116 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
T: 617-375-7500
F: 617-375-7575
americantower.com
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2019
A n n u a l R e p o r t
© 2020 ATC IP LLC. All rights reserved.
Corporate Profile
Founded in 1995, American Tower is one of the largest global
real estate investment trusts (REITs) and a leading independent
owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications
real estate. Our primary business is the leasing of space on
communications sites to wireless service providers, radio
and television broadcast companies, wireless data providers,
government agencies and municipalities and tenants in a
number of other industries. In addition, we offer tower-related
services in the United States, including site acquisition, zoning
and permitting and structural analysis, which primarily support
our site leasing business, including the addition of new tenants
and equipment on our sites.
Our portfolio consists of towers we own and towers we
operate pursuant to long-term lease arrangements, as well as
Distributed Antenna System (DAS) networks, which provide
seamless coverage solutions in certain in-building and outdoor
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION
Executive Management Team
Thomas A. Bartlett
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Edmund DiSanto
Executive Vice President, Chief
Administrative Officer, General
Counsel and Secretary
Olivier Puech
Executive Vice President
and President, Latin America
and EMEA
Amit Sharma
Executive Vice President and
President, Asia
Rodney M. Smith
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
Steven O. Vondran
Executive Vice President
and President, U.S. Tower
Division
wireless environments. In addition to the communications sites
Directors
in our portfolio, we manage rooftop and tower sites for property
owners under various contractual arrangements. We also hold
other telecommunications infrastructure, fiber and property
interests that we lease primarily to communications service
providers and third-party tower operators. Our communications
real estate portfolio of approximately 180,000 communications
sites includes nearly 41,000 sites in the United States, nearly
75,000 sites in Asia, over 18,000 sites in Africa, more than
4,700 sites in Europe and nearly 41,000 sites in Latin America.
(From left to right) James D. Taiclet, executive Chairman – American Tower Corporation; Raymond P. Dolan, Chairman and
CEO – Cohere Technologies, Inc.; Robert D. Hormats, Managing Director – Tiedemann Advisors; Gustavo Lara Cantu,
Former CEO – Monsanto Company, Latin America North Division; Grace D. Lieblein, Former VP, Global Quality – General
Motors; Craig Macnab, Former Chairman and CEO – National Retail Properties, Inc.
(From left to right) JoAnn A. Reed, Former CFO – Medco Health Solutions, Inc.; Pamela D.A. Reeve, Former President
and CEO – Lightbridge, Inc.; David E. Sharbutt, Former Chairman and CEO – Alamosa Holdings, Inc.; Bruce L. Tanner,
Former EVP and CFO – Lockheed Martin Corporation; Samme L. Thompson, President – Telit Associates, Inc.
Certifications
The certifications by the
Company’s CEO and CFO
required under Section 302 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 have been filed as
exhibits to the Company’s
2019 Annual Report on Form
10-K. The Annual CEO
Certification pursuant to New
York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
Corporate Governance
Standards Section 303A.12(a)
was submitted to the NYSE on
June 17, 2019.
Non-Incorporation
The Company’s Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31,
2019, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange
Commission, is included within
this Annual Report. Other than
the 2019 Form 10-K, all other
portions of this Annual Report
are not “filed” with the
Securities and Exchange
Commission and should not be
deemed so.
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of
stockholders will be held on
Monday, May 18, 2020 and is
scheduled to commence at
11:00 a.m., Eastern Time.
Stockholders may attend the
annual meeting virtually
through a live audio webcast at:
www.virtualshareholdermeet-
ing.com/AMT2020
There will be no physical
location for the meeting.
Corporate Headquarters
116 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
Registrar and Stock
Transfer Agent
Computershare
Common Stock
The Company’s Common Stock
is traded on the NYSE under
the symbol AMT.
Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
DriveGrowInnovate Lead April 6, 2020
To Our Stakeholders,
In 2019, the men and women of American Tower delivered another year of strong performance
on behalf of our investors, tenants and communities. We drove leading Organic Tenant
Billings Growth1 in the U.S., generated solid results internationally and added nearly 14,000
communications sites to our global portfolio through a combination of acquisitions and our new
site construction program. Simultaneously, we strengthened our investment-grade balance sheet
by reducing our aggregate borrowing costs and extending the average tenor of our debt, while
growing our dividend by 20%.
As a result, we delivered total returns of more than 45% for stockholders while pursuing our
Company’s vision of “making wireless communication possible everywhere.” This mission
motivates each of our nearly 5,500 employees in 19 countries on five continents to strive to
improve mobile communications service for our communities in a sustainable manner while
increasing the speed and efficiency of network deployments for our tenants.
19
Countries
~5,500
Global Employees
~180,000
Total Communications Sites
2
1 Definitions and reconciliations of non-GAAP metrics
are provided at the end of this document.
Stand and Deliver
As we look forward, everyone in our Company remains focused on executing the strategic
plan we unveiled back in 2018.
This strategic plan, called Stand and Deliver, has four primary elements we believe will
position American Tower to provide compelling returns for our investors while significantly
contributing to mobile broadband connectivity worldwide for years to come:
Drive
efficiency throughout the industry
Grow
our assets and capabilities to meet
customer needs
Innovate
for a mobile future
Lead
wireless connectivity around
the globe
3
Drive
efficiency throughout the industry
The most effective way for us to increase profitability and operating margins is to maximize
organic growth across our global portfolio. We further improve our financial performance by
actively managing direct operating expenses, SG&A and other spending and delivering an
optimal experience for our tenants. Reducing cycle times, simplifying tenant lease administration
and finding other ways to minimize waste and maximize collaboration are front and center
for our teams throughout the business. By leveraging these initiatives and more, our ongoing
target is to convert at least 85-90% of organic revenue growth into operating profit across our
footprint. As a result, we expect the underlying margin profile of the business to continue to
improve over time, along with our Return on Invested Capital1.
1 Definitions and reconciliations of non-GAAP metrics
are provided at the end of this document.
4
Grow
our assets and capabilities to meet customer needs
In addition to optimizing our existing asset base, we proactively seek to augment our global
portfolio through a combination of acquisitions and new construction. In just the past five years,
we have acquired over 100,000 communications sites, including from many of the leading
multinational wireless operators in the U.S. and around the world. In 2019 specifically, we added
over 9,000 sites through M&A, including approximately 5,800 sites across Africa through our
Eaton Towers transaction, significantly enhancing our scale across Kenya, Ghana and Uganda
while entering two new markets. We also added approximately 2,400 sites in Chile and Peru
and acquired more than 400 high-quality sites in the U.S. As always, these transactions, which
we believe will help us drive strong returns over an extended period of time, were completed
through our long-held investment evaluation methodology.
In addition to acquisitions, we have constructed more than 14,000 sites over the past five years,
including a record of over 4,500 in 2019. Importantly, these sites are consistently generating
average day 1 NOI yields1 in the double digits, demonstrating the tremendous return potential
of our build program. Going forward, as advanced mobile technologies proliferate in many of
the emerging markets where we operate, we expect to have attractive opportunities to further
scale our new build initiatives and acquire additional assets.
Return on Invested Capital2
Communications Site Growth
11.3%
10.2%
10.6%
9.9%
9.4%
~116K
~102K
~71K
~78K
~25K
2015
2016
2017
20183
2019
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
I N C R E A S E D 1.2%
Cumulative
New Builds
Cumulative
Acquisitions
1 Definitions and reconciliations of non-GAAP metrics
are provided at the end of this document.
2 Adjusted to annualize impacts of acquisitions closed
throughout each year.
3 Positively impacted by the Company’s settlement
with Tata in Q4 2018.
5
Innovate
for a mobile future
A culture of innovation has been in place at American Tower for many years — we have been
industry innovators and thought leaders in key areas such as contract structure, international
expansion strategy and the introduction of more efficient and environmentally friendly energy
solutions in emerging markets.
In 2017, with 5G and other exciting developments on the horizon, we took this one step further
and formalized an innovation program, placing an experienced, highly knowledgeable CTO at
its helm. We believe that technological evolution will provide new opportunities to enhance
the value of our existing assets, attract new tenants and develop complementary, high-return
business models.
In the several years since the innovation program’s
inception, we have made tangible progress in
a number of areas, including in fuel and power
provision, edge computing, multi-tenant fiber
and small cells in select international geographies,
and CBRS-driven indoor networks in the U.S.
Importantly, as we drive toward our aspirational
goal of generating $1.7 billion in revenue from
innovation initiatives by 2027, we anticipate that the
bulk of our innovation-related growth will be on or
around our existing macro tower assets. And when
assessing any adjacent asset classes that we pursue
through our innovation initiative, we will employ the
same analytical rigor that we have applied to our
investments in towers.
6
Lead
wireless connectivity around the globe
The overarching objective of Stand and Deliver is for American
Tower to lead our industry. This includes setting high standards for
corporate governance, business ethics and sustainability practices
as we strive to improve access to broadband connectivity,
particularly for underserved populations.
American Tower holds a special leadership position at the intersection of the technology
and real estate industries. Our participation in the World Economic Forum and the National
Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit) are just a few of the many affiliations
that are designed to enhance our understanding of the world around us and position
American Tower to continue to make a positive global impact through the transformative
nature of access to wireless connectivity.
7
In Closing
We are energized by the positive impact our Company can have on behalf of our investors,
tenants, employees and communities, and are fortunate to find ourselves in a position of
strength. Our board of directors, senior leadership team and dedicated employees from Boston
to Sao Paolo to Paris to Johannesburg to Delhi are committed to executing Stand and Deliver
as we play a lead role in accelerating global growth in mobile technology.
This commitment resonates especially strongly today, in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19
crisis. Our first priority, as always, is the health and safety of our employees, tenants, suppliers
and surrounding communities. Through our American Tower Foundation, we are making grants
to organizations focused on slowing the spread of COVID-19 and assisting communities in need
during the pandemic. At the same time, our communications real estate, on a global basis,
is helping to connect billions of people to their family members, friends and caregivers while
providing access to vitally important information. As social distancing and other safety measures
are implemented, and as more people than ever work remotely, we stand ready to provide the
mission-critical communications infrastructure necessary to support the tremendous demand for
mobile services.
Finally, on a personal note, it’s an honor for me to lead a Company that will play such an
important role in the digital future. Having had the privilege of working with Jim and the other
members of our executive team over the past decade, I am confident that we are optimally
positioned for the future. We appreciate your ongoing support as stakeholders and look
forward to extending our track record of strong performance and returns.
Thomas A. Bartlett
President & Chief Executive Officer
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One):
Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019
Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-14195
American Tower Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
65-0723837
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
116 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(Address of principal executive offices)
Telephone Number (617) 375-7500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each Class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
1.375% Senior Notes due 2025
1.950% Senior Notes due 2026
AMT
AMT 25A
AMT 26B
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act: Yes
No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act: Yes
No
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
No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of
d
Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes
No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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. (Check One):
Large accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Emerging growth company
Accelerated filer
Smaller reporting 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
ff
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 Act): Yes
No
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2019 was $89.9 billion, based
on the closing price of the registrant’s common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently
completed second quarter.
f
As of February 18, 2020, there were 442,911,804 shares of common stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the definitive proxy statement (the “Definitive Proxy Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission relative to the
registrant’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
PART I
ITEM 1.
Business
Page
Overview
Products and Services
Strategy
Regulatory Matters
Competition
Employees
Executive Officers
Available Information
Risk Factors
Properties
Legal Proceedings
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
ITEM 2.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
PART II
ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases
of Equity Securities
Dividends
Performance Graph
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
ITEM 6.
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Selected Financial Data
Executive Overview
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Results of Operations: Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Accounting Standards Updates
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
ITEM 8.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
ITEM 9.
ii
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2
4
6
7
7
8
8
8
15
16
17
17
18
18
18
20
20
22
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26
28
38
48
51
52
53
53
i
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS—(Continued)
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PART III
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
ITEM 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
PART IV
ITEM 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
Index to Exhibits
ITEM 16. Form 10-K Summary
Signatures
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
53
53
53
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56
57
58
58
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66
67
F-1
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Annual Report”) contains statements about future events and expectations, or
forward-looking statements, all of which are inherently uncertain. We have based those forward-looking statements on our
current expectations and projections about future results. When we use words such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,”
“believes,” “estimates,” “expects” or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-
looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding future prospects of growth in the
communications site leasing industry, the effects of consolidation among companies in our industry and among our tenants and
t
other competitive and financial pressures, the level of future expenditures by companies in this industry and other trends in this
industry, changes in zoning, tax and other laws and regulations and administrative and judicial decisions, economic, political
and other events, particularly those relating to our international operations, our future capital expenditure levels, the impact of
technology changes on our industry and our business, our ability to maintain or increase our market share, our plans to fund our
future liquidity needs, our substantial leverage and debt service obligations, our future financing transactions, our future
operating results, our ability to remain qualified for taxation as a real estate investment trust (REIT), the amount and timing of
any future distributions including those we are required to make as a REIT, natural disasters and similar events and our abilitytt
to protect our rights to the land under our towers. These statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions,
which in turn are based on currently available information. These assumptions could prove inaccurate. These forward-looking
statements may be found under the captions “Business” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations,” as well as in this Annual Report generally.
ii
You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement we make in this Annual Report or elsewhere speaks only as
of the date on which we make it. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these
events or how they may affect us. In any event, these and other important factors, including those set forth in Item 1A of this
Annual Report under the caption “Risk Factors,” may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by our
forward-looking statements. We have no duty, and do not intend, to update or revise the forward-looking statements we make in
this Annual Report, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that thet
future events or circumstances described in any forward-looking statement we make in this Annual Report or elsewhere might
not occur. References in this Annual Report to “we,” “our” and the “Company” refer to American Tower Corporation and its
predecessor, as applicable, individually and collectively with its subsidiaries as the context requires.
iii
ITEM 1.
BUSINESS
Overview
PART I
We are one of the largest global real estate investment trusts and a leading independent owner, operator and developer of
multitenant communications real estate. Our primary business is the leasing of space on communications sites to wireless
service providers, radio and television broadcast companies, wireless data providers, government agencies and municipalities
and tenants in a number of other industries. We refer to this business as our property operations, which accounted for 98% of
our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019. We also offer tower-related services in the United States, which we
refer to as our services operations. These services include site acquisition, zoning and permitting and structural analysis, which
primarily support our site leasing business, including the addition of new tenants and equipment on our sites.
American Tower Corporation was originally created as a subsidiary of American Radio Systems Corporation in 1995 and
was spun off into a free-standing public company in 1998. We are a holding company and conduct our operations through our
directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures. Our principal domestic operating subsidiaries are American
Towers LLC and SpectraSite Communications, LLC. We conduct our international operations primarily through our subsidiary,
American Tower International, Inc., which in turn conducts operations through its various international holding and operating
subsidiaries and joint ventures.
Since inception, we have grown our communications real estate portfolio through acquisitions, long-term lease
arrangements and site development. Our portfolio primarily consists of towers that we own and towers that we operate pursuant
to long-term lease arrangements, as well as distributed antenna system (“DAS”) networks, which provide seamless coverage
solutions in certain in-building and outdoor wireless environments. In addition to the communications sites in our portfolio, we
manage rooftop and tower sites for property owners under various contractual arrangements. We also hold other
telecommunications infrastructure, fiber and property interests that we lease primarily to communications service providers and
third-party tower operators.
In 2019, we added approximately 5,800 communications sites to our portfolio in Africa and launched operations in
Burkina Faso and Niger as part of our acquisition of Eaton Towers Holdings Limited (“Eaton Towers,” and the acquisition, the
“Eaton Towers Acquisition”). We also signed a definitive agreement to acquire approximately 3,200 communications sites in
Chile and Peru from Entel PCS Telecomunicaciones S.A. and Entel Peru S.A. and closed on the first tranche of sites, adding
approximately 2,400 communications sites to our portfolio in Latin America (the “Entel Acquisition”). The remaining
communications sites are expected to close in tranches beginning in the first quarter of 2020, subject to certain closing
conditions. As of December 31, 2019, our communications real estate portfolio of 179,520 communications sites included
40,974 communications sites in the U.S., 74,712 communications sites in Asia, 18,370 communications sites in Africa, 4,736
communications sites in Europe and 40,728 communications sites in Latin America, as well as urban telecommunications
assets in Argentina, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa.
We operate as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes (“REIT”). Accordingly, we generally are
not required to pay U.S. federal income taxes on income generated by our REIT operations, including the income derived from
leasing space on our towers, as we receive a dividends paid deduction for distributions to stockholders that generally offsets our
REIT income and gains. However, we remain obligated to pay U.S. federal income taxes on earnings from our domestic taxable
REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”). In addition, our international assets and operations, regardless of their classification for U.S. tax
purposes, continue to be subject to taxation in the jurisdictions where those assets are held or those operations are conducted.
The use of TRSs enables us to continue to engage in certain businesses while complying with REIT qualification
requirements. We may, from time to time, change the election of previously designated TRSs to be included as part of the
REIT. As of December 31, 2019, our REIT-qualified businesses included our U.S. tower leasing business and a majority of our
U.S. indoor DAS networks business and services segment, as well as most of our operations in Mexico, Germany, Costa Rica,
Nigeria and France.
During the fourth quarter of 2019, as a result of recent acquisitions, including the Eaton Towers Acquisition, and changes
to our organizational structure, we reviewed and changed our reportable segments to divide our Europe, Middle East and Africa
(“EMEA”) property segment into two separate segments, Africa property and Europe property. We now report our results in six
segments – U.S. property, Asia property, Africa property, Europe property, Latin America property and services. We believe this
change provides more visibility into these operating segments and better aligns our reporting with management’s current
approach of allocating costs and resources, managing growth and profitability and assessing the operating performance of our
business segments.
1
Products and Services
Property Operations
Our property operations accounted for 98%, 98% and 99% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019,
2018 and 2017, respectively. Our revenue is primarily generated from tenant leases. Our tenants lease space on our
communications real estate, where they install and maintain their equipment. Rental payments vary considerably depending
upon numerous factors, including, but not limited to, amount, type and position of tenant equipment on the tower, remaining
tower capacity and tower location. Our costs typically include ground rent (which is primarily fixed under long-term lease
agreements with annual cost escalations) and power and fuel costs, some or all of which may be passed through to our tenants,
as well as property taxes and repair and maintenance expenses. Our property operations have generated consistent growth in
revenue and typically have low cash flow volatility due to the following characteristics:
•
•
Long-term tenant leases with contractual rent escalations. In general, our tenant leases with wireless carriers have
initial non-cancellable terms of five to ten years with multiple renewal terms, with provisions that periodically increase
the rent due under the lease, typically annually, based on a fixed escalation percentage (averaging approximately 3% in
the United States) or an inflationary index in our international markets, or a combination of both. Based upon foreign
currency exchange rates and the tenant leases in place as of December 31, 2019, we expect to generate nearly $46.9
billion of non-cancellable tenant lease revenue over future periods, before the impact of straight-line lease accounting.
Consistent demand for our sites. As a result of rapidly growing usage of mobile data and other wireless services and
the corresponding wireless industry capital spending trends in the markets we serve, we anticipate consistent demand
for our communications sites. We believe that our global asset base positions us well to benefit from the increasing
proliferation of advanced wireless devices and the increasing usage of high bandwidth applications on those devices.
We have the ability to add new tenants and new equipment for existing tenants on our sites, which typically results in
incremental revenue and modest incremental costs. Our site portfolio and our established tenant base provide us with a
solid platform for new business opportunities, which has historically resulted in consistent and predictable organic
revenue growth.
• High lease renewal rates. Our tenants tend to renew leases because suitable alternative sites may not exist or be
available and repositioning a site in their network may be expensive and may adversely affect network quality.
Historically, churn has averaged approximately 1% to 2% of tenant billings per year. We define churn as tenant
billings lost when a tenant cancels or does not renew its lease or, in limited circumstances, when the lease rates on
existing leases are reduced. We derive our churn rate for a given year by dividing our tenant billings lost on this basis
by our prior-year tenant billings. As discussed in Item 7 of this Annual Report under the caption “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Executive Overview,” we experienced
elevated levels of churn in recent years due to carrier consolidation-driven churn in India. We anticipate that our churn
rate will move closer to historical levels over time, however, in the immediate term, we expect that our churn rate will
remain elevated, primarily due to the uncertainty created by the recent court ruling by the Indian Supreme Court, as set
forth in Item 1A of this Annual Report under the captions “Risk Factors—A substantial portion of our revenue is
derived from a small number of tenants, and we are sensitive to adverse changes in the creditworthiness and financial
strength of our tenants” and “Risk Factors—Our business, and that of our tenants, is subject to laws, regulations and
administrative and judicial decisions, and changes thereto, that could restrict our ability to operate our business as we
currently do or impact our competitive landscape.”
• High operating margins. Incremental operating costs associated with adding new tenants or equipment to an existing
communications site are relatively minimal. Therefore, as tenants or equipment are added, the substantial majority of
incremental revenue flows through to gross margin and operating profit. In addition, in many of our international
markets certain expenses, such as ground rent or power and fuel costs, are reimbursed or shared by our tenant base.
•
Low maintenance capital expenditures. On average, we require relatively low amounts of annual capital
expenditures to maintain our communications sites.
Our property business includes the operation of communications sites and managed networks, the leasing of property
interests, and, in select markets, the operation of fiber and the provision of backup power through shared generators. Our
presence in a number of markets at different relative stages of wireless development provides us with significant diversification
and long-term growth potential. Our property segments accounted for the following percentage of consolidated total revenue
2
for the years ended December 31,:
U.S.
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
2019
2018
2017
55%
16%
8%
2%
18%
51%
21%
7%
2%
17%
55%
17%
7%
2%
18%
Communications Sites. Approximately 95%, 96% and 97% of revenue in our property segments was attributable to our
communications sites, excluding DAS networks, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
We lease space on our communications sites to tenants providing a diverse range of communications services, including
cellular voice and data, broadcasting, mobile video and a number of other applications. In addition, in many of our international
markets, we receive pass-through revenue from our tenants to cover certain costs, including power and fuel costs and ground
rent. Our top tenants by revenue for each region are as follows for the year ended December 31, 2019:
• U.S.: AT&T Inc. (“AT&T”); Verizon Wireless; T-Mobile US, Inc. (“T-Mobile”); and Sprint Corporation (“Sprint”)
accounted for an aggregate of 89% of U.S. property segment revenue. T-Mobile and Sprint have announced plans to
merge in 2020.
• Asia: Vodafone Idea Limited; Bharti Airtel Limited (“Airtel”); and Reliance Jio accounted for an aggregate of 83% of
Asia property segment revenue.
• Africa: MTN Group Limited (“MTN”); and Airtel accounted for an aggregate of 74% of Africa property segment
revenue.
• Europe: Telefónica S.A (“Telefónica”); Bouygues; and Free accounted for an aggregate of 70% of Europe property
segment revenue.
• Latin America: Telefónica; AT&T; and América Móvil accounted for an aggregate of 58% of Latin America property
segment revenue.
Accordingly, we are subject to certain risks, as set forth in Item 1A of this Annual Report under the caption “Risk Factors
—A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from a small number of tenants, and we are sensitive to changes in the
creditworthiness and financial strength of our tenants.” In addition, we are subject to risks related to our international
operations, as set forth under the caption “Risk Factors—Our foreign operations are subject to economic, political and other
risks that could materially and adversely affect our revenues or financial position, including risks associated with fluctuations in
foreign currency exchange rates.”
Managed Networks, Property Interests, Fiber and Shared Generators. In addition to our communications sites, we also
own and operate several types of managed network solutions, provide communications site management services to third
parties, manage and lease property interests under carrier or other third-party communications sites, provide the right to use
fiber and provide back-up power sources to tenants at our sites. The balance of our property segment revenue not attributable to
our communications sites was attributable to these items.
• Managed Networks. We own and operate DAS networks in the United States and certain international markets. We
obtain rights from property owners to install and operate in-building DAS networks, and we grant rights to wireless
service providers to attach their equipment to our installations. We also offer a small portfolio of outdoor DAS
networks as a complementary shared infrastructure solution for our tenants in the United States and in certain
international markets. Typically, we have designed, built and operated our outdoor DAS networks in areas in which
zoning restrictions or other barriers may prevent or delay deployment of more traditional wireless communications
sites, such as macro tower sites. We also hold lease rights and easement interests on rooftops capable of hosting
communications equipment in locations where towers are generally not a viable solution based on area
characteristics. In addition, we provide management services to property owners in the United States who elect to
retain full rights to their property while simultaneously marketing the rooftop for wireless communications equipment
installation. As the demand for advanced wireless services in urban markets evolves, we continue to evaluate a variety
of infrastructure solutions, including small cells and other network architectures that may support our tenants’
networks in these areas.
•
Fiber and Related Assets. We own and operate fiber and related assets in Argentina, Brazil, India, Mexico, South
Africa and the United States, which we currently provide the right to use to communications and internet service
providers and third-party operators to support their telecommunications infrastructure. We expect to continue to
3
evaluate opportunities to invest in and provide the right to use these and other similar assets to providers and operators
in the future for additional fourth generation (4G) and fifth generation (5G) deployments.
• Property Interests. We own a portfolio of property interests in the United States under carrier or other third-party
communications sites, which provides recurring cash flow under complementary leasing arrangements.
•
Shared Generators. We have contracts with certain of our tenants in the United States pursuant to which we provide
access to shared backup power generators.
Services Operations
We offer tower-related services in the United States, including site acquisition, zoning and permitting and structural
analysis services. Our services operations primarily support our site leasing business, including through the addition of new
tenants and equipment on our sites. This segment accounted for 2%, 2% and 1% of our total revenue for the years ended
December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Site Acquisition, Zoning and Permitting. We engage in site acquisition services on our own behalf in connection with our
tower development projects, as well as on behalf of our tenants. We typically work with our tenants’ engineers to determine the
geographic areas where new communications sites will best address the tenants’ needs and meet their coverage objectives.
Once a new site is identified, we acquire the rights to the land or structure on which the site will be constructed, and we manage
the permitting process to ensure all necessary approvals are obtained to construct and operate the communications site.
Structural Analysis. We offer structural analysis services to wireless carriers in connection with the installation of their
communications equipment on our towers. Our team of engineers can evaluate whether a tower structure can support the
additional burden of the new equipment or if an upgrade is needed, which enables our tenants to better assess potential sites
before making an installation decision. Our structural analysis capabilities enable us to provide higher quality service to our
existing tenants by, among other things, reducing the time required to achieve on-air readiness, while also providing
opportunities to offer structural analysis services to third parties.
Strategy
Operational Strategy
As the use of wireless services on handsets, tablets and other advanced mobile devices grows and evolves, there is a
corresponding increase in demand for the communications infrastructure required to deploy current and future generations of
wireless communications technologies. To capture this demand, our primary operational focus is to (i) increase the occupancy
of our existing communications real estate portfolio to support global connectivity, (ii) invest in and selectively grow our
communications real estate portfolio, (iii) further improve our operational performance and efficiency, including through
innovation initiatives and (iv) maintain a strong balance sheet. We believe these efforts to meet our tenants’ needs will support
and enhance our ability to capitalize on the growth in demand for wireless infrastructure. In addition, we expect to explore new
opportunities to enhance or extend our shared communications infrastructure businesses, including those that may make our
assets incrementally more attractive to new tenants, or to existing tenants for new uses, and those that increase our operational
efficiency.
•
•
Increase the occupancy of our existing communications real estate portfolio to support global connectivity. We
believe that our highest incremental returns will be achieved by leasing additional space on our existing
communications sites. Increasing demand for wireless services in our served markets has resulted in significant capital
spending by major wireless carriers and other connectivity providers. As a result, we anticipate growing demand for
our communications sites because they are attractively located and typically have capacity available for additional
tenants and equipment. In the United States, incremental carrier network activity is being driven primarily by the
construction and densification of 4G networks, as well as initial deployments of 5G. In our international markets,
carriers are deploying a combination of second generation (2G), third generation (3G) and, more recently, 4G
networks, depending on the specific market. We believe that the majority of our towers have capacity for additional
tenants and that substantially all of our towers that are currently at or near full structural capacity can be upgraded or
augmented to meet future tenant demand with relatively modest capital investment. Therefore, we will continue to
target our sales and marketing activities to increase the utilization and return on investment of our existing
communications sites.
Invest in and selectively grow our communications real estate portfolio to meet our tenants’ needs. We seek
opportunities to invest in and grow our operations through our capital expenditure program, new site construction and
acquisitions. We believe we can achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns by pursuing such investments. In addition, we
seek to secure property interests under our communications sites to improve operating margins as we reduce our cash
operating expense related to ground leases. A significant portion of our inorganic growth has been focused on
4
properties with lower initial tenancy because we believe that over time we can significantly increase tenancy levels,
and therefore, drive strong returns on those assets.
• Further improve our operational performance and efficiency, including through innovation initiatives. We
continue to seek opportunities to improve our operational performance throughout the organization. This includes
investing in our systems and people as we strive to improve efficiency and provide superior service to our tenants. To
achieve this, we intend to continue to focus on customer service initiatives, such as reducing cycle times for key
functions, including lease processing and tower structural analysis. Through our innovation program, we are also
focused on developing and implementing renewable power solutions across our footprint to reduce our reliance on
fossil fuels and help improve the overall efficiency of the communications infrastructure and wireless industries. We
also expect to use our innovation program to explore additional ways to enhance the efficiency of our operations over
time.
• Maintain a strong balance sheet. We remain committed to disciplined financial policies, which we believe result in
our ability to maintain a strong balance sheet and will support our overall strategy and focus on asset growth and
operational excellence. As a result of these policies, we currently have investment grade credit ratings. We continue to
focus on maintaining a robust liquidity position and, as of December 31, 2019, had $4.4 billion of available liquidity.
We believe that our investment grade credit ratings provide us consistent access to the capital markets and our liquidity
provides us the ability to continue to invest in growing and augmenting our business.
Capital Allocation Strategy
The objective of our capital allocation strategy is to simultaneously increase adjusted funds from operations and our
return on invested capital over the long term. To maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT, we are required annually to
distribute an amount equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined before the deduction for distributed
earnings and excluding any net capital gain) to our stockholders. After complying with our REIT distribution requirements, we
plan to continue to allocate our available capital among investment alternatives that meet or exceed our return on investment
criteria, while taking into account the repayment of debt consistent with our financial policies.
• Capital expenditure program. We expect to continue to invest in and expand our existing communications real estate
portfolio through our capital expenditure program. This includes capital expenditures associated with site
maintenance, increasing the capacity of our existing sites and projects such as new site construction, land interest
acquisitions and power solutions.
• Acquisitions. We intend to pursue acquisitions of communications sites and other telecommunications infrastructure
in our existing or new markets where we can meet or exceed our risk-adjusted return on investment criteria. The risk-
adjusted hurdle rates used to evaluate acquisition opportunities consider additional factors such as the country and
counterparties involved, investment and economic climate, legal and regulatory conditions and industry risk, among
others.
• Return excess capital to stockholders. If we have excess capital available after funding (i) our required distributions,
(ii) capital expenditures, (iii) the repayment of debt consistent with our financial policies and (iv) anticipated future
investments, including acquisition and select innovation opportunities, we will seek to return such excess capital to
stockholders, including through our stock repurchase programs.
International Growth Strategy
We believe that, in certain international markets, we can create substantial value by either establishing a new, or
expanding our existing, communications real estate leasing business. Therefore, we expect we will continue to seek
international growth opportunities where we believe our risk-adjusted return objectives can be achieved. We strive to maintain
a diversified approach to our international growth strategy by operating in a geographically diverse array of markets in a variety
of stages of wireless network development. Our international growth strategy includes a disciplined, individualized market
evaluation, in which we conduct the following analyses, among others:
• Country analysis. Prior to entering a new market, we conduct an extensive review of the country’s historical and
projected macroeconomic fundamentals, including inflation and foreign currency exchange rate trends, demographics,
capital markets, tax regime and investment alternatives, and the general business, political and legal environments,
including property rights and regulatory regime.
• Wireless industry analysis. To confirm the presence of sufficient demand to support an independent tower leasing
model, we analyze the competitiveness of the country’s wireless market. This includes an evaluation of the industry’s
pricing environment, past and potential consolidation and the stage of its wireless network development.
Characteristics that result in an attractive investment opportunity include (i) multiple competitive wireless service
providers who are actively seeking to invest in deploying voice and data networks and (ii) ongoing or expected
deployment of incremental spectrum from recent or anticipated auctions.
5
• Opportunity and counterparty analysis. Once an investment opportunity is identified within a geographic area with
an attractive wireless industry, we conduct a multifaceted opportunity and counterparty analysis. This includes
evaluating (i) the type of transaction, (ii) its ability to meet our risk-adjusted return criteria given the country and the
counterparties involved, including the anticipated anchor tenant and (iii) how the transaction fits within our long-term
strategic objectives, including future potential investment and expansion within the region.
Regulatory Matters
Towers, Antennas and Fiber. Our U.S. and international tower leasing businesses are subject to national, state and local
regulatory requirements with respect to the registration, siting, construction, lighting, marking and maintenance of our towers.
In the United States, which accounted for 56% of our total property segment revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019,
the construction of new towers or modifications to existing towers may require pre-approval by the Federal Communications
Commission (“FCC”) and the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”), depending on factors such as tower height and
proximity to public airfields. Towers requiring pre-approval must be registered with the FCC and maintained in accordance
with FAA standards. Similar requirements regarding pre-approval of the construction and modification of towers are imposed
by regulators in other countries. Non-compliance with applicable tower-related requirements may lead to monetary penalties or
site deconstruction orders.
Certain of our international operations are subject to regulatory requirements with respect to licensing, registration,
permitting and public listings. In India, our subsidiary, ATC Telecom Infrastructure Private Limited (“ATC TIPL”), holds an
Infrastructure Provider Category-I (“IP-I”) Registration Certificate issued by the Indian Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology, which permits us to provide tower space to companies licensed as telecommunications service
providers under the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885. As a condition to the IP-I, the Indian government has the right to take over
telecommunications infrastructure in the case of emergency or war. Additionally, in 2018, ATC TIPL issued non-convertible
debentures, which are listed on the National Stock Exchange of India. Although the debt is held by another subsidiary of ours
and is eliminated in consolidation, ATC TIPL is still subject to the listing requirements of such exchange.
In Africa, our subsidiaries in Ghana, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria and Uganda are required to hold a license in order to establish
and maintain passive telecommunications infrastructure services and DAS networks for communications service providers. In
Burkina Faso, a new licensing regime was recently enacted which will require any subsidiary there to be licensed in 2020.
Additionally, in Uganda, our subsidiary is subject to review for three years commencing in 2020 by a monitoring trustee
regarding compliance with certain conditions of approval of the Eaton Towers Acquisition.
In Latin America, our subsidiaries in Chile and Argentina hold licenses for the provision of passive telecommunications
infrastructure and, in Argentina, for leasing of fiber. The subsidiaries that hold our fiber business in Mexico and Brazil are also
licensed and regulated as concession holders and permit holders authorized to provide telecommunications services. In many of
the markets in which we operate, we are required to provide tower space to service providers on a non-discriminatory basis,
subject to the negotiation of mutually agreeable terms.
Our international business operations may be subject to increased licensing fees or ownership restrictions. For example,
in South Africa, the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003 (the “BBBEE Act”) has established a legislative
framework for the promotion of economic empowerment of South African citizens disadvantaged by Apartheid. Accordingly,
the BBBEE Act and related codes measure BBBEE Act compliance and good corporate practice by the inclusion of certain
ownership, management control, employment equity and other metrics for companies that do business there. In Kenya, our
regulator requires all holders of a commercial license to issue at least 20% of their shares to Kenyans within three years of
receiving the license unless a waiver is obtained. In addition, certain municipalities have sought to impose permit fees based
upon structural or operational requirements of towers and certain regional and other governmental bodies have sought to
impose levies or other forms of fees. Our foreign operations may be affected if a country’s regulatory authority restricts,
revokes or modifies spectrum licenses of certain wireless service providers or implements limitations on foreign ownership.
In all countries where we operate, we are subject to zoning restrictions and restrictive covenants imposed by local
authorities or community organizations. While these regulations vary, they typically require tower owners or tenants to obtain
approval from local authorities or community standards organizations prior to tower construction or the addition of a new
antenna to an existing tower. Local zoning authorities and community residents often oppose construction in their communities,
which can delay or prevent new tower construction, new antenna installation or site upgrade projects, thereby limiting our
ability to respond to tenant demand. This opposition and existing or new zoning regulations can increase costs associated with
new tower construction, tower modifications or additions of new antennas to a site or site upgrades, as well as adversely affect
the associated timing or cost of such projects. Further, additional regulations may be adopted that cause delays or result in
additional costs to us or changes in the competitive landscape that may negatively affect our business. These factors could
materially and adversely affect our operations. In the United States, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 prohibits any action
6
by state and local authorities that would discriminate between different providers of wireless services or ban altogether the
construction, modification or placement of communications sites. It also prohibits state or local restrictions based on the
environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent the facilities comply with FCC regulations. Further, in
February 2012, the United States government adopted regulations requiring that local and state governments approve
modifications or colocations that qualify as eligible facilities under the regulations.
Portions of our business are subject to additional regulations, for example, in a number of states throughout the United
States, certain of our subsidiaries hold Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) or other status, in connection with the
operation of our outdoor DAS networks business. In addition, we, or our tenants, may be subject to new regulatory policies in
certain jurisdictions from time to time that may materially and adversely affect our business or the demand for our
communications sites.
Environmental Matters. Our U.S. and international operations are subject to various national, state and local
environmental laws and regulations, including those relating to the management, use, storage, disposal, emission and
remediation of, and exposure to, hazardous and non-hazardous substances, materials and wastes and the siting of our towers.
We may be required to obtain permits, pay additional property taxes, comply with regulatory requirements and make certain
informational filings related to hazardous substances or devices used to provide power such as batteries, generators and fuel at
our sites. Violations of these types of regulations could subject us to fines or criminal sanctions.
Additionally, in the United States and in other countries where we operate, before constructing a new tower or adding an
antenna to an existing site, we must review and evaluate the impact of the action to determine whether it may significantly
affect the environment and whether we must disclose any significant impacts in an environmental assessment. If a tower or new
antenna might have a material adverse impact on the environment, FCC or other governmental approval of the tower or antenna
could be significantly delayed.
Health and Safety. In the United States and in other countries where we operate, we are subject to various national, state
and local laws regarding employee health and safety, including protection from radio frequency exposure.
Competition
Our industry is highly competitive. We compete, both for new business and for the acquisition of assets, with other public
tower companies, such as Crown Castle International Corp., SBA Communications Corporation, Telesites S.A.B. de C.V. and
Cellnex Telecom, S.A., wireless carrier tower consortia such as Indus Towers Limited and private tower companies, private
equity sponsored firms, carrier-affiliated tower companies, independent wireless carriers, tower owners, broadcasters and
owners of non-communications sites, including rooftops, utility towers, water towers and other alternative structures. We
believe that site location and capacity, network density, price, quality and speed of service have been, and will continue to be,
significant competitive factors affecting owners, operators and managers of communications sites.
Our services business competes with a variety of companies offering individual, or combinations of, competing services.
The field of competitors includes site acquisition consultants, zoning consultants, real estate firms, right-of-way consultants,
structural engineering firms, tower owners/managers, telecommunications equipment vendors who can provide turnkey site
development services through multiple subcontractors and our tenants’ personnel. We believe that our tenants base their
decisions for services on various criteria, including a company’s experience, local reputation, price and time for completion of a
project.
For more information on demand trends in our industry, see Item 7 of this Annual Report under the caption
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Executive Overview.”
Employees
As of December 31, 2019, we employed 5,454 full-time individuals and consider our employee relations to be
satisfactory.
7
Executive Officers
For information about our Executive Officers, see Item 10 of this Annual Report under the caption “Directors, Executive
Officers and Corporate Governance.”
Available Information
Our internet website address is www.americantower.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by
reference into this Annual Report, and you should not consider information contained on our website as part of this Annual
Report. You may access, free of charge, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current
Reports on Form 8-K, plus amendments to such reports as filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), through the “Investor Relations” portion of our website as
soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”).
We have adopted a written Code of Ethics and Business Conduct Policy (the “Code of Conduct”) that applies to all of our
employees and directors, including, but not limited to, our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal
accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Conduct is available on the “Corporate
Responsibility” portion of our website and our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters of the audit, compensation
and nominating and corporate governance committees of our Board of Directors are available on the “Investor Relations”
portion of our website. In the event we amend the Code of Conduct, or provide any waivers of the Code of Conduct to our
directors or executive officers, we will disclose these events on our website as required by the regulations of the New York
Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and applicable law.
In addition, paper copies of these documents may be obtained free of charge by writing us at the following address: 116
Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, Attention: Investor Relations; or by calling us at (617) 375-7500.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
A significant decrease in leasing demand for our communications infrastructure would materially and adversely affect
our business and operating results, and we cannot control that demand.
A significant reduction in leasing demand for our communications infrastructure would materially and adversely affect
our business, results of operations or financial condition. Factors that may affect such demand include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
increased mergers, consolidations or exits that reduce the number of wireless service providers or increased use of
network sharing among governments or wireless service providers;
the financial condition of wireless service providers;
zoning, environmental, health, tax or other government regulations or changes in the application and enforcement
thereof;
governmental licensing of spectrum or restriction or revocation of our tenants’ spectrum licenses;
a decrease in consumer demand for wireless services, including due to general economic conditions, disruption in
the financial and credit markets or global social or political crises;
the ability and willingness of wireless service providers to maintain or increase capital expenditures on network
infrastructure;
delays or changes in the deployment of next generation wireless technologies; and
technological changes.
If our tenants consolidate their operations, exit the telecommunications business or share site infrastructure to a
significant degree, our growth, revenue and ability to generate positive cash flows could be materially and adversely
affected.
Significant consolidation among our tenants could reduce demand for our communications infrastructure and may
materially and adversely affect our growth and revenues. Certain combined companies have rationalized duplicative parts of
their networks or modernized their networks, and these and other tenants could determine not to renew, or attempt to cancel,
avoid or limit leases or related payments with us. In the event a tenant terminates its business or separately sells its spectrum,
rr
we may experience increased churn as a result. Our ongoing contractual revenues and our future results may be negatively
impacted if a significant number of these leases are terminated or not renewed. For example, see our discussion of carrier
consolidation-driven churn in our Asia segment in Item 7 of this Annual Report, under the caption “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Executive Overview.” In addition, extensive sharing of site
8
infrastructure, roaming or resale arrangements among wireless service providers as an alternative to leasing our
communications sites, without compensation to us, may cause new lease activity to slow if carriers utilize shared equipment
rather than deploy new equipment, or may result in the decommissioning of equipment on certain existing sites because
portions of the tenants’ networks may become redundant.
A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from a small number of tenants, and we are sensitive to adverse changes
in the creditworthiness and financial strength of our tenants.
A substantial portion of our total operating revenues is derived from a small number of tenants. If any of these tenants are
unwilling or unable to perform their obligations under their agreements with us, our revenues, results of operations, financial
condition and liquidity could be materially and adversely affected.
One or more of our tenants, or their parent companies, may experience financial difficulties, file for bankruptcy or reduce
or terminate operations as a result of a prolonged economic downturn, economic difficulties (including those from the
imposition of taxes, fees, regulations or judicial interpretations of regulations, and any associated penalties or interest, which
may be substantial, such as those imposed in India as a result of the October 2019 Indian Supreme Court ruling regarding the
definition of adjusted gross revenue (“AGR”) and associated fees and charges), or otherwise. Such financial difficulties could
result in uncollectible accounts receivable and an impairment of our deferred rent asset, tower asset, network location
intangible asset, tenant-related intangible asset or goodwill. The loss of significant tenants, or the loss of all or a portion of our
anticipated lease revenues from certain tenants, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or
financial condition.
n
Due to the long-term nature of our tenant leases, we depend on the continued financial strength of our tenants. Many
wireless service providers operate with substantial levels of debt. In our international operations, many of our tenants are
subsidiaries of global telecommunications companies. These subsidiaries may not have the explicit or implied financial support
of their parent entities.
In addition, many of our tenants and potential tenants rely on capital raising activities to fund their operations and capital
expenditures, which may be more difficult or expensive in the event of downturns in the economy or disruptions in the
financial and credit markets. If our tenants or potential tenants are unable to raise adequate capital to fund their business plans
or face capital constraints, they may reduce their spending, file for bankruptcy or reduce or terminate operations, which could
materially and adversely affect demand for our communications sites and our services business.
In the ordinary course of our business, we do occasionally experience disputes with our tenants, generally regarding the
interpretation of terms in our leases. Historically, we have resolved these disputes in a manner that did not have a material
adverse effect on us or our tenant relationships. However, it is possible that such disputes could lead to a termination of our
leases with those tenants, a material adverse modification of the terms of those leases or a deterioration in our relationships
with those tenants that leads to a failure to obtain new business from them, any of which could have a material adverse effect
on our business, results of operations or financial condition. If we are forced to resolve any of these disputes through litigation,
our relationship with the applicable tenant could be terminated or damaged, which could lead to decreased revenue or increased
costs, resulting in a corresponding adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Our business, and that of our tenants, is subject to laws, regulations and administrative and judicial decisions, and
changes thereto, that could restrict our ability to operate our business as we currently do or impact our competitive
landscape.
Our business, and that of our tenants, is subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws, treaties and regulations and
administrative and judicial decisions. In certain jurisdictions, these regulations, laws and treaties could be applied or be
enforced retroactively. Zoning authorities and community organizations are often opposed to the construction of
communications sites in their communities, which can delay, prevent or increase the cost of new tower construction,
modifications, additions of new antennas to a site or site upgrades, thereby limiting our ability to respond to tenant demands.
Existing or new regulatory policies, regulations or laws may materially and adversely affect the timing, cost or completion of
our communications sites or result in changes in the competitive landscape that may negatively affect our business.
Noncompliance could result in the imposition of fines or an award of damages to litigants or result in decreased revenue. In
addition, in certain jurisdictions, we and certain of our tenants are required to pay annual license fees, which may be subject to
substantial increases by the government, or new fees may be enacted and applied retroactively. Governmental licenses may
also be subject to periodic renewal and additional conditions to receive or maintain such license.
Furthermore, the tax laws, regulations, applicable license terms and conditions, and interpretations governing our
business, and that of our tenants, in jurisdictions where we operate may change at any time, potentially with retroactive effect.
This includes changes in tax laws, spectrum use terms, administrative compliance guidance or judicial interpretations thereof.
For example, the October 2019 Indian Supreme Court ruling regarding the definition of AGR and associated fees and charges
may have a material financial impact on certain of our tenants which could affect their ability to perform their obligations
9
under agreements with us. Changes in laws, regulations and judicial decisions could have a more significant impact on us as a
REIT relative to other REITs due to the nature of our business and our use of TRSs. These factors could materially and
adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Increasing competition within our industry may materially and adversely affect our revenue.
Our industry is highly competitive and our tenants have numerous alternatives in leasing antenna space. Competition due
to pricing or alternative contractual arrangements from peers could materially and adversely affect our lease rates. We may not
be able to renew existing tenant leases or enter into new tenant leases, or if we are able to renew or enter into new leases, theyt
may be at rates lower than our current rates or on less favorable terms than our current terms, resulting in an adverse impact on
our results of operations and growth rate. In addition, should inflation rates exceed our fixed escalator percentages in markets
where our leases include fixed escalators, our returns could be adversely affected.
Our foreign operations are subject to economic, political and other risks that could materially and adversely affect our
revenues or financial position, including risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
Our international business operations and our potential expansion into additional new markets in the future expose us to
potential adverse financial and operational problems not typically experienced in the United States. We anticipate that revenues
from our international operations will continue to grow. Accordingly, our business is subject to risks associated with doing
business internationally, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
uncertain, inconsistent or changing laws, regulations, rulings or methodologies impacting our existing and
anticipated international operations, fees or other requirements directed specifically at the ownership and
operation of communications sites or our international acquisitions, any of which laws, fees or requirements may
be applied retroactively or with significant delay;
failure to retain our tax status or to obtain an expected tax status for which we have applied;
expropriation or governmental regulation restricting foreign ownership or requiring reversion or divestiture;
laws or regulations that tax or otherwise restrict repatriation of earnings or other funds or otherwise limit
distributions of capital;
changes in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic conditions, including inflation or currency
devaluation;
changes to zoning regulations or construction laws, which could be applied retroactively to our existing
communications sites;
actions restricting or revoking our tenants’ spectrum licenses, or alterations or interpretations thereof, or
suspending or terminating business under prior licenses;
failure to comply with anti-bribery laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or similar local anti-bribery
laws, or the Office of Foreign Assets Control requirements;
failure to comply with data privacy laws or other protections of employee health and personal information;
•
• material site issues related to security, fuel availability and reliability of electrical grids;
significant increases in, or implementation of new, license surcharges on our revenue;
•
loss of key personnel, including expatriates, in markets where talent is difficult or expensive to acquire; and
•
price-setting or other similar laws or regulations for the sharing of passive infrastructure.
