Quarterlytics / Communication Services / Rental & Leasing Services / Mobile Mini, Inc.

Mobile Mini, Inc.

mini · NASDAQ Communication Services
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Ticker mini
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Communication Services
Industry Rental & Leasing Services
Employees 1001-5000
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FY2003 Annual Report · Mobile Mini, Inc.
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041065a  5/11/04  7:28 AM  Page 1

7402 South Kyrene Road
Suite 101
Tempe, Arizona 85283
Phone: 480-894-6311
www.mobilemini.com

2003 Annual Report

THE STORAGE AND OFFICE SOLUTIONS SPECIALISTS

041065a  5/11/04  7:28 AM  Page 2

Branches Coast to Coast 
■ Branch Location
■
■ Manufacturing Plant
■
• Corporate Headquarters
•

Corporate Profile 

Mobile  Mini,  Inc.  is  North  America’s  leading  provider  of  portable  storage  solutions  through  its  total  fleet  of  over  91,000
portable  storage  units  and  portable  offices.    Through  a  Company-owned  network  of  47  branches  located  in  27  states  and  one
Canadian province, the Company implements a replicable operating strategy of leasing secure, high quality portable storage con-
tainers and office units, to offer a diversified product line and to deliver excellent customer service.

Mobile Mini’s ongoing success in deploying this strategy stems from the Company’s consistent attention to a number of key
operational drivers. These include expanding and strengthening its infrastructure; adding new or adapting existing products that
solve customers’ storage problems, marketing, retaining dedicated employees and promoting from within.

Since its founding in 1983, Mobile Mini’s diligent focus on these initiatives has driven the Company’s expansion from one location to a net-
work of 47 locations with nearly 300 commissioned sales people and more than 1,400 total employees. At the same time, this strategic focus
has enabled the Company to build a solid financial foundation and positioned Mobile Mini, Inc. to continue its pattern of profitable growth.

Portable

Storage 

Solutions

EARNINGS PER SHARE
(diluted)

$1.38(3)(4)

OPERATING INCOME
($in millions)

$44.1(3) $44.9 (1)

$1.34

$40.6

$1.21(1)(2)

REVENUES
($in millions)

$133.1

$146.6

$114.7

01

02

03

01

02

03

01

02

03

Margin Analysis

EBITDA

Operating Income

Net Income

2003 (1)

% of total 
revenues

38.2

30.7
11.9 (2)

2002 (3)

% of total 
revenues

2001

% of total
revenues

40.2

33.1

14.9

42.6

35.3

16.3

1 Pro forma financial information for 2003 excludes Florida litigation expense of approximately $ 5.2 million, net of income tax benefit of 

$3.3 million. 

2 Net income for 2003 excludes debt restructuring expense of approximately $6.4 million, net of income tax benefit of $4.0 million.
3 Net income for 2002 excludes debt restructuring expense of approximately $0.8 million, net of income tax benefit of $0.5 million.
4 Before extraordinary item.

CORPORATE INFORMATION
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Steven G. Bunger

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Lawrence Trachtenberg

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Carolyn A. Clawson

President – SkilQuest, Inc.
A sales and management support company

Thomas R. Graunke

CEO and President – KnowledgeNet
A business e-learning company

Ronald J. Marusiak

Division President – Micro-Tronics, Inc.
A precision machining and tool & die company

Stephen A McConnell

President – Solano Ventures
A private capital investment company

Michael L. Watts

Chairman and CEO – Sunstate Equipment Company, LLC
A construction equipment rental company

CORPORATE OFFICERS

Kyle G. Blackwell

Senior Vice President 

Russell C. Lemley

Senior Vice President 

Ronald E. Marshall

Senior Vice President 

Michael J. Bunger

Vice President – Operations

Aric T. Clawson

Vice President – Manufacturing

Deborah K.  Keeley

Vice President – Controller

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Investor Relations
The Equity Group
800 Third Avenue, 36th Floor
NY, NY 10022-7604
Telephone: 212-371-8660
Fax: 212-421-1278

Transfer Agent and Registrar
Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Shareowner Services
161 N. Concord Exchange St.
South St. Paul, MN 55075-1139

Independent Public Auditors
Ernst & Young LLP
Two North Central Avenue, Suite 2300
Phoenix, Arizona 85004-2347

Independent Counsel
Bryan Cave LLP
Two North Central Avenue
22nd Floor 
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4406

Corporate Office
7420 South Kyrene Road, Suite 101
Tempe, AZ 85283-4578
Telephone: 480-894-6311
Fax: 480-894-6433

Recent press releases, quarterly reports and additional
information about Mobile Mini, Inc. can be obtained
by visiting our World Wide Web site at:
www.mobilemini.com

041065b  4/29/04  15:30  Page 2

Message to Our Fellow Shareholders

2003 was a highly productive year at Mobile Mini.  As you will

read, the recession, while it slowed our growth rate, did not stop our
progress.  Because of our people and our business model, combined
with our commitment to customer service and product differentia-
tion,  we  fared  far  better  than  our  competitors,  whose  dependence
upon construction customers and short-term holiday business made
them particularly vulnerable to the economic vagaries of the past two
years.    Writing  this  letter  several  months  into  2004,  we  are  seeing
early signs of stronger business conditions.  The measures taken over
the past several years, in terms of fortifying our financial structure,
creating a national branch network, deploying system-wide produc-
tivity-enhancing technology, and offering the best and broadest line
of portable storage and mobile offices, have positioned Mobile Mini
for at least 7% internal growth in 2004, and possibly better if the
economy does its part.

2003 marked our 20th year in the business of providing storage
solutions.  But it was in 1996 that Mobile Mini began its transfor-
mation into a customer service-driven marketing enterprise focused
on leasing storage solutions through Company-owned and managed
branches, and since 1996 we have increased:

While we did experience a lower average rental rate in the fourth
quarter,  on  an  annualized  basis,  our  average  rental  rates  in  2002
approximated those of 2001.  The lower average rental rate we expe-
rienced in the final quarter of the year reflected a number of factors,
most notably the impact of our purchase of storage container assets
from Transport International Pool (TIP), a unit of GE Capital.  This
acquisition was large in size and the lease fleet which we acquired,
while  of  high  quality,  was  concentrated  in  the  eastern  states  where
prevailing  rental  rates  are  lower  than  rates  that  we  traditionally
achieve.  The drag on rental rates was magnified by the exceptional
growth at the new branches that we acquired or opened in the east-
ern states in conjunction with the purchase of TIP storage container
assets.    Exclusive  of  these  factors,  our  average  rental  rate  was
unchanged at branches that we have operated for more than one year.

Financial Highlights 2003 versus 2002 

■ Total revenues rose 10.1% to $146.6 million from $133.1 million; 

■ Lease  revenues  rose  10.6%  to  $128.5  million  and  constituted
87.7% of total revenues, up from $116.2 million and 87.3% of
2002 total revenues;

■ Branch  locations  from  8  in  3  states  to  47  in  27  states  and  one

■ Internal growth in leasing revenues was 7.4% nearly the same as

Canadian province;  

the 7.5% rate in 2002;

■ Our total lease fleet from 13,600 units to 89,500 units, for a com-

■ Pro forma operating income was up 1.9% to $44.9 million from

pound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of 30.9%; 

$44.1 million; 

■ Total revenues from $42.4 million to $146.6 million, for a CAGR

■ Pro forma net income was $17.5 million compared to $19.8 million;

of 19.4%;  

■ Pro  forma  earnings  per  diluted  share  were  $1.21  versus  $1.38;

■ Leasing  revenues  from  $17.9  million  to  $128.5  million,  for  a

and,

CAGR of 32.5%;

■ Adjusted EBITDA2 rose 4.6% to $56.0 million from $53.6 million.

■ Lease revenues as a percent of the total revenues from under 50%

in 1996 to just under 88% in 2003; and,

2003 Operating Highlights 

■ Proforma1 operating income from $5.4 million to $44.9 million,

for a CAGR of 35.2%.

As  this  summary  of  our  financial  performance  in  2003  shows,
leasing and sales revenue rose at a faster rate than profits.  Rising
insurance  costs,  property  taxes  and  licensing  fees  depressed  the
growth  rate  in  pro  forma  operating  profits,  which  along  with
increased interest expense, reduced 2003 pro forma net income and
earnings per share compared to 2002. 

■ The number of customers served by Mobile Mini reached approx-
imately 67,400 compared to 62,000 in 2002, a gain of 8.7%;

■ Our  lease  fleet  at  year-end  was  approximately  89,500  units,  up

from 83,600 units at the start of the year; 

■ With the addition of a new branch in Portland, Oregon, there are

now 47 Mobile Mini locations; 

Solutions for all
your storage needs

1

041065b  4/29/04  15:30  Page 3

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
($ in millions)

$178.7

$189.3

$161.7

LEASE FLEET UNITS
(in thousands at end of year)

LEASE REVENUE GROWTH
(from prior year)

83.6

89.5

31.0%

70.1

16.5%

10.6%

01

02

03

01

02

03

01

02

03

■ A comprehensive refinancing was undertaken in June, comprised
of the sale of $150 million of 9 1/2% senior notes due 2013.  At the
same  time,  we  obtained  an  amendment  of  our  $250  million
revolving credit facility, giving us better terms, longer duration and
far greater financial flexibility. 

Business Overview

The tempered business environment that pervaded most of 2002
continued  throughout  2003.    At  Mobile  Mini,  it  was  a  year  of
retrenching and strengthening our market position at existing loca-
tions  rather  than  geographic  expansion.    Having  added  11  new
branches  in  2002,  new  markets  were  low  on  our  priority  list  for
2003.  We did, however, add Portland, Oregon to our branch net-
work in October through the purchase of a lease fleet of high quali-
ty  ISO  containers.    The  addition  of  Portland  gave  us  West  Coast
branch coverage from Seattle to San Diego. 

Slower growth continued in older markets, due primarily to the
depressed state of non-residential construction.  In addition, at those
branches  in  close  proximity  to  military  installations,  demand  for
portable  storage  containers  and  mobile  offices  subsided  as  troops,
equipment and supplies were deployed to the war in Iraq.  

Our  average  utilization  rate  was  down  slightly  for  the  year  to
78.7%  from  79.1%  in  2002.  Yield  had  been  depressed  through
much of the year as many locations in the Class of 2002 were on the
East Coast, where rental rates were lower than our branch average.
However, by the fourth quarter, yield began to improve.  Our ability
to grow and operate profitable branches, and our overall endurance
during this lengthy period of economic malaise, is a testament to the
strength and scalability of our business model.  

Year Branch 
Established

After Tax Return on
Invested Capital
(NOPLAT)

Operating Margin % 
(after corporate allocation)

Pro Forma (1) (2)

12 months ended Dec. 31

Pro Forma (1)
12 months ended Dec. 31

2003

14.8%

14.9%

6.2%

9.0%

7.2%

6.1%

11.2%

All branches

Pre-1998

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

All branches

2

2003

38.1%

40.4%

19.3%

27.7%

20.5%

16.6%

30.7%

The Mobile Mini Business Model

Mobile Mini’s business model entails substantial fixed costs at all
of our locations.  The key to growing operating margins and operat-
ing profits is expanding containers and offices on lease at our branch-
es, both new and older ones.  Newer branches add containers on lease
at a far more rapid pace than older branches, making them the accel-
erant for lease revenue and earnings growth as they mature.  During
their first year as Mobile Mini branches, new locations have histori-
cally achieved strong organic growth and reached breakeven.  After
their first year, the new branches are profitable, but nowhere near as
profitable  as  our  larger  and  more  mature  branches.    In  2003,  for
example, the average pro forma operating margin at branches estab-
lished in 1998 was 40.4% compared with 5.5% for those established
in 2002.

Our  core  portable  storage  business  produces  particularly  com-

pelling economic characteristics, including:

■ Predictable, recurring revenues from leases, with an average lease

duration of approximately 25 months;

■ Average monthly lease rates that recoup our current unit invest-

ment within an average of 34 months;

■ Long useful lives exceeding 25 years, low maintenance and high

residual values;

■ Rental  rates  that  are  generally  not  effected  by  the  age  of  the

portable storage unit; and,

■ 73%  EBITDA  margins  and  approximately  58%  pretax  margins

on incremental leasing revenue.

Since 1998, Mobile Mini has devoted much time and resources to
entry  into  new  markets.    Although  2003  was  not  such  a  year,  it
bears repeating that our branch expansion formula has never been
a  rollup  or  consolidation  strategy.    For  the  most  part,  we  enter  a
new market by purchasing a lease fleet that is currently generating
revenues so as to forego the expenses of a start-up. Once we enter
a new market, we move quickly to enlarge the fleet inventory with
our  differentiated  products,  launch  an  aggressive  advertising  and
direct marketing campaign, staff the branch with seasoned Mobile
Mini  personnel  and  integrate  our  customized  management  infor-
mation  systems  designed  to  optimize  branch  productivity.    This
strategy  appears  to  be  working;  of  the  39  branches  added  since
1998, not a single location has been closed.

1 Pro forma financial information for 2003 excludes Florida litigation expense of approximately

$5.2 million, net of income tax benefit of $3.3 million. 

2 Net income for 2003 excludes debt restructuring expense of approximately $6.4 million,

net of income tax benefit of $4.0 million.

041065b  4/29/04  15:31  Page 4

Mobile Mini is the nation’s 
leading provider 
of portable 
storage solutions.

About Our Customers

Our customers include, but are not limited to, all kinds and sizes
of  retailers,  construction  companies,  medical  centers,  schools  and
universities,  utilities,  distributors,  the  U.S.  military,  hotels,  restau-
rants,  entertainment  complexes,  and  consumers,  some  67,400  all
told in 2003.  In 2003, 62.6% of our customers rented a single unit;
our  largest  and  our  second-largest  customers  accounted  for  4.9%
and 0.5% of our leasing revenues, respectively; and our 20 largest
customers represented 7.4% of total leasing revenues.  We feel diver-
sity, both in terms of geographic coverage and types and numbers of
customers, is a hugely favorable business dynamic.    

The Winning Combination: 
Product Differentiation and Customer Service   

Product  differentiation  is  a  critical  competitive  advantage  for  us
and the reason why we can and do stay on the sidelines when our
competitors battle for commodity-driven, low margin, price sensitive
storage business.  The composition of our lease fleet, which has over
100 different types of units, may be best characterized as mass cus-
tomization.  Most often, our customers use our units for storage of
inventory,  raw  materials,  records  and  documents,  and  all  types  of
equipment.  Our steel and wooden offices are commonly used as first
aid, guard/security, sales and job site offices.

Having  our  own  manufacturing  and  refurbishment  capabilities
enables us to provide a storage solution for just about every appli-
cation and budget.  While we build 10-foot wide units in Maricopa,
Arizona,  most  of  our  portable  storage  and  steel  office  lease  fleet
were once 40-foot ocean-going containers that meet the standards
of  the  International  Organization  of  Standards  (ISO)  that  were
decommissioned  after  about  eight  to  twelve  years  of  service.    We
overhaul ISO containers, splitting them into 5-, 10-, 15-, 20- or 25-
foot  lengths,  removing  rust  and  dents,  and  repairing  or  replacing
floors and sidewalls.  Once painted and signed with our name and
logo,  the  units  are  made  secure  with  our  patented  locking  system
and easy opening doors.  So that our branches are ready and able to
serve  just  about  any  customer  need,  the  units  may  be  fitted  with
doors  on  both  ends,  doors  on  the  sides,  fully  adjustable  shelving,
windows and partitions, electrical outlets, lights and plumbing, car-
pet or tiled floors, phone jacks, as well as air conditioning and heat-
ing.  We also do our own fleet maintenance and repair, which gen-
erally  entails  a  coat  of  paint,  rust  removal,  and  hammering  out
dents.  There are no “model years” for portable storage containers
and even I, who have been with Mobile Mini most of my life, can-
not distinguish between a new and old unit by sight.

Wood mobile offices, introduced to our product mix in 2000, now
comprise approximately 4% of our lease fleet.  Our all-steel ground
mounted security offices represent 9% of our lease fleet. Mobile offices
are  offered  with  restrooms,  carpet,  French  doors,  exterior  stairs  or
ramps, awnings, and skirting.  Wood mobile offices, which are pur-
chased from third parties, are attractive, functional and a growing part
of our lease fleet and lease revenue.  This addition helps make Mobile
Mini the single source for storage and office units.

With breadth of product offered at Mobile Mini, it takes knowl-
edgeable sales people to help customers identify the correct solution
for their need and budget.  That is why we are sticklers for contin-
ued training and branch monitoring.  Customer service means fast
delivery,  which  is  generally  accomplished  within  24  hours,  more
often than not using our own fleet of trucks.

Financial Flexibility Paves the Way for Higher Operating Margins 

In  June  2003,  we  completed  a  series  of  simultaneous  financial
transactions  that  strengthened  the  financial  backbone  of  our
Company.  In the short run, the comprehensive refinancing reduced
earnings per share by approximately $0.12 in 2003 through higher
interest  costs.  The  benefit  is  that  our  new  capital  structure  gives
Mobile  Mini  the  framework  on  which  we  can  pursue  accelerated
long-term growth and profitability.  One of these transactions was the
sale of $150 million of 91/2% senior notes due 2013.   The second was
the amendment of our $250 million revolving credit facility, which
now  runs  through  February  2008,  one  year  longer  than  our  prior
agreement.  But the agreement now permits us to operate at higher
levels  of  leverage  and,  as  of  the  closing  of  the  transactions,  we
enhanced  our  borrowing  capacity  by  $65  million  under  the  most
restrictive covenant of our loan agreement.

3

periods and are far less subject to project starts and stops as com-
pared to holiday retail and construction industry customers.  

While we never want to be reliant on the construction industry,
those customers can make a big difference in our lease fleet utiliza-
tion  and  incremental  margins.    We  therefore  welcome  the  long-
awaited improvement in the construction side of our business, which
we also began to see during the first quarter of 2004.  While we are
not  pegging  our  expectations  on  a  turnaround  in  construction,  it
could, if continued, have a dramatic impact on our margins as con-
tainers on lease grow.  To repeat a point made earlier, as we add con-
tainer leasing revenues to existing branches, we enjoy 73% EBITDA
margins and 58% pretax margins on incremental leasing revenues.  

We are confident in our ability to deliver an annualized internal
growth rate of at least 7% for 2004.  With no improvement in yield,
we  estimate  EBITDA  for  2004  in  the  $61  million  to  $62  million
range and diluted earnings per share between $1.20 to $1.25.  These
2004  results  do  not  include  any  change  in  accounting  for  stock
options. 

Depending  upon  market  conditions  and  opportunity,  we  would
consider entering between two and four new markets in 2004.  Now
that we are a national company, the urgency to open new locations
has given way to optimizing our 47 existing branches.

In closing, a special thanks goes to each of the 1,455 members of
our staff.  They have worked especially hard and have done an excel-
lent job ensuring Mobile Mini’s position as the undisputed leader in
the portable storage industry.  We also appreciate the support and
confidence of our shareholders, our noteholders and our commercial
lenders.

Sincerely yours,  

Steven G. Bunger
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer

041065b  4/29/04  15:30  Page 1

By tapping the high yield debt market and increasing capital avail-
ability at a time when interest rates were at historically low levels, we
now have the capital structure that will allow us to leverage the infra-
structure in place at all our locations and support a vastly higher level
of containers on lease and replicating the operating income expan-
sion we have experienced at our older branches at our newer ones.  

When  we  closed  the  year,  our  debt-to-book  capitalization  was
approximately  56%,  which  is  low  for  leasing  companies.    Share-
holders’ equity at year-end was $189.3 million, up 6% from $178.7
million,  one  year  earlier.    Cash  flow  from  operations  was  $43.1
million,  compared  to  $45.4  million  in  2002.    While  our  current
capital structure will support our 2004 published guidance of a 7%
internal  growth  rate  in  revenues,  it  is  our  duty  to  be  prepared
should a heartier economic picture unfold, which we see early indi-
cations may be happening.  That is why in 2003 we placed a high
priority  on  ensuring  access  to  funds  at  the  best  possible  terms
before they were needed.

For the continuity of this letter, (for which we provide a table, cal-
culating our pro forma information) it bears noting that major com-
ponents differentiating pro forma versus actual results were the one-
time (after-tax) charge of approximately $6.4 million related to the
refinancing of the credit agreement and termination of certain inter-
est rate swap agreements and an after tax charge of approximately
$5.2 million related to the litigation discussed below.

Legal Proceedings Completed

To make a long, painful and costly story short, in September 2002
Mobile Mini was ordered by a Florida jury to pay $7.2 million in
damages for interfering with a contract between Nuko Holdings and
A-1 Trailer Rental in connection with our purchase of A-1 Trailer
Rental’s  container  storage  rental  business  in  Florida  in  2000.    We
appealed the verdict but we did not prevail.  We continue to believe
the jury’s verdict was wrong and unsupported by the evidence, and
we would not have fought so hard and for so long if there were an
inkling that any aspect of our 2000 acquisition agreement was the
least bit awry.  Be that as it may, Mobile Mini took a fourth quarter
charge of approximately $8.2 million for the judgment, interest and
legal fees.  As is discussed above, much of the reconciliation between
pro forma and GAAP financial measures relates to this fourth quar-
ter charge.  The only good thing to say about this experience is that
it is over.

Outlook and Plans for 2004  

There  were  some  favorable  indicators  in  our  Q4’03  financial
results, namely the first upturn in comparative quarter yield since the
second quarter of 2002 and the reversal of the decline in the internal
growth rate that pervaded the first three quarters of ’03.  Without
calling it a trend, the signs of business improvement are continuing
into 2004.  In the first three months of 2004, internal growth in units
on lease was running considerably ahead of the same period in 2003
and was accelerating throughout the quarter.  The most encourag-
ing  indicator  is  that  our  core,  non-construction,  commercial,
industrial and institutional business has begun to show marked
progress. These customers typically rent containers for longer

4

Footnotes to Shareholders’ Letter

1 We define “pro-forma” as operating results excluding non-operating charges.  The non-operating charges that we exclude consist
of items such as expenses associated with material litigation and debt restructuring expense, where these expenses are presented as
separate line items on our statement of income for the relevant period.  The table below sets forth our calculation from GAAP to
Pro forma for fiscal years ended 2002 and 2003. 

Income from operations

Florida litigation expense

Pro forma operating income

2002

$ 42,773,656

1,320,054

$ 44,093,710

2003

$ 36,429,837

8,501,679

$ 44,931,516 

Net income 

Florida litigation expense, net of tax

Debt restructuring expense, net of tax

$ 18,239,056

$ 5,912,323

805,233 

792,781

5,186,024

6,368,611

Pro forma net income

$ 19,837,070 

$ 17,466,958

We include a reconciliation of our pro forma results and our actual results in our press releases announcing our operating results.
The reconciliation of our fiscal 2003 and 2002 results is set forth in our current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on February 24, 2004, which is available on our Internet website at http://www.mobilemini.com.

2 EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and debt restructuring expense.
In comparing EBITDA from year to year, we typically ignore the effect of what we consider non-recurring events not related to our
core business operations to arrive at adjusted EBITDA.  The only non-recurring events reflected in the adjusted EBITDA over the
last several years has been the effect in 2002 and 2003 of our Florida litigation expenses and the effect in 1996 of a restructuring
charge for winding down our modular sales division.  We present a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA in Item 6, “Selected
Financial Data” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.  That Form 10-K is included else-
where herein.

5

(This page intentionally left blank) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 
Form 10-K 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE 
ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. 

Commission File Number 1-12804 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) 

Delaware 
(State or other jurisdiction of 
incorporation or organization) 

86-0748362 
(IRS Employer Identification No.) 

7420 S. Kyrene Road, Suite 101 
Tempe, Arizona 85283 
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) 

(480) 894-6311 
(Registrant’s Telephone Number) 

Securities Registered Under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: 

Title of Class 
Common Stock, $.01 par value 
Preferred Share Purchase Rights 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered 
NASDAQ National Market 

Indicate by checkmark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), 
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No __ 

Indicate by checkmark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not 
be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III 
of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. 

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act) Yes 

 No 

The aggregate market value on June 30, 2003 of the voting stock owned by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately  
$223.7 million.  

As of March 5, 2004, there were outstanding 14,352,903 shares of the issuer’s common stock, par value $.01. 

Documents incorporated by reference:  Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are 
incorporated herein by reference in Item 5 of Part II and in Part III of this Form 10-K to the extent stated herein.  Certain Exhibits are 
incorporated in Item 15 of this Report by reference to other reports and registration statements of the Registrant which have been filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Exhibit Index is at page 65. 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MOBILE MINI, INC. 
2003 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PART I 

Item 1 
Item 2 
Item 3 
Item 4 

Description of Business 
Description of Property 
Legal Proceedings 
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 
Executive Officer of the Company 

PART II 

Item 5  Market for Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters 
Item 6 
Item 7  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 

Selected Financial Data 

Operations 

Item 7A  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 
Item 8 
Item 9 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial 
Disclosure 
Item 9A  Controls and Procedures 

PART III 

Item 10  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 
Item 11 
Item 12 
Item 13  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 
Item 14 

Executive Compensation 
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services 

Item 15 

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K 

PART IV 

1 

Page 

2 
19 
19 
19 

20 
21 

23 
36 
F-1 

64 
64 

64 
64 
64 
65 
65 

65 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART I 

ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS.   

Founded in 1983, we believe we are the nation's largest provider of portable storage solutions through our lease fleet of approximately 
89,500 portable storage and portable office units at December 31, 2003.  We base this belief on the review of public filings by our 
largest  competitors.    We  offer  a  wide  range  of  portable  storage  products  in  varying  lengths  and  widths  with  an  assortment  of 
differentiated  features  such  as  our  proprietary  security  systems,  multiple  doors,  electrical  wiring  and  shelving.    At  December  31, 
2003,  we  operated  through  a  network  of  47  branches  located  in  27  states  and  one  Canadian  province.    Our  portable  units  provide 
secure,  accessible  temporary  storage  for  a  diversified  client  base  of  approximately  67,400  customers,  including  large  and  small 
retailers, construction companies, medical centers, schools, utilities, distributors, the U.S. military, hotels, restaurants, entertainment 
complexes  and  households.    Our  customers  use  our  products  for  a  wide  variety  of  storage  applications,  including  retail  and 
manufacturing  inventory,  construction  materials  and  equipment,  documents  and  records  and  household  goods.    Based  on  an 
independent market study, we believe our customers are engaged in a vast majority of the industries identified in the four-digit SIC 
(Standard Industrial Classification) manual published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 
2003, we generated revenues of $146.6 million. 

Since 1996, we have followed a strategy of focusing on leasing rather than selling our portable storage units. We believe this leasing 
model is highly attractive because the vast majority of our fleet consists of steel portable storage units which: 

• 
• 
• 
• 

provide predictable, recurring revenues from leases with an average duration of approximately 25 months; 
have average monthly lease rates that recoup our current unit investment within an average of 34 months; 
have long useful lives exceeding 20 years, low maintenance and high residual values; and 
produce incremental leasing operating margins of over 60%. 

Since 1996, we have increased our total lease fleet, by approximately 76,000 units, for a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 
30.9%.  As  a  result  of  our  focus  on  leasing,  we  have  achieved  substantial  increases  in  our  revenues  and  profitability.    Our  annual 
revenues have increased from $42.4 million in 1996 to $146.6 million in 2003, representing a CAGR of 19.4%.  In addition to our 
leasing  operations,  we  sell  new  and  used  portable  storage  units  and  provide  delivery,  installation  and  other  ancillary  products  and 
services. 

Our fleet is primarily comprised of refurbished and customized steel portable storage containers, which were built according to the 
standards  developed  by  the  International  Organization  for  Standardization  ("ISO"), and other steel containers that we manufacture.  
We refurbish and customize our purchased ISO containers by adding our proprietary locking and easy opening door systems.  These 
assets are characterized by low risk of obsolescence, extreme durability, long useful lives and a history of high value retention.  We 
maintain  our  steel  containers  on  a  regular  basis.    This  maintenance  consists  primarily  of  repainting  units  every  two  to  three  years, 
essentially  keeping  them  in  the  same  condition  as  when  they  entered  our  fleet.    Repair  and  maintenance  expense  for  our  fleet  has 
averaged 2.0% of lease revenues over the past three fiscal years and is expensed as incurred.  We believe our historical experience 
with leasing rates and sales prices for these assets demonstrates their high value retention.  We are able to lease our portable storage 
containers  at  similar  rates,  without  regard  to  the  age  of  the  container.    In  addition,  we  have  sold  units  from  our  lease  fleet  at  an 
average of 145% of original cost from 1997 to 2003.  Appraisals are conducted on a regular basis on our containers, and the appraiser 
does not differentiate in value based upon the age of the container or the length of time it has been in our fleet.  Our most recent fair 
market value appraisal, conducted in January 2002, appraised our fleet at a value in excess of net book value.  An orderly liquidation 
value appraisal on which our borrowings under our revolving credit facility are based, was performed in March 2003, and the value 
was determined to be $314.1 million, which equates to 82.4% of the lease fleet's net book value, at December 31, 2003. 

Industry Overview 

The storage industry includes two principal segments, fixed self-storage and portable storage.  The fixed self-storage segment consists 
of  permanent  structures  located  away  from  customer  locations  used  primarily  by  consumers  to  temporarily  store  excess  household 
goods.  We do not participate in the fixed self-storage segment. 

The portable storage segment, in which our business operates, differs from the fixed self-storage segment in that it brings the storage 
solution to the customer's location and addresses the need for secure, temporary storage with immediate access.  The advantages of 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
portable storage include convenience, immediate accessibility, better security and lower price.  In contrast to fixed self-storage, the 
portable storage segment is primarily used by businesses.  This segment of the storage industry is highly fragmented and remains local 
in nature with only a few national participants.  Historically, portable storage solutions included containers, trailers and roll-off units.  
We believe portable storage containers are achieving increased market share from other options because of an increasing awareness of 
the advantages portable storage provides and growing availability of portable storage products to meet the needs of a diverse range of 
customers.  Portable storage containers provide ground level access, higher security and improved aesthetics compared with portable 
storage  alternatives  such  as  trailer  storage  solutions.    Although  there  are  no  published  estimates  of  the  size  of  the  portable  storage 
segment, we believe the size of the segment is expanding due to increasing awareness of the advantages of portable storage. 

Our  products  also  serve  the  mobile  office  industry.    This  industry  provides  mobile  offices  and  other  modular  structures  and  is 
estimated to exceed $2.5 billion in revenue annually.  We offer combined storage/office and mobile offices in varying lengths and 
widths, with lease terms averaging approximately 22 months. 

We  also  offer  portable  record  storage  units  and  many  of  our  regular  storage  units  are  used  for  document  and  record  storage.    The 
documents  and  records  storage  industry  is  experiencing  significant  growth  as  businesses  continue  to  generate  substantial  paper 
records that must be kept for extended periods. 

