|
| (13,900) |
|
| (14,071) |
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period |
|
| 141,120 |
|
| 178,300 |
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period |
| $ | 229,615 |
| $ | 143,871 |
Operating Activities
Cash provided by operating activities was $277.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to $222.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase in segment operating profit and an increase in cash inflows associated with working capital changes, partially offset by an increase in cash selling, general, and administrative expenses and lower interest income earned on interest bearing deposits.
Investing Activities
A detail of our investing activities is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months ended March 31, | ||||
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | ||||
Acquisitions of towers and related intangible assets |
| $ | (82,274) |
| $ | (42,148) |
Land buyouts and other assets (1) |
|
| (7,257) |
|
| (13,139) |
Construction and related costs on new builds |
|
| (17,031) |
|
| (15,426) |
Augmentation and tower upgrades |
|
| (13,031) |
|
| (13,703) |
Tower maintenance |
|
| (8,194) |
|
| (6,420) |
General corporate |
|
| (1,035) |
|
| (825) |
Other investing activities |
|
| (3,190) |
|
| 6,685 |
Net cash used in investing activities |
| $ | (132,012) |
| $ | (84,976) |
(1)Excludes $1.7 million and $3.8 million spent to extend ground lease terms for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Subsequent to March 31, 2020, we have purchased or agreed to purchase 137 additional communication sites for an aggregate amount of $52.0 million.
For 2020, we expect to incur non-discretionary cash capital expenditures associated with tower maintenance and general corporate expenditures of $32.0 million to $42.0 million and discretionary cash capital expenditures, based on current or potential acquisition obligations, planned new tower construction, forecasted tower augmentations, and forecasted ground lease purchases, of $270.0 million to $290.0 million. We expect to fund these cash capital expenditures from cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility or new financings. The exact amount of our future cash capital expenditures will depend on a number of factors, including amounts necessary to support our tower portfolio, our new tower build and acquisition programs, and our ground lease purchase program.
Financing Activities
A detail of our financing activities is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| For the three months ended | ||||
|
| March 31, 2020 |
| March 31, 2019 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) | ||||
Net borrowings (repayments) under Revolving Credit Facility (1) |
| $ | (5,000) |
| $ | (215,000) |
Proceeds from Senior Notes, net of fees and original issue discount (1) |
|
| 988,516 |
|
| — |
Repayment of Senior Notes (1) |
|
| (759,143) |
|
| — |
Proceeds from employee stock purchase/stock option plans |
|
| 38,869 |
|
| 69,690 |
Payments related to stock option net share settlements |
|
| (44,488) |
|
| (6,215) |
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (2) |
|
| (203,330) |
|
| — |
Payment of dividends on common stock |
|
| (52,201) |
|
| — |
Other financing activities |
|
| (6,558) |
|
| (6,522) |
Net cash used in financing activities |
| $ | (43,335) |
| $ | (158,047) |
(1)For additional information regarding our debt offerings, refer to the Debt Instruments and Debt Service Requirements below.
(2)During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we repurchased 0.8 million shares of our Class A common stock for $200.0 million, at an average price per share of $242.86. Shares repurchased were retired. As of the date of this filing, the Company had $424.3 million of authorization remaining under the current stock repurchase plan. For additional information, refer to Item 2. Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Dividend
For the three months ended March 31, 2020, we paid the following cash dividend:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Payable to Shareholders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| of Record At the Close |
| Cash Paid |
| Aggregate Amount |
|
|
Date Declared |
| of Business on |
| Per Share |
| Paid |
| Date Paid |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
February 20, 2020 |
| March 10, 2020 |
| $0.465 |
| $52.2 million |
| March 26, 2020 |
Subsequent to March 31, 2020, we declared the following cash dividend:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Payable to Shareholders |
| Cash to |
|
|
|
| of Record At the Close |
| be Paid |
|
|
Date Declared |
| of Business on |
| Per Share |
| Date to be Paid |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 5, 2020 |
| May 28, 2020 |
| $0.465 |
| June 18, 2020 |
The amount of future distributions will be determined, from time to time, by our Board of Directors to balance our goal of increasing long-term shareholder value and retaining sufficient cash to implement our current capital allocation policy, which prioritizes investment in quality assets that meet our return criteria, and then stock repurchases when we believe our stock price is below its intrinsic value. The actual amount, timing and frequency of future dividends, will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will be declared based upon various factors, many of which are beyond our control.