•
We also face risks associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates, including those arising from our
operations, investments and financing transactions related to our international business. Volatility in foreign currency exchange
rates can also affect our ability to plan, forecast and budget for our international operations and expansion efforts. Our revenues
earned from our international operations are primarily denominated in their respective local currencies. We have not historically
engaged in significant currency hedging activities relating to our non-U.S. Dollar operations, and a weakening of these foreign
currencies against the U.S. Dollar would negatively impact our reported revenues, operating profits and income.
In addition, as we continue to invest in joint venture opportunities internationally, our partners may have business or
economic goals that are inconsistent or conflict with ours, be in positions to take action contrary to our interests, policies or
objectives, have competing interests in our, or other, markets that could create conflict of interest issues, withhold consents
contrary to our requests or become unable or unwilling to fulfill their commitments, any of which could expose us to additional
liabilities or costs, including requiring us to assume and fulfill the obligations of that joint venture or to execute buyouts of their
interests.
Our expansion and innovation initiatives involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those related to
integrating acquired or leased assets, that could adversely affect our operating results, disrupt our operations or expose us
to additional risk.
10
As we continue to acquire and build communications sites and other communications infrastructure assets in our existing
markets and expand into new markets, we are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including not meeting our return
on investment criteria and financial objectives, increased costs, assumed liabilities and the diversion of managerial attention.
Achieving the benefits of acquisition and innovation activities depends in part on timely and efficient integration of operations,
telecommunications infrastructure assets and personnel. Integration may be difficult and unpredictable for many reasons,
including, among other things, portfolios without requisite permits, differing systems, cultural differences, conflicting policies,
procedures and operations. Significant acquisition-related integration costs, including certain nonrecurring charges such as
costs associated with onboarding employees, integrating information technology systems, acquiring permits and visiting,
inspecting, engineering and upgrading tower sites or related communications infrastructure assets, could materially and
adversely affect our results of operations in the period in which such charges are recorded or our cash flow in the period in
which any related costs are actually paid. Some of our acquired tower portfolios have included sites that do not meet our
structural specifications, including sites that may be overburdened. In these cases, in addition to additional capital expenditures,
general liability risks associated with such towers will exist until such time as those towers are upgraded or otherwise
remedied. In addition, integration may significantly burden management and internal resources, including through the potential
loss or unavailability of key personnel. If we fail to successfully integrate the assets we acquire or fail to utilize such assets to
their full capacity, we may not realize the benefits we expect from our acquired portfolios, and our business, financial condition
and results of operations may be adversely affected. Our international expansion initiatives are subject to additional risks such
as those described above.
tt
As a result of acquisitions, we have a substantial amount of intangible assets and goodwill. In accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), we are required to assess our goodwill and other intangible assets
annually or more frequently in the event of circumstances indicating potential impairment to determine if they are impaired. If,ff
as a result of the factors noted above, the testing performed indicates that an asset may not be recoverable, we are required to
record a non-cash impairment charge for the difference between the carrying value of the goodwill or other intangible assets
and the implied fair value of the goodwill or the estimated fair value of other intangible assets in the period the determination is
made.
Our expansion and innovation initiatives may not be successful, or we may be required to record impairment charges for
our goodwill or for other intangible assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or
financial condition.
New technologies or changes in our or a tenant’s business model could make our tower leasing business less desirable
and result in decreasing revenues and operating results.
The development and implementation of new technologies designed to enhance the efficiency of wireless networks or
changes in a tenant’s business model could reduce the need for tower-based wireless services, decrease demand for tower space
or reduce previously obtainable lease rates. In addition, if the industry trends toward deploying increased capital to the
development and implementation of new technologies, then tenants may allocate less of their budgets to leasing space on our
towers. Examples of these technologies include more spectrally efficient technologies, which could relieve a portion of our
tenants’ network capacity needs and, as a result, could reduce the demand for tower-based antenna space. Additionally, certain
small cell complementary network technologies or satellite services could shift a portion of our tenants’ network investments
away from traditional tower-based networks, which may reduce the need for carriers to add more equipment at certain
communications sites. Moreover, the emergence of alternative technologies could reduce the need for tower-based broadcast
services transmission and reception. Further, a tenant may decide to cease outsourcing tower infrastructure or otherwise change
its business model, which would result in a decrease in our revenue and operating results. Our failure to innovate in response to
the development and implementation of these or other new technologies or changes in a tenant’s business model could have a
material adverse effect on the growth of our business, results of operations or financial condition. Conversely, we may invest
significant capital in technologies, innovation projects or new additions to our core business that may not provide expected
returns or profitability, which could divert management attention and have a material adverse effect on our operating results.
Competition for assets could adversely affect our ability to achieve our return on investment criteria.
We may experience increased competition for the acquisition of assets or contracts to build new communications sites for
tenants, which could make the acquisition of high-quality assets significantly more costly or prohibitive or cause us to lose
contracts to build new sites. Some of our competitors are larger and may have greater financial resources than we do, while
other competitors may apply less stringent investment criteria than we do. In addition, we may not anticipate increased
competition entering a particular market or competing for the same assets. Higher prices for assets or the failure to add new
assets to our portfolio could make it more difficult to achieve our anticipated returns on investment or future growth, which
could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
11
Our leverage and debt service obligations may materially and adversely affect our ability to raise additional financing to
fund capital expenditures, future growth and expansion initiatives and to satisfy our distribution requirements.
Our leverage and debt service obligations could have significant negative consequences to our business, results of
operations or financial condition, including:
•
•
•
•
requiring the dedication of a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service our debt, thereby
reducing the amount of our cash flow available for other purposes, including capital expenditures and REIT
distributions;
impairing our ability to meet one or more of the financial ratio covenants contained in our debt agreements or to
generate cash sufficient to pay interest or principal due under those agreements, which could result in an
acceleration of some or all of our outstanding debt and the loss of the towers securing such debt if a default
remains uncured;
limiting our ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing, thereby placing us at a possible competitive
disadvantage to less leveraged competitors and competitors that may have better access to capital resources,
including with respect to acquiring assets; and
limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the markets in which we
compete.
We may need to raise additional capital through debt financing activities, asset sales or equity issuances, even if the
then-prevailing market conditions are not favorable, to fund capital expenditures, future growth and expansion initiatives,
required purchases of our joint venture partners’ interests and to satisfy our distribution requirements and debt service
obligations. An increase in our total leverage could lead to a downgrade of our credit rating below investment grade, which
could negatively impact our ability to access credit markets or preclude us from obtaining funds on investment grade terms,
rates and conditions or subject us to additional loan covenants, which could accelerate our debt repayment obligations.
Further, certain of our current debt instruments limit the amount of indebtedness we and our subsidiaries may incur.
Additional financing, therefore, may be unavailable, more expensive or restricted by the terms of our outstanding
indebtedness.
We may be adversely affected by changes in LIBOR reporting practices, the method in which LIBOR is determined or
the use of alternative reference rates.
In July 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates the London Interbank
Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), announced plans to phase out LIBOR rates by the end of 2021. As contemplated, the continuation
of LIBOR on the current basis cannot be assured after 2021, and LIBOR may cease to exist or otherwise be unsuitable for
benchmarking. While our bank facilities contain fallback provisions to establish an alternative rate in the event LIBOR is
unavailable, the elimination of LIBOR could have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, or financial
condition. Financial institutions may replace LIBOR with a new index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, the
Secured Overnight Financing Rate; however, no consensus exists as to what may become accepted alternatives to LIBOR,
whether LIBOR rates will cease to be published or supported before or after 2021 or whether any additional reforms
to LIBOR may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. Furthermore, the use of an alternative rate could result in
increased costs, including increased interest expense, and increased borrowing and hedging costs in the future. We cannot
predict the effect of the FCA’s decision not to sustain LIBOR or, if changes ultimately are made to LIBOR, the effect those
changes may have on our interest expense related to borrowings under our bank facilities, certain other debt service obligations
and interest swap agreements, which could potentially negatively impact our financial condition.
If we fail to remain qualified for taxation as a REIT, we will be subject to tax at corporate income tax rates, which may
substantially reduce funds otherwise available, and even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may face tax liabilities that
impact earnings and available cash flow.
Commencing with the taxable year beginning January 1, 2012, we have operated as a REIT for federal income tax
purposes. Qualification for taxation as a REIT requires the application of certain highly technical and complex provisions of thet
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which provisions may change from time to time, to our operations as
well as various factual determinations concerning matters and circumstances not entirely within our control. Further, tax
legislation may adversely affect our ability to remain qualified for taxation as a REIT or the benefits or desirability of
remaining so qualified. There are few judicial or administrative interpretations of the relevant provisions of the Code.
If, in any taxable year, we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT and are not entitled to relief under the Code:
• we will not be allowed a deduction for distributions to stockholders and would be subject to federal and state
income tax on our taxable income at regular corporate income tax rates, which could be substantial in amount,
and may require us to borrow additional funds or liquidate some investments to pay any additional tax liability
and, accordingly, may reduce funds available for other purposes; and
12
• we will be disqualified from REIT tax treatment for the four taxable years immediately following the year during
which we were so disqualified.
We are subject to certain federal, state, local and foreign taxes on our income and assets, including taxes on any
undistributed income and state, local or foreign income, franchise, property and transfer taxes. While state and local income tax
regimes often parallel the U.S. federal income tax regime for REITs, many of these jurisdictions differ in their treatment of
REITs. For example, some state and local jurisdictions currently or in the future may limit or eliminate a REIT’s deduction for
dividends paid, which could increase our income tax expense. We are also subject to the continual examination of our income
tax returns by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and state, local and foreign tax authorities. The results of an audit and
examination of previously filed tax returns and continuing assessments of our tax exposures may have an adverse effect on our
provision for income taxes and cash tax liability.
Furthermore, we have owned and may from time to time own direct and indirect ownership interests in subsidiary REITs,
which must also comply with the same REIT requirements that we must satisfy, together with all other rules applicable to
REITs. If the subsidiary REIT is determined to have failed to qualify for taxation as a REIT and certain relief provisions do not
apply, then the subsidiary REIT would be subject to federal income tax, which tax we would economically bear along with
applicable penalties and interest. In addition, our ownership of shares in such subsidiary REIT would fail to be a qualifying
asset for purposes of the asset tests applicable to REITs and any dividend income or gains derived by us from such subsidiary
REIT may cease to be treated as income that qualifies for purposes of the 75% gross income test. These consequences could
have a material adverse effect on our ability to comply with the REIT income and asset tests, and thus our ability to qualify for
ff
taxation as a REIT.
Complying with REIT requirements may limit our flexibility or cause us to forego otherwise attractive opportunities.
Our use of TRSs enables us to engage in non-REIT qualifying business activities. Under the Code, no more than 20% of
the value of the assets of a REIT may be represented by securities of one or more TRSs and no more than 25% of the value of
the assets of the REIT may be represented by non-qualifying assets (including securities of one or more TRSs). This limitation
may hinder our ability to make certain attractive investments or take advantage of acquisition opportunities, including the
purchase of non-qualifying assets, the expansion of non-real estate activities and investments in the businesses to be conducted
by our TRSs, and to that extent limit our opportunities and our flexibility to change our business strategy.
Further, as a REIT, we must distribute to our stockholders an amount equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income
(determined before the deduction for distributed earnings and excluding any net capital gain). To meet our annual distribution
requirements, we may be required to distribute amounts that may otherwise be used for our operations, including amounts that
may otherwise be invested in future acquisitions, capital expenditures or repayment of debt. As no more than 25% of our gross
income may consist of dividend income from our TRSs and other non-qualifying types of income, our ability to receive
distributions from our TRSs may be limited, which may impact our ability to fund distributions to our stockholders or to use
income of our TRSs to fund other investments.
In addition, the majority of our income and cash flows from our TRSs are generated from our international operations. In
many cases, there are local withholding taxes and currency controls that may impact our ability or willingness to repatriate
funds to the United States to help satisfy REIT distribution requirements.
Our towers, fiber networks, data centers or computer systems may be affected by natural disasters, security breaches and
other unforeseen events for which our insurance may not provide adequate coverage.
Our towers, fiber networks, data centers and computer systems are subject to risks associated with natural disasters, such
as hurricanes, ice and wind storms, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and wildfires, as well as other unforeseen events, such as
acts of terrorism. During the past several years, we have seen an increase in severe weather events and expect this trend to
continue due to climate change. Climate change or efforts to regulate emissions may also have direct or indirect effects on our
business by increasing the cost of emission compliance or fuel we need to deliver primary power to our tenants under our
contractual obligations, typically through diesel-powered generators, in emerging markets. Further, any damage or destruction
to, or inability to access, our towers, fiber networks, data centers or computer systems may impact our ability to provide
services to our tenants and lead to tenant loss, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations
or financial condition.
As part of our normal business activities and in our innovation or managed networks businesses, we rely on information
technology and other computing resources. Our computer systems, network operation centers or power systems, or those of
our cloud or Internet-based providers, could fail on their own accord and are subject to interruption or damage from power
outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, security breaches (including through cyber-attack and
data theft), usage errors, catastrophic events such as natural disasters and other events beyond our control. Although we and
our vendors have disaster recovery programs and security measures in place, if our computer systems and our backup systems
are compromised, degraded, damaged, breached or otherwise cease to function properly, we could suffer interruptions in our
13
operations, including our ability to correctly record, process and report financial information, our tenants’ network availability
may be impacted or we could unintentionally allow misappropriation of proprietary or confidential information (including
information about our tenants or landlords, or tenant information on our innovation or managed networks businesses), which
could result in a loss of revenue, damage our reputation, litigation, penalties under existing or future data privacy laws and
require us to incur significant costs to remediate or otherwise resolve these issues. In addition, our recent acquisitions,
including acquisitions of fiber businesses, may increase our exposure to the risks described above and have material and
adverse effects on our business.
While we maintain insurance coverage for natural disasters, business interruption and cybersecurity, we may not have
adequate insurance to cover the associated costs of repair or reconstruction of sites or fiber for a major future event, lost
revenue, including from new tenants that could have been added to our towers, fiber networks or data centers but for the event,
or other costs to remediate the impact of a significant event. Further, we may be liable for damage caused by towers that
collapse for any number of reasons including structural deficiencies, which could harm our reputation and require us to incur
costs for which we may not have adequate insurance coverage.
Restrictive covenants in the agreements related to our securitization transactions, our credit facilities and our debt
securities could materially and adversely affect our business by limiting flexibility, and we may be prohibited from paying
dividends on our common stock, which may jeopardize our qualification for taxation as a REIT.
The agreements related to our securitization transactions include operating covenants and other restrictions customary for
loans subject to rated securitizations. Among other things, the borrowers under the agreements are prohibited from incurring
other indebtedness for borrowed money or further encumbering their assets. A failure to comply with the covenants in the
agreements could prevent the borrowers from taking certain actions with respect to the secured assets and could prevent the
borrowers from distributing any excess cash from the operation of such assets to us. If the borrowers were to default on any of
the loans, the servicer on such loan could seek to foreclose upon or otherwise convert the ownership of the secured assets, in
which case we could lose such assets and the cash flow associated with such assets.
The agreements for our credit facilities also contain restrictive covenants and leverage and other financial maintenance
tests that could limit our ability to take various actions, including incurring additional debt, guaranteeing indebtedness or
making distributions to stockholders, including our required REIT distributions, and engaging in various types of transactions,
including mergers, acquisitions and sales of assets. Additionally, our debt agreements restrict our and our subsidiaries’ ability to
incur liens securing our or their indebtedness. These covenants could have an adverse effect on our business by limiting our
ability to take advantage of financing, new tower development, mergers and acquisitions or other opportunities. Further,
reporting and information covenants in our credit agreements and indentures require that we provide financial and operating
information within certain time periods. If we are unable to provide the required information on a timely basis, we would be in
breach of these covenants. For more information regarding the covenants and requirements discussed above, please see Item 7
of this Annual Report under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Factors Affecting Sources of Liquidity” and note 9 to our consolidated
financial statements included in this Annual Report.
We also enter into hedges for certain debt instruments, which may have an adverse impact on our results to the extent that
the counterparties do not perform as expected at the inception of each hedge.
Our costs could increase and our revenues could decrease due to perceived health risks from radio emissions, especially
if these perceived risks are substantiated.
Public perception of possible health risks associated with cellular and other wireless communications technology could
slow the growth of wireless companies, which could in turn slow our growth. In particular, negative public perception of, and
regulations regarding, these perceived health risks could undermine the market acceptance of wireless communications services
and increase opposition to the development and expansion of tower sites. If a scientific study, court decision or government
agency ruling resulted in a finding that radio frequency emissions pose health risks to consumers, it could negatively impact
our tenants and the market for wireless services, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations
or financial condition. We do not maintain any significant insurance with respect to these matters.
We could have liability under environmental and occupational safety and health laws.
Our operations are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign environmental and occupational safety and health
laws and regulations, including those relating to the management, use, storage, disposal, emission and remediation of, and
exposure to, hazardous and non-hazardous substances, materials and wastes. As the owner, lessee or operator of real property
and facilities, including generators, we may be liable for substantial costs of investigation, removal or remediation of soil and
groundwater contaminated by hazardous materials, and for damages and costs relating to off-site migration of hazardous
materials, without regard to whether we, as the owner, lessee or operator, knew of, or were responsible for, the contamination.
a
14
We may also be liable for certain costs of remediating contamination at third-party sites to which we sent waste for disposal,
even if the original disposal may have complied with all legal requirements at the time. Many of these laws and regulations
contain information reporting and record keeping requirements. We may not be at all times in compliance with all
environmental requirements. We may be subject to potentially significant fines or penalties if we fail to comply with any of
these requirements.
The requirements of the environmental and occupational safety and health laws and regulations are complex, change
frequently and could become more stringent in the future. In certain jurisdictions these laws and regulations could be applied
retroactively or be broadened to cover situations or persons not currently considered. It is possible that these requirements will
change or that liabilities will arise in the future in a manner that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations or financial condition. While we maintain environmental and workers’ compensation insurance, we may not have
adequate insurance to cover all costs, fines or penalties.
If we are unable to protect our rights to the land under our towers, it could adversely affect our business and operating
results.
Our real property interests relating to our towers consist primarily of leasehold and sub-leasehold interests, fee interests,
easements, licenses and rights-of-way. A loss of these interests at a particular tower site may interfere with our ability to operate
that tower site and generate revenues. For various reasons, we may not always have the ability to access, analyze and verify all
information regarding titles and other issues prior to completing an acquisition of communications sites, which can affect our
rights to access and operate a site. From time to time, we also experience disputes with landowners regarding the terms of
easements or ground agreements for land under towers, which can affect our ability to access and operate tower sites. Further,
for various reasons, landowners may not want to renew their ground agreements with us, they may lose their rights to the land,
or they may transfer their land interests to third parties, including ground lease aggregators, which could affect our ability to
renew ground agreements on commercially viable terms. A significant number of the communications sites in our portfolio are
located on land we lease pursuant to long-term operating leases. Further, for various reasons, title to property interests in some
of the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate may not be as certain as title to our property interests in the United States. Our
inability to protect our rights to the land under our towers may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations or financial condition.
If we are unable or choose not to exercise our rights to purchase towers that are subject to lease and sublease
agreements at the end of the applicable period, our cash flows derived from those towers will be eliminated.
Our communications real estate portfolio includes towers that we operate pursuant to lease and sublease agreements that
include a purchase option at the end of the lease period. We may not have the required available capital to exercise our right to
purchase the towers at the end of the applicable period, or we may choose, for business or other reasons, not to do so. If we do
not exercise these purchase rights, and are unable to extend the lease or sublease or otherwise acquire an interest that would
allow us to continue to operate these towers after the applicable period, we will lose the cash flows derived from the towers. If
we decide to exercise these purchase rights, the benefits of acquiring a significant number of towers may not exceed the
associated acquisition, compliance and integration costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations or financial condition.
ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
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ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES
As of December 31, 2019, we owned and operated a portfolio of 179,520 communications sites, including 1,774 DAS
networks. See the table in Item 7 of this Annual Report, under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations—Executive Overview” for more detailed information on the geographic locations of our
communications sites. In addition, we own property interests that we lease to communications service providers and third-party
tower operators in the United States, which are included in our U.S. property segment.
Our interests in our communications sites consist of a variety of ownership interests, including leases created by long-
term ground lease agreements, easements, licenses or rights-of-way granted by government entities.
A typical tower site consists of a compound enclosing the tower site, a tower structure and, in some cases, one or more
equipment shelters that house a variety of transmitting, receiving and switching equipment. In addition, many of our
international sites typically include power generators and batteries, which are often used for primary power in lieu of an electric
grid connection in select markets. The principal types of our towers are guyed, self-supporting lattice and monopole, and
rooftop towers in our international markets.
• A guyed tower includes a series of cables attaching separate levels of the tower to anchor foundations in the ground
and can reach heights of up to 2,000 feet. A typical guyed broadcast tower can be located a tract of land of up to 20
acres.
• A self-supporting lattice tower typically tapers from the bottom up and usually has three or four legs. A lattice tower
can reach heights of up to 1,000 feet, although most lattice structures are between 200 and 400 feet. Depending on the
height of the tower, a lattice tower site can be located on a tract of land of 10,000 square feet for a rural site or fewer
than 2,500 square feet for a metropolitan site.
• A monopole tower is a tubular structure that is used primarily to address space constraints or aesthetic concerns.
Monopoles typically have heights ranging from 50 to 200 feet. A monopole tower site used in metropolitan areas for a
typical wireless communications tower can be located on a tract of land of fewer than 2,500 square feet.
• Rooftop towers are primarily used in metropolitan areas in our Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America markets, where
locations for traditional tower structures are unavailable. Rooftop towers typically have heights ranging from 10 to 100
feet.
U.S. Property Segment Encumbered Sites. As of December 31, 2019, the loan underlying the securitization transactions
completed in March 2013 and March 2018 (the “2013 Securitization” and the “2018 Securitization”, respectively, and together,
the “Trust Securitizations”) is secured by mortgages, deeds of trust and deeds to secure the loan on substantially all of the 5,114
broadcast and wireless communications towers and related assets owned by the borrowers (the “Trust Sites”) and the secured
revenue notes issued in a private transaction completed in May 2015 (the “2015 Securitization”) are secured by mortgages,
deeds of trust and deeds to secure debt on substantially all of the 3,542 communications sites owned by subsidiaries of the
issuer (the “2015 Secured Sites”).
Asia Property Segment Encumbered Sites. There are no encumbered sites in our Asia property segment.
Africa Property Segment Encumbered Sites. Our outstanding indebtedness in South Africa is secured by an aggregate of
1,899 towers.
Europe Property Segment Encumbered Sites. There are no encumbered sites in our Europe property segment.
Latin America Property Segment Encumbered Sites. Our outstanding indebtedness in Brazil is secured by an aggregate of
760 towers and outstanding indebtedness in Colombia is secured by an aggregate of 3,563 towers.
Ground Leases. Of the 177,746 towers in our portfolio as of December 31, 2019, approximately 90% were located on
land we lease. Typically, we seek to enter long-term ground leases, which have initial terms of approximately five to ten years
with one or more automatic or exercisable renewal periods. As a result, 43% of the ground leases for our sites have a final
expiration date of 2029 and beyond.
Tenants. Our tenants are primarily wireless service providers, broadcasters and other companies in a variety of industries.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, our top four tenants by total revenue were AT&T (22%), Verizon Wireless (15%), T-
Mobile (10%) and Sprint (8%). Across most of our markets, our tenant leases generally have initial non-cancellable terms of
five to ten years with multiple renewal terms. As a result, approximately 65% of our current tenant leases have a renewal date
of 2025 or beyond.
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Offices. Our principal corporate headquarters is leased and located in Boston, Massachusetts, where we currently lease
approximately 40,000 square feet of office space. We also own or have entered into long-term leases for the majority of our
facilities in international and regional locations for the management and operation of our property and services businesses,
including offices in each of our U.S., Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America segments. We believe that our owned and leased
facilities are suitable and adequate to meet our anticipated needs.
ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We periodically become involved in various claims and lawsuits that are incidental to our business. In the opinion of
management, after consultation with counsel, there are no matters currently pending that would, in the event of an adverse
outcome, have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
ITEM 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
N/A.
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ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
PART II
Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol AMT. As of February 18, 2020, we had 442,911,804
outstanding shares of common stock and 151 registered holders.
Dividends
As a REIT, we must annually distribute to our stockholders an amount equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income
(determined before the deduction for distributed earnings and excluding any net capital gain). Generally, we have distributed
and expect to continue to distribute all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income after taking into consideration our
utilization of net operating losses (“NOLs”).
The amount, timing and frequency of future distributions will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will
depend upon various factors, a number of which may be beyond our control, including our financial condition and operating
cash flows, the amount required to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT and reduce any income and excise taxes
that we otherwise would be required to pay, limitations on distributions in our existing and future debt and preferred equity
instruments, our ability to utilize NOLs to offset our distribution requirements, limitations on our ability to fund distributions
using cash generated through our TRSs and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant.
Performance Graph
This performance graph is furnished and shall not be deemed ‘‘filed’’ with the SEC or subject to Section 18 of the
Exchange Act, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock with the cumulative total
return of the S&P 500 Index, the Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications Equipment Index and the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs
Index. The performance graph assumes that on December 31, 2014, $100 was invested in each of our common stock, the S&P
500 Index, the Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications Equipment Index and the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index. The
cumulative return shown in the graph assumes reinvestment of all dividends. The performance of our common stock reflected
below is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
18
American Tower Corporation
S&P 500 Index
Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications Equipment Index
FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index
Cumulative Total Returns
12/14
$ 100.00
12/15
$ 100.00
12/16
$ 111.21
12/17
$ 153.12
12/18
$ 173.52
12/19
$ 256.55
100.00
100.00
100.00
101.38
89.19
102.83
113.51
106.27
111.70
138.29
130.77
121.39
132.23
141.92
116.48
173.86
164.97
149.86
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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
In March 2011, our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program, pursuant to which we are authorized to
repurchase up to $1.5 billion of our common stock (the “2011 Buyback”). In addition to the 2011 Buyback, in December 2017,
our Board of Directors approved an additional stock repurchase program, pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase up
to $2.0 billion of our common stock (the “2017 Buyback”, and together with the 2011 Buyback the “Buyback Programs”).
During the three months ended December 31, 2019, we repurchased a total of 93,654 shares of our common stock for an
aggregate of $19.6 million, including commissions and fees, pursuant to the 2011 Buyback. There were no repurchases under
the 2017 Buyback. The table below sets forth details of our repurchases under the 2011 Buyback during the three months ended
December 31, 2019.
Period
Total Number of
Shares Purchased (1)
Average Price Paid
per Share (2)
October 1, 2019 - October 31, 2019
November 1, 2019 - November 30, 2019
December 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019
Total Fourth Quarter
— $
42,800
50,854
93,654
$
$
$
—
209.74
209.59
209.66
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
(3)
(in millions)
— $
42,800
50,854
93,654
$
$
$
—
103.1
92.4
92.4
_______________
(1) Repurchases made pursuant to the 2011 Buyback.
(2) Average price paid per share is a weighted average calculation using the aggregate price, excluding commissions and fees.
(3) Remaining under the 2011 Buyback.
We have repurchased a total of 14.1 million shares of our common stock under the 2011 Buyback for an aggregate of $1.4
billion, including commissions and fees. We expect to continue to manage the pacing of the remaining $2.1 billion under the
Buyback Programs in response to general market conditions and other relevant factors. We expect to fund any further
repurchases of our common stock through a combination of cash on hand, cash generated by operations and borrowings under
our credit facilities. Purchases under the Buyback Programs are subject to our having available cash to fund repurchases.
Under the Buyback Programs, our management is authorized to purchase shares from time to time through open market
purchases or in privately negotiated transactions not to exceed market prices and subject to market conditions and other factors.
With respect to open market purchases, we may use plans adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act in
accordance with securities laws and other legal requirements, which allows us to repurchase shares during periods when we
otherwise might be prevented from doing so under insider trading laws or because of self-imposed trading blackout periods.
These programs may be discontinued at any time.
ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations,” and our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes to those
consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Year-over-year comparisons are significantly affected by our acquisitions, dispositions and construction of towers. Our
transaction with Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon” and the transaction, the “Verizon Transaction”) and the acquisition of
a controlling ownership interest in Viom Networks Limited (“Viom” and the acquisition, the “Viom Acquisition”), which
closed in March 2015 and April 2016, respectively, significantly impact the comparability of reported results between periods.
Our principal 2019 acquisitions are described in note 7 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
20
Statements of Operations Data:
Revenues:
Property
Services
Total operating revenues
Operating expenses:
Cost of operations (exclusive of items shown
separately below)
Property
Services
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
Selling, general, administrative and development
expense
Other operating expenses
Total operating expenses
Operating income
Interest (expense) income, TV Azteca, net
Interest income
Interest expense
(Loss) gain on retirement of long-term obligations
Other income (expense) (1)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
Income tax benefit (provision)
Net income
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation
stockholders
Dividends on preferred stock
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation
common stockholders
Net income per common share amounts:
Basic net income attributable to American Tower
Corporation common stockholders
Diluted net income attributable to American Tower
Corporation common stockholders
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in
thousands):
Basic
Diluted
Distribution declared per common share
Distribution declared per preferred share, Series A
Distribution declared per preferred share, Series B
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
(In millions, except share and per share data)
$
$
7,464.9
115.4
7,580.3
$
7,314.7
125.4
7,440.1
6,565.9
98.0
6,663.9
$
$
5,713.1
72.6
5,785.7
4,680.4
91.1
4,771.5
2,173.7
43.1
1,778.4
730.4
166.3
4,891.9
2,688.4
—
46.8
(814.2)
(22.2)
17.6
1,916.4
0.2
1,916.6
(28.8)
1,887.8
—
2,128.7
49.1
2,110.8
733.2
513.3
5,535.1
1,905.0
(0.1)
54.7
(825.5)
(3.3)
23.8
1,154.6
110.1
1,264.7
(28.3)
1,236.4
(9.4)
2,022.0
34.6
1,715.9
637.0
256.0
4,665.5
1,998.4
10.8
35.4
(749.6)
(70.2)
31.3
1,256.1
(30.7)
1,225.4
13.5
1,238.9
(87.4)
1,762.7
27.7
1,525.6
543.4
73.3
3,932.7
1,853.0
10.9
25.6
(717.1)
1.2
(47.7)
1,125.9
(155.5)
970.4
(14.0)
956.4
(107.1)
1,275.4
33.4
1,285.3
497.8
66.8
3,158.7
1,612.8
11.2
16.5
(595.9)
(79.6)
(135.0)
830.0
(158.0)
672.0
13.1
685.1
(90.2)
1,887.8
$
1,227.0
$
1,151.5
$
849.3
$
594.9
$
$
$
$
$
2.00
1.98
425,143
429,283
2.17
5.25
55.00
$
$
$
$
$
1.42
1.41
418,907
423,015
1.81
3.94
38.65
4.27
4.24
$
(cid:7)
2.79
(cid:21)(cid:17)(cid:26)(cid:26)
$
$
2.69
2.67
439,606
442,960
3.15
$
— $
$
13.75
428,181
431,688
2.62
2.63
55.00
442,319
445,520
3.78
$
— $
— $
21
$
$
$
$
$
$
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
As of December 31,
(In millions)
Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) (2)
$
Property and equipment, net
Total assets (3)
Long-term obligations, including current portion
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
Total American Tower Corporation equity
Total American Tower Corporation equity
$
1,578.0
12,084.4
42,801.6
24,055.4
1,096.5
5,055.4
$
1,304.9
11,247.1
33,010.4
21,159.9
1,004.8
5,336.1
$
954.9
11,101.0
33,214.3
20,205.1
1,126.2
6,241.5
$
936.5
10,517.3
30,879.2
18,533.5
1,091.3
6,763.9
462.9
9,866.4
26,904.3
17,119.0
—
6,651.7
_______________
(1) For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, amounts include foreign currency gains (losses) of $6.1 million, ($4.5) million,
$26.4 million, ($48.9) million and ($134.7) million, respectively.
(2) As of December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, amounts include $76.8 million, $96.2 million, $152.8 million, $149.3 million, and $142.2 million,
respectively, of restricted funds pledged as collateral to secure obligations and cash, the use of which is otherwise limited by contractual provisions.
(3) Total assets as of December 31, 2019 includes the Right-of-use asset recognized in connection with our adoption of the new lease accounting standard
described in note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report
ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations that follow are based upon our
consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of our financial
statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and
expenses and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements. Actual results may
differ from these estimates and such differences could be material to the financial statements. This discussion should be read in
conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report and the accompanying notes, and the
information set forth under the caption “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” below.
a
During the fourth quarter of 2019, as a result of recent acquisitions, including the Eaton Towers Acquisition, and changes
to our organizational structure, we reviewed and changed our reportable segments to divide our EMEA segment into two
separate segments, Africa property and Europe property. We now report our results in six segments – U.S. property, Asia
property, Africa property, Europe property, Latin America property and services. We believe this change provides more
visibility into these operating segments and better aligns our reporting with management’s current approach of allocating costs
and resources, managing growth and profitability and assessing the operating performance of our business segments. In
evaluating financial performance in each business segment, management uses, among other factors, segment gross margin and
segment operating profit (see note 21 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report). The change in
reportable segments has no impact on our consolidated financial statements for any periods. Historical financial information
included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations has been adjusted to
reflect the change in reportable segments.
Executive Overview
We are one of the largest global REITs and a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant
communications real estate. Our primary business is the leasing of space on communications sites to wireless service providers,
radio and television broadcast companies, wireless data providers, government agencies and municipalities and tenants in a
number of other industries. In addition to the communications sites in our portfolio, we manage rooftop and tower sites for
property owners under various contractual arrangements. We also hold other telecommunications infrastructure, fiber and
property interests that we lease primarily to communications service providers and third-party tower operators. We refer to this
business as our property operations, which accounted for 98% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019 and
includes our U.S. property, Asia property, Africa property, Europe property and Latin America property segments.
We also offer tower-related services in the United States, including site acquisition, zoning and permitting and structural
analysis, which primarily support our site leasing business, including the addition of new tenants and equipment on our sites.
22
The following table details the number of communications sites, excluding managed sites, that we owned or operated as
of December 31, 2019:
Domestic:
United States
Asia:
India (2)
Africa
Burkina Faso
Ghana
Kenya
Niger
Nigeria
South Africa (2)
Uganda
Africa total
Europe
France
Germany
Europe total
Latin America:
Argentina (3)
Brazil (3)
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Mexico (4)
Paraguay
Peru
Latin America total
Number of
Owned Towers
Number of
Operated
Towers (1)
Number of
Owned DAS
Sites
25,003
15,564
407
73,633
664
3,157
2,060
677
5,207
2,711
3,181
17,657
2,207
2,211
4,418
94
16,706
2,583
5,005
621
9,427
1,420
1,792
37,648
—
—
665
—
—
—
—
—
665
309
—
309
—
2,258
—
—
—
187
—
404
2,849
1,079
—
27
9
—
—
—
12
48
9
—
9
10
103
22
2
2
92
—
—
231
_______________
(1) Approximately 95% of the operated towers are held pursuant to long-term finance leases, including those subject to purchase options.
(2)
(3)
In India and South Africa, we also own fiber.
In Argentina and Brazil, we also own or operate urban telecommunications assets, including fiber, and the rights to utilize certain existing utility
infrastructure for future telecommunications equipment installation.
In Mexico, we also own or operate urban telecommunications assets, including fiber, concrete poles and other infrastructure.
(4)
In most of our markets, our tenant leases with wireless carriers generally have initial non-cancellable terms of five to ten
years with multiple renewal terms. Accordingly, the vast majority of the revenue generated by our property operations during
the year ended December 31, 2019 was recurring revenue that we should continue to receive in future periods. Based upon
foreign currency exchange rates and the tenant leases in place as of December 31, 2019, we expect to generate nearly $46.9
billion of non-cancellable tenant lease revenue over future periods, before the impact of straight-line lease accounting. Most of
our tenant leases have provisions that periodically increase the rent due under the lease, typically based on an annual fixed
escalation (averaging approximately 3% in the United States) or an inflationary index in our international markets, or a
combination of both. In addition, certain of our tenant leases provide for additional revenue primarily to cover costs, such as
ground rent or power and fuel costs.
The revenues generated by our property operations may be affected by cancellations of existing tenant leases. As
discussed above, most of our tenant leases with wireless carriers and broadcasters are multiyear contracts, which typically are
non-cancellable; however, in some instances, a lease may be cancelled upon the payment of a termination fee.
Revenue lost from either tenant lease cancellations or the non-renewal of leases or rent renegotiations, which we refer to
as churn, has historically not had a material adverse effect on the revenues generated by our consolidated property operations.
23
During the year ended December 31, 2019, churn was approximately 6% of our tenant billings. The higher than historical level
of churn was largely due to carrier consolidation events in India.
Beginning in late 2017, we experienced an increase in revenue lost from cancellations or non-renewals primarily due to
carrier consolidation-driven churn in India, which compressed our gross margin and operating profit, particularly in our Asia
property segment, although this impact was partially offset by lower expenses due to reduced tenancy on existing sites and the
decommissioning of certain sites.
We anticipate that our churn rate in India will move closer to historical levels over time and result in reduced impacts on
our property revenue, gross margin and operating profit. In the immediate term, we expect that our churn rate will remain
elevated, primarily due the uncertainty created by the recent court ruling by the Indian Supreme Court, as set forth in Item 1A
of this Annual Report under under the captions “Risk Factors—A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from a small
number of tenants, and we are sensitive to adverse changes in the creditworthiness and financial strength of our tenants” and
“Risk Factors—Our business, and that of our tenants, is subject to laws, regulations and administrative and judicial decisions,
and changes thereto, that could restrict our ability to operate our business as we currently do or impact our competitive
landscape.” We expect to periodically evaluate the carrying value of our Indian assets, which may result in the realization of
additional impairment expense or other similar charges. For more information, please see the information under the caption
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and
Estimates.”
For the year ended December 31, 2019, aggregate carrier consolidation in India negatively impacted our consolidated
property revenue by $361.3 million, including approximately $84.2 million in pass-through revenue, and negatively impacted
our gross margin and operating profit by $247.7 million.
Property Operations Revenue Growth. Due to our diversified communications site portfolio, our tenant lease rates vary
considerably depending upon numerous factors, including, but not limited to, amount, type and position of tenant equipment on
the tower, remaining tower capacity and tower location. We measure the remaining tower capacity by assessing several factors,
including tower height, tower type, environmental conditions, existing equipment on the tower and zoning and permitting
regulations in effect in the jurisdiction where the tower is located. In many instances, tower capacity can be increased with
relatively modest tower augmentation capital expenditures.
The primary factors affecting the revenue growth of our property segments are:
• Growth in tenant billings, including:
• New revenue attributable to leases in place on day one on sites acquired or constructed since the beginning of the
prior-year period;
• New revenue attributable to leasing additional space on our sites (“colocations”) and lease amendments; and
• Contractual rent escalations on existing tenant leases, net of churn.
• Revenue growth from other items, including additional tenant payments primarily to cover costs, such as ground rent
or power and fuel costs included in certain tenant leases (“pass-through”), straight-line revenue and decommissioning.
We continue to believe that our site leasing revenue is likely to increase due to the growing use of wireless services
globally and our ability to meet the corresponding incremental demand for our communications real estate. By adding new
tenants and new equipment for existing tenants on our sites, we are able to increase these sites’ utilization and profitability. We
yy
believe the majority of our site leasing activity will continue to come from wireless service providers, with tenants in a number
of other industries contributing incremental leasing demand. Our site portfolio and our established tenant base provide us with
new business opportunities, which have historically resulted in consistent and predictable organic revenue growth as wireless
carriers seek to increase the coverage and capacity of their existing networks, while also deploying next generation wireless
technologies. In addition, we intend to continue to supplement our organic growth by selectively developing or acquiring new
sites in our existing and new markets where we can achieve our risk-adjusted return on investment objectives.
Property Operations Organic Revenue Growth. Consistent with our strategy to increase the utilization and return on
investment from our sites, our objective is to add new tenants and new equipment for existing tenants through colocation and
lease amendments. Our ability to lease additional space on our sites is primarily a function of the rate at which wireless carriers
and other tenants deploy capital to improve and expand their wireless networks. This rate, in turn, is influenced by the growth
of wireless services, the penetration of advanced wireless devices, the level of emphasis on network quality and capacity in
carrier competition, the financial performance of our tenants and their access to capital and general economic conditions.
According to industry data, recent aggregate annual wireless capital spending in the United States has averaged approximately
$30.0 billion, resulting in consistent demand for our sites.
24
Based on industry research and projections, we expect that a number of key industry trends will result in incremental
revenue opportunities for us:
•
•
In less advanced wireless markets where initial voice and data networks are still being deployed, we expect these
deployments to drive demand for our tower space as carriers seek to expand their footprints and increase the scope and
density of their networks. We have established operations in many of these markets at the early stages of wireless
development, which we believe will enable us to meaningfully participate in these deployments over the long term.
Subscribers’ use of mobile data continues to grow rapidly given increasing smartphone and other advanced device
penetration, the proliferation of bandwidth-intensive applications on these devices and the continuing evolution of the
mobile ecosystem. We believe carriers will be compelled to deploy additional equipment on existing networks while
also rolling out more advanced wireless networks to address coverage and capacity needs resulting from this
increasing mobile data usage.
• The deployment of advanced mobile technology, such as 4G and 5G, across existing wireless networks will provide
higher speed data services and further enable fixed broadband substitution. As a result, we expect that our tenants will
continue deploying additional equipment across their existing networks.
• Wireless service providers compete based on the quality of their existing networks, which is driven by capacity and
coverage. To maintain or improve their network performance as overall network usage increases, our tenants continue
deploying additional equipment across their existing sites while also adding new cell sites. We anticipate increasing
network densification over the next several years, as existing network infrastructure is anticipated to be insufficient to
account for rapidly increasing levels of wireless data usage.
• Wireless service providers continue to acquire additional spectrum, and as a result are expected to add additional sites
and equipment to their networks as they seek to optimize their network configuration and utilize additional spectrum.
• Next generation technologies requiring wireless connectivity have the potential to provide incremental revenue
opportunities for us. These technologies may include autonomous vehicle networks and a number of other internet-of-
things, or IoT, applications, as well as other potential use cases for wireless services. These technologies may create
new and complementary use cases for our communications real estate over time, although these use cases are currently
in nascent stages.
As part of our international expansion initiatives, we have targeted markets in various stages of network development to
diversify our international exposure and position us to benefit from a number of different wireless technology deployments over
the long term. In addition, we have focused on building relationships with large multinational carriers to increase the
opportunities for growth or mutually beneficial transactional opportunities across common markets. We believe that consistent
carrier network investments across our international markets will, over the long term, position us to generate meaningful
organic revenue growth going forward.
In emerging markets, such as Burkina Faso, Ghana, India, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria and Uganda, wireless networks tend to
be significantly less advanced than those in the United States, and initial voice networks continue to be deployed in certain
underdeveloped areas. A majority of consumers in these markets still utilize basic wireless services, predominantly on feature
phones, while advanced device penetration remains low. In more developed urban locations within these markets, data network
deployments are underway. Carriers are focused on completing voice network build-outs while also investing in initial data
networks as mobile data usage and smartphone penetration within their customer bases begin to accelerate.
In India, the ongoing transition from 2G technology to 4G technology has included a period of carrier consolidation,
whereby the number of carriers operating in the marketplace has been reduced through mergers, acquisitions and select carrier
exits from the marketplace, which we believe is now substantially complete. We believe that this consolidation process has
resulted in an industry structure for both the wireless carriers and communications infrastructure providers that is expected to
be more conducive to sustained growth and profitability over time.
In markets with rapidly evolving network technology, such as South Africa and most of the countries in Latin America
where we do business, initial voice networks, for the most part, have already been built out, and carriers are increasingly
focused on 4G network build outs, with certain continuing legacy investments in 3G. Consumers in these regions are
increasingly adopting smartphones and other advanced devices, in particular as lower cost smartphones become increasingly
available. As a result, the usage of bandwidth-intensive mobile applications is growing materially. Recent spectrum auctions in
these rapidly evolving markets have allowed incumbent carriers to accelerate their data network deployments and have also
enabled new entrants to begin initial investments in data networks. Smartphone penetration and wireless data usage in these
markets are advancing rapidly, which typically requires that carriers continue to invest in their networks to maintain and
augment their quality of service.
25
Finally, in markets with more mature network technology, such as Germany and France, carriers are focused on deploying
4G data networks to account for rapidly increasing wireless data usage among their customer base. With higher smartphone and
advanced device penetration and significantly higher per capita data usage, carrier investment in networks is focused on 4G
coverage and capacity.
We believe that the network technology migration we have seen in the United States, which has led to significantly denser
networks and meaningful new business commencements for us over a number of years, will be replicated in our less advanced
international markets over time. As a result, we expect to be able to leverage our extensive international portfolio of
approximately 138,545 communications sites and the relationships we have built with our carrier tenants to drive sustainable,
long-term growth.
We have master lease agreements with certain of our tenants that provide for consistent, long-term revenue and reduce the
likelihood of churn. Certain of those master lease agreements are holistic in nature and further build and augment strong
strategic partnerships with our tenants and have significantly reduced colocation cycle times, thereby providing our tenants with
the ability to rapidly and efficiently deploy equipment on our sites.
Demand for our communications sites could be negatively impacted by a number of factors, including an increase in
network sharing or consolidation among our tenants, as set forth in Item 1A of this Annual Report under the captions “Risk
Factors—If our tenants consolidate their operations, exit the telecommunications business or share site infrastructure to a
significant degree, our growth, revenue and ability to generate positive cash flows could be materially and adversely affected”
and “Risk Factors—A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from a small number of tenants, and we are sensitive to
adverse changes in the creditworthiness and financial strength of our tenants.” In addition, the emergence and growth of new
technologies could reduce demand for our sites, as set forth under the caption “Risk Factors—New technologies or changes in
our or a tenant’s business model could make our tower leasing business less desirable and result in decreasing revenues and
operating results.” Further, our tenants may be subject to new regulatory policies from time to time that materially and
adversely affect the demand for our communications sites.
Property Operations New Site Revenue Growth. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we grew our portfolio of
communications real estate through the acquisition and construction of approximately 13,705 sites globally. In a majority of our uu
Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America markets, the revenue generated from newly acquired or constructed sites resulted in
increases in both tenant and pass-through revenues (such as ground rent or power and fuel costs) and expenses. We continue to
evaluate opportunities to acquire communications real estate portfolios, both domestically and internationally, to determine
whether they meet our risk-adjusted hurdle rates and whether we believe we can effectively integrate them into our existing
portfolio.
New Sites (Acquired or Constructed)
U.S.
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
2019
2018
2017
430
3,330
6,455
15
3,475
285
21,470
1,040
15
1,655
635
1,135
265
2,490
2,360
Property Operations Expenses. Direct operating expenses incurred by our property segments include direct site level
expenses and consist primarily of ground rent and power and fuel costs, some or all of which may be passed through to our
tenants, as well as property taxes, repairs and maintenance. These segment direct operating expenses exclude all segment and
corporate selling, general, administrative and development expenses, which are aggregated into one line item entitled Selling,
general, administrative and development expense in our consolidated statements of operations. In general, our property
segments’ selling, general, administrative and development expenses do not significantly increase as a result of adding
incremental tenants to our sites and typically increase only modestly year-over-year. As a result, leasing additional space to new
tenants on our sites provides significant incremental cash flow. We may, however, incur additional segment selling, general,
administrative and development expenses as we increase our presence in our existing markets or expand into new markets. Our
profit margin growth is therefore positively impacted by the addition of new tenants to our sites but can be temporarily diluted
by our development activities.
Services Segment Revenue Growth. As we continue to focus on growing our property operations, we anticipate that our
services revenue will continue to represent a small percentage of our total revenues.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
26
Included in our analysis of our results of operations are discussions regarding earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation,
amortization and accretion, as adjusted (“Adjusted EBITDA”), Funds From Operations, as defined by the National Association
of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“Nareit FFO”) attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders,
Consolidated Adjusted Funds From Operations (“Consolidated AFFO”) and AFFO attributable to American Tower Corporation
common stockholders.
We define Adjusted EBITDA as Net income before Income (loss) from equity method investments; Income tax benefit
(provision); Other income (expense); Gain (loss) on retirement of long-term obligations; Interest expense; Interest income;
Other operating income (expense); Depreciation, amortization and accretion; and stock-based compensation expense.
Nareit FFO attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders is defined as net income before gains or
losses from the sale or disposal of real estate, real estate related impairment charges, real estate related depreciation,
amortization and accretion and dividends on preferred stock, and including adjustments for (i) unconsolidated affiliates and
(ii) noncontrolling interests. In this section, we refer to Nareit FFO attributable to American Tower Corporation common
stockholders as “Nareit FFO (common stockholders).”