Our goal is to continue to be the leading national provider of portable storage solutions.  We believe our competitive strengths and 
business strategy will enable us to achieve this goal. 

Competitive Strengths 

Our competitive strengths include the following:  

Market Leadership.  We maintain a total fleet of both units held for lease and for sale of over 91,000 units at December 31, 2003, and 
are the largest provider of portable storage solutions in a majority of our markets.  We believe we are creating brand awareness and 
the name "Mobile Mini" is associated with high quality portable storage products, superior customer service and value-added storage 
solutions.    We  have  achieved  significant  growth  in  new  and  existing  markets  by  capturing  market  share  from  competitors  and  by 
creating  demand  among  businesses  and  consumers  who  were  previously  unaware  of  the  availability  of  our  products  to  meet  their 
storage needs. 

Superior,  Differentiated  Products.    We  offer  the  industry's  broadest  range  of  portable  storage  products,  with  many  customized 
features that differentiate our products from those of our competition.  We design and manufacture our own portable storage units in 
addition to restoring and modifying used ocean-going containers.  These capabilities allow us to offer a wide range of products and 
proprietary features to better meet our customers' needs, charge premium lease rates and gain market share from our competitors, who 
offer more limited product selections.  Our portable storage units vary in size from five to 48 feet in length and eight to 10 feet in 
width.  The 10-foot wide units we manufacture provide 40% more usable storage space than the standard eight-foot-wide ocean-going 
containers offered by our competitors.  The vast majority of our products have a proprietary locking system and multiple door options.  
In addition, we offer portable storage units with electrical wiring, shelving and other customized features. 

Geographic and Customer Diversification.  From our 47 branches which are located in 27 states and one Canadian province, in 2003 
we  served  approximately  67,400  customers  from  a  wide  range  of  industries.    Our  customers  include  large  and  small  retailers, 
construction companies, medical centers, schools, utilities, distributors, the U.S. military, hotels, restaurants, entertainment complexes 
and households.  Our diverse customer base demonstrates the broad applications for our products and our opportunity to create future 
demand  through  targeted  marketing.    In  2003,  our  largest  and  our  second-largest  customers  accounted  for  4.9  %  and  0.5%  of  our 
leasing  revenues,  respectively.    Our  twenty  largest  customers  accounted  for  approximately  7.4%  of  our  leasing  revenues.    During 
2003,  approximately  62.6%  of  our  customers  rented  a  single  unit.    We  believe  this  diversity  also  reduces  our  susceptibility  to 
economic downturns in our markets or in any of the industries in which our customers operate.  The fact that our business continued 
to  grow  during  the  economic  downturn  of  2002  and  2003,  although  at  a  slower  than  historic  pace,  demonstrates  some  measure  of 
resilience against recession in our business model. 

Customer Service Focus.  We believe the portable storage industry is particularly service intensive and essentially local.  Our entire 
organization is focused on providing high levels of customer service, and our salespeople work out of our branch locations to better 
understand local market needs.  We have trained our sales force to focus on all aspects of customer service from the sales call onward.  
We  differentiate  ourselves  by  providing  flexible  lease  terms,  security,  convenience,  product  quality,  broad  product  selection  and 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
availability, and competitive lease rates.  We conduct on-going training programs for our sales force to assure high levels of customer 
service and awareness of local market competitive conditions.  Our customized management information systems also increase our 
responsiveness  to  customer  inquiries  and  enable  us  to  efficiently  monitor  our  sales  force's  performance.    Due  to  our  orientation 
towards customer service, 53.1% of our 2003 leasing revenues were derived from repeat customers. 

Sales  and  Marketing  Emphasis.    We  target  a  diverse  customer  base  and,  unlike  most  of  our  competitors,  we  have  developed 
sophisticated  sales  and  marketing  programs  enabling  us  to  expand  market  awareness  of  our  products  and  generate  strong  internal 
growth.  We have almost 300 dedicated commissioned salespeople.  Our salespeople are instrumental in leasing our storage products 
to approximately 67,400 customers.  We assist our salespeople by providing them with our highly customized contact management 
system  and  intensive  sales  training  programs.    We  monitor  our  salespersons'  effectiveness  through  our  extensive  sales  monitoring 
programs.    Yellow  page  and  direct  mail  advertising  are  integral  parts  of  our  sales  and  marketing  approach.  In  2003,  our  total 
advertising  costs  were  $6.9  million,  and  we  mailed  over  approximately  8.7  million  product  brochures  to  existing  and  prospective 
customers.  Our 2003 total advertising expenses were approximately $1.7 million greater than our 2001 total advertising expenses, 
and approximately $0.7 million greater than our 2002 expenses. 

Customized Management Information Systems.  We have made substantial investments in our management information systems that 
enable  us  to  optimize  fleet  utilization,  capture  detailed  customer  data,  improve  financial  performance  and  support  our  growth  by 
projecting  near-term  capital  needs.    Our  management  information  systems  allow  us to carefully monitor, on a daily basis, the size, 
mix,  utilization  and  lease  rates  of  our  lease  fleet  by  branch.    Our  systems  also  capture  relevant  customer  demographic  and  usage 
information,  which  we  use  to  target  new  customers  within  our  existing  and  new  markets.    Our  headquarters  and  each  branch  are 
linked  through  a  scaleable  PC-based  wide  area  network  that  provides  real-time  transaction  processing  and  detailed  reports  on  a 
branch-by-branch basis.  We intend to invest further in upgrading our management information systems in 2004 and 2005. 

Business Strategy 

Our business strategy consists of the following:  

Focus on Core Portable Storage Leasing Business.  We focus on growing our core leasing business because it provides predictable, 
recurring  revenue  and  high  margins.    We  believe  there  is  substantial  demand  for  our  portable  storage  units  throughout  the  United 
States. Our leasing revenues have grown from $17.9 million in 1996 to $128.5 million in 2003, reflecting a CAGR of 32.5%.   

Generate Strong Internal Growth.  We focus on increasing the number of portable storage units we lease from our existing branches 
to  both  new  and  repeat  customers.    Historically,  we  have  been  able  to  generate  strong  internal  growth  within  our  existing  markets 
through  sophisticated  sales  and  marketing  programs  aimed  to  increase  brand  recognition,  expand  market  awareness  of  the  uses  of 
portable storage and differentiate our superior products from our competitors.  Our internal growth rate for fiscal years 2000 and 2001 
was 22.3% and 22.2%, respectively.  During the economic slowdown in fiscal 2002, our internal growth rate was 7.5% and remained 
steady  at  7.4%  for  fiscal  2003.    In  the  San  Diego,  California  market,  a  market  we  have  served  for  over  nine  years,  we  increased 
leasing revenues by 9.2%, 11.9% and 26.3% in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, from their levels in the prior year, demonstrating 
the level of internal growth we can continue to realize from our existing branches, even during an economic slowdown.  We define 
internal  growth  as  growth  in  lease  revenues  in  markets  opened  for  at  least  a  year,  excluding  any  growth  arising  as  a  result  of 
additional acquisitions in those markets. 

Branch Expansion.  We believe we have an attractive geographic expansion opportunity and we have developed a new market entry 
strategy, which we replicate in each new market.  We typically enter a new-market by acquiring the lease fleet assets of a small local 
portable storage business to minimize start-up costs and then overlay our business model onto the new branch. Our business model 
consists  of  significantly  expanding  the  fleet  inventory  with  our  differentiated  products,  introducing  our  sophisticated  sales  and 
marketing program supported by increased advertising and direct marketing expenditures, adding experienced Mobile Mini personnel 
and  implementing  our  customized  management  information  systems.    As  a  result  of  implementing  our  business  model,  our  new 
branches typically achieve strong organic growth in the first year.  Our new branches are also typically breakeven during their first 
year of operation as Mobile Mini branches and are profitable thereafter. 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We  have  identified  many  markets  in  the  United  States  where  we  believe  demand  for  portable  storage  units  is  underdeveloped.  
Typically,  these  markets  are  being  served  by  small,  local  competitors.    In  1998,  we  began  entering  new  markets  through  our 
expansion strategy as illustrated in the following table:  

New Market Expansion 

Year Established 
1998 
1999 
2000 
2001 
2002 
2003 
Total 

Acquisition 

Start-up 

3 
6 
9 
6 
10 
  1 
 35 

1 
1 
1 
0 
1 
  0 
  4 

Total 
4 
7 
    10 
6 
    11 
  1 
 39 

Our expansion program and other factors can affect our overall utilization rate.  From 1996 through 2003, our annual utilization levels 
averaged 81.4%, and ranged from a low of 78.7% in 2003 to a high of 89.7% in 1996.  The lower utilization rate in the last few years 
was primarily a result of (i) the fact that many of our acquisitions have had utilization levels lower than our historic average rates, 
especially after we add our proprietary product, (ii) the fact that it is easier to maintain a higher utilization rate at a larger branch and 
we  increased  the  number  of  small  branches  in  more  recent  years,  and  (iii)  the  economic  slowdown  in  the  general  economy  and  in 
particular  the  slowdown  in  the  construction  sector.    We  entered  six  markets  in  2001,  11  markets  in  2002,  and  only  one  market  in 
2003.  From 1996 through 2003, we grew our lease fleet from approximately 13,600 units to approximately 89,500 units at the end of 
2003. 

Continue  to  Enhance  Product  Offering.    We  continue  to  enhance  our  existing  products  to  meet  our  customers’  needs  and 
requirements.  We have historically been able to introduce new products and features that expand the applications and overall market 
for our storage products.  For example, in 1998 we introduced a 10-foot wide storage unit that has proven to be a popular product 
with  our  customers.  In  1999,  we  completed  the  design  of  a  records  storage  unit,  which  provides  highly  secure,  on-site,  easily 
accessible storage.  We market this unit as a records storage solution for customers who require easy access close at hand.  In 2000, 
we added wood mobile offices as a complementary product to better serve our customers.  In 2001, we redesigned and improved our 
security locking system, making it easier to use, especially in colder climates.  We were issued four patents in connection with the 
new locking system design and other improvements made in 2003, and one patent is still pending.  In 2002, we added a 10-by-30-foot 
steel combination storage/office unit to complement the various other sizes we have in our fleet.  Currently, the 10-foot-wide unit, the 
record storage unit and the 10-by-30-foot steel combination storage/office unit are exclusively offered by Mobile Mini.  We believe 
our design and manufacturing capabilities increase our ability to service our customers' needs and demand for our portable storage 
solutions. 

Products 

We  provide  a  broad  range  of  portable  storage  products  to  meet  our  customers'  varying  needs.    Our  products  are  managed  and  our 
customers are serviced locally by our employee team at each of our branches, including management, sales personnel and yard facility 
employees. Some features of our different products are listed below: 

•  Refurbished  and  Modified  Storage  Units.    We  purchase  used  ocean-going  containers  from  leasing  companies  or  brokers.  
These containers are eight feet wide, 8'6" to 9'6" high and 20, 40 or 45 feet long.  After acquisition, we refurbish and modify 
ocean-going  containers.    Restoration  typically  involves  cleaning,  removing  rust  and  dents,  repairing  floors  and  sidewalls, 
painting,  adding  our  signs  and  installing  new  doors  and  our  proprietary  locking  system.  Modification  typically  involves 
splitting those containers into 5-, 10-, 15-, 20- or 25-foot lengths. 

•  Manufactured Storage Units.  We manufacture steel portable steel storage units for our lease fleet and for sale.  We do this at 
our manufacturing facility in Maricopa, Arizona.  We can manufacture units up to 12 feet wide and 50 feet long and can add 
doors, windows, locks and other customized features.  We now offer a 10-foot-wide unit, which provides 40% more usable 
storage  space  than  a  standard  eight-foot-wide  unit.    Typically,  we  manufacture  "knock-down"  units,  which  we  ship  to  our 
branches.  These units are then assembled by our branches that have assembly capabilities or by third party assemblers.  This 
method of shipment is less expensive than shipping fully assembled storage units. 

5 

 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  Steel  Combination  Mobile  Office  and  Storage/Office  Units.    We  manufacture  steel  combination  storage/office  and  mobile 
office units that range from 10 to 40 feet in length.  We offer these units in various configurations, including office and storage 
combination  units  that  provide  a  10-  or  15-foot  office  with  the remaining area available for storage.  We believe our office 
units provide the advantage of ground accessibility for ease of access and high security in an all-steel design.  These units are 
equipped with electrical wiring, heating and air conditioning, phone jacks, carpet or tile, proprietary doors and windows with 
security bars. 

•  Wood Mobile Office Units.  We added wood office units to our product line in 2000.  We purchase these units, which range 
from eight to 24 feet in width and 20 to 60 feet in length, from manufacturers.  These units have a wide range of exterior and 
interior  options,  including  exterior  stairs  or  ramps,  awnings  and  skirting.    These  units  are  equipped  with  electrical  wiring, 
heating  and  air  conditioning,  phone  jacks,  carpet  or  tile  and  windows  with  security  bars.    Many  of  these  units  contain 
restrooms. 

•  Records Storage Units.  We market and manufacture proprietary portable records storage units that enable customers to store 
documents at their location for easy access, or at one of our facilities.  Our units are 10.5 feet wide and are available in 12-and 
23-foot  lengths.    The  units  feature  high-security  doors  and  locks,  electrical  wiring,  shelving,  folding  work  tables  and  air 
filtration systems.  We believe our product is a cost-effective alternative to mass warehouse storage, with a high level of fire 
and water damage protection. 

•  Van Trailers and Other Non-Core Storage Units.  Our acquisitions typically entail the purchase of small companies with lease 
fleets primarily comprised of standard ISO containers.  However, many of these companies also have van trailers and other 
manufactured  storage  products  that  are  inferior  to  standard  containers.    It  is  our  goal  to  dispose  of  these  sub-standard  units 
from our fleet either as their initial rental period ends or within a few years.  We do not refurbish these products.  See "Product 
Lives and Durability — Van Trailers and Other Non-Core Storage Products." 

We purchase used ocean-going containers and refurbish and modify them at our manufacturing facility in Arizona and at our other 
branch  locations.    At  certain  branches,  we  also  contract  with  third  parties  to  refurbish  and modify the units at their locations.  We 
manufacture new portable storage units at our Arizona facility.  We believe we are able to purchase used ocean-going containers at 
competitive prices because of our volume purchasing power.  The used ocean-going containers we purchase are typically about eight 
to 12 years old.  We believe our steel portable storage units, steel offices, and wood modular offices have estimated useful lives of 25 
years, 25 years, and 20 years, respectively, from the date we build or acquire and refurbish them, with residual values of our per unit 
investment  ranging  from  50%  for  our  mobile  offices  to  62.5%  for  our  core  steel  products.    Van  trailers,  which  comprised 
approximately  1.1%  of  the  gross  book  value  of  our  lease  fleet  at  December  31,  2003,  are  depreciated  over  seven  years  to  a  20% 
residual value.  For the past three full fiscal years, our cost to repair and maintain our lease fleet units averaged approximately 2.0% of 
our lease revenues.  Repainting the outside of storage units is the most frequent maintenance item. 

Product Lives and Durability 

Core Portable Storage Products.  Most of our fleet is comprised of refurbished and customized ISO containers, manufactured steel 
containers and record storage units, along with our combined storage/office and mobile office units.  These products are built to last a 
long period of time with proper maintenance. 

We  generally  purchase  used  ISO  containers  when  they  are  eight  to  12  years  old,  a  time  at  which  their  useful  life  as  ocean-going 
shipping containers is over according to the standards promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization.  Because we 
do not have the same stacking and strength requirements as apply in the ocean-going shipping industry, we have no need for these 
containers to meet ISO standards.  We purchase these containers in large quantities, truck them to our locations, refurbish them by 
removing any rust, painting them with a rust inhibiting paint, adding our locking system and further customizing them, typically by 
adding our proprietary, easy opening door system and our proprietary locking system. 

We  maintain  our  steel  containers  on  a  regular  basis  by  painting  them  on  average  every  two  to  three  years,  removing  rust,  and 
occasionally  replacing  the  wooden  floor  or  a  rusted  panel.    This  periodic  maintenance  keeps  the  container  in  essentially  the  same 
condition as after we initially refurbished it. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our  revolving  credit  agreement  lenders  have  our  containers  appraised  on  a  periodic  basis,  and  the  appraiser  does  not  differentiate 
value based upon the age of the container or the length of time it has been in our fleet.  Our manufactured containers and steel offices 
are not built to ISO standards, but are built in a similar manner so that, like the ISO containers, they will maintain their utility and 
value  as  long  as  they  are  maintained  in  accordance  with  our  maintenance  program.    As  with  our  refurbished  and  customized  ISO 
containers,  our  lenders'  appraiser  does  not  differentiate  the  value  of  manufactured  units  based  upon  the  age  of  the  unit.    Our  most 
recent fair market value appraisal appraised our fleet at a value in excess of net book value.  At December 31, 2003, the net book 
value of our fleet was approximately $382.8 million. 

Approximately  11.8%  of  our  2003  revenue  was  derived  from  sales  of  portable  storage  and  mobile  office  units.    Because  the 
containers in the lease fleet do not significantly depreciate in value, we have no program in place to sell lease fleet containers as they 
reach a certain age.  Instead, most of our container sales involve either highly customized containers that would be difficult to lease on 
a  recurrent  basis,  or  unrefurbished  and  refurbished  containers  that  we  had  recently  acquired  but  not  yet  leased.    In  addition,  due 
primarily to availability of inventory at various locations at certain times of the year, we sell a certain portion of containers and offices 
from  the  lease  fleet.    Our  gross  margins  increase  for  containers  in  the  lease  fleet  for  greater  lengths  of  time  prior  to  sale,  because 
although these units have been historically depreciated based upon a 20 year useful life and 70% residual value (1.5% per year), in 
most cases fair value may not decline by nearly that amount due to the nature of the assets and our stringent maintenance policy.   

The following table shows the gross margin on containers and steel offices sold from inventory (which we call our sales fleet) and 
from our lease fleet from 1997 through 2003 based on the length of time in the lease fleet. 

Sales fleet (2) 
Lease fleet, by period held before 

sale: 
Less than 5 years 
5 to 10 years 
10 to 15 years 
15 to 20 years 

Number 
of 
  Units   
  17,539 

 Sales Revenue  
$57,744,248 

 Original Cost (1)  
$  38,252,974 

Sales 
Revenues as a 
 Percentage of 
 Original Cost  
151% 

Sales 
Revenues as a 
 Percentage of 
  Net Book 

Value 
151% 

5,760 
1,910 
239 
22 

  21,958,233 
  5,877,229 
679,906 
72,506 

   15,060,247 
    4,126,831 
502,698 
53,292 

146 
142 
135 
136 

150 
157 
159 
171 

(1)  "Original cost" for purposes of this table includes (i) the price we paid for the unit plus (ii) the cost of our manufacturing, which 
includes both the cost of customizing units and refurbishment costs incurred, plus (iii) the freight charges to our branch where the 
unit is first placed in service. For manufactured units, cost includes our manufacturing cost and the freight charges to the branch 
location. 

(2)  Includes sales of unrefurbished ISO containers.  

Because  steel  storage  containers  keep  their  value  when  properly  maintained,  we  are  able  to  lease  containers  that  have  been  in  our 
lease fleet for various lengths of time at similar rates, without regard to the age of the container.  Our lease rates vary by the size and 
type  of  unit  leased,  length  of  contractual  term,  custom  features  and  the  geographic  location  of  our  branch  at  which  the  lease  is 
originated.  To a degree, competition, market conditions and other factors can influence our leasing rates.  The following chart shows, 
for containers that have been in our lease fleet for various periods of time, the average monthly lease rate that we currently receive for 
various types of containers.  We have added our 10 foot wide containers and security offices to the fleet only in the last several years 
and those types of units are not included in this chart.  This chart includes the eight major types of containers in the fleet for at least 10 
years  (we  have  been  in  business  for  over  20  years),  and  specific  details  of  such  type  of  unit  are  not  provided  due  to  competitive 
considerations. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Age of Containers 
(by number of years in our lease fleet) 

0 – 5 

6 – 10 

11 – 15 

16 – 20 

Total Number/
Average Dollar

Type 1 

Type 2 

Type 3 

Type 4 

Type 5 

Type 6 

Type 7 

Type 8 

Number of Units  
Average rent 

3,291 
$  80.51 

Number of Units  
Average rent 

631 
$  78.75 

Number of Units  
Average rent 

6,170 
$  79.50 

Number of Units  
Average rent 

223  
$ 100.64 

Number of Units  
Average rent 

1,343  
$ 116.38 

Number of Units  
Average rent 

3,904  
$ 119.32 

Number of Units  
Average rent 

  12,715  
$ 102.62 

Number of Units  
Average rent 

342  
$ 155.36 

1,181 
$  80.70 

127 
$  76.78 

2,953 
$  83.47 

254 
$ 103.90 

136 
$ 117.94 

1,026 
$ 126.15 

1,532 
$ 120.60 

278 
$ 162.25 

59 
$  75.92 

51 
$  77.27 

833 
$  81.59 

25 
$  97.50 

31 
$ 117.00 

82 
$ 125.15 

143 
$ 124.88 

25 
$ 164.06 

  ⎯   
$  ⎯   

  ⎯   
$  ⎯   

3 
$  70.42 

4,531 
80.50 

809 
78.35 

9,959 
80.85 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

  ⎯   
$  ⎯   

502 
  $  102.13 

  ⎯   
$  ⎯   

1,510 
  $  116.53 

7 
$ 126.90 

5,019 
  $  120.82 

12 
$ 114.38 

14,402 
  $  104.76 

2 
$ 262.71 

647 
  $  158.99 

We believe fluctuations in rental rates based on container age are primarily a function of the location of the branch from which the 
container  was  leased  rather  than  age  of  the  container.    Some  of  the  units  added  to  our  lease  fleet  during  recent  years  through  our 
acquisitions  program  have  lower  lease  rates  than  the  rates  we  typically  obtain  because  the  units  remain  on  lease  under  terms 
(including lower rental rates) that were in place when we obtained the units in acquisitions. 

We periodically review our depreciation policy against various factors, including the following: 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

results of our lenders' independent appraisal of our lease fleet; 
practices of the larger competitors in our industry;  
our experience concerning useful life of the units; 
profit margins we are achieving on sales of depreciated units; and 
lease rates we obtain on older units.  

Our depreciation policy for our lease fleet uses the straight-line method over the units' estimated useful life, in most cases 20 years 
after the date that we put the unit in service, with estimated residual values of 70% on steel units and 50% on wood office units.  
Effective in 2004, some of our steel units will have been in our fleet longer than 20 years, and our depreciation policy on our steel 
units will be modified to increase the useful life to 25 years, and to decrease the residual value to 62.5% which effectively results in 
continual depreciation on these containers at the same annual rate.  Van trailers, which are a small part of our fleet, are depreciated 
over seven years to a 20% residual value.  Van trailers are only added to the fleet as a result of acquisitions of portable storage 
businesses. 

8 

 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wood Mobile Office Units.  We began adding wood mobile office units to the lease fleet in 2000 as a complement to our core portable 
storage  products.    At  December  31,  2003,  we  had  nearly  4,000  of  these  units  at  an  average  original  book  value  of  approximately 
$17,500 per unit.  These units are manufactured by third parties and are very similar to the units in the lease fleets of other mobile 
office rental companies.  Because of the wood structure of these units, they are more susceptible to wear and tear than steel units.  We 
depreciate these units over 20 years down to a 50% residual value (2.5% per year) which we believe to be consistent with most of our 
major  competitors  in  this  industry.    Wood  mobile  office  units  lose  value  over time and we may sell older units from time to time. 
However, at the end of 2003, our wood mobile offices were all less than four years old.  These units are also more expensive than our 
storage units, causing an increase in the average carrying value per unit in the lease fleet over the last three years. 

Additionally,  the  operating  margins  on  mobile offices  are  lower  than  the  margins  on  portable  storage,  and  because  we have added 
minimum  inventories  of  these  units  to  most  of  our  branches  (initially  resulting  in  lower  utilization  rates),  the  addition  of  mobile 
offices has reduced our overall return on invested capital.  However, these mobile offices are rented using our existing infrastructure 
and  therefore  provide  incremental  returns  far  in  excess  of  our  fixed  expenses.    This  adds  to  our  overall  profitability  and  operating 
margins. 

Van Trailers and Other Non-Core Storage Products.  At December 31, 2003 van trailers made up approximately 1.1% of the gross 
book value of our lease fleet.  When we acquire businesses in our industry, the acquired businesses often have van trailers and other 
manufactured storage products that are sub-standard compared to our core steel container storage product.  We attempt to purge most 
of  these  inferior  units  from  our  fleet  as  they  come  off  rent  or  within  a  few  years  after  we  acquire  them.    We  do  not  utilize  our 
resources to refurbish these products and instead resell them. 

Van trailers are initially manufactured to be attached to trucks to move merchandise in interstate commerce.  The initial cost of these 
units  can  be  $18,000  or  more.    They  are  leased  to,  or  purchased  by,  cross  country  truckers  and  other  companies  involved  in  cross 
country transportation of merchandise.  They are made of light weight material in order to make them ideal for transport and have 
wheels and brakes.  They are typically made of aluminum, but have steel base frames to maintain some structural integrity.  Because 
of their light weight, moving parts, the heavy loads they carry and the wear and tear involved in hundreds of thousands of miles of 
transport,  these  units  depreciate  quite  rapidly.    This  business  and  the  cartage  business  described  below  are  also  very  economically 
cyclical. 

Once  van  trailers  become  too  old  to  use  in  interstate  commerce  without  frequent  maintenance  and  downtime,  they  are  sold  to 
companies that use them as “cartage trailers.”  At this point, they may have a depreciated cost of approximately $5,000.  As cartage 
trailers, they are used to move loads of merchandise much shorter distances and may be used to store goods for some period of time 
and then to move them from one part of a facility or a city to another part. They continue to depreciate quite rapidly until they reach 
the point where they are not considered safe or cost effective to move loaded with merchandise. 

At  this  point,  near  the  end  of  the  life  cycle  of  a  van  trailer,  it  may  be  used  for  storage.    Unlike  a  storage  container,  however,  van 
trailers  are  much  less  secure,  can  fairly easily  be  stolen  (as  they  are  on  wheels)  and  are  unsightly.    Most  importantly,  they are not 
ground level and, under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, must be attached to approved stairs 
or ramps to prevent accidents when they are accessed. 

A large part of our leasing effort involves demonstrating to our customers the superiority of our containers to van trailers.  Mobile 
Mini  has  found  that  when  it  markets  steel  storage  containers  against  storage  van  trailers,  customers  recognize  the  superiority  of 
containers.  As  a  result,  we  believe  that  eventually  the  use  of  van  trailers  will  primarily  be  limited  to  dock  height  storage  and  to 
customers who must frequently move storage units. 

The  average  initial  unit  value  given  to  the  van  trailers  we  have  purchased  in  acquisitions  is  approximately  $1,550  (excluding 
refrigerated units which are valued higher), and we depreciate these units over seven years down to a 20% residual value. As noted 
above, we sell these units as soon as practicable.  During 2003, we disposed of over 300 van trailers, representing approximately 10% 
of our van trailer fleet.  

Lease Fleet Configuration 

Our lease fleet is comprised of over 100 different types of units.  Throughout the year we add units to our fleet through purchases of 
used ISO containers and containers obtained through acquisitions, both of which we refurbish and customize.  We also purchase new 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
manufactured mobile offices in various configurations and sizes, and manufacture our own custom steel units.  Our initial cost basis 
of an ISO container includes the purchase price from the seller, the cost of refurbishment, which can include removing rust and dents, 
repairing floors, sidewalls and ceilings, painting, signage, installing new doors, seals and a locking system.  Additional modification 
may  involve  the  splitting  of  a  unit  to  create  several  smaller  units  and  adding  customized  features.    The  restoring  and  modification 
processes do not necessarily occur in the same year the units are purchased or acquired.  We procure larger containers, typically 40-
foot units, and split them into two 20-foot units or one 25-foot and one 15-foot unit, or other configurations as needed, and then add 
new doors along with our proprietary locking system and sometimes we add custom features.  We also will sell units from our lease 
fleet to our customers. 

The  table  below  outlines  those  transactions  that  effectively  increased  the  net  asset  value  of  our  lease  fleet  from  $337.1  million  at 
December 31, 2002 to $382.8 million at December 31, 2003: 

Lease fleet at December 31, 2002, net 

Purchases: 

      Dollars       
$ 337,084,303  

    Units       
  83,642  

Container  purchases  and  containers  obtained  through  acquisitions, 
including freight 

1,822,563  

1,626  

Manufactured units: 

Steel  containers,  combination  storage/office  combo  units  and  steel 
security offices 
New wood mobile offices 

26,175,246  

3,329  

13,165,281  

671  

Refurbishment and customization: 

Refurbishment  or  customization  of  1,626  units  purchased  or 
acquired in the current year 
Refurbishment or customization of 3,167 units purchased in a prior 
year 
Refurbishment  or  customization  of  2,268  units  obtained  through 
acquisition in a prior year 

Other 
Cost of sales from lease fleet 
Depreciation 
Lease fleet at December 31, 2003, net 

2,662,049  

8,732,764  

1,556  (1) 

3,719,179  

253  (2) 

(8,232) 
(3,968,544) 
(6,630,706) 
$ 382,753,903  

(62) 
(1,523) 

  89,492  

(1)   These units represent the net additional units that were the result of splitting steel containers into one 
or more shorter units, such as splitting a 40-foot container into two 20-foot units, or one 25-foot unit 
and one 15-foot unit. 

(2) Includes units moved from finished goods to lease fleet. 