Registration Statements
We have on file with the Commission a shelf registration statement on Form S-4 registering shares of Class A common stock that we may issue in connection with the acquisition of wireless communication towers or antenna sites and related assets or companies who own wireless communication towers, antenna sites, or related assets. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we did not issue any shares of Class A common stock under this registration statement. As of March 31, 2020, we had approximately 1.2 million shares of Class A common stock remaining under this shelf registration statement.
On March 5, 2018, we filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement for well-known seasoned issuers on Form S-3ASR. This registration statement enables us to issue shares of our Class A common stock, preferred stock or debt securities either separately or represented by warrants, or depositary shares as well as units that include any of these securities. Under the rules governing automatic shelf registration statements, we will file a prospectus supplement and advise the Commission of the amount and type of securities each time we issue securities under this registration statement. No securities were issued under this registration statement through the date of this filing.
Debt Instruments and Debt Service Requirements
Revolving Credit Facility under the Senior Credit Agreement
The Revolving Credit Facility consists of a revolving loan under which up to $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount may be borrowed, repaid and redrawn, based upon specific financial ratios and subject to the satisfaction of other customary conditions to borrowing. Amounts borrowed under the Revolving Credit Facility accrue interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election, at either (1) the Eurodollar Rate plus a margin that ranges from 112.5 basis points to 175.0 basis points or (2) the Base Rate plus a margin that ranges from 12.5 basis points to 75.0 basis points, in each case based on the ratio of Consolidated Net Debt to Annualized Borrower EBITDA, calculated in accordance with the Senior Credit Agreement. In addition, SBA Senior Finance II is required to pay a commitment fee of between 0.20% and 0.25% per annum on the amount of unused commitment. If not earlier terminated by SBA Senior Finance II, the Revolving Credit Facility will terminate on, and SBA Senior Finance II will repay all amounts outstanding on or before, April 11, 2023. The proceeds available under the Revolving Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes. SBA Senior Finance II may, from time to time, borrow from and repay the Revolving Credit Facility. Consequently, the amount outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at the end of the period may not be reflective of the total amounts outstanding during such period.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we borrowed $500.0 million and repaid $505.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2020, the balance outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility was $485.0 million accruing interest at 2.206% per annum. In addition, SBA Senior Finance II was required to pay a commitment fee of 0.25% per annum on the amount of the unused commitment. As of March 31, 2020, SBA Senior Finance II was in compliance with the financial covenants contained in the Senior Credit Agreement.
Subsequent to March 31, 2020, we borrowed $15.0 million and repaid $120.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of the date of this filing, $380.0 million was outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.
Term Loan under the Senior Credit Agreement
2018 Term Loan
On April 11, 2018, we, through our wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II LLC, obtained a new term loan (the “2018 Term Loan”) under the amended and restated Senior Credit Agreement. The 2018 Term Loan consists of a senior secured term loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $2.4 billion that matures on April 11, 2025. The 2018 Term Loan accrues interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election at either the Base Rate plus 75 basis points (with a zero Base Rate floor) or the Eurodollar Rate plus 175 basis points (with a zero Eurodollar Rate floor). As of March 31, 2020, the 2018 Term Loan was accruing interest at 2.74% per annum. Principal payments on the 2018 Term Loan are being made in quarterly installments on the last day of each March, June, September, and December in an amount equal to $6.0 million.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we repaid an aggregate of $6.0 million of principal on the 2018 Term Loan. As of March 31, 2020, the 2018 Term Loan had a principal balance of $2.4 billion.