We define Consolidated AFFO as Nareit FFO (common stockholders) before (i) straight-line revenue and expense;
(ii) stock-based compensation expense; (iii) the deferred portion of income tax; (iv) non-real estate related depreciation,
amortization and accretion; (v) amortization of deferred financing costs, capitalized interest, debt discounts and premiums and
long-term deferred interest charges; (vi) other income (expense); (vii) gain (loss) on retirement of long-term obligations;
(viii) other operating income (expense); and adjustments for (ix) unconsolidated affiliates and (x) noncontrolling interests, less
cash payments related to capital improvements and cash payments related to corporate capital expenditures.
We define AFFO attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders as Consolidated AFFO, excluding
the impact of noncontrolling interests on both Nareit FFO (common stockholders) and the other adjustments included in the
calculation of Consolidated AFFO. In this section, we refer to AFFO attributable to American Tower Corporation common
stockholders as “AFFO (common stockholders).”
Adjusted EBITDA, Nareit FFO (common stockholders), Consolidated AFFO and AFFO (common stockholders) are not
intended to replace net income or any other performance measures determined in accordance with GAAP. None of Adjusted
EBITDA, Nareit FFO (common stockholders), Consolidated AFFO or AFFO (common stockholders) represents cash flows
from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and, therefore, these measures should not be considered indicative of cash
flows from operating activities, as a measure of liquidity or a measure of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our uu
ability to make cash distributions. Rather, Adjusted EBITDA, Nareit FFO (common stockholders), Consolidated AFFO and
AFFO (common stockholders) are presented as we believe each is a useful indicator of our current operating performance. We
believe that these metrics are useful to an investor in evaluating our operating performance because (1) each is a key measure
used by our management team for decision making purposes and for evaluating our operating segments’ performance; (2)
Adjusted EBITDA is a component underlying our credit ratings; (3) Adjusted EBITDA is widely used in the
telecommunications real estate sector to measure operating performance as depreciation, amortization and accretion may vary
significantly among companies depending upon accounting methods and useful lives, particularly where acquisitions and non-
operating factors are involved; (4) Consolidated AFFO is widely used in the telecommunications real estate sector to adjust
Nareit FFO (common stockholders) for items that may otherwise cause material fluctuations in Nareit FFO (common
stockholders) growth from period to period that would not be representative of the underlying performance of property assets in
those periods; (5) each provides investors with a meaningful measure for evaluating our period-to-period operating
performance by eliminating items that are not operational in nature; and (6) each provides investors with a measure for
comparing our results of operations to those of other companies, particularly those in our industry.
Our measurement of Adjusted EBITDA, Nareit FFO (common stockholders), Consolidated AFFO and AFFO (common
stockholders) may not, however, be fully comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Reconciliations of
Adjusted EBITDA, Nareit FFO (common stockholders), Consolidated AFFO and AFFO (common stockholders) to net income,
the most directly comparable GAAP measure, have been included below.
27
Results of Operations
Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(in millions, except percentages)
Revenue
Property
U.S.
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Total property
Services
Total revenues
Year ended December 31, 2019
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
Percent
Change 2019
vs 2018
Percent
Change 2018
vs 2017
$
4,188.7
$
3,822.1
$
1,217.0
583.9
134.6
1,340.7
7,464.9
115.4
1,540.5
545.5
141.8
1,264.8
7,314.7
125.4
3,605.7
1,164.4
503.6
122.6
1,169.6
6,565.9
98.0
$
7,580.3
$
7,440.1
$
6,663.9
10%
(21)
7
(5)
6
2
(8)
2%
6%
32
8
16
8
11
28
12%
U.S. property segment revenue growth of $366.6 million was attributable to:
• Tenant billings growth of $276.5 million, which was driven by:
$206.1 million due to colocations and amendments;
$62.6 million from contractual escalations, net of churn; and
$14.2 million generated from newly acquired or constructed sites;
Partially offset by a decrease of $6.4 million from other tenant billings; and
•
•
•
•
• An increase of $90.1 million in other revenue, which includes an $82.4 million increase due to straight-line accounting
primarily due to entry into a new master lease agreement with one of our tenants, AT&T.
Asia property segment revenue decrease of $323.5 million was attributable to:
• A decrease of $266.8 million in other revenue, primarily due to the net impact of $333.7 million related to the October
2018 settlement with Tata Teleservices Limited (“Tata Teleservices”) and related entities (collectively, “Tata”);
• A decrease in tenant billings of $68.0 million, which was driven by:
• A decrease of $219.4 million resulting from churn in excess of contractual escalations, including $209.8 million
of carrier consolidation-driven churn in India;
Partially offset by:
•
$75.6 million generated from newly acquired or constructed sites, including $59.5 million from the
transactions with Vodafone India Limited and Vodafone Mobile Services Limited (together, “Vodafone”
and the transaction, the “Vodafone Acquisition”) and Idea Cellular Limited (“Idea” and the transaction,
the “Idea Acquisition”);
$74.0 million due to colocations and amendments; and
$1.8 million from other tenant billings; and
• Pass-through revenue growth of $51.8 million.
Segment revenue decline includes a decrease of $40.5 million attributable to the negative impact of foreign currency translation
related to fluctuations in Indian Rupee (“INR”).
Africa property segment revenue growth of $38.4 million was attributable to:
• Tenant billings growth of $56.8 million, which was driven by:
•
•
•
•
$21.7 million generated from newly acquired or constructed sites, primarily due to the acquisition of
communications sites in Kenya in the fourth quarter of 2018 (the “Kenya Acquisition”);
$14.1 million due to colocations and amendments;
$14.1 million from contractual escalations, net of churn; and
$6.9 million from other tenant billings;
28
• Pass-through revenue growth of $13.8 million; and
• A decrease of $0.8 million in other revenue.
Segment revenue growth was partially offset by a decrease of $31.4 million attributable to the negative impact of foreign
currency translation, which included, among others, $19.0 million related to fluctuations in Ghanaian Cedi (“GHS”), and $12.7
million related to fluctuations in South African Rand (“ZAR”).
Europe property segment revenue decrease of $7.2 million was primarily attributable to:
• A decrease of $3.4 million in other revenue;
• Pass-through revenue decrease of $0.3 million; and
• Tenant billings growth of $3.8 million, which was driven by:
$3.2 million due to colocations and amendments;
$0.9 million from other tenant billings;
$0.3 million generated from newly acquired or constructed sites; and
Partially offset by a decrease of $0.6 million from contractual escalations, net of churn.
•
•
•
•
Segment revenue decline includes a decrease of $7.3 million attributable to the negative impact of foreign currency translation
related to fluctuations in the Euro (“EUR”).
Latin America property segment revenue growth of $75.9 million was attributable to:
• Tenant billings growth of $80.6 million, which was driven by:
$43.6 million due to colocations and amendments;
$17.7 million from contractual escalations, net of churn;
$14.7 million generated from newly acquired or constructed sites; and
$4.6 million from other tenant billings;
•
•
•
•
• An increase of $44.6 million in other revenue, primarily due to $26.8 million from our fiber business in Brazil
acquired in the fourth quarter of 2018 and an $11.6 million tenant settlement payment in Mexico, as well as an
increase due to straight-line accounting, partially offset by revenue reserves; and
• Pass-through revenue growth of $21.0 million.
Segment revenue growth was partially offset by a decrease of $70.3 million attributable to the negative impact of foreign
currency translation, which included, among others, $53.0 million related to fluctuations in Brazilian Real (“BRL”), $11.3
million related to fluctuations in Colombian Peso (“COP”), and $4.2 million related to fluctuations in Chilean Peso (“CLP”).
The decrease in services segment revenue of $10.0 million was primarily attributable to a decrease in site acquisition, zoning
and permitting services.
Year ended December 31, 2018
U.S. property segment revenue growth of $216.4 million was attributable to:
• Tenant billings growth of $264.0 million, which was driven by:
$188.5 million due to colocations and amendments;
•
• $59.6 million from contractual escalations, net of churn; and
• $21.0 million generated from newly acquired or constructed sites;
• Partially offset by a decrease of $5.1 million from other tenant billings; and
• A decrease of $47.6 million in other revenue, which includes an $81.3 million decrease due to straight-line accounting.
Asia property segment revenue growth of $376.1 million was attributable to:
• Tenant billings growth of $31.0 million, which was driven by:
•
•
•
•
$123.7 million generated from newly acquired or constructed sites, including $117.7 million from the
Vodafone Acquisition and the Idea Acquisition;
$49.5 million due to colocations and amendments; and
$0.6 million from other tenant billings;
Partially offset by a decrease of $142.8 million resulting from churn in excess of contractual escalations, including
$128.1 million due to carrier consolidation-driven churn in India;
29
• Pass-through revenue growth of $59.7 million; and
• An increase of $349.3 million in other revenue, primarily due to the net impact of our settlement with Tata and a
decrease in revenue reserves. The settlement with Tata contributed $333.7 million to other revenue, as a result of the
approximately $345.5 million cash settlement payment, partially offset by the net impacts of straight-line accounting
and other amounts directly related to the settlement.
Segment revenue growth was partially offset by a decrease of $63.9 million attributable to the negative impact of foreign
currency translation related to fluctuations in INR.
Africa property segment revenue growth of $41.9 million was attributable to:
• Tenant billings growth of $40.4 million, which was driven by:
$16.0 million from contractual escalations, net of churn;
$13.6 million due to colocations and amendments;
$10.6 million generated from newly acquired or constructed sites; and
•
•
•
• $0.2 million from other tenant billings;
• $9.4 million of other revenue growth; and
• Pass-through revenue growth of $7.7 million.
Segment revenue growth was partially offset by a decrease of $15.6 million attributable to the negative impact of foreign
currency translation, which included, among others, $8.6 million related to fluctuations in Nigerian Naira (“NGN”) and $7.4
million related to fluctuations in GHS.
Europe property segment revenue growth of $19.2 was attributable to:
• Tenant billings growth of $6.7 million, which was driven by:
•
$4.4 million generated from newly acquired or constructed sites, primarily due to the full-year impact of the 2017
acquisition of FPS Towers in France through our European joint venture (the “FPS Acquisition”);
$3.7 million due to colocations and amendments;
$0.8 million from other tenant billings;
•
•
• Partially offset by a decrease of $2.2 million churn in excess of contractual escalations;
• $6.0 million of other revenue growth; and
• Pass-through revenue growth of $0.5 million.
Segment revenue growth was benefited by an increase of $6.0 million attributable to the positive impact of foreign currency
translation in EUR.
Latin America property segment revenue growth of $95.2 million was attributable to:
• Tenant billings growth of $118.2 million, which was driven by:
•
•
•
•
$48.1 million due to colocations and amendments;
$34.0 million from contractual escalations, net of churn;
$26.1 million generated from newly acquired or constructed sites; and
$10.0 million from other tenant billings;
• Pass-through revenue growth of $25.6 million; and
• An increase of $49.8 million in other revenue, due in part to $62.6 million from our fiber businesses in Mexico and
Brazil and a $6.0 million reduction in revenue reserves from a settlement related to the judicial reorganization of a
tenant in Brazil, partially offset by the impact of straight-line accounting.
Segment revenue growth was partially offset by a decrease of $98.4 million attributable to the negative impact of foreign
currency translation, which included, among others, $81.1 million related to fluctuations in BRL, $10.2 million related to
fluctuations in Argentinean Peso and $7.1 million related to fluctuations in Mexican Peso.
The increase in services segment revenue of $27.4 million was primarily attributable to an increase in site acquisition projects.
30
Gross Margin
Property
U.S.
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Total property
Services
Year ended December 31, 2019
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
Percent
Change 2019
vs 2018
Percent
Change 2018
vs 2017
$
3,380.8
$
3,051.1
$
2,859.2
11 %
7%
501.1
374.9
106.8
929.4
5,293.0
73.3
829.6
337.5
111.7
858.4
5,188.3
77.2
515.4
290.7
97.2
794.3
4,556.8
64.2
(40)
11
(4)
8
2
61
16
15
8
14
(5)%
20%
• The increase in U.S. property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to the increase in revenue described
above, partially offset by an increase in direct expenses of $36.9 million.
• The decrease in Asia property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to the decrease in revenue described
above and an increase in direct expenses of $29.5 million, primarily due to the Vodafone Acquisition and the Idea
Acquisition, partially offset by a benefit of $24.5 million attributable to the impact of foreign currency translation on
direct expenses.
• The increase in Africa property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to the increase in revenue described
above and a benefit of $10.7 million attributable to the impact of foreign currency translation on direct expenses,
partially offset by an increase in direct expenses of $11.7 million, primarily due to the Kenya Acquisition.
• The decrease in Europe property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to the decrease in revenue described
above, partially offset by a decrease in direct expenses of $0.8 million and a benefit of $1.5 million attributable to the
impact of foreign currency translation on direct expenses.
• The increase in Latin America property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to the increase in revenue
described above, a benefit of $25.1 million attributable to the impact of foreign currency translation on direct
expenses, and a reduction of $0.1 million of interest expense related to TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. (“TV Azteca”),
partially offset by an increase in direct expenses of $30.1 million, including those costs related to our fiber business in
Brazil.
• The decrease in services segment gross margin was primarily due to a decrease in revenue, as described above,
partially offset by an decrease in direct expenses of $6.1 million.
Year ended December 31, 2018
• The increase in U.S. property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to the increase in revenue described
above, partially offset by an increase in direct expenses of $24.5 million.
• The increase in Asia property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to the increase in revenue described
above and a benefit of $36.5 million attributable to the impact of foreign currency translation on direct expenses,
partially offset by an increase in direct expenses of $98.4 million, primarily due to the Vodafone Acquisition and the
Idea Acquisition.
• The increase in Africa property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to the increase in revenue described
above and a benefit of $10.6 million attributable to the impact of foreign currency translation on direct expenses,
partially offset by an increase in direct expenses of $5.7 million, primarily due to the Kenya Acquisition.
• The increase in Europe property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to the increase in revenue described
above, partially offset by an increase in direct expenses of $3.5 million, primarily due to the FPS Acquisition and a
negative impact of $1.2 million attributable to foreign currency translation on direct expenses.
31
• The increase in Latin America property segment gross margin was primarily attributable to the increase in revenue
described above and a benefit of $33.3 million attributable to the impact of foreign currency translation on direct
expenses, partially offset by an increase in direct expenses of $53.5 million, primarily due to our fiber businesses in
Mexico and Brazil, and a reduction of $10.9 million in interest income related to TV Azteca.
• The increase in services segment gross margin was primarily due to an increase in revenue, as described above,
partially offset by an increase in direct expenses of $14.4 million.
Selling, General, Administrative and Development Expense (“SG&A”)
Property
U.S.
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Total property
Services
Other
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
Percent
Change 2019
vs 2018
Percent
Change 2018
vs 2017
$
$
175.5
99.9
53.7
23.2
101.0
453.3
12.0
265.1
$
165.2
110.7
48.0
21.1
83.5
428.5
14.4
290.3
151.4
82.4
47.3
20.6
77.5
379.2
13.7
244.1
6 %
9%
(10)
12
10
21
6
(17)
(9)
34
1
2
8
13
5
19
Total selling, general, administrative and
development expense
$
730.4
$
733.2
$
637.0
(0)%
15%
Year Ended December 31, 2019
• The increases in each of our U.S., Africa, Europe and Latin America property segment SG&A were primarily driven
by increased personnel costs to support our business, including our acquisitions of urban telecommunications assets in
our Latin America property segment and the Kenya Acquisition.
• The decrease in our Asia property segment SG&A was primarily driven by a decrease in bad debt expense of $9.3
million.
• The decrease in our services segment SG&A was primarily attributable to a decrease in the allocation of personnel
costs to our tower services group.
• The decrease in other SG&A was primarily attributable to $19.1 million of incremental stock-based compensation
expense due to the acceleration of expense associated with amendments to existing grants during the year ended
December 31, 2018.
Year Ended December 31, 2018
• The increases in each of our U.S., Africa, Europe and Latin America property segment SG&A were primarily driven
by increased personnel costs to support our business, including our acquisitions of urban telecommunications assets in
our Latin America property segment.
• The increase in our Asia property segment SG&A was primarily driven by an increase in bad debt expense of $25.1
million as a result of receivable reserves with certain tenants.
• The increase in our services segment SG&A was primarily attributable to an increase in the allocation of personnel
costs to our tower services group.
• The increase in other SG&A was primarily attributable to an increase in stock-based compensation expense of $28.6
million, principally due to the acceleration of expense associated with amendments to existing grants, and an increase
in corporate SG&A.
32
Operating Profit
Property
U.S.
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Total property
Services
Year Ended December 31, 2019
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
Percent
Change 2019
vs 2018
Percent
Change 2018
vs 2017
$
$
3,205.3
401.2
321.2
83.6
828.4
4,839.7
61.3
$
2,885.9
718.9
289.5
90.6
774.9
4,759.8
62.8
2,707.8
433.0
243.4
76.6
716.8
4,177.6
50.5
11 %
(44)
11
(8)
7
2
(2)%
7%
66
19
18
8
14
24%
• The increases in operating profit for each of our U.S., Africa and Latin America property segments were primarily
attributable to increases in our segment gross margin, partially offset by increases in our segment SG&A.
• The decreases in operating profit for our Asia property segment, as well as our services segment, were primarily
attributable to decreases in our segment gross margin, partially offset by decreases in our segment SG&A.
• The decrease in operating profit for our Europe property segment was primarily attributable to a decrease in our
segment gross margin and an increase in our segment SG&A.
Year Ended December 31, 2018
• The increases in operating profit for each of our property segments, as well as our services segment, were primarily
attributable to an increase in our segment gross margin, partially offset by increases in our segment SG&A.
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
Year Ended December 31,
2019
1,778.4
$
2018
2,110.8
$
2017
1,715.9
$
Percent
Change 2019
vs 2018
Percent
Change 2018
vs 2017
(16)%
23%
The decrease in depreciation, amortization and accretion expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily
attributable to the accelerated amortization of a tenant relationship intangible asset as a result of the settlement with Tata in
2018. This decrease was partially offset by an increase resulting from the acquisition, lease or construction of new sites since
the beginning of the prior-year period, which resulted in an increase in property and equipment and intangible assets subject to
amortization.
The increase in depreciation, amortization and accretion expense for the year ended December 31, 2018 was primarily
attributable to $327.5 million of accelerated amortization of a tenant relationship intangible asset as a result of the settlement
with Tata. Also contributing to the increase was the acquisition, lease or construction of new sites since the beginning of the
prior-year period, which resulted in an increase in property and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses
$
166.3
$
513.3
$
256.0
(68)%
101%
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
Percent
Change 2019
vs 2018
Percent
Change 2018
vs 2017
The decrease in other operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily attributable to decreases in
impairment charges of $299.8 million and losses on sales or disposals of assets of $40.5 million.
33
The increase in other operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 was primarily attributable to an increase
in impairment charges of $182.6 million and an increase of $52.8 million in losses on sales or disposals of assets. The
impairment charges included $258.3 million related to tower and network intangible assets and $107.3 million related to tenant
relationships in our Asia property segment due to the settlement with Tata, Aircel Ltd.’s (“Aircel”) filing for bankruptcy
protection and other carrier consolidation-driven churn in India. The increase was also attributable to the nonrecurrence of a
$22.2 million refund of acquisition costs recorded in the prior-year period related to an acquisition in Brazil, partially offset by
$10.0 million to fund our charitable foundation in the 2017.
Total Other Expense
Total Other expense
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
Percent
Change 2019
vs 2018
Percent
Change 2018
vs 2017
$
772.0
$
750.4
$
742.3
3%
1%
Total other expense consists primarily of interest expense and realized and unrealized foreign currency gains and losses.
We record unrealized foreign currency gains or losses as a result of foreign currency fluctuations primarily associated with our uu
intercompany notes and similar unaffiliated balances denominated in a currency other than the subsidiaries’ functional
currencies.
The increase in total other expense during the year ended December 31, 2019 was due to (i) a decrease in other income
of $16.8 million, primarily due to the nonrecurrence of a gain of $9.7 million associated with the write-offs of the capital lease
liability and Economic Rights Agreement and related amortization in conjunction with the note extinguishment with TV Azteca
during the year ended December 31, 2018 and (ii) an increase in loss on retirement of long-term obligations of $18.9 million
primarily due to a loss of $22.1 million, attributable to the repayment of the 5.050% senior unsecured notes due 2020 (the
“5.050% Notes”). These items were partially offset by foreign currency gains of $6.1 million in the current period, compared to
foreign currency losses of $4.5 million in the prior-year period and a decrease in net interest expense of $3.4 million.
The increase in total other expense during the year ended December 31, 2018 was primarily due to additional interest
expense of $75.9 million due to a $2.0 billion increase in our average debt outstanding and foreign currency losses of $4.5
million in the current period, compared to foreign currency gains of $26.4 million in the prior-year period. The increase was
partially offset by (i) a decrease in loss on retirement of long-term obligations of $66.9 million due to the nonrecurrence of a
loss of $70.2 million recorded in the prior-year period attributable to the redemptions of the 7.25% senior unsecured notes due
2019 and the 4.500% senior unsecured notes due 2018 and the repayment of the Secured Cellular Site Revenue Notes, Series
2012-2 Class A, Series 2012-2 Class B and Series 2012-2 Class C and Secured Cellular Site Revenue Notes, Series 2010-2,
Class C and Series 2010-2, Class F, (ii) an increase in other income of $23.4 million partially due to the write-offs of the capital
aa
lease liability and Economic Rights Agreement and related amortization in conjunction with the note extinguishment with TV
Azteca and (iii) an additional $19.3 million in interest income, compared to the prior-year period.
Income Tax (Benefit) Provision
Income tax (benefit) provision
Effective tax rate
Year Ended December 31,
2019
$
(0.2)
$
2018
(110.1)
2017
Percent
Change 2019
vs 2018
Percent
Change 2018
vs 2017
$
30.7
(100)%
(459)%
(0.0)%
(9.5)%
2.4%
As a REIT, we may deduct earnings distributed to stockholders against the income generated by our REIT operations. In
addition, we are able to offset certain income by utilizing our NOLs, subject to specified limitations. Consequently, the
effective tax rate on income from continuing operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 differs
from the federal statutory rate.
The decrease in the income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily attributable to an increase in
foreign earnings subject to taxation in the current period, offset by a $113.0 million benefit arising from revaluing our net
deferred tax liability due to tax law changes in India. The income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2018 was
favorably impacted by certain events in India and a one-time benefit, discussed below.
The change in the income tax (benefit) provision for the year ended December 31, 2018 was primarily attributable to a
decrease in foreign earnings subject to taxation in the current period, primarily resulting from impairment charges and
accelerated amortization in India, and a one-time benefit of $85.7 million related to the restructuring of international operations
34
in certain jurisdictions. The income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2017 was favorably impacted by a
clarification in income tax law in Ghana.
Net Income / Adjusted EBITDA and Net Income / Nareit FFO attributable to American Tower Corporation common
stockholders / Consolidated AFFO / AFFO attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders
Net income
Income tax (benefit) provision
Other income
Loss on retirement of long-term obligations
Interest expense
Interest income
Other operating expenses
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
Stock-based compensation expense
Adjusted EBITDA
Year Ended December 31,
$
$
2019
1,916.6
(0.2)
(17.6)
22.2
814.2
(46.8)
166.3
1,778.4
111.4
2018
1,264.7
(110.1)
(23.8)
3.3
825.5
(54.7)
513.3
2,110.8
137.5
2017
1,225.4
$
30.7
(31.3)
70.2
749.6
(35.4)
256.0
1,715.9
108.5
$
4,744.5
$
4,666.5
$
4,089.6
Percent
Change 2019
vs 2018
Percent
Change 2018
vs 2017
52%
(100)
(26)
573
(1)
(14)
(68)
(16)
(19)
2%
3%
(459)
(24)
(95)
10
55
101
23
27
14%
35
Net income
Real estate related depreciation, amortization and
accretion
Losses from sale or disposal of real estate and real
estate related impairment charges (1)
Dividends on preferred stock
Dividend to noncontrolling interest
Adjustments for unconsolidated affiliates and
noncontrolling interests
Nareit FFO attributable to American Tower
Corporation common stockholders
$
Straight-line revenue
Straight-line expense
Stock-based compensation expense
Deferred portion of income tax (2)
Non-real estate related depreciation, amortization and
accretion
Amortization of deferred financing costs, capitalized
interest, debt discounts and premiums and long-term
deferred interest charges
Payment of shareholder loan interest (3)
Other income (4)
Loss on retirement of long-term obligations
Other operating expenses (5)
Capital improvement capital expenditures
Corporate capital expenditures
Adjustments for unconsolidated affiliates and
noncontrolling interests
Consolidated AFFO
Adjustments for unconsolidated affiliates and
noncontrolling interests (6)
AFFO attributable to American Tower
Corporation common stockholders
Year Ended December 31,
2019
1,916.6
$
2018
1,264.7
$
2017
1,225.4
$
Percent
Change
2019 vs 2018
52 %
Percent
Change 2018
vs 2017
3%
1,578.8
1,915.2
1,516.9
(18)
139.5
—
(13.2)
479.7
(9.4)
(13.8)
244.4
(87.4)
(13.2)
(71)
(100)
(4)
(130.0)
(427.4)
(189.1)
(70)
$
3,491.7
(183.5)
44.4
111.4
(147.7)
$
3,209.0
(87.6)
57.9
137.5
(274.0)
2,697.0
(194.4)
62.3
108.5
(105.8)
9
109
(23)
(19)
(46)
199.6
195.6
199.0
2
28.4
(14.2)
(17.6)
22.2
26.8
(160.0)
(10.6)
19.0
—
(23.8)
3.3
33.6
(149.5)
(9.2)
26.8
—
(31.3)
70.2
11.6
(114.2)
(17.0)
49
100
(26)
573
(20)
7
15
26
96
(89)
5
126
19
(55)
(7)
27
159
(2)
(29)
—
(24)
(95)
190
31
(46)
130.0
427.4
189.1
$
3,520.9
$
3,539.2
$
2,901.8
(70)
(1)%
126
22%
(79.2)
(348.7)
(147.0)
(77)%
137%
$
3,441.7
$
3,190.5
$
2,754.8
8 %
16%
_______________
(1)
Included in these amounts are impairment charges of $94.2 million, $394.0 million and $211.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and
2017, respectively.
(2) For the year ended December 31, 2019, amount includes a tax benefit of $113.0 million as a result of revaluing our net deferred tax liability due to tax law
changes in India. For the year ended December 31, 2018, amount includes a tax benefit primarily attributable to the tax effect of an increase in
impairment charges and a one-time benefit for restructuring-related activity in foreign jurisdictions offset by the nonrecurrence of prior-year benefit from
a clarification in income tax law in Ghana.
(3) Relates to the payment of capitalized interest associated with the shareholder loan previously owed to our joint venture partner in Ghana (see note 9 to our
consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report). This long-term deferred interest was previously expensed but excluded from
Consolidated AFFO.
Includes (gains) losses on foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations of ($6.1 million), $4.5 million and ($26.4 million), respectively.
(4)
(5) Primarily includes acquisition-related costs and integration costs. For the year ended December 31, 2019, amount also includes the receipt of $13.1
million related to pre-acquisition contingencies and settlements. For the year ended December 31, 2017, amount also includes refunds for acquisition
costs and a charitable contribution.
Includes adjustments for the impact on both Nareit FFO attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders as well as the other line items
included in the calculation of Consolidated AFFO.
(6)
Year Ended December 31, 2019
The increase in net income was primarily due to an increase in our operating profit, a decrease in other operating
expenses, primarily related to a decrease in impairment charges of $299.8 million and a decrease in stock-based compensation
expense, partially offset by a change in the income tax benefit and an increase in loss on retirement of long-term obligations of
$18.9 million during the period, attributable to the repayment of the 5.050% Notes.
36
The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributable to the increase in our gross margin and was partially offset
by an increase in SG&A, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense, of $22.8 million.
The decrease in Consolidated AFFO was primarily the result of a decrease in our operating profit, excluding the impact of
straight-line accounting, and increases in capital improvement and corporate capital expenditures, partially offset by a decrease
in the income tax benefit net of deferred amounts and a decrease in dividends on preferred stock.
The increase in AFFO attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders was attributable to lower
adjustments for unconsolidated affiliates and noncontrolling interests primarily as a result of a decrease in the operating profit
in our Asia property segment due to our October 2018 settlement with Tata, partially offset by the decrease in Consolidated
AFFO described above.
Year Ended December 31, 2018
The increase in net income was primarily due to an increase in our operating profit, the change in the income tax
(benefit) provision and the nonrecurrence of a loss on retirement of long-term obligations of $70.2 million recorded in the prior-
year period, partially offset by an increase in other operating expenses, primarily related to an increase in impairment charges of
$182.6 million, and increases in depreciation, amortization and accretion expense and interest expense.
The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily attributable to the increase in our gross margin, partially offset by an
increase in SG&A of $67.6 million, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense.
The growth in Consolidated AFFO and AFFO attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders was
primarily attributable to the increase in our operating profit, a decrease in dividends on preferred stock and a decrease in the
adjustment for straight-line revenue, partially offset by increases in cash paid for interest, capital improvement capital
expenditures and corporate SG&A.
37
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we increased our financial flexibility and our ability to grow our business
while maintaining our long-term financial policies. Our significant 2019 financing transactions included:
• Unsecured $1.3 billion term loan due February 13, 2020 (the “2019 364-Day Term Loan”).
• Registered public offerings in an aggregate amount of $4.9 billion of senior unsecured notes with maturities ranging
from 2024 to 2049.
• Redemptions of the 3.40% senior unsecured notes due 2019 (the “3.40% Notes”) and the 5.050% Notes for an
aggregate amount of $1.7 billion.
• Amendment and restatements of our multicurrency senior unsecured revolving credit facility entered into in June
2013, as amended (as amended and restated, the “2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility”), our senior unsecured
revolving credit facility entered into in January 2012 and amended and restated in September 2014, as further
amended (as amended and restated, the “2019 Credit Facility”) and our unsecured term loan entered into in October
2013, as amended (as amended and restated, the “2019 Term Loan”) to, among other things, (i) extend each of the
maturity dates by one year to June 28, 2023, January 31, 2025 and January 31, 2025, respectively and (ii) increase the
commitments under each of the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility to $3.0 billion and
$2.25 billion, respectively.
The following table summarizes our liquidity as of December 31, 2019 (in millions):
Available under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility
Available under the 2019 Credit Facility
Letters of credit
Total available under credit facilities, net
Cash and cash equivalents
Total liquidity
$
2,300.0
650.0
(9.9)
2,940.1
1,501.2
4,441.3
$
Subsequent to December 31, 2019, we made net repayments of $600.0 million under the 2019 Credit Facility, including
repayments of approximately $1,483.4 million using the proceeds from our issuance of the 2.400% Notes and 2.900% Notes
(each as defined below), and made net borrowings of $271.8 million under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility. The
borrowings were used to repay existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.
Summary cash flow information is set forth below for the years ended December 31, (in millions):
Net cash provided by (used for):
Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities
Net effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash
equivalents, and restricted cash
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash
2019
2018
2017
$
$
$
3,752.6
(3,987.5)
521.7
$
3,748.3
(2,749.5)
(607.7)
2,925.6
(2,800.9)
(113.0)
(13.7)
273.1
$
(41.1)
350.0
$
6.7
18.4
We use our cash flows to fund our operations and investments in our business, including tower maintenance and
improvements, communications site construction and managed network installations and tower and land acquisitions.
Additionally, we use our cash flows to make distributions, including distributions of our REIT taxable income to maintain our
qualification for taxation as a REIT under the Code. We may also repay or repurchase our existing indebtedness or equity from
time to time. We typically fund our international expansion efforts primarily through a combination of cash on hand,
intercompany debt and equity contributions.
In April 2019, Tata Teleservices and Tata Sons Limited, two of our minority holders in India, delivered notice of exercise
of their put options with respect to their remaining combined holdings in our Indian subsidiary, ATC TIPL (see note 15 to our
consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report). Accordingly, we expect to pay an amount equivalent to INR
24.8 billion (approximately $347.6 million at the December 31, 2019 exchange rate) to redeem the put shares in the first half of
2020, subject to regulatory approval. In connection with the closing of the Eaton Towers Acquisition (see note 7 to our
38
consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report), we entered into an agreement with MTN to acquire MTN’s
noncontrolling interests in each of our joint ventures in Ghana and Uganda for total consideration of approximately $523.0
million. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020, subject to regulatory approval and other closing
conditions.
As of December 31, 2019, we had total outstanding indebtedness of $24.2 billion, with a current portion of $2.9 billion.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we generated sufficient cash flow from operations to fund our capital expenditures
and debt service obligations, as well as our required distributions. We believe the cash generated by operating activities during
the year ending December 31, 2020, together with our borrowing capacity under our credit facilities and cash on hand, will be
sufficient to fund our required distributions, capital expenditures, debt service obligations (interest and principal repayments)
and signed acquisitions. As of December 31, 2019, we had $1.3 billion of cash and cash equivalents held by our foreign
subsidiaries, of which $583.0 million was held by our joint ventures. While certain subsidiaries may pay us interest or principal
on intercompany debt, it has not been our practice to repatriate earnings from our foreign subsidiaries primarily due to our
ongoing expansion efforts and related capital needs. However, in the event that we do repatriate any funds, we may be required
to accrue and pay certain taxes.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2019, cash provided by operating activities increased $4.3 million as compared to the
year ended December 31, 2018. The primary factors that impacted cash provided by operating activities as compared to the
year ended December 31, 2018, include:
• An increase in non-cash operating activities, including an increase of approximately $95.9 million in straight-line
revenue and a decrease of approximately $13.5 million in straight-line expense;
• An increase in our operating profit of $78.4 million; and
• A decrease of approximately $39.5 million in cash paid for interest.
For the year ended December 31, 2018 cash provided by operating activities increased $822.7 million as compared to the
year ended December 31, 2017. The primary factors that impacted cash provided by operating activities as compared to the
year ended December 31, 2017, include:
• An increase in our operating profit of $594.5 million;
• An increase of approximately $77.6 million in cash paid for interest;
• A decrease in cash required for working capital, primarily as a result of accounts receivable collection; and
• An increase of approximately $27.4 million in cash paid for taxes.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Our significant investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2019 are highlighted below:
• We spent approximately $3.0 billion for acquisitions, primarily related to the Eaton Towers Acquisition, the Entel
Acquisition, and asset acquisitions in the United States, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru.
• We spent $1,029.7 million for capital expenditures, as follows (in millions):
Discretionary capital projects (1)
Ground lease purchases (2)
Capital improvements and corporate expenditures (3)
Redevelopment
Start-up capital projects
Total capital expenditures (4)
$
366.6
153.9
170.6
258.5
80.1
$
1,029.7
_______________
(1)
(2)
Includes the construction of 4,511 communications sites globally.
Includes $29.6 million of perpetual land easement payments reported in Deferred financing costs and other financing activities in the cash flows from
financing activities in our consolidated statements of cash flows.
Includes $18.0 million of finance lease payments included in Repayments of notes payable, credit facilities, term loan, senior notes, secured debt, finance
leases and capital leases in the cash flow from financing activities in our consolidated statements of cash flows.
(3)
(4) Net of purchase credits of $9.2 million on certain assets, which are reported in operating activities in our consolidated statements of cash flows.
Our significant investing transactions in 2018 included the following:
39
• We spent approximately $1.9 billion for acquisitions, primarily related to the funding of the Idea Acquisition and the
Vodafone Acquisition, as well as asset acquisitions in the United States, Kenya and Brazil.
• We spent $937.1 million for capital expenditures, as follows (in millions):
Discretionary capital projects (1)
Ground lease purchases
Capital improvements and corporate expenditures (2)
Redevelopment
Start-up capital projects
Total capital expenditures (3)
$
$
254.7
162.7
158.7
232.4
128.6
937.1
_______________
(1)
(2)
Includes the construction of 2,441 communications sites globally.
Includes $32.0 million of capital lease payments included in Repayments of notes payable, credit facilities, term loan, senior notes, secured debt, finance
leases and capital leases in the cash flow from financing activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows.
(3) Net of purchase credits of $8.1 million on certain assets, which are reported in operating activities in our consolidated statements of cash flows.
We plan to continue to allocate our available capital, after satisfying our distribution requirements, among investment
alternatives that meet our return on investment criteria, while maintaining our commitment to our long-term financial policies.
Accordingly, we expect to continue to deploy capital through our annual capital expenditure program, including land purchases
and new site construction, and through acquisitions. We also regularly review our tower portfolios as to capital
expenditures required to upgrade our towers to our structural standards or address capacity, structural or permitting issues.
We expect that our 2020 total capital expenditures will be as follows (in millions):
Discretionary capital projects (1)
Ground lease purchases
Capital improvements and corporate expenditures
Redevelopment
Start-up capital projects
Total capital expenditures
_______________
(1)
Includes the construction of approximately 6,000 to 7,000 communications sites globally.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Our significant financing activities were as follows (in millions):
$
375 to $
175 to
160 to
260 to
130 to
405
185
180
280
150
$
1,100 to $
1,200
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net
Proceeds from (repayments of) credit facilities, net
Distributions paid on common and preferred stock
Purchases of common stock
Repayments of securitized debt
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interest holders, net (1)
Repayments of senior notes
(Repayments of) proceeds from term loan, net
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest (2)
Proceeds from issuance of securities in securitization transaction
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
$
4,876.7
$
425.0
(1,603.0)
(19.6)
—
(11.8)
(1,700.0)
(500.0)
(425.7)
—
584.9
(695.9)
(1,342.4)
(232.8)
(500.0)
(14.4)
—
1,500.0
—
500.0
$
2,674.0
628.6
(1,164.4)
(766.3)
(302.5)
264.3
(1,300.0)
—
—
—
_______________
(1) 2017 contributions primarily relate to the funding of the FPS Acquisition.
(2)
In the fourth quarter of 2018, two of our minority holders in India delivered notice of exercise of their put options with respect to certain shares in our
Indian subsidiary, ATC TIPL. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we completed the redemption of the put shares for total consideration of INR
29.4 billion ($425.7 million at the date of redemption).
40
Senior Notes
Repayments of Senior Notes
Repayment of 3.40% Senior Notes—On the February 15, 2019 maturity date, we repaid $1.0 billion aggregate principal
amount of the 3.40% Notes. The 3.40% Notes were repaid with borrowings from the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and
the 2019 Credit Facility. Upon completion of the repayment, none of the 3.40% Notes remained outstanding.
Repayment of 5.050% Senior Notes—On April 22, 2019, we redeemed all of the $700.0 million aggregate principal
amount of the 5.050% Notes at a price equal to 103.0050% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but
excluding April 22, 2019, for an aggregate redemption price of $726.0 million, including $5.0 million in accrued and unpaid
interest. We recorded a loss on retirement of long-term obligations of $22.1 million, which includes prepayment consideration
of $21.0 million and the associated unamortized discount and deferred financing costs. The redemption was funded with
borrowings from the 2019 Credit Facility and cash on hand. Upon completion of the repayment, none of the 5.050% Notes
remained outstanding.
Repayment of 5.900% Senior Notes—On January 15, 2020, we redeemed all of the $500.0 million aggregate principal
amount of 5.900% senior unsecured notes due 2021 (the “5.900% Notes”) at a price equal to 106.7090% of the principal
amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding January 15, 2020, for an aggregate redemption price of $539.6
million, including $6.1 million in accrued and unpaid interest. We recorded a loss on retirement of long-term obligations of
$34.6 million, which includes prepayment consideration of $33.5 million and the associated unamortized discount and deferred
financing costs. The redemption was funded with borrowings from the 2019 Credit Facility and cash on hand. Upon completion
of the repayment, none of the 5.900% Notes remained outstanding.
Offerings of Senior Notes
3.375% Senior Notes and 3.950% Senior Notes Offering—On March 15, 2019, we completed a registered public offering
gg
of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.375% senior unsecured notes due 2024 (the “3.375% Notes”) and $600.0
million aggregate principal amount of 3.950% senior unsecured notes due 2029 (the “3.950% Notes”). The net proceeds from
this offering were approximately $1,231.0 million, after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. We used the net
proceeds to repay existing indebtedness under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility.
2.950% Senior Notes and 3.800% Senior Notes Offering—On June 13, 2019, we completed a registered public offering
gg
of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.950% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (the “2.950% Notes”) and $1.65
billion aggregate principal amount of 3.800% senior unsecured notes due 2029 (the “3.800% Notes”). The net proceeds from
this offering were approximately $2,269.0 million, after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. We used the net
proceeds to repay existing indebtedness under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility.
2.750% Senior Notes and 3.700% Senior Notes Offering—On October 3, 2019, we completed a registered public offering
gg
of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.750% senior unsecured notes due 2027 (the “2.750% Notes”) and $600.0
million aggregate principal amount of 3.700% senior unsecured notes due 2049 (the “3.700% Notes”). The net proceeds from
this offering were approximately $1,334.2 million, after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. We used the net
proceeds to repay existing indebtedness under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 364-Day Term Loan.
2.400% Senior Notes and 2.900% Senior Notes Offering—On January 10, 2020, we completed a registered public
offering of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.400% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (the “2.400% Notes”) and
$750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.900% senior unsecured notes due 2030 (the “2.900% Notes”, and collectively
with the 3.375% Notes, the 3.950% Notes, the 2.950% Notes, the 3.800% Notes, the 2.750% Notes, the 3.700% Notes and the
2.400% Notes, the “Notes”). The net proceeds from this offering were approximately $1,483.4 million, after deducting
commissions and estimated expenses. We used the net proceeds to repay existing indebtedness under the 2019 Credit Facility.
gg
41
Offering Date
and Interest
Accrual Date Maturity Date
The key terms of the Notes are as follows:
Aggregate
Principal
Amount
(in millions)
$
Senior Notes
3.375% Notes
650.0 March 15,
2019
3.950% Notes
600.0 March 15,
2.950% Notes
650.0
3.800% Notes
1,650.0
2019
June 13,
2019
June 13,
2019
2.750% Notes
750.0 October 3,
2019
3.700% Notes
600.0 October 3,
2.400% Notes
2.900% Notes
750.0
750.0
2019
January 10,
2020
January 10,
2020
Contractual
Interest
Rate
3.375% November 15,
2019
First Interest
Payment
Interest Payments
Due (1)
May 15 and
November 15
3.950% September 15,
2019
March 15 and
September 15
2.950% January 15,
2020
January 15 and
July 15
3.800% February 15,
2020
February 15 and
August 15
Par Call Date (2)
April 15, 2024
December 15,
2028
December 15,
2024
May 15, 2029
2.750% January 15,
2020
January 15 and
July 15
November 15,
2026
3.700% April 15, 2020 April 15 and
April 15, 2049
October 15
2.400% September 15,
2020
March 15 and
September 15
February 15,
2025
2.900% July 15, 2020
January 15 and
July 15
October 15,
2029
May 15,
2024
March 15,
2029
January 15,
2025
August 15,
2029
January 15,
2027
October 15,
2049
March 15,
2025
January 15,
2030
_______________
(1) Accrued and unpaid interest is payable in U.S. Dollars semi-annually in arrears and will be computed from the offering date on the basis of a 360-
day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
(2) We may redeem the Notes at any time, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus a make-whole
premium, together with accrued interest to the redemption date. If we redeem the Notes on or after the par call date, we will not be required to pay a
make-whole premium.
If we undergo a change of control and corresponding ratings decline, each as defined in the applicable supplemental
indenture, we may be required to repurchase all of the Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of such
Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including additional interest, if any), up to but not including the repurchase date. The
Notes rank equally with all of our other senior unsecured debt and are structurally subordinated to all existing and future
indebtedness and other obligations of our subsidiaries.
The supplemental indentures contain certain covenants that restrict our ability to merge, consolidate or sell assets and our
(together with our subsidiaries’) ability to incur liens. These covenants are subject to a number of exceptions, including that we
and our subsidiaries may incur certain liens on assets, mortgages or other liens securing indebtedness if the aggregate amount
of such liens does not exceed 3.5x Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture.
t
Bank Facilities
In December 2019, we entered into the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility, the 2019 Credit Facility and the 2019 Term
Loan, which amended and restated the 2013 Credit Facility, the 2014 Credit Facility and the 2013 Term Loan, respectively, to,
among other things, (i) extend the maturity dates by one year to June 28, 2023, January 31, 2025 and January 31, 2025,
respectively, (ii) increase the commitments under each of the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility to
$3.0 billion and $2.25 billion, respectively, (iii) increase the maximum Revolving Loan Commitments, after giving effect to any
Incremental Commitments (each as defined in the loan agreements for each of the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the
2019 Credit Facility) to $5.0 billion and $3.75 billion under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit
Facility, respectively, (iv) increase the maximum Commitments, after giving effect to any Incremental Commitments (each as
defined in the loan agreement for the 2019 Term Loan) to $2.25 billion under the 2019 Term Loan and (v) remove the Interest
Coverage Ratio financial covenant as defined in each of the loan agreements.
2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility—We have the ability to borrow up to $3.0 billion under the 2019 Multicurrency
yy
Credit Facility, which includes a $1.0 billion sublimit for multicurrency borrowings, a $200.0 million sublimit for letters of
credit and a $50.0 million sublimit for swingline loans. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we borrowed an aggregate
of $2.5 billion and repaid an aggregate of $3.7 billion of revolving indebtedness. We used the borrowings to fund acquisitions,
including the Entel Acquisition, to purchase redeemable noncontrolling interests, to repay existing indebtedness and for general
corporate purposes. We currently have $3.8 million of undrawn letters of credit and maintain the ability to draw down and
repay amounts under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility in the ordinary course.
42
2019 Credit Facility—We have the ability to borrow up to $2.25 billion under the 2019 Credit Facility, which includes a
yy
$200.0 million sublimit for letters of credit and a $50.0 million sublimit for swingline loans. During the year ended
December 31, 2019, we borrowed an aggregate of $3.2 billion and repaid an aggregate of $1.6 billion of revolving
indebtedness. We used the borrowings to fund acquisitions, including the Eaton Towers Acquisition, to repay existing
indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. We currently have $6.1 million of undrawn letters of credit and maintain the
ability to draw down and repay amounts under the 2019 Credit Facility in the ordinary course.
2019 364-Day Term Loan—On February 14, 2019, we entered into the 2019 364-Day Term Loan, the net proceeds of
which were used, together with cash on hand, to repay all amounts outstanding under the unsecured term loan entered into on
March 29, 2018. The 2019 364-Day Term Loan matured on February 13, 2020 and had an interest rate that ranged between
0.550% and 1.375% above LIBOR for LIBOR based borrowings or up to 0.375% above the defined base rate for base rate
borrowings, in each case based upon our debt ratings. On the February 13, 2020 maturity date, we repaid all amounts
outstanding under the 2019 364-Day Term Loan with proceeds from the 2020 Term Loan (as defined below), borrowings from
the 2019 Credit Facility and cash on hand.
As of December 31, 2019, the key terms under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility, the 2019 Credit Facility, the 2019
Term Loan and the 2019 364-Day Term Loan were as follows:
Bank Facility (1)
2019 Multicurrency Credit
Facility
2019 Credit Facility
Outstanding
Principal
Balance
Maturity Date
LIBOR borrowing
interest rate range
(2)
Base rate borrowing
interest rate range
(2)
Current margin over
LIBOR and the base
rate, respectively
$
700.0
June 28, 2023 (3) 0.875% - 1.750% 0.000% - 0.750% 1.125% and 0.125%
$ 1,600.0
January 31, 2025 (3) 0.875% - 1.750% 0.000% - 0.750% 1.125% and 0.125%
2019 Term Loan
$ 1,000.0
January 31, 2025
0.875% - 1.750% 0.000% - 0.750% 1.125% and 0.125%
2019 364-Day Term Loan
$ 1,000.0
February 13, 2020
0.550% - 1.375% 0.000% - 0.375% 0.800% and 0.000%
_______________
(1) Currently borrowed at LIBOR.
(2) Represents interest rate above LIBOR for LIBOR based borrowings and the interest rate above the defined base rate for base rate borrowings, in each case
based on our debt ratings.
(3) Subject to two optional renewal periods.
The 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility are subject to two optional renewal periods and we
must pay a quarterly commitment fee on the undrawn portion of each facility. The commitment fee for each of the 2019
Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility ranges from 0.080% to 0.300% per annum, based upon our debt
ratings, and is currently 0.110%.
2020 Term Loan—On February 13, 2020, we entered into a $750.0 million unsecured term loan (the “2020 Term Loan”),
the net proceeds of which were used to repay outstanding indebtedness under the 2019 364-Day Term Loan. The 2020 Term
Loan matures on February 12, 2021 and has an interest rate that is 0.65% above LIBOR for LIBOR based borrowings or 0.00%
above the defined base rate for base rate borrowings. Any outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest will be due and
payable in full at maturity.
The 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility, the 2019 Credit Facility, the 2019 Term Loan and the 2020 Term Loan do not
require amortization of principal and may be paid prior to maturity in whole or in part at our option without penalty or
premium. We have the option of choosing either a defined base rate or the LIBOR as the applicable base rate for borrowings
under these bank facilities.