The table below outlines the composition of our lease fleet at December 31, 2003: 

Steel storage containers 
Offices 
Van trailers 
Other, primarily flatbed type chassis 
Accumulated depreciation 

  Net Book 
Value   

Number of 
Units 

$252,449,396  
  148,244,087  
4,464,269  
424,833  
  (22,828,682) 
$382,753,903  

74,848 
11,866 
2,778 

  89,492 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Branch Operations 

We locate our branches in markets with attractive demographics and strong growth prospects.  Within each market, we have located 
our branches in areas that allow for easy delivery of portable storage units to our customers.  In addition, when cost effective, we seek 
locations that are visible from high traffic roads in order to advertise our products and our name.  Our branches maintain an inventory 
of portable storage units available for lease, and some of our older branches also provide storage of units under lease at the branch 
("on-site storage").  The following table shows information about our branches: 

Functions 
Leasing, on-site storage and sales 

 Approximate Size  
14 acres 

 Year Established  
1983 

Location 
Phoenix, Arizona 

Tucson, Arizona 

Leasing, on-site storage and sales 

Los Angeles, California 

Leasing, on-site storage and sales 

San Diego, California 

Leasing, on-site storage and sales 

Dallas, Texas 

Houston, Texas 

Leasing, on-site storage and sales 

Leasing, on-site storage and sales 

San Antonio, Texas 

Leasing, on-site storage and sales 

Austin, Texas 

Leasing, on-site storage and sales 

Las Vegas, Nevada 

Leasing and sales 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 

Leasing and sales 

Albuquerque, New Mexico 

Leasing and sales 

Denver, Colorado 

Tulsa, Oklahoma 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Colorado Springs, Colorado 

Leasing and sales 

New Orleans, Louisiana 

Leasing and sales 

Memphis, Tennessee 

Leasing and sales 

Salt Lake City, Utah 

Leasing, on-site storage and sales 

Chicago, Illinois 

Knoxville, Tennessee 

Seattle, Washington 

El Paso, Texas 

Pharr, Texas 

Corpus Christi, Texas 

Jacksonville, Florida 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 

Leasing and sales 

Ft. Myers, Florida 

Tampa, Florida 

Orlando, Florida 

Atlanta, Georgia 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Kansas City, Kansas/ Missouri 

Leasing and sales 

11 

5 acres 

15 acres 

5 acres 

17 acres 

7 acres 

8 acres 

5 acres 

6 acres 

6 acres 

4 acres 

6 acres 

7 acres 

5 acres 

4 acres 

9 acres 

3 acres 

4 acres 

5 acres 

5 acres 

4 acres 

6 acres 

2 acres 

4 acres 

5 acres 

3 acres 

9 acres 

5 acres 

15 acres 

5 acres 

1986 

1988 

1994 

1994 

1994 

1995 

1995 

1998 

1998 

1998 

1998 

1999 

1999 

1999 

1999 

1999 

1999 

1999 

2000 

2000 

2000 

2000 

2000 

2000 

2000 

2000 

2000 

2000 

2001 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

Leasing and sales 

Charlotte, North Carolina 

Leasing and sales 

Nashville, Tennessee 

Leasing and sales 

San Francisco, California 

Leasing and sales 

Raleigh, North Carolina 

Leasing and sales 

Columbus, Ohio 

Little Rock, Arkansas 

St. Louis, Missouri 

Ft. Worth, Texas 

Louisville, Kentucky 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Columbia, South Carolina 

Leasing and sales 

Baltimore, Maryland 

Leasing and sales 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Leasing and sales 

Richmond, Virginia 

Boston, Massachusetts 

Toronto, Canada 

Portland, Oregon 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

Leasing and sales 

5 acres 

4 acres 

6 acres 

7 acres 

7 acres 

7 acres 

12 acres 

7 acres 

5 acres 

7 acres 

5 acres 

9 acres 

4 acres 

4 acres 

4 acres 

4 acres 

2 acres 

2001 

2001 

2001 

2001 

2001 

2002 

2002 

2002 

2002 

2002 

2002 

2002 

2002 

2002 

2002 

2002 

2003 

Each branch has a branch manager who has overall supervisory responsibility for all activities of the branch.  Branch managers report 
to one of our twelve regional managers.  Our regional managers, in turn, report to one of our three senior vice presidents.  Incentive 
bonuses are a substantial portion of the compensation for these senior vice presidents, branch and regional managers. 

Each branch has its own sales force and a transportation department that delivers and picks up portable storage units from customers.  
Each branch has delivery trucks and forklifts to load, transport and unload units and a storage yard staff responsible for unloading and 
stacking units.  Steel units can be stored by stacking them three high to maximize usable ground area.  Our larger branches also have a 
fleet  maintenance  department  to  maintain  the  branch's  trucks,  forklifts  and  other  equipment.    Our  smaller  branches  perform 
preventative maintenance tasks and outsource major repairs. 

Sales and Marketing 

We have approximately 300 dedicated sales people at our branches and 17 people in sales management at our headquarters and other 
locations that conduct sales and marketing on a full-time basis.  We believe that by locating most of our sales and marketing staff in 
our branches, we can better understand the portable storage needs of our customers and provide high levels of customer service.  Our 
sales force handles all of our products and we do not maintain separate sales forces for our various product lines. 

Our sales and marketing force provides information about our products to prospective customers by handling inbound calls and by 
initiating cold calls.  We have on-going sales and marketing training programs covering all aspects of leasing and customer service.  
Our  branches  communicate  with  one  another  and  with  corporate  headquarters  through  our  management  information  system.    This 
enables the sales and marketing team to share leads and other information and permits the headquarters staff to monitor and review 
sales  and  leasing  productivity  on  a  branch-by-branch  basis.    Our  sales  and  marketing  employees  are  compensated  primarily  on  a 
commission basis. 

Our  nationwide  presence  allows  us  to  offer  our  products  to  larger  customers  who  wish  to  centralize  the  procurement  of  portable 
storage  on  a  multi-regional  or  national  basis.    We  are  well  equipped  to  meet  multi-regional  customers  needs  through  our  National 
Account Program, which simplifies the procurement, rental and billing process for those customers.  Over 470 customers currently 
participate in our National Account Program.  We also provide our national account customers with service guarantees which assure 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
them they will receive the same high level of customer service from any of our branch locations.  This program has helped us succeed 
in leveraging customer relationships developed at one branch throughout our branch system. 

We advertise our products in the yellow pages and use a targeted direct mail program. In 2003, we mailed over 8.7 million product 
brochures to existing and prospective customers.  These brochures describe our products and features and highlight the advantages of 
portable storage.  Our total advertising costs were approximately $6.9 million in 2003, $6.2 million in 2002 and $5.2 million in 2001. 

Customers 

During  2003,  approximately  67,400  customers  leased  our  portable  storage,  combination  storage/office  and  mobile  office  units, 
compared to approximately 62,000 in 2002.  Our customer base is diverse and consists of businesses in a broad range of industries.  
Our largest single leasing customer accounted for 4.9% and 5.7% of our leasing revenues in 2003 and 2002, respectively.  Our next 
largest customer accounted for less than 0.5% and 0.6% of our leasing revenues in 2003 and 2002, respectively.  Our twenty largest 
customers combined accounted for approximately 7.4% of our lease revenues in 2003 and approximately 8.8% of our lease revenues 
in 2002.  Approximately 62.6% of our customers rented a single unit during 2003. 

We target customers who can benefit from our portable storage solutions either for seasonal, temporary or long-term storage needs. 
Customers use our portable storage units for a wide range of purposes.  The following table provides an overview at December 31, 
2003 of our customers and how they use our portable storage, combination storage/office and mobile office units: 

Business 
Consumer service and retail businesses 

  Approximate 
Percentage of 
Units on 
Lease 
38.5% 

Construction 

32.0% 

Representative Customers 

  Department, drug, grocery and 

strip mall stores, hotels, 
restaurants, dry cleaners and 
service stations 

  General, electrical, plumbing 
and mechanical contractors, 
landscapers and residential 
homebuilders 

Typical Application 
Inventory storage, record 
storage and seasonal 
needs 

  Equipment and materials 
storage and job offices 

Consumers 

11.6% 

  Homeowners 

  Backyard storage and 
storage of household 
goods during relocation 
or renovation 

Industrial and commercial 

9.1% 

  Distributors, trucking and 

  Raw materials, 

Institutions, government agencies and 
others 

8.8% 

utility companies, finance and 
insurance companies and film 
production companies 

equipment, document 
storage, in-plant office 
and seasonal needs 

  Hospitals, medical centers and 
military, Native American 
tribal governments and 
reservations and Federal, state, 
county and local agencies 

  Athletic equipment, 
storage, disaster 
preparedness, supplier, 
record storage, security 
office, supplies, 
equipment storage, 
temporary office space 
and seasonal needs 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Manufacturing 

We build new steel portable storage units, steel mobile offices and other custom-designed steel structures as well as refurbish used 
ocean going containers at our Maricopa, Arizona manufacturing plant.  We also refurbish used ocean-going containers at this plant 
and at our branch locations.  Our manufacturing capabilities allow us to differentiate our products from our competitors and enable us 
to provide a broader product selection to our customers. Our manufacturing process includes cutting, shaping and welding raw steel, 
installing customized features and painting the newly constructed units.  Typically, we manufacture "knock-down" units, which we 
ship to our branches.  These units are then assembled by our branches that have assembly capabilities or third party assemblers.  We 
can ship up to twelve "knock-down" 20-foot containers on a single flat-bed trailer.  By comparison, only two or three assembled 20-
foot  ocean-going  containers  can  be  shipped  on  a  flat-bed  trailer.    This  reduces  our  cost  of  transporting  units  to  our  branches  and 
permits  us  to  economically  ship  our  manufactured  units  to  any  city  in  the  continental  United  States  or  Canada.    At  December  31, 
2003,  we  had  about  160  manufacturing  workers  at  our  Maricopa  facility,  and  an  additional  275  workers  who  participate  in 
manufacturing  and  repair  activities  in  our  branch  facilities.    We  believe  we  can  expand  the  capacity  of  our  Maricopa  facility  at  a 
relatively low cost, and that numerous third parties have the facilities needed to perform refurbishment and assembly services for us 
on a contract basis. 

We purchase raw materials such as steel, vinyl, wood, glass and paint, which we use in our manufacturing and restoring operations.  
We typically buy these raw materials on a purchase order basis.  We do not have long-term contracts with vendors for the supply of 
any raw materials. 

Our  manufacturing  capacity  protects  us  to  some  extent  from  price  increases  for  used  ocean-going  containers.    Used  ocean-going 
containers  vary  in  price  from  time  to  time  based  on  market  conditions.    Should  the  price  of  used  ocean-going  containers  increase 
substantially, we can increase our manufacturing volume and reduce the number of used steel containers we buy and refurbish. 

Vehicles 

At December 31, 2003, we had a fleet of nearly 400 delivery trucks, of which approximately 300 were owned and nearly 100 were 
leased.  We use these trucks to deliver and pick up containers at customer locations.  We supplement our delivery fleet by outsourcing 
delivery services to independent haulers when appropriate. 

Management Information Systems  

We use a customized management information system in an effort to optimize lease fleet utilization and the effectiveness of our sales 
and marketing.  This system consists of a wide-area network that connects our headquarters and all of our branches.  Headquarters 
and  each  branch  can  enter  data  into  the  system  and  access  data  on  a  real-time  basis.    We  generate  weekly  management  reports  by 
branch  with  leasing  volume,  fleet  utilization,  lease  rates  and  fleet  movement  as  well  as  monthly  profit  and  loss  statements  on  a 
consolidated  and  branch  basis.    These  reports  allow  management  to  monitor  each  branch's  performance  on  a  daily,  weekly  and 
monthly basis.  We track each portable storage unit by its serial number.  Lease fleet and sales information are entered in the system 
daily at the branch level and verified through monthly physical inventories by branch or corporate employees.  Branch salespeople 
also use the system to track customer leads and other sales data, including information about current and prospective customers.  We 
intend to invest further in upgrading our management information systems in 2004 and 2005. 

Lease Terms 

Based  on  the  composition  of  our  leases  at  the  end  of  2003,  our  steel  portable  storage  unit  leases  have  an  average  initial  term  of 
approximately 11 months and provide for the lease to continue at the same rental rate on a month-to-month basis until the customer 
cancels the lease.  The average duration of these leases has been 25 months and the average monthly rental rate for units on lease was 
$98  during  2003.    Most  of  our  steel  portable  storage  units  rent  for  approximately  $50  to  over  $200  per  month.    Our  van  trailers 
normally  lease  for  substantially  lower  amounts  than  our  portable  storage  units.    Our  combination  storage/office  and  mobile  office 
units typically have a scheduled initial lease term of approximately 15 months, and typically rent for $100 to over $1,500 per month.  
Our leases provide that the customer is responsible for the cost of delivery at lease inception and pickup at lease termination.  Our 
leases specify that the customer is liable for any damage done to the unit beyond ordinary wear and tear.  However, our customers 
may  purchase  a  damage  waiver  from  us  to  avoid  some  of  this  liability.    This  provides  us  with  an  additional  source  of  recurring 
revenue. The customer's possessions stored within the portable storage unit are the responsibility of the customer. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Competition 

We  face  competition  from  several  local  companies  and  usually  one  or  two  regional  or  national  companies  in  all  of  our  current 
markets.    We  compete  with  several  large  national  and  international  companies  in  our  mobile  office  product  line.    Our  competitors 
include  lessors  of  storage  units,  mobile  offices,  used  van  trailers  and  other  structures  used  for  portable  storage.    We  compete  with 
conventional fixed self-storage facilities to a lesser extent.  We compete primarily in terms of security, convenience, product quality, 
broad product selection and availability, lease rates and customer service. In our core portable storage business, we typically compete 
with Mobile Storage Group and a number of smaller local competitors.  In the mobile office business, we typically compete with GE 
Capital Modular Space, Williams Scotsman and other national, regional and local companies. 

Employees 

As of December 31, 2003, we employed approximately 1,455 full-time employees in the following major categories: 

Management 
Administrative 
Sales and marketing 
Manufacturing 
Drivers and storage unit handling 

80 
230 
295 
435 
415 

Access to Information 

Our Internet address is www.mobilemini.com.  We make available at this address, free of charge, our annual report on Form 10-K, 
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 
13(a)  or  15(d)  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  soon  as  reasonably  practicable  after  we  electronically  file  such  material 
with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Reports of our executive officers, directors and any other persons 
required to file securities ownership reports under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are also available through our 
web site.  Information contained on our web site is not part of this Report. 

Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Operating Results 

Our discussion and analysis in this report, in other reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in our press 
releases and in public statements of our officers and corporate spokespersons contain forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking 
statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events.  You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not 
relate  strictly  to  historical  or  current  events.    They  include  words  such  as  “anticipate,”  “estimate,”  “expect,”  “intend,”  “plan,” 
“believe”  and  other  words  of  similar  meaning  in  connection  with  discussion  of  future  operating  or  financial  performance.    These 
include statements relating to future actions, acquisition and growth strategy, future performance or results of current and anticipated 
products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings and financial results.  

Forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong.  They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown 
risks and uncertainties.  Many factors mentioned in this report, for example, the availability to Mobile Mini of additional equity and 
debt financing that could be needed to continue to achieve growth rates similar to those of the last several years, will be important in 
determining  future  results.    No  forward-looking  statement  can  be  guaranteed,  and  actual  results  may  vary  materially  from  those 
anticipated in any forward-looking statement. 

Mobile Mini undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.  We provide the following discussion of risks and 
uncertainties relevant to our business.  These are factors that we think could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected 
and historical results.  Mobile Mini could also be adversely affected by other factors besides those listed here. 

We operate with a high amount of debt and we may incur significant additional indebtedness.   

Our operations are capital intensive, and we operate with a high amount of debt relative to our size.  In June 2003, we issued $150.0 
million  in  aggregate  principal  amount  of  9.5%  Senior  Notes,  due  2013.    Under  our  revolving  credit  facility,  we  can  borrow  up  to 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$250.0  million  on  a  revolving  loan  basis,  which  means  that  amounts  repaid  may  be  reborrowed.    As  of  March  5,  2004,  we  had 
outstanding borrowings of approximately $105.0 million and letters of credit of approximately $2.0 million under the credit facility, 
leaving  approximately  $143.0  million,  available  for  further  borrowing,  of  which  approximately  $72.6  million  was  immediately 
available computed under the most restrictive covenant contained in the revolving credit facility.  Our substantial indebtedness could 
have important consequences.  For example, it could:   

• 

require  us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, which could 
reduce  the  availability  of  our  cash  flow  to  fund  future  working  capital,  capital  expenditures,  acquisitions  and  other  general 
corporate purposes; 

•  make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our Senior Notes; 

•  expose us to the risk of increased interest rates, as certain of our borrowings will be at variable rates of interest; 

• 

• 

• 

• 

require us to sell assets to reduce indebtedness or influence our decisions about whether to do so; 

increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; 

limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our industry; 

restrict us from making strategic acquisitions or pursuing business opportunities; 

•  place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have relatively less indebtedness; and 

• 

limit, along with the financial and other restrictive covenants in our indebtedness, among other things, our ability to borrow 
additional  funds.  Failing  to  comply  with  those  covenants  could  result  in  an  event  of  default  which,  if  not  cured  or  waived, 
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. 

Subject to the restrictions in our revolving credit facility and the indenture governing our Senior Notes, we and our subsidiaries may 
incur significant additional indebtedness.  Although the terms of the revolving credit facility and the indenture contain restrictions on 
the incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions, and additional 
indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial.  If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the 
related risks that we now face could increase. 

Covenants in our debt instruments restrict or prohibit our ability to engage in or enter into a variety of transactions. 

The indenture governing our Senior Notes and our  revolving credit facility agreement contain various restrictive covenants that  limit 
our discretion in operating our business.  In particular, these agreements limit our ability to, among other things: 

•  make restricted payments (including paying dividends on, limitations on redeeming or repurchasing our capital stock); 

• 

issue preferred stock of subsidiaries;  

•  make certain investments or acquisitions;  

•  create liens on our assets to secure debt;  

•  engage in transactions with affiliates;  

•  merge, consolidate or transfer substantially all of our assets; and 

• 

transfer and sell assets.  

In  addition,  our  revolving  credit  facility  requires  us  to  maintain  certain  financial  ratios  and  limits  our  ability  to  make  capital 
expenditures.  These covenants and ratios could have an adverse effect on our business by limiting our ability to take advantage of 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
financing,  merger  and  acquisition  or  other  corporate  opportunities  and  to  fund  our  operations.    Breach  of  a  covenant  in  our  debt 
instruments  could  cause  acceleration  of  a  significant  portion  of  our  outstanding  indebtedness.    Any  future  debt  could  also  contain 
financial and other covenants more restrictive than those imposed under the indenture governing the Senior Notes, and the restated 
revolving credit facility. 

A breach of a covenant or other provision in any debt instrument governing our current or future indebtedness could result in a default 
under  that  instrument  and,  due  to  cross-default  and  cross-acceleration  provisions,  could  result  in  a  default  under  our  other  debt 
instruments.  Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the revolving credit facility or any other debt instrument, the lenders 
could elect to declare all amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further 
credit.  If we were unable to repay those amounts, the lenders could proceed against the collateral granted to them, if any, to secure 
the indebtedness.  If the lenders under our current or future indebtedness accelerate the payment of the indebtedness, we cannot assure 
you that our assets or cash flow would be sufficient to repay in full our outstanding indebtedness, including the Senior Notes. 

Our planned growth strains our management resources, which could disrupt our development of our new branch locations. 

Our  future  performance  will  depend  in  large  part  on  our  ability  to  manage  our  planned  growth.    Our  growth  could  strain  our 
management, human and other resources.  To successfully manage this growth, we must continue to add managers and employees and 
improve our operating, financial and other internal procedures and controls.  We also must effectively motivate, train and manage our 
employees.  If we do not manage our growth effectively, some of our new branches and acquisitions may lose money or fail, and we 
may have to close unprofitable locations. Closing a branch would likely result in additional expenses that would cause our operating 
results to suffer. 

We may need additional debt or equity to sustain our growth, but we do not have commitments for such funds.  

We  finance  our  growth  through  a  combination  of  borrowings,  cash  flow  from  operations,  and  equity  financing.    Our  ability  to 
continue growing at the pace we have historically grown will depend in part on our ability to obtain either additional debt or equity 
financing.    The  terms  on  which  debt  and  equity  financing  is  available  to  us  varies  from  time  to  time  and  is  influenced  by  our 
performance  and  by  external  factors,  such  as  the  economy  generally  and  developments  in  the  market,  that  are  beyond  our  control.  
Also, additional debt financing or the sale of additional equity securities may cause the market price of our common stock to decline 
which will make it less likely that we will pursue any equity financing.  If we are unable to obtain additional debt or equity financing 
on acceptable terms, we may have to curtail our growth by delaying new branch openings, or, under certain circumstances, lease fleet 
expansion. 

Continued slowdown in the economy could further reduce demand from some of our customers, which could result in lower 
demand for our products. 

At the end of 2003 and 2002, customers in the construction industry accounted for approximately 32% and 30%, respectively, of our 
leased  units.    This  industry  tends  to  be  cyclical  and  particularly  susceptible  to  slowdowns  in  the  overall  economy.  If  sustained 
economic  slowdown  in  this  sector  continues,  we  may  experience  less  demand  for  leases  and  sales  of  our  products.    If  we  do,  our 
results of operations may decline, and we may decide to slow the pace of our planned lease fleet growth and new branch expansion.  
Our internal growth rate slowed from 22.2% in 2001 to 7.5% in 2002 and to 7.4% in 2003 due to a slowdown in the economy. 

The supply and price of used ocean-going containers fluctuates, and this can affect our pricing, our ability to grow, and the 
amount we can borrow under our credit facility. 

We  purchase,  refurbish  and  modify  used  ocean-going  containers  in  order  to  expand  our  lease  fleet.    The  availability  of  these 
containers depends in part on the level of international trade and overall demand for containers in the ocean cargo shipping business.  
When  international  shipping  increases,  the  availability  of  used  ocean-going  containers  for  sale  often  decreases,  and  the  price  of 
available  containers  increases.    Conversely,  an  oversupply  of  used  ocean-going  containers  may  cause  container  prices to fall.  Our 
competitors  may  then  lower  the  lease  rates  on  their  storage  units.    As  a  result,  we  may  need  to  lower  our  lease  rates  to  remain 
competitive.  This would cause our revenues and our earnings to decline. 

Ours is not the only type of business that purchases used ocean-going containers.  Various freight transportation companies, freight 
forwarders  and  commercial  and  retail  storage  companies  purchase  used  ocean-going  containers.    Some  of  these  companies  have 
greater financial resources than we do.  As a result, if the number of available containers for sale decreases, these competitors may be 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
able to absorb an increase in the cost of containers, while we could not.  If used ocean-going container prices increase substantially, 
we may not be able to manufacture enough new units to grow our fleet.  These price increases also could increase our expenses and 
reduce our earnings. 

The amount we can borrow under our revolving credit facility depends in part on the value of the portable storage units in our lease 
fleet.  If the value of our lease fleet declines, we cannot borrow as much.  Therefore, we may be unable to add as many units to our 
fleet as we would like.  Also, we are required to satisfy several covenants with our lenders that are affected by changes in the value of 
our  lease  fleet.    We  would  breach  some  of  these  covenants  if  the  value  of  our  lease  fleet  drops  below  specified  levels.    If  this 
happened, we could not borrow the amounts we would need to expand our business, and we could be forced to liquidate a portion of 
our existing fleet. 

The supply and cost of raw materials we use in manufacturing fluctuates and could increase our operating costs. 

We manufacture portable storage units to add to our lease fleet and for sale. In our manufacturing process, we purchase steel, vinyl, 
wood,  glass  and  other  raw  materials  from  various  suppliers.    We  cannot  be  sure  that  an  adequate  supply  of  these  materials  will 
continue to be available on terms acceptable to us.  The raw materials we use are subject to price fluctuations that we cannot control.  
Changes in the cost of raw materials can have a significant effect on our operations and earnings.  Rapid increases in raw material 
prices are difficult to pass through to customers.  If we are unable to pass on these higher costs, our profitability will decline.  If raw 
material prices decline significantly, we may have to write down our raw materials inventory values.  If this happens, our results of 
operations and financial condition will decline. 

Some zoning laws restrict the use of our storage units and therefore limit our ability to offer our products in all markets. 

Most of our customers use our storage units to store their goods on their own properties.  Local zoning laws in some of our markets 
do not allow some of our customers to keep portable storage units on their properties or do not permit portable storage units unless 
located  out  of  sight  from  the  street.    If  local  zoning  laws  in  one  or  more  of  our  markets no longer allow our units to be stored on 
customers' sites, our business in that market will suffer. 

Future  changes  in  financial  accounting  standards  may  cause  lower  than  expected  operating  results  and  affect  our  reported 
results of operations. 

Changes in accounting standards may have a significant effect on our reported results and may affect our reporting of transactions 
completed before the change becomes effective.  New pronouncements and varying interpretations of pronouncements have occurred 
and may occur in the future.  Changes to existing standards or current practices may adversely affect our reported financial results.  
One illustration of this would be a change requiring compensation expense for employee stock options be recorded in the statement of 
operations which could have a negative effect on our results of operations. 

We depend on a few key management persons. 

We  are  substantially  dependent  on  the  personal  efforts  and  abilities  of  Steven  G.  Bunger,  our  Chairman,  President  and  Chief 
Executive Officer, and Lawrence Trachtenberg, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  The loss of either of these 
officers or our other key management persons could harm our business and prospects for growth. 

The  market  price  of  our  common stock has been volatile and may continue to be volatile and the value of your investment 
may decline. 

The market price of our common stock has been volatile and may continue to be volatile.  This volatility may cause wide fluctuations 
in the price of our common stock on the Nasdaq National Market.  The market price of our common stock is likely to be affected by: 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

changes in general conditions in the economy, geo political or the financial markets;  
variations in our quarterly operating results;  
changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;  
other developments affecting us, our industry, customers or competitors;  
the operating and stock price performance of companies that investors deem comparable to us; and 
the number of shares available for resale in the public markets under applicable securities laws. 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 2.   DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY. 

We own our branch locations in Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and a portion of our Phoenix, Arizona location.  We lease 
all of our other branch locations.  All of our major leased properties have remaining lease terms of at least 3 years, and we believe that 
satisfactory alternative properties can be found in all of our markets if necessary. 

We own our manufacturing facility in Maricopa, Arizona, approximately 30 miles south of Phoenix.  This facility is 12 years old and 
is on approximately 45 acres.  The facility includes nine manufacturing buildings, totaling approximately 166,600 square feet.  These 
buildings house our manufacturing, assembly, restoring, painting and vehicle maintenance operations. 

We lease our corporate and administrative offices in Tempe, Arizona.  These offices have 25,000 square feet of space.  The lease term 
is through August 2008. 

ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.   

In  April  2000,  we  acquired  the  portable  storage  business  that  was  operated  in  Florida  by  A-1  Trailer  Rental  and  several  affiliated 
entities (collectively, "A-1 Trailer Rental").  As previously reported in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our previous annual 
report on Form 10-K, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, two lawsuits were filed against us in the State of 
Florida arising out of that acquisition.  One lawsuit, Nuko Holdings I, LLC v. Mobile Mini, Inc., was an action against us brought in 
the Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial District in and for Hillsborough County, Florida (Case No. 0003500), and resulted in a verdict of 
$7,215,000 being entered against us.  In the second case, A-1 Trailer Rental filed an action (A-1 Trailer Rental, et al. v. Mobile Mini, 
Inc.  (Case  No.  8:02-cv-323-T-27TGW,  in  the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  Middle  District  of  Florida,  Tampa  Division)) 
requesting that the court find that A-1 Trailer Rental has no contractual agreement to indemnify us against any losses we suffer as a 
consequence of the Nuko Holdings lawsuit and that the $2,200,000 held in escrow in accordance with the terms of the A-1 Trailer 
Rental acquisition agreement and a subsequent agreement be delivered to A-1 Trailer Rental.   

In a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 22, 2003, we announced that a panel of the Florida Second District Court of Appeals 
had affirmed the jury verdict award against Mobile Mini.  Mobile Mini filed motions in December 2003 requesting a rehearing en 
banc by the court and requesting a written opinion of the court’s decision upholding the jury verdict award of $7.2 million in damages 
to Nuko Holdings.  The court has denied these motions.  The judgment and interest (totaling approximately $8.0 million) have been 
paid in 2004 through Mobile Mini’s revolving line of credit and fully accrued at December 31, 2003.  A letter of credit of about $4.3 
million under that credit line as of December 31, 2003, which had been used to support the appeal bond has been released.  Payment 
of  the  judgment  and  interest  thereon  will  not  have  a  material  adverse  affect  on  Mobile  Mini’s  financial  condition.    The  financial 
covenants under our revolving credit facility and the indenture related to our Senior Notes exclude the amount of the judgment and 
related interest costs when measuring compliance with the terms of the related facilities. 

With respect to the litigation with A-1 Trailer Rental, on February 9, 2004, a final judgment was entered in the United States District 
Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division.  Pursuant to the terms of the final judgment, A-1 is not obligated to indemnify 
Mobile Mini for losses relating to the judgment.  Mobile Mini was awarded money relating to other claims, and some fees and costs.  
The judgment will not be appealed.  The amount due to Mobile Mini under the judgment (approximately $217,000) has been paid to 
the Company out of an escrow account.  The remainder of the escrowed funds has been paid over to A-1 Trailer. 

ITEM 4.  

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. 

No matters were submitted to a vote of our security holders during the quarter ended December 31, 2003. 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF MOBILE MINI, INC. 

Set  forth  below  is  information  respecting  the  name,  age  and  position  with  Mobile  Mini  of  our  executive  officer  who  is  not  a 
continuing  director  or  a  director  nominee.    Information  respecting  our  executive  officers  who are continuing directors and director 
nominees is set forth in Item 10 of this report which incorporates by reference to Mobile Mini’s definitive proxy statement to the 2004 
annual meeting of shareholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A. 

Deborah  K.  Keeley  has  served  as  our  Vice  President  of  Accounting  since  August  1996  and  Corporate  Controller  since  September 

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1995.  Prior to joining us, she was Corporate Accounting Manager for Evans Withycombe Residential, an apartment developer, for 
six years.  Ms. Keeley has an Associates degree in Computer Science and received her Bachelors degree in Accounting from Arizona 
State University in 1989.  Age 40. 

ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS. 

Our common stock trades on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “MINI”.  The following are the high and low sale prices 
for the common stock during the periods indicated as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market. 

PART II 

2002 

2003 

   HIGH   

   LOW   

   HIGH   

   LOW    

Quarter ended March 31, 
Quarter ended June 30, 
Quarter ended September 30, 
Quarter ended December 31, 

  $ 39.30 
    33.90 
    17.80 
    15.99 

  $ 29.71 
    16.06 
    11.58 
9.88 

  $ 16.39 
    19.10 
    20.45 
    21.62 

  $ 13.80 
    14.75 
    15.15 
    18.80 

We had approximately 108 holders of record of our common stock on February 26, 2004, and we estimate that we have more than 
2,000 beneficial owners of our common stock. 

Mobile Mini has not paid cash dividends on its common stock and does not expect to do so in the foreseeable future, as it intends to 
retain  all  earnings  to  provide  funds  for  the  operation  and  expansion  of  its  business.    Our  revolving  credit  agreement  precludes  the 
payment of cash dividends on our stock without the consent of our lenders.  

No Sales of Unregistered Securities 

We have not made any sales of unregistered securities during the past three years except for sales on June 26, 2003 of $150 million in 
principal amount of our 9.5% Senior Notes, due 2013, made pursuant to Rule 144A promulgated by the SEC.  