On December 3, 2019, we, through our wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II LLC, entered into a series of interest rate swaps on a portion of our 2018 Term Loan. As a result, we swapped $1.95 billion of notional value receiving interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 3.78% per annum settled monthly through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan.
Secured Tower Revenue Securities
As of March 31, 2020, we, through a New York common law trust (the “Trust”), had issued and outstanding an aggregate of $5.0 billion of Secured Tower Revenue Securities (“Tower Securities”). The sole asset of the Trust consists of a non-recourse mortgage loan made in favor of certain of our subsidiaries that are borrowers on the mortgage loan (the “Borrowers”) under which there is a loan tranche for each Tower Security outstanding with the same interest rate and maturity date as the corresponding Tower Security. The mortgage loan is secured by (1) mortgages, deeds of trust, and deeds to secure debt on a substantial portion of the tower sites, (2) a security interest in the tower sites and substantially all of the Borrowers’ personal property and fixtures, (3) the Borrowers’ rights under certain tenant leases, and (4) all of the proceeds of the foregoing. For each calendar month, SBA Network Management,
Inc., an indirect subsidiary (“Network Management”), is entitled to receive a management fee equal to 4.5% of the Borrowers’ operating revenues for the immediately preceding calendar month.
The table below sets forth the material terms of our outstanding Tower Securities:
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Security |
| Issue Date |
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| Amount Outstanding |
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| Interest Rate |
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| Anticipated Repayment Date |
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| Final Maturity Date |
2013-2C Tower Securities |
| Apr. 18, 2013 |
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| $575.0 million |
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| 3.722% |
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| Apr. 11, 2023 |
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| Apr. 9, 2048 |
2014-2C Tower Securities |
| Oct. 15, 2014 |
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| $620.0 million |
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| 3.869% |
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| Oct. 8, 2024 |
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| Oct. 8, 2049 |
2015-1C Tower Securities |
| Oct. 14, 2015 |
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| $500.0 million |
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| 3.156% |
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| Oct. 8, 2020 |
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| Oct. 10, 2045 |
2016-1C Tower Securities |
| Jul. 7, 2016 |
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| $700.0 million |
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| 2.877% |
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| Jul. 9, 2021 |
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| Jul. 10, 2046 |
2017-1C Tower Securities |
| Apr. 17, 2017 |
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| $760.0 million |
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| 3.168% |
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| Apr. 11, 2022 |
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| Apr. 9, 2047 |
2018-1C Tower Securities |
| Mar. 9, 2018 |
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| $640.0 million |
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| 3.448% |
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| Mar. 9, 2023 |
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| Mar. 9, 2048 |
2019-1C Tower Securities |
| Sep. 13, 2019 |
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| $1.165 billion |
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| 2.836% |
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| Jan. 12, 2025 |
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| Jan. 12, 2050 |
As of March 31, 2020, the Borrowers met the debt service coverage ratio required by the mortgage loan agreement and were in compliance with all other covenants as set forth in the agreement.
Risk Retention Tower Securities
In addition, to satisfy certain risk retention requirements of Regulation RR promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), SBA Guarantor, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, purchased (1) $40.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2017-1R (the “2017-1R Tower Securities”) issued by the Trust with a fixed interest rate of 4.459% per annum, payable monthly, and with the same anticipated repayment date and final maturity date as the 2017-1C Tower Securities, (2) $33.7 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2018-1R (the “2018-1R Tower Securities”) issued by the Trust with a fixed interest rate of 4.949% per annum, payable monthly, and with the same anticipated repayment date and final maturity date as the 2018-1C Tower Securities, and (3) $61.4 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2019-1R (the “2019-1R Tower Securities”) issued by the Trust with a fixed interest rate of 4.213% per annum, payable monthly, and with the same anticipated repayment date and final maturity date as the 2019-1C Tower Securities. Principal and interest payments made on the 2017-1R Tower Securities, 2018-1R Tower Securities and 2019-1R Tower Securities eliminate in consolidation.