The loan agreements for each of the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility, the 2019 Credit Facility, the 2019 Term Loan and
the 2020 Term Loan contain certain reporting, information, financial and operating covenants and other restrictions (including
limitations on additional debt, guaranties, sales of assets and liens) with which we must comply. Failure to comply with the
financial and operating covenants of the loan agreements could not only prevent us from being able to borrow additional funds
under the revolving credit facilities, but may constitute a default, which could result in, among other things, the amounts
outstanding, including all accrued interest and unpaid fees, becoming immediately due and payable.
India Indebtedness—During the year ended December 31, 2019, we repaid all remaining debt assumed in connection with the
Viom Acquisition and debt entered into by ATC TIPL. The remaining India indebtedness includes several working capital
facilities, most of which are subject to annual renewal. The working capital facilities bear interest at rates that consist of the
applicable bank’s Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (as defined in the applicable agreement), plus a spread.
43
Generally, the working capital facilities are payable on demand prior to maturity. Amounts outstanding and key terms of the
India indebtedness consisted of the following as of December 31, 2019 (in millions, except percentages):
Working capital facilities (1)
— $
—
Amount
Outstanding
(INR)
Amount
Outstanding
(USD)
Interest Rate (Range)
8.15% - 8.75%
_______
(1) 5.6 billion INR ($78.9 million) of borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2019.
Maturity Date (Range)
h
March 18, 2020 - October 23, 2020
b
Stock Repurchase Programs—We have two stock repurchase programs, the 2011 Buyback and the 2017 Buyback.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we repurchased 93,654 shares of our common stock under the 2011 Buyback
for an aggregate of $19.6 million, including commissions and fees. We had no repurchases under the 2017 Buyback.
Under each program, we are authorized to purchase shares from time to time through open market purchases or in
privately negotiated transactions not to exceed market prices and subject to market conditions and other factors. With respect to
open market purchases, we may use plans adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act in accordance with
securities laws and other legal requirements, which allows us to repurchase shares during periods when we otherwise might be
prevented from doing so under insider trading laws or because of self-imposed trading blackout periods. These programs may
be discontinued at any time.
We expect to continue managing the pacing of the remaining $2.1 billion under the Buyback Programs in response to
general market conditions and other relevant factors. We expect to fund further repurchases of our common stock through a
combination of cash on hand, cash generated by operations and borrowings under our credit facilities. Purchases under the
Buyback Programs are subject to us having available cash to fund repurchases.
Sales of Equity Securities—We receive proceeds from sales of our equity securities pursuant to our employee stock purchase
plan (the “ESPP”) and upon exercise of stock options granted under our equity incentive plan. For the year ended December 31,
2019, we received an aggregate of $105.5 million in proceeds upon exercises of stock options and sales pursuant to the ESPP.
—
Distributions—As a REIT, we must annually distribute to our stockholders an amount equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable
income (determined before the deduction for distributed earnings and excluding any net capital gain). Generally, we have
distributed, and expect to continue to distribute, all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income after taking into
consideration our utilization of NOLs. We have distributed an aggregate of approximately $7.4 billion to our common
stockholders, including the dividend paid in January 2020, primarily classified as ordinary income that may be treated as
qualified REIT dividends under Section 199A of the Code for taxable years ending after 2017 and before 2026.
The amount, timing and frequency of future distributions will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will
depend on various factors, a number of which may be beyond our control, including our financial condition and operating cash
flows, the amount required to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT and reduce any income and excise taxes that we
otherwise would be required to pay, limitations on distributions in our existing and future debt and preferred equity instruments,
our ability to utilize NOLs to offset our distribution requirements, limitations on our ability to fund distributions using cash
generated through our TRSs and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we paid $3.61 per share, or $1.6 billion, to common stockholders of record. In
addition, we declared a distribution of $1.01 per share, or $447.3 million, paid on January 14, 2020 to our common
stockholders of record at the close of business on December 27, 2019.
We accrue distributions on unvested restricted stock units, which are payable upon vesting. The amount accrued for
distributions payable related to unvested restricted stock units was $14.3 million and $13.7 million as of December 31, 2019
and 2018, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we paid $7.0 million of distributions upon the vesting of
restricted stock units.
For more details on the cash distributions paid to our common stockholders during the year ended December 31, 2019,
see note 16 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
44
Contractual Obligations—The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019 (in millions):
Contractual Obligations
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter
Total
Long-term debt, including current portion:
American Tower Corporation debt:
2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility
$
— $
— $
— $
700.0
$
— $
— $
700.0
2019 Term Loan
2019 Credit Facility
2019 364-Day Term Loan (1)
2.800% senior notes
3.300% senior notes
3.450% senior notes
5.900% senior notes (2)
2.250% senior notes
4.70% senior notes
3.50% senior notes
3.000% senior notes
5.00% senior notes
3.375% senior notes
1.375% senior notes
2.950% senior notes
3.375% senior notes
4.000% senior notes
4.400% senior notes
1.950% senior notes
3.125% senior notes
2.750% senior notes
3.55% senior notes
3.600% senior notes
3.950% senior notes
3.800% senior notes
3.700% senior notes
—
—
1,000.0
750.0
—
—
500.0
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
750.0
650.0
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
600.0
700.0
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1,000.0
700.0
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1,000.0
650.0
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1,000.0
1,600.0
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
560.6
650.0
1,000.0
1,600.0
(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:19)
750.0
750.0
650.0
500.0
600.0
700.0
1,000.0
700.0
1,000.0
650.0
560.6
650.0
1,000.0
1,000.0
750.0
500.0
560.6
400.0
750.0
750.0
700.0
600.0
750.0
500.0
560.6
400.0
750.0
750.0
700.0
600.0
1,650.0
600.0
1,650.0
600.0
Total American Tower Corporation debt
2,250.0
1,400.0
1,300.0
2,400.0
1,650.0
12,071.2
21,071.2
American Tower subsidiary debt:
Series 2013-2A securities (3)
Series 2018-1A securities (3)
Series 2015-1 notes (4)
Series 2015-2 notes (5)
Other subsidiary debt (6)
Total American Tower subsidiary debt
Long-term obligations, excluding
finance leases
Cash interest expense
Finance lease payments (including
interest)
Total debt service obligations
Operating lease payments (7)
Other non-current liabilities (8)(9)
Total
—
—
350.0
—
323.8
673.8
—
—
—
—
42.4
42.4
—
—
—
—
35.8
35.8
2,923.8
807.0
1,442.4
752.4
1,335.8
663.3
1,300.0
—
—
—
20.8
1,320.8
3,720.8
563.3
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
500.0
—
525.0
—
1,300.0
500.0
350.0
525.0
422.8
1,025.0
3,097.8
1,650.0
475.4
13,096.2
1,343.1
8.0
5.3
4.3
3.0
2.1
45.4
3,738.8
2,200.1
2,003.4
4,287.1
2,127.5
14,484.7
904.3
6.6
878.3
9.0
845.5
20.1
810.3
14.3
766.4
8.0
6,140.1
3,371.9
24,169.0
4,604.5
68.1
28,841.6
10,344.9
3,429.9
$
4,649.7
$
3,087.4
$
2,869.0
$
5,111.7
$
2,901.9
$
23,996.7
$
42,616.4
_______________
(1) Repaid in full on February 13, 2020.
(2) On January 15, 2020, we redeemed all of the 5.900% Notes.
(3) Represents anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is March 15, 2048.
(4) Represents anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is June 15, 2045.
(5) Represents anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is June 15, 2050.
(6)
Includes our South African credit facility, which is denominated in ZAR and amortizes through December 17, 2020, our Colombian credit facility, which
is denominated in COP and amortizes through April 24, 2021, our Brazil credit facility, which is denominated in BRL and matures on January 15, 2022,
45
debt entered into by our Kenyan subsidiary in connection with an acquisition of sites in Kenya (the “Kenya Debt”), which is required to be paid either (i)
in future installments subject to the satisfaction of specified conditions or (ii) three years from the note origination date, U.S. subsidiary debt related to a
seller-financed acquisition (the “U.S. Subsidiary Debt”) and debt entered into by certain Eaton Towers subsidiaries acquired in connection with the Eaton
Towers Acquisition (the “Eaton Towers Debt”), which is denominated in U.S. Dollar (“USD”), EUR, Kenyan Shilling (“KES”) and West African CFA
Franc. Subsequent to December 31, 2019, we repaid all of the outstanding Eaton Towers USD denominated and KES denominated debt.
Includes payments under non-cancellable initial terms, as well as payments for certain renewal periods at our option, which we expect to renew because
failure to do so could result in a loss of the applicable communications sites and related revenues from tenant leases.
(7)
(8) Primarily represents our asset retirement obligations and excludes certain other non-current liabilities included in our consolidated balance sheet,
primarily unearned revenue that is not payable in cash.
(9) Excludes $126.3 million of liabilities for unrecognized tax positions and $26.6 million of accrued income tax related interest and penalties included in our
consolidated balance sheet as we are uncertain as to when and if the amounts may be settled. Settlement of such amounts could require the use of cash
flows generated from operations. We expect the unrecognized tax benefits to change over the next 12 months if certain tax matters ultimately settle with
the applicable taxing jurisdiction during this timeframe. However, based on the status of these items and the amount of uncertainty associated with the
outcome and timing of audit settlements, we are currently unable to estimate the impact of the amount of such changes, if any, to previously recorded
uncertain tax positions.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements—We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of
SEC Regulation S-K.
Factors Affecting Sources of Liquidity
Our liquidity depends on our ability to generate cash flow from operating activities, borrow funds under our credit facilities
and maintain compliance with the contractual agreements governing our indebtedness. We believe that the debt agreements
discussed below represent our material debt agreements that contain covenants, our compliance with which would be material
to an investor’s understanding of our financial results and the impact of those results on our liquidity.
Internally Generated Funds—Because the majority of our tenant leases are multiyear contracts, a significant majority of
the revenues generated by our property operations as of the end of 2019 is recurring revenue that we should continue to receive
in future periods. Accordingly, a key factor affecting our ability to generate cash flow from operating activities is to maintain
this recurring revenue and to convert it into operating profit by minimizing operating costs and fully achieving our operating
efficiencies. In addition, our ability to increase cash flow from operating activities depends upon the demand for our
communications sites and our related services and our ability to increase the utilization of our existing communications sites.
Restrictions Under Loan Agreements Relating to Our Credit Facilities—The loan agreements for the 2019 Multicurrency
Credit Facility, the 2019 Credit Facility, the 2019 Term Loan and the 2020 Term Loan contain certain financial and operating
covenants and other restrictions applicable to us and our subsidiaries that are not designated as unrestricted subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis. These restrictions include limitations on additional debt, distributions and dividends, guaranties, sales of
assets and liens. The loan agreements also contain covenants that establish financial tests with which we and our restricted
subsidiaries must comply related to total leverage and senior secured leverage, as set forth in the table below. As of
December 31, 2019, we were in compliance with each of these covenants.
Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio
Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio
Ratio (1)
Total Debt to Adjusted EBITDA
6.00:1.00
Senior Secured Debt to Adjusted
EBITDA
3.00:1.00
Compliance Tests For The 12 Months Ended
December 31, 2019
($ in billions)
Additional Debt Capacity
Under Covenants (2)
Capacity for Adjusted
EBITDA Decrease
Under Covenants (3)
~$5.8
~$11.7 (4)
~$1.0
~$3.9
_______________
(1) Each component of the ratio as defined in the applicable loan agreement.
(2) Assumes no change to Adjusted EBITDA.
(3) Assumes no change to our debt levels.
(4) Effectively, however, additional Senior Secured Debt under this ratio would be limited to the capacity under the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio.
The loan agreements for our credit facilities also contain reporting and information covenants that require us to provide
financial and operating information to the lenders within certain time periods. If we are unable to provide the required
information on a timely basis, we would be in breach of these covenants.
Failure to comply with the financial maintenance tests and certain other covenants of the loan agreements for our credit
facilities could not only prevent us from being able to borrow additional funds under these credit facilities, but may constitute a
default under these credit facilities, which could result in, among other things, the amounts outstanding, including all accrued
interest and unpaid fees, becoming immediately due and payable. If this were to occur, we may not have sufficient cash on hand
uu
46
to repay such indebtedness. The key factors affecting our ability to comply with the debt covenants described above are our
financial performance relative to the financial maintenance tests defined in the loan agreements for these credit facilities and
our ability to fund our debt service obligations. Based upon our current expectations, we believe our operating results during
the next 12 months will be sufficient to comply with these covenants.
Restrictions Under Agreements Relating to the 2015 Securitization and the Trust Securitizations—The indenture and
related supplemental indentures governing the American Tower Secured Revenue Notes, Series 2015-1, Class A (the “Series
2015-1 Notes”) and the American Tower Secured Revenue Notes, Series 2015-2, Class A (the “Series 2015-2 Notes,” and,
together with the Series 2015-1 Notes, the “2015 Notes”) issued by GTP Acquisition Partners I, LLC (“GTP Acquisition
Partners”) in the 2015 Securitization and the loan agreement related to Trust Securitizations, as discussed further in note 9 to
our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report, include certain financial ratios and operating covenants
and other restrictions customary for transactions subject to rated securitizations. Among other things, GTP Acquisition Partners
and American Tower Asset Sub, LLC and American Tower Asset Sub II, LLC (together, the “AMT Asset Subs”) are prohibited
from incurring other indebtedness for borrowed money or further encumbering their assets, subject to customary carve-outs for
ordinary course trade payables and permitted encumbrances (as defined in the applicable agreement).
Under the agreements, amounts due will be paid from the cash flows generated by the assets securing the 2015 Notes or
the assets securing the nonrecourse loan made by the American Tower Trust I (the “Trust”) to the AMT Asset Subs (the
“Loan”), as applicable, which must be deposited into certain reserve accounts, and thereafter distributed solely pursuant to the
terms of the applicable agreement. On a monthly basis, after payment of all required amounts under the applicable agreement,
subject to the conditions described in the table below, the excess cash flows generated from the operation of such assets are
released to GTP Acquisition Partners or the AMT Asset Subs, as applicable, which can then be distributed to, and used by, us.
As of December 31, 2019, $63.1 million held in such reserve accounts was classified as restricted cash.
Certain information with respect to the 2015 Securitization and the Trust Securitizations is set forth below. The debt
service coverage ratio (“DSCR”) is generally calculated as the ratio of the net cash flow (as defined in the applicable
agreement) to the amount of interest, servicing fees and trustee fees required to be paid over the succeeding 12 months on the
principal amount of the 2015 Notes or the Loan, as applicable, that will be outstanding on the payment date following such date
of determination.
Conditions Limiting
Distributions of Excess Cash
Issuer or
Borrower
Notes/Securities
Issued
Cash Trap
DSCR
Amortization
Period
Excess Cash
Distributed
During Year
Ended
December 31,
2019
(in millions)
DSCR as of
December
31, 2019
Capacity for
Decrease in
Net Cash
Flow Before
Triggering
Cash Trap
DSCR (1)
(in millions)
Capacity for
Decrease in
Net Cash Flow
Before
Triggering
Minimum
DSCR (1)
(in millions)
(3)(4)
$238.9
9.12x
$209.0
$213.0
(3)(5)
$468.6
10.62x
$556.8
$565.7
2015
Securitization
GTP
Acquisition
Partners
Trust
Securitizations
AMT Asset
Subs
1.30x,
Tested
Quarterly
(2)
1.30x,
Tested
Quarterly
(2)
American
Tower Secured
Revenue
Notes, Series
2015-1 and
Series 2015-2
Secured Tower
Revenue
Securities,
Series
2013-2A,
Secured Tower
Revenue
Securities,
Series 2018-1,
Subclass A and
Secured Tower
Revenue
Securities,
Series 2018-1,
Subclass R
_______________
(1) Based on the net cash flow of the applicable issuer or borrower as of December 31, 2019 and the expenses payable over the next 12 months on the 2015
Notes or the Loan, as applicable.
47
(2) Once triggered, a Cash Trap DSCR condition continues to exist until the DSCR exceeds the Cash Trap DSCR for two consecutive calendar quarters.
During a Cash Trap DSCR condition, all cash flow in excess of amounts required to make debt service payments, fund required reserves, pay
management fees and budgeted operating expenses and make other payments required under the applicable transaction documents, referred to as excess
cash flow, will be deposited into a reserve account (the “Cash Trap Reserve Account”) instead of being released to the applicable issuer or borrower.
(3) An amortization period commences if the DSCR is equal to or below 1.15x (the “Minimum DSCR”) at the end of any calendar quarter and continues to
exist until the DSCR exceeds the Minimum DSCR for two consecutive calendar quarters.
(4) No amortization period is triggered if the outstanding principal amount of a series has not been repaid in full on the applicable anticipated repayment date.
However, in such event, additional interest will accrue on the unpaid principal balance of the applicable series, and such series will begin to amortize on a
monthly basis from excess cash flow.
(5) An amortization period exists if the outstanding principal amount has not been paid in full on the applicable anticipated repayment date and continues to
exist until such principal has been repaid in full.
A failure to meet the noted DSCR tests could prevent GTP Acquisition Partners or the AMT Asset Subs from distributing
excess cash flow to us, which could affect our ability to fund our capital expenditures, including tower construction and
acquisitions and meet REIT distribution requirements. During an “amortization period,” all excess cash flow and any amounts
in the applicable Cash Trap Reserve Account would be applied to pay principal of the 2015 Notes or the Loan, as applicable, on
each monthly payment date, and so would not be available for distribution to us. Further, additional interest will begin to accrue
with respect to any series of the 2015 Notes or subclass of the Loan from and after the anticipated repayment date at a per
annum rate determined in accordance with the applicable agreement. With respect to the 2015 Notes, upon the occurrence and
during an event of default, the applicable trustee may, in its discretion or at the direction of holders of more than 50% of the
aggregate outstanding principal of any series of the 2015 Notes, declare such series of 2015 Notes immediately due and
payable, in which case any excess cash flow would need to be used to pay holders of such notes. Furthermore, if GTP
Acquisition Partners or the AMT Asset Subs were to default on a series of the 2015 Notes or the Loan, the applicable trustee
may seek to foreclose upon or otherwise convert the ownership of all or any portion of the 3,542 communications sites that
secure the 2015 Notes or the 5,114 broadcast and wireless communications towers and related assets that secure the Loan,
respectively, in which case we could lose such sites and the revenue associated with those assets.
As discussed above, we use our available liquidity and seek new sources of liquidity to fund capital expenditures, future
growth and expansion initiatives, satisfy our distribution requirements and repay or repurchase our debt. If we determine that it
is desirable or necessary to raise additional capital, we may be unable to do so, or such additional financing may be
prohibitively expensive or restricted by the terms of our outstanding indebtedness. If we are unable to raise capital when our
needs arise, we may not be able to fund capital expenditures, future growth and expansion initiatives, satisfy our REIT
distribution requirements and debt service obligations or refinance our existing indebtedness.
In addition, our liquidity depends on our ability to generate cash flow from operating activities. As set forth under Item 1A
of this Annual Report under the caption “Risk Factors,” we derive a substantial portion of our revenues from a small number of
tenants and, consequently, a failure by a significant tenant to perform its contractual obligations to us could adversely affect our
cash flow and liquidity.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated
financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements
requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as
well as related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate our policies and estimates on an ongoing basis.
Management bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under
the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities
that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or
conditions.
We have reviewed our policies and estimates to determine our critical accounting policies for the year ended
December 31, 2019. We have identified the following policies as critical to an understanding of our results of operations and
financial condition. This is not a comprehensive list of our accounting policies. See note 1 to our consolidated financial
statements included in this Annual Report for a summary of our significant accounting policies. In many cases, the accounting
treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP, with no need for management’s judgment in its
application. There are also areas in which management’s judgment in selecting any available alternative would not produce a
materially different result.
•
Impairment of Assets—Assets Subject to Depreciation and Amortization: We review long-lived assets for impairment
at least annually or whenever events, changes in circumstances or other indicators or evidence indicate that the
carrying amount of our assets may not be recoverable.
48
We review our tower portfolio and network location intangible assets for indicators of impairment at the lowest level
of identifiable cash flows, typically at an individual tower basis. Possible indicators include a tower not having current
tenant leases or having expenses in excess of revenues. A cash flow modeling approach is utilized to assess
recoverability and incorporates, among other items, the tower location, the tower location demographics, the timing of
additions of new tenants, lease rates and estimated length of tenancy and ongoing cash requirements.
We review our tenant-related intangible assets on a tenant by tenant basis for indicators of impairment, such as high
levels of turnover or attrition, non-renewal of a significant number of contracts or the cancellation or termination of a
relationship. We assess recoverability by determining whether the carrying amount of the tenant-related intangible
assets will be recovered primarily through projected undiscounted future cash flows.
If the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows of our long-lived assets is less than the carrying amount of
the assets, an impairment loss may be recognized. Key assumptions included in the undiscounted cash flows are future
revenue projections, estimates of ongoing tenancies and operating margins. An impairment loss would be based on the
fair value of the asset, which is based on an estimate of discounted future cash flows to be provided from the asset. We
record any related impairment charge in the period in which we identify such impairment.
In October 2019, the Indian Supreme Court issued a ruling regarding the definition of AGR and associated fees and
charges that may have a material financial impact on certain of our tenants which could affect their ability to perform
their obligations under agreements with us. We will continue to monitor the status of these developments, as it is
possible that the estimated future cash flows may differ from current estimates and changes in estimated cash flows
from tenants in India could have an impact on previously recorded tangible and intangible assets, including amounts
originally recorded as tenant-related intangibles. The carrying value of tenant-related intangibles in India was $1,124.4
million as of December 31, 2019, which represents 12% of our consolidated balance of $8,999.5 million. Additionally,
a significant reduction in tenant related cash flows in India could also impact our tower portfolio and network location
intangibles. The carrying values of our tower portfolio and network location intangibles in India were $1,064.8 million
and $483.4 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2019, which represent 13% and 15% of our consolidated
balances of $7,964.1 million and $3,230.4 million, respectively.
•
Impairment of Assets—Goodwill: We review goodwill for impairment at least annually (as of December 31) or
whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
Goodwill is recorded in the applicable segment and assessed for impairment at the reporting unit level. We utilize the
two step impairment test and employ a discounted cash flow analysis when testing goodwill for impairment. The key
assumptions utilized in the discounted cash flow analysis include current operating performance, terminal sales growth
rate, management’s expectations of future operating results and cash requirements, the current weighted average cost
of capital and an expected tax rate. Under the first step of this test, we compare the fair value of the reporting unit, as
calculated under an income approach using future discounted cash flows, to the carrying amount of the applicable
reporting unit. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, we conduct the second step of this test, in which the
implied fair value of the applicable reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to the carrying amount of that goodwill. If
the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss would be recognized for the
amount of the excess.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, no potential impairment was identified as the fair value of each of our
reporting units was in excess of its carrying amount. The fair value of our India reporting unit, which is based on the
present value of forecasted future value cash flows (the income approach) exceeded the carrying value by
approximately 7%. Key assumptions include future revenue growth rates and operating margins, capital expenditures,
terminal period growth rate and the weighted-average cost of capital, which were determined considering historical
data and current assumptions related to the impacts of the carrier consolidation, each of which could be impacted by
our tenants’ ability to perform their contractual obligations as a result of the AGR ruling or otherwise. For this
reporting unit, we performed a sensitivity analysis on our significant assumptions and determined that a (i) less than
1% reduction of projected revenues, (ii) 42 basis point increase in the weighted-average cost of capital or (iii) 17%
reduction in terminal sales growth rate, individually, each of which we determined to be reasonable, would impact our
conclusion that the fair value of the India reporting unit exceeds its carrying value. Events that could negatively affect
our India reporting unit’s financial results include increased tenant attrition exceeding our forecast resulting from the
ongoing carrier consolidation, carrier tenant bankruptcies and other factors set forth in Item 1A of this Annual Report
under the caption “Risk Factors.” The carrying value of goodwill in the India reporting unit was $1,021.8 million as of
December 31, 2019, which represents 17% of our consolidated balance of $6,178.3 million.
• Asset Retirement Obligations: When required, we recognize the fair value of obligations to remove our tower assets
and remediate the leased land upon which certain of our tower assets are located. Generally, the associated retirement
49
costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related tower assets and depreciated over their estimated
useful lives and the liability is accreted through the obligation’s estimated settlement date.
We updated our assumptions used in estimating our aggregate asset retirement obligation, which resulted in a net
decrease in the estimated obligation of $66.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2019. The change in 2019
primarily resulted from changes in timing of certain settlement date and cost assumptions. Fair value estimates of
liabilities for asset retirement obligations generally involve discounting of estimated future cash flows. Periodic
accretion of such liabilities due to the passage of time is included in Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense
in the consolidated statements of operations. The significant assumptions used in estimating our aggregate asset
retirement obligation are: timing of tower removals; cost of tower removals; timing and number of land lease
renewals; expected inflation rates; and credit-adjusted risk-free interest rates that approximate our incremental
borrowing rate. While we feel the assumptions are appropriate, there can be no assurances that actual costs and the
probability of incurring obligations will not differ from these estimates. We will continue to review these assumptions
periodically and we may need to adjust them as necessary.
• Acquisitions: We evaluate each of our acquisitions under the accounting guidance framework to determine whether to
treat an acquisition as an asset acquisition or a business combination. For those transactions treated as asset
acquisitions, the purchase price is allocated to the assets acquired, with no recognition of goodwill. For those
acquisitions that meet the definition of a business combination, we apply the acquisition method of accounting where
assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value at the date of each acquisition, and the results of
operations are included with our results from the dates of the respective acquisitions. Any excess of the purchase price
paid over the amounts recognized for assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. We continue to
evaluate acquisitions accounted for as business combinations for a period not to exceed one year after the applicable
acquisition date of each transaction to determine whether any additional adjustments are needed to the allocation of the
purchase price paid for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities
assumed is typically determined by using either estimates of replacement costs or discounted cash flow valuation
methods. When determining the fair value of tangible assets acquired, we must estimate the cost to replace the asset
with a new asset taking into consideration such factors as age, condition and the economic useful life of the asset.
When determining the fair value of intangible assets acquired, we must estimate the applicable discount rate and the
timing and amount of future tenant cash flows, including rate and terms of renewal and attrition.
• Revenue Recognition: Our revenue is derived from leasing the right to use our communications sites and the land on
which the sites are located (the “lease component”) and from the reimbursement of costs incurred in operating the
communications sites and supporting the tenants’ equipment as well as other services and contractual rights (the “non-
lease component”). Most of our revenue is derived from leasing arrangements and is accounted for as lease revenue
unless the timing and pattern of revenue recognition of the non-lease component differs from the lease component. If
the timing and pattern of the non-lease component revenue recognition differs from that of the lease component, we
separately determine the stand-alone selling prices and pattern of revenue recognition for each performance obligation.
Our revenue from leasing arrangements, including fixed escalation clauses present in non-cancellable lease
arrangements, is reported on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective leases when collectibility is probable.
Escalation clauses tied to a consumer price index or other inflation-based indices, and other incentives present in lease
agreements with our tenants, are excluded from the straight-line calculation. Total property straight-line revenues for
the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $183.5 million, $87.6 million and $194.4 million,
respectively. Amounts billed upfront in connection with the execution of lease agreements are initially deferred and
reflected in Unearned revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and recognized as revenue over the
terms of the applicable lease arrangements. Amounts billed or received for services prior to being earned are deferred
and reflected in Unearned revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets until the criteria for recognition
have been met.
We derive the largest portion of our revenues, corresponding trade receivables and the related deferred rent asset from
a small number of tenants in the telecommunications industry, with 54% of our revenues derived from four tenants. In
addition, we have concentrations of credit risk in certain geographic areas. We mitigate the concentrations of credit
risk with respect to notes and trade receivables by actively monitoring the creditworthiness of our borrowers and
tenants. In recognizing tenant revenue we assess the collectibility of both the amounts billed and the portion
recognized on a straight-line basis. This assessment takes tenant credit risk and business and industry conditions into
consideration to ultimately determine the collectibility of the amounts billed. To the extent the amounts, based on
management’s estimates, may not be collectible, recognition is deferred until such point as the uncertainty is resolved.
Any amounts that were previously recognized as revenue and subsequently determined to be uncollectible are charged
to bad debt expense. Accounts receivable are reported net of allowances for doubtful accounts related to estimated
50
losses resulting from a tenant’s inability to make required payments and allowances for amounts invoiced whose
collectibility is not reasonably assured.
•
Rent Expense and Lease Accounting: Many of the leases underlying our tower sites have fixed rent escalations, which
provide for periodic increases in the amount of ground rent payable over time. In addition, certain of our tenant leases
require us to exercise available renewal options pursuant to the underlying ground lease if the tenant exercises its
renewal option. We calculate straight-line ground rent expense for these leases based on the fixed non-cancellable term
of the underlying ground lease plus all periods, if any, for which failure to renew the lease imposes an economic
penalty to us such that renewal appears to be reasonably assured.
Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted the new lease standard using the modified retrospective method applied to lease
arrangements that were in place on the transition date. The new lease accounting guidance required us to recognize a
right-of-use lease asset and lease liability for operating and finance leases. The right-of-use asset is measured as the
sum of the lease liability, prepaid or accrued lease payments, any initial direct costs incurred and any other applicable
amounts.
The calculation of the lease liability requires us to make certain assumptions for each lease, including lease term and
discount rate implicit in each lease, which could significantly impact the gross lease obligation, the duration and the
present value of the lease liability. When calculating the lease term, we consider the renewal, cancellation and
termination rights available to us and the lessor. We determine the discount rate by calculating the incremental
borrowing rate on a collateralized basis at the commencement of a lease or upon a change in the lease term.
•
Income Taxes: Accounting for income taxes requires us to estimate the timing and impact of amounts recorded in our
financial statements that may be recognized differently for tax purposes. To the extent that the timing of amounts
recognized for financial reporting purposes differs from the timing of recognition for tax reporting purposes, deferred
tax assets or liabilities are required to be recorded. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured based on the rate at
which we expect these items to be reflected in our tax returns, which may differ from the current rate. We do not
expect to pay federal income taxes on our REIT taxable income.
We periodically review our deferred tax assets, and we record a valuation allowance if, based on the available
evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management
assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated
to use the existing deferred tax assets. Valuation allowances would be reversed as a reduction to the provision for
income taxes, if related deferred tax assets are deemed realizable based on changes in facts and circumstances relevant
to the assets’ recoverability.
We recognize the benefit of uncertain tax positions when, in management’s judgment, it is more likely than not that
positions we have taken in our tax returns will be sustained upon examination, which are measured at the largest
amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. We adjust our tax liabilities when our
judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information or information not previously available. Due to the
complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different
from our current estimate of the tax liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income
tax expense in the period in which additional information is available or the position is ultimately settled under audit.
Accounting Standards Update
For a discussion of recent accounting standards updates, see note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included in
this Annual Report.
51
ITEM 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2019 about our market risk exposure associated with
changing interest rates. For long-term debt obligations, the table presents principal cash flows by maturity date and average
interest rates related to outstanding obligations. For interest rate swaps, the table presents notional principal amounts and
weighted-average interest rates (in millions, except percentages). For more information, see Item 7 of this Annual Report under
the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital
Resources” and note 9 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Long-Term Debt
Fixed Rate Debt (a)
Weighted-Average Interest
Rate (a)
Variable Rate Debt (b)
Weighted-Average Interest
Rate (b)(c)
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter
Total
Fair Value
$ 1,605.1
$ 1,434.4
$ 1,303.9
$ 3,002.0
$ 1,651.2
$ 10,511.9
$ 19,508.5
$ 20,284.9
3.67%
3.47%
3.57%
3.20%
4.36%
3.37%
$ 1,323.1
$
12.2
$
35.1
$
720.8
$
— $ 2,600.0
$
4,691.2
$
4,691.3
3.45%
8.13%
7.04%
3.00%
—%
4.13%
Interest Rate Swaps
Hedged Variable-Rate
Notional Amount
Fixed Rate Debt Rate (e)
Hedged Fixed-Rate Notional
Amount
Variable Rate Debt Rate (g)
$
$
9.2
$
9.1
$
— $
— $
— $
— $
18.3
9.37%
— $
— $
600.0
$
500.0
$
— $
— $
1,100.0
2.85%
$
$
(0.1)
(d)
1.6
(f)
_______________
(a) Fixed rate debt consisted of: Securities issued in the Trust Securitizations; Securities issued in the 2015 Securitization; the 2.800% senior notes due 2020;
the 3.300% senior notes due 2021; the 3.450% senior notes due 2021; the 5.900% Notes; the 2.250% senior notes due 2022 (the “2.250% Notes”); the
4.70% senior notes due 2022; the 3.50% senior notes due 2023; the 3.000% senior notes due 2023 (the “3.000% Notes”); the 5.00% senior notes due
2024; the 3.375% senior notes due 2024; the 2.950% senior notes due 2025; the 1.375% senior notes due 2025; the 4.000% senior notes due 2025; the
4.400% senior notes due 2026; the 1.950% senior notes due 2026; the 3.375% senior notes due 2026; the 3.125% senior notes due 2027; the 2.750%
senior notes due 2027; the 3.55% senior notes due 2027; the 3.600% senior notes due 2028; the 3.950% senior notes due 2029; the 3.800% senior notes
due 2029; the 3.700% senior notes due 2049; the Kenya Debt; the U.S. Subsidiary Debt; and other debt including finance leases.
(b) Variable rate debt consisted of: the 2019 364-Day Term Loan, which matured on February 13, 2020; the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility, which
matures on June 28, 2023; the 2019 Credit Facility, which matures on January 31, 2025; the 2019 Term Loan, which matures on January 31, 2025; the
South African credit facility, which amortizes through December 17, 2020; the Colombian credit facility, which amortizes through April 24, 2021; the
Brazil credit facility, which matures on January 15, 2022; and the Eaton Towers Debt.
(c) Based on rates effective as of December 31, 2019.
(d) As of December 31, 2019, the interest rate swap agreement in Colombia was included in Other non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
(e) Represents the fixed rate of interest based on contractual notional amount as a percentage of the total notional amount. The interest rate consists of fixed
interest of 5.37%, per the interest rate agreement, and a fixed margin of 4.00%, per the loan agreement for the Colombian credit facility.
(f) As of December 31, 2019, the interest rate swap agreements in the U.S. included $9.0 million in Other non-current assets and $7.4 million in Other non-
current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
(g) Represents the weighted average variable rate of interest based on contractual notional amount as a percentage of total notional amounts.
Interest Rate Risk
As of December 31, 2019, we have one interest rate swap agreement related to debt in Colombia. This swap has been
designated as a cash flow hedge, has a notional amount of $18.3 million, has an interest rate of 5.37% and expires in April
2021. We also have three interest rate swap agreements related to the 2.250% Notes. These swaps have been designated as fair
value hedges, have an aggregate notional amount of $600.0 million, an interest rate of one-month LIBOR plus applicable
spreads and expire in January 2022. In addition, we have three interest rate swap agreements related to a portion of the 3.000%
Notes. These swaps have been designated as fair value hedges, have an aggregate notional amount of $500.0 million, an
interest rate of one-month LIBOR plus applicable spreads and expire in June 2023.
Changes in interest rates can cause interest charges to fluctuate on our variable rate debt. Variable rate debt as of
December 31, 2019 consisted of $700.0 million under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility, $1.6 billion under the 2019
Credit Facility, $1.0 billion under the 2019 Term Loan, $1.0 billion under the 2019 364-Day Term Loan, $600.0 million under
the interest rate swap agreements related to the 2.250% Notes, $500.0 million under the interest rate swap agreements related to
the 3.000% Notes, $20.8 million under the South African credit facility, $6.1 million under the Colombian credit facility after
giving effect to our interest rate swap agreements, $16.3 million under the Brazil credit facility and $329.8 million under the
Eaton Towers Debt. A 10% increase in current interest rates would result in an additional $20.8 million of interest expense for
the year ended December 31, 2019.
52
Foreign Currency Risk
We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates primarily in connection with our foreign
subsidiaries and joint ventures internationally. Any transaction denominated in a currency other than the U.S. Dollar is reported
in U.S. Dollars at the applicable exchange rate. All assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars at exchange rates in
effect at the end of the applicable fiscal reporting period and all revenues and expenses are translated at average rates for thet
period. The cumulative translation effect is included in equity as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss. We
may enter into additional foreign currency financial instruments in anticipation of future transactions to minimize the impact of
foreign currency fluctuations. For the year ended December 31, 2019, 43% of our revenues and 51% of our total operating
expenses were denominated in foreign currencies.
As of December 31, 2019, we have incurred intercompany debt that is not considered to be permanently reinvested, and
similar unaffiliated balances that were denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the subsidiary in which
it is recorded. As this debt had not been designated as being a long-term investment in nature, any changes in the foreign
currency exchange rates will result in unrealized gains or losses, which will be included in our determination of net income. An
adverse change of 10% in the underlying exchange rates of our unsettled intercompany debt and similar unaffiliated balances
would result in $105.4 million of unrealized losses that would be included in Other expense in our consolidated statements of
operations for the year ended December 31, 2019.
ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
See Item 15 (a).
ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have established disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that material information relating to us,
including our consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the officers who certify our financial reports and to other members of
senior management and the Board of Directors.
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the
effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report. Based on this evaluation, our
principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective
as of December 31, 2019 and designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted
under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the requisite time periods specified in the
applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive
officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, is responsible
for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)
under the Exchange Act. Our internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board
of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019. As
discussed in Item 1 of this Annual Report under the caption “Business” and in note 7 to our consolidated financial statements
included in this Annual Report, we completed our acquisition of Eaton Towers on December 31, 2019. As permitted by the
rules and regulations of the SEC, we excluded from our assessment the internal control over financial reporting at Eaton
Towers, whose financial statements reflect total assets and revenues constituting 6% and 0%, respectively, of the consolidated
financial statement amounts as of, and for the year ended, December 31, 2019.
53
In making its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, our management used the criteria set forth by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013).
Based on this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, our internal control over financial reporting is
effective.
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm that audited our financial statements included
in this Annual Report, has issued an attestation report on management’s internal control over financial reporting, which is
included in this Item 9A under the caption “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the
Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. As set forth above, we excluded from our assessment the internal
control over financial reporting at Eaton Towers for the year ended December 31, 2019. We consider Eaton Towers material to
our results of operations, financial position and cash flows, and we are in the process of integrating the internal control
procedures of Eaton Towers into our internal control structure.
rr
54
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of American Tower Corporation
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of American Tower Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”)
as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all
material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in
Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, of the Company and our
report dated February 25, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and included an explanatory
paragraph related to the Company’s adoption of FASB Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), on January
1, 2019.
As described in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management excluded from its
assessment the internal control over financial reporting at Eaton Towers Holdings Limited (“Eaton Towers”), which was
acquired on December 31, 2019, and whose financial statements constitute 6% of total assets and 0% of net revenues of the
consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019. Accordingly, our audit did not
include the internal control over financial reporting at Eaton Towers.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s
Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all
material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk
that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the
assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit
provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures
that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and
dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the
company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also,
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 25, 2020
55
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Our executive officers and their respective ages and positions as of February 18, 2020 are set forth below:
PART III
James D. Taiclet
Thomas A. Bartlett
Edmund DiSanto
Robert J. Meyer, Jr.
Olivier Puech
Amit Sharma
Steven O. Vondran
59 Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
61 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
67 Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and
Secretary
56 Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
52 Executive Vice President and President, Latin America and EMEA
69 Executive Vice President and President, Asia
49 Executive Vice President and President, U.S. Tower Division
James D. Taiclet is our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Taiclet was appointed President and Chief
Operating Officer in September 2001, was named Chief Executive Officer in October 2003 and was selected as Chairman of
the Board in February 2004. Prior to joining us, Mr. Taiclet served as President of Honeywell Aerospace Services, a unit of
Honeywell International, and prior to that as Vice President, Engine Services at Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies
Corporation. He was also previously a consultant at McKinsey & Company, specializing in telecommunications and aerospace
strategy and operations. Mr. Taiclet began his career as a United States Air Force officer and pilot and served in the Gulf War. rr
He holds a Master in Public Affairs degree from Princeton University, where he was awarded a Fellowship at the Woodrow
Wilson School, and is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with majors in Engineering and
International Relations. Mr. Taiclet is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Business Roundtable, the Business
Council and the Commercial Club of Boston. He is also a member of the Digital Communications Governors Community of
the World Economic Forum (Davos). He also serves as a member of the Executive Board of The National Association of Real
Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit), the Board of Trustees of Brigham and Women’s Health Care, Inc., the Advisory Council for
the Princeton University Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Lockheed Martin’s Board of Directors,
the US India Business Council Board and the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum Board. In August 2015, Mr. Taiclet was
appointed to the U.S.-India CEO Forum, and, in October 2018, he was appointed Co-Chair of the U.S.-India CEO Forum by
the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Thomas A. Bartlett is our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Bartlett joined us in April 2009 as
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Bartlett served as our Treasurer from February 2012 to December
2013, and again from July 2017 to August 2018. Prior to joining us, Mr. Bartlett served as Senior Vice President and Corporate
Controller with Verizon Communications, Inc. from November 2005 to March 2009. In this role, he was responsible for
corporate-wide accounting, tax planning and compliance, SEC financial reporting, budget reporting and analysis and capital
expenditures planning functions. Mr. Bartlett previously held the roles of Senior Vice President and Treasurer, as well as Senior
Vice President Investor Relations. During his twenty-five year career with Verizon Communications and its predecessor
companies and affiliates, he served in numerous operations and business development roles, including as the President and
Chief Executive Officer of Bell Atlantic International Wireless from 1995 through 2000, where he was responsible for wireless
activities in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia, and was also an area President in Verizon’s U.S. wireless business
responsible for all operational aspects in both the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Mr. Bartlett began his career at Deloitte,
Haskins & Sells. Mr. Bartlett currently serves on the board of directors of Equinix, Inc. Mr. Bartlett earned an M.B.A. from
Rutgers University, a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Lehigh University and became a Certified Public Accountant.
Edmund DiSanto is our Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary. Prior to
joining us in April 2007, Mr. DiSanto was with Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corporation. Mr. DiSanto
started with United Technologies in 1989, where he first served as Assistant General Counsel of its Carrier subsidiary, then
corporate Executive Assistant to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Technologies. From 1997, he held
various legal and business roles at its Pratt & Whitney unit, including Deputy General Counsel and most recently, Vice
President, Global Service Partners, Business Development. Prior to joining United Technologies, Mr. DiSanto served in a
number of legal and related positions at United Dominion Industries and New England Electric Systems. Mr. DiSanto earned a
J.D. from Boston College Law School and a Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University. In 2013, Mr. DiSanto became a
member of the board of directors of the Business Council for International Understanding. Mr. DiSanto also currently serves as
a Strategic Officer at the World Economic Forum.
56
Robert J. Meyer, Jr. is our Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Meyer joined us in August 2008 as
our Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Controller and served in that role until January 2020 when he was appointed
to his current position. Prior to joining us, Mr. Meyer was with Bright Horizons Family Solutions since 1998, a provider of
child care, early education and work/life consulting services, where he most recently served as Chief Accounting Officer. Mr.
Meyer also served as Corporate Controller and Vice President of Finance while at Bright Horizons. Prior to that, from 1997 to
1998, Mr. Meyer served as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at First Security Services Corp. Mr. Meyer earned a
Masters in Finance from Bentley University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Marquette University, and is a
Certified Public Accountant.
Olivier Puech is our Executive Vice President and President, Latin America and EMEA. Mr. Puech joined us in 2013 as
our Senior Vice President and CEO of Latin America and served in that role until October 2018 when he was appointed to his
current position. Prior to joining us, Mr. Puech spent 25 years as a senior executive in the telecom and internet sectors of
international organizations. Most recently, he was with Nokia where he held various leadership roles including Senior Vice
President Americas, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific and Vice President Latin America. Before Nokia, Mr. Puech spent 12
years at Gemalto, where he last held the position of Vice President, Sales and Marketing with responsibility for South Europe,
Eastern Europe and Latin America. Mr. Puech holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration from Ecole
Supérieure De Commerce in Marseille, in France. In June 2019, Mr. Puech was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce
to serve on the President’s Advisory Counsel on Doing Business in Africa. He is fluent in English, French, Spanish, Italian and
Portuguese.
Amit Sharma is our Executive Vice President and President, Asia. Mr. Sharma joined us in September 2007. Prior to
joining us, since 1992, Mr. Sharma worked at Motorola, where he led country teams in India and Southeast Asia, including as
Country President, India and as Head of Strategy, Asia-Pacific. Mr. Sharma also served on Motorola’s Asia-Pacific Board and
was a member of its senior leadership team. Mr. Sharma also worked at GE Capital, serving as Vice President, Strategy and
Business Development, and prior to that, with McKinsey, New York, serving as a core member of the firm's Electronics and
Marketing Practices. Mr. Sharma earned an M.B.A. in International Business from the Wharton School, University of
Pennsylvania, where he was on the Dean’s List and the Director’s Honors List. Mr. Sharma also holds a Master of Science in
Computer Science from the Moore School, University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical
Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.
Steven O. Vondran is our Executive Vice President and President, U.S. Tower Division. Mr. Vondran joined us in 2000
as a member of our legal team and served in a variety of positions until August 2004 when he was appointed Senior Vice
President of our U.S. Leasing Operations, where he oversaw project management, operational finance and national sales teams.
Mr. Vondran served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel for our U.S. Tower Division from July 2010 to August 2018, at
which time he was appointed to his current position. Prior to joining American Tower, Mr. Vondran had been an associate at the
law firm of Lewellen & Frazier LLP, served as telecommunications consultant with the firm of Young & Associates, LLC and
as a Law Clerk to the Honorable John Stroud on the Arkansas Court of Appeals. In September 2018, Mr. Vondran was
appointed director of CTIA - the Wireless Association, and served as chairperson of WIA - The Wireless Infrastructure
Association, formerly known as PCIA, from October 2018 to March 2019. He received his J.D. with high honors from the
University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law and is a graduate of Hendrix College.
The information under “Election of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” from the
Definitive Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference. Information required by this item pursuant to Item 407(c)(3) of
SEC Regulation S-K relating to our procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors,
and pursuant to Item 407(d)(4) and 407(d)(5) of SEC Regulation S-K relating to our audit committee financial experts and
identification of the audit committee of our Board of Directors, is contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement under
“Corporate Governance” and is incorporated herein by reference.
Information regarding our Code of Conduct applicable to our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer,
our controller and other senior financial officers appears in Item 1 of this Annual Report under the caption “Business—
Available Information.”
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information under “Compensation and Other Information Concerning Directors and Officers” from the Definitive
Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
57
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Securities Authorized
for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” from the Definitive Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
Information required by this item pursuant to Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K relating to approval of related party
transactions is contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement under “Corporate Governance” and is incorporated herein by
reference.
Information required by this item pursuant to Item 407(a) of SEC Regulation S-K relating to director independence is
contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement under “Corporate Governance” and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information under “Independent Auditor Fees and Other Matters” from the Definitive Proxy Statement is
incorporated herein by reference.
58
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)
The following documents are filed as a part of this report:
PART IV
1. Financial Statements. See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements, which appears on page F-1 hereof. The
financial statements listed in the accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial Statements are filed herewith in response to
this Item.
2. Financial Statement Schedules. American Tower Corporation and Subsidiaries Schedule III – Schedule of Real
Estate and Accumulated Depreciation is filed herewith in response to this Item.
3. Exhibits. See Index to Exhibits.
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company has filed certain agreements as exhibits to this Annual Report on
Form 10-K. These agreements may contain representations and warranties by the parties. These representations and warranties have
been made solely for the benefit of the other party or parties to such agreements and (i) may have been qualified by disclosures made
to such other party or parties, (ii) were made only as of the date of such agreements or such other date(s) as may be specified in such
agreements and are subject to more recent developments, which may not be fully reflected in the Company’s public disclosure,
(iii) may reflect the allocation of risk among the parties to such agreements and (iv) may apply materiality standards different from
what may be viewed as material to investors. Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the Company’s
actual state of affairs at the date hereof and should not be relied upon.
d
The exhibits below are included, either by being filed herewith or by incorporation by reference, as part of this Annual Report
on Form 10-K. Exhibits are identified according to the number assigned to them in Item 601 of SEC Regulation S-K. Documents that
are incorporated by reference are identified by their Exhibit number as set forth in the filing from which they are incorporated by
reference.
Exhibit
No.
2.1
3.1
3.2
3.3
4.1
4.2
4.3
Description of Document
p
Form
File No.
Date of Filingg
Exhibit
No.