Equity Compensation Plan Information  

Information  regarding  Mobile  Mini’s  equity  compensation  plans,  including  both  stockholder  approved  plans  and  non-stockholder 
approved  plans,  is  set  forth  in  the  section  entitled  "Equity  Compensation  Plan  Information"  in  Mobile  Mini’s  Notice  of  Annual 
Meeting  of  Shareowners  and  Proxy  Statement,  to  be  filed  within  120  days  after  December  31,  2003,  which  information  is 
incorporated herein by reference. 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 6.  

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA. 

The following table shows our selected consolidated historical financial data for the stated periods.  Certain amounts include the effect 
of  rounding.    You  should  read  this  material  with  “Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of 
Operations” and the financial statements included elsewhere in this report. 

1999 

Year ended December 31, 
2001 
(in thousands, except per share and operating data) 

2002 

2000 

2003 

Consolidated Statements of Income Data: 
Revenues: 
Leasing 
Sales 
Other 

Total revenues 
Costs and expenses: 
Cost of sales 
Leasing, selling and general expenses 
Florida litigation expense 
Depreciation and amortization 

Total costs and expenses 
Income from operations 
Other income (expense): 

Interest income 
Interest expense 
Debt restructuring expense (1) 

Income before provision for income taxes  
Provision for income taxes 
Preferred stock dividend 
Net income available to common stockholders 

Net income per share: 
Basic 
Diluted 

Weighted average number of common and common share 
  equivalents outstanding: 

Basic 
Diluted 

Operating Data: 
Number of branches (at year end)  
Number of states and Canadian provinces (at year end) 
Lease fleet units (at year end) 
Lease fleet utilization (annual average) 
Lease revenue growth from prior year 
Operating margin 
Net income margin 

 $  53,302 
12,820 
531 
66,653 

 $  76,084 
13,406 
686 
90,176 

 $  99,684 
14,519 
520 
  114,723 

 $ 116,169  
16,008  
920  
  133,097  

 $ 128,482  
17,248  
838 
  146,568  

8,506 
32,218 
⎯   
4,065 
44,789 
21,864 

8,681 
44,369 
⎯   
6,023 
59,073 
31,103 

9,546 
56,387 
⎯   
8,237 
74,170 
40,553 

10,343  
69,203  
1,320  
9,457  
90,323 
42,774  

11,487  
79,071  
8,502  
11,079  
  110,139  
36,429  

47 
(6,162) 
(707) 
15,042 
6,016 
(22) 
 $  9,004 

80 
(9,511) 
⎯   
21,672 
8,452 
⎯   
 $  13,220 

34 
(9,959) 
⎯   
30,628 
   11,945 
⎯   
 $  18,683 

13  
   (11,587) 
(1,300) 
29,900 
   11,661 
⎯   
$  18,239   $ 

2  
   (16,299) 
   (10,440) 
9,692  
3,780  
⎯   
5,912  

 $ 
 $ 

0.89 
0.85 

 $ 
 $ 

1.15 
1.11 

 $ 
 $ 

1.38 
1.34 

 $ 
 $ 

1.28  
1.26  

 $ 
 $ 

0.41 
0.41  

10,153 
10,640 

11,542 
11,944 

13,515 
13,954 

14,254  
14,442  

14,312 
14,462 

19 
11 
37,077 

29 
14 
55,472 

35 
18 
70,070 

46 
27 
83,642 

85.6%  
46.2%  
32.8%  
13.5%  

85.3%  
42.7%  
34.5%  
14.7%  

82.5%   
31.0%   
35.3%   
16.3%   

79.1%  
16.5%  
32.1%  
13.7%  

47 
28 
89,492 

78.7%
10.6%
24.9%
4.0%

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: 
Lease fleet, net 
Total assets 
Total debt 
Stockholders’ equity 

   1999    
 $ 121,277 
  178,392 
78,271 
77,387 

At December 31, 
(in thousands) 
   2001    
 $ 277,020 
  376,506 
  162,490 
  161,703 

   2002    
 $ 337,084 
  460,890 
  213,222 
  178,669 

   2000    
 $ 195,865 
  279,960 
  150,090 
92,431 

   2003    
 $ 382,754 
  515,080 
  240,610 
  189,293 

 (1) In 1999 and 2002, extraordinary items were recorded under SFAS No. 4, Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of 
Debt.  Pursuant to SFAS No. 145, losses from debt extinguishment have been reclassified to pre-tax earnings as debt restructuring 
expense for consistency in selected financial data presentations. 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Reconciliation of net income to EBITDA: 

Net income 
Interest expense 
Income taxes 
Depreciation and amortization 
Debt restructuring expense 
EBITDA (1) 
EBITDA margin (2) 

   1999    

   2000    
   2002    
   2001    
(in thousands except percentages) 

   2003    

 $  9,026 
6,162 
6,016 
4,065 
707 
$  25,976 

 $  13,220 
9,511 
8,452 
6,023 
⎯   
$  37,206 

 $  18,683 
9,959 
11,945 
8,237 
⎯   
$  48,824 

 $  18,239 
11,587 
11,661 
9,457 
1,300 
$  52,244 

 $  5,912 
16,299 
3,780 
11,079 
10,440 
$  47,510 

39.0%  

41.3%  

42.6%   

39.3%  

32.4%

(1)  EBITDA  is  defined  as  net  income  before  interest  expense,  income  taxes,  depreciation,  amortization,  and  debt  restructuring 
expense.  We present EBITDA because we believe it provides useful information regarding our liquidity and financial condition and 
because management uses this measure, adjusted for certain charges not related to its core operations, in evaluating the performance 
of  the  business.    The  only  such  charge  during  the  time  periods  presented  in  the  table  is  Florida  litigation  expenses.   See Item 7. – 
Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations.    EBITDA  should  not  be  considered  in 
isolation or as a substitute for net income, cash flows, or other consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with 
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States or as a measure of our profitability or liquidity.  EBITDA may not be 
comparable to similar titled measure presented by other companies. 

(2) EBITDA margin is calculated as EBITDA divided by total revenues expressed as a percentage.   

Selected Consolidated Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited): 

The following table sets forth certain unaudited selected consolidated financial information for each of the four quarters in fiscal 2002 
and  2003.    Certain  amounts  include  the  effect  of  rounding.    You  should  read  this  material  with  the  financial  statements  included 
elsewhere in this report. Mobile Mini believes these comparisons of consolidated quarterly selected financial data are not necessarily 
indicative of future performance. 

   First Quarter    

  Second Quarter   

   Third Quarter   

  Fourth Quarter  

(in thousands, except earnings per share) 

2002 

Revenues: 
Leasing 
Sales 
Other 

Total revenues 
Costs and expenses: 
Cost of sales 
Leasing, selling and general expenses 
Florida litigation expense 
Depreciation and amortization 

Total costs and expenses 
Income from operations 
Other income (expense) 

Interest income 
Interest expense 
Debt restructuring expense (1)  

Income before provision for income taxes 
Provision for income taxes 
Net income 

Earnings per share: 

Basic 
Diluted 

25,088     $ 
4,079      
221      
29,388      

2,682      
14,791      
⎯          
2,110      
19,583      
9,805      

7      
(2,427)     
(1,300)     
6,085      
2,373      
3,712     $ 

27,617     $ 
3,806      
248      
31,671      

2,477      
16,829      
⎯          
2,305      
21,611      
10,060      

4      
(2,795)     
⎯         
7,269      
2,835      
4,434     $ 

30,884     $ 
4,095      
164      
35,143      

2,707      
18,575      
1,143      
2,499      
24,924      
10,219      

1      
(3,041)     
⎯         
7,179      
2,800      
4,379     $ 

32,580  
4,028  
287  
36,895  

2,477  
19,008  
177  
2,543  
24,205  
12,690  

1  
(3,324) 
⎯     
9,367  
3,653  
5,714  

0.26     $ 
0.25     $ 

0.31     $  
0.31     $ 

0.31     $  
0.30     $ 

0.40  
0.40  

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 
  $ 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues: 
Leasing 
Sales 
Other 

Total revenues 
Costs and expenses: 
Cost of sales 
Leasing, selling and general expenses 
Florida litigation expense 
Depreciation and amortization 

Total costs and expenses 
Income from operations 
Other income (expense) 

Interest income 
Interest expense 
Debt restructuring expense 

Income (loss) before provision for (benefit of) income taxes  
Provision for (benefit of) income taxes 
Net income (loss) 

Earnings (loss) per share: 

Basic 
Diluted 

   First Quarter    

  Second Quarter   

   Third Quarter   

  Fourth Quarter  

(in thousands, except earnings per share) 

2003 

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 
  $ 

29,704     $ 
3,860      
178      
33,742      

2,454      
19,108      
64      
2,617      
24,243      
9,499      

1      
(3,216)     
⎯         
6,284      
2,451      
3,833     $ 

30,942     $ 
3,990      
120      
35,052      

2,494      
19,542      
155      
2,673      
24,864      
10,188      

⎯          
(3,240)     
(10,440)     
(3,492)     
(1,362)     
(2,130)    $ 

32,772     $ 
3,653      
211      
36,636      

2,354      
19,164      
65      
2,832      
24,415      
12,221      

1      
(4,887)     
⎯         
7,335      
2,861      
4,474     $ 

35,064  
5,745  
330  
41,139  

4,185  
21,257  
8,218  
2,957  
36,617  
4,522  

⎯     
(4,957) 
⎯     
(435) 
(170) 
(265) 

0.27     $ 
0.27     $ 

(0.15)    $ 
(0.15)    $ 

0.31    $ 
0.31    $ 

(0.02) 
 (0.02) 

(1)  In 2002, extraordinary items were recorded under SFAS No. 4, Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt.  
Pursuant to SFAS No. 145, Losses from debt extinguishment have been reclassified to pre-tax earnings as debt restructuring expense 
for consistency in selected financial data presentations. 

ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF 
OPERATIONS. 

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the consolidated financial 
statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this report.  This discussion contains forward-looking statements that 
involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in those forward-looking statements as 
a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those described under Item 1, "Description of Business -Cautionary Factors 
that May Affect Future Operating Results.” 

Overview  

General 

In 1996, we initiated a strategy of focusing on leasing rather than selling our portable storage units.  As a result of this change, leasing 
revenues  as  a  percentage  of  our  total  revenues  increased  steadily  from  42.1%  in  1996  to  87.7%  in  2003.    The  number  of  portable 
storage and combination storage/office and mobile office units in our lease fleet increased from 13,604 at the end of 1996 to 89,492 at 
the end of 2003, representing a compounded annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 30.9%. 

Because of this shift in strategy, we derive most of our revenues from the leasing of portable storage containers and portable offices.   
The  average  contracted  lease  term  at  lease  inception  is  approximately  11  months  for  portable  storage  units  and  approximately  15 
months for portable offices.  After the expiration of the contracted lease term, units continue on lease on a month-to-month basis.  In 
2003, the over-all lease term averaged 25 months for portable storage units and 22 months for portable offices.  As a result of these 
long  average  lease  terms,  our  leasing  business  tends  to  provide  us  with  a  recurring  revenue  stream  and  minimizes  fluctuations  in 
revenues.  However, there is no assurance that the Company will maintain such lengthy overall lease terms. 

In addition to our leasing business, we also sell portable storage containers and occasionally we sell portable office units.  Since 1996, 
when  we  changed  our  focus  to  leasing,  our  sales  revenues  as  a  percentage  of  total  revenues  has  decreased  from  55.7%  in  1996  to 
11.8% in 2003. 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Over  the  last  six  years,  Mobile  Mini  has grown  both  through  internally  generated  growth  and  acquisitions  which  we  use  to  gain  a 
presence in new markets.  Typically, we enter a new market through the acquisition of the business of a smaller local competitor and 
then apply our business model, which is usually much more customer and marketing focused than the business we are buying.  As a 
result, a new branch location will typically have fairly low operating margins during its early years, but as our marketing efforts help 
us  penetrate  the  new  market  and  we  increase  the  number  of  units  on  rent  at  the  new  branch,  we  take  advantage  of  operating 
efficiencies to improve operating margins at the branch and reach company average levels after several years.  We believe that we 
incur lower start-up costs and a quicker growth curve using this acquisition model than if we were to establish the new location from 
the ground up, without the acquisition of assets immediately producing lease revenue in the new market.   

Among the external factors we examine to determine the direction of our business is the level of non-residential construction activity, 
especially in areas of the country where we have a significant presence.  Construction activity represents approximately 32% of our 
units on rent at December 31, 2003, and because of the degree of operating leverage we have, declines in non-residential construction 
activity in 2002 and 2003 had a significant effect on our operating margins and net income.  When we enter a new market, we incur 
certain  costs  in  developing  an  infrastructure.    For  example,  advertising  and  marketing  costs  will  be  incurred  and  certain  minimum 
staffing levels and certain minimum levels of delivery equipment will be put in place regardless of the new market’s revenue base.  
Once  we  have  achieved  revenues  during  any  period  that  are  sufficient  to  cover  our  fixed  expenses,  we  generate  high  margins  on 
incremental lease revenues.  Therefore, each additional unit put on lease in excess of the break even level, contributes significantly to 
profitability.  Conversely, additional fixed expenses that we incur require us to achieve additional revenue as compared to the prior 
period  to  cover  the  additional  expense.    In  2003,  in  addition  to  increased  costs  associated  with  branches  established  in  2002,  we 
experienced material increases in insurance, property taxes and fuel costs.  In that year, we continued to see weakness in the level of 
leasing revenues from the non-residential construction sector of our customer base, resulting in an approximately 10.6% increase in 
leasing  revenues  during  2003  compared  to  2002.    This  lower  than  historical  growth  rate  combined  with  increases  in  fixed  costs 
depressed our growth in adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) in 2003. 

In managing our business, we focus on our internal growth rate in leasing revenue, which we define as growth in lease revenues on a 
year over year basis at our branch locations in operation for at least one year, without inclusion of same market acquisitions.  This 
internal  growth  rate  has  remained  positive  every  quarter  in  2002  and  2003,  but  has  fallen  to  single  digits  from  over  20%  in  prior 
quarters due to the slowdown in the economy, especially as the slowdown has affected the non-residential construction sector in areas 
where we have large branch operations, including Texas and Colorado.  Mobile Mini’s goal is to increase its internal growth rate so 
that revenue growth will exceed inflationary growth in expenses and we can again take advantage of the operating leverage inherent 
in our business model. 

We are a capital-intensive business, so in addition to focusing on earnings per share, we focus on adjusted EBITDA.  We calculate 
this number by first calculating EBITDA, which is a measure of our earnings before interest expense, debt restructuring costs, income 
tax,  depreciation  and  amortization.    This  measure  eliminates  the  effect  of  financing  transactions  that  we  enter  into  on  an  irregular 
basis based on capital needs and market opportunities and provides us with a means to measure internally generated cash from which 
we can fund our interest expense and our lease fleet growth.  In comparing EBITDA from year to year, we typically ignore the effect 
of what we consider non-recurring events not related to our core business operations to arrive at adjusted EBITDA.  The only non-
recurring events reflected in the adjusted EBITDA over the last several years have been the effect in 2002 and in 2003 of our Florida 
litigation  expenses.    The  Florida  litigation  is  discussed  under  the caption  “Legal  Proceedings”  in  Part  I,  Item  3  of  this  Report.    In 
addition, several of the covenants contained under our revolving credit facility are expressed by reference to this financial measure, 
similarly computed.  Because EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we 
include  in  this  Report  a  reconciliation  of  EBITDA  to  the  most  directly  comparable  financial  measures  calculated  and  presented  in 
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  This reconciliation is included in Item 6, “Selected 
Financial Data.” 

In managing our business, we routinely compare our adjusted EBITDA margins from year to year and based upon age of branch. We 
define  this  margin  as  adjusted  EBITDA  divided  by  our  total  revenues,  expressed  as  a  percentage.    We  use  this  comparison,  for 
example, to study internally the effect that increased costs have on our margins.  As capital is invested in our established locations, we 
achieve higher adjusted EBITDA margins on that capital than we achieve on capital invested to establish a new branch because our 
fixed costs are already in place.  The fixed costs are those associated with yard and delivery equipment, as well as advertising, sales, 
marketing  and  office  expenses.    With  a  new  market  or  branch,  we  must  first  fund  and  absorb  the  startup  costs  for  setting  up  the 
facility,  hiring  and  developing  the  management  and  sales  team  and  developing  our  marketing  and  advertising  programs.    A  new 
branch will have low adjusted EBITDA margins in its early years until the number of units on rent increases.  Because of our high 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
operating  margins  on  incremental  lease  revenue,  which  we  realize  on  a  branch  by  branch  basis  when  the  branch  achieves  leasing 
revenues sufficient to cover the branch’s fixed costs, leasing revenues in excess of the break-even amount produce large increases in 
profitability.    Conversely,  absent  significant  growth  in  leasing  revenues,  the  adjusted  EBITDA  margin  at  a  branch  will  remain 
relatively flat on a period by period comparative basis. 

Accounting and Operating Overview. 

Our  leasing  revenues  include  all  rent  and  ancillary  revenues  we  receive  for  our  portable  storage,  combination  storage/office  and 
mobile office units. Our sales revenues include sales of these units to customers.  Our other revenues consist principally of charges for 
the delivery of the units we sell.  Our principal operating expenses are (1) cost of sales; (2) leasing, selling and general expenses; and 
(3) depreciation and amortization, primarily depreciation of the portable storage units in our lease fleet.  Cost of sales is the cost of the 
units  that  we  sold  during  the  reported  period  and  includes  both  our  cost  to  buy,  transport,  refurbish  and  modify  used  ocean-going 
containers  and  our  cost  to  manufacture  portable  storage  units  and  other  structures.    Leasing,  selling  and  general  expenses  include 
among other expenses, advertising and other marketing expenses, commissions and corporate overhead for both our leasing and sales 
activities.  Annual repair and maintenance expenses on our leased units over the last three years have averaged approximately 2.0% of 
lease  revenues  and  are  included  in leasing, selling and general expenses.  We expense our normal repair and maintenance costs as 
incurred (including the cost of periodically repainting units). 

Our principal asset is our lease fleet, which has historically maintained value close to its original cost.  Our lease fleet units (other than 
van trailers) were historically depreciated on the straight-line method over our units' estimated useful life, in most cases 20 years after 
the date that we put the unit in service, with estimated residual values of 70% on steel units.  Effective in 2004, we will depreciate the 
steel units in our lease fleet using an estimated useful life of 25 years, after the date the unit is placed in service, with an estimated 
residual  value  of  62.5%,  which  effectively  results  in  continual  depreciation  on  these  containers  at  the  same  annual  rate.    The 
depreciation policy is supported by our historical lease fleet data which shows that we have been able to retain comparable rental rates 
and sales prices irrespective of the age of our container lease fleet.  Our wood mobile office units are depreciated over twenty years to 
50% of original cost.  Van trailers, which constitute a small part of our fleet, are depreciated over 7 years to a 20% residual value.  
Van trailers, which are only added to the fleet as a result of acquisitions of portable storage businesses, are of much lower quality than 
storage containers and consequently depreciate more rapidly. See "Item 1. Business — Product Lives and Durability." 

Our  branch  expansion  program  and  other  factors  can  affect  our  overall  utilization  rate.    From  1996  through  2003,  our  annual 
utilization levels averaged 81.4%, and ranged from a high of 89.7% in 1996 to a low of 78.7% in 2003.  The lower utilization rate in 
the last few years was primarily a result of (i) the fact that many of our acquisitions have had utilization levels lower than our historic 
average rates, especially after we add our proprietary product, (ii) the fact that it is easier to maintain a higher utilization rate at a large 
branch and we increased the number of small branches in more recent years, and (iii) the economic slowdown in the general economy 
and in particular the slowdown in the construction sector.  We entered six markets in 2001, 11 markets in 2002, and one market in 
2003, resulting in reduced overall utilization rates as our system absorbs the added assets.  From the end of 1996 through the end of 
2003,  we  grew  our  lease  fleet  from  13,600  units  to  89,500  units,  representing  a  CAGR  of  30.9%.    Our  utilization  is  somewhat 
seasonal with the low realized in the first quarter and the high realized in the fourth quarter.  

25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Results of Operations 

The  following  table  shows  the  percentage  of  total  revenues  represented  by  the  key  items  that  make  up  our  statements  of  income; 
certain amounts may not add due to rounding: 

    1999     

Year Ended December 31, 
    2001     

    2000     

    2002     

    2003     

Revenues: 
Leasing 
Sales 
Other 

Total revenues 
Costs and expenses: 
Cost of sales 
Leasing, selling and general expenses 
Florida litigation expense 
Depreciation and amortization 

Total costs and expenses 
Income from operations 
Other income (expense): 

Interest income 
Interest expense 
Debt restructuring expense 

Income before provision for income taxes and 
  preferred stock dividend  
Provision for income taxes 
Preferred stock dividend 
Net income available to common stockholders 

80.0% 
19.2 
0.8 
  100.0 

84.4% 
14.9 
0.7 
  100.0 

86.9% 
12.7 
0.4 
  100.0 

87.3% 
12.0 
0.7 
  100.0 

87.7% 
11.8 
0.5 
  100.0 

12.8 
48.3 

  ⎯ 

6.1 
  67.2 
32.8 

  — 

(9.2)   
(1.1)   

22.5 
9.0 

9.6 
49.2 

  ⎯ 

6.7 
  65.5 
34.5 

  — 
  (10.5)   
  ⎯ 

24.0 
9.3 

  — 
  13.5%  

  — 
  14.7%  

8.3 
49.2 

  ⎯ 

7.2 
  64.7 
35.3 

  — 

(8.7)   

  ⎯ 

26.7 
  10.4 
  — 
  16.3%  

7.8 
52.0 
1.0 
7.1 
  67.9 
32.1 

7.8 
53.9 
5.8 
7.6 
  75.1 
24.9 

  — 

(8.7)   
(1.0)   

  — 
  (11.1) 

(7.2)   

22.4 
8.7 

6.6 
2.6 

  — 
  13.7%  

  — 

4.0%  

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2002 

Total revenues in 2003 increased $13.5 million, or 10.1%, to $146.6 million from $133.1 million in 2002.  Leasing portable storage 
units and portable offices accounts for the majority of our revenues, and accounted for approximately 87.7% of total revenues during 
2003.  Leasing revenues in 2003 increased $12.3 million, or 10.6%, to $128.5 million from $116.2 million in 2002.  This increase 
resulted  primarily  from  an  11.9%  increase  in  the  average  number  of  units  on  lease.    In  2003,  our  internal  growth  rate  was 
approximately  7.4%  as  compared  to  approximately  7.5%  in  2002.    We  define  internal  growth  as  the  growth  in  lease  revenues  in 
markets  opened  for  at  least  one  year,  excluding  any  growth  arising  as  a  result  of  additional  acquisitions  in  those  markets.    We 
completed only one small acquisition in Portland, Oregon in late 2003.  The slowdown in our internal growth rate in 2002 and 2003 is 
principally due to general economic weakness, particularly associated with the non-residential construction sector and particularly in 
several  of  our  more  established  markets.    Internal  growth  at  many  of  our  newer  locations  was  strong.    This  growth  was  offset  by 
weakness at certain of our older more established branches, especially those in Texas and Colorado, which were affected by weakness 
in construction in the markets that those branches serve.  Sales of portable storage units have accounted for approximately 11.8% to 
12.7% of our total revenues over the past three years, and we generate less than 1.0% of our total revenues from other miscellaneous 
revenues,  primarily  related  to  our  sales  business,  principally  transportation  charges  for  the  delivery  of  units  sold  and  the  sale  of 
ancillary  products.    Our  revenues  from  the  sale  of  portable storage units increased $1.2 million, or 7.8%, to $17.2 million in 2003 
from  $16.0  million  in  2002.    This  7.8%  increase  is  partially  due  to  increase  sales  at  the  locations  we  added  in  2002  and  a  large 
government sale in the fourth quarter 2003, partially offset by lower sales volume at our more established locations. 

Cost of sales is the cost to us of units that we sold during the period.  Cost of sales increased $1.1 million, or 11.1%, to $11.5 million 
in 2003 from $10.3 million in 2002.  Cost of sales, as a percentage of sales revenues, increased to 66.6% in 2003 from 64.6% in 2002.  
This slight decrease in sales margins is not significant and is partially attributable to lower margins on the government sale made in 
the fourth quarter 2003, and the sales of van trailers at much lower margins than our principal products.   

26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leasing,  selling  and  general  expenses  increased  $9.9  million,  or  14.3%,  to  $79.1  million  in  2003  from  $69.2  million  in  2002.   
Leasing, selling and general expenses, as a percentage of total revenues, was 53.9% and 52.0% in 2003 and 2002, respectively.  These 
expenses as a percentage of total revenues declined at older branches, as we were able to benefit from economies of scale as those 
branches grew.  This was offset by higher leasing, selling and general expenses as a percentage of total revenues at newer branches.  
In  general,  new  branches  initially  have  lower  operating  margins  until  their  fixed  operating  costs  are  covered  by  higher  leasing 
volumes  that  typically  are  not  achieved  until  the  branch  has  been  operated  for  several  years.    Among  the  other  major  increases  in 
leasing, selling and general expenses in 2003 were increases in insurance expense ($2.1 million), advertising expense ($0.7 million), 
rent  expense  ($0.5  million)  which  related  in  significant  part  to  the  addition  of  11  new  locations  during  the  second  half  of  2002, 
property tax expense ($0.8 million) and fuel expenses incurred in connection with the delivery and pick up of leased containers ($0.7 
million). 

Florida litigation expense relates to litigation and related costs incurred in connection with our Florida litigation (see Item 3 of Part I 
of this report).  We recorded approximately $8.5 million and $1.3 million of costs and legal expenses incurred to date in connection 
with this suit and related litigation in 2003 and 2002, respectively.   

EBITDA in 2003 was $47.5 million, which included the effect of $8.5 million of Florida litigation expense.  In 2002, EBITDA was 
$52.2 million, which included the effect of $1.3 million of Florida litigation expense. 

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $1.6 million, or 17.1%, to $11.1 million in 2003 from $9.5 million in 2002.  The 
higher depreciation was directly related to a larger fleet in 2003, which enabled Mobile Mini to achieve higher lease revenues, and 
includes  depreciation  expenses  associated  with  the  refurbishment  of  portable  storage  units  added  to  the  lease  fleet  during  2003 
following our acquisition of the units in transactions that occurred during 2002 and prior years and includes the higher depreciation 
rate  associated  with  wood  mobile  offices  which  were  a  larger  part  of  our  fleet  in  2003.    See  “Critical  Accounting  Policies  and 
Estimates” within this Item 7. 

Interest expense increased $4.7 million, or 40.7%, to $16.3 million in 2003 from $11.6 million in 2002.  The increase was primarily 
the result of the issuance in June 2003 of our Senior Notes, the proceeds of which were used to replace lower interest secured debt.  
Our average debt outstanding during 2003, compared to 2002, increased by 17.0%, with most of the increase occurring during the 
first six months of 2003, primarily due to increased borrowings under our credit facility to fund the growth of our lease fleet during 
that  period.    The  increase  in  interest  expense  includes  the  higher  interest  cost  associated  with  our  Senior  Notes,  which  effectively 
increased  the  weighted  average  interest  rate  on  our  debt  from  5.7%  for  2002  to  6.8%  for  2003,  excluding  amortization  of  debt 
issuance costs.  Taking into account the amortization of debt issuance costs, the weighted average interest rate was 5.9% in 2002 and 
7.1% in 2003.  Our weighted average interest rate is expected to be higher in 2004 due to the full year effect of the higher interest rate 
on the Senior Notes.  Our Senior Notes bear interest at 9.5% per annum, which is higher than the average borrowing rate under our 
revolving credit facility.  On an annualized basis, the additional interest cost incurred under the Senior Notes versus the senior secured 
credit facility is approximately $6 million based on floating rates and swap rates in effect at the time the transaction was concluded.  
The  issuance  of  the  Senior  Notes  provided  the  Company  with  a  great  deal  of  additional  liquidity.    See  “Liquidity  and  Capital 
Resources” within this Item 7. 

Debt  restructuring  expense  was  $10.4  million  and  includes  the  termination  expenses  (approximately  $8.7  million)  related  to 
unwinding certain interest rate swap agreements relating to debt repaid with the proceeds from our sale during June 2003 of $150.0 
million of Senior Notes and the write off of certain capitalized debt issuance costs (approximately $1.7 million) associated with our 
revolving  credit  agreement  before  it  was  amended  and  restated  in  June  2003.    During  2002,  we  incurred  $1.3  million  of  expense 
related to the write off of certain capitalized debt issuance costs associated with a former credit agreement.  The 2002 transaction was 
recorded as an extraordinary item in 2002 pursuant to SFAS No. 4, Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt.  In 
accordance with SFAS No. 145, which among other things rescinded SFAS No. 4, the 2002 transaction has been reclassified in our 
consolidated statements in pre-tax earnings as debt restructuring expense. 

Provision for income taxes was based on an annual effective tax rate of 39.0% for both 2003 and 2002.  At December 31, 2003 and 
2002, we had a federal net operating loss carryforward of approximately $67.9 million and $47.3 million, respectively, which expires 
if unused from 2008 to 2023.  At December 31, 2003 and 2002, we had an Arizona net operating loss carryforward of approximately 
$10.4 million and $9.6 million, respectively, which expires if unused from 2004 to 2009.  In addition, we had other net operating loss 
carryforward  in  the  various  states  in  which  we  operate.    We  believe,  based  on  internal  projections  that  we  will  generate  sufficient 
taxable  income  needed  to  realize  the  corresponding  federal  and  state  deferred  tax  assets  and  implement  tax  planning  strategies  to 
reduce the probability of expiring net operating losses. 

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income in 2003 was $5.9 million, which included after tax charges of $5.2 million related to Florida litigation expense and after 
tax charges of $6.4 million related to debt restructuring expense.  In 2002, net income was $18.2 million, which included the after tax 
charge  of  $0.8  million  related  to  Florida  litigation  expense  and  an  after  tax  charge  of  $0.8  million  related  to  debt  restructuring 
expense. 

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2002 Compared to Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2001 

Total revenues in 2002 increased $18.4 million, or 16.0%, to $133.1 million from $114.7 million in 2001.  Leasing revenues in 2002 
increased  $16.5  million,  or  16.5%,  to  $116.2  million  from  $99.7  million  in  2001.    This  increase  resulted  primarily  from  a  17.6% 
increase  in  the  average  number  of  units  on  lease.    In  2002,  our  internal  growth  rate  was  approximately  7.5%  as  compared  to 
approximately 22.2% in 2001.  The slowdown in our internal growth rate in 2002 was principally due to general economic weakness, 
particularly  associated  with  the  non-residential  construction  customer  segment  of  our  business  and  particularly  in  our  more 
established markets.  Our revenues from the sale of portable storage units increased $1.5 million, or 10.2%, to $16.0 million in 2002 
from $14.5 million in 2001.  This 10.2% increase is principally due to sales at our newer branches that were not opened during the 
entire 2001 year and our new branches added through acquisitions in 2002, large sales to a commercial airline that occurred in 2002, 
and from sales related to culling our fleet of a portion of non-core products, principally van trailers. 