Senior Notes
The table below sets forth the material terms of our outstanding senior notes:
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Senior Notes |
| Issue Date |
| Amount Outstanding |
| Interest Rate |
| Maturity Date |
| Interest Due Dates |
| % of Par Value |
2014 Senior Notes (1) |
| Jul. 1, 2014 |
| $750.0 million |
| 4.875% |
| Jul. 15, 2022 |
| Jan. 15 & Jul. 15 |
| 99.178% |
2016 Senior Notes |
| Aug. 15, 2016 |
| $1.1 billion |
| 4.875% |
| Sep. 1, 2024 |
| Mar. 1 & Sep. 1 |
| 99.178% |
2017 Senior Notes |
| Oct. 13, 2017 |
| $750.0 million |
| 4.000% |
| Oct. 1, 2022 |
| Apr. 1 & Oct. 1 |
| 100.000% |
2020 Senior Notes (2) |
| Feb. 4, 2020 |
| $1.0 billion |
| 3.875% |
| Feb. 15, 2027 |
| Feb. 15 & Aug. 15 |
| 100.000% |
(1) On February 20, 2020, we redeemed the entire $750.0 million balance on the 2014 Senior Notes with proceeds from the 2020 Senior Notes (defined below). In addition, we paid a $9.1 million call premium and expensed $7.7 million for the write-off of the original issue discount and financing fees related to the redemption of the 2014 Senior Notes which are reflected in loss from extinguishment of debt on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(2)Interest on the 2020 Senior Notes begins August 15, 2020. We incurred financing fees of $11.5 million to date in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date. Net proceeds from this offering were used to redeem all of the outstanding principal amount of the 2014 Senior Notes and repay a portion of the amount outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility. The 2020 Senior Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part on or after February 15, 2023 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to February 15, 2023, we may, at our option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Senior Notes originally issued at a redemption price of 103.875% of the principal amount of the 2020 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings. We may redeem the 2020 Senior Notes during the twelve-month period beginning on the following dates at the following redemption prices: February 15, 2023 at 101.938%, February 15, 2024 at 100.969%, or February 15, 2025 until maturity at 100.000%, of the principal amount of the 2020 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest.
The unsecured senior notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. We may redeem each of the senior notes during the time periods and at the redemption prices set forth in the indentures.
Debt Service
As of March 31, 2020, we believe that our cash on hand, capacity available under our Revolving Credit Facility, and cash flows from operations for the next twelve months will be sufficient to service our outstanding debt during the next twelve months.
The following table illustrates our estimate of our debt service requirement over the next twelve months based on the amounts outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and the interest rates accruing on those amounts on such date (in thousands):
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Revolving Credit Facility |
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| $ | 12,613 |
2018 Term Loan (1) |
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| 108,889 |
2013-2C Tower Securities |
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| 21,585 |
2014-2C Tower Securities |
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| 24,185 |
2015-1C Tower Securities (2) |
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| 508,544 |
2016-1C Tower Securities |
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| 20,361 |
2017-1C Tower Securities |
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| 24,318 |
2018-1C Tower Securities |
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| 22,270 |
2019-1C Tower Securities |
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| 33,409 |
2016 Senior Notes |
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| 53,625 |
2017 Senior Notes |
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| 30,000 |
2020 Senior Notes |
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| 38,750 |
Total debt service for the next 12 months |
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| $ | 898,549 |
(1)Total debt service on the 2018 Term Loan includes the impact of interest rate swaps entered into in 2019 which swapped $1.95 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 3.78% per annum through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan.
(2)The anticipated repayment date and the final maturity date for the 2015-1C Tower Securities is October 8, 2020 and October 10, 2045, respectively. Interest expense included above is through the anticipated repayment date.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to certain market risks that are inherent in our financial instruments. These instruments arise from transactions entered into in the normal course of business.