Incorporated By Reference
Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between
American Tower Corporation and American Tower
REIT, Inc., dated as of August 24, 2011
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, effective as of December 31, 2011
Certificate of Merger, effective as of December 31,
2011
Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company,
effective as of February 12, 2016
Indenture dated as of May 13, 2010, by and between
the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon
Trust Company N.A., as Trustee
Supplemental Indenture No. 4, dated as of December
30, 2011, to Indenture dated as of May 13, 2010, by
and among, the Predecessor Registrant, the Company
and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company
N.A., as Trustee
Supplemental Indenture No. 5, dated as of March 12,
2012, to Indenture dated as of May 13, 2010, by and
between the Company and The Bank of New York
Mellon Trust Company N.A., as Trustee, for the
4.70% Senior Notes due 2022
8-K
001-14195
8-K
8-K
8-K
001-14195
001-14195
001-14195
S-3ASR
333-166805
August 25,
2011
January 3,
2012
January 3,
2012
February
16, 2016
May 13,
2010
8-K
001-14195
January 3,
2012
8-K
001-14195
March 12,
2012
2.1
3.1
3.2
3.1
4.3
4.6
4.1
59
Exhibit
No.
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11
4.12
4.13
4.14
p
Description of Document
Supplemental Indenture No. 6, dated as of January 8,
2013, to Indenture dated as of May 13, 2010, by and
between the Company and The Bank of New York
Mellon Trust Company N.A., as Trustee, for the
3.50% Senior Notes due 2023
Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by and between
the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as
Trustee
Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of August 19,
2013, to Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by and
between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee, for the 5.00% Senior Notes
due 2024
Supplemental Indenture No. 2, dated as of August 7,
2014, to Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by and
between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee, for the 3.450% Senior Notes
due 2021
Supplemental Indenture No. 3, dated as of May 7,
2015, to Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by and
between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee, for the 2.800% Senior Notes
due 2020 and the 4.000% Senior Notes due 2025
Supplemental Indenture No. 4, dated as of January 12,
2016, to Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by and
between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee, for the 3.300% Senior Notes
due 2021 and the 4.400% Senior Notes due 2026
Supplemental Indenture No. 5, dated as of May 13,
2016, to Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by and
between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee, for the 3.375% Senior Notes
due 2026
Supplemental Indenture No. 6, dated as of September
30, 2016, to Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by
and between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee, for the 2.250% Senior Notes
due 2022 and the 3.125% Senior Notes due 2027
Supplemental Indenture No. 7, dated as of April 6,
2017, to Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by and
between the Company, U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee, and Elavon Financial
Services DAC, UK Branch, as Paying Agent, for the
1.375% Senior Notes due 2025
Supplemental Indenture No. 8, dated as of June 30,
2017, to Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by and
between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee, for the 3.55% Senior Notes
due 2027
Supplemental Indenture No. 9, dated as of December
8, 2017, to Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by
and between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee, for the 3.000% Senior Notes
due 2023 and the 3.600% Senior Notes due 2028
60
Incorporated By Reference
Form
File No.
Date of Filingg
8-K
001-14195
S-3ASR
333-188812
January 8,
2013
May 23,
2013
Exhibit
No.
4.1
4.12
8-K
001-14195
August 19,
2013
8-K
001-14195
August 7,
2014
8-K
001-14195
May 7,
2015
8-K
001-14195
January 12,
2016
8-K
001-14195
May 13,
2016
8-K
001-14195
September
30, 2016
8-K
001-14195
8-K
001-14195
April 6,
2017
June 30,
2017
8-K
001-14195
December
8, 2017
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
Exhibit
No.
4.15
4.16
4.17
4.18
4.19
4.20
4.21
4.22
4.23
4.24
p
Description of Document
Supplemental Indenture No. 10, dated as of May 22,
2018, to Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by and
between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee, and Elavon Financial
Services DAC, UK Branch, as Paying Agent, for the
1.950% Senior Notes due 2026
Supplemental Indenture No. 11, dated as of March 15,
2019, to Indenture dated as of May 23, 2013, by and
between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee, for the 3.375% Senior Notes
due 2024 and the 3.950% Senior Notes due 2029
Indenture dated as of June 4, 2019, by and between
the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as
Trustee
Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of June 13,
2019, to Indenture dated as of June 4, 2019, by and
between American Tower Corporation and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee, for the 2.950%
Senior Notes due 2025 and the 3.800% Senior Notes
due 2029
Supplemental Indenture No. 2, dated as of October 3,
2019, to Indenture dated as of June 4, 2019, by and
between American Tower Corporation and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee, for the 2.750%
Senior Notes due 2027 and the 3.700% Senior Notes
due 2049
Supplemental Indenture No. 3, dated as of January 10,
2020, to Indenture dated as of June 4, 2019, by and
between American Tower Corporation and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee, for the 2.400%
Senior Notes due 2025 and the 2.900% Senior Notes
due 2030
Certificate of Designations of the 5.25% Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, of the
Company as filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware, effective as of May 12, 2014
Certificate of Designations of the 5.50% Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, of the
Company as filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware, effective as of March 3, 2015
Deposit Agreement, dated March 3, 2015, among the
Company, Computershare Trust Company, N.A.,
Computershare Inc. and the holders from time to time
of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary
shares, for the 5.50% Mandatory Convertible
Preferred Stock, Series B
Third Amended and Restated Indenture, dated May
29, 2015, by and between GTP Acquisition Partners I,
LLC, ACC Tower Sub, LLC, DCS Tower Sub, LLC,
GTP South Acquisitions II, LLC, GTP Acquisition
Partners II, LLC, GTP Acquisition Partners, III, LLC,
GTP Infrastructure I, LLC, GTP Infrastructure II,
LLC, GTP Infrastructure III, LLC, GTP Towers VIII,
LLC, GTP Towers I, LLC, GTP Towers II, LLC, GTP
Towers IV, LLC, GTP Towers V, LLC, GTP Towers
VII, LLC, GTP Towers IX, LLC, PCS Structures
Towers, LLC and GTP TRS I LLC, as Obligors, and
The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee
61
Incorporated By Reference
Form
File No.
Date of Filingg
Exhibit
No.
8-K
001-14195
May 22,
2018
4.1
8-K
001-14195
S-3ASR
333-231931
March 15,
2019
June 4,
2019
4.1
4.22
8-K
001-14195
June 13,
2019
8-K
001-14195
October 3,
2019
8-K
001-14195
January 10,
2020
8-K
001-14195
8-K
001-14195
May 12,
2014
March 3,
2015
8-K
001-14195
March 3,
2015
4.1
4.1
4.1
3.1
3.1
4.1
10-Q
001-14195
July 29,
2015
4.2
10-Q
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
4.27
Exhibit
No.
4.25
4.26
Description of Document
p
Form
File No.
Date of Filingg
Incorporated By Reference
Series 2015-1 Supplement, dated May 29, 2015, to
the Third Amended and Restated Indenture dated May
29, 2015
Series 2015-2 Supplement, dated May 29, 2015, to
the Third Amended and Restated Indenture dated May
29, 2015
10-Q
001-14195
001-14195
July 29,
2015
July 29,
2015
Exhibit
No.
4.3
4.4
4.27
Description of Registrant’s Securities
—
—
—
10.1*
10.2
10.3*
10.4*
10.5*
10.6*
10.7*
10.8*
10.9*
10.10*
10.11*
American Tower Systems Corporation 1997 Stock
Option Plan, as amended
American Tower Corporation 2000 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, as amended and restated
American Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive
Plan
Amendment to American Tower Corporation 2007
Equity Incentive Plan
Form of Notice of Grant of Nonqualified Stock
Option and Option Agreement (U.S. Employee)
Pursuant to the American Tower Corporation 2007
Equity Incentive Plan, as amended
Form of Notice of Grant of Nonqualified Stock
Option and Option Agreement (Non-U.S. Employee)
Pursuant to the American Tower Corporation 2007
Equity Incentive Plan, as amended
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (U.S.
Employee/ Non-U.S. Employee Director) (For grants
made through March 9, 2016) Pursuant to the
American Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive
Plan, as amended
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Non-U.S.
Employee) (For grants made through February 28,
2019) Pursuant to the American Tower Corporation
2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended
Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Units
and RSU Agreement (U.S. Employee / Time) (Non-
Employee Director) (For grants made March 10, 2016
- February 28, 2019) Pursuant to the American Tower
Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (U.S.
Employee/ Non-Employee Director) (For grants made
beginning March 1, 2019) Pursuant to the American
Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as
amended
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Non-U.S.
Employee) (For grants made beginning March 1,
2019) Pursuant to the American Tower Corporation
2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended
SC TO-I
005-55211
10-K
001-14195
November
29, 2006
March 1,
2010
(d)(1)
10.5
DEF 14A
001-14195
March 22,
2017
Annex
A
8-K
001-14195
10-K
001-14195
March 14,
2017
February
27, 2013
10.1
10.6
10-K
001-14195
February
27, 2013
10.31
10-K
001-14195
10-K
001-14195
February
27, 2013
February
27, 2013
10.8
10.9
8-K
001-14195
March 9,
2016
10.1
10-K
001-14195
February
27, 2019
10.10
10-K
001-14195
February
27, 2019
10.11
62
Exhibit
No.
10.12*
10.13*
10.14*
10.15
10.16
10.17
10.18
10.19
10.20
Description of Document
p
Form
File No.
Date of Filingg
Exhibit
No.
Incorporated By Reference
Notice of Grant of Performance-Based Restricted
Stock Units and PSU Agreement (U.S. Employee)
(CEO) Pursuant to the American Tower Corporation
2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended
Form of Notice of Grant of Performance-Based
Restricted Stock Units Agreement (U.S. Employee)
(For grants made before 2019) Pursuant to the
American Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive
Plan, as amended
Form of Notice of Grant of Performance-Based
Restricted Stock Units Agreement (U.S. Employee)
(For grants made beginning 2019) Pursuant to the
American Tower Corporation 2007 Equity Incentive
Plan, as amended
Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security
Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2018, by and
between American Tower Asset Sub, LLC and
American Tower Assets Sub II, LLC, as Borrowers,
and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for
American Tower Trust I, as Lender
First Amended and Restated Management Agreement,
dated as of March 15, 2013, by and between
American Tower Asset Sub, LLC and American
Tower Asset Sub II, LLC, as Owners, and SpectraSite
Communications, LLC, as Manager
Second Amended and Restated Trust and Servicing
Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2018, by and
among American Tower Depositor Sub, LLC, as
Depositor, Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC
Bank, National Association, as Servicer, and U.S.
Bank National Association, as Trustee
Second Amended and Restated Cash Management
Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2018, by and
among American Tower Asset Sub, LLC and
American Tower Asset Sub II, LLC, as Borrowers,
and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for
American Tower Trust I Secured Tower Revenue
Securities, as Lender, Midland Loan Services, a
Division of PNC Bank, National Association, as
Servicer, U.S. Bank National Association, as Agent,
and SpectraSite Communications, LLC, as Manager
Agreement to Sublease by and among ALLTEL
Communications, Inc. the ALLTEL entities and
American Towers, Inc. and American Tower
Corporation, dated December 19, 2000
Lease and Sublease, dated as of December 14, 2000,
by and among SBC Tower Holdings LLC, Southern
Towers, Inc., SBC Wireless, LLC and SpectraSite
Holdings, Inc.
63
8-K
001-14195
March 9,
2016
10.2
8-K
001-14195
July 31,
2018
10.1
10-K
001-14195
February
27, 2019
10.14
10-Q
001-14195
May 2,
2018
10.2
10-Q
001-14195
May 1,
2013
10.2
10-Q
001-14195
May 2,
2018
10.3
10-Q
001-14195
10-K
001-14195
May 2,
2018
April 2,
2001
10.4
2.2
SpectraSi
te
Holdings
, Inc.
Quarterly
Report
on
Form 10-
Q
000-27217
May 11,
2001
10.2
10.24*
10.25*
10.26*
10.27*
10.28*
10.29
10.30
Incorporated By Reference
Form
File No.
Date of Filingg
Exhibit
No.
10.21*
*
p
Description of Document
Amendment to Lease and Sublease, dated September
30, 2008, by and between SpectraSite, LLC,
American Tower Asset Sub II, LLC, SBC Wireless,
LLC and SBC Tower Holdings LLC
10.22*
Summary Compensation Information for Current
Named Executive Officers
10.23
Form of Waiver and Termination Agreement
American Tower Corporation Severance Plan, as
amended
American Tower Corporation Severance Plan,
Program for Executive Vice Presidents and Chief
Executive Officer, as amended
Assignment Letter Agreement, dated February 1,
2018, by and between the Company and Amit Sharma
10-Q
001-14195
8-K
001-14195
8-K
001-14195
10-K
001-14195
10-K
001-14195
10-K
001-14195
Exhibit
No.
10.7
Item
5.02(e)
10.4
10.35
10.36
10.31
10.32
May 8,
2009
March 4,
2019
March 5,
2009
March 1,
2010
March 1,
2010
February
27, 2019
February
27, 2019
Employment Letter Agreement, dated February 1,
2018, by and between the Company and Amit Sharma
10-K
001-14195
Letter Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2018, by and
between the Company and Steven O. Vondran
Ninth Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated as of
December 20, 2019, providing for the Amended and
Restated Multicurrency Revolving Credit Agreement,
dated as of December 20, 2019, among the Company,
as Borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as
Administrative Agent and Swingline Lender, TD
Securities (USA) LLC, Mizuho Bank, LTD., Barclays
Bank PLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Citibank, N.A.,
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley MUFG
Loan Partners, LLC and RBC Capital Markets, as
Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners, Mizuho
Bank, Ltd., as Syndication Agent, Bank of America,
N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Citibank, N.A, JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley MUFG Loan
Partners, LLC and Royal Bank of Canada as Co-
Documentation Agents, and the several other lenders
that are parties thereto
Eighth Amendment to Term Loan Agreement, dated
as of December 20, 2019, providing for the Amended
and Restated Term Loan Agreement, dated as of
December 20, 2019, among the Company, as
Borrower, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., as Administrative
Agent; TD Securities (USA) LLC, as Syndication
Agent, Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC,
Citibank, N.A, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan
Stanley MUFG Loan Partners, LLC and Royal Bank
of Canada as Co-Documentation Agents, Mizuho
Bank, Ltd., TD Securities (USA) LLC, Barclays Bank
PLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Citibank, N.A., JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley MUFG Loan
Partners, LLC and RBC Capital Markets as Joint
Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners, and the
several other lenders that are parties thereto
64
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
10.28
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
10.29
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
10.30
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Exhibit
No.
10.31
10.32
10.33
10.34
10.35
10.36
10.37
10.38
10.39
p
Description of Document
Seventh Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated as of
December 20, 2019, providing for the Second
Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement,
dated as of December 20, 2019, among the Company,
as Borrower, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as
Administrative Agent, and Swingline Lender, TD
Securities (USA) LLC, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Barclays
Bank PLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Citibank, N.A.,
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley MUFG
Loan Partners, LLC and RBC Capital Markets, as
Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners, Mizuho
Bank, Ltd., as Syndication Agent, Bank of America,
N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Citibank, N.A, JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley MUFG Loan
Partners, LLC and Royal Bank of Canada as Co-
Documentation Agents, and the several other lenders
that are parties thereto
Term Loan Agreement, dated February 13, 2020,
among the Company, as Borrower, Mizuho Bank,
Ltd., as Administrative Agent, Joint Lead Arranger
and Joint Bookrunner, The Bank of Nova Scotia,
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, PNC Bank,
National Association, TD Securities (USA) LLC and
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. New York
Branch, as Co-Syndication Agents and The Bank of
Nova Scotia, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation,
PNC Capital Markets LLC, TD Securities (USA)
LLC and BBVA Securities Inc., as Joint Lead
Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
Master Agreement, dated as of February 5, 2015,
among the Company and Verizon Communications
Inc.
Master Prepaid Lease, dated as of March 27, 2015,
among certain subsidiaries of the Company and
Verizon Communications Inc.
Sale Site Master Lease Agreement, dated as of March
27, 2015, among certain subsidiaries of the Company,
Verizon Communications Inc. and certain of its
subsidiaries
MPL Site Master Lease Agreement, dated as of March
27, 2015, among Verizon Communications Inc. and
certain of its subsidiaries and ATC Sequoia LLC
Management Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2015,
among Verizon Communications Inc., and certain of
its subsidiaries and ATC Sequoia LLC
Shareholders Agreement, dated as of October 21,
2015, by and amongst Viom Networks Limited, Tata
Sons Limited, Tata Teleservices Limited, IDFC
Private Equity Fund III, Macquarie SBI Infrastructure
Investments Pte Limited, SBI Macquarie
Infrastructure Trust and ATC Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.
Incorporated By Reference
Form
File No.
Date of Filingg
Exhibit
No.
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
10.31
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
10.32
—
—
—
—
—
—
10-K
001-14195
10-Q
001-14195
10-Q
001-14195
February
24, 2015
April 30,
2015
April 30,
2015
10.45
10.8
10.9
10-Q
001-14195
April 30,
2015
10.10
10-Q
001-14195
April 30,
2015
10.11
10-K
001-14195
February
26, 2016
10.53
Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2019,
by and among the certain sellers listed therein, ATC
Heston B.V. and American Tower International, Inc.
10-Q
001-14195
July 31,
2019
10.1
65
Exhibit
No.
21
Subsidiaries of the Company
Description of Document
p
Form
File No.
Date of Filingg
Exhibit
No.
Incorporated By Reference
23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm—Deloitte & Touche LLP
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32
101
Certifications filed pursuant to 18. U.S.C. Section
1350
The following materials from American Tower
Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2019, formatted in XBRL
(Extensible Business Reporting Language):
101.SCH—Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Schema Document
101.CAL—Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB—Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label
Linkbase Document
101.PRE—Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF—Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Definition
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline
XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
21
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
23
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
31.1
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
31.2
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
32
Filed
herewith
as
Exhibit
101
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
*
**
Management contracts and compensatory plans and arrangements required to be filed as exhibits to this Form 10-K
pursuant to Item 15(a)(3).
The exhibit has been filed separately with the Commission pursuant to an application for confidential treatment. The
confidential portions of the exhibit have been omitted and are marked by an asterisk.
ITEM 16.
FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
66
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on the 25th day of February,
2020.
SIGNATURES
AMERICAN TOWER CR ORPORATION
By:
/S/ JAMES D. TAICLET
James D. Taiclet
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been duly signed below by the
following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/S/ JAMES D. TAICLET
James D. Taiclet
/S/ THOMAS A. BARTLETT
Thomas A. Bartlett
/S/ ROBERT J. MEYER, JR
Robert J. Meyer, Jr.
/S/ RAYMOND P. DOLAN
Raymond P. Dolan
/S/ ROBERT D. HORMATS
Robert D. Hormats
/S/ GUSTAVO LARA CANTU
Gustavo Lara Cantu
/S/ GRACE D. LIEBLEIN
Grace D. Lieblein
/S/ CRAIG MACNAB
Craig Macnab
/S/ JOANN A. REED
JoAnn A. Reed
/S/ PAMELA D. A. REEVE
Pamela D. A. Reeve
/S/ DAVID E. SHARBUTT
David E. Sharbutt
/S/ BRUCE L. TANNER
Bruce L. Tanner
/S/ SAMME L. THOMPSON
Samme L. Thompson
Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer (Principal Executive
Officer)
Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer (Principal Financial
Officer)
Senior Vice President and Chief
Accounting Officer (Principal
Accounting Officer)
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
67
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
February 25, 2020
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
F-2
F-5
F-6
F-7
F-8
F-9
F-10
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of American Tower Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of American Tower Corporation and subsidiaries (the
"Company") as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income,
equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes and the
schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial
statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and
the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in
Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission and our report dated February 25, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over
financial reporting.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the FASB’s new standard
related to leases, Accounting Standard Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), using the modified retrospective approach. The
adoption of the new lease standard is also communicated as a critical audit matter below.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to
error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial
statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included
examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included
evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that a
were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that
are material to the financial statements and (2) involved especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The
communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and
we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on
the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Leases - Refer to Notes 1 and 4 to the financial statements (also see change in accounting principle paragraph above)
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company adopted the new lease standard on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. The Company
recognized and measured their operating leases within the scope of the standard through a cumulative-effect adjustment by
recording an operating lease liability and a corresponding operating right-of-use asset on January 1, 2019. The initial operating
lease liability recorded was determined based on the present value of the remaining lease payments for all the Company’s
operating leases that are within the scope of the standard.
F-2
Management made significant estimates and assumptions in adopting the standard and was required to apply these estimates
and assumptions to a high volume of leases globally. We identified the initial adoption of the standard as a critical audit matter
tt
given the complexity of applying the standard to numerous and differing lease provisions within the Company’s global lease
portfolio. The related audit effort required a higher degree of auditor judgment and increased extent of effort when performing
audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s judgments, including the selection of the incremental
borrowing rate and the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data utilized within the new leasing module of the
Company’s general ledger.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our principal audit procedures related to the adoption of the standard included the following:
• We tested the effectiveness of the Company’s controls over the adoption of the standard, including controls over a) the
selection of the most critical assumptions, including the incremental borrowing rate, b) the process in place to validate
the accuracy and completeness of the existing lease population, and c) the development and oversight of the
Company’s new leasing module.
• We evaluated the reasonableness of the Company’s incremental borrowing rates by testing the source information
underlying the determination of the incremental borrowing rates and testing the mathematical accuracy of the
calculations.
• We judgmentally selected a sample of communication site locations from the Company’s fixed asset sub-ledger and
tested for proper inclusion or exclusion from the corresponding operating lease liability and right-of-use asset account
balance.
• We judgmentally selected a sample of leases from the Company’s new global leasing module taking into consideration
location, size and complexities of agreements and performed the following procedures for each selection:
Tested management’s identification of the significant terms and provisions of the lease agreements for
completeness and accuracy.
Assessed the terms in the lease agreement and evaluated the appropriateness of management’s application of
their accounting policies, along with their use of judgments and estimates, in the determination of the
operating lease liability and right-of-use asset recorded.
Developed an independent estimate of the operating lease liability and right-of-use asset and compared it to
the amounts recorded.
Revenue - Refer to Notes 1 and 4 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company’s contracts with major customers are often governed by a master lease agreement that contains terms and
provisions governing the customer’s right to use the Company’s telecommunications sites and the land on which the sites are
located (the “lease component”) and the customer’s responsibility for reimbursement of various costs incurred by the Company
in operating the telecommunications towers and supporting the customer’s equipment as well as other services and contractual
rights (the “non-lease components”). The master lease agreements contain both lease and non-lease components, may contain
unusual or non-standard terms, and often pertain to a large number of the Company’s telecommunications sites. In the current
year a revised master lease agreement was entered into with an existing major customer.
Management of the Company exercised significant judgment in determining the appropriate revenue recognition for the revised
master lease agreement, including the following:
• Determination of the lease and non-lease components and whether they should be accounted for as a combined lease
component or separately.
• Determination of the stand-alone selling prices for each performance obligation in the master lease agreement if not
accounted for with the lease component.
• Determination of the fixed and variable consideration in the master lease agreement, the impact of cancellation and
renewal provisions, the estimated term of each of the individual contracts impacted by the master lease agreement, and
the pattern of recognition for each lease component or performance obligation.
We identified the revised master lease agreement with a major customer as a critical audit matter because the audit effort required
to evaluate management’s judgments in determining the appropriate revenue recognition for the impact of a multi-faceted, complex
master lease agreement entered into with a major tenant was extensive.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
F-3
Our principal audit procedures related to the Company’s master lease agreement with a major customer included the following:
• We tested the effectiveness of internal controls related to the Company’s process for evaluating the proper accounting
for the master lease agreement.
• We evaluated the Company’s significant accounting policies related to the master lease agreement for reasonableness
and compliance with the applicable accounting standards.
• We judgmentally selected a sample of individual communication site locations governed by the master lease
agreement and performed the following procedures for each selection:
Obtained and evaluated the relevant site location source documents and other documents that were part of the
overall master lease agreement.
Tested management’s identification of the significant terms for completeness and accuracy, including the
identification of the lease and non-lease components, cancellation and renewal provisions, estimated term and
fixed and variable consideration.
Assessed the terms and provisions in the master lease agreement and the site location source documents and
evaluated the appropriateness of management’s application of their accounting policies, along with their use
of estimates, in the determination of revenue recognition conclusions.
• We tested the mathematical accuracy of management’s determination of revenue and the associated timing of revenue
recognized in the financial statements.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 25, 2020
We have served as the Company's auditor since 1997.
F-4
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions, except share count and per share data)
December 31, 2019
December 31, 2018
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Accounts receivable, net
Prepaid and other current assets
Total current assets
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net
GOODWILL
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net
DEFERRED TAX ASSET
DEFERRED RENT ASSET
RIGHT-OF-USE ASSET
NOTES RECEIVABLE AND OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS
TOTAL
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Distributions payable
Accrued interest
Current portion of operating lease liability
Current portion of long-term obligations
Unearned revenue
Total current liabilities
LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
OPERATING LEASE LIABILITY
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Total liabilities
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
EQUITY (shares in thousands):
Common stock: $.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; 453,541 and
451,617 shares issued; and 442,890 and 441,060 shares outstanding,
respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Distributions in excess of earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Treasury stock (10,651 and 10,557 shares at cost, respectively)
Total American Tower Corporation equity
Noncontrolling interests
Total equity
TOTAL
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
1,501.2
76.8
462.2
513.6
2,553.8
12,084.4
6,178.3
12,318.4
131.8
1,771.1
7,357.4
406.4
,
42,801.6
148.1
958.2
455.0
209.4
494.5
2,928.2
294.3
5,487.7
21,127.2
6,510.4
1,384.1
768.3
937.0
36,214.7
1,096.5
4.5
10,117.7
(1,016.8)
(2,823.6)
(1,226.4)
)
(
5,055.4
435.0
5,490.4
,
42,801.6
$
1,208.7
96.2
459.0
621.2
2,385.1
11,247.1
5,501.9
11,174.3
157.7
1,581.7
—
962.6
,
33,010.4
130.8
948.3
377.4
174.5
—
2,754.8
304.1
4,689.9
18,405.1
—
1,210.0
535.9
1,265.1
26,106.0
1,004.8
4.5
10,380.8
(1,199.5)
(2,642.9)
(1,206.8)
)
(
5,336.1
563.5
5,899.6
,
33,010.4
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except share and per share data)
REVENUES:
Property
Services
Total operating revenues
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Costs of operations (exclusive of items shown separately below):
Property
Services
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
Selling, general, administrative and development expense
Other operating expenses
Total operating expenses
OPERATING INCOME
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest (expense) income, TV Azteca
Interest income
Interest expense
Loss on retirement of long-term obligations
Other income (including foreign currency gains (losses) of $6.1, ($4.5),
and $26.4, respectively)
Total other expense
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME
TAXES
Income tax benefit (provision)
NET INCOME
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO AMERICAN TOWER
CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS
Dividends on preferred stock
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO AMERICAN TOWER
CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE AMOUNTS:
Basic net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common
stockholders
Diluted net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common
stockholders
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (in
thousands):
BASIC
DILUTED
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
$
$
7,464.9
115.4
7,580.3
$
7,314.7
125.4
7,440.1
6,565.9
98.0
6,663.9
2,173.7
43.1
1,778.4
730.4
166.3
4,891.9
2,688.4
—
46.8
(814.2)
(22.2)
17.6
(772.0)
1,916.4
0.2
1,916.6
(28.8)
1,887.8
—
2,128.7
49.1
2,110.8
733.2
513.3
5,535.1
1,905.0
(0.1)
54.7
(825.5)
(3.3)
23.8
(750.4)
1,154.6
110.1
1,264.7
(28.3)
1,236.4
(9.4)
2,022.0
34.6
1,715.9
637.0
256.0
4,665.5
1,998.4
10.8
35.4
(749.6)
(70.2)
31.3
(742.3)
1,256.1
(30.7)
1,225.4
13.5
1,238.9
(87.4)
$
$
$
1,887.8
$
1,227.0
$
1,151.5
4.27
4.24
$
$
2.79
2.77
$
$
2.69
2.67
442,319
445,520
439,606
442,960
428,181
431,688
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in millions)
Net income
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, each net of tax
expense of $0
Reclassification of unrealized losses (gains) on cash flow hedges
to net income, each net of tax expense of $0
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interest
Purchase of noncontrolling interest
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax expense
(benefit) of $0.5, ($2.6), and $1.0, respectively
Other comprehensive (loss) income
Comprehensive income
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
Allocation of accumulated other comprehensive income resulting from
purchase of noncontrolling interest and redeemable noncontrolling
interest
Comprehensive income attributable to American Tower Corporation
stockholders
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
$
1,916.6
$
1,264.7
$
1,225.4
(0.1)
0.2
—
—
(157.9)
(157.8)
1,758.8
3.8
(0.1)
0.3
78.8
0.5
(869.3)
(789.8)
474.9
96.9
(0.4)
(0.1)
—
—
144.4
143.9
1,369.3
(109.4)
(55.5)
—
—
$
1,707.1
$
571.8
$
1,259.9
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-7
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N
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2019
$
1,916.6
$
1,264.7
$
1,225.4
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
Stock-based compensation expense
Loss (gain) on investments, unrealized foreign currency loss and other non-cash expense
Impairments, net loss on sale of long-lived assets, non-cash restructuring and merger
related expenses
Loss on early retirement of long-term obligations
Amortization of deferred financing costs, debt discounts and premiums and other non-
cash interest
Deferred income taxes
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable
Prepaid and other assets
Deferred rent asset
Right-of-use asset and Operating lease liability, net
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Accrued interest
Unearned revenue
Deferred rent liability
Other non-current liabilities
Cash provided by operating activities
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Payments for purchase of property and equipment and construction activities
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments and other non-current assets
Payments for short-term investments
Deposits and other
Cash used for investing activities
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings under credit facilities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net
Proceeds from term loan
Proceeds from issuance of securities in securitization transaction
Repayments of notes payable, credit facilities, term loan, senior notes, secured debt, finance
leases and capital leases
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interest holders, net
Purchases of common stock
Proceeds from stock options and employee stock purchase plan
Distributions paid on common stock
Distributions paid on preferred stock
Payment for early retirement of long-term obligations
Deferred financing costs and other financing activities
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest
Purchase of noncontrolling interest
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities
Net effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents, and restricted
cash
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, BEGINNING OF YEAR
1,778.4
111.4
46.2
140.0
22.2
25.9
(55.1)
12.5
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17.4
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32.4
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3,752.6
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(2,959.6)
383.5
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(3,987.5)
5,750.0
4,876.7
1,300.0
—
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(11.8)
(19.6)
105.5
(1,603.0)
—
(21.0)
(135.6)
(425.7)
(68.5)
521.7
(13.7)
273.1
1,304.9
2,110.8
137.5
47.3
479.6
3.3
22.1
(303.0)
(32.1)
(101.7)
(87.6)
—
69.3
8.4
85.8
57.9
(14.0)
3,748.3
(913.2)
(1,881.4)
1,252.2
(1,154.3)
(52.8)
(2,749.5)
3,263.3
584.9
1,500.0
500.0
(4,884.8)
(14.4)
(232.8)
98.9
(1,323.5)
(18.9)
(3.3)
(56.6)
—
(20.5)
(607.7)
(41.1)
350.0
954.9
1,715.9
108.5
(18.0)
242.4
70.2
20.0
(86.6)
(191.1)
(179.9)
(194.4)
—
95.8
9.2
59.3
62.3
(13.4)
2,925.6
(803.6)
(2,007.0)
14.7
—
(5.0)
(2,800.9)
5,359.4
2,674.0
—
—
(6,484.4)
264.3
(766.3)
119.7
(1,073.0)
(91.4)
(75.3)
(40.0)
—
—
(113.0)
6.7
18.4
936.5
954.9
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH, END OF YEAR
$
1,578.0
$
1,304.9
$
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-9
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
1. BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Business—American Tower Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “ATC” or the “Company”) is one of the largest global
real estate investment trusts and a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real
estate. The Company’s primary business is the leasing of space on communications sites to wireless service providers, radio and
television broadcast companies, wireless data providers, government agencies and municipalities and tenants in a number of
other industries. The Company refers to this business as its property operations. Additionally, the Company offers tower-related
services in the United States, which the Company refers to as its services operations. These services include site acquisition,
zoning and permitting (“AZP”) and structural analysis, which primarily support the Company’s site leasing business, including
the addition of new tenants and equipment on its sites.
The Company’s portfolio primarily consists of towers that it owns and towers that it operates pursuant to long-term lease
arrangements, as well as distributed antenna system (“DAS”) networks, which provide seamless coverage solutions in certain
in-building and certain outdoor wireless environments. In addition to the communications sites in its portfolio, the Company
manages rooftop and tower sites for property owners under various contractual arrangements. The Company also holds other
telecommunications infrastructure, fiber and property interests that it leases primarily to communications service providers and
third-party tower operators.
American Tower Corporation is a holding company that conducts its operations through its directly and indirectly owned
subsidiaries and joint ventures. ATC’s principal domestic operating subsidiaries are American Towers LLC and SpectraSite
Communications, LLC. ATC conducts its international operations primarily through its subsidiary, American Tower
International, Inc., which in turn conducts operations through its various international holding and operating subsidiaries and
joint ventures.
The Company operates as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes (“REIT”). Accordingly, the
Company generally is not required to pay U.S. federal income taxes on income generated by its REIT operations, including the
income derived from leasing space on its towers, as it receives a dividends paid deduction for distributions to stockholders that
generally offsets its REIT income and gains. However, the Company remains obligated to pay U.S. federal income taxes on
earnings from its domestic taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”). In addition, the Company’s international assets and operations,
regardless of their classification for U.S. tax purposes, continue to be subject to taxation in the jurisdictions where those assets
are held or those operations are conducted.
The use of TRSs enables the Company to continue to engage in certain businesses while complying with REIT qualification
requirements. The Company may, from time to time, change the election of previously designated TRSs to be included as part
of the REIT. As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s REIT-qualified businesses included its U.S. tower leasing business and a
majority of its U.S. indoor DAS networks business and services segment, as well as most of its operations in Mexico, Germany,
Costa Rica, Nigeria and France.
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation—The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of the Company and those entities in which it has a controlling interest. Investments in entities that the Company does
not control are accounted for using the equity method or as investments in equity securities, depending upon the Company’s
ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies. All intercompany accounts and transactions have
been eliminated. As of December 31, 2019, the Company holds (i) a 51% controlling interest in each of two joint ventures, one
in Ghana and one in Uganda (MTN Group Limited (“MTN”) holds a 49% noncontrolling interest), (ii) a 51% controlling
interest in ATC Europe B.V. (“ATC Europe”), a joint venture that primarily consists of the Company’s operations in Germany
and France, (PGGM holds a 49% noncontrolling interest) and (iii) a 79% controlling interest in ATC Telecom Infrastructure
Private Limited (“ATC TIPL”), formerly Viom Networks Limited (“Viom”), in India (the remaining shareholders, as discussed
in note 15, hold a 21% noncontrolling interest).
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company purchased the remaining 19% of noncontrolling interest in a
subsidiary of the Company in South Africa from its local partner for $68.5 million, which resulted in an increase in the
Company’s controlling interest from approximately 81% to 100%. The purchase is reflected in the consolidated statements of
equity as a reduction of Additional Paid-in Capital of $49.5 million, an increase in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
of $3.1 million and a reduction in Noncontrolling Interests of $15.9 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with MTN to acquire MTN’s
noncontrolling interests in each of the Company’s joint ventures in Ghana and Uganda for total consideration of approximately
F-10
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
$523.0 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020, subject to regulatory approval and other closing
conditions.
Change in Reportable Segments— During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa
(“EMEA”) property segment was divided into the Africa property segment and the Europe property segment. As a result, the
Company has six reportable segments: U.S. property, Asia property, Africa property, Europe property, Latin America property
and services, which are discussed further in note 21. The change in reportable segments had no impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements for any periods. Historical financial information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
has been adjusted to reflect the change in reportable segments.
Significant Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from
those estimates, and such differences could be material to the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The significant
estimates in the accompanying consolidated financial statements include impairment of long-lived assets (including goodwill),
asset retirement obligations, revenue recognition, rent expense and lease accounting, income taxes and accounting for business
combinations and acquisitions of assets. The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date
but before the financial statements are issued as additional evidence for certain estimates or to identify matters that require
additional disclosure.
Accounts Receivable and Deferred Rent Asset—The Company derives the largest portion of its revenues and corresponding
accounts receivable and the related deferred rent asset from a relatively small number of tenants in the telecommunications
industry, and 54% of its current-year revenues are derived from four tenants.
tt
The Company’s deferred rent asset is associated with non-cancellable tenant leases that contain fixed escalation clauses over thet
terms of the applicable lease in which revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company mitigates its concentrations of credit risk with respect to notes and trade receivables and the related deferred rent
assets by actively monitoring the creditworthiness of its borrowers and tenants. In recognizing tenant revenue, the Company
assesses the collectibility of both the amounts billed and the portion recognized in advance of billing on a straight-line basis.
This assessment takes tenant credit risk and business and industry conditions into consideration to ultimately determine the
collectibility of the amounts billed. To the extent the amounts, based on management’s estimates, may not be collectible,
revenue recognition is deferred until such point as collectibility is determined to be reasonably assured. Any amounts that were
previously recognized as revenue and subsequently determined to be uncollectible are charged to bad debt expense included in
Selling, general, administrative and development expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Accounts receivable is reported net of allowances for doubtful accounts related to estimated losses resulting from a tenant’s
inability to make required payments and allowances for amounts invoiced whose collectibility is not reasonably assured. These
allowances are generally estimated based on payment patterns, days past due and collection history, and incorporate changes in
economic conditions that may not be reflected in historical trends, such as tenants in bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization.
Receivables are written-off against the allowances when they are determined to be uncollectible. Such determination includes
analysis and consideration of the particular conditions of the account. Changes in the allowances were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
$
$
282.4
104.3
(223.4)
163.3
$
$
131.0
157.8
(6.4)
282.4
$
$
45.9
87.2
(2.1)
131.0
Balance as of January 1,
Current year increases
Write-offs, recoveries and other (1)
Balance as of December 31,
_______________
(1)
In 2019, write-offs are primarily related to uncollectible amounts in India. In 2018 and 2017, recoveries include recognition of revenue resulting from
collections of previously reserved amounts.
yy
Functional Currency—The functional currency of each of the Company’s foreign operating subsidiaries is normally the
respective local currency, except for Costa Rica and Argentina, where the functional currency is the U.S. Dollar. All foreign
currency assets and liabilities held by the subsidiaries are translated into U.S. Dollars at the exchange rate in effect at the end of
the applicable fiscal reporting period and all foreign currency revenues and expenses are translated at the average monthly
exchange rates. Translation adjustments are reflected in equity as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss
F-11
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
(“AOCL”) in the consolidated balance sheets and included as a component of Comprehensive income in the consolidated
statements of comprehensive income.
Gains and losses on foreign currency transactions are reflected in Other expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
However, the effect from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on intercompany debt for which repayment is not
anticipated in the foreseeable future is reflected in AOCL in the consolidated balance sheets and included as a component of
Comprehensive income.
The Company recorded the following net foreign currency losses:
Foreign currency losses recorded in AOCL
Foreign currency (gains) losses recorded in Other expense
Total foreign currency losses
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
$
$
45.8
(6.1)
39.7
$
$
385.8
4.5
390.3
$
$
51.6
(26.4)
25.2
Cash and Cash Equivalents—Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits and short-term investments
with original maturities of three months or less. The Company maintains its deposits at high-quality financial institutions and
monitors the credit ratings of those institutions.
Restricted Cash—Restricted cash includes cash pledged as collateral to secure obligations and all cash whose use is otherwise
limited by contractual provisions.
The reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the applicable balance sheet that sum to the
total of the same such amounts shown in the statements of cash flows is as follows:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Year Ended December 31,
2019
1,501.2
76.8
1,578.0
$
$
2018
1,208.7
96.2
1,304.9
$
$
$
$
2017
802.1
152.8
954.9
tt
Property and Equipment—Property and equipment is recorded at cost or, in the case of acquired properties, at estimated fair
value on the date acquired. Cost for self-constructed towers includes direct materials and labor, capitalized interest and certain
indirect costs associated with construction of the tower, such as transportation costs, employee benefits and payroll taxes. The
Company begins the capitalization of costs during the pre-construction period, which is the period during which costs are
incurred to evaluate the site, and continues to capitalize costs until the tower is substantially completed and ready for occupancy
by a tenant. Labor and related costs capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $48.3 million,
$55.0 million and $50.9 million, respectively. Capitalized interest costs were not material for the years ended December 31,
2019, 2018 and 2017.
Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Augmentation and improvements that extend an asset’s
useful life or enhance capacity are capitalized.
Depreciation expense is recorded using the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives. Towers and related
assets on leased land are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the term of the corresponding
ground lease, taking into consideration lease renewal options and residual value.
Towers or assets acquired through finance leases are recorded net at the present value of future minimum lease payments or the
fair value of the leased asset at the inception of the lease. Property and equipment and assets held under finance leases are
amortized over the shorter of the applicable lease term or the estimated useful life of the respective assets for periods generally
not exceeding twenty years.
The Company reviews its tower portfolio for indicators of impairment on an individual tower basis. Impairments primarily
result from a tower not having current tenant leases or from having expenses in excess of revenues. The Company reviews other
long-lived assets for impairment whenever events, changes in circumstances or other evidence indicate that the carrying amount
F-12
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
of the Company’s assets may not be recoverable. The Company records impairment charges in Other operating expenses in the
consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the Company identifies such impairment.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—The Company reviews goodwill for impairment at least annually (as of December 31)
or whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.
Goodwill is recorded in the applicable segment and assessed for impairment at the reporting unit level. The Company utilizes
the two-step impairment test and employs a discounted cash flow analysis when testing goodwill for impairment. The key
assumptions utilized in the discounted cash flow analysis include current operating performance, terminal sales growth rate,
management’s expectations of future operating results and cash requirements, the current weighted average cost of capital and
an expected tax rate. Under the first step of the test, the Company compares the fair value of the reporting unit, as calculated
under an income approach using future discounted cash flows, to the carrying amount of the applicable reporting unit. If the
carrying amount exceeds the fair value, the Company conducts the second step of this test, in which the implied fair value of
the applicable reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of goodwill
exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss would be recognized for the amount of the excess.
During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, no potential impairment was identified under the first step of the
test, as the fair value of each of the reporting units was in excess of its carrying amount.
Intangible assets that are separable from goodwill and are deemed to have a definite life are amortized over their useful lives,
generally ranging from three to twenty years and are evaluated separately for impairment at least annually or whenever events
or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
The Company reviews its network location intangible assets for indicators of impairment on an individual tower basis.
Impairments primarily result from a tower not having current tenant leases or from having expenses in excess of revenues. The
Company monitors its tenant-related intangible assets on a tenant by tenant basis for indicators of impairment, such as high
levels of turnover or attrition, non-renewal of a significant number of contracts or the cancellation or termination of a
relationship. The Company assesses recoverability by determining whether the carrying amount of the related assets will be
recovered primarily through projected undiscounted future cash flows. If the Company determines that the carrying amount of
an asset may not be recoverable, the Company measures any impairment loss based on the projected future discounted cash
flows to be provided from the asset or available market information relative to the asset’s fair value, as compared to the asset’s
carrying amount. The Company records impairment charges, which are discussed in note 17, in Other operating expenses in the
consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the Company identifies such impairment.
Derivative Financial Instruments—Derivatives are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value. If a derivative is
designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in AOCL, as
well as a component of comprehensive income, and are recognized in the results of operations when the hedged item affects
earnings. Changes in fair value of the ineffective portions of cash flow hedges are recognized in the results of operations. For
derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges, changes in value of the derivatives are recorded in
Other expense in the consolidated statements of operations in the current period, along with the offsetting gain or loss on the
hedged item attributable to the hedged risk. For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, changes in fair
value are recognized in the results of operations in the period that the change occurs.
The primary risks managed through the use of derivative instruments is interest rate risk, exposure to changes in the fair value
of debt attributable to interest rate risk and currency risk. From time to time, the Company enters into interest rate swap
agreements or foreign currency contracts to manage exposure to these risks. Under these agreements, 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 Company assesses, both at the
inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly
effective in offsetting changes in cash flows or fair values of hedged items. The Company does not hold derivatives for trading
purposes.
Fair Value Measurements—The Company determines the fair value of its financial instruments based on the fair value
hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when
measuring fair value.
Asset Retirement Obligations—When required, the Company recognizes the fair value of obligations to remove its tower assets
and remediate the leased land upon which certain of its tower assets are located. Generally, the associated retirement costs are
capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related tower assets and depreciated over their estimated useful lives and the
F-13
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
liability is accreted through the obligation’s estimated settlement date. Fair value estimates of asset retirement obligations
generally involve discounting of estimated future cash flows associated with takedown costs. Periodic accretion of such
liabilities due to the passage of time is included in Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense in the consolidated
statements of operations. Adjustments are also made to the asset retirement obligation liability to reflect changes in the
estimates of timing and amount of expected cash flows, with an offsetting adjustment made to the related long-lived tangible
asset. The significant assumptions used in estimating the Company’s aggregate asset retirement obligation are: timing of tower
removals; cost of tower removals; timing and number of land lease renewals; expected inflation rates; and credit-adjusted, risk-
free interest rates that approximate the Company’s incremental borrowing rate.
Income Taxes—As a REIT, the Company generally is not subject to U.S. federal income taxes on income generated by its REIT
operations as it receives a dividends paid deduction for distributions to stockholders that generally offsets its REIT income and
gains. However, the Company remains obligated to pay U.S. federal income taxes on certain earnings and continues to be
subject to taxation in its foreign jurisdictions. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements reflect provisions for federal,
state, local and foreign income taxes. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and
their respective tax basis, as well as operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company measures deferred tax assets and
liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences and
carryforwards are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities as a result of a change in
tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
a
The Company periodically reviews its deferred tax assets, and provides valuation allowances if, based on the available
evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management assesses the
available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to use the existing
deferred tax assets. Valuation allowances would be reversed as a reduction to the provision for income taxes if related deferred
tax assets are deemed realizable based on changes in facts and circumstances relevant to the assets’ recoverability.
The Company classifies uncertain tax positions as income tax liabilities in Other non-current liabilities in the consolidated
balance sheet, unless expected to be paid within one year. The Company reports penalties and tax-related interest expense as a
component of the income tax provision and interest income from tax refunds as a component of Interest income in the
consolidated statements of operations.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)—Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to items excluded from net income that are
recorded as an adjustment to equity, net of tax. The Company’s other comprehensive income (loss) primarily consisted of
changes in fair value of effective derivative cash flow hedges, foreign currency translation adjustments and reclassification of
unrealized losses on effective derivative cash flow hedges. The AOCL balance included accumulated foreign currency
translation losses of $2.8 billion, $2.6 billion and $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Distributions—As a REIT, the Company must annually distribute to its stockholders an amount equal to at least 90% of its
REIT taxable income (determined before the deduction for distributed earnings and excluding any net capital gain). Generally,
the Company has distributed, and expects to continue to distribute, all or substantially all of its REIT taxable income after
taking into consideration its utilization of net operating losses (“NOLs”).
The amount, timing and frequency of future distributions will be at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend
upon various factors, a number of which may be beyond the Company’s control, including the Company’s financial condition
and operating cash flows, the amount required to maintain its qualification for taxation as a REIT and reduce any income and
excise taxes that the Company otherwise would be required to pay, limitations on distributions in the Company’s existing and
future debt and preferred equity instruments, the Company’s ability to utilize NOLs to offset the Company’s distribution
requirements, limitations on its ability to fund distributions using cash generated through its TRSs and other factors that the
Board of Directors may deem relevant.
Acquisitions—For acquisitions that meet the definition of a business combination, the Company applies the acquisition method
of accounting where assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value at the date of each acquisition, and the
results of operations are included with those of the Company from the dates of the respective acquisitions. Any excess of the
purchase price paid by the Company over the amounts recognized for assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as
goodwill. The Company continues to evaluate acquisitions for a period not to exceed one year after the applicable acquisition
date of each transaction to determine whether any additional adjustments are needed to the allocation of the purchase price paid
for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. All other acquisitions are accounted for as asset acquisitions and the purchase
price is allocated to the net assets acquired with no recognition of goodwill. The purchase price is not subsequently adjusted.
F-14
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
The fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is typically determined by using either estimates of replacement
costs or discounted cash flow valuation methods. When determining the fair value of tangible assets acquired, the Company
must estimate the cost to replace the asset with a new asset taking into consideration such factors as age, condition and the
economic useful life of the asset. When determining the fair value of intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, the
Company must estimate the applicable discount rate and the timing and amount of future cash flows, including rate and terms
of renewal and attrition.
Lease—The new lease standard requires leases to be accounted for using a right-of-use model, which recognizes that, at the
date of commencement, a lessee has a financial obligation to make lease payments to the lessor for the right to use the
underlying asset during the lease term. The lessee recognizes a corresponding right-of-use asset related to this right.
On January 1, 2019, the Company elected to adopt the new lease standard using the modified retrospective method applied to
lease arrangements that were in place on the transition date. Results for reporting periods beginning January 1, 2019 are
presented under the new standard, while prior-period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with
accounting under the previously applicable guidance.