Cost of sales increased $0.8 million, or 8.4%, to $10.3 million in 2002 from $9.5 million in 2001.  Cost of sales, as a percentage of 
sales  revenues,  decreased  to  64.6%  in  2002  from  65.7%  in  2001.    This  slight  increase  in  sales  margins  is  not  significant  and  is 
partially  attributable  to  higher  margins  achieved  on  large  sales  to  a  commercial  airline  in  2002,  partially  offset  by the sales of van 
trailers at much lower margins than our principal products. 

Leasing,  selling  and  general  expenses  increased  $12.8  million,  or  22.7%,  to  $69.2  million  in  2002  from  $56.4  million  in  2001.   
Leasing, selling and general expenses, as a percentage of total revenues, was 52.0% and 49.2% in 2002 and 2001, respectively.  These 
expenses as a percentage of total revenues declined at older branches, as we were able to benefit from operating leverage as those 
branches grew.  This was offset by higher leasing, selling and general expenses as a percentage of total revenues at newer branches.  
In  general,  new  branches  initially  have  lower  operating  margins  until  their  fixed  operating  costs  are  covered  by  higher  leasing 
volumes that typically are not achieved until the branch has been operated for several years. 

We recorded approximately $1.3 million of legal expenses incurred during the year ended December 31, 2002 in connection with the 
litigation we were party to in Florida.   

EBITDA in 2002 was $52.2 million, which included the effect of $1.3 million of Florida litigation expense.  In 2001, EBITDA had 
been $48.8 million. 

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $1.2 million, or 14.8%, to $9.5 million in 2002 from $8.2 million in 2001.  The 
increase is due to higher depreciation expense on our larger lease fleet and the higher depreciation rate associated with wood mobile 
offices, which were present in greater number in our fleet in 2002 than in 2001, partially offset by the lack of amortization of goodwill 
due to the adoption of SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, on January 1, 2002.  Had SFAS No. 142 been effective 
for 2001, our depreciation and amortization expenses for 2001 would have been approximately $1.1 million lower than reported. 

Interest expense increased $1.6 million, or 16.3%, to $11.6 million in 2002 from $10.0 million in 2001.  The increase was primarily 
the result of higher average debt outstanding during 2002.  Our average debt outstanding increased 33.4%, primarily due to increased 
borrowings  under  our  revolving  credit  facility  to  fund  the  growth  of  our  lease  fleet,  including  acquisitions.    This  increase  in 
borrowings was offset by a decrease in the weighted average interest rate on our debt to 5.7% in 2002 from 6.3% in 2001 excluding 
amortization of debt issuance costs.  Taking into account the amortization of debt issuance costs, the weighted average interest rate 
was 5.9% in 2002 and 6.7% in 2001. 

Debt  restructuring  expense  was  $1.3  million  in  2002,  and  was  related  to  the  write-off  of  certain  capitalized  debt  issuance  costs 
associated with our prior credit agreement. This write-off was taken in connection with our entering into a new credit agreement in 
February 2002.  This write-off was originally presented as an extraordinary item for the year ended December 31, 2002 under SFAS 
No. 4, and in accordance with SFAS No. 145, has been reclassified in pre-tax earnings as debt restructuring expense for 2002. 

Provision for income taxes was based on an annual effective tax rate of 39.0% for both 2002 and 2001. 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income in 2002 was $18.2 million, which included after tax charges of $0.8 million related to Florida litigation expense and after 
tax charge of $0.8 million related to debt restructuring expense.  In 2001, net income was $18.7 million. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources 

Liquidity Summary 

Over the last several years, Mobile Mini has financed an increasing proportion of its capital needs, most of which are for discretionary 
needs  through  working  capital  and  funds  generated  from  operations.    Currently,  we  spend  approximately  $3.0  million  per  year  in 
maintenance  capital  expenditures  to  replace  forklifts  and  delivery  trucks  and  trailers  that  must  be  replaced.    The  remainder  of  our 
capital expenditure during any year are discretionary and are used principally to acquire additional units for the lease fleet.  Mobile 
Mini’s  outside  sources  of  liquidity  include  a  $250.0  million  senior  secured  revolving  line  of  credit,  and  public  equity  offerings 
completed in 1999 and 2001.  In addition, in June 2003, Mobile Mini issued $150.0 million of 9.5% Senior Notes and amended its 
$250.0 million senior secured revolving line of credit.  The effect of this transaction was to increase the Company’s interest expense, 
but to replace floating rate debt with fixed rate debt and, through changes in covenants in our senior secured revolving line of credit 
made possible by the issuance of the Senior Notes to substantially increase the Company’s borrowing availability for expansion.  Of 
the $250.0 million senior secured revolving line of credit, approximately $89.0 million (after the issuance of the Senior Notes) and 
$211.1  million  was  outstanding  at  December  31,  2003  and  2002,  respectively.    As  a  result  of  amending  the  $250.0  million  senior 
secured  revolving  line  of  credit  and  issuing  $150.0  million  Senior  Notes  the  Company’s  borrowing  availability  was  increased  to 
approximately $76.4 million.   

Since 1996, Mobile Mini has focused the growth of its business on its leasing operations.  Leasing is a capital intensive business that 
requires that we acquire assets before they generate revenues, cash flow and earnings.  The assets Mobile Mini leases have very long 
useful lives and require relatively little recurrent maintenance expenditures.  Most of the capital Mobile Mini has deployed into its 
leasing  business  has  been  of  a  discretionary  nature  in  order  to  expand  the  company’s  operations  geographically,  to  increase  the 
number of units available for lease at the company’s leasing locations, and to add to the mix of products the company offers.   During 
recent years, Mobile Mini’s operations have generated cash flow that exceeds the company’s pre-tax earnings, particularly due to the 
deferral of income taxes due to accelerated depreciation which is used for tax accounting. 

Historically, Mobile Mini has funded much of its growth through equity and debt issuances and borrowings under its revolving credit 
facility.    Recently,  as  our  operating  cash  flow  has  increased  and  our  internal  growth  rate  and  rate  of  external  expansion  through 
acquisitions have slowed, Mobile Mini has been able to fund more of its capital expenditures from operating cash flow, and during 
2003  Mobile  Mini  funded  the  bulk  of  its  $56.5  million  of  capital  expenditures  with  operating  cash  flow  of  $43.1  million.    As  a 
consequence,  Mobile  Mini’s  borrowings  under  its  revolving  credit  facility  and  the  principal  balance  of  its  Senior  Notes  did  not 
increase between June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2003, after having increased in the aggregate by $27.9 million between January 1, 
2003 and June 30, 2003. 

Operating Activities.  Our operations provided net cash flow of $43.1 million  in 2003 compared to $45.4 million in 2002 and $37.8 
million in 2001.  The $2.3 million decrease in 2003 over 2002 in cash provided by operating activities was due primarily to increases 
in inventory (primarily raw materials and supplies), deposits and prepaid expenses (primarily advertising costs and lease expenses) 
and accrued liabilities, partially offset by reductions in accounts payable.  The increase in accrued liabilities relates primarily to the 
Florida  litigation  reserve  and  the  accrual  of  interest  on  our  Senior  Notes,  which  is  paid  semi-annually,  in  January  and  July.    Cash 
provided by operating activities is enhanced by the rapid tax depreciation rate of our assets and our federal and state net operating loss 
carryforwards,  which  minimizes  our  tax  payments  at  this  time.    At  December  31,  2003  we  had  a  federal  net  operating  loss 
carryforward of approximately $67.9 million and a deferred tax liability of $47.4 million. 

Investing  Activities.    Net  cash  used  in  investing  activities  was  $57.6  million  in  2003,  $93.3  million  in  2002  and  $101.6  million  in 
2001.    In  2003,  $1.7  million  of  cash  was  paid  for  acquisition  of  businesses  compared  to  $30.8  million  in  2002  period  and  $13.7 
million in 2001.  Capital expenditures for our lease fleet were $52.0 million for 2003, $57.0 million for 2002 and $80.7 million in 
2001.  Capital expenditures during 2003 primarily related to costs of new lease fleet units, which we added at our branches to meet 
demand, and refurbishment costs associated with bringing containers acquired in prior years up to Mobile Mini standards.  During the 
past  several  years,  our  fleet  has  become  more  customized,  enabling  us  to  differentiate  our  product  from  our  competitors’  product.  
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment were $4.5 million in 2003, $5.9 million in 2002 and $6.9 million in 2001.  The 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
higher expenditures in 2002 primarily relate to expenditures at our locations acquired during 2002 where we made improvements to 
the  yard  facilities  and  purchased  the  required  delivery  equipment.    The  amount  of  cash that  we  use  during any period in investing 
activities is almost entirely within management’s discretion.  Mobile Mini has no contracts or other arrangements pursuant to which 
we are required to purchase a fixed or minimum amount of goods or services in connection with any portion of our business.  Our 
maintenance capital expenditures during 2003 were approximately $3.0 million, to cover the cost to replace old forklifts, trucks and 
trailers that we use to move and deliver our products to our customers. 

Financing Activities.  Net cash provided by financing activities was $12.7 million in 2003, $49.0 million in 2002, and $62.7 million in 
2001.    During  2003,  Mobile  Mini  completed  an  offering  of  $150  million  of  9.5%  Senior  Notes  due  2013  and,  at  the  same  time, 
amended its revolving credit facility to revise certain covenants.  The net proceeds of the Senior Notes offering were used in part to 
unwind  certain  interest  rate  swap  agreements  (approximately  $8.7  million)  that  had  been  entered  into  to  hedge  with  floating  rate 
indebtedness outstanding under the revolving credit facility prior to the transaction, and the remainder of the net proceeds was used to 
repay  borrowings  outstanding  under  the  revolving  credit  facility.    Upon  the  closing  of  the  transactions,  most  of  Mobile  Mini’s 
outstanding  debt  was  fixed  rate  debt,  and  the  amount  of  unused  borrowings  available  to  Mobile  Mini  under  the  revolving  credit 
facility increased to approximately $76.4 million.  As of December 31, 2003, we had $89.0 million of borrowings outstanding under 
our credit facility, and approximately $84.3 million of additional borrowings were then available to us under the facility. During the 
third quarter of 2003, borrowings under our revolving credit facility (measured at daily close of business) averaged $89.1 million and 
ranged  from  $89.0  million  to  $90.8  million.  During  the  fourth  quarter  of  2003,  borrowings  under  our  revolving  credit  facility 
(measured at daily close of business) averaged $90.3 million and ranged from $87.8 million to $92.1 million.  We used $36.3 million 
less  cash  in  financing  activities  during  2003  as  compared  to  2002,  primarily  as  a  result  of  our  strategic  decision  to  forego  most 
business acquisition opportunities during 2003 in order to focus on growing our existing branch network.  As of March 5, 2004, our 
borrowings  outstanding  under  our  credit  facility  were  approximately  $105.0  million,  compared  to  $89.0  million  at  December  31, 
2003.  This increase is primarily due to the semi-annual interest payment on the Senior Notes in January 2004 ($7.3 million) and the 
payment of the Florida litigation judgment in February 2004 ($8.0 million).     

The  interest  rate  under  our  revolving  credit  facility  is  based  on  our  ratio  of  funded  debt  to earnings before interest expense, taxes, 
depreciation and amortization, debt restructuring expenses and any judgment settlement costs related to our Florida litigation.  The 
interest rate, effective December 31, 2003, under our credit facility is the LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) rate plus 2.25% or 
the prime rate plus 0.5%, whichever we elect, subject to certain conditions.   

All of our obligations under the revolving credit facility are unconditionally guaranteed by each of our subsidiaries.  The revolving 
credit facility and the related guarantees are secured by substantially all of our assets and all assets of each guarantor, including but 
not  limited  to  (i)  a  first-priority  pledge  of  all  of  the  outstanding  capital  stock  or  other  ownership  interest  owned  by  us  and  each 
guarantor and (ii) first-priority security interests in all of our tangible and intangible assets and the tangible and intangible assets of 
each guarantor (in each case, other than certain equipment assets subject to capitalized lease obligations).  As of December 31, 2003, 
we had no capital lease obligations. 

Loans under the revolving credit facility bear interest at a rate based, at our option and subject to certain conditions, on either (1) the 
prime rate plus a spread ranging from 0.00% (nil) to 1.00% depending on our leverage ratio, or (2) the London inter-bank offered 
rate,  which  we  refer  to  as  LIBOR,  plus  a  spread  ranging  from  1.75%  to  2.75%  depending  on  our  leverage  ratio.    Interest  on 
outstanding  borrowings  is  payable  monthly  or,  which  respect  to  LIBOR  borrowings,  either  quarterly  or  on  the  last  day  of  the 
applicable interest period (whichever is more frequent).  In addition to paying interest on any outstanding principal amount, we pay an 
unused revolving credit facility fee to the senior lenders equal to a range of 0.30% to 0.50% per annum on the unused daily balance of 
the revolving credit commitment, payable monthly in arrears, based upon the actual number of days elapsed in a 360 day year.  For 
each letter of credit we issue, we pay (i) a per annum fee equal to the margin over the LIBOR rate from time to time in effect, (ii) a 
fronting fee on the aggregate outstanding stated amounts of such letters of credit, plus (iii) customary administrative charges. 

The  credit  facility  documentation  contains  covenants  restricting  our  ability  to,  among  others  (i)  declare  dividends  or  redeem  or 
repurchase  capital  stock,  (ii)  prepay,  redeem  or  purchase  other  debt,  (iii)  incur  liens,  (iv)  make  loans  and  investments,  (v)  incur 
additional  indebtedness,  (vi)  amend  or  otherwise  alter  debt  and  other  material  agreements,  (vii)  make  capital  expenditures,  (viii) 
engage  in  mergers,  acquisitions  and  asset  sales,  (ix)  transact  with  affiliates,  and  (x)  alter  the  business  we  conduct.    We  also  must 
comply  with  specified  financial  covenants  and  affirmative  covenants.    These  financial  covenants  set  maximum  values  for  Mobile 
Mini’s leverage, fixed charge coverage, capital expenditures, and minimum values for lease fleet utilization rates.  The leverage or 
debt  ratio  covenant  requires  that  our  ratio  of  funded  debt  to  EBITDA  (as  defined  in  our  revolving  credit  agreement)  not  exceed  a 
specified  ratio,  which  is  5.9  to  1.0  currently  and  which  decreases  to  5.5  to  1.0 at  December  31,  2005  and  thereafter.  EBITDA  for 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
purposes  of  this  covenant  (i)  includes  our  net  income  plus  the  amount  of  any  non-cash  extraordinary  losses  and  debt  restructuring 
costs arising from payments of termination costs of interest rate swaps and from write-offs of fees and expenses in connection with 
the  initial  funding  under  the  loan  and  security  agreement  and  (ii)  gives  pro  forma  effect  to  any  permitted  acquisition,  in  each  case 
measured  over  our  fiscal  quarters  ending  on  each  quarterly  measurement  date.    Our  debt  ratio  covenant  excludes  all  accruals  and 
payments made by us in connection with our Florida litigation.  Our fixed charge coverage ratio is 2.10 to 1.0 and is defined as the 
ratio of our cash flow for four quarters to the sum of interest expense for such four quarters plus the current portion of our funded 
debt, but the calculation excludes accruals or cash payments made in connection with our Florida litigation.  Our capital expenditure 
covenant limits our permitted payments made in connection with the acquisition of fixed assets to $115 million per year, as adjusted 
by annual carry-forward amounts plus an amount equal to 300% of the net cash proceeds we receive from any issuance of our equity 
securities.  Portable containers held for sale and inventory and equipment acquired in connection with acquisition permitted under our 
revolving  credit  agreement  are  excluded  from  the  capital  expenditures  covenant  limitation.    Our  lease  fleet  utilization  covenant 
requires us to maintain minimum utilization ranging from 75% to 77.5%, depending upon the fiscal quarter that is the measurement 
period.    The  credit  facility  also  contains  limitations  on,  among  other  things,  incurring  debt,  granting  liens,  making  investments, 
making restricted payments, entering into transactions with affiliates and prepaying subordinated debt.  Our compliance with financial 
covenants is measured as of the last day of each fiscal quarter.  We were in compliance with all the covenants under the revolving 
credit facility agreement at December 31, 2003. 

Events of default under the revolving credit facility include, but are not limited to, (i) our failure to pay principal or interest when due, 
(ii)  our  material  breach  of  any  representations  or  warranty,  (iii)  covenant  defaults,  (iv)  events  of  bankruptcy,  (v)  cross  default  to 
certain other debt, (vi) certain unsatisfied final judgments over a stated threshold amount, and (vii) a change of control. 

Prior to June 2003, we entered into interest rate swap agreements under which we effectively fixed the interest rate payable on $135.0 
million of borrowings under our credit facility so that the rate is based upon a spread from fixed rates, rather than a spread from the 
LIBOR rate.  In June 2003, in conjunction with our sale of our Senior Notes and the amendment of our credit facility, we terminated 
$110.0 million of these swap agreements.  Accounting for these swap agreements is covered by Statement of Financial Accounting 
Standard (SFAS) No. 133, and pursuant to SFAS No. 133, the swap termination resulted in a charge to net income of approximately 
$5.3 million, net of an income tax benefit of approximately $3.4 million at June 30, 2003.  At December 31, 2003, accumulated other 
comprehensive  loss  included  $3.7 million,  net  of  applicable  income  tax  benefit  of  $2.4 million,  related  to  our  interest  rate  swap 
agreements. At December 31, 2003, all of our outstanding indebtedness bears interest at fixed rates (or the rate is effectively fixed due 
to a swap agreement), other than approximately $64.0 million of borrowings under our credit facility.  

During 2002, net cash provided by financing activities was primarily provided by our credit facility, which we used to expand our 
lease  fleet  and  finance  our  branch  expansion,  including  acquisitions  of  new  branches  during  2002.    In  2001,  cash  provided  by 
financing activities was primarily provided by our sale of approximately 2.2 million shares of common stock in March 2001, which 
resulted in net proceeds to us of approximately $47.1 million.  Those proceeds were used to temporarily pay down our borrowings 
outstanding under our revolving line of credit.  

Mobile Mini believes that it has sufficient borrowings available under the facility to provide for its foreseeable capital needs over the 
next 12 to 36 months, with the duration dependent in large part upon the balance between the internal growth rates achieved during 
2004 and subsequent periods and the expenses of entry into additional markets during the period, which will be the main determinant 
of how quickly the company uses its additional borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility. 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments        

Our contractual obligations primarily consist of our outstanding balance under our secured revolving credit facility and $150.0 million 
of unsecured Senior Notes, together with other notes payable obligations both secured and unsecured.  We also have operating lease 
commitments for: 1) real estate properties for the majority of our branches with remaining lease terms on our major leased properties 
ranging from 3 to 13 years, 2) delivery, transportation and yard equipment, typically under a five-year lease with purchase options at 
the end of the lease term at a stated or fair market value price; and 3) other equipment, primarily office machines. 

We currently do not have any obligations under purchase agreements or commitments.  Historically, we enter into capitalized lease 
obligations from time to time to purchase delivery, transportation and yard equipment, but currently have no commitments recorded as 
a capital lease. 

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The table below provides a summary of our contractual commitments as of December 31, 2003.  The operating lease amounts include 
the extended terms on real estate lease option renewals on those properties we currently anticipate we will exercise at the end of the 
lease term.  

Payments due by period 
(in thousands) 

Total 

Less than 1 
year 

1-3 years 

3-5 years 

More than 5 
years 

Revolving Credit Facility 

$ 

89,000   $ 

—     $ 

—    

$ 

89,000  

$ 

—    

Senior Notes 

Other Long-Term Debt 

Operating Leases 

Capital Leases 

150,000  

1,610  

—    

974 

—    

636 

30,074  

5,140  

9,595  

—    

—    

—    

—    

—    

6,593  

—     

150,000  

—    

8,746  

—     

Total Contractual Obligations 

$  270,684   $ 

6,114   $ 

10,231  

$ 

95,593  

$  158,746  

Off-Balance Sheet Transactions 

Mobile  Mini  does  not  maintain  any  off-balance  sheet  transactions,  arrangements,  obligations  or  other  relationships  with 
unconsolidated  entities  or  others  that  are  reasonably  likely  to  have  a  material  current  or  future  effect  on  Mobile  Mini's  financial 
condition,  changes  in  financial  condition,  revenues  or  expenses,  results  of  operations,  liquidity,  capital  expenditures  or  capital 
resources. 

Seasonality 

Demand  from  some  of  our  customers  is  somewhat  seasonal.    Demand  for  leases  of  our  portable  storage  units  by  large  retailers  is 
stronger from September through December because these retailers need to store more inventory for the holiday season.  Our retail 
customers usually return these leased units to us early in the following year.  This causes lower utilization rates for our lease fleet and 
a marginal decrease in cash flow during the first quarter of the year. 

Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments  

Our  significant  accounting  policies  are  disclosed  in  Note  1  to  our  consolidated  financial  statements.    The  following  discussion 
addresses our most critical accounting policies, some of which require significant judgment. 

Mobile Mini’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in 
the  United  States.    The  preparation  of  these  consolidated  financial  statements  requires  us  to  make  estimates  and  assumptions  that 
affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  These estimates and assumptions 
are  based  upon  our  evaluation  of  historical  results  and  anticipated  future  events,  and  these  estimates  may  change  as  additional 
information  becomes  available.    The  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  defines  critical  accounting  policies  as  those  that  are, in 
management’s view, most important to our financial condition and results of operations and those that require significant judgments 
and estimates.  Management believes that our most critical accounting policies relate to: 

Revenue Recognition.  Lease and leasing ancillary revenues and related expenses generated under portable storage units and office 
units are recognized monthly, which approximates a straight-line basis.  Revenues and expenses from portable storage unit delivery 
and hauling are recognized when these services are billed, in accordance with SAB 101, as amended by SAB 104, as these services 
are considered inconsequential to the overall leasing transaction.  We recognize revenues from sales of containers upon delivery.   

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.  We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of 
our  customers  to  make  required  payments.    We  establish  and  maintain  reserves  against  estimated  losses  based  upon  historical  loss 

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
experience and evaluation of past due accounts agings.  Management reviews the level of the allowances for doubtful accounts on a 
regular basis and adjusts the level of the allowances as needed.  If we were to increase the factors used for our reserve estimates by 
25%, it would have the following approximate effect on our net income and diluted earnings per share at December 31, as follows: 

As reported: 
Net income 
Diluted earnings per share 

As adjusted for hypothetical change in 
reserve estimates: 
Net income 
Diluted earnings per share 

Years ended December 31, 

         2002          

         2003          

$  18,239,056 
1.26 
$ 

$ 
$ 

5,912,323 
0.41 

$  17,930,734 
1.24 
$ 

$ 
$ 

5,548,658 
0.38 

If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional 
allowances may be required. 

Impairment  of  Goodwill.    We  assess  the  impairment  of  goodwill  and  other  identifiable  intangibles  whenever  events  or  changes  in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.  Some factors we consider important which could trigger an 
impairment review include the following: 

•  Significant under-performance relative to historical, expected or projected future operating results; 
•  Significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business;  
•  Our market capitalization relative to net book value, and 
•  Significant negative industry or general economic trends. 

When we determine the carrying value of goodwill and other identified intangibles may not be recoverable, we measure impairment 
based on a projected discounted cash flow method using a discount rate determined by our management to be commensurate with the 
risk inherent in our current business model.  In accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, on January 1, 
2002, we ceased amortizing goodwill arising from acquisitions completed prior to July 1, 2001.  We tested goodwill for impairment 
using  the  two-step  process  prescribed  in  SFAS  142.    The  first  step  is  a  screen  for  potential  impairment,  while  the  second  step 
measures the amount of the impairment, if any.  We performed the annual required impairment tests for goodwill at December 31, 
2002  and  December  31,  2003  and  determined  that  the  carrying  amount  of  goodwill  was  not  impaired  as  of  those  dates.    We  will 
perform this test in the future as required by SFAS 142.  

Impairment Long-Lived Assets.  We review property, plant and equipment and intangibles with finite lives (those assets resulting from 
acquisitions)  for  impairment  when  events  or  circumstances  indicate  these  assets  might  be  impaired.    We  test  impairment  using 
historical  cash  flows  and  other  relevant  facts  and  circumstances  as  the  primary  basis  for  its  estimates  of  future  cash  flows.    This 
process requires the use of estimates and assumptions, which are subject to a high degree of judgment.  If these assumptions change in 
the future, whether due to new information or other factors, we may be required to record impairment charges for these assets. 

Depreciation Policy.  Our depreciation policy for our lease fleet uses the straight-line method over our units’ estimated useful life, in 
most cases 20 years after the date we put the unit in service, with estimated residual values of 70% on steel units and 50% on wood 
office units.  Van trailers, which are a small part of our fleet, are depreciated over 7 years to a 20% residual value.  Van trailers are 
only added to the fleet as a result of acquisitions of portable storage businesses.    

We periodically review our depreciation policy against various factors, including the results of our lenders’ independent appraisal of 
our lease fleet, practices of the larger competitors in our industry, profit margins we are achieving on sales of depreciated units and 
lease rates we obtain on older units.  Effective in 2004, our depreciation policy on our lease fleet steel units will be changed to an 
estimated  useful  life  of  25  years,  after  the  date  the  unit  is  placed  in  service,  with  an  estimated  residual  value  of  62.5%  which 
effectively  results  in  continual  depreciation  on  these  containers  at  the  same  annual  rate.    This  change  is  being  made  to  reflect  that 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
some  of  the  units  in  our  fleet  are  now  more  than  20  years  old  (measured  by  first  date  of  service  in  our  fleet)  and  we  have  not 
experienced any decline in these units fair rental or sales values. 

Any change to our depreciation policy on our steel units, from the 70% residual value and a 20-year life to a lower residual and a 
longer  useful  life,  could  have  a  positive, negative  or  neutral  effect  on  our  earnings,  with  the  actual  effect  being  determined  by  the 
change.  For example, a change in our estimates used in our residual values and useful life on our steel units would have the following 
approximate effect on our net income and diluted earnings per share at December 31, as reflected in the table below. 

Residual 
  Value   
70% 

Useful 
Life In 
  Years   
20 

62.5% 

25 

50% 

20 

40% 

40 

30% 

25 

25% 

25 

As Reported: 
Net income 
Diluted earnings per share 

As adjusted for change in estimates: 
Net income 
Diluted earnings per share 

As adjusted for change in estimates: 
Net income 
Diluted earnings per share 

As adjusted for change in estimates: 
Net income 
Diluted earnings per share 

As adjusted for change in estimates: 
Net income 
Diluted earnings per share 

As adjusted for change in estimates: 
Net income 
Diluted earnings per share 

      2002       

      2003       

$  18,239,056  $  5,912,323 
0.41 
$ 

1.26  $ 

$  18,239,056  $  5,912,323 
0.41 
$ 

1.26  $ 

$  16,610,123  $  4,012,250 
0.28 
$ 

1.15  $ 

$  18,239,056  $  5,912,323 
0.41 
$ 

1.26  $ 

$  16,121,444  $  3,442,825 
0.28 
$ 

1.15  $ 

$  15,795,657  $  3,062,903 
0.21 
$ 

1.09  $ 

Insurance Reserves.  Our worker’s compensation, auto and general liability insurance is purchased under large deductible programs.  
Our  current  per  incident  deductibles  are:  worker’s  compensation  $250,000,  auto  $100,000  and  general  liability  $100,000.    We 
expense the deductible portion of the individual claims.  However, we generally do not know the full amount of our exposure to a 
deductible in connection with any particular claim during the fiscal period in which the claim is incurred and for which we must make 
an  accrual  for  the  deductible  expense.    We  make  these  accruals  based  on  a  combination  of  the  claims  review  by  our  staff  and  our 
insurance  companies,  and,  at  year  end,  the  accrual  is  reviewed  and  adjusted,  in  part,  based  on  an  independent  actuarial  review  of 
historical loss data and using certain actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry.  A high degree of judgment is required 
in developing these estimates of amounts to be accrued, as well as in connection with the underlying assumptions.  In addition, our 
assumptions will change as our loss experience is developed.  All of these factors have the potential for significantly impacting the 
amounts we have previously reserved in respect of anticipated deductible expenses, and we may be required in the future to increase 
or decrease amounts previously accrued. 

Contingencies.    We  are  a  party  to  various  claims  and  litigation  in  the  normal  course  of  business.    Management's  current  estimated 
range of liability related to various claims and pending litigation is based on claims for which our management can determine that it is 
probable (as that term is defined in SFAS 5) that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.  
Because of the uncertainties related to both the probability of incurred and possible range of loss on pending claims and litigation, 
management must use considerable judgment in making reasonable determination of the liability that could result from an unfavorable 
outcome.    As  additional  information  becomes  available,  we  will  assess  the  potential  liability  related  to  our  pending  litigation  and 
revise our estimates.  Such revisions in our estimates of the potential liability could materially impact our results of operation.  We do 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
not anticipate the resolution of such matters known at this time will have a material adverse effect on our business or consolidated 
financial position. 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements 

SFAS No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections, 
was issued in April 2002, and became effective for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002.  SFAS No. 4 and No. 64 related to 
reporting gains or losses from debt extinguishment.  Under the prior guidance, if material gains or losses were recognized from debt 
extinguishment,  the  amount  was  not  included  in  income  from  operations,  but  was  shown  as  an  extraordinary  item,  net  of  related 
income tax cost or benefit, as the case may be.  Under the new guidance, all gains or losses from debt extinguishment are subject to 
criteria prescribed under Accounting Principals Board (APB) Opinion No. 30, Reporting the Results of Operations – Reporting the 
Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions, in 
determining an extraordinary item classification.  The adoption of SFAS No. 145 required us to reclassify certain items for the period 
presented in 2002, to conform to the presentation required by SFAS No. 145 and, effective January 1, 2003, we reported losses on the 
extinguishment of debt in pre-tax earnings rather than in extraordinary items.  SFAS No. 44 is not applicable to our operations.  SFAS 
No. 13 was amended to require certain lease modifications with similar economic effects to be accounted for the same way as a sale-
leaseback.    We  adopted  this  statement  on  January  1,  2003.    This  adoption  did  not  have  any  impact on our results of operations or 
financial position. 

SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities, was issued in June 2002.  This statement is effective 
for any disposal or exit of business activities started after December 31, 2002.  SFAS No. 146 nullified Emerging Issues Task Force 
(EITF) 94-3, which required that once a plan of disposal was put in motion, a liability for the estimated costs needed to be recorded.  
SFAS No. 146 states that a liability should not be recorded until the liability is incurred.  This statement does not affect any liabilities 
established  related  to  exiting  an  operation  with  duplicate  facilities  when  acquired  in  a  business  combination.    We  adopted  this 
accounting  statement  effective  January  1,  2003.    This  adoption  did  not  have  any  material  effect  on  our  results  of  operations  or 
financial position.  

SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure, was issued and becomes effective for fiscal 
years  beginning  after  December  15,  2002.    SFAS  No.  148  amends  SFAS  No.  123,  Accounting  for  Stock-Based  Compensation,  to 
provide alternative methods of transition to SFAS No. 123’s fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.  
This  statement  also  amends  the  disclosure  provisions  of  SFAS  No.  123  and APB Opinion No. 28,  Interim Financial Reporting, to 
require  disclosure  about  the  effects  on  reported  net  income  and  earnings  per  share  of  an  entity’s  accounting  policy  with  respect  to 
stock-based  employer  compensation  in  annual  and  interim  financial  statements.    The  disclosure  provisions  of  SFAS  No.  148  are 
applicable  to  all  companies  with  stock-based  compensation,  regardless  if  they  account  for  that  compensation  using  the  fair  value 
method of SFAS No. 123 or the intrinsic value method of APB Opinion No. 25.  We have elected to continue the accounting method 
prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25 and have adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 148 as of December 31, 2003.   

Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board,  (FASB),  Interpretation  No.  46,  Consolidation  of  Variable  Interest  Entities,  (FIN  46)  was 
issued  in  January  2003  and  addresses  consolidation  by  business  enterprises  of  variable  interest  entities.    FIN  46  clarifies  existing 
accounting for whether interest entities, as defined in FIN 46, should be consolidated in financial statements based upon the investee’s 
ability to finance activities without additional financial support and whether investors possess characteristics of a controlling financial 
interest.    FIN  46  applies  immediately  to  variable  interest  entities  created  after  January  31,  2003,  and  to  variable  interest  entities in 
which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date.  It applies in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003, 
to variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003.  The Company 
does not have any variable interest entities and therefore this adoption did not have any effect on our results of operations or financial 
position. 

SFAS No. 149, Amendment of SFAS 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, was issued in April 2003 which amends 
and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other 
contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.  SFAS No. 
149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003.  
Our adoption of SFAS No. 149 on July 1, 2003 did not have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. 

In May 2003, SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity, was 
issued.    SFAS  No.  150  establishes  standards  for  how  an  issuer  classifies  and  measures  certain  financial  instruments  with 
characteristics of both liabilities and equity, and is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
otherwise is effective July 1, 2003.  The Company adopted the standard of July 1, 2003 and this adoption of SFAS No. 150 did not 
have a material impact on its financial condition or results of operations. 

ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 

Interest Rate Swap Agreement.  We seek to reduce earnings and cash flow volatility associated with changes in interest rates through 
a financial arrangement intended to provide a hedge against a portion of the risks associated with such volatility.  We continue to have 
exposure to such risks to the extent they are not hedged. 

Interest rate swap agreements are the only instruments we use to manage interest rate fluctuations affecting our variable rate debt.  At 
December 31, 2003, we had one interest rate swap agreement under which we pay a fixed rate and receive a variable interest rate on 
$25.0 million of debt.  At December 31, 2003, in accordance with SFAS No. 133, comprehensive income included $3.7 million, net 
of  income  tax  expense  of  $2.4  million,  related  to  the  fair  value  of  our  interest  rate  swap  agreements,  relating  primarily  to  the 
unwinding of most of our interest rate swap agreements. 

The following table sets forth the scheduled maturities and the total fair value of our debt portfolio: 

Liabilities: 
Fixed Rate 
Average interest rate 

Floating rate 
Average interest rate 

Fixed Rate Swap: 
Variable to fixed 
Average pay rate 
Average receive rate 

At December 31, 
(in thousands, except percentages) 

  2004   

  2005   

  2006   

  2007   

  2008    Thereafter 

Total at 
December 
31, 
  2003   

$ 

974  $ 

542  $ 

94  $  —     $  —     $  150,000  $ 

$  —     $  —     $  —     $  —     $ 64,000  $  —     $ 

151,610 
9.44% 

64,000 
3.44% 

$  —     $  —     $ 

  $  —     $ 25,000  $  —     $ 

25,000 
3.7% 
1 month    
LIBOR-BBA

Operating leases 

$  5,140  $  5,089  $  4,506  $  3,863  $  2,730  $ 

8,745  $ 

30,074 

We enter into derivative financial arrangements only to the extent that the arrangement meets the objectives described above, and we 
do not engage in such transactions for speculative purposes.  

Impact  of  Foreign  Currency  Rate  Changes.    We  currently  have  branch  operations  in  Toronto,  Canada,  and  we  invoice  those 
customers primarily in the local currency, the Canadian Dollar, under the terms of our lease agreements with those customers.  We are 
exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations as the financial results of our Canadian branch operation are translated into U.S. dollars.  
The impact of foreign currency rate changes have historically been insignificant. 

Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Results  

Our disclosure and analysis in this report contains forward-looking information about our Company’s financial results and estimates 
and our business prospects that involve substantial risks and uncertainties.  From time to time, we also may provide oral or written 
forward-looking  statements  in  other  materials  we  release  to  the  public.    Forward-looking  statements  are  expressions  of  our  current 
expectations or forecasts of future events.  You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or 
current facts.  They include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will,” and other 
words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.  In particular, 
these  include  statements  relating  to  future  actions,  future  performance  or  results,  expenses,  the  outcome  of  contingencies,  such  as 
legal proceedings, and financial results.  Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: 

36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

our ability to manage our planned growth, both internally and at new branches 
competitive developments affecting our industry, including pricing pressures in newer markets 
economic  slowdown  that  affects  any  significant  portion  of  our  customer  base,  including  economic  slowdown  in  areas  of 
limited geographic scope if markets in which we have significant operations are impacted by such slowdown 
the timing and number of new branches that we open or acquire 
changes in the supply and price of used ocean-going containers 
changes in the supply and cost of the raw materials we use in manufacturing storage units 
legal  defense  costs,  insurance  expenses,  settlement  costs  and  the  risk  of  an  adverse  decision  or  settlement  related  legal 
proceedings 
our ability to protect our patents and other intellectual property 
interest rate fluctuations 
governmental laws and regulations affecting domestic and foreign operations, including tax obligations 
changes in generally accepted accounting principles 
any changes in business, political and economic conditions due to the threat of future terrorist activity in the U.S. and other 
parts of the world, and related U.S. military action overseas 
growth in costs and expenses 

We  cannot  guarantee  any  forward-looking  statement  will  be  realized,  although  we  believe  we  have  been  prudent  in  our  plans  and 
assumptions.  Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions.  Should known or unknown 
risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from past 
results and those anticipated, estimated or projected.  Investors should bear this in mind as they consider forward-looking statements. 
We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or 
otherwise.  You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our Form 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K 
reports  to  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.    Our  Form  10-K  lists  and  discusses  (in  “Item1.  Business”)  various  important 
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected and historic results.  We note these factors for investors as 
permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Readers can find them in Item 1 of this report under the heading 
“Cautionary Factors That May Affect Future Operating Results.”  You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify 
all such factors.  Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.  You 
may obtain a copy of our Form 10-K by requesting it from the Company’s Investor Relations Department at (480) 894-6311 or by 
mail to Mobile Mini, Inc., 7420 S. Kyrene Rd., Suite 101, Tempe, Arizona 85283.  Our filings with the SEC, including the Form 10-
K,  may  be  accessed  through  Mobile  Mini’s  web  site  at  www.mobilemini.com  and  at  the  SEC’s  web  site  at  http://www.sec.gov.  
Material on our web site is not incorporated in this report, except by express incorporation by reference herein. 

37 

 
 
 
 
ITEM 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA. 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULE 

Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors 

Report of Independent Public Accountants 

Consolidated Balance Sheets – December 31, 2002 and 2003 

Consolidated Statements of Income – For the Years Ended  
December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity – For the Years Ended  
December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – For the Years Ended  
December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – December 31, 2002 and 2003 

F-2 

F-3 

F-4 

F-5 

F-6 

F-7 

F-8 

F-1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors 

Board of Directors and Shareholders 
Mobile Mini, Inc. 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mobile Mini, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 
2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended.  Our audit also 
included  the  financial  statement  schedule  listed  in  Item  15(a)(2).    These  consolidated  financial  statements  and  schedule  are  the 
responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements 
and schedule based on our audits.  The consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2001 were audited by other 
auditors who have ceased operations and whose report dated February 11, 2002 expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements 
before the revision to include the transitional disclosures included in Note 1.   

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States.  Those standards require that 
we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  
An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit 
also  includes  assessing  the  accounting  principles  used  and  significant  estimates  made  by  management,  as  well  as  evaluating  the 
overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of 
Mobile  Mini,  Inc.  and  subsidiaries  at  December 31,  2002  and  2003  and  the  consolidated  results  of  their  operations  and  their  cash 
flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  Also, in our opinion, 
the  related  2003  financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a 
whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. 

As  discussed  in  Note  1  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  effective  January  1,  2002,  the  Company  adopted  Statement  of 
Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 
No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” 

As discussed above, the consolidated financial statements of Mobile Mini, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2001 were audited by 
other  auditors  who  have  ceased  operations.    As  described  in  Note  1,  these  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  revised  to 
include  the  transitional  disclosures  required  by  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  142,  “Goodwill  and  Other 
Intangible Assets,” which was adopted by the Company as of January 1, 2002.  Our audit procedures with respect to the disclosures in 
Note 1 with respect to 2001 included (a) agreeing the previously reported net income to the previously issued consolidated financial 
statements  and  the  adjustments  to  reported  net  income  representing  amortization  expense  (including  any  related  tax  effects) 
recognized in those periods related to goodwill, to the Company’s underlying records obtained from management, and (b) testing the 
mathematical accuracy of the reconciliation of adjusted net income to reported income before extraordinary item.  In our opinion, the 
disclosures for 2001 in Note 1 are appropriate.  However, we were not engaged to audit, review, or apply any procedures to the 2001 
consolidated financial statements of Mobile Mini, Inc. other than with respect to such disclosures and, accordingly, we do not express 
an opinion or any other form of assurance on Mobile Mini, Inc.’s 2001 consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP 

Phoenix, Arizona 
February 20, 2004 

F-2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 

To Mobile Mini, Inc.: 

We  have  audited  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets  of  MOBILE  MINI,  INC.  (a  Delaware  corporation)  and 
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash 
flows  for  each  of  the  three  years  in  the  period  ended  December  31,  2001.  These  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of  the 
Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. 

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require 
that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether  the  financial  statements  are  free  of  material 
misstatement.  An  audit  includes  examining,  on  a  test  basis,  evidence  supporting  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial 
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as 
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Mobile 
Mini, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the 
three years in the period ended December 31, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. 

Our  audits  were  made  for  the  purpose  of  forming  an  opinion  on  the  basic  financial  statements  taken  as  a  while.    The  schedule 
listed  in  the  Index  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  is  presented  for  purposes  of  complying  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission’s  rules  and  is  not  a  required  part  of  the  basic  financial  statements.    This  schedule  has  been  subjected  to  the  auditing 
procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, fairly states in all material respects the financial 
data required to be set forth therein in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. 

ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP 

Phoenix, Arizona 
February 11, 2002 

This  is  a copy of the independent public accountants report previously issued by Arthur Andersen LLP in connection with Mobile 
Mini, Inc.’s annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001. This report has not been reissued by Arthur 
Andersen LLP in connection with this annual report to shareholders.  The consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2000 and 
2001  and  the  results  of  operations,  stockholders’  equity  and  cash  flows  for  periods  prior  to  December  31,  2000  referred  to  in  this 
report have not been included in the accompanying financial statements. 

F-3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MOBILE MINI, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 

ASSETS 

December 31, 

        2002         

        2003         

Cash 
$ 
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,131,000 and $2,102,000, respectively  
Inventories 
Lease fleet, net of accumulated depreciation of $16,268,000 and $22,892,000, respectively 
Property, plant and equipment, net 
Deposits and prepaid expenses 
Other assets and intangibles, net 
Goodwill 

1,635,468   $ 
16,234,002  
13,278,391  
  337,084,303  
34,102,709  
3,776,137  
3,021,951  
51,757,416  

97,323  
15,907,342  
 15,058,918  
 382,753,903  
34,506,768  
7,165,735  
7,082,890  
52,506,979  
$  460,890,377   $  515,079,858  

Total assets 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

Liabilities: 
Accounts payable 
Accrued liabilities 
Line of credit 
Notes payable 
Obligations under capital leases 
Senior Notes 
Deferred income taxes 

Total liabilities 

Commitments and contingencies  

$ 

8,765,790   $ 

18,913,869  
  211,098,078  
2,043,761  
79,735  
⎯     
41,319,655  
  282,220,888  

7,178,725  
30,640,865  
89,000,000  
1,610,158  
⎯     
  150,000,000  
 47,357,603  
 325,787,351  

Stockholders’ equity: 
Common stock; $0.01 par value, 95,000,000 shares authorized, 14,292,714 and 14,352,703 
issued and outstanding at December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003, respectively 

Additional paid-in capital 
Retained earnings 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss 

Total stockholders’ equity 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 

143,528  
142,928  
 116,956,025  
  116,117,301  
 72,295,170  
66,382,847  
(102,216) 
(3,973,587) 
  178,669,489  
  189,292,507  
$  460,890,377   $  515,079,858  

See accompanying notes. 

F-4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MOBILE MINI, INC. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME 

For the years ended December 31, 
      2002       

      2003       

      2001       

$  99,683,720   $116,168,681  $128,482,012 
  17,248,507 
  14,519,329     16,007,517 
837,977 
920,331 
  146,568,496 
  114,723,314     133,096,529 

520,265    

9,545,897     10,343,451 
  56,387,555     69,202,472 
1,320,054 
9,456,896 
  74,170,625     90,322,873 
  40,552,689     42,773,656 

—       
8,237,173    

  11,487,167 
  79,071,265 
8,501,679 
  11,078,548 
  110,138,659 
  36,429,837 

34,456    

2,013 
13,000 
  (16,299,172)
(9,959,133)    (11,586,923)
  (10,440,346)
(1,299,641)
9,692,332 
  30,628,012     29,900,092 
  11,944,925     11,661,036 
3,780,009 
$  18,683,087   $  18,239,056  $  5,912,323 

—       

$ 
$ 

1.38   $ 
1.34   $ 

1.28  $ 
1.26  $ 

0.41 
0.41 

  13,514,541     14,254,468 
  13,954,086     14,442,066 

  14,312,467 
  14,462,479 

Revenues: 
Leasing 
Sales 
Other 

Total revenues 
Costs and expenses: 
Cost of sales 
Leasing, selling and general expenses 
Florida litigation expense 
Depreciation and amortization 

Total costs and expenses 
Income from operations 
Other income (expense): 

Interest income 
Interest expense 
Debt restructuring expense 

Income before provision for income taxes  
Provision for income taxes 
Net income  

Earnings per share: 

Basic 
Diluted 

Weighted average number of common and common share equivalents 
  outstanding: 
Basic 
Diluted 

See accompanying notes. 

F-5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MOBILE MINI, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 

Shares of 
Common 
Stock 

Common
Stock 

Additional 
Paid-in 
Capital 

Retained 
Earnings 

Accumulated
Other 
Comprehensive 
Loss 

Stockholders’
Equity 

Balance, December 31, 2000 

Net income 
Market value change in derivatives, 
(net of income tax benefit of $1,289,735) 
Comprehensive income 
Issuance of common stock 
Exercise of stock options, (including income 
  tax benefit of $2,179,602) 
Exercise of warrants 
Stock option compensation 
Balance, December 31, 2001 

Net income 
Unrealized gain on short-term investments, 
  (net of income tax expense of $22,272) 
Market value change in derivatives, (net of 
  income tax benefit of $1,273,361) 
Foreign currency translation, (net of income 
  tax expense of $335) 
Comprehensive income 
Exercise of stock options, (including income 
  tax benefit of $129,200) 
Exercise of warrants 
Stock option compensation 
Balance, December 31, 2002 

Net income 
Unrealized gain on short-term investments, 
  (net of income tax expense of $22,272) 
Market value change in derivatives, (net of 
  income tax expense of $23,679) 
Realized loss on termination of derivatives,   
  (net of income tax expense of $2,352,266) 
Foreign currency translation, (net of income 
  tax expense of $121,495) 
Comprehensive income 
Exercise of stock options, (including income 
  tax benefit of $159,408) 
Balance, December 31, 2003 

11,591,584  $115,917  $  62,854,726 
—     

  —     

—    

$  29,460,704 
  18,683,087 

$ 

—     
—     

$  92,431,347  
   18,683,087  

—    
—    
  2,239,713 

  —     
  —     
  22,395 

—     
—     
  47,125,069 

—     
—     
—     

(2,017,278) 
—     
—     

(2,017,278) 
   16,665,809  
   47,147,464  

  329,750 
62,910 
—    
14,223,957 
—    

3,298 
629 
  —     
  142,239 
  —     

5,064,062 
313,921 
76,255 
  115,434,033 
—     

—     
—     
—     
  48,143,791 
  18,239,056 

—     
—     
—     
(2,017,278) 
—     

5,067,360  
314,550  
76,255  
  161,702,785  
   18,239,056  

—    

  —     

—    

  —     

—    
—    

  —     
  —     

—     

—     

—     
—     

—     

34,835  

34,835  

—     

(1,991,668) 

(1,991,668) 

—     
—     

524  
—     

524  
   16,282,747  

24,750 
44,007 
—    
14,292,714 
⎯     

249 
440 
  —     
  142,928 
  ⎯     

387,418 
219,595 
76,255 
  116,117,301 
⎯     

—     
—     
—     
  66,382,847 
5,912,323 

—     
—     
—     
(3,973,587) 
⎯     

387,667  
220,035  
76,255  
  178,669,489  
5,912,323  

⎯     

  ⎯     

⎯     

  ⎯     

⎯     

  ⎯     

⎯     
⎯     

  ⎯     
  ⎯     

⎯     

⎯     

⎯     

⎯     
⎯     

⎯     

⎯     

⎯     

⎯     
⎯     

(34,835) 

(34,835) 

36,990  

36,990  

3,679,186  

3,679,186  

190,030  
⎯     

190,030  
9,783,694  

59,989 

838,724 
600 
14,352,703  $143,528  $ 116,956,025 

⎯     
$  72,295,170 

$ 

⎯     
(102,216) 

839,324  
$189,292,507  

See accompanying notes. 

F-6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
MOBILE MINI, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 

For the years ended December 31, 
2002 

2003 

2001 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities: 
  Net income 
  Adjustments to reconcile income to net cash provided by 

  operating activities: 

Debt restructuring expense 
Provision for doubtful accounts 
Amortization of deferred financing costs 
Amortization of stock option compensation 
Depreciation and amortization 
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Gain on sale of short-term investments 
Deferred income taxes 

  Changes in certain assets and liabilities, net of effect of 

  businesses acquired: 

Receivables 
Inventories 
Deposits and prepaid expenses 
Other assets and intangibles 
Accounts payable 
Accrued liabilities 

Net cash provided by operating activities 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities: 
  Cash paid for businesses acquired 
  Net purchases of lease fleet 
  Net purchases of property, plant and equipment 
  Net proceeds on sale of short-term investment 
  Change in other assets 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities: 
  Net borrowings (repayments) under lines of credit 
  Proceeds from issuance of notes payable 
  Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes 
  Deferred financing costs 
  Principal payments on notes payable 
  Principal payments on capital lease obligations 
  Exercise of warrants 

Issuance of common stock, net of share cost 

Net cash provided by financing activities 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 
Net (decrease) increase in cash  
Cash at beginning of year 
Cash at end of year 

$  18,683,087   $  18,239,056   $ 

5,912,323  

—    
2,286,095  
599,825  
76,255  
8,237,173  
5,392  
—    
11,944,070  

(6,018,107) 
(1,461,360) 
879,158  
(57,120) 
469,687  
2,205,480  
37,849,635  

1,299,641  
2,021,797  
440,491  
76,255  
9,456,896  
47,111  
—    
11,542,981  

(2,507,763) 
2,334,400  
274,731  
(240,302) 
937,355  
1,500,619  
45,423,268  

10,440,346  
2,359,830  
591,290  
—    
11,078,548  
44,431  
(59,185) 
3,843,713  

(2,033,170) 
(1,780,527) 
 (3,389,598) 
(92,588) 
(1,587,066) 
17,819,087  
43,147,434  

  (13,697,571) 
  (80,675,559) 
(6,854,749) 
—    
(390,293) 
  (101,618,172) 

  (30,833,173) 
  (57,037,912) 
(5,855,109) 
—    
425,282  
  (93,300,912) 

(1,672,920) 
  (51,996,286) 
(4,482,969) 
122,912 
423,605 
  (57,605,658) 

15,001,900  
400,822  
—    
(4,500) 
(2,916,939) 
(85,064) 
314,550  
50,035,222  
62,745,991  
—    
(1,022,546) 
1,528,526  

$ 

505,980   $ 

57,396,178  
2,757,285  
—    
(2,202,993) 
(9,388,128) 
(34,236) 
220,035  
258,467  
49,006,608  
524  
1,129,488  
505,980  
1,635,468   $ 

  (130,866,078) 
767,844  
  150,000,000 
(6,570,452) 
(1,201,447) 
(79,735) 
—    
679,916  
12,730,048  
190,031  
(1,538,145) 
1,635,468  
97,323  

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: 
  Cash paid during the year for interest 
  Cash paid during the year for income taxes 

Interest rate swap liability charged (credited) to equity 

$ 
$ 
$ 

9,532,467   $  11,257,813   $ 
447,937   $ 

8,840,671  
297,952  
1,991,668   $  (3,716,176) 

254,810   $ 
2,017,278   $ 

See accompanying notes. 

F-7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MOBILE MINI, INC. 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

(1)  Mobile Mini, its Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:  

Organization and Special Considerations 

Mobile  Mini,  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (Mobile  Mini  or  the  Company),  is  a  leading  provider  of  portable  storage  solutions.    At 
December 31, 2003, we have a fleet of portable storage units and offices and operated throughout the United States and one Canadian 
province.  Our portable storage products offer secure, temporary storage with immediate access.  We have a diversified client base, 
including large and small retailers, construction companies, medical centers, schools, utilities, distributors, the United States military, 
hotels,  restaurants,  entertainment  complexes  and  households.    Customers  use  our  products  for  a  wide  variety  of  applications, 
including the storage of retail and manufacturing inventory, construction materials and equipment, documents and records and other 
goods. 

We have experienced rapid growth during the last several years.  This growth is primarily related to our internal growth at existing 
branch locations, as well as some growth through acquisitions of new branches. 

Our ability to obtain used containers for our lease fleet is subject in large part to the availability of these containers in the market.  
This is in part subject to international trade issues and the demand for containers in the ocean cargo shipping business.  Should there 
be a shortage in supply of used containers, we could supplement our lease fleet with new portable storage units that we manufacture.  
However,  should  there  be  an  overabundance  of  these  used  containers  available,  container  prices  may  fall.    This  could  result  in  a 
reduction in the lease rates we can obtain from our portable storage unit leasing operations.  In addition, under our revolving credit 
facility, we are required to comply with certain covenants and restrictions, as more fully discussed in Note 3.  If we fail to comply 
with  these  covenants  and  restrictions,  the  lender  has  the  right  to  refuse  to  lend  additional  funds  and  may  require  early  payment  of 
amounts owed.  If this happens, it would materially impact our growth and ability to fund ongoing operations.  Furthermore, because 
a substantial portion of the amount borrowed under the credit facility bears interest at a variable rate, a significant increase in interest 
rates could have an adverse affect on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition. 

Principles of Consolidation  

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Mobile Mini, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries.  All significant 
intercompany transactions have been eliminated.   

Reclassifications 

Certain prior period amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current 
financial presentation requirements. 

Revenue Recognition 

In  December  2003,  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (SEC)  issued  staff  accounting  bulletin  No.  104  (SAB  104)  Revenue 
Recognition, which codifies, revises and rescinds certain sections of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 Revenue Recognition, in order 
to  make  this  interpretive  guidance  consistent  with  current  authoritative  accounting  guidance  and  SEC  rules  and  regulations.    The 
changes noted in SAB 104 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.  Mobile Mini follows SAB 101, 
Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, as amended by SAB 104, for the recognition of revenue. 

Lease  and  leasing  ancillary  revenues  and  related  expenses  generated  under  portable  storage  units  and  office  units  are  recognized 
monthly  which  approximates  a  straight-line  basis.    Revenues  and  expenses  from  portable  storage  unit  delivery  and  hauling  are 
recognized when these services are billed, in accordance with SAB 101, as amended, as these services are considered inconsequential 
to the overall leasing transaction.  Mobile Mini recognizes revenues from sales of containers upon delivery.   

F-8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

Cost of Sales 

Cost of sales in our consolidated statements of operations includes only the costs for units we sell.  Similar costs associated with the 
portable storage units that we lease are capitalized on our balance sheet under “Lease fleet”. 

Advertising Costs 

Advertising  costs  are  accounted  for  under  Statement  of  Position,  (SOP)  93-7,  Reporting  on  Advertising  Costs.    All  non  direct-
response  advertising  costs  are  expensed  as  incurred.    Direct  response  advertising  costs,  principally  Yellow  Page  advertising,  are 
capitalized  when  paid  and  amortized  over  the  period  in  which  the  benefit  is  derived.    At  December  31,  2002  and  2003,  prepaid 
advertising  costs  were  approximately  $0.6  million  and  $2.8  million,  respectively.    The  amortization  period  of  the  prepaid  balance 
never  exceeds  12  months.    Our  direct-response  advertising  costs  are  monitored  by  each  branch  through  call  logs  and  advertising 
source codes in a contact management information system.  Advertising expense was $5.2 million, $6.2 million and $6.9 million in 
2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively. 

Cash 

Our  revolving  credit  agreement  includes  restrictions  on  excess  cash.    At  December  31,  2002  the  Company  had  restricted  cash  of 
approximately  $257,000  on  deposit in connection with the Florida litigation action.  There was no restricted cash at December 31, 
2003. 

Short-Term Investments 

Mobile Mini accounts for short-term investments in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 115, 
Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.  Our investments in 2002 consisted principally of equity securities 
and were classified as available for sale and were recorded at fair value, which approximates cost.  We had no short-term investments 
at December 31, 2003. 

Receivables  

Receivables primarily consist of amounts due from customers from the lease or sale of containers.  Mobile Mini records an estimated 
provision  for  bad  debts  and  reviews  the  provision  monthly  for  adequacy.    Specific  accounts  are  written  off  against  the  allowance 
when management determines the account is uncollectible.  We require a security deposit on most leased office units to cover the cost 
of damages or unpaid balances, if any. 

Concentration of Credit Risk  

Financial instruments which potentially expose Mobile Mini to concentrations of credit risk, as defined by SFAS No. 105, Disclosure 
of  Information  about  Financial  Instruments  with  Off-Balance-Sheet  Risk  and  Financial  Instruments  with  Concentrations  of  Credit 
Risk, consist primarily of receivables.  Concentration of credit risk with respect to receivables are limited due to the large number of 
customers spread over a large geographic area in many industry segments.  Receivables related to our sales operations are generally 
secured  by  the  product  sold  to  the  customer.    Receivables  related  to  our  leasing  operations  are  primarily  small  month-to-month 
amounts.  We have the right to repossess leased portable storage units, including any customer goods contained in the unit, following 
non-payment of rent.  

F-9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

Inventories  

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined under the specific identification method.  Market is 
the lower of replacement cost or net realizable value. Raw material inventory balances include raw steel, paint and other assembly 
components.  Inventories at December 31, consist of the following: 

Raw materials and supplies 
Work-in-process 
Finished portable storage units 

2002 

2003 

$10,778,502 
474,871 
  2,025,018 
$13,278,391 

  $12,634,192 
758,603 
  1,666,123 
  $15,058,918 

Property, Plant and Equipment  

Property,  plant  and  equipment  are  stated  at  cost,  net  of  accumulated  depreciation.    Depreciation  is  provided  using  the  straight-line 
method  over  the  assets’  estimated  useful  lives.    Residual  values  are  determined  when  the  property  is  constructed  or  acquired  and 
range up to 25%, depending on the nature of the asset.  In the opinion of management, estimated residual values do not cause carrying 
values to exceed net realizable value.  Normal repairs and maintenance to property, plant and equipment are expensed as incurred.  
When property or equipment is retired or sold, the net book value of the asset, reduced by any proceeds, is charged to gain or loss on 
the retirement of fixed assets. 

Property, plant and equipment at December 31, consist of the following:  

Land 
Vehicles and machinery 
Buildings and improvements (1) 
Office fixtures and equipment 

Less accumulated depreciation 

  Estimated  
Useful Life In 
  Years 

5 to 20 
30 
5 

2002 

2003 

  $ 

777,668 
34,979,234 
9,454,392 
6,562,040 
51,773,334 
(17,670,625) 
  $  34,102,709 

  $ 

772,014 
37,842,400 
9,697,128 
7,532,319 
55,843,861 
(21,337,093) 
  $  34,506,768 

(1)  Improvements made to leased properties are depreciated over the remaining term of the respective lease. 

Income Taxes 

The Company utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes as set forth in SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.  
Under  the  liability  method,  deferred  taxes  are  determined  based  on  the  difference  between  the  financial  statement  and  tax  basis  of 
assets  and  liabilities  using  enacted  tax  rates  in  effect  in  the  years  in  which  the  differences  are  expected  to  reverse.    Valuation 
allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.  Income tax expense 
includes both taxes payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities. 

Earnings Per Share  

Mobile  Mini  has  adopted  SFAS  No.  128,  Earnings  per  Share.    Pursuant  to  SFAS  No.  128,  basic  earnings  per  common  share  are 
computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year.  Diluted 
earnings per common share are determined assuming the potential dilution of the exercise or conversion of options and warrants into 
common stock. 

F-10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

Below are the required disclosures pursuant to SFAS No. 128 for the years ended December 31: 

BASIC: 
Common shares outstanding, beginning of year 
Effect of weighting shares: 
   Weighted common shares issued 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 
Net income  
Earnings per share 

Year Ended December 31, 
2002 

2003 

2001 

  11,591,584

  14,223,957       14,292,714

1,922,957
  13,514,541
$  18,683,087
1.38
$ 

30,511      

19,753
  14,254,468       14,312,467
$ 18,239,056     $  5,912,323
0.41
$ 

1.28     $ 

DILUTED: 
Common shares outstanding, beginning of year 
Effect of weighting shares: 
   Weighted common shares issued 
   Employee stock options and warrants assumed converted 
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent 
  shares outstanding 
Net income 
Earnings per share 

  11,591,584

  14,223,957       14,292,714

1,922,957
439,545

30,511      
187,598      

19,753
150,012

  13,954,086
$  18,683,087
1.34
$ 

  14,442,066  
  14,462,479
$ 18,239,056     $  5,912,323
0.41
$ 

1.26     $ 

Employee stock options to purchase 496,850, 518,550 and 1,332,920 shares were issued or outstanding during 2001, 2002 and 2003, 
respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price exceeded the average 
market  price  for  that  year  and  the  effect  would  have  been  anti-dilutive.    The  anti-dilutive  options  could  potentially  dilute  future 
earnings per share. 