The following table presents the future principal payment obligations and fair values associated with our long-term debt instruments assuming our actual level of long-term indebtedness as of March 31, 2020:
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| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| Thereafter |
| Total |
| Fair Value | ||||||||
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Revolving Credit Facility |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
| $ | 485,000 |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
| $ | 485,000 |
| $ | 485,000 |
2018 Term Loan |
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| 18,000 |
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| 24,000 |
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| 24,000 |
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| 24,000 |
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| 24,000 |
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| 2,244,000 |
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| 2,358,000 |
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| 2,181,150 |
2013-2C Tower Securities (1) |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 575,000 |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 575,000 |
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| 607,373 |
2014-2C Tower Securities (1) |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 620,000 |
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| — |
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| 620,000 |
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| 679,297 |
2015-1C Tower Securities (1) |
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| 500,000 |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 500,000 |
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| 504,845 |
2016-1C Tower Securities (1) |
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| — |
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| 700,000 |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 700,000 |
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| 715,036 |
2017-1C Tower Securities (1) |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 760,000 |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 760,000 |
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| 782,663 |
2018-1C Tower Securities (1) |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 640,000 |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 640,000 |
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| 681,299 |
2019-1C Tower Securities (1) |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 1,165,000 |
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| 1,165,000 |
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| 1,227,491 |
2016 Senior Notes |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 1,100,000 |
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| — |
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| 1,100,000 |
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| 1,089,000 |
2017 Senior Notes |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 750,000 |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 750,000 |
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| 738,750 |
2020 Senior Notes |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| — |
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| 1,000,000 |
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| 1,000,000 |
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| 980,000 |
Total debt obligation |
| $ | 518,000 |
| $ | 724,000 |
| $ | 1,534,000 |
| $ | 1,724,000 |
| $ | 1,744,000 |
| $ | 4,409,000 |
| $ | 10,653,000 |
| $ | 10,671,904 |
(1)For information on the anticipated repayment date and final maturity date for each tower security, refer to Debt Instruments and Debt Service Requirements above.
Our current primary market risk exposure is (1) interest rate risk relating to our ability to refinance our debt at commercially reasonable rates, if at all, and (2) interest rate risk relating to the impact of interest rate movements on the variable portion of our 2018 Term Loan and any borrowings that we may incur under our Revolving Credit Facility, which are at floating rates. We manage the interest rate risk on our outstanding debt through our large percentage of fixed rate debt, including interest rate swaps. During 2019, we, through our wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II, LLC, entered into interest rate swaps on a portion of our 2018 Term Loan, which as of December 31, 2019, swapped $1.95 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 3.78% per annum through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan. While we cannot predict our ability to refinance existing debt or the impact interest rate movements will have on our existing debt, we continue to evaluate our financial position on an ongoing basis. In addition, there is currently uncertainty about whether LIBOR will continue to exist after 2021. The discontinuation of LIBOR after 2021 and the replacement with an alternative reference rate may adversely impact interest rates and our interest expense could increase.
We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates in connection with our operations in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, South Africa, and to a lesser extent, our markets in Central America. In each of these countries, we pay most of our selling, general, and administrative expenses and a portion of our operating expenses, such as taxes and utilities incurred in the country in local currency. In addition, in Brazil, Canada, Chile, and South Africa, we receive significantly all of our revenue and pay significantly all of our operating expenses in local currency. In Colombia, Argentina, and Peru, we receive our revenue and pay our operating expenses in a mix of local currency and U.S. dollars. All transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar are reported in U.S. Dollars at the applicable exchange rate. All assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars at exchange rates in effect at the end of the applicable fiscal reporting period, and all revenues and expenses are translated at average rates for the period. The cumulative translation effect is included in equity as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). For the three months ended March 31, 2020, approximately 15.1% of our revenues and approximately 18.0% of our total operating expenses were denominated in foreign currencies.