The Company elected certain available practical expedients which permit the adopter to not reassess certain items upon
adoption, including: (i) whether any existing contracts are or contain leases, (ii) the classification of existing leases and (iii)
initial direct costs for existing leases. The Company also elected the practical expedient related to easements, which permits
carryforward accounting treatment for land easements on existing agreements.
The Company recorded a net increase to opening Distributions in excess of earnings in its consolidated balance sheet of $24.7
million as of January 1, 2019 due to the cumulative impact of adopting the new lease standard. This adjustment related to right-
of-use asset impairments. The Company also recorded a lease liability of $6.9 billion and a corresponding right-of-use asset of
$7.1 billion upon adoption of the new lease standard. Those rights and obligations are primarily related to operating leases for
ground space underneath the Company’s communications sites. The right-of-use assets recorded include, among other items,
amounts previously classified as prepaid rent, deferred lease acquisition costs, fair value adjustments on acquired leases and
long-term deferred rent obligations. Finance leases, which primarily relate to towers, equipment and vehicles, were largely
unchanged. There was no significant change to the Company’s consolidated statements of operations resulting from the
adoption of this standard.
The Company did not elect the practical expedient for short-term leases, which permits an adopter to not apply the lease
standard to leases with a remaining maturity of one year or less, and applied the new lease accounting standard to all leases,
including short-term leases.
In conjunction with the adoption of the new lease accounting guidance, the Company applied the lessor and lessee practical
expedient and no longer separates lease and non-lease components within a lease agreement when the timing and pattern of
revenue recognition for the components are the same and the combined single lease component is classified as an operating
lease. Certain amounts, such as power and fuel and common area maintenance, which were previously reported as non-lease
revenue, are now accounted for as lease revenue. Accordingly, the Company has reclassified certain prior-period amounts
within its disclosures.
Revenue—The Company’s revenue is derived from leasing the right to use its communications sites and the land on which the
sites are located (the “lease component”) and from the reimbursement of costs incurred by the Company in operating the
communications sites and supporting the tenants’ equipment as well as other services and contractual rights (the “non-lease
component”). Most of the Company’s revenue is derived from leasing arrangements and is accounted for as lease revenue
unless the timing and pattern of revenue recognition of the non-lease component differs from the lease component. If the timing
and pattern of the non-lease component revenue recognition differs from that of the lease component, the Company separately
determines the stand-alone selling prices and pattern of revenue recognition for each performance obligation. Revenue related
to DAS networks and fiber and other related assets results from agreements with tenants that are not leases.
The Company’s revenue from leasing arrangements, including fixed escalation clauses present in non-cancellable lease
arrangements, is reported on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective leases when collectibility is probable.
Escalation clauses tied to a consumer price index (“CPI”), or other inflation-based indices, and other incentives present in lease
agreements with the Company’s tenants are excluded from the straight-line calculation. Total property straight-line revenues for
the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $183.5 million, $87.6 million and $194.4 million, respectively.
Non-lease revenue—Non-lease revenue consists primarily of revenue generated from DAS networks, fiber and other property
related revenue. DAS networks and fiber arrangements require that the Company provide the tenant the right to use the
—
F-15
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
applicable communications infrastructure. Performance obligations are satisfied over time for the duration of the arrangements.
Other property related revenue streams, which include site inspections, are not material on either an individual or consolidated
basis.
Services revenue—The Company offers tower-related services in the United States. These services include AZP and structural
analysis. There is a single performance obligation related to AZP and revenue is recognized over time based on milestones
achieved, which are determined based on costs expected to be incurred. Structural analysis services may have more than one
performance obligation, contingent upon the number of contracted services. Revenue is recognized at the point in time the
services are completed.
Some of the Company’s contracts with tenants contain multiple performance obligations. For these arrangements, the Company
allocates revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price, which is typically based on the
price charged to tenants.
Since most of the Company’s contracts are leases, costs to enter into lease arrangements are capitalized under the applicable
lease accounting guidance. Costs incurred to obtain non-lease contracts that are capitalized primarily relate to DAS networks
and are not material to the consolidated financial statements. The Company has excluded sales tax, value-added tax and similar
taxes from non-lease revenue.
Revenue is disaggregated by geography in a manner consistent with the Company’s business segments, which are discussed
further in note 21. A summary of revenue disaggregated by source and geography is as follows:
Year Ended December 31, 2019
Non-lease property revenue
Services revenue
Total non-lease revenue
Property lease revenue
Total revenue
Year Ended December 31, 2018 (1)
Non-lease property revenue
Services revenue
Total non-lease revenue
Property lease revenue
U.S.
$ 255.7
115.4
$ 371.1
$
$
Asia
Africa
Europe
8.8
—
8.8
$
$
4.0
—
4.0
$
$
5.1
—
5.1
Latin
America
$ 138.2
Total
$ 411.8
—
115.4
$ 138.2
$ 527.2
3,933.0
1,208.2
579.9
129.5
1,202.5
7,053.1
$ 4,304.1
$ 1,217.0
$ 583.9
$ 134.6
$ 1,340.7
$ 7,580.3
U.S.
$ 255.5
125.4
$ 380.9
$
$
Asia
Africa
Europe
7.0
—
7.0
$
$
1.1
—
1.1
$
$
0.2
—
0.2
Latin
America
$ 102.1
Total
$ 365.9
—
125.4
$ 102.1
$ 491.3
3,566.6
1,533.5
544.4
141.6
1,162.7
6,948.8
Total revenue
_______________
(1) Prior-period amounts adjusted with the adoption of the new lease accounting guidance, as applicable.
$ 1,540.5
$ 3,947.5
$ 545.5
$ 141.8
$ 1,264.8
$ 7,440.1
Information about receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with tenants is as follows:
Accounts receivable
Prepaids and other current assets
Notes receivable and other non-current assets
Unearned revenue (2)
December 31, 2019
$
80.5
8.3
21.3
35.0
Other non-current liabilities (3)
_______________
(1) Prior-period amounts adjusted with the adoption of the new lease accounting guidance, as applicable.
(2) Excludes $56.7 million and $55.0 million of capital contributions related to DAS networks as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(3) Excludes $300.2 million and $313.6 million of capital contributions related to DAS networks as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
79.0
December 31, 2018 (1)
92.6
$
7.7
22.2
35.0
54.1
The Company records unearned revenue when payments are received from tenants in advance of the completion of the
Company’s performance obligations. Long-term unearned revenue is included in Other non-current liabilities. During the year
ended December 31, 2019, the Company recognized $62.2 million of revenue that was included in the Unearned revenue
balance as of December 31, 2018. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized $44.4 million of
F-16
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
revenue that was included in the Unearned revenue balance as of January 1, 2018. The Company also recognized revenues of
$59.2 million and $55.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, for capital
contributions related to DAS networks. There was $0.4 million of revenue recognized from Other non-current liabilities during
each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
The Company records unbilled receivables, which are included in Prepaids and other current assets, when it has completed a
performance obligation prior to its ability to bill under the customer arrangement. Other contract assets are included in Notes
receivable and other non-current assets. The Company did not record any change in unbilled receivables attributable to non-
lease property revenue recognized during each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. The change in contract assets
attributable to revenue recognized during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $3.1 million and $1.5 million,
respectively.
The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for agreements (i) with an original expected
length of one year or less or (ii) for which it recognizes revenue at the amount to which it has the right to invoice for services
performed.
gg
Rent Expense and Lease Accounting—Many of the leases underlying the Company’s tower sites have fixed rent escalations,
which provide for periodic increases in the amount of ground rent payable by the Company over time. In addition, certain of the
Company’s tenant leases require the Company to exercise available renewal options pursuant to the underlying ground lease if
the tenant exercises its renewal option. The Company calculates straight-line ground rent expense for these leases based on the
fixed non-cancellable term of the underlying ground lease plus all periods, if any, for which failure to renew the lease imposes
an economic penalty to the Company such that renewal appears to be reasonably assured.
Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the new lease standard using the modified retrospective method applied to
lease arrangements that were in place on the transition date. The new lease accounting guidance required the Company to
recognize a right-of-use lease asset and lease liability for operating and finance leases. The right-of-use asset is measured as the
sum of the lease liability, prepaid or accrued lease payments, any initial direct costs incurred and any other applicable amounts.
The calculation of the lease liability requires the Company to make certain assumptions for each lease, including lease term and
discount rate implicit in each lease, which could significantly impact the gross lease obligation, the duration and the present
value of the lease liability. When calculating the lease term, the Company considers the renewal, cancellation and termination
rights available to the Company and the lessor. The Company determines the discount rate by calculating the incremental
borrowing rate on a collateralized basis at the commencement of a lease or upon a change in the lease term.
Total property straight-line ground rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $44.4 million,
$57.9 million and $62.3 million, respectively.
Selling, General, Administrative and Development Expense—Selling, general and administrative expense consists of overhead
expenses related to the Company’s property and services operations and corporate overhead costs not specifically allocable to
any of the Company’s individual business operations. Development expense consists of costs related to the Company’s
acquisition efforts, costs associated with new business initiatives and project cancellation costs.
ee
Stock-Based Compensation—Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the accounting measurement date based on the
fair value of the award and is generally recognized as an expense over the service period, which typically represents the vesting
period. The Company provides for accelerated vesting and extended exercise periods of stock options and restricted stock units
upon an employee’s death or permanent disability, or upon an employee’s qualified retirement, provided certain eligibility
criteria are met. Accordingly, the Company recognizes compensation expense for stock options and time-based restricted stock
units (“RSUs”) over the shorter of (i) the four-year vesting period or (ii) the period from the date of grant to the date the
employee becomes eligible for such benefits due to death, disability or qualified retirement, which may occur upon grant. The
expense recognized includes the impact of forfeitures as they occur.
The Company grants performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) to its executive officers. Threshold, target and
maximum parameters are established for a three-year performance period at the time of grant. The 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.
The Company recognizes compensation expense for PSUs over the three-year vesting period, subject to adjustment based on
the date the employee becomes eligible for retirement benefits as well as performance relative to grant parameters.
The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the fair value of RSUs and
PSUs is based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The Company recognizes all stock-based
F-17
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
compensation expense in either Selling, general, administrative and development expense, costs of operations or as part of the
costs associated with the construction of the tower assets.
In connection with the vesting of restricted stock units, the Company withholds from issuance a number of shares of common
stock to satisfy certain employee tax withholding obligations arising from such vesting. The shares withheld are considered
constructively retired. The Company recognizes the fair value of the shares withheld in Additional paid-in capital on the
consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has withheld from issuance an aggregate of 2.1 million
shares, including 0.4 million shares related to the vesting of restricted stock units during the year ended December 31, 2019.
Litigation Costs—The Company periodically becomes involved in various claims and lawsuits that are incidental to its
business. The Company regularly monitors the status of pending legal actions to evaluate both the magnitude and likelihood of
any potential loss. The Company accrues for these potential losses when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and thet
amount of loss, or possible range of loss, can be reasonably estimated. Should the ultimate losses on contingencies or litigation
vary from estimates, adjustments to those liabilities may be required. The Company also incurs legal costs in connection with
these matters and records estimates of these expenses, which are reflected in Selling, general, administrative and development
expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
—
dd
Earnings Per Common Share—Basic and Diluted
—Basic net income per common share represents net income attributable to
American Tower Corporation common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding
during the period. Diluted net income per common share represents net income attributable to American Tower Corporation
common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period and any
dilutive common share equivalents, including (A) shares issuable upon (i) the vesting of RSUs, (ii) exercise of stock options,
and (iii) conversion of the Company’s mandatory convertible preferred stock and (B) shares expected to be earned upon the
achievement of the parameters established for PSUs, each to the extent not anti-dilutive. Dilutive common share equivalents
also include the dilutive impact of the shares issuable in the ALLTEL transaction, which is described in note 19, through August
30, 2019. The Company uses the treasury stock method to calculate the effect of its outstanding RSUs, PSUs and stock options
and used the if-converted method to calculate the effect of its outstanding mandatory convertible preferred stock.
Retirement Plan—The Company has a 401(k) plan covering substantially all employees who meet certain age and employment
requirements. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company matched 100% of the first 5% of a
participant's contributions. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company contributed $11.8 million,
$11.2 million and $11.0 million to the plan, respectively.
Accounting Standards Updates
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance that modifies how entities measure
credit losses on most financial instruments. The new guidance replaces the current "incurred loss" model with an "expected
credit loss" model that requires consideration of a broader range of information to estimate expected credit losses over the
lifetime of the asset. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning
after December 15, 2019, and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach through a cumulative-effect adjustment
to retained earnings as of the effective date. Operating lease receivables are not within the scope of this guidance. The Companyaa
is finalizing its analysis of the impact of this guidance on its financial statements and does not expect the adoption of this
guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance on accounting for goodwill impairments. The guidance eliminates Step 2 from the
goodwill impairment test and requires, among other things, recognition of an impairment loss when the carrying value of a
reporting unit exceeds its fair value. The loss recognized is limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting
unit. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15,
2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1,
2017. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s financial
statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance on the accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing
arrangement that is a service contract. This guidance aligns the accounting for costs incurred to implement a cloud computing
arrangement that is a service arrangement with the guidance on capitalizing costs associated with developing or obtaining
internal-use software. The Company adopted this guidance prospectively on July 1, 2019. The adoption of this guidance did not
have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
F-18
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
2. PREPAID AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
Prepaid and other current assets consisted of the following:
Unbilled receivables
Prepaid income tax
Value added tax and other consumption tax receivables
Prepaid assets
Prepaid operating ground leases
Other miscellaneous current assets
Prepaid and other current assets
As of
December 31, 2019
142.3
$
185.8
71.3
56.8
—
57.4
513.6
$
December 31, 2018
126.1
$
125.1
86.3
40.5
165.0
78.2
621.2
$
The reduction in Prepaid operating ground leases is a result of the reclassification of assets to the Right-of-use asset in
connection with the Company’s adoption of the new lease accounting standard.
3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment (including assets held under finance leases) consisted of the following:
Towers
Equipment (2)
Buildings and improvements
Land and improvements (3)
Construction-in-progress
Total
Less accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment, net
Estimated
Useful Lives
(years) (1)
Up to 20
2 - 20
3 - 32
Up to 20
As of
December 31, 2019
13,930.7
$
1,897.3
638.9
2,486.1
372.6
19,325.6
(7,241.2)
12,084.4
$
December 31, 2018
12,777.9
$
1,667.3
628.5
2,285.4
358.1
17,717.2
(6,470.1)
11,247.1
$
_______________
(1) Assets on leased land are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the term of the corresponding ground lease taking into
consideration lease renewal options and residual value.
Includes fiber and DAS assets.
(2)
(3) Estimated useful lives apply to improvements only.
Total depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $905.5 million, $883.1 million and
$835.5 million, respectively. Depreciation expense includes amounts related to finance lease assets for the year ended
December 31, 2019 of $168.1 million.
As of December 31, 2018, property and equipment included $4,369.5 million and $1,016.2 million of capital lease assets with
related equipment and improvements and accumulated depreciation, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, capital lease assets
were primarily classified as towers and land and improvements.
As of December 31, 2019, property and equipment included $3,059.7 million and $1,140.4 million of finance lease assets and
accumulated depreciation, respectively. Information about finance lease-related balances is as follows:
F-19
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
Finance leases:
Property and equipment
Accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment
Accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment
Property and equipment
Accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment, net
Classification
Towers
Buildings and improvements
Land
Equipment
As of
December 31, 2019
2,695.9
(1,062.0)
1,633.9
167.0
(65.3)
101.7
150.9
45.9
(13.1)
32.8
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had $1,575.2 million of perpetual land easements which are not depreciable.
4. LEASES
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at the inception of the agreement. The Company considers an
arrangement to be a lease if it conveys the right to control the use of the communications site or ground space underneath a
communications site for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Company is both a lessor and a lessee.
rr
Lessor—The Company is a lessor in most of its revenue arrangements, as property revenue is derived from tenant leases of
specifically-identified, physically distinct space on the Company’s communications real estate assets. The Company’s lease
arrangements with its tenants vary depending upon the region and the industry of the tenant and generally have initial non-
cancellable terms of five to ten years with multiple renewal terms. The leases also contain provisions that periodically increase
the rent due, typically annually, based on a fixed escalation percentage or an inflationary index, or a combination of both. The
Company structures its leases to include financial penalties if a tenant terminates the lease, which serve to disincentivize tenants
from terminating the lease prior to the expiration of the lease term.
The Company’s leasing arrangements outside of the U.S. may require that the Company provide power to the communications
site through an electrical grid connection, diesel fuel generators or other sources and permit the Company to pass through the
costs of, or otherwise charge for, these services. Many arrangements require that the communications site has power for a
specified percentage of time. In most cases, if delivery of power falls below the specified service level, a corresponding
reduction in revenue is recorded. The Company has determined that this performance obligation is satisfied over time for the
duration of the lease.
The Company typically has more than one tenant on a site and, by performing ordinary course repair and maintenance work,
can often lease a site, either through renewing existing agreements or leasing to new tenants, for periods beyond the existing
tenant lease term. Accordingly, the Company has minimal risk with respect to the residual value of its leased assets.
Communications sites are depreciated over their estimated useful lives, which generally do not exceed twenty years.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company does not have any material related party leases as a lessor. The Company generally
does not enter into sales-type leases or direct financing leases. The Company’s leases generally do not include any incentives
for the lessee and do not include any lessee purchase options.
F-20
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
Historically, the Company has been able to successfully renew its ground leases as needed to ensure continuation of its tower
revenue. Accordingly, the Company assumes that it will have access to the land underneath its tower sites when calculating
future minimum rental receipts. Future minimum rental receipts expected under non-cancellable operating lease agreements as
of December 31, 2019, were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter
Total
Amount (1)
5,829.1
5,711.1
5,136.5
4,985.0
4,802.7
20,410.3
46,874.7
$
$
_______________
(1) Balances are translated at the applicable period-end exchange rate, which may impact comparability between periods.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company entered into a new master lease agreement with one of its tenants in
the U.S., AT&T Inc. (“AT&T”), which resulted in $13.7 billion in future minimum rental receipts expected under non-
cancellable operating lease agreements.
Future minimum rental receipts expected under non-cancellable operating lease agreements in effect at December 31, 2018
were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Thereafter
Total
Amount (1)
5,251.2
5,062.2
4,676.1
3,754.6
3,457.3
12,641.1
34,842.5
$
$
_______________
(1) Balances are translated at the applicable period-end exchange rate, which may impact comparability between periods.
Lessee—The Company enters into arrangements as a lessee primarily for ground space underneath its communications sites.
These arrangements are typically long-term lease agreements with initial non-cancellable terms of approximately five to ten
years with one or more automatic or exercisable renewal periods and specified increases in lease payments upon exercise of the
renewal options. The Company typically exercises its ground lease renewal options in order to provide ongoing tenant space on
its communications sites through the end of the tenant lease term. Escalation clauses present in operating leases, excluding
those tied to CPI or other inflation-based indices, are recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated lease term of the
applicable lease. Additionally, the escalations tied to CPI or another inflation-based index are considered variable lease
payments. In certain circumstances, the Company enters into revenue sharing arrangements with the ground space owner,
which results in variability in lease payments. In most markets outside of the U.S., in the event there are no tenants on the
communications site, the Company generally has unilateral termination rights and in certain situations, the lease is structured to
allow for termination by the Company with minimal or no penalties. Ground lease arrangements usually include annual
escalations and do not contain any residual value guarantees or restrictions on dividends, other financial obligations or other
similar terms. The Company has entered into certain transactions whereby at the end of a lease, sublease or similar
arrangement, the Company has the option to purchase the corresponding communications sites. These transactions are further
described in note 19.
The Company’s lease liability is the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments to be made over the remaining
lease term, including renewal options reasonably certain to be exercised. The Company also considers termination options and
factors those into the determination of lease payments when appropriate. To determine the lease term, the Company considers
all renewal periods that are reasonably certain to be exercised, taking into consideration all economic factors, including the
F-21
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
communications site’s estimated economic life (generally 20 years) and the respective lease terms of the Company’s tenants
under the existing lease arrangements on such site.
As of the adoption date and new lease inception, the Company’s right-of-use asset is equal to its lease liability, plus payments
made prior to the commencement date and initial direct costs, net of any impairment losses, lease incentives, fair value
adjustments on acquired leases and deferred rent amount recorded under the prior lease accounting guidance. The Company
assesses its right-of-use asset and other lease-related assets for impairment, as described in note 1. During the year ended
December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $9.9 million of impairment expense related to these assets.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company does not have any material related party leases as a lessee. The Company does not
have any sale-leaseback arrangements as lessee and typically does not enter into leveraged leases.
The Company leases certain land and office space under operating leases and land and improvements, towers and vehicles
under finance leases. As of December 31, 2019, operating lease assets were included in Right-of-use asset and finance lease
assets were included in Property and equipment, net in the consolidated balance sheet.
Information about other lease-related balances as of December 31, 2019 is as follows:
Operating leases:
Right-of-use asset
Current portion of lease liability
Lease liability
Total operating lease liability
Finance leases:
Current portion of lease liability
Lease liability
Total finance lease liability
$
$
$
$
$
7,357.4
494.5
6,510.4
7,004.9
6.7
24.0
30.7
As most of the Company’s leases do not specifically state an implicit rate, the Company uses a market-specific incremental
borrowing rate consistent with the lease term as of the lease commencement date when calculating the present value of
remaining lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate reflects the cost to borrow on a securitized basis in each market. The
remaining lease term does not reflect all renewal options available to the Company, only those renewal options that the
Company has assessed as reasonably certain of being exercised taking into consideration the economic and other factors noted
above.
The weighted-average remaining lease terms and incremental borrowing rates as of December 31, 2019 are as follows:
Operating leases:
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Weighted-average incremental borrowing rate
Finance leases:
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Weighted-average incremental borrowing rate
The following table sets forth the components of lease cost for the year ended December 31, 2019:
Operating lease cost
Variable lease costs not included in lease liability (1)
_______________
(1)
Includes property tax paid on behalf of the landlord.
F-22
13.1
6.1%
15.0
6.2%
Year ended December
31, 2019
$
1,013.1
261.7
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
The interest expense on finance lease liabilities was $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Assets held under
finance leases are recorded in property and equipment and are depreciated over the lesser of the remaining lease term or the
remaining useful life.
Supplemental cash flow information for the year ended December 31, 2019 is as follows:
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases
Operating cash flows from finance leases
Financing cash flows from finance leases
Non-cash items:
New operating leases (1)
Operating lease modifications and reassessments (2)
_______________
(1) Amount includes new operating leases and leases acquired in connection with acquisitions.
(2)
Includes a $60.6 million reduction of the operating lease liability.
$
$
$
$
$
(1,012.2)
(1.7)
(18.0)
409.5
334.1
As of December 31, 2019, the Company does not have material operating or financing leases that have not yet commenced.
Maturities of operating and finance lease liabilities as of December 31, 2019 were as follows:
Fiscal Year
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter
Total lease payments
Less amounts representing interest
Total lease liability
Less current portion of lease liability
Non-current lease liability
Operating Lease (1)
904.3
$
Finance Lease (1)
8.0
$
878.3
845.5
810.3
766.4
6,140.1
10,344.9
(3,340.0)
7,004.9
494.5
$
6,510.4
$
5.3
4.3
3.0
2.1
45.4
68.1
(37.4)
30.7
6.7
24.0
_______________
(1) Balances are translated at the applicable period-end exchange rate, which may impact comparability between periods.
Future minimum rental payments under non-cancellable operating leases as of December 31, 2018 were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Thereafter
Total
_______________
(1) Balances are translated at the applicable period-end exchange rate, which may impact comparability between periods.
F-23
Amount (1)
926.0
904.2
879.8
834.2
792.6
6,173.1
10,509.9
$
$
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
Future minimum rental payments under capital leases in effect as of December 31, 2018 were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Thereafter
Total
Less amounts representing interest
Present value of capital lease obligations
_______________
(1) Balances are translated at the applicable period-end exchange rate, which may impact comparability between periods.
Amount (1)
40.7
32.7
27.8
23.7
19.2
117.5
261.6
(82.1)
179.5
$
$
Included in the future minimum rental payments under capital leases and amounts representing interest as of December 31,
2018 were $220.3 million and $69.3 million, respectively, related to perpetual land easements, which are not accounted for as
finance leases under the new lease accounting standard.
5. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The changes in the carrying value of goodwill for each of the Company’s business segments were as follows:
Balance as of December 31, 2017
Additions and adjustments (1)
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance as of December 31, 2018
$ 3,382.5
Additions and adjustments (2)
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance as of December 31, 2019
32.8
—
$ 3,415.3
Property
U.S.
$ 3,379.2
Asia
$ 1,095.0
Africa
Europe
$
130.6
$
274.3
Latin
America
757.3
$
Services
2.0
$
Total
$ 5,638.4
3.3
—
44.5
(94.0)
$ 1,045.5
—
(23.7)
$ 1,021.8
$
—
(11.3)
119.3
670.0
0.9
$
$
790.2
$
—
(12.3)
262.0
—
(5.8)
256.2
0.4
(67.1)
690.6
$
$
—
2.2
$
692.8
$
—
—
2.0
—
—
2.0
48.2
(184.7)
$ 5,501.9
702.8
(26.4)
$ 6,178.3
_______________
(1) Additions consist of $47.8 million resulting from 2018 acquisitions and $0.4 million from revisions to prior-year acquisitions due to measurement period
adjustments.
(2) Additions consist of $704.3 million resulting from 2019 acquisitions offset by $1.5 million from revisions to prior-year acquisitions due to measurement
period adjustments.
F-24
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
The Company’s other intangible assets subject to amortization consisted of the following:
As of December 31, 2019
As of December 31, 2018
Estimated Useful
Lives (years)
Gross
Carrying
Value
Accumulated
Amortization
Net Book
Value
Gross
Carrying
Value
Accumulated
Amortization
Net Book
Value
Acquired network
location intangibles
(1)
Acquired tenant-
related intangibles
Acquired licenses
and other
intangibles
Total other
intangible assets
Up to 20
$
5,150.8
$
(1,920.4) $
3,230.4
$
4,780.3
$
(1,704.9) $
3,075.4
Up to 20
12,674.1
(3,674.6)
8,999.5
11,156.5
(3,147.2)
8,009.3
3-20
106.7
(18.2)
88.5
104.1
(14.5)
89.6
$ 17,931.6
$
(5,613.2) $ 12,318.4
$ 16,040.9
$
(4,866.6) $ 11,174.3
_______________
(1) Acquired network location intangibles are amortized over the shorter of the term of the corresponding ground lease, taking into consideration lease
renewal options and residual value or up to 20 years, as the Company considers these intangibles to be directly related to the tower assets.
The acquired network location intangibles represent the value to the Company of the incremental revenue growth that could
potentially be obtained from leasing the excess capacity on acquired communications sites. The acquired tenant-related
intangibles typically represent the value to the Company of tenant contracts and relationships in place at the time of an
acquisition or similar transaction, including assumptions regarding estimated renewals.
The Company amortizes its acquired network location intangibles and tenant-related intangibles on a straight-line basis over
their estimated useful lives. As of December 31, 2019, the remaining weighted average amortization period of the Company’s
intangible assets was 15 years. Amortization of intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was
$791.3 million, $1,144.1 million and $785.9 million, respectively. Amortization expense decreased for the year ended
December 31, 2019 because in 2018, the Company entered into agreements with one of its tenants in India, Tata Teleservices
Limited (“Tata Teleservices”) and related entities (collectively, “Tata”), for a settlement and release of certain contractual lease
obligations of Tata Teleservices. As a result, the Company recorded $327.5 million of accelerated amortization related to the
Tata tenant relationship in 2018, which was subsequently retired.
Based on current exchange rates, the Company expects to record amortization expense as follows over the next five years:
Fiscal Year
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
$
Amount
885.7
860.1
856.0
852.4
838.1
6. NOTES RECEIVABLE AND OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Notes receivable and other non-current assets consisted of the following:
Long-term prepaid ground rent
Notes receivable
Other miscellaneous assets
Notes receivable and other non-current assets
As of
December 31, 2019
December 31, 2018
$
$
— $
1.1
405.3
406.4
$
607.5
1.0
354.1
962.6
The reduction in Long-term prepaid ground rent is a result of the reclassification of assets to the Right-of-use asset in
connection with the Company’s adoption of the new lease accounting standard.
F-25
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
7. ACQUISITIONS
The Company evaluates each of its acquisitions under the accounting guidance framework to determine whether to treat an
acquisition as an asset acquisition or a business combination. For those transactions treated as asset acquisitions, the purchase
price is allocated to the assets or rights acquired and liabilities assumed, with no recognition of goodwill. For those transactions
treated as business combinations, the estimates of the fair value of the assets or rights acquired and liabilities assumed at thet
date of the applicable acquisition are subject to adjustment during the measurement period (up to one year from the particular
acquisition date). The primary areas of the accounting for the acquisitions that are not yet finalized relate to the fair value of
certain tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including tax positions, which may include contingent
consideration, residual goodwill and any related tax impact.
The fair value of these net assets acquired are based on management’s estimates and assumptions, as well as other information
compiled by management, including valuations that utilize customary valuation procedures and techniques. While the Company
believes that such preliminary estimates provide a reasonable basis for estimating the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities
assumed, it evaluates any necessary information prior to finalization of the fair value. During the measurement period for those
acquisitions accounted for as business combinations, the Company will adjust assets or liabilities if new information is obtained
about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have resulted in the revised estimated
values of those assets or liabilities as of that date.
Impact of current year acquisitions—The Company typically acquires communications sites and other communications
infrastructure assets from wireless carriers or other tower operators and subsequently integrates those sites and related assets
into its existing portfolio of communications sites and related assets. The financial results of the Company’s acquisitions have
been included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 from the date of
the respective acquisition. The date of acquisition, and by extension the point at which the Company begins to recognize the
results of an acquisition, may depend on, among other things, the receipt of contractual consents, the commencement and extent
of leasing arrangements and the timing of the transfer of title or rights to the assets, which may be accomplished in phases. Sites
acquired from communications service providers may never have been operated as a business and may instead have been
utilized solely by the seller as a component of its network infrastructure. An acquisition may or may not involve the transfer of
business operations or employees.
For those acquisitions accounted for as business combinations, the Company recognizes acquisition and merger related
expenses in the period in which they are incurred and services are received; for transactions accounted for as asset acquisitions,
these costs are capitalized as part of the purchase price. Acquisition and merger related costs may include finder’s fees,
advisory, legal, accounting, valuation and other professional or consulting fees and general administrative costs directly related
aa
to completing the transaction. Integration costs include incremental and non-recurring costs necessary to convert data, retain
employees and otherwise enable the Company to operate acquired businesses or assets efficiently. The Company records
acquisition and merger related expenses for business combinations, as well as integration costs for all acquisitions, in Other
operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded acquisition and merger related expenses for
business combinations and non-capitalized asset acquisition costs and integration costs as follows:
Acquisition and merger related expenses
Integration costs
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
$
$
26.9
9.8
$
$
14.1
16.1
$
$
16.3
11.5
The Company also received $13.1 million related to pre-acquisition contingencies and settlements during the year ended
December 31, 2019.
2019 Transactions
The estimated aggregate impact of the acquisitions completed in 2019 on the Company’s revenues and gross margin for the
year ended December 31, 2019 was approximately $17.6 million and $12.7 million, respectively. The revenues and gross
margin amounts also reflect incremental revenues from the addition of new tenants to such sites subsequent to the transaction
date. Acquisitions completed in 2019 were included in the Company’s U.S, Africa and Latin America property segments.
Eaton Towers Acquisition—On December 31, 2019, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Eaton Towers
Holdings Limited (“Eaton Towers”), which owns and operates approximately 5,800 communications sites across five African
F-26
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
markets (the “Eaton Towers Acquisition”). The total consideration for the Eaton Towers Acquisition, including the Company’s
assumption of Eaton Towers’ existing debt, was approximately $2.0 billion. The purchase price reflects a $9.7 million
receivable from the seller for reimbursement of taxes. The Eaton Towers Acquisition was accounted for as a business
combination and is subject to post-closing adjustments.
Entel Acquisition—On December 19, 2019, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire approximately 3,200
communications sites in Chile and Peru from Entel PCS Telecomunicaciones S.A. and Entel Peru S.A. (“Entel”) for total
consideration of approximately $0.8 billion (as of the date of signing). On December 26, 2019, the Company completed the
acquisition of approximately 2,400 communications sites for an aggregate total purchase price of $672.8 million including
value-added tax (as of the date of acquisition) (the “Entel Acquisition”). The Entel Acquisition was accounted for as an asset
acquisition. The remaining communications sites are expected to close in tranches beginning in the first quarter of 2020, subject
to certain closing conditions.
U.S. Acquisition—On August 30, 2019, the Company acquired approximately 400 towers and other related property interests in
the United States for an aggregate total purchase price of $484.2 million. This acquisition was accounted for as an asset
acquisition.
Other Acquisitions—During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company acquired a total of 676 communications sites in
the United States, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru, as well as other communications infrastructure assets, for an
aggregate purchase price of $201.8 million. The majority of these acquisitions were accounted for as asset acquisitions.
The following table summarizes the allocations of the purchase prices for the fiscal year 2019 acquisitions based upon their
estimated fair value at the date of acquisition:
Current assets
Property and equipment
Intangible assets (2):
Tenant-related intangible assets
Network location intangible assets
Other intangible assets
Other non-current assets
Current liabilities
Deferred tax liability
Other non-current liabilities
Net assets acquired
Goodwill (3)
Fair value of net assets acquired
Debt assumed
Purchase price
Africa
Latin
America
U.S.
Eaton Towers
Acquisition
150.4
$
Entel
Acquisition
0.4
$
U.S.
Acquisition
4.0
$
$
304.7
281.0
97.8
1,007.6
272.2
—
99.5
(82.0)
(319.3)
(138.3)
1,294.8
670.0
1,964.8
(329.8)
1,635.0
$
228.9
70.9
—
191.7
(20.7)
—
(79.4)
672.8
—
672.8
—
271.9
111.2
—
55.5
(3.1)
(53.1)
484.2
—
484.2
—
Other (1)
9.3
66.5
65.5
32.0
0.8
7.8
(1.1)
—
(13.3)
167.5
34.3
201.8
—
$
672.8
$
484.2
$
201.8
_______________
(1) Includes 132 sites in Peru held pursuant to long-term finance leases.
(2) Tenant-related intangible assets and network location intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods of up to 20 years.
(3) The Company expects goodwill to be partially deductible for tax purposes.
Other Signed Acquisitions
Orange—On November 28, 2019, ATC France, a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into definitive
agreements with Orange S.A. for the acquisition of up to approximately 2,000 communications sites in France over a period of
up to five years. This transaction is expected to close in multiple tranches beginning in the first half of 2020 for total
consideration in the range of approximately 500.0 million Euros (“EUR”) to 600.0 million EUR (approximately $550.5 million
to $660.5 million at the date of signing) to be paid over the five-year term.
F-27
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
2018 Transactions
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the allocation of the final purchase price for the acquisition of Idea Cellular
Infrastructure Services Limited was finalized with no material post-closing adjustments. During the year ended December 31,
2019, there were no material post-closing adjustments that impacted other 2018 acquisitions.
Pro Forma Consolidated Results (Unaudited)
The following table presents the unaudited pro forma financial results as if the 2019 acquisitions had occurred on January 1,
2018 and the 2018 acquisitions had occurred on January 1, 2017. The pro forma results do not include any anticipated cost
synergies, costs or other integration impacts. Accordingly, such pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of the results
that actually would have occurred had the transactions been completed on the dates indicated, nor are they indicative of the
future operating results of the Company.
Pro forma revenues
Pro forma net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders
Pro forma net income per common share amounts:
Basic net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders
Diluted net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders
Year Ended December 31,
2019
7,904.2
1,844.9
4.17
4.14
$
$
$
$
2018
7,936.0
1,122.6
2.55
2.53
$
$
$
$
8. ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses consisted of the following:
Accrued property and real estate taxes
Accrued pass-through costs
Amounts payable to tenants
Accrued rent
Payroll and related withholdings
Accrued construction costs
Accrued income tax payable
Other accrued expenses
Accrued expenses
As of
December 31, 2019
198.1
$
74.2
77.9
75.6
102.4
27.8
55.2
347.0
958.2
$
December 31, 2018
169.7
$
71.2
93.5
61.4
90.4
41.5
57.9
362.7
948.3
$
F-28
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
9. LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
Outstanding amounts under the Company’s long-term obligations, reflecting discounts, premiums, debt issuance costs and fair
value adjustments due to interest rate swaps consisted of the following:
2018 Term Loan (2) (3)
2019 364-Day Term Loan (2) (4)
2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility (2)
2019 Term Loan (2)
2019 Credit Facility (2)
3.40% senior notes (5)
2.800% senior notes
5.050% senior notes (6)
3.300% senior notes
3.450% senior notes
5.900% senior notes (7)
2.250% senior notes
4.70% senior notes
3.50% senior notes
3.000% senior notes
5.00% senior notes
3.375% senior notes
2.950% senior notes
1.375% senior notes
4.000% senior notes
4.400% senior notes
1.950% senior notes
3.375% senior notes
3.125% senior notes
2.750% senior notes
3.55% senior notes
3.600% senior notes
3.950% senior notes
3.800% senior notes
3.700% senior notes
Total American Tower Corporation
debt
Series 2013-2A Securities (8)
Series 2018-1A Securities (8)
Series 2015-1 Notes (9)
Series 2015-2 Notes (10)
India indebtedness (11)
India preference shares (12)
Shareholder loan (13)
Other subsidiary debt (14)
Total American Tower subsidiary debt
Finance and capital lease obligations
Total
Less current portion long-term
obligations
Long-term obligations
As of
December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
1,499.8
— $
$
—
1,875.0
994.8
—
1,000.0
747.8
698.7
747.2
646.3
498.4
572.7
697.4
992.6
687.5
1,002.1
—
—
564.0
742.1
496.1
566.0
986.3
397.3
—
743.5
691.9
—
—
—
999.9
700.0
995.2
1,600.0
—
749.4
—
748.5
647.7
498.9
592.1
698.2
994.3
704.9
1,001.7
644.4
641.3
553.0
743.2
496.6
554.4
987.9
397.6
743.5
744.1
692.6
589.6
1,631.7
591.8
20,942.5
17,847.5
1,295.0
493.8
349.6
521.4
—
—
—
422.4
3,082.2
30.7
24,055.4
1,293.4
493.5
348.8
520.8
240.1
23.9
59.9
152.5
3,132.9
179.5
21,159.9
(2,928.2)
21,127.2
$
(2,754.8)
18,405.1
$
F-29
Maturity Date (1)
Contractual Interest Rate (1)
N/A
N/A
February 13, 2020
2.600%
June 28, 2023
2.865%
January 31, 2025
2.925%
January 31, 2025
4.875%
N/A
N/A
June 1, 2020
2.800%
N/A
N/A
3.300%
February 15, 2021
3.450% September 15, 2021
November 1, 2021
5.900%
January 15, 2022
2.250%
March 15, 2022
4.700%
January 31, 2023
3.500%
June 15, 2023
3.000%
February 15, 2024
5.000%
May 15, 2024
3.375%
January 15, 2025
2.950%
April 4, 2025
1.375%
4.000%
June 1, 2025
February 15, 2026
4.400%
May 22, 2026
1.950%
October 15, 2026
3.375%
January 15, 2027
3.125%
January 15, 2027
2.750%
July 15, 2027
3.550%
January 15, 2028
3.600%
March 15, 2029
3.950%
August 15, 2029
3.800%
October 15, 2049
3.700%
3.070%
3.652%
2.350%
3.482%
Various
N/A
N/A
Various
March 15, 2023
March 15, 2028
June 15, 2020
June 16, 2025
Various
N/A
N/A
Various
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
_______________
(1) Represents the interest rate or maturity date as of December 31, 2019; interest rate does not reflect the impact of the interest rate swap agreements.
(2) Accrues interest at a variable rate. Interest rates on outstanding balances are calculated using a weighted average.
(3) Repaid in full on February 14, 2019 using proceeds from the 2019 364-Day Term Loan (as defined below) and cash on hand.
(4) Repaid in full on the maturity date in February 2020 using proceeds from the 2020 Term Loan (as defined in note 24), borrowings from the 2019 Credit
Facility and cash on hand. For more information, see note 24.
(5) Repaid in full on the maturity date in February 2019 with borrowings from the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility (each as
defined below).
(6) Repaid in full on April 22, 2019 with borrowings from the 2019 Credit Facility and cash on hand.
(7) Repaid in full on January 15, 2020 with borrowings from the 2019 Credit Facility and cash on hand. For more information, see note 24.
(8) Maturity date reflects the anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is March 15, 2048.
(9) Maturity date reflects the anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is June 15, 2045.
(10) Maturity date reflects the anticipated repayment date; final legal maturity is June 15, 2050.
(11) Denominated in Indian Rupees (“INR”). Included India working capital facilities, remaining debt assumed by the Company in connection with the Viom
Acquisition (as defined in note 15) and debt that had been entered into by ATC TIPL. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company repaid all
remaining debt assumed in connection with the Viom Acquisition and debt entered into by ATC TIPL.
(12) Mandatorily redeemable preference shares (the “Preference Shares”) denominated in INR and classified as debt. The Preference Shares were redeemed on
March 2, 2019.
(13) Reflects balance owed to the Company’s joint venture partner in Ghana. The Ghana loan is denominated in Ghanaian Cedi (“GHS”). On June 14, 2019, the
Company purchased the remaining 294.4 million GHS ($56.8 million) of principal outstanding under the Ghana loan, plus unpaid interest. Amounts under
the loan are now owed to one of the Company’s subsidiaries and, as a result, are eliminated in consolidation as of the purchase date.
(14) Includes the Brazil Credit Facility (as defined below), which is denominated in Brazilian Real (“BRL”) and has an original amortization through January 15,
2022, the South African Credit Facility (as defined below), which is denominated in South African Rand (“ZAR”) and amortizes through December 17,
2020, the Colombian Credit Facility (as defined below), which is denominated in Colombian Peso (“COP”) and amortizes through April 24, 2021, the Kenya
Debt (as defined below), which is denominated in U.S. Dollar (“USD”) and is payable either (i) in future installments subject to the satisfaction of specified
conditions or (ii) three years from the note origination date, the U.S. Subsidiary Debt (as defined below) and the Eaton Towers Debt (as defined below),
which is denominated in multiple currencies, including USD, EUR, Kenyan Shilling (“KES”), and West African CFA Franc (“XOF”), and amortizes over
various terms. Subsequent to December 31, 2019, the Company repaid all of the outstanding Eaton Towers USD denominated and KES denominated debt.
Current portion of long-term obligations—The Company’s current portion of long-term obligations primarily includes (i) $1.0
billion under its unsecured term loan entered into on February 14, 2019 (the “2019 364-Day Term Loan”), which the Company
repaid on February 13, 2020, (ii) $750.0 million
i
$500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.900% senior unsecured notes due 2021, which the Company repaid on January
15, 2020 and (iv) $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of the American Tower Secured Revenue Notes, Series 2015-1, Class
A, issued by GTP Acquisition Partners I, LLC in a private securitization transaction in May 2015, with anticipated repayment date
in 2020.
aggregate principal amount of 2.800% senior unsecured notes due 2020, (iii)
senior unsecured notes due 2020,
(iv)
f
i
l
American Tower Corporation Debt
Bank Facilities
In December 2019, the Company entered into amendments and restatements of (A) its multicurrency senior unsecured revolving
credit facility entered into in June 2013, as amended (as amended and restated, the “2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility”), (B) its
senior unsecured revolving credit facility entered into in January 2012, as amended and restated in September 2014, as further
amended (as amended and restated, the “2019 Credit Facility”) and (C) its unsecured term loan entered into in October 2013, as
amended (as amended and restated, the “2019 Term Loan”), to, among other things, (i) extend the maturity dates by one year to
June 28, 2023, January 31, 2025 and January 31, 2025, respectively, (ii) increase the commitments under each of the 2019
Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility to $3.0 billion and $2.25 billion, respectively, (iii) increase the
maximum Revolving Loan Commitments, after giving effect to any Incremental Commitments (each as defined in the loan
agreements for each of the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility) to $5.0 billion and $3.75 billion under
the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility, respectively, (iv) increase the maximum Commitments, after
giving effect to any Incremental Commitments (each as defined in the loan agreement for the 2019 Term Loan) to $2.25 billion
under the 2019 Term Loan and (v) remove the Interest Coverage Ratio financial covenant as defined in each of the loan
agreements.
uu
2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility—The Company has the ability to borrow up to $3.0 billion under the 2019 Multicurrency
Credit Facility, which includes a $1.0 billion sublimit for multicurrency borrowings, a $200.0 million sublimit for letters of credit
and a $50.0 million sublimit for swingline loans. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company borrowed an aggregate
of $2.5 billion and repaid an aggregate of $3.7 billion of revolving indebtedness under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility.
The Company primarily used the borrowings to fund acquisitions, including the Entel Acquisition, to purchase redeemable
noncontrolling interests, to repay existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.
F-30
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
2019 Credit Facility—The Company has the ability to borrow up to $2.25 billion under the 2019 Credit Facility, which includes a
$200.0 million sublimit for letters of credit and a $50.0 million sublimit for swingline loans. During the year ended December 31,
2019, the Company borrowed an aggregate of $3.2 billion and repaid an aggregate of $1.6 billion of revolving indebtedness under
the 2019 Credit Facility. The Company used the borrowings to fund acquisitions, including the Eaton Towers Acquisition, to
repay existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.
2019 364-Day Term Loan—On February 14, 2019, the Company entered into the 2019 364-Day Term Loan, the net proceeds of
which were used, together with cash on hand, to repay all outstanding indebtedness under the unsecured term loan entered into on
March 29, 2018. The 2019 364-Day Term Loan matures on February 13, 2020. Any outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid
interest will be due and payable in full at maturity.
The 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility, the 2019 Credit Facility, the 2019 Term Loan and the 2019 364-Day Term Loan do not
require amortization of principal and may be paid prior to maturity in whole or in part at the Company’s option without penalty or
y
premium. The Company has the option of choosing either a defined base rate or LIBOR as the applicable base rate for borrowings
under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility, the 2019 Credit Facility, the 2019 Term Loan and the 2019 364-Day Term Loan.
The interest rates on the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility, the 2019 Credit Facility, and the 2019 Term Loan range between
0.875% to 1.750% above LIBOR for LIBOR based borrowings or up to 0.750% above the defined base rate for base rate
borrowings, in each case based upon the Company’s debt ratings. The interest rate on the 2019 364-Day Term Loan ranges
between 0.550% to 1.375% above LIBOR for LIBOR based borrowings or up to 0.375% above the defined base rate for base rate
borrowings, in each case based upon the Company’s debt ratings.
As of December 31, 2019, the key terms under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility, the 2019 Credit Facility, the 2019 Term
Loan and the 2019 364-Day Term Loan were as follows:
Outstanding
Principal
Balance
Undrawn
letters of
credit
Maturity Date
Current
margin over
LIBOR
Current
commitment
fee (1)
$
$
$
700.0
$ 1,600.0
$ 1,000.0 (2)
$ 1,000.0 (2)
June 28, 2023 (3)
3.8
January 31, 2025 (3)
6.1
N/A
January 31, 2025
N/A February 13, 2020
1.125%
1.125%
1.125%
0.800%
0.110%
0.110%
N/A
N/A
2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility
2019 Credit Facility
2019 Term Loan
2019 364-Day Term Loan
_______________
(1) Fee on undrawn portion of each credit facility.
(2) Borrowed at LIBOR
(3) Subject to two optional renewal periods.
The loan agreements for the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility, the 2019 Credit Facility, the 2019 Term Loan and the 2019 364-
Day Term Loan contain certain reporting, information, financial and operating covenants and other restrictions (including
limitations on additional debt, guaranties, sales of assets and liens) with which the Company must comply. Failure to comply with
the financial and operating covenants of the loan agreements may constitute a default, which could result in, among other things,
the amounts outstanding under the applicable agreement, including all accrued interest and unpaid fees, becoming immediately
due and payable.
Senior Notes
Repayments of Senior Notes
Repayment of 3.40% Senior Notes—On the February 15, 2019 maturity date, the Company repaid $1.0 billion aggregate principal
amount of 3.40% senior unsecured notes due 2019 (the “3.40% Notes”). The 3.40% Notes were repaid with borrowings from the
Company’s 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility. Upon completion of the repayment, none of the
3.40% Notes remained outstanding.
Repayment of 5.050% Senior Notes—On April 22, 2019, the Company redeemed all of the $700.0 million aggregate principal
amount of 5.050% senior unsecured notes due 2020 (the “5.050% Notes”) at a price equal to 103.0050% of the principal amount,
plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding April 22, 2019, for an aggregate redemption price of $726.0 million,
including $5.0 million in accrued and unpaid interest. The Company recorded a loss on retirement of long-term obligations of
$22.1 million, which includes prepayment consideration of $21.0 million and the associated unamortized discount and deferred
financing costs. The redemption was funded with borrowings from the 2019 Credit Facility and cash on hand. Upon completion
of the repayment, none of the 5.050% Notes remained outstanding.