Long-Lived Assets 

In accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed 
Of,”  the  Company  reviews  long-lived  assets  for  impairment  whenever  events  or  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  the  carrying 
amount of such assets may not be fully recoverable.  If this review indicates the carrying value of these assets will not be recoverable, 
as  measured  based  on  estimated  undiscounted  cash  flows  over  their  remaining  life,  the  carrying  amount  would  be  adjusted  to  fair 
value.  The cash flow estimates contain management’s best estimates, using appropriate and customary assumptions and projections at 
the time.  We have not recognized any impairment losses during the three year period ended December 31, 2003.  

Goodwill 

On  January  1,  2002,  Mobile  Mini  adopted  SFAS  No.  141,  Business  Combinations,  and  SFAS  No.  142,  Goodwill  and  Other 
Intangible Assets.  Purchase prices of acquired businesses that are accounted for as purchases have been allocated to the assets and 
liabilities acquired based on the estimated fair values on the respective acquisition dates.  Based on these values, the excess purchase 
prices over the fair value of the net assets acquired were allocated to goodwill.  

Prior to January 1, 2002, Mobile Mini amortized goodwill over the useful life of the underlying asset, not to exceed 25 years.  On 
January 1, 2002, Mobile Mini began accounting for goodwill under the provisions of SFAS Nos. 141 and 142 and discontinued the 
amortization of goodwill.  The Company evaluates goodwill periodically to determine whether events or circumstances have occurred 
that  would  indicated  goodwill  might  be  impaired.    At  December 31,  2003,  Mobile  Mini  had  gross  goodwill  of  $54.5  million  and 
accumulated  amortization  of  $2.0  million.    For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2002  and  2003,  Mobile  Mini  did  not  recognize 
amortization expense related to goodwill.   

In  assessing  the  recoverability  of  Mobile  Mini’s  goodwill  and  other  intangibles,  Mobile  Mini  must  make  assumptions  regarding 
estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the respective assets.  If these estimates or their related 
assumptions change in the future, Mobile Mini may be required to record impairment charges for these assets not previously recorded.  

F-11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

Some  factors  considered  important  which  could  trigger  an  impairment  review  include  significant  underperformance  relative  to 
expected historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of use of the acquired assets or the strategy 
for the overall business, Mobile Mini’s market capitalization relative to net book value, and significant negative industry or economic 
trends.  

Mobile  Mini  performed  the  annual  required impairment tests for goodwill as of December 31, 2002 and 2003 and determined that 
goodwill  was  not  impaired  either  year  and  it  was  not  necessary  to  record  any  impairment  losses  related  to  goodwill  and  other 
intangible assets.  

Net  income,  basic  earnings  per  share  and  diluted  earnings  per  share  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2001,  2002  and  2003, 
respectively, adjusted to exclude amortization expense for goodwill, are as follows:     

Net income  
Goodwill amortization, net of income tax benefit 
Adjusted net income 

2001 
$  18,683,087  
684,077  
$  19,367,164  

  $ 

2002 
 18,239,056  
⎯    
  $  18,239,056  

  $ 

  $ 

2003 
5,912,323 
⎯    
5,912,323 

Earnings per share: 
Basic: 
Net income  
Goodwill 
Adjusted net income 

Diluted: 
Net income  
Goodwill 
Adjusted net income 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments  

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

1.38  
0.05  
1.43  

  $ 

  $ 

 1.28  
⎯    
1.28  

  $ 

  $ 

1.34  
0.05  
1.39  

  $ 

  $ 

1.26  
⎯    
1.26  

  $ 

  $ 

0.41 
⎯    
0.41 

0.41 
⎯    
0.41 

We  determine  the  estimated  fair  value  of  financial  instruments  using  available  market  information  and  valuation  methodologies.  
Considerable  judgment  is  required  in  estimating  fair  values.    Accordingly,  the  estimates  may  not  be  indicative  of  the  amounts  we 
could realize in a current market exchange. 

The carrying amounts of cash, receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair values based on the liquidity of 
these financial instruments or based on their short-term nature.  The carrying amounts of our borrowings under our credit facility and 
notes  payable  and  capital  lease  instruments  approximate  fair  value.    The  fair  values  of  our  notes  payable  and  credit  facility  are 
estimated  using  discounted  cash  flow  analyses,  based  on  our  current  incremental  borrowing  rates  for  similar  types  of  borrowing 
arrangements.  Based on the borrowing rates currently available to us for bank loans with similar terms and average maturities, the 
fair value of fixed rate notes payable and capital leases at December 31, 2002 and 2003 approximated the book values. 

Deferred Financing Costs  

Included  in  other  assets  and  intangibles  are  deferred  financing  costs,  of  approximately  $1.9  million  and  $6.2  million,  net  of 
accumulated amortization of $0.4 million at December 31, 2002 and 2003, respectively.  The costs associated with our former credit 
agreement were written off to expense in 2002 and the remaining costs of the new credit facility prior to amending the agreement in 
June 2003, were written off to expense in 2003 (See Note 3 – Line of Credit).  The costs of obtaining long-term financing, including 
our  amended  credit  facility,  are  being  amortized  over  the  term  of  the  related  debt,  using  the  straight-line  method.    Amortizing  the 
deferred financing costs using the straight-line method approximates such costs using the effective interest method.  

F-12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

Derivatives 

SFAS  No.  133,  Accounting  For  Derivative  Instruments  and  Hedging  Activities,  amended  by  SFAS  No.  137  and  SFAS  No.  138, 
establishes  accounting  and  reporting  standards  requiring  that  every  derivative  instrument  (including  certain  derivative  instruments 
embedded in other contracts) be recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value.  The statement 
requires that changes in the fair value of the derivative be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria 
are  met.    If  specific  hedge  accounting  criteria  are  met,  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  derivatives  will  be  recognized  in  other 
comprehensive loss until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.  The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value will 
be immediately recognized in earnings.  Derivative transactions entered into during 2002 and 2003 under SFAS No. 133 resulted in a 
charge to comprehensive income of approximately $2.0 million, net of an applicable income tax benefit of $1.3 million for 2002 and 
comprehensive income of $3.7 million, net of income tax expense of $2.4 million for 2003.  The change from comprehensive loss in 
2002 to comprehensive income in 2003 relates primarily to the termination of $110.0 million of interest rate swap agreements.   

Stock Based Compensation 

We grant stock options for a fixed number of shares to employees and directors with an exercise price equal to the fair market value 
of  the  shares  at  the  date  of  grant.    We  account  for  such  stock  option  grants  using  the  intrinsic-value  method  of  accounting  in 
accordance with Accounting Principles Board, (APB), Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” (No. 25) and 
related Interpretations.  Under APB No. 25, we generally recognize no compensation expense with respect to such awards.  Also, we 
do not record any compensation expense in connection with our Employee Stock Option Plan. 

Accounting for Stock Based Compensation 

If we had accounted for stock options consistent with SFAS No. 123, these amounts would be amortized on a straight-line basis as 
compensation expense over the average holding period of the options and our net income and earnings per share would have been 
reported as follows for the years ended December 31: 

Net income as reported 
Compensation expense, net of income tax benefit 
Pro forma net income 

$ 18,683,087 
1,287,278 
$ 17,395,809 

  $ 18,239,056 
2,263,877 
  $ 15,975,179 

  $  5,912,323 
2,464,183 
  $  3,448,140 

2001 

2002 

2003 

Basic EPS: 
As reported 
Pro forma 

Diluted EPS: 
As reported 
Pro forma 

$ 
$ 

$ 
$ 

1.38 
1.29 

  $ 
  $ 

1.28 
1.12 

  $ 
  $ 

1.34 
1.25 

  $ 
  $ 

1.26 
1.11 

  $ 
  $ 

0.41 
0.24 

0.41 
0.24 

Pro  forma  results  disclosed  are  based  on  the  provisions  of  SFAS  123  using  the  Black-Scholes  option  valuation  model  and  are  not 
likely to be representative of the effects on pro forma net income for future years.  In addition, the Black-Scholes option valuation 
model  was  developed  for  use  in  estimating  the  fair  value  of  traded  options,  which  have  no  vesting  restrictions  and  are  fully 
transferable.    In  addition,  option  valuation  models  require  the  input  of  highly  subjective  assumptions  including  the  expected  stock 
price  volatility.    Because  our  stock  options  have  characteristics  significantly  different  from  those  of  traded  options,  and  because 
changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in our opinion, the estimating models do not 
necessarily  provide  a  reliable  single  measure  of  the  fair  value  of  our  stock  options.    See  Note  9  for  further  discussion  of  the 
Company’s stock-based employee compensation. 

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions 

For  our  Canadian  operations,  the  local  currency  is  the  functional  currency.    All  assets  and  liabilities  are  translated  at  period-end 
exchange rates and all income statement amounts are translated at an average of month-end rates.  Adjustments resulting from this 
translation are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.    

F-13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

Use of Estimates  

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  United  States  requires 
management  to  make  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  amounts  reported  in  the  accompanying  consolidated  financial 
statements  and  the  notes  to  those  statements.    Actual  results  could  differ  from  those  estimates.    The  most  significant  estimates 
included within the financial statements are the allowance for doubtful accounts, the estimated useful lives and residual values on the 
lease fleet and property, plant and equipment and goodwill and other asset impairments.   

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards   

SFAS No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections, 
was issued in April 2002, and became effective for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002.  FASB No. 4 and No. 64 related to 
reporting gains or losses from debt extinguishment.  Under the prior guidance, if material gains or losses were recognized from debt 
extinguishment,  the  amount  was  not  included  in  income  from  operations,  but  was  shown  as  an  extraordinary  item,  net  of  related 
income tax cost or benefit, as the case may be.  Under the new guidance, all gains or losses from debt extinguishment are subject to 
criteria  prescribed  under  APB  No.  30,  Reporting  the  Results  of  Operations  –  Reporting  the  Effects  of  Disposal  of  a  Segment  of  a 
Business,  and  Extraordinary,  Unusual  and  Infrequently  Occurring  Events  and  Transactions,  in  determining  an  extraordinary  item 
classification.  The adoption of SFAS No. 145 required us to reclassify certain items for the period presented in 2002, to conform to 
the presentation required by SFAS No. 145 and, effective January 1, 2003, we reported losses on the extinguishment of debt in pre-
tax  earnings  rather  than  in  extraordinary  items.    SFAS  No.  44  is  not  applicable  to  our  operations.    SFAS  No.  13  was  amended  to 
require certain lease modifications with similar economic effects to be accounted for the same way as a sale-leaseback.  We adopted 
this statement on January 1, 2003.  This adoption did not have any impact on our results of operations or financial position. 

SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities, was issued in June 2002.  This statement is effective 
for any disposal or exit of business activities started after December 31, 2002.  The statement nullified Emerging Issues Task Force, 
(EITF) 94-3, which required that once a plan of disposal was put in motion, a liability for the estimated costs needed to be recorded.  
SFAS No. 146 states that a liability should not be recorded until the liability is incurred.  This statement does not affect any liabilities 
established  related  to  exiting  an  operation  with  duplicate  facilities  when  acquired  in  a  business  combination.    We  adopted  this 
accounting  guidance  at  the  prescribed  date  of  January  1,  2003.    SFAS  No.  146  which  did  not  effect  our  results  of  operations  or 
financial position.  

SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure, was issued and became effective for fiscal 
years  beginning  after  December  15,  2002.    SFAS  No.  148  amends  SFAS  No.  123,    to  provide  alternative  methods  of  transition to 
SFAS No. 123’s fair value method of accounting for Stock-based employee compensation.  This statement also amends the disclosure 
provisions  of  SFAS  No.  123  and  APB  No.  28,  Interim  Financial  Reporting  to  require  disclosure  about  the  effects  on  reported  net 
income  and  earnings  per  share  of  an  entity’s  accounting  policy  with  respect  to  stock-based  employer  compensation  in  annual  and 
interim  financial  statements.    The  disclosure  provisions  of  SFAS  No.  148  are  applicable  to  all  companies  with  stock-based 
compensation, regardless if they account for that compensation using the fair value method of SFAS No. 123 or the intrinsic value 
method of APB No. 25.  The Company has elected to continue the accounting method prescribed by APB No. 25 and has adopted the 
disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 148 as of December 31, 2003.  See Note 9 – Benefit Plans:  Stock Option Plans. 

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, (FIN 46) was issued 
in January 2003 and addresses consolidation by business enterprises of variable interest entities.  FIN 46 clarifies existing accounting 
for whether interest entities, as defined in FIN 46, should be consolidated in financial statements based upon the investee’s ability to 
finance activities without additional financial support and whether investors possess characteristics of a controlling financial interest.  
FIN 46 applies immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable interest entities in which an 
enterprise  obtains  an  interest  after  that  date.    It  applies  in  the  first  fiscal  year  or  interim  period  beginning  after  June  15,  2003,  to 
variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003.  The Company does 
not  have  any  variable  interest  entities  and  therefore  this  adoption  did  not  have  any  effect  on  our  results  of  operations  or  financial 
position. 

SFAS  No.  149,  Amendment  of  SFAS  No.  133  on  Derivative  Instruments  and  Hedging  Activities,  was  issued  in  April  2003  which 
amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded 
in  other  contracts  and  for  hedging  activities  under  SFAS  No.  133,  Accounting  for  Derivative  Instruments  and  Hedging  Activities.  

F-14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

SFAS No. 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and hedging relationships designated after June 
30, 2003.  The adoption of SFAS No. 149 did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. 

In May 2003, SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity, was 
issued.    SFAS  No.  150  establishes  standards  for  how  an  issuer  classifies  and  measures  certain  financial  instruments  with 
characteristics of both liabilities and equity, and is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and 
otherwise  is  effective  July  1,  2003.    The  adoption  of  SFAS  No.  150,  did  not  have  a  material  impact  on  our  financial  condition  or 
results of operations. 

On December 17, 2003, the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued SAB 104, Revenue Recognition, which 
supersedes SAB 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements. SAB 104‘s primary purpose is to rescind accounting guidance 
contained  in  SAB  101  related  to  multiple  element  revenue  arrangements,  superseded  as  a  result  of  the  issuance  of  EITF  00-21, 
Accounting  for  Revenue  Arrangements  with  Multiple  Deliverables.    While  the  wording  of  SAB  104  has  changed  to  reflect  the 
issuance of EITF 00-21, the revenue recognition principles of SAB 101 remain largely unchanged by the issuance of SAB 104.  The 
adoption of SAB 104 in December 2003 did not affect the Company’s revenue recognition policies, our financial condition or results 
of operations.   

(2)  Lease Fleet: 

Mobile  Mini  has  a  lease  fleet  primarily  consisting  of  refurbished,  modified  and  manufactured  portable  units  that  are  leased  to 
customers under short-term operating lease agreements with varying terms.  Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method 
over our units’ estimated useful life, in most cases 20 years after the date we put the unit in service, with estimated residual values of 
70% on steel units and 50% on wood office units.  Van trailers, which are a small part of our fleet, are depreciated over 7 years to a 
20% residual value.  Van trailers are only added to the fleet in connection with acquisitions of portable storage businesses.  In the 
opinion  of  management,  estimated  residual  values  do  not  cause  carrying  values  to  exceed  net  realizable  value.    We  continue  to 
evaluate  these  depreciation  policies  as  more  information  becomes  available  from  other  comparable  sources  and  our  own  historical 
experience.    Based  on  this  information,  effective  January  1,  2004,  we  changed  our  depreciation  policy  on  our  steel  units  to  an 
estimated useful life of 25 years with an estimated residual value of 62.5% which effectively results in continual depreciation on these 
containers at the same annual rate.  At December 31, 2002 and 2003, all of our lease fleet units were pledged as collateral under the 
credit facility (see Note 3).  Normal repairs and maintenance to the portable storage and mobile office units are expensed as incurred. 

Gains from sale-leaseback transactions were deferred and amortized over the estimated useful lives of the related assets.  Unamortized 
gains  at  December  31,  2002  and  2003,  approximated  $186,000  and  $169,000,  respectively,  and  are  reflected  as  a  reduction  to  the 
lease fleet value in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. 

Lease fleet at December 31, consists of the following: 

Steel storage containers 
Offices 
Van trailers 
Other, primarily flatbed type chassis 
Accumulated depreciation 

2002 
$ 226,853,579  
  121,289,415  
4,704,996  
504,405  
(16,268,092) 
$ 337,084,303  

2003 
$ 252,449,396  
  148,244,087  
4,464,269  
424,833  
(22,828,682) 
$ 382,753,903  

(3)  Line Of Credit:  

On  February  11,  2002,  we  entered  into  a  Loan  and  Security  Agreement  with  a  group  of  lenders,  led by Fleet Capital Corporation, 
which  provides  us  with  a  $250.0  million  revolving  credit  facility.    The  initial  borrowings  under  that  credit  facility  were  used  to 
refinance approximately $161.4 million of outstanding borrowings under a prior credit facility, which had a maturity date of March 
2004.  In connection with this refinancing, in the first quarter of 2002 we recorded an after-tax extraordinary charge (under SFAS No. 
4)  of  approximately  $0.8  million,  net  of  tax  of  $0.5  million,  which  has  been  reclassified  as  debt  restructuring  expense  in  the 
accompanying consolidated financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 145.  The credit facility under the Loan and Security 
Agreement was then scheduled to expire in February 2007. 

F-15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

In  June  2003,  we  amended  and  restated  the  credit  agreement,  which  we  refer  hereinafter  as  the  Loan  and  Security  Agreement,  to 
permit  us  to  issue  $150  million  of  our  Senior  Notes,  to  operate  at  higher  levels  of leverage and to reduce required fleet utilization 
covenant levels.  The term of the credit facility was extended by one year to February 2008.   

Borrowings under the present Loan and Security Agreement are secured by a lien on substantially all of our present and future assets.  
Borrowings of up to $250 million are available under this facility, based on the value of our lease fleet, property, plant, equipment, 
and levels of inventories and receivables.  The lease fleet will be appraised at least twice annually and up to 90% of the lesser of cost 
or appraised orderly liquidation value, as defined, may be included in the borrowing base to determine how much we may borrow 
under this facility.  The interest rate spread under the facility is based on a quarterly calculation of our ratio of funded debt to earnings 
before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization and certain excluded expenses during the prior 12 months.  Borrowings 
are, at our option, at either a spread from the prime or LIBOR rates, as defined.  At December 31, 2003, the prime rate was 4.0% and 
the  LIBOR  rate  was  1.1875%.    The  Loan  and  Security  Agreement  contains  several  covenants,  including  a  minimum  fixed  charge 
coverage, maximum ratio of funded debt to EBITDA (as defined in the Loan and Security Agreement), a minimum borrowing base 
availability  and  minimum  required  utilization  rates.    The  Loan  and  Security  Agreement  also  restricts  our  capital  expenditures, our 
incurrence of additional debt and prohibits our payment of cash dividends on the common stock.  We were in compliance with all 
covenants at December 31, 2003.  The most restrictive covenant is the ratio of funded debt to EBITDA, as defined in the Loan and 
Security Agreement, of 5.9 to 1.0 at December 31, 2003.  We had approximately $84.3 million of availability, at December 31, 2003, 
under the requirements of this covenant.  

Our revolving line of credit balance outstanding was approximately $211.1 million and $89.0 million at December 31, 2002 and 2003, 
respectively.  Our 2003 balance was affected by our issuance of $150.0 million of Senior Notes in June 2003.  (See Note 6).  The 
weighted average interest rate under the line of credit, including the effect of applicable interest rate swaps, was approximately 5.6% 
in  2002  and  5.4%  in  2003%,  and  the  average  balance  outstanding  during  2002  and  2003  was  approximately  $194.5  million  and 
$152.6 million, respectively, without giving effect to the interest rate swap agreements. 

In connection with our debt restructuring transaction on June 26, 2003, we terminated $110.0 million of the $135.0 million interest 
rate swap agreements then in effect.  The termination fees for unwinding these agreements of approximately $8.7 million are included 
in debt restructuring expense in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.  The fixed interest rate on the remaining $25.0 
million swap is 3.66% plus the spread.  Accounting for these swap agreements is covered by SFAS No. 133 and the aggregate change 
in  the  fair  value  of  the  interest  rate  swap  agreements  resulted  in  a  charge to comprehensive income at December 31, 2002 of $2.0 
million, net of an applicable income tax expense of $1.3 million and at December 31, 2003, an increase in comprehensive income of 
$3.7 million, net of an income tax of $2.4 million.  These swap agreements are designated as cash flow hedges and interest expense 
on  the  borrowings  under  these  agreements  is  accrued  using  the  fixed  rates  identified  in  the  swap  agreements.    Our  objective  in 
entering into these swap transactions was to reduce the risk associated with future interest rate fluctuations.  We intend to continue to 
operate  with  leverage,  and  management  believes  it  is  prudent  to  lock  in  a  fixed  interest  rate  at  a  time  when  fixed  rates  are  at 
historically advantageous rates.  We began accounting for the swap agreements under SFAS No. 133 effective January 1, 2001. 

F-16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

(4)  Notes Payable: 

Notes payable at December 31, consist of the following:  

2002 

2003 

Notes payable, interest at 6.29%, monthly installments of principal and  
interest, maturing March 2006, secured by equipment  

$  1,584,955 

$  1,145,336 

Notes payable to financial institution, with interest rates of 5.88% and 
5.38% in 2002 and 2003, respectively, payable in fixed monthly 
installments, maturing June 2003 and June 2004, respectively, unsecured 

458,806 
$  2,043,761 

464,822 
$  1,610,158 

Future payments of notes payable: 

Years Ending December 31,

2004 
2005 
2006 

$ 

974,135 
542,288 
93,735 
$  1,610,158 

(5)  Obligations Under Capital Leases: 

We leased certain equipment under capital leases with a leasing company which expired in 2003.  The lease agreements provided us 
with a purchase option at the end of the lease term based on an agreed upon percentage of the original cost of the equipment, which 
we exercised upon the lease terminations.  The leases were secured by the equipment under lease. 

(6)  Equity and Debt Issuances: 

In  June  2003,  we  completed  the  sale  of  $150.0  million  in  aggregate  principal  amount  of  9.5%  Senior  Notes  due  July  2013.    This 
transaction  allowed  us  to  replace  floating  rate  debt  with  long  term  fixed  rate  debt  and,  through  changes  in  covenants  that  we 
negotiated in our credit agreement, it greatly increased our borrowing availability.  The net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes 
were used to pay down borrowings under our revolving credit facility and to pay transaction costs and expenses.  The  Senior Notes 
bear interest at the rate of 9.5% per annum, which is payable semi annually in January and July each year. 

Prior  to  July  1,  2008,  we  can  redeem  some  or  all  of  the  Senior  Notes  at  a  price  equal  to  100%  of  their  principal  amount  plus  a 
premium, as described in the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of the redemption.  After July 1, 2008, we can redeem 
some or all of the Notes at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of the redemption.  Before July 1, 2006 
we can choose to redeem up to 35% of the outstanding Notes at a premium with money that we raise in one or more equity offerings. 

(7)  Income Taxes: 

We account for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.  SFAS No. 109 requires the use of an 
asset and liability approach in accounting for income taxes.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the differences 
between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities at the tax rates in effect when these differences are expected to 
reverse. 

F-17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, consisted of the following: 

     2001      

     2002      

     2003      

Current 
Deferred 
Total 

—     $ 

54,000 
$ 
  11,945,000 
3,726,000 
  11,543,000 
$ 11,945,000  $  11,661,000  $  3,780,000 

118,000  $ 

The components of the net deferred tax liability at December 31, are approximately as follows: 

2002 

2003 

Deferred tax assets (liabilities): 

Net operating loss carryforward 
Accelerated tax depreciation 
Unrealized gain on hedge included in other 
  comprehensive income 
Other 

Net deferred tax liability 

$  17,154,000   $  24,758,000  
  (77,106,000) 
  (63,663,000) 

2,563,000  
2,626,000  

⎯     
4,990,000  
$ (41,320,000)  $ (47,358,000) 

A reconciliation of the federal statutory rate to Mobile Mini’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, is as follows: 

     2001      

     2002      

     2003      

Statutory federal rate 
State taxes, net of federal benefit 

34% 
5   
39% 

35% 
4   
39% 

35% 
4   
39% 

At December 31, 2003, we had a federal net operating loss carryforward of approximately $67,888,000 which expires if unused from 
2008  to  2023.    At  December  31,  2003,  we  had  an  Arizona  net  operating  loss  carryforward  of  approximately  $10,417,000  which 
expires if unused from 2004 to 2009.  At December 31, 2003, we had other net operating loss carryforward in the various states in 
which we operate. 

As a result of stock ownership changes during the years presented, it is possible that Mobile Mini has undergone one or more changes 
in  ownership  for  federal  income  tax  purposes,  which can limit the amount of net operating loss currently available as a deduction.  
Such limitation could result in our being required to pay tax currently because only a portion of the net operating loss is available.  
Management  believes  that  it  is  more  likely  than  not  that  we  will  fully  realize  our  net  operating  loss  carryforward  and  therefore  a 
valuation reserve was not necessary at December 31, 2003. 

(8)  Transactions with Related Parties: 

When we were a private company prior to 1994, we leased some of our properties from entities controlled by our founder, Richard E. 
Bunger,  and  his  family  members.    These  related  party  leases  remain  in  effect.    We  lease  a  portion  of  the  property  comprising  our 
Phoenix  location  and  the  property  comprising  our  Tucson  location  from  entities  owned  by  Steven  G.  Bunger  and  his  siblings 
(including Carolyn A. Clawson, a member of our board of directors).  Steven G. Bunger is our President and Chief Executive Officer 
and has served as our Chairman of the Board since February 2001.  Annual lease payments under these leases totaled approximately 
$80,000, $81,000 and $83,000 in 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively.  In 2003, the term of each of these leases was extended for five 
years, under the same terms and conditions, and expire on December 31, 2008.  Mobile Mini leases its Rialto, California facility from 
Mobile  Mini  Systems,  Inc.,  a  corporation  wholly  owned  by  Barbara  M.  Bunger,  the  mother  of  Steven  G.  Bunger  and  Carolyn  A. 
Clawson.    Payments  in  2001,  2002  and  2003  under  this  lease were approximately $243,000, $247,000 and $252,000, respectively.  
The Rialto lease expires on December 31, 2016.  Management believes that the rental rates reflect the fair market rental value of these 
properties. 

Mobile  Mini  obtains  services  throughout  the  year  from  Skilquest,  Inc.,  a  company  engaged  in  sales  and  management  support 
programs, including the monitoring of our sales personnel.  Skilquest, Inc. is owned by Carolyn A. Clawson, a member of our board 

F-18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

of directors.  Mobile Mini made aggregate payments of approximately $201,000, $263,000, and $334,000 to Skilquest, Inc. in 2001, 
2002 and 2003, respectively, which Mobile Mini believes represented the fair market value for the services performed.  The increase 
in the amount we paid Skilquest was primarily due to increased market analysis which we engaged Skilquest to perform in the new 
markets we entered in 2002 and an increase in the average number of sales personnel being evaluated. 

In  February  2001,  Mobile  Mini  and  its  former  Chairman  of  the  Board,  Richard  E.  Bunger,  entered  into  an  employment  agreement 
pursuant to which Mr. Bunger provides services to Mobile Mini during the term of the agreement, which is scheduled to end on June 
30, 2005.  Under the agreement, Mobile Mini paid Mr. Bunger $230,000 during 2001, $180,000 during 2002 and $112,000 in 2003, 
and will pay him $1,000 per month during 2004 through June 30, 2005.  Through February 2004, Mobile Mini also provided office 
space  and  an  administrative  assistant  to  Mr.  Bunger.    The  agreement  also  provides  that  Mr.  Bunger  is  bound  by  an  agreement 
pertaining to confidentiality of Mobile Mini’s confidential information, and a non-competition agreement.  

It is Mobile Mini’s intention not to enter into any additional related party transactions other than extension of lease agreements and 
renewal of the relationship with Skilquest. 

(9)  Benefit Plans: 

Stock Option Plans  

In  August  1994,  our  board  of  directors  adopted  the  Mobile  Mini,  Inc.  1994  Stock  Option  Plan,  which  was  amended  in  1998  and 
expired  (with  respect  to  granting  additional  options)  in  2003.    At  December  31,  2003,  there  were  outstanding  options  to  acquire 
463,870 shares under the 1994 Plan.  In August 1999, our board of directors approved the Mobile Mini, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan, 
under which 2,200,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options which may be granted under 
this plan.  The 1999 Plan was amended in 2003, to increase shares of common stock authorized for issuance from 1.2 million to 2.2 
million  shares.    Both  plans  and  amendments  were  approved  by  the  stockholders  at  annual  meetings.    Under  the  1999  Plan,  both 
incentive stock options (ISOs), which are intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, and non-
qualified stock options may be granted.  ISOs may be granted to our officers and other employees.  Non-qualified stock options may 
be granted to directors and employees, and to non-employee service providers.  The purposes of the Plan are to attract and retain the 
best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility and to provide incentives to, and to encourage ownership of stock 
by, our management and other employees.  The board of directors believes that stock options are important to attract and to encourage 
the  continued  employment  and  service  of  officers  and  other  employees  by  facilitating  their  purchase  of  a  stock  interest  in  Mobile 
Mini. 

The option exercise price for all options granted under the Plan may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common 
stock on the date of grant of the option (or 110% in the case of an incentive stock option granted to an optionee beneficially owning 
more than 10% of the outstanding common stock).  The maximum option term is ten years (or five years in the case of an incentive 
stock option granted to an optionee beneficially owning more than 10% of the outstanding common stock). 

Payment  for  shares  purchased  under  the  Plan  may  be  made  either  in  cash  or,  if  permitted  by  the  particular  option  agreement,  by 
exchanging  shares  of  common  stock  with  a  fair  market  value  equal  to  the  total  option  exercise  price  plus  cash  for  any  difference.  
Options may, if permitted by the particular option agreement, be exercised by directing that certificates for the shares purchased be 
delivered  to  a  licensed  broker  as  agent  for  the  optionee,  provided  that  the  broker  tenders  to  Mobile  Mini  cash  or  cash  equivalents 
equal to the option exercise price. 