We have performed a sensitivity analysis assuming a hypothetical 10% adverse movement in the Brazilian Real from the quoted foreign currency exchange rates at March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020, the analysis indicated that such an adverse movement would have caused our revenues and operating income to decline by approximately 1.1% and 0.7%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
As of March 31, 2020, we had intercompany debt, which is denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the subsidiary in which it is recorded. As settlement of this debt is anticipated or planned in the foreseeable future, any changes in the foreign currency exchange rates will result in unrealized gains or losses, which will be included in our determination of net income. A change of 10% in the underlying exchange rates of our unsettled intercompany debt at March 31, 2020 would have resulted in approximately $83.2 million of unrealized gains or losses that would have been included in Other income (expense), net in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This quarterly report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements concern expectations, beliefs, projections, plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Specifically, this quarterly report contains forward-looking statements regarding:
our expectations on the future growth and financial health of the wireless industry and the industry participants, the drivers of such growth, the demand for our towers, the future capital investments of our customers, future spectrum auctions, the trends developing in our industry, and competitive factors;
our ability to capture and capitalize on industry growth and the impact of such growth on our financial and operational results;
our intent to grow our tower portfolio domestically and internationally and expand through acquisitions, new builds, and organic lease up on existing towers;
our belief that over the long-term, site leasing revenues will continue to grow as wireless service providers increase their use of our towers due to increasing minutes of network use and data transfer, network expansion and network coverage requirements;
our expectation regarding site leasing revenue growth, on an organic basis, in our domestic and international segments, and the drivers of such growth;
our focus on our site leasing business and belief that our site leasing business is characterized by stable and long-term recurring revenues, reduced exposure to changes in customer spending, predictable operating costs, and minimal non-discretionary capital expenditures;
our expectation that, due to the relatively young age and mix of our tower portfolio, future expenditures required to maintain these towers will be minimal;
our expectation that we will grow our cash flows by adding tenants to our towers at minimal incremental costs and executing monetary amendments;
our expectations regarding churn rates;
our election to be subject to tax as a REIT and our intent to continue to operate as a REIT;
our belief that our business is currently operated in a manner that complies with the REIT rules and our intent to continue to do so;
our plans regarding our distribution policy, and the amount and timing of, and source of funds for, any such distributions;
our expectations regarding the use of NOLs to reduce REIT taxable income;
our expectations regarding our capital allocation strategy, including future allocation decisions among portfolio growth, stock repurchases and dividends, the impact of our election to be taxed as a REIT on that strategy, and our goal of increasing our Adjusted Funds From Operations per share;
our expectations regarding dividends and our ability to grow our dividend in the future and the drivers of such growth;
our expectations regarding our future cash capital expenditures, both discretionary and non-discretionary, including expenditures required for new builds and to maintain, improve, and modify our towers, ground lease purchases, and general corporate expenditures, and the source of funds for these expenditures;
our expectations regarding our business strategies, including our strategy for securing rights to the land underlying our towers, and the impact of such strategies on our financial and operational results;
our intended use of our liquidity;
our intent to maintain our target leverage levels, including in light of our dividend;
our expectations regarding our debt service in 2020 and our belief that our cash on hand, capacity under our Revolving Credit Facility, and our cash flows from operations for the next twelve months will be sufficient to service our outstanding debt during the next twelve months; and
our expectations and estimates regarding certain tax and accounting matters, including the impact on our financial statements.