F-31
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
Offerings of Senior Notes
3.375% Senior Notes and 3.950% Senior Notes Offering—On March 15, 2019, the Company completed a registered public
offering of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.375% senior unsecured notes due 2024 (the “3.375% Notes”) and
$600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.950% senior unsecured notes due 2029 (the “3.950% Notes”). The net proceeds
from this offering were approximately $1,231.0 million, after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. The Company used
the net proceeds to repay existing indebtedness under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility.
Accrued and unpaid interest is payable in U.S. Dollars semi-annually in arrears and will be computed from the offering date on
the basis of a 360 day year comprised of twelve 30-day months, beginning on September 15, 2019 and November 15, 2019 for the
3.950% Notes and the 3.375% Notes, respectively.
2.950% Senior Notes and 3.800% Senior Notes Offering—On June 13, 2019, the Company completed a registered public offering
of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.950% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (the “2.950% Notes”) and $1.65
billion aggregate principal amount of 3.800% senior unsecured notes due 2029 (the “3.800% Notes”). The net proceeds from this
offering were approximately $2,269.0 million, after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. The Company used the net
proceeds to repay existing indebtedness under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 Credit Facility. Accrued and
unpaid interest is payable in U.S. Dollars semi-annually in arrears and will be computed from the offering date on the basis
of a 360 day year comprised of twelve 30-day months, beginning on January 15, 2020 and February 15, 2020 for the 2.950%
Notes and the 3.800% Notes, respectively.
2.750% Senior Notes and 3.700% Senior Notes Offering—On October 3, 2019, the Company completed a registered public
offering of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.750% senior unsecured notes due 2027 (the “2.750% Notes”) and
$600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.700% senior unsecured notes due 2049 (the “3.700% Notes”). The net proceeds
from this offering were approximately $1,334.2 million, after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. The Company used
the net proceeds to repay existing indebtedness under the 2019 Multicurrency Credit Facility and the 2019 364-Day Term Loan.
Accrued and unpaid interest is payable in U.S. Dollars semi-annually in arrears and will be computed from the offering date on
the basis of a 360 day year comprised of twelve 30-day months, beginning on January 15, 2020 and April 15, 2020 for the 2.750%
Notes and the 3.700% Notes, respectively.
F-32
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
The following table outlines key terms related to the Company’s outstanding senior notes as of December 31, 2019:
Adjustments to
Principal Amount
(1)(( )
2018
2019
$ (0.6) $ (2.2)
Aggregate
Principal
Amount
750.0
$
Interest
payments due (2)
Issue Date
Par Call Date (3)
June 1 and December 1
May 7, 2015
May 1, 2020
(2.8)
February 15 and August 15
January 12, 2016
January 15, 2021
750.0
650.0
500.0
600.0
700.0
1,000.0
700.0
1,000.0
650.0
650.0
560.6
750.0
500.0
560.6
(1.5)
(2.3)
(1.1)
(7.9)
(1.8)
(5.7)
4.9
1.7
(5.6)
(8.7)
(7.6)
(6.8)
(3.4)
(6.2)
(1.6)
(27.3)
(7.4)
(12.5)
2.1
—
—
(9.3)
(7.9)
(3.9)
(7.3)
(3.7) March 15 and September 15
May 1 and November 1
August 7, 2014
October 6, 2011
January 15 and July 15
September 30, 2016
(2.6) March 15 and September 15
January 31 and July 31
March 12, 2012
January 8, 2013
June 15 and December 15
December 8, 2017
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
February 15 and August 15
May 15 and November 15
August 19, 2013
March 15, 2019
N/A
April 15, 2024
January 15 and July 15
June 13, 2019
December 15, 2024
April 4
June 1 and December 1
April 6, 2017
May 7, 2015
January 4, 2025
March 1, 2025
February 15 and August 15
January 12, 2016 November 15, 2025
May 22
May 22, 2018
February 22, 2026
1,000.0
(12.1)
(13.7)
April 15 and October 15
May 13, 2016
July 15, 2026
400.0
750.0
750.0
700.0
600.0
1,650.0
600.0
(2.4)
(6.5)
(5.9)
(7.4)
(10.4)
(18.3)
(8.2)
(2.7)
—
(6.5)
(8.1)
January 15 and July 15
September 30, 2016
October 15, 2026
January 15 and July 15
October 3, 2019 November 15, 2026
January 15 and July 15
June 30, 2017
April 15, 2027
January 15 and July 15
December 8, 2017
October 15, 2027
— March 15 and September 15
March 15, 2019
December 15, 2028
— February 15 and August 15
June 13, 2019
—
April 15 and October 15
October 3, 2019
May 15, 2029
April 15, 2049
2.800% Notes
3.300% Notes
3.450% Notes
5.900% Notes (4)
2.250% Notes (5)
4.70% Notes
3.50% Notes
3.000% Notes (6)
5.00% Notes (7)
3.375% Notes
2.950% Notes
1.375% Notes (8)
4.000% Notes
4.400% Notes
1.950% Notes (8)
3.375% Notes
3.125% Notes
2.750% Notes
3.55% Notes
3.600% Notes
3.950% Notes
3.800% Notes
3.700% Notes
_______________
(1)
(2)
Includes unamortized discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs and fair value adjustments due to interest rate swaps.
Interest payments are due semi-annually for each series of senior notes, except for the 1.375% Notes and the 1.950% Notes, for which interest payments are
due annually.
If the Company redeems the notes on or after the par call date, the Company will not be required to pay a make-whole premium.
u
(3)
(4) The 5.900% Notes were repaid on January 15, 2020. For more information, see note 24.
(5)
(6)
(7) The original issue date for the 5.00% Notes was August 19, 2013. The issue date for the reopened 5.00% Notes was January 10, 2014.
(8) Notes are denominated in EUR.
Includes ($5.9) million and ($24.3) million fair value adjustment due to interest rate swaps in 2019 and 2018, respectively, yy
Includes $9.2 million and ($7.0) million fair value adjustment due to interest rate swaps in 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company may redeem each series of senior notes at any time, subject to the terms of the applicable supplemental indenture,
in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes plus a make-whole premium, as
applicable, together with accrued interest to the redemption date. In addition, if the Company undergoes a change of control and
corresponding ratings decline, each as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture, it may be required to repurchase all of the
applicable notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest
(including additional interest, if any), up to but not including the repurchase date. The notes rank equally with all of the
Company’s other senior unsecured debt and are structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other
obligations of its subsidiaries.
Each applicable supplemental indenture for the notes contains certain covenants that restrict the Company’s ability to merge,
consolidate or sell assets and its (together with its subsidiaries’) ability to incur liens. These covenants are subject to a number of
exceptions, including that the Company and its subsidiaries may incur certain liens on assets, mortgages or other liens securing
nn
F-33
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
indebtedness if the aggregate amount of indebtedness secured by such liens does not exceed 3.5x Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in
the applicable supplemental indenture. As of December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with each of these covenants.
American Tower Subsidiary Debt
Securitizations
The Company has several securitizations in place. Cash flows generated by the sites that secure the securitized debt are only
available for payment of such debt and are not available to pay the Company’s other obligations or the claims of its creditors.
However, subject to certain restrictions, the Company holds the right to receive the excess cash flows not needed to pay the
securitized debt and other obligations arising out of the securitizations. The securitized debt is the obligation of the issuers thereof
or borrowers thereunder, as applicable, and their subsidiaries, and not of the Company or its other subsidiaries.
American Tower Secured Revenue Notes, Series 2015-1, Class A and Series 2015-2, Class A—In May 2015, GTP Acquisition
Partners I, LLC (“GTP Acquisition Partners”), one of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, refinanced existing debt with
cash on hand and proceeds from a private issuance (the “2015 Securitization”) of $350.0 million of American Tower Secured
Revenue Notes, Series 2015-1, Class A (the “Series 2015-1 Notes”) and $525.0 million of American Tower Secured Revenue
Notes, Series 2015-2, Class A (the “Series 2015-2 Notes,” and together with the Series 2015-1 Notes, the “2015 Notes”).
The 2015 Notes are secured by (i) mortgages, deeds of trust and deeds to secure debt on substantially all of the 3,542
communications sites (the “2015 Secured Sites”) owned by GTP Acquisition Partners and its subsidiaries (the “GTP Entities”)
and their operating cash flows, (ii) a security interest in substantially all of the personal property and fixtures of the GTP Entities,
including GTP Acquisition Partners’ equity interests in its subsidiaries and (iii) the rights of the GTP Entities under a management
agreement. American Tower Holding Sub II, LLC, whose only material assets are its equity interests in GTP Acquisition Partners,
has guaranteed repayment of the 2015 Notes and pledged its equity interests in GTP Acquisition Partners as security for such
payment obligations.
The 2015 Notes were issued by GTP Acquisition Partners pursuant to a Third Amended and Restated Indenture and related series
supplements, each dated as of May 29, 2015 (collectively, the “2015 Indenture”), between the GTP Entities and The Bank of New
York Mellon, as trustee. The effective weighted average life and interest rate of the 2015 Notes was 8.1 years and 3.029%,
respectively, as of the date of issuance.
Secured Tower Revenue Securities, Series 2013-2A, Secured Tower Revenue Securities, Series 2018-1, Subclass A and Series
2018-1, Subclass R—On March 29, 2018, the Company completed a securitization transaction (the “2018 Securitization”), in
which the American Tower Trust I (the “Trust”) issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of Secured Tower Revenue
Securities, Series 2018-1, Subclass A (the “Series 2018-1A Securities”). To satisfy the applicable risk retention requirements of
Regulation RR promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act” and, such requirements,
the “Risk Retention Rules”), the Trust issued, and one of the Company’s affiliates purchased, $26.4 million aggregate principal
amount of Secured Tower Revenue Securities, Series 2018-1, Subclass R (the “Series 2018-1R Securities” and, together with the
Series 2018-1A Securities, the “2018 Securities”) to retain an “eligible horizontal residual interest” (as defined in the Risk
Retention Rules) in an amount equal to at least 5% of the fair value of the 2018 Securities.
The Secured Tower Revenue Securities, Series 2013-2A (the “Series 2013-2A Securities” and, together with the 2018 Securities
the “Trust Securities”) issued in a securitization transaction in March 2013 (the “2013 Securitization” and, together with the 2018
Securitization, the “Trust Securitizations”) remain outstanding and are subject to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated
Trust and Servicing Agreement entered into in connection with the 2018 Securitization.
The assets of the Trust consist of a nonrecourse loan (the “Loan”) made by the Trust to American Tower Asset Sub, LLC and
American Tower Asset Sub II, LLC (together, the “AMT Asset Subs”). The AMT Asset Subs are jointly and severally liable under
the Loan, which is secured primarily by mortgages on the AMT Asset Subs’ interests in 5,114 broadcast and wireless
communications towers and related assets (the “Trust Sites”).
The component of the Loan corresponding to the Series 2013-2A Securities also remains outstanding and is subject to the terms of
the Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement among the Trust and the AMT Asset Subs, dated as of
March 29, 2018 (“Loan Agreement”). The Loan Agreement includes terms and conditions, including with respect to secured
assets, substantially consistent with the First Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of March 15, 2013.
The 2018 Securities correspond to components of the Loan made to the AMT Asset Subs pursuant to the Loan Agreement and
were issued in two separate subclasses of the same series. The 2018 Securities represent a pass-through interest in the components
of the Loan corresponding to the 2018 Securities. The Series 2018-1A Securities have an interest rate of 3.652% and the Series
2018-1R Securities have an interest rate of 4.459%. The 2018 Securities have an expected life of approximately ten years with a
final repayment date in March 2048. Subject to certain limited exceptions described below, no payments of principal will be
F-34
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
required to be made on the components of the Loan corresponding to the 2018 Securities prior to the monthly payment date in
March 2028, which is the anticipated repayment date for such components.
The Loan is secured by (1) mortgages, deeds of trust and deeds to secure debt on substantially all of the Trust Sites and their
operating cash flows, (2) a security interest in substantially all of the AMT Asset Subs’ personal property and fixtures and (3) the
AMT Asset Subs’ rights under that certain management agreement among the AMT Asset Subs and SpectraSite Communications,
LLC entered into in March 2013. American Tower Holding Sub, LLC (the “Guarantor”), whose only material assets are its equity
interests in each of the AMT Asset Subs, and American Tower Guarantor Sub, LLC whose only material asset is its equity
interests in the Guarantor, have each guaranteed repayment of the Loan and pledged their equity interests in their respective
subsidiary or subsidiaries as security for such payment obligations.
Under the terms of the Loan Agreement and 2015 Indenture, amounts due will be paid from the cash flows generated by the Trust
Sites or the 2015 Secured Sites, respectively, which must be deposited into certain reserve accounts, and thereafter distributed
solely pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement or 2015 Indenture, as applicable. On a monthly basis, after payment of all
required amounts under the Loan Agreement or 2015 Indenture, as applicable, including interest payments, subject to the
conditions described below, the excess cash flows generated from the operation of such assets are released to the AMT Asset Subs
or GTP Acquisition Partners, as applicable, which can then be distributed to, and used by, the Company.
In order to distribute any excess cash flow to the Company, the AMT Asset Subs and GTP Acquisition Partners must each
maintain a specified debt service coverage ratio (the “DSCR”), which is generally calculated as the ratio of the net cash flow (as
defined in the applicable agreement) to the amount of interest, servicing fees and trustee fees required to be paid over the
succeeding 12 months on the principal amount of the Loan or the 2015 Notes, as applicable, that will be outstanding on the
payment date following such date of determination. If the DSCR were equal to or below 1.30x (the “Cash Trap DSCR”) for any
quarter, then all cash flow in excess of amounts required to make debt service payments, fund required reserves, pay management
fees and budgeted operating expenses and make other payments required under the applicable transaction documents, referred to
as excess cash flow, will be deposited into a reserve account (the “Cash Trap Reserve Account”) instead of being released to the
AMT Asset Subs or GTP Acquisition Partners, as applicable. The funds in the Cash Trap Reserve Account will not be released to
the AMT Asset Subs or GTP Acquisition Partners, as applicable, unless the DSCR exceeds the Cash Trap DSCR for two
consecutive calendar quarters.
Additionally, an “amortization period” commences if, as of the end of any calendar quarter, the DSCR is equal to or below 1.15x
(the “Minimum DSCR”) and will continue to exist until the DSCR exceeds the Minimum DSCR for two consecutive calendar
quarters. With respect to the Trust Securities, an “amortization period” also commences if, on the anticipated repayment date thet
component of the Loan corresponding to the applicable subclass of the Trust Securities has not been repaid in full, provided that
such amortization period shall apply with respect to such component that has not been repaid in full. If either series of the 2015
Notes have not been repaid in full on the applicable anticipated repayment date, additional interest will accrue on the unpaid
principal balance of the applicable series of the 2015 Notes, and such series will begin to amortize on a monthly basis from excess
cash flow. During an amortization period, all excess cash flow and any amounts in the applicable Cash Trap Reserve Account
would be applied to pay the principal of the Loan or the 2015 Notes, as applicable, on each monthly payment date.
The Loan and the 2015 Notes may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time, provided such payment is accompanied by the
applicable prepayment consideration. If the prepayment occurs within 12 months of the anticipated repayment date with respect to
the Series 2015-1 Notes, 18 months of the anticipated repayment date with respect to the Series 2013-2A Securities or the Series
2015-2 Notes, or 36 months of the anticipated repayment date with respect to the Series 2018 Securities, no prepayment
consideration is due.
The Loan Agreement and the 2015 Indenture include operating covenants and other restrictions customary for transactions subject
to rated securitizations. Among other things, the AMT Asset Subs and the GTP Entities, as applicable, are prohibited from
incurring other indebtedness for borrowed money or further encumbering their assets subject to customary carve-outs for ordinaryrr
course trade payables and permitted encumbrances (as defined in the Loan Agreement or the 2015 Indenture, as applicable). The
organizational documents of the AMT Asset Subs and the GTP Entities contain provisions consistent with rating agency
securitization criteria for special purpose entities, including the requirement that they maintain independent directors. The Loan
Agreement and the 2015 Indenture also contain certain covenants that require the AMT Asset Subs or GTP Acquisition Partners,
as applicable, to provide the respective trustee with regular financial reports and operating budgets, promptly notify such trustee
of events of default and material breaches under the Loan Agreement and other agreements related to the Trust Sites or the 2015
Indenture and other agreements related to the 2015 Secured Sites, as applicable, and allow the applicable trustee reasonable
access to the sites, including the right to conduct site investigations.
A failure to comply with the covenants in the Loan Agreement or the 2015 Indenture could prevent the AMT Asset Subs or GTP
Acquisition Partners, as applicable, from distributing excess cash flow to the Company. Furthermore, if the AMT Asset Subs or
GTP Acquisition Partners were to default on the Loan or a series of the 2015 Notes, the applicable trustee may seek to foreclose
F-35
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
upon or otherwise convert the ownership of all or any portion of the Trust Sites or the 2015 Secured Sites, respectively, in which
case the Company could lose the revenue associated with those assets. With respect to the 2015 Notes, upon the occurrence and
during an event of default, the applicable trustee may, in its discretion or at the direction of holders of more than 50% of the
aggregate outstanding principal of any series of the 2015 Notes, declare such series of 2015 Notes immediately due and payable,
in which case any excess cash flow would need to be used to pay holders of such notes.
Further, under the Loan Agreement and the 2015 Indenture, the AMT Asset Subs or GTP Acquisition Partners, respectively, are
required to maintain reserve accounts, including for ground rents, real estate and personal property taxes and insurance premiums,
u
and, under the 2015 Indenture and in certain circumstances under the Loan Agreement, to reserve a portion of advance rents from
tenants on the Trust Sites. Based on the terms of the Loan Agreement and the 2015 Indenture, all rental cash receipts received for
each month are reserved for the succeeding month and held in an account controlled by the applicable trustee and then released.
The $50.2 million held in the reserve accounts with respect to the Trust Securitizations and the $13.0 million held in the reserve
accounts with respect to the 2015 Securitization as of December 31, 2019 are classified as Restricted cash on the Company’s
accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
India Indebtedness—The India indebtedness includes several working capital facilities, most of which are subject to annual
renewal. The working capital facilities bear interest at rates that consist of the applicable bank’s Marginal Cost of Funds based
Lending Rate (as defined in the applicable agreement), plus a spread. Generally, the working capital facilities are payable on
demand prior to maturity.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company repaid all remaining debt assumed in connection with the Viom
Acquisition and debt entered into by ATC TIPL.
Amounts outstanding and key terms of the India indebtedness consisted of the following as of December 31, 2019 (in millions,
except percentages):
Working capital facilities (1)
— $
—
Amount
Outstanding
(INR)
Amount
Outstanding
(USD)
Interest Rate (Range)
8.15% - 8.75%
Maturity Date (Range)
March 18, 2020 - October 23, 2020
_______________
(1) 5.6 billion INR ($78.9 million) of borrowing capacity as of December 31, 2019.
Other Subsidiary Debt—tt The Company’s other subsidiary debt includes (i) a credit facility entered into by one of the Company’s
South African subsidiaries in December 2015, as amended (the “South African Credit Facility”), (ii) a long-term credit facility
entered into by one of the Company’s Colombian subsidiaries in October 2014 (the “Colombian Credit Facility”), (iii) a credit
facility entered into by one of the Company’s Brazilian subsidiaries in December 2014 (the “Brazil Credit Facility”) with Banco
Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social, (iv) a note entered into by one of the Company’s subsidiaries in October 2018
in connection with the acquisition of sites in Kenya (the “Kenya Debt”), (v) U.S. subsidiary debt related to a seller-financed
acquisition (the “U.S. Subsidiary Debt”) and (vi) debt entered into by certain Eaton Towers subsidiaries acquired in connection
with the Eaton Towers Acquisition (the “Eaton Towers Debt”).
Amounts outstanding and key terms of other subsidiary debt consisted of the following as of December 31, (in millions, except
percentages):
F-36
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
South African Credit Facility (2)
Colombian Credit Facility (3)
Brazil Credit Facility (4)
Kenya Debt (5)
U.S. Subsidiary Debt (6)
Eaton Towers Debt (7):
USD Denominated (8)
EUR Denominated
XOF Denominated
KES Denominated (8)
Carrying Value
(Denominated Currency) (1)
Carrying Value
(USD) (1)
2019
2018
2019
2018
288.7
79,647.3
65.4
577.4
109,193.8
94.7
94.7
29.6
1.9
51.8
2.5
$
$
$
$
$
20.6
24.3
16.2
29.6
1.9
238.8
26.2
16,836.8
3,319.2
— $ 238.8
— $
— $
— $
29.5
28.8
32.7
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
40.2
33.6
24.4
51.8
2.5
—
—
—
—
Interest Rate
Maturity Date
8.75% December 17, 2020
8.13%
Various
8.00%
—%
Various
Various
Various
Various
April 24, 2021
January 15, 2022
October 1, 2021
January 1, 2022
Various
Various
Various
Various
_______________
(1)
(2) Denominated in ZAR, with an original principal amount of 830.0 million ZAR. On December 23, 2016, the borrower borrowed an additional 500.0 million
Includes applicable deferred financing costs.
ZAR. Debt accrues interest at a variable rate. The borrower no longer maintains the ability to draw on the South African Credit Facility.
(3) Denominated in COP, with an original principal amount of 200.0 billion COP. Debt accrues interest at a variable rate. The loan agreement for the Colombian
Credit Facility requires that the borrower manage exposure to variability in interest rates on certain of the amounts outstanding under the Colombian Credit
Facility. The borrower no longer maintains the ability to draw on the Colombian Credit Facility.
(4) Denominated in BRL, with an original principal amount of 271.0 million BRL. Debt accrues interest at a variable rate. The borrower no longer maintains the
ability to draw on the Brazil Credit Facility.
(5) Denominated in USD, with an original principal amount of $51.8 million. The loan agreement for the Kenya Debt requires that the debt be paid either (i) in
future installments subject to the satisfaction of specified conditions or (ii) three years from the note origination date.
(6) Related to a seller-financed acquisition. Denominated in USD with an original principal amount of $2.5 million.
(7) Related to the Eaton Towers Acquisition. Denominated in multiple currencies, including USD, EUR, KES and XOF. Amounts shown represent principal
outstanding as of December 31, 2019.
(8) Subsequent to December 31, 2019, the Company repaid all of the outstanding USD denominated and KES denominated debt.
Pursuant to the agreements governing the South African Credit Facility and the Colombian Credit Facility, payments of principal
and interest are generally payable quarterly in arrears. Outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest will be due and
payable in full at maturity. The South African Credit Facility may be prepaid in whole or in part without prepayment
consideration. The Colombian Credit Facility may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time, subject to certain limitations and
prepayment consideration.
The South African Credit Facility, the Colombian Credit Facility and the Brazil Credit Facility are secured by, among other things,
liens on towers owned by the applicable borrower.
Each of the agreements governing the other subsidiary debt contains contractual covenants and other restrictions. Failure to
comply with certain of the financial and operating covenants could constitute a default under the applicable debt agreement,
which could result in, among other things, the amounts outstanding, including all accrued interest and unpaid fees, becoming
immediately due and payable.
Shareholder Loan— On June 14, 2019, the Company purchased the remaining 294.4 million GHS ($56.8 million) of principal
outstanding under the Ghana loan, plus unpaid interest. Amounts under the loan are now owed to one of the Company’s
subsidiaries and, as a result, are eliminated in consolidation as of the purchase date.
Finance and Capital Lease Obligations—The Company’s finance and capital lease obligations approximated $30.7 million and
$179.5 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Finance lease obligations are described further in note 4.
F-37
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
Maturities—Aggregate principal maturities of long-term debt, including finance leases, for the next five years and thereafter are
expected to be:
Fiscal Year
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter
Total cash obligations
Unamortized discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs and fair value adjustments, net
Balance as of December 31, 2019
Amount
$
2,928.2
1,446.6
1,339.0
3,722.8
1,651.2
13,111.9
24,199.7
(144.3)
$ 24,055.4
As of
December 31, 2019
$
— $
525.9
411.1
937.0
$
December 31, 2018
506.7
504.6
253.8
1,265.1
$
10. OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Other non-current liabilities consisted of the following:
Deferred rent liability
Unearned revenue
Other miscellaneous liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
The reduction in Deferred rent liability is a result of the Company’s adoption of the new lease accounting standard.
11. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The changes in the carrying amount of the Company’s asset retirement obligations were as follows:
Beginning balance as of January 1,
Additions
Accretion expense
Revisions in estimates (1)
Settlements
Balance as of December 31,
2019
1,210.0
61.8
81.6
56.8
(26.1)
1,384.1
$
$
$
$
2018
1,175.3
39.6
83.6
(81.5)
(7.0)
1,210.0
_______________
(1) Revisions in estimates include decreases to the liability of $6.7 million and $49.4 million related to foreign currency translation for the years ended
aa
December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
As of December 31, 2019, the estimated undiscounted future cash outlay for asset retirement obligations was $3.2 billion.
F-38
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
12. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company determines the fair value of its financial instruments based on the fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to
maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Below are the
three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at
the measurement date.
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted
prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable
market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value
of the assets or liabilities.
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis—The fair values of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are
required to be measured on a recurring basis at fair value were as follows:
December 31, 2019
December 31, 2018
Fair Value Measurements Using
Fair Value Measurements Using
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Assets:
Interest rate swap agreements
Embedded derivative in lease agreement
Liabilities:
Interest rate swap agreements
Fair value of debt related to interest rate
swap agreements (1)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (2)
— $
—
— $
$
3.3
—
9.0
— $
7.5
—
—
10.7
—
— $
— $ 1,096.5
—
—
—
— $
—
11.5
— $
33.8
(31.3)
—
—
— $ 1,004.8
—
—
_______________
(1)
(2)
Included in the carrying values of the corresponding debt obligations.
Includes the redeemable noncontrolling interest in ATC TIPL and $523.0 million related to the Company’s agreement with MTN to acquire MTN’s
noncontrolling interests in each of the Company’s joint ventures in Ghana and Uganda. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020,
subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions.
tt
Interest Rate Swap Agreements
The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements is determined using pricing models with inputs that are
observable in the market or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. For derivative
instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges, changes in the value of the derivatives are recognized in the
consolidated statements of operations in the current period, along with the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item attributable
to the hedged risk. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the Company records the
change in fair value for the effective portion of the cash flow hedges in AOCL in the consolidated balance sheets and
reclassifies a portion of the value from AOCL into Interest expense on a quarterly basis as the cash flows from the hedged item
affects earnings. The Company records the settlement of interest rate swap agreements in (Loss) gain on retirement of long-
term obligations in the consolidated statements of operations in the period in which the settlement occurs.
The Company entered into three interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional value of $500.0 million related to the
3.000% senior unsecured notes due 2023 (the “3.000% Notes”). These interest rate swaps, which were designated as fair value
hedges at inception, were entered into to hedge against changes in fair value of the 3.000% Notes resulting from changes in
interest rates. The interest rate swap agreements require the Company to pay interest at a variable interest rate of one-month
LIBOR plus applicable spreads and to receive fixed interest at a rate of 3.000% through June 15, 2023.
F-39
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
The Company entered into three interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional value of $600.0 million related to the
2.250% senior unsecured notes due 2022 (the “2.250% Notes”). These interest rate swaps, which were designated as fair value
hedges at inception, were entered into to hedge against changes in fair value of the 2.250% Notes resulting from changes in
interest rates. The interest rate swap agreements require the Company to pay interest at a variable interest rate of one-month
LIBOR plus applicable spreads and to receive fixed interest at a rate of 2.250% through January 15, 2022.
The fair values of the U.S. interest rate swap asset of $9.0 million and U.S. interest rate swap liability of $7.4 million were
included in Other non-current assets and Other non-current liabilities, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets at
December 31, 2019. The fair value of the U.S. interest rate swap liability of $33.5 million was included in Other non-current
liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2018. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company
recorded net fair value adjustments of $0.5 million related to interest rate swaps and the change in fair value of debt due to
interest rate swaps in Other expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
One of the Company’s Colombian subsidiaries is party to an interest rate swap agreement with certain lenders under the
Colombian Credit Facility (the “Colombia Interest Rate Swap”). The Colombia Interest Rate Swap, which was designated as a
cash flow hedge at inception, was entered into to manage exposure to variability in interest rates on debt. The Colombia Interest
Rate Swap requires the payment of a fixed interest rate of 5.74% and pays variable interest at the three-month Inter-bank Rate
through the earlier of termination of the underlying debt or April 24, 2021. On October 24, 2019, the aggregate notional amount
of the Colombia Interest Rate Swap was increased by 20.0 billion COP ($5.9 million) and the fixed interest rate was decreased
to 5.37%. As of December 31, 2019, the aggregate notional amount of the Colombia Interest Rate Swap was 60.0 billion COP
($18.3 million). The fair value of the Colombia Interest Rate Swap as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $0.1 million and
$0.3 million, respectively, and was included in Other non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Embedded Derivative in Lease Agreement
In connection with the acquisition of communications sites in Nigeria, the Company entered into a site lease agreement where a
portion of the monthly rent to be received is escalated based on an index outside the lessor’s economic environment. The fair
value of the portion of the lease tied to the U.S. CPI was $14.6 million at the date of acquisition and was recorded in Notes
receivable and other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the Company’s embedded
derivative is determined using a discounted cash flow approach, which takes into consideration Level 3 unobservable inputs,
including expected future cash flows over the period in which the associated payment is expected to be received and applies a
discount factor that captures uncertainties in the future periods associated with the expected payment. During the year ended
December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $0.8 million of fair value adjustments, which were recorded in Other expense in the
consolidated statements of operations.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
The Company records the carrying amount of the redeemable noncontrolling interests as described in note 15. The fair value of
the redeemable noncontrolling interests is determined using a discounted cash flow approach, which takes into consideration
Level 3 unobservable inputs, including expected future cash flows and applies a discount factor that captures uncertainties in
the future periods. If required, the Company adjusts the redeemable noncontrolling interests to redemption value on each
balance sheet date with changes in redemption value recognized as an adjustment to net income (loss) attributable to
noncontrolling interests.
The recurring Level 3 fair value measurements of the Company’s embedded derivative in lease agreement, acquisition-related
contingent consideration and redeemable noncontrolling interests include the following significant unobservable inputs as of
December 31, 2019:
Embedded derivative in lease agreement
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (1)
Significant Unobservable Input
Discount rate
Revenue growth
Long-term growth rate
Range
10.93% - 13.96%
3.82% - 7.88%
4.00%
_______________
(1) Represents the significant unobservable inputs used to measure the fair value of the Company’s redeemable noncontrolling interest in ATC TIPL as of
December 31, 2019.
F-40
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Assets Held and Used—The Company’s long-lived assets are recorded at amortized cost and, if impaired, are adjusted to fair
value using Level 3 inputs.
dd
During the year ended December 31, 2019, certain long-lived assets held and used with a carrying value of $22.4 billion were
written down to their net realizable value as a result of an asset impairment charge of $94.2 million. During the year ended
December 31, 2018, certain long-lived assets held and used with a carrying value of $22.4 billion were written down to their net
realizable value as a result of an asset impairment charge of $394.0 million. The asset impairment charges are recorded in Other
operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. These adjustments were determined by
comparing the estimated fair value utilizing projected future discounted cash flows to be provided from the long-lived assets to
the asset’s carrying value.
There were no other items measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the year ended December 31, 2019.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The Company’s financial instruments for which the carrying value reasonably
approximates fair value at December 31, 2019 and 2018 include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable
and accounts payable. The Company’s estimates of fair value of its long-term obligations, including the current portion, are
based primarily upon reported market values. For long-term debt not actively traded, fair value is estimated using either
indicative price quotes or a discounted cash flow analysis using rates for debt with similar terms and maturities. As of
December 31, 2019, the carrying value and fair value of long-term obligations, including the current portion, were $24.1 billion
and $25.0 billion, respectively, of which $17.5 billion was measured using Level 1 inputs and $7.5 billion was measured using
Level 2 inputs. As of December 31, 2018, the carrying value and fair value of long-term obligations, including the current
portion, were $21.2 billion and $21.1 billion, respectively, of which $13.4 billion was measured using Level 1 inputs and $7.7
billion was measured using Level 2 inputs.
13. INCOME TAXES
Beginning in the taxable year ended December 31, 2012, the Company has filed, and intends to continue to file, U.S. federal
income tax returns as a REIT, and its domestic TRSs filed, and intend to continue to file, separate tax returns as required. The
Company also files tax returns in various states and countries. The Company’s state tax returns reflect different combinations of
the Company’s subsidiaries and are dependent on the connection each subsidiary has with a particular state and form of
organization. The following information pertains to the Company’s income taxes on a consolidated basis.
The income tax provision from continuing operations consisted of the following:
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
Current:
Federal
State
Foreign
Deferred:
Federal
State
Foreign
$
(1.7) $
(5.0)
(48.2)
1.4
0.5
53.2
Income tax benefit (provision)
$
0.2
$
(1.4) $
(1.8)
(189.7)
4.0
0.7
298.3
110.1
$
(0.1)
(3.8)
(113.4)
0.2
1.0
85.4
(30.7)
The effective tax rate (“ETR”) on income from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to the Company’s qualification for taxation as a REIT, as well as
adjustments for state and foreign items. As a REIT, the Company may deduct earnings distributed to stockholders against the
income generated by its REIT operations. In addition, the Company is able to offset certain income by utilizing its NOLs,
subject to specified limitations.
In 2019, there was an income tax law change in India that allows companies to elect into an optional concessional tax regime.
The new regime allows for a lower effective tax rate from approximately 35% to approximately 25% and no minimum
F-41
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
alternative tax, while disallowing the benefit of the minimum alternative tax credits. As a result, the Company recorded a tax
benefit of $113.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
In 2018, the income tax benefit was attributable to impairment charges and accelerated amortization on intangible assets taken
in India as well as a benefit of $85.7 million related to the restructuring of international operations in certain jurisdictions.
These benefits were partially offset by the receipt of the payment related to the Tata settlement.
In 2015, there was an income tax law change in Ghana that disallowed unused capital allowances to be carried into 2016, which
resulted in a charge to income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2015. In 2017, the Ghana Revenue Authority issued
Practice Note Number DT/2016/010 (the “Practice Note”), which clarified the Capital Allowance section of the Income Tax Act
of 2015. The Practice Note allowed for unused Capital Allowance from 2015 to be treated as a deduction in 2016. As a result,
the Company recorded a tax benefit of $17.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The December 2017 legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) significantly changed how
the U.S. taxes corporations. The Tax Act contained several key provisions including, among other things, a reduction in the
corporate income rate from 35% to 21% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. As a result of this change in tax rate,
the rate at which the Company’s deferred tax assets of the Company’s TRSs decreased, resulting in additional tax expense of
$2.4 million, which did not significantly impact the Company's effective tax rate.
Reconciliation between the U.S. statutory rate and the effective rate from continuing operations is as follows:
Statutory tax rate
Adjustment to reflect REIT status (1)
Foreign taxes
Foreign withholding taxes
Uncertain tax positions
Changes in tax laws
Impact from restructuring
Effective tax rate
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
21 %
(21)
3
3
1
(6)
(1)
(0)%
21 %
(21)
(8)
4
—
—
(6)
(10)%
35%
(35)
1
3
—
(2)
—
2%
_______________
(1) As a result of the ability to utilize the dividends paid deduction to offset the Company’s REIT income and gains.
The domestic and foreign components of income from continuing operations before income taxes are as follows:
United States
Foreign
Total
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
$
$
1,527.0
389.4
1,916.4
$
$
1,212.7
(58.1)
1,154.6
$
$
971.2
284.9
1,256.1
F-42
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
The components of the net deferred tax asset and liability and related valuation allowance were as follows:
Assets:
Operating lease liability
Net operating loss carryforwards
Accrued asset retirement obligations
Stock-based compensation
Unearned revenue
Unrealized loss on foreign currency
Other accruals and allowances
Items not currently deductible and other
Liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization
Right-of-use asset
Deferred rent
Other
Subtotal
Valuation allowance
Net deferred tax liabilities
December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
$
878.5
$
356.6
174.9
5.6
31.7
3.8
65.6
26.1
(1,040.3)
(865.1)
(79.7)
—
(442.3)
(194.2)
(636.5) $
$
—
264.9
165.7
6.3
28.3
12.9
78.6
26.2
(757.0)
—
(36.9)
(15.3)
(226.3)
(151.9)
(378.2)
The Company provides valuation allowances if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of
the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management assesses the available evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable
income will be generated to use the existing deferred tax assets.
At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company has provided a valuation allowance of $194.2 million and $151.9 million,
respectively, which primarily relates to foreign items. The increase in the valuation allowance for the year ending December 31,
2019 is due to uncertainty as to the timing of, and the Company’s ability to recover, net deferred tax assets in certain foreign
operations in the foreseeable future, offset by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The amount of deferred tax assets
considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if objective evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present
and additional weight may be given to subjective evidence such as the Company’s projections for growth.
A summary of the activity in the valuation allowance is as follows:
Balance as of January 1,
Additions (1)
Reversals
Foreign currency translation
Balance as of December 31,
_______________
(1) Includes net charges to expense and allowances established due to acquisition.
2019
2018
2017
$
151.9
$
142.0
$
42.5
—
(0.2)
194.2
$
15.7
—
(5.8)
151.9
$
$
144.4
11.6
(9.1)
(4.9)
142.0
The recoverability of the Company’s deferred tax assets has been assessed utilizing projections based on its current operations.
Accordingly, the recoverability of the deferred tax assets is not dependent on material asset sales or other non-routine
transactions. Based on its current outlook of future taxable income during the carryforward period, the Company believes that
deferred tax assets, other than those for which a valuation allowance has been recorded, will be realized.
Despite a mandatory one-time inclusion in U.S. taxable income of accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries under the Tax
Act for the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company intends to continue to reinvest foreign earnings indefinitely outside of
the U.S. and does not expect to incur any significant additional taxes, including withholding taxes, related to such amounts.
F-43
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
At December 31, 2019, the Company had net federal, state and foreign operating loss carryforwards available to reduce future
taxable income. If not utilized, the Company’s NOLs expire as follows:
Years ended December 31,
2020 to 2024
2025 to 2029
2030 to 2034
2035 to 2039
Indefinite carryforward
Total
Federal
State
Foreign
$
— $
222.3
$
141.6
7.0
3.6
22.8
285.7
41.4
159.5
—
$
175.0
$
708.9
$
11.9
104.8
19.6
—
853.8
990.1
As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the ETR, if recognized, is
$158.1 million and $93.7 million, respectively. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the year ended December 31, 2019
includes additions to the Company’s existing tax positions of $72.0 million, which includes $63.6 million related to the Eaton
Towers Acquisition.
The Company expects the unrecognized tax benefits to change over the next 12 months if certain tax matters ultimately settle
with the applicable taxing jurisdiction during this timeframe, or if the applicable statute of limitations lapses. The impact of the
amount of such changes to previously recorded uncertain tax positions could range from zero to $53.0 million.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits are as follows:
Balance at January 1
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
Additions and reductions for tax positions of prior years
Foreign currency
Reduction as a result of the lapse of statute of limitations
Reduction as a result of effective settlements
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
$
107.7
$
116.7
$
107.6
33.3
37.5
(1.6)
(1.3)
—
8.1
0.3
(8.1)
(2.6)
(6.7)
107.7
7.6
—
1.9
(0.4)
—
$
116.7
Balance at December 31
$
175.6
$
During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the statute of limitations on certain unrecognized tax benefits
lapsed and certain positions were effectively settled, which resulted in a decrease of $2.5 million, $9.3 million and $0.4 million,
respectively, in the liability for uncertain tax benefits.
The Company recorded penalties and tax-related interest expense to the tax provision of $10.3 million, $8.0 million and $5.0
million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. In addition, due to the expiration of the statute of
limitations in certain jurisdictions and certain positions that were effectively settled, the Company reduced its liability for
penalties and income tax-related interest expense related to uncertain tax positions during the years ended December 31, 2019,
2018 and 2017 by $2.7 million, $16.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the total amount of accrued income tax-related interest and penalties included in the
consolidated balance sheets were $26.6 million and $19.1 million, respectively.
The Company has filed for prior taxable years, and for its taxable year ended December 31, 2019 will file, numerous
consolidated and separate income tax returns, including U.S. federal and state tax returns and foreign tax returns. The Company
is subject to examination in the U.S. and various state and foreign jurisdictions for certain tax years. As a result of the
Company’s ability to carryforward federal, state and foreign NOLs, the applicable tax years generally remain open to
examination several years after the applicable loss carryforwards have been used or have expired. The Company regularly
assesses the likelihood of additional assessments in each of the tax jurisdictions resulting from these examinations. The
Company believes that adequate provisions have been made for income taxes for all periods through December 31, 2019.
F-44
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
14. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Plans—The Company maintains equity incentive plans that provide for the grant of
stock-based awards to its directors, officers and employees. The 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2007 Plan”),
provides for the grant of non-qualified and incentive stock options, as well as restricted stock units, restricted stock and other
stock-based awards. Exercise prices for non-qualified and incentive stock options are not less than the fair value of the
underlying common stock on the date of grant. Equity awards typically vest ratably, generally over four years for RSUs and
stock options and three years for PSUs. Stock options generally expire 10 years from the date of grant. As of December 31,
2019, the Company had the ability to grant stock-based awards with respect to an aggregate of 7.0 million shares of common
stock under the 2007 Plan. In addition, the Company maintains an employee stock purchase plan (the “ESPP”) pursuant to
which eligible employees may purchase shares of the Company’s common stock on the last day of each bi-annual offering
period at a 15% discount from the lower of the closing market value on the first or last day of such offering period. The offering
periods run from June 1 through November 30 and from December 1 through May 31 of each year.
t
During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded and capitalized the following stock-based
compensation expenses:
Stock-based compensation expense - Property
Stock-based compensation expense - Services
Stock-based compensation expense - SG&A
Total stock-based compensation expense
Stock-based compensation expense capitalized as property and equipment
2019
2018
2017
$
$
$
1.8
1.0
108.6
111.4
1.6
$
$
(cid:7)
2.4
0.9
134.2
137.5
(cid:21)(cid:17)(cid:19)
$
$
$
2.1
0.8
105.6
108.5
1.6
Stock Options—The fair value of each option granted during the period was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-
Scholes option pricing model based on the assumptions noted in the table below. The expected life of stock options (estimated
period of time outstanding) was estimated using the vesting term and historical exercise behavior of the Company’s employees.
The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield with a term that approximated the estimated life in effect at the
accounting measurement date. The expected volatility of the underlying stock price was based on historical volatility for a
period equal to the expected life of the stock options. The expected annual dividend yield was the Company’s best estimate of
expected future dividend yield.
There were no options granted during the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. Key assumptions used to
apply the Black-Scholes option pricing model were as follows (percentages and years disclosed in full amounts):
Range of risk-free interest rate
Weighted average risk-free interest rate
Range of expected life of stock options
Range of expected volatility of the underlying stock price
Weighted average expected volatility of underlying stock price
Range of expected annual dividend yield
2017
1.88% - 1.94%
1.89%
5.2 years
18.95% - 19.45%
19.05%
2.40%
The weighted average grant date fair value per share during the year ended December 31, 2017 was $16.84. The intrinsic value
of stock options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $145.5 million, $98.8 million and
$100.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock
options was $0.7 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of less than one year. The amount of
cash received from the exercise of stock options was $94.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2019.
F-45
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
The Company’s option activity for the year ended December 31, 2019 was as follows (share and per share data disclosed in full
amounts):
Outstanding as of January 1, 2019
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Expired
Outstanding as of December 31, 2019
Exercisable as of December 31, 2019
Vested or expected to vest as of December 31, 2019
Options
4,257,470
—
(1,190,017)
(7,211)
—
3,060,242
2,822,938
3,060,242
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
$84.03
—
79.15
94.71
—
$85.90
$85.09
$85.90
4.30
4.14
4.30
$440.4
$408.6
$440.4
The following table sets forth information regarding options outstanding at December 31, 2019 (share and per share data
disclosed in full amounts):
Options Outstanding
Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise
Price Per Share
$43.11 - $74.06
$76.90 - $77.75
$81.18 - $94.23
$94.57 - $94.71
$96.70 - $121.15
$43.11 - $121.15
Outstanding
Number of
Options
201,845
505,525
834,335
1,488,529
30,008
3,060,242
$
Weighted
Average Exercise
Price Per Share
58.21
$
76.91
81.58
94.62
111.31
85.90
Weighted Average
Remaining Life
(Years)
Options
Exercisable
1.87
2.98
3.94
5.23
6.52
4.30
201,845
$
505,525
834,335
1,262,051
19,182
2,822,938
$
Weighted
Average Exercise
Price Per Share
58.21
76.91
81.58
94.60
109.92
85.09
Restricted Stock Units and Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units—The Company’s RSU and PSU activity for the year
ended December 31, 2019 was as follows (share and per share data disclosed in full amounts):
Outstanding as of January 1, 2019 (1)
Granted (2)
Vested and Released (3)
Forfeited
Outstanding as of December 31, 2019
Expected to vest as of December 31, 2019
Vested and deferred as of December 31, 2019 (4)
RSUs
1,649,973
551,860
(671,598)
(75,885)
1,454,350
1,454,350
19,810
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value
PSUs
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value
$
$
$
$
121.23
185.41
114.49
140.81
147.67
147.67
124.03
624,511
$
243,077
(338,680)
—
528,908
528,908
$
$
— $
109.97
147.39
94.71
—
136.94
136.94
—
_______________
(1) PSUs consist of the target number of shares issuable at the end of the three-year performance period for the 2018 PSUs and the 2017 PSUs (each as
defined below), or 131,311 and 154,520 shares, respectively, and the shares issuable at the end of the three-year vesting period for the PSUs granted in
2016 (the “2016 PSUs”), based on achievement against the performance metrics for the three-year performance period, or 338,680 shares.
(2) PSUs represent the shares above target that are issuable for the 2017 PSUs at the end of the three-year performance cycle based on exceeding the
performance metric for the three-year performance period, or 128,254 shares, and the target number of shares issuable at the end of the three-year
performance period for the 2019 PSUs, or 114,823 shares.
(3) This includes 32,596 and 46,500 of previously vested and deferred RSUs and PSUs, respectively. PSUs consist of shares vested pursuant to the 2016
PSUs. There are no additional shares to be earned related to the 2016 PSUs.
(4) Vested and deferred RSUs are related to deferred compensation for certain former employees.
The total fair value of RSUs and PSUs that vested during the year ended December 31, 2019 was $185.3 million.
Restricted Stock Units—As of December 31, 2019, total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSUs granted
under the 2007 Plan was $120.4 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately
—
F-46
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
two years. Vesting of RSUs is subject generally to the employee’s continued employment or death, disability or qualified
retirement (each as defined in the applicable RSU award agreement).
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units—During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company’s
Compensation Committee granted an aggregate of 114,823 PSUs (the “2019 PSUs”), 131,311 PSUs (the “2018 PSUs”) and
154,520 PSUs (the “2017 PSUs”), respectively, to its executive officers and established the performance metrics for these
awards. Threshold, target and maximum parameters were established for the metrics for a three-year performance period with
respect to each of the 2019 PSUs, the 2018 PSUs and the 2017 PSUs and will be used to calculate the number of shares that
will be issuable when each award vests, 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 degree of achievement against the pre-established
performance goals. PSUs will be paid out in common stock at the end of each performance period, subject generally to the
executive’s continued employment or death, disability or qualified retirement (each as defined in the applicable PSU award
agreement). PSUs will accrue dividend equivalents prior to vesting, which will be paid out only in respect of shares that
actually vest.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $23.9 million in stock-based compensation expense for
equity awards in which the performance goals have been established and were probable of being achieved. The remaining
unrecognized compensation expense related to these awards at December 31, 2019 was $12.4 million based on the Company’s
current assessment of the probability of achieving the performance goals. The weighted-average period over which the cost will
be recognized is approximately two years.
15. REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
India Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests—On April 21, 2016, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, ATC Asia
Pacific Pte. Ltd., acquired a 51% controlling ownership interest in ATC TIPL (formerly Viom), a telecommunications
infrastructure company that owns and operates wireless communications towers and indoor DAS networks in India (the “Viom
Acquisition”), which was subsequently merged with the Company’s existing India property operations.
In connection with the Viom Acquisition, the Company, through one of its subsidiaries, entered into a shareholders agreement
(the “Shareholders Agreement”) with Viom and the following remaining Viom shareholders: Tata Sons Limited (“Tata Sons”),
Tata Teleservices, IDFC Private Equity Fund III (“IDFC”), Macquarie SBI Infrastructure Investments Pte Limited and SBI
Macquarie Infrastructure Trust (collectively, the “Remaining Shareholders”).
The Shareholders Agreement also provides the Remaining Shareholders with put options, which allow them to sell outstanding
shares of ATC TIPL to the Company, and the Company with call options, which allow it to buy the noncontrolling shares of
ATC TIPL. The put options, which are not under the Company’s control, cannot be separated from the noncontrolling interests.