These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We wish to caution readers that certain important factors may have affected and could in the future affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. The most important factors that could prevent us from achieving our goals, and cause the assumptions underlying forward-looking statements and the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by those forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
the impact of consolidation among wireless service providers, including the impact of the merger between Sprint and T-Mobile, on our leasing revenue;
the ability of Dish Network to become and compete as a nationwide carrier;
our ability to continue to comply with covenants and the terms of our credit instruments and our ability to obtain additional financing to fund our capital expenditures;
our ability to successfully manage the risks associated with international operations, including risks relating to political or economic conditions, inflation, tax laws, currency restrictions and exchange rate fluctuations, legal or judicial systems, and land ownership;
our ability to successfully manage the risks associated with our acquisition initiatives, including our ability to satisfactorily complete due diligence on acquired towers, the amount and quality of due diligence that we are able to complete prior to closing of any acquisition, our ability to accurately anticipate the future performance of the acquired towers, our ability to receive required regulatory approval, the ability and willingness of each party to fulfill their respective closing conditions and their contractual obligations, and, once acquired, our ability to effectively integrate acquired towers into our business and to achieve the financial results projected in our valuation models for the acquired towers;
the health of the South Africa economy and wireless communications market, and the willingness of carriers to invest in their networks in that market;
developments in the wireless communications industry in general, and for wireless communications infrastructure providers in particular, that may slow growth or affect the willingness or ability of the wireless service providers to expend capital to fund network expansion or enhancements;
our ability to secure as many site leasing tenants as anticipated, recognize our expected economies of scale with respect to new tenants on our towers, and retain current leases on towers;
our ability to secure and deliver anticipated services business at contemplated margins;
our ability to build new towers, including our ability to identify and acquire land that would be attractive for our customers and to successfully and timely address zoning, permitting, weather, availability of labor and supplies and other issues that arise in connection with the building of new towers;
competition for the acquisition of towers and other factors that may adversely affect our ability to purchase towers that meet our investment criteria and are available at prices which we believe will be accretive to our shareholders and allow us to maintain our long-term target leverage ratios while achieving our expected portfolio growth levels;
our capital allocation decisions and the impact on our ability to achieve our expected tower portfolio growth levels;
our ability to protect our rights to the land under our towers, and our ability to acquire land underneath our towers on terms that are accretive;
our ability to sufficiently increase our revenues and maintain expenses and cash capital expenditures at appropriate levels to permit us to meet our anticipated uses of liquidity for operations, debt service and estimated portfolio growth;
the impact of rising interest rates on our results of operations and our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness at commercially reasonable rates or at all;
the extent and duration of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the global economy, on our business and results of operations, and on foreign currency exchange rates;
our ability to successfully estimate the impact of regulatory and litigation matters;
natural disasters and other unforeseen damage for which our insurance may not provide adequate coverage;
a decrease in demand for our towers;
the introduction of new technologies or changes in a tenant’s business model that may make our tower leasing business less desirable to existing or potential tenants;
our ability to qualify for treatment as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and to comply with and conduct our business in accordance with such rules;
our ability to utilize available NOLs to reduce REIT taxable income; and
our ability to successfully estimate the impact of certain accounting and tax matters, including the effect on our company of adopting certain accounting pronouncements and the availability of sufficient NOLs to offset future REIT taxable income.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
In order to ensure that the information we must disclose in our filings with the Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis, we have formalized our disclosure controls and procedures. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Securities and Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) as of March 31, 2020. Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of March 31, 2020, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
“Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 includes a discussion of our risk factors. The information presented below updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the risk factors and information disclosed in our Form 10-K. Many of the following risks and uncertainties, as well as the risk factors contained in our Form 10-K are, and will be, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and any worsening of the global business and economic environment as a result.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted worldwide economic conditions and could have a material adverse effect on our business operations, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, was identified in China. This virus continues to spread globally and in March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Public and private sector responsive measures, such as the imposition of travel restrictions, quarantines, adoption of remote working, and suspension of non-essential business and government services, could impact our operations. In addition, COVID-19 continues to significantly impact worldwide economic conditions, including negatively impacting economic growth and creating disruption and volatility in the global financial and capital markets. Among other things, COVID-19 and the responsive measures that have been adopted may adversely affect:
the ability of our suppliers and vendors to provide products and services to us;
demand for our wireless infrastructure;
our ability to build new towers or the ability of our customers to install new antennae on an existing tower, including as a result of delays or suspensions in the issuance of permits or other authorizations needed to increase the number of our tenants or amend our tenant leases;
our ability to refinance our substantial indebtedness;
interest rates and the overall availability and cost of capital, which could affect our ability to continue to grow our asset portfolio or pursue new business initiatives;
the financial condition of wireless service providers;
the ability and willingness of wireless service providers to maintain or increase capital expenditures;
the ability of our tenants to make lease payments on a timely basis; and
the willingness of our tenants to renew their existing leases for additional terms.