As a result, the combination of the noncontrolling interests and the redemption feature requires classification as redeemable
noncontrolling interests in the consolidated balance sheet, separate from equity.
The noncontrolling interests become redeemable after the passage of time, and therefore, the Company records the carrying
amount of the noncontrolling interests outside of permanent equity at the greater of (i) the initial carrying amount, increased or
d
decreased for the noncontrolling interests’ share of net income or loss and foreign currency translation adjustments, or (ii) thet
estimated redemption value. If required, the Company will adjust the redeemable noncontrolling interests to the estimated
redemption value on each balance sheet date with changes in the estimated redemption value recognized as an adjustment to
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. The Company adjusts the estimated redemption value of the noncontrolling
interests based on the operating results of ATC TIPL and previously recorded adjustments to the estimated redemption value.
The put options may be exercised, requiring the Company to purchase the Remaining Shareholders’ equity interests, on
specified dates through March 31, 2021. The price of the put options will be based on the fair market value of the exercising
Remaining Shareholders’ interest in the Company’s India operations at the time the option is exercised. Put options held by
certain of the Remaining Shareholders are subject to a floor price of INR 216 per share.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company redeemed 50% of Tata Teleservices and Tata Sons’ combined holdings
of ATC TIPL and 100% of IDFC’s holdings of ATC TIPL, for a total consideration of INR 29.4 billion ($425.7 million at the
date of redemption). As a result of the redemption, the Company’s controlling interest in ATC TIPL increased from 63% to 79%
and the noncontrolling interest decreased from 37% to 21%.
F-47
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
In April 2019, Tata Teleservices and Tata Sons delivered notice of exercise of their put options with respect to 100% of their
remaining holdings in ATC TIPL. The Company expects to complete the redemption of the put shares, subject to regulatory
approval, for total consideration of INR 24.8 billion (approximately $347.6 million at the December 31, 2019 exchange rate) in
the first half of 2020. After the completion of the redemption, the Company will hold an approximately 92% ownership interest
in ATC TIPL.
Other Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests—During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company entered into an
agreement with MTN to acquire MTN’s noncontrolling interests in each of the Company’s joint ventures in Ghana and Uganda
for total consideration of approximately $523.0 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020, subject
b
to regulatory approval and other closing conditions. In addition, the Company, through a subsidiary of ATC Europe, entered
into an agreement with its local partners in France to form Eure-et-Loir Réseaux Mobiles SAS (“Eure-et-Loir”), a
telecommunications infrastructure company that owns and operates wireless communications towers in France. The Company’s
controlling interest in Eure-et-Loir is 51% with local partners holding a 49% noncontrolling interest. The agreement provides
the local partners with put options, which allow them to sell outstanding shares of Eure-et-Loir to the Company, and the
Company with call options, which allow it to buy the noncontrolling shares of Eure-et-Loir. The put options, which are not
under the Company’s control, cannot be separated from the noncontrolling interests. As a result, the combination of the
noncontrolling interests and the redemption feature requires classification as redeemable noncontrolling interests in the
consolidated balance sheet, separate from equity. The value of the Eure-et-Loir interests as of December 31, 2019 was $2.7
million.
The changes in Redeemable noncontrolling interests for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
Balance as of January 1,
$
1,004.8
$
1,126.2
$
1,091.3
Additions to redeemable noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
Adjustment to noncontrolling interest redemption value
Adjustment to noncontrolling interest due to merger
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest
Foreign currency translation adjustment attributable to
noncontrolling interests
Balance as of December 31,
525.7
35.8
(35.8)
—
(425.7)
—
(87.9)
86.7
(28.1)
—
—
(33.4)
—
—
—
(8.3)
1,096.5
$
(92.1)
1,004.8
$
68.3
1,126.2
$
16. EQUITY
Dividends—The Company may pay dividends in cash or, subject to certain limitations, in shares of common stock or any
combination of cash and shares of common stock.
Sales of Equity Securities—The Company receives proceeds from sales of its equity securities pursuant to the ESPP and upon
exercise of stock options granted under the 2007 Plan. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company received an
aggregate of $105.5 million in proceeds upon exercises of stock options and sales pursuant to the ESPP.
Stock Repurchase Programs—In March 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program,
pursuant to which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of its common stock (the “2011 Buyback”). In
December 2017, the Board of Directors approved an additional stock repurchase program, pursuant to which the Company is
authorized to repurchase up to $2.0 billion of its common stock (the “2017 Buyback” and, together with the 2011 Buyback, the
“Buyback Programs”).
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company repurchased 93,654 shares of its common stock under the 2011
Buyback for an aggregate of $19.6 million, including commissions and fees. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had
repurchased a total of 14,097,197 shares of its common stock under the 2011 Buyback for an aggregate of $1.4 billion,
including commissions and fees. There were no repurchases under the 2017 Buyback.
Under the Buyback Programs, the Company is authorized to purchase shares from time to time through open market purchases
or in privately negotiated transactions not to exceed market prices and subject to market conditions and other factors. With
F-48
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
respect to open market purchases, the Company may use plans adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange
Act in accordance with securities laws and other legal requirements, which allows the Company to repurchase shares during
periods when it may otherwise might be prevented from doing so under insider trading laws or because of self-imposed trading
blackout periods.
The Company expects to fund any further repurchases of its common stock through a combination of cash on hand, cash
generated by operations and borrowings under its credit facilities. Purchases under the Buyback Programs are subject to, among
other things, the Company having available cash to fund repurchases.
Distributions—During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company declared the following cash
distributions (per share data reflects actual amounts):
For the year ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
Common Stock
Series A Preferred Stock (1)
Series B Preferred Stock (2)
$
$
$
Distribution
per share
Aggregate
Payment
Amount
$ 1,672.8
—
3.78
— $
Distribution
per share
Aggregate
Payment
Amount
$ 1,389.8
—
3.15
— $
$
$
$
Aggregate
Payment
Amount
$ 1,122.5
15.8
$
Distribution
per share
2.62
2.63
$
$
$
— $
—
13.75
$
18.9
55.00
$
75.6
_______________
(1) 5.25% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), which converted into shares of the
Company’s common stock pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Designations governing the Series A Preferred Stock in 2017.
(2) 5.50% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), which converted into shares of the
Company’s common stock pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Designations governing the Series B Preferred Stock in 2018.
The following table characterizes the tax treatment of distributions declared per share of common stock and Mandatory
Convertible Preferred Stock.
Common Stock
Ordinary dividend
Capital gains distribution
Total
Series A Preferred Stock
Ordinary dividend
Capital gains distribution
Total
Series B Preferred Stock (3)
Ordinary dividend
Capital gains distribution
Total
For the year ended December 31,
2019
2018
2017
Per Share
%
Per Share
%
Per Share
%
$ 3.7800 (1)
100.00% $
3.1500
100.00% $
2.6200
100.00%
—
—
—
—
—
—
$ 3.7800
100.00% $
3.1500
100.00% $
2.6200
100.00%
$
$
$
$
—
—
—
—
—
—
—% $
—
—% $
—
—
—
—% $
—
3.3643 (2)
—
—% $
3.3643
100.00%
—
100.00%
—% $
2.1314 (4)
100.00% $
6.5233 (5)
100.00%
—
—
—
—
—
—% $
2.1314
100.00% $
6.5233
100.00%
_______________
(1)
Includes dividend declared on December 11, 2019 of $1.01 per share, which was paid on January 14, 2020 to common stockholders of record at the close
of business on December 27, 2019.
Includes a deemed distribution as a result of a conversion rate adjustment triggered on April 27, 2017.
(2)
(3) Represents the tax treatment on dividends per depositary share, each of which represents a 1/10th interest in a share of Series B Preferred Stock.
(4)
(5)
Includes a deemed distribution as a result of a conversion rate adjustment triggered on January 18, 2018.
Includes a deemed distribution as a result of a conversion rate adjustment triggered on April 12, 2017.
The Company accrues distributions on unvested restricted stock units, which are payable upon vesting. The amount accrued for
distributions payable related to unvested restricted stock units was $14.3 million and $13.7 million as of December 31, 2019
and 2018, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company paid $7.0 million of distributions payable
upon the vesting of restricted stock units. To maintain its qualification for taxation as a REIT, the Company expects to continuenn
F-49
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
paying distributions, the amount, timing and frequency of which will be determined and subject to adjustment by the
Company’s Board of Directors.
Dividend to noncontrolling interest— The Company’s joint ventures may, from time to time, declare dividends. During the year
ended December 31, 2019, ATC Europe declared a dividend of EUR 24.5 million (approximately $27.0 million) payable in cash
to the Company and PGGM in proportion to their respective equity interests in the joint venture. The dividend is payable on or
before June 30, 2020 and is accrued for as of December 31, 2019.
tt
17. OTHER OPERATING EXPENSE
Other operating expense consists primarily of impairment charges, net losses on sales or disposals of assets and other operating
expense items. The Company records impairment charges to write down certain assets to their net realizable value after an
indicator of impairment is identified and subsequent analysis determines that the asset is either partially recoverable or not
recoverable. These assets consisted primarily of towers and related assets, which are typically assessed on an individual basis,
network location intangibles, which relate directly to towers, and tenant-related intangibles, which are assessed on a tenant
basis. Net losses on sales or disposals of assets primarily relate to certain non-core towers, other assets and miscellaneous items.
Other operating expenses includes acquisition-related costs and integration costs.
Other operating expenses included the following for the years ended December 31,:
Impairment charges
Net losses on sales or disposals of assets
Other operating expenses
Total Other operating expenses
2019 (1)
2018
2017 (2)
$
$
94.2
45.1
27.0
$
394.0
$
85.6
33.7
166.3
$
513.3
$
_______________
(1) For the year ended December 31, 2019, Other operating expenses includes $13.1 million of refunds related to pre-acquisition contingencies and
settlements.
(2) For the year ended December 31, 2017, Other operating expenses included refunds of acquisition costs and a charitable contribution.
Impairment charges included the following for the years ended December 31,:
Tower and network location intangible assets
Tenant relationships
Other (3)
Total impairment charges
$
$
2019
2018 (1)
2017 (2)
77.4
$
284.9
$
—
16.8
94.2
107.3
1.8
$
394.0
$
211.4
32.8
11.8
256.0
108.7
100.1
2.6
211.4
_______________
(1) For the year ended December 31, 2018, impairment charges on tower and network location intangible assets included $258.3 million in India primarily
related to carrier consolidation-driven churn events. In addition, the Company fully impaired the tenant relationship for Aircel Ltd., which resulted in an
impairment charge of $107.3 million.
(2) During the year ended December 31, 2017, $81.0 million of impairment charges on tower and network location intangible assets and all impairment
charges on tenant relationships were related to carrier consolidation-driven churn in India.
(3) For the year ended December 31, 2019, amount includes impairment charges related to right-of-use assets and land easements.
F-50
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
18. EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
The following table sets forth basic and diluted net income per common share computational data for the years ended
December 31, (shares in thousands, except per share data):
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation stockholders
Dividends on preferred stock
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
Dilutive securities
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common
stockholders per common share
Diluted net income attributable to American Tower Corporation common
stockholders per common share
Shares Excluded From Dilutive Effect
2019
1,887.8
—
1,887.8
442,319
3,201
445,520
4.27
4.24
$
$
$
$
2018
1,236.4
(9.4)
1,227.0
439,606
3,354
442,960
2.79
2.77
$
$
$
$
2017
1,238.9
(87.4)
1,151.5
428,181
3,507
431,688
2.69
2.67
$
$
$
$
The following shares were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would be anti-
dilutive for the years ended December 31, (in thousands, on a weighted average basis):
Restricted stock awards
Stock options
Preferred stock
2019
2018
2017
2
—
—
—
—
3
4
1,456
14,040
19. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation—The Company periodically becomes involved in various claims, lawsuits and proceedings that are incidental to its
business. In the opinion of Company management, after consultation with counsel, there are no matters currently pending that
would, in the event of an adverse outcome, materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of
operations or liquidity.
Verizon Transaction—In March 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with various operating entities of Verizon
Communications Inc. (“Verizon”) that currently provides for the lease, sublease or management of approximately 11,250
wireless communications sites commencing March 27, 2015. The average term of the lease or sublease for all sites at the
inception of the agreement was approximately 28 years, assuming renewals or extensions of the underlying ground leases for
the sites. The Company has the option to purchase the leased sites in tranches, subject to the applicable lease, sublease or
management rights upon its scheduled expiration. Each tower is assigned to an annual tranche, ranging from 2034 to 2047,
which represents the outside expiration date for the sublease rights to the towers in that tranche. The purchase price for each
tranche is a fixed amount stated in the lease for such tranche plus the fair market value of certain alterations made to the related
towers. The aggregate purchase option price for the towers leased and subleased is approximately $5.0 billion. Verizon will
occupy the sites as a tenant for an initial term of ten years with eight optional successive five-year terms; each such term shall
be governed by standard master lease agreement terms established as a part of the transaction.
AT&T Transaction—The Company has an agreement with SBC Communications Inc., a predecessor entity to AT&T, that
currently provides for the lease or sublease of approximately 2,200 towers commencing between December 2000 and August
2004. Substantially all of the towers are part of the Trust Securitizations. The average term of the lease or sublease for all sites
at the inception of the agreement was approximately 27 years, assuming renewals or extensions of the underlying ground leases
for the sites. The Company has the option to purchase the sites subject to the applicable lease or sublease upon its expiration.
Each tower is assigned to an annual tranche, ranging from 2013 to 2032, which represents the outside expiration date for the
sublease rights to that tower. The purchase price for each site is a fixed amount stated in the lease for that site plus the fair
market value of certain alterations made to the related tower by AT&T. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has purchased
an aggregate of 228 of the subleased towers upon expiration of the applicable agreement, including 79 towers purchased during
F-51
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
the year ended December 31, 2019 for an aggregate purchase price of $40.2 million. The aggregate purchase option price for
the remaining towers leased and subleased is $937.8 million and will accrete at a rate of 10% per annum through the applicable
expiration of the lease or sublease of a site. For all such sites, AT&T has the right to continue to lease the reserved space
through June 30, 2020 at the then-current monthly fee, which shall escalate in accordance with the standard master lease
agreement for the remainder of AT&T’s tenancy. Thereafter, AT&T shall have the right to renew such lease for up to four
successive five-year terms.
ALLTEL Transaction—In December 2000, the Company entered into an agreement with ALLTEL Communications, LLC, a
predecessor entity to Verizon Wireless, to acquire towers through a 15-year sublease agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, as
amended, with Verizon Wireless, the Company acquired rights to approximately 1,800 towers in tranches between April 2001
and March 2002. The Company had the option to purchase each tower at the expiration of the applicable sublease. During the
year ended December 31, 2016, the Company exercised the purchase options for 1,523 towers in a single closing and provided
notice to the tower owner, Verizon’s assignee, of its intent to exercise the purchase options related to the remaining 243 towers.
On August 30, 2019, the Company purchased the remaining 243 towers for an aggregate purchase price of $43.0 million in cash
in lieu of shares of the Company’s common stock.
Other Contingencies—The Company is subject to income tax and other taxes in the geographic areas where it operates, and
periodically receives notifications of audits, assessments or other actions by taxing authorities. Taxing authorities may issue
notices or assessments while audits are being conducted. In certain jurisdictions, taxing authorities may issue assessments witht
minimal examination. These notices and assessments do not represent amounts that the Company is obligated to pay and are
often not reflective of the actual tax liability for which the Company will ultimately be liable. In the process of responding to
assessments of taxes that the Company believes are not enforceable, the Company avails itself of both administrative and
judicial remedies. The Company evaluates the circumstances of each notification or assessment based on the information
available and, in those instances in which the Company does not anticipate a successful defense of positions taken in its tax
filings, a liability is recorded in the appropriate amount based on the underlying assessment.
On December 5, 2016, the Company received an income tax assessment of Essar Telecom Infrastructure Private Limited
(“ETIPL”) from the India Income Tax Department (the “Tax Department”) for the fiscal year ending 2008 in the amount of
INR 4.75 billion ($69.8 million on the date of assessment) related to capital contributions. The Company challenged the
assessment before the Office of Commissioner of Income Tax - Appeals, which ruled in the Company’s favor in January 2018.
However, the Tax Department has appealed this ruling at a higher appellate authority. The Company estimates that there is a
more likely than not probability that the Company’s position will be sustained upon appeal. Accordingly, no liability has been
recorded. Additionally, the assessment was made with respect to transactions that took place in the tax year commencing in
2007, prior to the Company’s acquisition of ETIPL. Under the Company’s definitive acquisition agreement with ETIPL, the
seller is obligated to indemnify and defend the Company with respect to any tax-related liability that may arise from activities
prior to March 31, 2010.
Guaranties and Indemnifications—The Company enters into agreements from time to time in the ordinary course of business
pursuant to which it agrees to guarantee or indemnify third parties for certain claims. The Company has also entered into
purchase and sale agreements relating to the sale or acquisition of assets containing customary indemnification provisions. The
Company’s indemnification obligations under these agreements generally are limited solely to damages resulting from breaches
of representations and warranties or covenants under the applicable agreements. In addition, payments under such
indemnification clauses are generally conditioned on the other party making a claim that is subject to whatever defenses the
Company may have and are governed by dispute resolution procedures specified in the particular agreement. Further, the
Company’s obligations under these agreements may be limited in duration and amount, and in some instances, the Company
may have recourse against third parties for payments made by the Company. The Company has not historically made any
material payments under these agreements and, as of December 31, 2019, is not aware of any agreements that could result in a
material payment.
F-52
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
20. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Supplemental cash flow information and non-cash investing and financing activities are as follows for the years ended
December 31,:
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest
Cash paid for income taxes (net of refunds of $11.2, $25.0 and $20.7,
respectively)
$
750.2
$
789.7
$
712.1
147.5
163.9
136.5
2019
2018
2017
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses for purchases
of property and equipment and construction activities
Purchases of property and equipment under finance leases, perpetual
easements and capital leases
Fair value of debt assumed through acquisitions
Acquisition of Commercialization Rights (1)
Conversion of third-party debt to equity
Debt financed acquisition of communication sites
_______________
(1) Related to the note extinguishment with TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. in 2018.
21. BUSINESS SEGMENTS
(21.0)
81.3
329.8
—
—
—
8.3
57.8
—
24.8
—
54.2
34.0
54.8
—
—
48.2
—
The Company’s primary business is leasing space on multitenant communications sites to wireless service providers, radio and
television broadcast companies, wireless data providers, government agencies and municipalities and tenants in a number of
other industries. This business is referred to as the Company’s property operations.
During the fourth quarter of 2019, as a result of recent acquisitions, including the Eaton Towers Acquisition, and changes to its
organizational structure, the Company reviewed and changed its reportable segments to divide its EMEA property segment
into two segments: Africa property and Europe property. Prior to this revision, the Company operated in five business
segments: (i) U.S. property, (ii) Asia property (iii) EMEA property, (iv) Latin America property and (v) services. The change is
consistent with how the chief operating decision maker reviews financial performance and operating and business management
strategies for each of the six segments. The change in reportable segments had no impact on the Company’s consolidated
financial statements for any periods. Historical financial information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been
adjusted to reflect the change in reportable segments.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s property operations consisted of the following:
• U.S.: property operations in the United States;
• Asia: property operations in India;
• Africa: property operations in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda;
• Europe: property operations in France and Germany; and
• Latin America: property operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru.
The Company’s services segment offers tower-related services in the United States, including AZP and structural analysis,
which primarily support its site leasing business, including the addition of new tenants and equipment on its sites. The services
segment is a strategic business unit that offers different services from, and requires different resources, skill sets and marketing
strategies than, the property operating segments.
The accounting policies applied in compiling segment information below are similar to those described in note 1. Among other
factors, in evaluating financial performance in each business segment, management uses segment gross margin and segment
operating profit. The Company defines segment gross margin as segment revenue less segment operating expenses excluding
stock-based compensation expense recorded in costs of operations; Depreciation, amortization and accretion; Selling, general,
administrative and development expense; and Other operating expenses. The Company defines segment operating profit as
segment gross margin less Selling, general, administrative and development expense attributable to the segment, excluding
stock-based compensation expense and corporate expenses. For reporting purposes, for periods through September 30, 2018,
the Latin America property segment gross margin and segment operating profit also included Interest income (expense), TV
F-53
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
Azteca, net. These measures of segment gross margin and segment operating profit are also before Interest income, Interest
expense, Gain (loss) on retirement of long-term obligations, Other income (expense), Net income (loss) attributable to
noncontrolling interests and Income tax benefit (provision). The categories of expenses indicated above, such as depreciation,
have been excluded from segment operating performance as they are not considered in the review of information or the
evaluation of results by management. There are no significant revenues resulting from transactions between the Company’s
operating segments. All intercompany transactions are eliminated to reconcile segment results and assets to the consolidated
statements of operations and consolidated balance sheets.
Summarized financial information concerning the Company’s reportable segments for the years ended December 31, 2019,
2018 and 2017 is shown in the following tables. The “Other” column (i) represents amounts excluded from specific segments,
such as business development operations, stock-based compensation expense and corporate expenses included in Selling,
general, administrative and development expense; Other operating expenses; Interest income; Interest expense; Gain (loss) on
retirement of long-term obligations; and Other income (expense), and (ii) reconciles segment operating profit to Income from
continuing operations before income taxes.
Year ended
December 31, 2019
Segment revenues
Segment operating
expenses (1)
Segment gross margin
Segment selling,
general, administrative
and development
expense (1)
Segment operating
profit
Stock-based
compensation expense
Other selling, general,
administrative and
development expense
Depreciation,
amortization and
accretion
Other expense (2)
Income from
continuing operations
before income taxes
Capital expenditures
(3) (4)
Property
U.S.
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin
America
Total
Property
Services
Other
Total
$ 4,188.7
$ 1,217.0
$
583.9
$ 134.6
$ 1,340.7
$ 7,464.9
$
115.4
$ 7,580.3
807.9
3,380.8
715.9
501.1
209.0
374.9
27.8
106.8
411.3
929.4
2,171.9
5,293.0
42.1
73.3
2,214.0
5,366.3
175.5
99.9
53.7
23.2
101.0
453.3
12.0
465.3
$ 3,205.3
$ 401.2
$
321.2
$
83.6
$ 828.4
$ 4,839.7
$
61.3
$ 4,901.0
$
111.4
111.4
156.5
156.5
1,778.4
1,778.4
938.3
938.3
$ 1,916.4
$ 359.5
$ 134.5
$
258.5
$
13.2
$ 260.4
$ 1,026.1
$
— $
12.8
$ 1,038.9
_______________
(1) Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $2.8
million and $108.6 million, respectively.
(2) Primarily includes interest expense.
(3)
Includes $18.0 million of finance lease payments included in Repayments of notes payable, credit facilities, term loan, senior notes, secured debt and
finance leases in the cash flows from financing activities in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.
Includes $29.6 million of perpetual land easement payments reported in Deferred financing costs and other financing activities in the cash flows from
financing activities in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.
(4)
F-54
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
Property
U.S.
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin
America
Total
Property
Services
Other
Total
$ 3,822.1
$ 1,540.5
$
545.5
$ 141.8
$ 1,264.8
$ 7,314.7
$
125.4
$ 7,440.1
771.0
710.9
208.0
30.1
406.3
2,126.3
—
3,051.1
—
829.6
—
337.5
—
111.7
(0.1)
(0.1)
858.4
5,188.3
48.2
—
77.2
2,174.5
(0.1)
5,265.5
165.2
110.7
48.0
21.1
83.5
428.5
14.4
442.9
$ 2,885.9
$ 718.9
$
289.5
$
90.6
$ 774.9
$ 4,759.8
$
62.8
$ 4,822.6
$
137.5
137.5
156.1
156.1
2,110.8
1,263.6
2,110.8
1,263.6
$ 1,154.6
$ 376.9
$ 101.0
$
212.5
$
20.2
$ 220.7
$
931.3
$
— $
13.9
$
945.2
Year ended
December 31, 2018
Segment revenues (1)
Segment operating
expenses (2)
Interest expense, TV
Azteca, net
Segment gross margin
Segment selling,
general, administrative
and development
expense (2)
Segment operating
profit
Stock-based
compensation expense
Other selling, general,
administrative and
development expense
Depreciation,
amortization and
accretion
Other expense (3)
Income from
continuing operations
before income taxes
Capital expenditures
(4)
_______________
(1) Asia segment revenues include a net impact of $333.7 million as a result of the settlement payment received from Tata in the fourth quarter of 2018.
(2) Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $3.3
million and $134.2 million, respectively.
(3) Primarily includes interest expense and $394.0 million in impairment charges.
(4)
Includes $32.0 million of capital lease payments included in Repayments of notes payable, credit facilities, term loan, senior notes, secured debt and
capital leases in the cash flows from financing activities in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.
F-55
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
Property
U.S.
Asia
Africa
Europe
Latin
America
Total
Property
Services
Other
Total
$ 3,605.7
$ 1,164.4
$
503.6
$ 122.6
$ 1,169.6
$ 6,565.9
$
98.0
$ 6,663.9
746.5
649.0
212.9
—
2,859.2
—
515.4
—
290.7
25.4
—
97.2
386.1
2,019.9
10.8
794.3
10.8
4,556.8
33.8
—
64.2
2,053.7
10.8
4,621.0
151.4
82.4
47.3
20.6
77.5
379.2
13.7
392.9
$ 2,707.8
$ 433.0
$
243.4
$
76.6
$ 716.8
$ 4,177.6
$
50.5
$ 4,228.1
$
108.5
108.5
138.5
138.5
1,715.9
1,009.1
1,715.9
1,009.1
$ 1,256.1
$ 360.6
$ 118.0
$
124.1
$
17.6
$ 197.4
$
817.7
$
— $
17.7
$
835.4
Year ended
December 31, 2017
Segment revenues
Segment operating
expenses (1)
Interest income, TV
Azteca, net
Segment gross margin
Segment selling,
general, administrative
and development
expense (1)
Segment operating
profit
Stock-based
compensation expense
Other selling, general,
administrative and
development expense
Depreciation,
amortization and
accretion
Other expense (2)
Income from
continuing operations
before income taxes
Capital expenditures
(3)
_______________
(1) Segment operating expenses and segment selling, general, administrative and development expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $2.9
million and $105.6 million, respectively.
(2) Primarily includes interest expense.
(3)
Includes $31.8 million of capital lease payments included in Repayments of notes payable, credit facilities, term loan, senior notes, secured debt and
capital leases in the cash flows from financing activities in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.
Additional information relating to the total assets of the Company’s operating segments is as follows for the years ended
December 31,:
U.S. property
Asia property (2)
Africa property (2)
Europe property (2)
Latin America property (2)
Services
Other (3)
Total assets
2019 (1)
22,624.6
5,307.8
4,711.1
1,535.3
8,125.5
26.8
470.5
42,801.6
$
$
$
$
2018
18,782.0
4,938.8
1,929.7
1,438.1
5,594.7
46.3
280.8
33,010.4
$
$
2017
19,032.6
4,770.8
1,673.4
1,540.2
5,868.4
42.3
286.6
33,214.3
_______________
(1) Total assets in each of the Company’s property segments includes the Right-of-use asset recognized in connection with the Company’s adoption of the
new lease accounting standard.
(2) Balances are translated at the applicable period end exchange rate, which may impact comparability between periods.
(3) Balances include corporate assets such as cash and cash equivalents, certain tangible and intangible assets and income tax accounts that have not been
allocated to specific segments.
F-56
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
Summarized geographic information related to the Company’s operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019,
2018 and 2017 and long-lived assets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:
Operating Revenues:
United States
Asia (1):
India
Africa (1):
Burkina Faso (2)
Ghana
Kenya
Niger (2)
Nigeria
South Africa
Uganda
Europe (1):
France
Germany
Latin America (1):
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Mexico
Paraguay
Peru
2019
2018
2017
$
4,304.1
$
3,947.5
$
3,703.7
1,217.0
1,540.5
1,164.4
—
124.3
27.3
—
229.9
129.1
73.3
68.0
66.6
17.3
605.5
43.3
102.1
21.1
515.3
12.6
23.5
3,276.2
7,580.3
$
—
125.4
7.0
—
220.7
125.3
67.1
72.7
69.1
16.0
595.5
44.2
103.8
18.4
456.5
10.4
20.0
3,492.6
7,440.1
$
—
122.9
—
—
213.9
106.5
60.3
59.5
63.1
15.9
620.1
40.4
89.3
19.4
364.3
2.7
17.5
2,960.2
6,663.9
Total International
Total operating revenues
$
_______________
(1) Balances are translated at the applicable exchange rate, which may impact comparability between periods.
(2) The Company launched operations in Burkina Faso and Niger through the Eaton Towers Acquisition, which closed on December 31, 2019.
F-57
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
Long-Lived Assets (1):
United States
Asia (2):
India
Africa (2):
Burkina Faso
Ghana
Kenya
Niger
Nigeria
South Africa
Uganda
Europe (2):
France
Germany
Latin America (2):
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Mexico
Paraguay
Peru
Total International
Total long-lived assets
2019
2018
$
16,578.7
$
16,543.7
3,708.8
3,947.8
275.3
671.0
761.7
199.8
648.6
409.4
847.3
917.1
357.3
—
159.2
190.0
—
606.5
342.5
138.7
963.8
388.5
100.0
2,138.4
437.6
375.2
124.1
1,524.9
111.3
394.6
14,002.4
30,581.1
$
81.6
2,288.1
129.7
381.6
119.1
1,421.3
107.4
113.8
11,379.6
27,923.3
$
_______________
(1)
(2) Balances are translated at the applicable period end exchange rate, which may impact comparability between periods.
Includes Property and equipment, net, Goodwill and Other intangible assets, net.
The following tenants within the property and services segments individually accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s
consolidated operating revenues for the years ended December 31,:
AT&T
Verizon Wireless
T-Mobile
2019
2018
2017
22%
15%
10%
19%
15%
9%
19%
16%
9%
22. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company had no significant related party transactions.
F-58
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
23. SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
Selected quarterly financial data for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows (in millions, except per share
data):
Three Months Ended
March 31,
June 30,
September 30,
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
$
1,813.4
$
1,889.6
$
1,953.6
$
1,923.7
$
2019:
Operating revenues
Costs of operations (1)
Operating income
Net income
Net income attributable to American Tower
Corporation stockholders
Net income attributable to American Tower
Corporation common stockholders
Basic net income per share attributable to
American Tower Corporation common
stockholders
Diluted net income per share attributable to
American Tower Corporation common
stockholders
2018:
Operating revenues
Costs of operations (1)
Operating income
Net income
Net income attributable to American Tower
Corporation stockholders
Dividends on preferred stock
Net income attributable to American Tower
Corporation common stockholders
Basic net income per share attributable to
American Tower Corporation common
stockholders
Diluted net income per share attributable to
American Tower Corporation common
stockholders
543.4
614.9
407.6
397.4
397.4
0.90
0.89
563.3
683.9
434.3
429.1
429.1
0.97
0.96
559.9
728.3
505.3
498.6
498.6
1.13
1.12
519.9
402.9
280.3
285.2
(9.4)
275.8
0.63
0.63
560.3
546.0
314.4
306.7
—
306.7
0.69
0.69
556.7
567.2
377.3
366.9
—
366.9
0.83
0.83
550.2
661.3
569.4
7,580.3
2,216.8
2,688.4
1,916.6
562.7
1,887.8
562.7
1,887.8
1.27
1.26
4.27
4.24
540.9
388.9
292.7
277.6
—
7,440.1
2,177.8
1,905.0
1,264.7
1,236.4
(9.4)
277.6
1,227.0
0.63
0.62
2.79
2.77
Three Months Ended
March 31,
June 30,
September 30,
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
$
1,741.8
$
1,780.9
$
1,785.5
$
2,131.9
$
______________
(1) Represents Operating expenses, exclusive of Depreciation, amortization and accretion, Selling, general, administrative and development expense, and
Other operating expenses.
24. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
2.400% Senior Notes and 2.900% Senior Notes Offering—On January 10, 2020, the Company completed a registered public
offering of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.400% senior unsecured notes due 2025 and $750.0 million
aggregate principal amount of 2.900% senior unsecured notes due 2030. The net proceeds from this offering were
approximately $1,483.4 million, after deducting commissions and estimated expenses. The Company used the net proceeds to
repay existing indebtedness under the 2019 Credit Facility.
gg
Repayment of 5.900% Senior Notes—On January 15, 2020, the Company redeemed all of the $500.0 million aggregate
principal amount of 5.900% senior unsecured notes due 2021 (the “5.900% Notes”) at a price equal to 106.7090% of the
F-59
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in millions, unless otherwise disclosed)
principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding January 15, 2020, for an aggregate redemption price of
approximately $539.6 million, including $6.1 million in accrued and unpaid interest. The Company recorded a loss on
retirement of long-term obligations of $34.6 million, which includes prepayment consideration of $33.5 million and the
associated unamortized discount and deferred financing costs. The redemption was funded with borrowings under the 2019
Credit Facility and cash on hand. Upon completion of the repayment, none of the 5.900% Notes remained outstanding.
2020 Term Loan—On February 13, 2020, the Company entered into a $750.0 million unsecured term loan (the “2020 Term
Loan”), the net proceeds of which were used, together with borrowings under the 2019 Credit Facility and cash on hand, to
repay all outstanding indebtedness under the 2019 364-Day Term Loan. The 2020 Term Loan matures on February 12, 2021.
The Company has the option of choosing either a defined base rate or LIBOR as the applicable base rate for borrowings under
the 2020 Term Loan. The interest rate on the 2020 Term Loan is 0.65% above LIBOR for LIBOR based borrowings or
0.00% above the defined base rate for base rate borrowings. Any outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest will be
due and payable in full at maturity. The 2020 Term Loan does not require amortization of principal and may be paid prior to
maturity in whole or in part at the Company’s option without penalty or premium.
The agreement for the 2020 Term Loan contains certain reporting, information, financial and operating covenants and other
restrictions (including limitations on additional debt, guaranties, sales of assets and liens) with which the Company must
comply. Any failure to comply with the financial and operating covenants of the loan agreement may constitute a default, which
could result in, among other things, the amounts outstanding, including all accrued interest and unpaid fees, becoming
immediately due and payable.
F-60
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE III—SCHEDULE OF REAL ESTATE
AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
(dollars in millions)
Description
Encumbrances
Cost
capitalized
subsequent to
acquisition
Gross amount
carried at
close of
current
period
Accumulated
depreciation
at close of
current
period
Initial cost
to company
Date of
construction
Date
acquired
Life on which
depreciation in
latest income
statements is
computed
177,746 Sites (1)
$
2,736.5 (2)
(3)
(3)
$
17,429.3 (4)
$
(6,382.2)
Various
Various
Up to 20 years
_______________
(1) No single site exceeds 5% of the total amounts indicated in the table above.
(2) Certain assets secure debt of $2.7 billion.
(3) The Company has omitted this information, as it would be impracticable to compile such information on a site-by-site basis.
(4) Does not include those sites under construction.
Gross amount at beginning
Additions during period:
Acquisitions
Discretionary capital projects (1)
Discretionary ground lease purchases (2)
Redevelopment capital expenditures (3)
Capital improvements (4)
Start-up capital expenditures (5)
Other (6)
Total additions
Deductions during period:
Cost of real estate sold or disposed
Other (7)
Total deductions:
Balance at end
Gross amount of accumulated depreciation at beginning
Additions during period:
Depreciation
Other
Total additions
Deductions during period:
Amount of accumulated depreciation for assets sold or disposed
Other (7)
Total deductions
Balance at end
2019
15,960.1
$
2018
15,349.0
$
2017
14,277.0
$
887.0
258.1
189.8
213.6
161.2
71.3
45.2
1,826.2
(304.6)
(52.4)
(357.0)
17,429.3
2019
(5,724.7)
(768.4)
—
(768.4)
121.4
(10.5)
110.9
(6,382.2)
$
$
$
721.4
173.5
180.4
177.3
94.0
113.1
(3.0)
1,456.7
(395.7)
(449.9)
(845.6)
15,960.1
2018
(5,181.2)
(751.4)
—
(751.4)
129.3
78.6
207.9
(5,724.7)
$
$
$
499.7
120.7
150.4
138.8
65.6
158.1
106.4
1,239.7
(246.5)
78.8
(167.7)
15,349.0
2017
(4,548.1)
(718.7)
—
(718.7)
100.7
(15.1)
85.6
(5,181.2)
$
$
$
_______________
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Includes amounts incurred primarily for the construction of new sites.
Includes amounts incurred to purchase or otherwise secure the land under communications sites.
Includes amounts incurred to increase the capacity of existing sites, which results in new incremental tenant revenue.
Includes amounts incurred to enhance existing sites by adding additional functionality, capacity or general asset improvements.
Includes amounts incurred in connection with acquisitions or new market launches. Start-up capital expenditures includes non-recurring expenditures
contemplated in acquisitions, new market launch business cases or initial deployment of new technologies or innovation solutions that lead to an increase in site-
level cash flow generation.
(6) Primarily includes regional improvements and other additions.
(7) Primarily includes foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and other deductions.
F-61
American Tower Corporation • 2019 Annual Report
Appendix 1 • Letter to Stakeholders
DEFINITIONS, RECONCILIATIONS TO MEASURES UNDER GAAP AND CALCULATION OF DEFINED MEASURES
Adjusted EBITDA
Net income before income (loss) from equity method investments, income tax benefit (provision), other income (expense), gain (loss) on retirement of
long-term obligations, interest expense, interest income, other operating income (expense), depreciation, amortization and accretion and stock-based
compensation expense. The Company believes this measure provides valuable insight into the profitability of its operations while at the same time taking
into account the central overhead expenses required to manage its global operations. In addition, it is a widely used performance measure across the
telecommunications real estate sector.
Adjusted EBITDA Margin
The percentage that results from dividing Adjusted EBITDA by total revenue.
Nareit Funds From Operations (FFO), as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit), attributable to
American Tower Corporation common stockholders
Net income before gains or losses from the sale or disposal of real estate, real estate related impairment charges, real estate related depreciation,
amortization and accretion and dividends on preferred stock, and including adjustments for (i) unconsolidated affiliates and (ii) noncontrolling interests.
The Company believes this measure provides valuable insight into the operating performance of its property assets by excluding the charges described
above, particularly depreciation expenses, given the high initial, up-front capital intensity of the Company’s operating model. In addition, it is a widely
used performance measure across the telecommunications real estate sector.
Consolidated Adjusted Funds From Operations (AFFO)
Nareit FFO attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders before (i) straight-line revenue and expense, (ii) stock-based compensation
expense, (iii) the deferred portion of income tax, (iv) non-real estate related depreciation, amortization and accretion, (v) amortization of deferred
financing costs, capitalized interest, debt discounts and premiums and long-term deferred interest charges, (vi) other income (expense), (vii) gain (loss) on
retirement of long-term obligations, (viii) other operating income (expense), and adjustments for (ix) unconsolidated affiliates and (x) noncontrolling
interests, less cash payments related to capital improvements and cash payments related to corporate capital expenditures. The Company believes this
measure provides valuable insight into the operating performance of its property assets by further adjusting the Nareit FFO attributable to
American Tower Corporation common stockholders metric to exclude the factors outlined above, which if unadjusted, may cause material fluctuations in
Nareit FFO attributable to American Tower Corporation common stockholders growth from period to period that would not be representative of the
underlying performance of our property assets in those periods. In addition, it is a widely used performance measure across the telecommunications real
estate sector.
Consolidated AFFO per Share
Consolidated AFFO divided by the diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.
Net Debt
Total long-term debt, including current portion and finance lease liabilities, less cash and cash equivalents.
Net Leverage Ratio
Net Debt divided by the quarter’s annualized Adjusted EBITDA (the quarter’s Adjusted EBITDA multiplied by four). The Company believes that including
this calculation is important for investors and analysts given it is a critical component underlying its credit agency ratings.
NOI Yield
The percentage that results from dividing gross margin by total investment.
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)
Adjusted EBITDA less maintenance capital expenditures and corporate capital expenditures and cash taxes, divided by gross property, plant and
equipment, intangible assets and goodwill (excluding the impact of recording deferred tax adjustments related to valuation).
Tenant Billings
The majority of the Company’s revenue is generated from non-cancellable, long-term tenant leases. Revenue from Tenant Billings reflects several key
aspects of the Company’s real estate business: (i) “colocations/amendments” reflects new tenant leases for space on existing sites and amendments
to existing leases to add additional tenant equipment; (ii) “escalations” reflects contractual increases in billing rates, which are typically tied to fixed
percentages or a variable percentage based on a consumer price index; (iii) “cancellations” reflects the impact of tenant lease terminations or
non-renewals or, in limited circumstances, when the lease rates on existing leases are reduced; and (iv) “new sites” reflects the impact of new property
construction and acquisitions.
Organic Tenant Billings
Tenant Billings on sites that the Company has owned since the beginning of the prior-year period, as well as Tenant Billings activity on new sites that
occurred after the date of their addition to the Company’s portfolio.
Organic Tenant Billings Growth
The portion of Tenant Billings Growth attributable to Organic Tenant Billings. The Company believes that organic growth is a useful measure of its ability
to add tenancy and incremental revenue to its assets for the reported period, which enables investors and analysts to gain additional insight into the
relative attractiveness, and therefore the value, of the Company’s property assets.
American Tower Corporation • 2019 Annual Report
Appendix 1 • Letter to Stakeholders
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA TO NET INCOME ($ in millions. Totals may not add due to rounding.)
2015
Net Income
Income tax provision (benefit)
Other expense (income)
Loss (gain) on retirement of long-term obligations
Interest expense
Interest income
Other operating expenses
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
Stock-based compensation expense
ADJUSTED EBITDA
Divided by total revenue
ADJUSTED EBITDA MARGIN
2015
$672
158
135
80
596
(17)
67
1,285
91
$3,067
$4,772
64%
2016
$970
156
48
(1)
717
(26)
73
1,526
90
$3,553
$5,786
61%
2017
$1,225
31
(31)
70
750
(35)
256
1,716
109
$4,090
$6,664
61%
20181
$1,265
(110)
(24)
3
826
(55)
513
2,111
138
$4,667
$7,440
63%
2019
$1,917
(0)
(18)
22
814
(47)
166
1,778
111
$4,745
$7,580
63%
AFFO RECONCILIATION ($ in millions, except per share data. Totals may not add due to rounding.)
2015
Adjusted EBITDA
Straight-line revenue
Straight-line expense
Cash interest2
Interest income
Cash paid for income taxes3
Dividends on preferred stock
Dividends to noncontrolling interest holders
Capital improvement Capex
Corporate Capex
Consolidated AFFO
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests
AFFO Attributable to Common Stockholders
Divided by weighted average diluted shares outstanding
Consolidated AFFO per Share
AFFO Attributable to Common Stockholders per Share
2015
2016
2017
$3,067
$3,553
$4,090
20181
$4,667
2019
$4,745
(155)
56
(573)
16
(64)
(90)
–
(90)
(16)
(132)
68
(694)
26
(96)
(107)
–
(110)
(16)
$2,150
$2,490
($34)
($90)
$2,116
$2,400
423.0
$5.08
$5.00
429.3
$5.80
$5.59
(194)
62
(723)
35
(137)
(87)
(13)
(114)
(17)
$2,902
($147)
$2,755
431.7
$6.72
$6.38
(88)
58
(807)
55
(164)
(9)
(14)
(150)
(9)
$3,539
($349)
$3,191
443.0
$7.99
$7.20
(184)
44
(800)
47
(147)
–
(13)
(160)
(11)
$3,521
($79)
$3,442
445.5
$7.90
$7.73
1 Includes one-time net positive impacts to 2018 Adjusted EBITDA and Consolidated AFFO related to the Company's settlement with Tata in Q4 2018.
2 In Q2 2019, the Company made a cumulative interest payment of approximately $14.2 million associated with the purchase of the shareholder loan
held by its joint venture partner in Ghana. This interest was previously expensed but excluded from Consolidated AFFO.
3 Excludes one-time GTP cash tax charge incurred during the third quarter of 2015.
American Tower Corporation • 2019 Annual Report
Appendix 1 • Letter to Stakeholders
RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (ROIC) RECONCILIATION1 ($ in millions. Totals may not add due to rounding.)
2015
Adjusted EBITDA
Cash Taxes
Maintenance Capex
Corporate Capex
Numerator
Gross PPE
Gross Intangibles
Gross Goodwill6
Denominator
ROIC
20152
$3,206
(107)
(124)
(26)
20163
$3,743
(98)
(159)
(27)
20174
$4,149
(137)
(115)
(17)
20184,5
$4,725
(172)
(150)
(9)
20194
$4,917
(168)
(160)
(11)
$2,948
$3,459
$3,880
$4,394
$4,579
$14,397
$15,652
$16,950
$17,717
$19,326
12,671
4,240
14,795
4,510
16,183
4,879
16,323
4,797
18,474
5,492
$31,308
$34,957
$38,012
$38,837
$43,292
9.4%
9.9%
10.2%
11.3%
10.6%
1 Historical denominator balances reflect purchase accounting adjustments.
2 Represents Q4 2015 annualized numbers to account for full year impact of Verizon Transaction.
3 Represents Q4 2016 annualized numbers to account for full year impact of Viom Transaction.
4 Adjusted to annualize impacts of acquisitions closed throughout the year.
5 Positively impacted by the Company's settlement with Tata in Q4 2018.
6 Excludes the impact of deferred tax adjustments related to valuation.
Corporate Profile
Founded in 1995, American Tower is one of the largest global
real estate investment trusts (REITs) and a leading independent
owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications
real estate. Our primary business is the leasing of space on
communications sites to wireless service providers, radio
and television broadcast companies, wireless data providers,
government agencies and municipalities and tenants in a
number of other industries. In addition, we offer tower-related
services in the United States, including site acquisition, zoning
and permitting and structural analysis, which primarily support
our site leasing business, including the addition of new tenants
and equipment on our sites.
Our portfolio consists of towers we own and towers we
operate pursuant to long-term lease arrangements, as well as
Distributed Antenna System (DAS) networks, which provide
seamless coverage solutions in certain in-building and outdoor
AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION
Executive Management Team
Thomas A. Bartlett
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Edmund DiSanto
Executive Vice President, Chief
Administrative Officer, General
Counsel and Secretary
Olivier Puech
Executive Vice President
and President, Latin America
and EMEA
Amit Sharma
Executive Vice President and
President, Asia
Rodney M. Smith
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
Steven O. Vondran
Executive Vice President
and President, U.S. Tower
Division
wireless environments. In addition to the communications sites
Directors
in our portfolio, we manage rooftop and tower sites for property
owners under various contractual arrangements. We also hold
other telecommunications infrastructure, fiber and property
interests that we lease primarily to communications service
providers and third-party tower operators. Our communications
real estate portfolio of approximately 180,000 communications
sites includes nearly 41,000 sites in the United States, nearly
75,000 sites in Asia, over 18,000 sites in Africa, more than
4,700 sites in Europe and nearly 41,000 sites in Latin America.
(From left to right) James D. Taiclet, executive Chairman – American Tower Corporation; Raymond P. Dolan, Chairman and
CEO – Cohere Technologies, Inc.; Robert D. Hormats, Managing Director – Tiedemann Advisors; Gustavo Lara Cantu,
Former CEO – Monsanto Company, Latin America North Division; Grace D. Lieblein, Former VP, Global Quality – General
Motors; Craig Macnab, Former Chairman and CEO – National Retail Properties, Inc.
(From left to right) JoAnn A. Reed, Former CFO – Medco Health Solutions, Inc.; Pamela D.A. Reeve, Former President
and CEO – Lightbridge, Inc.; David E. Sharbutt, Former Chairman and CEO – Alamosa Holdings, Inc.; Bruce L. Tanner,
Former EVP and CFO – Lockheed Martin Corporation; Samme L. Thompson, President – Telit Associates, Inc.
Certifications
The certifications by the
Company’s CEO and CFO
required under Section 302 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 have been filed as
exhibits to the Company’s
2019 Annual Report on Form
10-K. The Annual CEO
Certification pursuant to New
York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
Corporate Governance
Standards Section 303A.12(a)
was submitted to the NYSE on
June 17, 2019.
Non-Incorporation
The Company’s Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31,
2019, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange
Commission, is included within
this Annual Report. Other than
the 2019 Form 10-K, all other
portions of this Annual Report
are not “filed” with the
Securities and Exchange
Commission and should not be
deemed so.
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of
stockholders will be held on
Monday, May 18, 2020 and is
scheduled to commence at
11:00 a.m., Eastern Time.
Stockholders may attend the
annual meeting virtually
through a live audio webcast at:
www.virtualshareholdermeet-
ing.com/AMT2020
There will be no physical
location for the meeting.
Corporate Headquarters
116 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
Registrar and Stock
Transfer Agent
Computershare
Common Stock
The Company’s Common Stock
is traded on the NYSE under
the symbol AMT.
Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
116 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
T: 617-375-7500
F: 617-375-7575
americantower.com
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