In addition, our results of operations may be negatively affected by foreign currency adjustments resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the recent strengthening of the U.S. Dollar against the currencies in certain international markets in which we operate. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on our business operations, results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition, will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the pandemic and related government restrictions, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. Additionally, if the COVID-19 pandemic results in a global recession, the negative impacts of the pandemic on our operating results may worsen or be prolonged.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table presents information related to our repurchases of Class A common stock during the first quarter of 2020:
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| Total |
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| Total Number of Shares |
| Approximate Dollar Value | ||
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| Number |
| Average |
| Purchased as Part of |
| of Shares that May Yet Be | ||
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| of Shares |
| Price Paid |
| Publicly Announced |
| Purchased Under the | ||
Period |
| Purchased |
| Per Share |
| Plans or Programs (1) |
| Plans or Programs | ||
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1/1/2020 - 1/31/2020 |
| — |
| $ | — |
| — |
| $ | 624,306,987 |
2/1/2020 - 2/29/2020 |
| 38,104 |
| $ | 262.44 |
| 38,104 |
| $ | 614,307,069 |
3/1/2020 - 3/31/2020 |
| 785,419 |
| $ | 241.91 |
| 785,419 |
| $ | 424,306,994 |
Total |
| 823,523 |
| $ | 242.86 |
| 823,523 |
| $ | 424,306,994 |
(1)Our Board of Directors authorizes us to purchase, from time to time, outstanding Class A common stock through open market repurchases in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, and/or in privately negotiated transactions at management’s discretion based on market and business conditions, applicable legal requirements, and other factors. Once authorized, the repurchase plan has no time deadline and will continue until otherwise modified or terminated by our Board of Directors at any time in its sole discretion. Shares repurchased are retired.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
(e)
On February 18, 2020, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved equity awards under our 2010 Performance and Equity Incentive Plan to our named executive officers, one-third in the form of time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and two-thirds in the form of performance-based RSUs (“PSUs”). The PSUs have three-year performance periods and will vest, to the extent earned, on February 25, 2023, which is the third anniversary of the award date. Half of the PSUs are earned based on the cumulative AFFO per share achieved by the Company during the three-year performance period, and the other half of the PSUs are earned based on the Company’s relative total shareholder return (“TSR”) percentile ranking relative to the constituent companies of the S&P 500 Index at the end of the three-year performance period. The number of PSUs that may be earned is 50% of the target amount if the threshold performance level is achieved, 100% of the target amount if the target performance level is achieved, and 200% of the target amount if the maximum level of performance is achieved. The terms of the time-based RSUs did not change from 2019 except that they will vest in three equal annual installments instead of four equal annual installments.
A form of the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for the RSU and PSU awards is filed as Exhibit 10.96 to this quarterly report.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
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Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibits |
10.96* | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Time and Performance Based). |
31.1 | |
31.2 | |
32.1 | |
32.2 | |
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. |
101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. |
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. |
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. |
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. |
104 | Cover Page Interactive File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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| SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION |
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May 6, 2020 | /s/ Jeffrey A. Stoops |
| Jeffrey A. Stoops |
| Chief Executive Officer |
| (Duly Authorized Officer) |
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May 6, 2020 | /s/ Brendan T. Cavanagh |
| Brendan T. Cavanagh |
| Chief Financial Officer |
| (Principal Financial Officer) |