The  Plan  is  administered  by  the  compensation  committee  of  our  board  of  directors.    The  committee  is  comprised  of  independent 
directors.    They  determine  whether options will be granted, whether options will be ISOs or non-qualified options, which officers, 
employees and service providers will be granted options, the vesting schedule for options and the number of options to be granted.  
Each option granted must expire no more than 10 years from the date it is granted.  Each non-employee director serving on our board 
of directors receives an automatic grant of options for 7,500 shares on August 1 of each year as part of the compensation we provide 
to such directors. 

The  board  of  directors  may  amend  the  1999  Plan  at  any  time,  except  that  approval  by  our  stockholders  may  be  required  for  an 
amendment  that  increases  the  aggregate  number  of  shares  which  may  be  issued  pursuant  to  the  plan,  changes  the  class  of  persons 
eligible to receive ISO’s, modifies the period within which options may be granted, modifies the period within which options may be 
exercised or the terms upon which options may be exercised, or increases the material benefits accruing to the participants under the 

F-19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

plan.  The board of directors may terminate or suspend the 1999 Plan at any time.  The 1994 Plan expired in 2003.  Unless previously 
terminated, the 1999 Plan will expire in August 2009.  Any option granted under a plan will continue until the option expiration date, 
notwithstanding earlier termination of the plan under which the option was granted. 

On  December  13,  2000,  the  compensation  committee  extended  the  term  of  10,000  stock  options  granted  to  Steven  G.  Bunger,  our 
President and Chief Executive Officer, that were to expire on December 29, 2000.  The options were originally granted at an exercise 
price of $4.13 per share and were extended for five years with a two year vesting period.  These options will now expire on December 
29,  2005.    In  connection  with  this  transaction,  we  amortized  the  expense  over  the  pro  rata  vesting  period  of  two  years  which 
approximated $76,000 in both 2001 and 2002. 

We account for stock-based compensation plans under APB No. 25, under which no compensation expense has been recognized in 
the accompanying consolidated financial statements for stock-based employee awards with an exercise price equal to or greater than 
the fair value of the common stock on the date of grant.  For purposes of SFAS No. 123, the fair value of each option granted has 
been estimated at the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following assumptions: 

2001 

2002 

2003 

Risk free interest rates range 
Expected holding period 
Dividend rate 
Expected volatility 

4.39 to 4.89%
5.0 years 
0.0% 
48.7% 

3.03 to 4.81%
5.0 years 
0.0% 
80.0% 

3.29 to 3.37% 
5.0 years 
0.0% 
35.6% 

Under these assumptions, the weighted average fair value of the stock options granted was $16.38, $9.63 and $8.26 for 2001, 2002 
and 2003, respectively.   

The effect of applying SFAS No. 123 in the pro forma disclosures above is not likely to be representative of the effect on reported net 
income or earnings per share for future years, because options vest over several years, additional stock options are generally awarded 
in each year and SFAS No. 123 has not been applied to options granted prior to January 1, 1995. 

The following table summarizes the activities under our stock option plans for the years ended December 31: 

2001 

2002 

2003 

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise  Number of 

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise  Number of 

Price 

Shares 

Price 

Shares 

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise 
Price 

Number of 
Shares 

Options outstanding, beginning of year 
Granted 
Canceled/ Expired 
Exercised 
Options outstanding, end of year 
Options exercisable, end of year 
Options available for grant, end of year 

  1,243,950  
502,850  
(24,500) 
  (329,750) 
  1,392,550  
397,100  
356,900  

  $ 13.29 
 32.63 
 18.35 
  8.81 
  $ 21.25 
  $ 13.01 

  1,392,550  
362,500  
(37,600) 
(24,750) 
  1,692,700  
699,220  
32,000  

  $ 21.25 
  14.70 
  26.53 
  11.43 
  $ 19.87 
  $ 16.46 

  1,692,700  
350,500  
(94,571) 
(59,989) 
  1,888,640  
945,285  
738,671  

  $ 19.87 
  19.70 
  22.40 
  11.40 
  $ 19.98 
  $ 17.99 

F-20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

Options outstanding and exercisable by price range as of December 31, 2003 are as follows: 

Options Outstanding

Options Exercisable 

  Weighted 
  Average 
  Remaining 
  Contractual 
Life 
3.12 
4.05 
5.13 
8.20 
6.83 
7.93 

  Weighted 
  Average 
  Exercise 

Price 
$  3.575 
6.037 
  11.652 
  17.589 
  21.329 
  32.840 

  Range of 
 Exercise Prices   
$  3.120 –  $ 4.500 
  4.810 –   6.125 
  8.875 –  11.875 
  13.996 –  20.875 
  21.019 –  28.988 
  31.540 –  32.910 

  Options 
  Outstanding 
70,820 
82,100 
132,700 
    1,014,050 
150,600 
438,370 
    1,888,640 

401(k) Plan  

  Weighted 
  Average 
  Exercise 

Price 
$  3.575 
6.037 
  11.652 
  17.315 
  21.373 
  32.747 

Options 
  Exercisable     
70,820 
82,100 
132,700 
  378,925 
91,700 
  189,040 
  945,285 

In 1995, we established a contributory retirement plan, the 401(k) Plan, covering eligible employees with at least one year of service.  
The  401(k)  Plan  is  designed  to  provide  tax-deferred  retirement benefits to employees in accordance with the provisions of Section 
401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

The 401(k) Plan provides that each participant may annually contribute 2% to 15% of his or her salary, not to exceed the statutory 
limit.  Mobile Mini may make a qualified non-elective contribution in an amount it determines.  Under the terms of the 401(k) Plan, 
Mobile Mini may also make discretionary profit sharing contributions.  Profit sharing contributions are allocated among participants 
based on their annual compensation.  Each participant has the right to direct the investment of their funds among certain named plans.  
Mobile  Mini  contributes  10%  of  employees’  contributions  up  to  a  maximum  of  $500  per  employee.    We  made  profit  sharing 
contributions of $66,000, $72,000 and $76,000 in 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively.  Additionally, we incurred $16,000, $25,000 
and $25,000 in 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively, for administrative costs on this program. 

F-21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

(10)  Commitments and Contingencies: 

Leases 

As discussed more fully in Note 8, Mobile Mini is obligated under noncancellable operating leases with related parties.  We also lease 
our  corporate  offices  and  other  properties  and  operating  equipment  from  third  parties  under  noncancellable  operating leases.  Rent 
expense under these agreements was approximately $3,284,000, $4,224,000 and $5,165,000 for the years ended December 31, 2001, 
2002 and 2003, respectively.  Total future commitments under all noncancellable agreements for the years ended December 31, are 
approximately as follows: 

2004 
2005 
2006 
2007 
2008 
 Thereafter 

$  5,140,000 
5,089,000 
4,506,000 
3,863,000 
2,730,000 
8,746,000 
  $  30,074,000 

The above table, for future lease commitments, includes renewal options on certain real estate lease options we currently anticipate 
exercising at the end of the lease term. 

Insurance 

We maintain all major lines of insurance coverage for our operations and employees with appropriate aggregate, per occurrence and 
deductible limits as we reasonably determine is necessary or prudent with current operations and historical experience.  The majority 
of these coverages have large deductible programs which allow for potential improved cash flow benefits based on our loss control 
efforts.    Our  employee  group  health  insurance  program  is  a  minimum  premium  plan.    The  insurance  provider  is  responsible  for 
funding all claims in excess of the calculated monthly maximum liability.  This calculation is based on a variety of factors including 
the number of employees enrolled in the plan.  This plan allows for some cash flow benefits while guarantying a maximum premium 
liability.  Actual results may vary from estimates, even favorably, based on our actual experience at the end of the plan policy periods 
based on the carrier’s loss predictions and our historical claims data.  

Our  worker’s  compensation,  auto  and  general  liability  insurance  is  purchased  under  large  deductible  programs.    Our  current  per 
incident deductibles are: worker’s compensation $250,000, auto $100,000 and general liability $100,000.  We expense the deductible 
portion of the individual claims.  However, we generally do not know the full amount of our exposure to a deductible in connection 
with  any  particular  claim  during  the  fiscal  period  in  which  the  claim  is  incurred  and  for  which  we  must  make  an  accrual  for  the 
deductible expense.  We make these accruals based on a combination of the claims review by our staff and our insurance companies, 
and, at year end, the accrual is reviewed and adjusted, in part, based on an independent actuarial review of historical loss data and 
using certain actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry.  A high degree of judgment is required in developing these 
estimates  of  amounts  to  be  accrued,  as  well  as  in  connection  with  the  underlying  assumptions.    In  addition,  our  assumptions  will 
change as our loss experience is developed.  All of these factors have the potential for significantly impacting the amounts we have 
previously  reserved  in  respect  of  anticipated  deductible  expenses,  and  we  may  be  required  in  the  future  to  increase  or  decrease 
amounts previously accrued. 

General Litigation    

Mobile Mini is a party to routine claims incidental to its business.  Most of these routine claims involve alleged damage to customers’ 
property  while  stored  in  units  leased  from  us  and  damage  alleged  to  have  occurred  during  delivery  and  pick-up  of  containers.  We 
carry insurance to protect us against loss from these types of claims, subject to deductibles under the policy.  We do not believe that 
any of these incidental claims, individually or in the aggregate, is likely to have a material adverse effect on our business or results of 
operations. 

F-22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

Florida Litigation   

In  April  2000,  we  acquired  the  portable  storage  business  that  was  operated  in  Florida  by  A-1  Trailer  Rental  and  several  affiliated 
entities (collectively, "A-1 Trailer Rental").  As previously reported in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our previous annual 
report on Form 10-K, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, two lawsuits were filed against us in the State of 
Florida arising out of that acquisition.  One lawsuit, Nuko Holdings I, LLC v. Mobile Mini, Inc., was an action against us brought in 
the Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial District in and for Hillsborough County, Florida (Case No. 0003500), and resulted in a verdict of 
$7,215,000 being entered against us.  In the second case, A-1 Trailer Rental filed an action (A-1 Trailer Rental, et al. v. Mobile Mini, 
Inc.  (Case  No.  8:02-cv-323-T-27TGW,  in  the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  Middle  District  of  Florida,  Tampa  Division)) 
requesting that the court find that A-1 Trailer Rental has no contractual agreement to indemnify us against any losses we suffer as a 
consequence of the Nuko Holdings lawsuit and that the $2,200,000 held in escrow in accordance with the terms of the A-1 Trailer 
Rental acquisition agreement and a subsequent agreement be delivered to A-1 Trailer Rental.   

In a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 22, 2003, we announced that a panel of the Florida Second District Court of Appeals 
had affirmed the jury verdict award against Mobile Mini.  Mobile Mini filed motions in December 2003 requesting a rehearing en 
banc by the court and requesting a written opinion of the court’s decision upholding the jury verdict award of $7.2 million in damages 
to Nuko Holdings.  The court has denied these motions.  The judgment and interest (totaling approximately $8.0 million) have been 
paid in 2004 through Mobile Mini’s revolving line of credit and fully accrued at December 31, 2003.  A letter of credit of about $4.3 
million under that credit line as of December 31, 2003, which had been used to support the appeal bond has been released.  Payment 
of  the  judgment  and  interest  thereon  will  not  have  a  material  adverse  affect  on  Mobile  Mini’s  financial  condition.    The  financial 
covenants under our revolving credit facility and the indenture related to our Senior Notes exclude the amount of the judgment and 
related interest costs when measuring compliance with the terms of the related facilities. 

With respect to the litigation with A-1 Trailer Rental, on February 9, 2004, a final judgment was entered in the United States District 
Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division.  Pursuant to the terms of the final judgment, A-1 is not obligated to indemnify 
Mobile Mini for losses relating to the judgment.  Mobile Mini was awarded money relating to other claims, and some fees and costs.  
The judgment will not be appealed.  The amount due to Mobile Mini under the judgment (approximately $217,000) has been paid to 
the Company out of an escrow account.  The remainder of the escrowed funds has been paid over to A-1 Trailer. 

(11)  Stockholders’ Equity: 

Redeemable Warrants  

Redeemable Warrants to purchase 187,500 shares of common stock at $5.00 per share were issued in connection with our issuance in 
November 1997 of Senior Subordinated Notes.  Redeemable Warrants of 62,910 and 44,007 had been exercised for an equal number 
of shares of common stock, with proceeds to Mobile Mini of approximately $315,000 and $220,000 in 2001 and 2002, respectively.  
The Redeemable Warrants expired on November 1, 2002, with 4,150 warrants expiring unexercised.   

(12)  Acquisitions: 

Mobile Mini enters new markets in one of two ways, either by a new branch start up or through acquiring the portable storage assets 
and related leases of other companies.  An acquisition provides us with cash flow which enables us to immediately cover the overhead 
cost at the new branch.  On occasion, we also purchase portable storage businesses in areas where we have existing smaller branches 
either as part of multi-market acquisitions or in order to increase our operating margins at those branches. 

Mobile Mini acquired for cash, the assets and assumed certain liabilities of one business during the year ended December 31, 2003.  
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the operations of the acquired business from the date of acquisition.  The 
acquisition  was  accounted  for  as  a  purchase  in  accordance  with  SFAS  No.  141,  Business  Combinations,  and  accordingly,  the 
purchased  assets  and  the  assumed  liabilities  were  recorded  at  their  estimated  fair  values  at  the  date  of  acquisition.    Goodwill  for 
acquisitions  completed  through  June  30,  2001,  was  amortized  using  the  straight-line  method  over  25  years  from  the  date  of  the 
acquisition  during  2001.    In  2002  and  2003,  goodwill  for  acquisitions  was  not  amortized  in  accordance  with  SFAS  No.  142.  
Goodwill  was  approximately  $51.8  million  and  $52.5  million  at  December  31,  2002  and  2003  respectively.    Intangible  assets 
primarily  represent  non-compete  agreements  that  are  amortized  from  2  to  5  years  using  the  straight-line  method  with  no  residual 
value.  Amortization expense for non tangible assets was approximately $201,000 and $244,000 in 2002 and 2003, respectively.   

F-23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

The aggregate purchase price of the operations acquired consists of:  

Cash 
Retirement of debt 
Other acquisition costs 
Total 

       2001        
$  11,727,000 
1,837,000 
134,000 
$  13,698,000 

Year ended December 31, 
       2002        
$  28,002,000 
2,722,000 
109,000 
$  30,833,000 

       2003        
$  1,284,000 
214,000 
175,000 
$  1,673,000 

The fair value of the assets purchased has been allocated as follows:  

Tangible assets 
Intangible assets 
Goodwill 
Assumed liabilities 
Total 

       2001        
$  6,110,000 
175,000 
7,829,000 
(416,000) 
$  13,698,000 

Year ended December 31, 
       2002        
$  10,842,000 
390,000 
  20,423,000 
(822,000) 

       2003        
475,000 
$ 
25,000 
1,173,000 
⎯     
$  30,833,000   $  1,673,000  

The  purchase  prices  for  acquisitions  have  been  allocated  to  the  assets  acquired  and  liabilities  assumed  based  upon  estimated  fair 
values as of the acquisition dates and are subject to adjustment when additional information concerning asset and liability valuations 
are  finalized.    We  do  not  believe  any  adjustments  to  the  allocation  will  have  any  material  effect  on  our  results  of  operations  or 
financial position. 

The table below represents the estimated annual amortization expense for intangible assets from acquisitions at December 31, 2003: 

2004 
2005 
2006 
2007 
2008 

$ 

192,000 
141,000 
96,000 
33,000 
4,000 

(13)  Segment Reporting: 

Our management approach includes evaluating each segment on which operating decisions are made based on performance, results 
and profitability.  Currently, our branch operation is the only segment that concentrates on our core business of leasing.  Each branch 
has  similar  economic  characteristics  covering  all  products  leased  or  sold,  including  the  same  customer  base,  sales  personnel, 
advertising,  yard  facilities,  general  and  administrative  costs  and  the  branch  management.    Management’s  allocation  of  resources, 
performance evaluations and operating decisions are not dependent on the mix of a branch’s products.  We do not attempt to allocate 
shared  revenue  nor  general,  selling  and  leasing  expenses  to  the  different  configurations  of  portable  storage and office products for 
lease and sale.  The branch operations includes the leasing and sales of portable storage units, portable offices and combination units 
configured for both storage and office space.  We lease to businesses and consumers in the general geographic area relative to each 
branch.  The operation includes Mobile Mini’s manufacturing facilities, which are responsible for the purchase, manufacturing and 
refurbishment of products for leasing, sales or equipment additions to our delivery system, and residual sales from its dealer program 
that was discontinued in 1998.   

In managing our business, we focus on our internal growth rate in leasing revenue, which we define as growth in lease revenues on a 
year over year basis at our branch locations in operation for at least one year, without inclusion of same market acquisitions. 

F-24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

In addition, we focus on earnings per share and on adjusted EBITDA.  We calculate this number by first calculating EBITDA, which 
is  a  measure  of  our  earnings  before  interest  expense,  debt  restructuring  costs,  income  tax,  depreciation  and  amortization.    This 
measure  eliminates  the  effect  of  financing  transactions  that  we  enter  into  on  an  irregular  basis  based  on  capital  needs  and  market 
opportunities.    It  provides  us  with  a  means  to  measure  internally  generated  available  cash  from  which  we  can  fund  our  interest 
expense and our lease fleet growth.  In comparing EBITDA from year to year, we typically ignore the effect of what we consider non-
recurring events not related to our core business operations to arrive at adjusted EBITDA.  The only such event during the last several 
years has been the effect of the Florida litigation.  Discrete financial data on each of our products is not available and it would be 
impractical to collect and maintain financial data in such a manner; therefore, reportable information is the same as contained in our 
consolidated financial statements. 

(14)  Selected Consolidated Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited): 

The following table sets forth certain unaudited selected consolidated financial information for each of the four quarters in fiscal 2002 
and 2003.  In management’s opinion, this unaudited consolidated quarterly selected information has been prepared on the same basis 
as  the  audited  consolidated  financial  statements  and  includes  all  necessary  adjustments,  consisting  only  of  normal  recurring 
adjustments, that management considers necessary for a fair presentation when read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial 
Statements and notes.  The Company believes these comparisons of consolidated quarterly selected financial data are not necessarily 
indicative of future performance. 

Quarterly  earnings  per  share  may  not  total  to  the  fiscal  year  earnings  per  share  due  to  the  weighted  average  number  of  shares 
outstanding at the end of each period reported. 

F-25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) 

First 
   Quarter    

Second 
  Quarter    

Third 

   Quarter    

Fourth 
   Quarter    

2002  
Leasing revenues 
Total revenues 
Gross profit margin on sales 
Income from operations  
Net income  
Earnings per share: 
Basic 
Diluted 

$  25,088,282  
  29,388,165  
1,396,090  
9,804,738  
3,711,472  (1) 

$ 27,616,851   
  31,670,739   
  1,329,353   
  10,059,878   
  4,434,406   

$  30,883,437  
  35,142,816  
1,388,139  
  10,219,320  

$  32,580,111  
  36,894,809  
1,550,484  
  12,689,720  

4,379,275  (2) 

5,713,903  (3) 

$ 
$ 

0.26  (1)  $ 
0.25  (1)  $ 

0.31   
0.31   

$ 
$ 

0.31  (2) 
0.30  (2) 

$ 
$ 

0.40  (3) 
0.40  (3) 

2003 
Leasing revenues 
Total revenues 
Gross profit margin on sales 
Income from operations  
Net income (loss)  
Earnings (loss) per share: 
Basic 
Diluted 

$  29,704,244  
  33,741,989  
1,405,981  
9,499,164  
3,833,127  (4) 

$ 30,941,606   
  35,051,498   
  1,496,254   
  10,188,081   
  (2,129,875)  (5)(6) 

$  32,772,488  
  36,636,424  
1,298,602  
  12,220,704  

4,474,149  (7) 

$  35,063,674  
  44,138,585  
1,560,503  
4,521,888  
(265,078)  (8) 

$ 
$ 

0.27  (4)  $ 
0.27  (4)  $ 

(0.15)  (5)(6) 
(0.15)  (5)(6) 

$ 
$ 

0.31  (7) 
0.31  (7) 

$ 
$ 

(0.02)  (8) 
(0.02)  (8) 

(1)  Includes  capitalized  debt  issuance  costs  written  off  in  connection  with  entering  into  a  new  credit 
agreement,  which  approximated  $0.8  million,  net  of  income  tax  benefit  of  $0.5  million,  or  $0.06  per 
diluted share. 

(2)  Includes  Florida  litigation  expenses,  which  approximated  $0.7  million,  net  of  income  tax benefit of $0.4 

million, or $0.05 per diluted share. 

(3)  Includes Florida litigation expenses, which approximated $0.1 million, net of income tax benefit of $0.07 

million, or $0.01 per diluted share. 

(4)  Includes Florida litigation expenses, which approximated $0.04 million, net of income tax benefit of $0.03 

million, or $0.0 per diluted share. 

(5)  Includes  termination  expenses  for  certain  interest  rate  swap  agreements  and  certain  capitalized  debt 
issuance  costs,  both  incurred  in  connection  with  our  entering  into  our  amended  and  restated  credit 
agreement and the issuance of our Senior Notes. These costs approximated $6.4 million, net of income tax 
benefit of $4.0 million, or $0.44 per diluted share. 

(6)  Includes Florida litigation expenses, which approximated $0.09 million, net of income tax benefit of $0.06 

million, or $0.01 per diluted share. 

(7)  Includes Florida litigation expenses, which approximated $0.04 million, net of income tax benefit of $0.03 

million, or $0.0 per diluted share. 

(8)  Includes  Florida  litigation  expenses,  which  approximated  $5.0  million,  net  of  income  tax benefit of $3.2 

million, or $0.35 per diluted share. 

F-26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 9.   CHANGES  IN  AND  DISAGREEMENTS  WITH  ACCOUNTANTS  ON  ACCOUNTING  AND  FINANCIAL 

DISCLOSURE.   

In  June  2002,  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Mobile  Mini  determined,  in  consultation  with  and  upon  the  recommendation  of  its  Audit 
Committee,  to  dismiss  Arthur  Andersen  LLP  as  independent  auditors,  and  to  engage  the  services  of  Ernst  &  Young  LLP  as  its 
independent  auditors.    The  change  in  auditors  became  effective  June  10,  2002.    The  audit  report  of  Arthur  Andersen  on  the 
consolidated financial statements of Mobile Mini as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2000 and 2001 did not contain 
any  adverse  opinion  or  disclaimer  of  opinion,  nor  were  they  qualified  or  modified  as  to  uncertainty,  audit  scope  or  accounting 
principles.  During Mobile Mini’s two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2001, and through June 10, 2002, there were no 
disagreements  between  Mobile  Mini  and  Arthur  Andersen  on  any  matter  of  accounting  principles  or  practices,  financial  statement 
disclosure,  or  auditing  scope  or  procedure  which,  if  not  resolved  to  Arthur  Andersen’s  satisfaction,  would  have  caused  Arthur 
Andersen to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports on Mobile Mini’s consolidated 
financial statements for such years. 

None of the reportable events described under Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K occurred during Mobile Mini’s two most recent 
fiscal years ended December 31, 2001, or thereafter through June 10, 2002.  Mobile Mini requested Arthur Andersen to furnish it with 
a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the above statements made by Mobile 
Mini.  A copy of such letter, dated June 13, 2002, was filed as Exhibit 16.1 to Mobile Mini’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 
14, 2002. 

During  Mobile  Mini’s  two  most  recent  fiscal  years  ended  December  31,  2001,  and  through  June  10,  2002,  Mobile  Mini  did  not 
consult Ernst & Young with respect to any of the matters or events set forth in Item 304(a)(2) of Regulation S-K. 

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 

Evaluation  of  disclosure  controls  and  procedures:    Mobile  Mini  maintains  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  designed  to  provide 
reasonable  assurance  that  the  information  required  to  be  disclosed  in  the  reports  that  it  submits  to  the  Securities  Exchange 
Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC.  
Mobile  Mini’s  management,  with  the  participation  of  the  chief  executive  officer  and  the  chief  financial  officer,  has  evaluated  the 
effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on the evaluation, our chief executive officer and our 
chief  financial  officer  have  concluded  that,  as  of  the  end  of  such  period,  Mobile  Mini’s  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  are 
effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by Mobile Mini 
in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act. 

Changes in internal controls:  There were no significant changes in Mobile Mini’s internal controls over financial reporting (as such 
term  is  defined  in  Rules  13a-15(f)  and  15d-15(f)  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act)  subsequent  to  the  date  of  Mobile  Mini’s 
evaluation  that  have  materially  affected,  or  are  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  Mobile  Mini’s  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting. 

ITEM 10.   DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT. 

PART III 

The information set forth in our 2004 Proxy Statement under the heading “Election of Directors” is incorporated herein by reference. 

ITEM 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION. 

The  information  set  forth  in  our  2004  Proxy  Statement  under  the  heading  “Executive  Compensation”  is  incorporated  herein  by 
reference. 

ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT. 

The  information  set  forth  in  our  2004  Proxy  Statement  under  the  headings  “Security  Ownership  by  Management  and  Other 
Stockholders” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” is incorporated herein by reference. 

64 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS. 

The information set forth in our 2004 Proxy Statement under the caption “Related Party Transactions” is incorporated herein by 
reference. 

ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.   

The information set forth in our 2004 Proxy Statement under the caption “Fees Billed by Independent Public Accountants” is 
incorporated herein by reference. 

ITEM 15.   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K 

(a) 

Documents filed as part of this Report:  

PART IV 

(1) 

(2) 

The financial statements required to be included in this Report are included in ITEM 8 of this Report. 

The following financial statement schedule for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 is  
filed with our annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2003: 

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts  

All other schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or not required. 

(3) 

Exhibits  

  Exhibit 
  Number 
3.1 

3.1.1 

3.1.2 

3.2 

4.1 
4.2 

4.3 

10.1 

10.2 

Description  

  Page

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Mobile Mini, Inc. 
(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for the 
fiscal year ended December 31, 1997). 
Certificate of Amendment, dated July 20, 2000, to the Amended and Restated 
Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to the 
Registrant’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000). 
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series C Junior 
Participating Preferred Stock of Mobile Mini, Inc., dated December 17, 1999 
(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K dated 
December 13, 1999) 
Amended and Restated By-laws of Mobile Mini, Inc., adopted February 14, 
2000.  (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for 
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.) 
Form of Common Stock Certificate.  (Filed herewith.) 
Rights Agreement, dated as of December 9, 1999, between Mobile Mini, Inc. 
and Norwest Bank Minnesota, NA, as Rights Agent.  (Incorporated by reference 
to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K dated December 13, 1999.) 
Indenture, dated as of June 26, 2003, among Mobile Mini, Inc., the Guarantors 
named therein, and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Trustee.  
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Registration 
Statement on Form S-4 filed on July 25, 2003 (No. 333-107373).) 
Mobile Mini, Inc. Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Option Plan.  
(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for the 
fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.) 
Mobile Mini, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option Plan (as amended 
through March 25, 2003).  (Incorporated by reference to Appendix B of the 
Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2003 annual meeting of 
shareholders, filed with the Commission on April 11, 2003 under cover of 

65 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.3.1 

10.3.2 

10.3.3 

10.3.4 

10.3.5 

10.4 

10.5 

10.6 

10.7 

10.8 

10.9 

10.10 

10.11 

10.12 

Schedule 14A.) 
Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of June 26, 
2003, among Mobile Mini, Inc., each of the financial institutions a signatory 
thereto, together with assigns, as Lenders, and Fleet Capital Corporation, as 
Agent.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3.1 to the Registrant’s 
Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on July 25, 2003 (No. 333-107373).) 
Subsidiary Security Agreement, dated February 11, 2002 by each subsidiary of 
Mobile Mini, Inc. and Fleet Capital Corporation, as Agent.  (Incorporated by 
reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
December 31, 2001.) 
Pledge Agreement, dated February 11, 2002 by Mobile Mini, Inc., each of its 
subsidiaries and Fleet Capital Corporation, as Agent.  (Incorporated by 
reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
December 31, 2001.) 
Guaranty by each subsidiary of Mobile Mini, Inc. to Fleet Capital Corporation, 
as Agent.  (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K 
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.) 
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, 
dated January 14, 2004.  (Filed herewith.) 
Lease Agreement by and between Steven G. Bunger, Michael J. Bunger, 
Carolyn A. Clawson, Jennifer J. Blackwell, Susan E. Bunger and Mobile Mini 
Storage Systems dated January 1, 1994.  (Incorporated by reference to the 
Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-71528-LA), as 
amended.) 
Lease Agreement by and between Steven G. Bunger, Michael J. Bunger, 
Carolyn A. Clawson, Jennifer J. Blackwell, Susan E. Bunger and Mobile Mini 
Storage Systems dated January 1, 1994.  (Incorporated by reference to the 
Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-71528-LA), as 
amended.) 
Lease Agreement by and between Steven G. Bunger, Michael J. Bunger, 
Carolyn A. Clawson, Jennifer J. Blackwell, Susan E. Bunger and Mobile Mini 
Storage Systems dated January 1, 1994.  (Incorporated by reference to the 
Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-71528-LA), as 
amended.) 
Lease Agreement by and between Mobile Mini Systems, Inc. and Mobile Mini 
Storage Systems dated January 1, 1994.  (Incorporated by reference to the 
Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (No. 33-71528-LA), as 
amended.) 
Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Steven G. Bunger, Michael J. 
Bunger, Carolyn A. Clawson, Jennifer J. Blackwell, Susan E. Bunger and 
Mobile Mini Storage Systems dated August 15, 1994.  (Incorporated by 
reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended 
September 30, 1994.) 
Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Steven G. Bunger, Michael J. 
Bunger, Carolyn A. Clawson, Jennifer J. Blackwell, Susan E. Bunger and 
Mobile Mini Storage Systems dated August 15, 1994.  (Incorporated by 
reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended 
September 30, 1994.) 
Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Steven G. Bunger, Michael J. 
Bunger, Carolyn A. Clawson, Jennifer J. Blackwell, Susan E. Bunger and 
Mobile Mini Storage Systems dated August 15, 1994.  (Incorporated by 
reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended 
September 30, 1994.) 
Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Mobile Mini Systems, Inc., a 
California corporation, and the Registrant dated December 30, 1994.  
(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-KSB for the 
fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.) 
Lease Agreement by and between Richard E. and Barbara M. Bunger and the 
Registrant dated November 1, 1995.  (Incorporated by reference to the 
Registrant’s Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 
1995.)  

66 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.13 

10.14 

10.15 

10.16 

10.17 

10.18 

10.19 

21 
23.1 
23.2 
31.1 

31.2 

32.1 

Amendment to Lease Agreement by and between Richard E. and Barbara M. 
Bunger and the Registrant dated November 1, 1995.  (Incorporated by reference 
to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 
31, 1995.) 
Amendment No. 2 to Lease Agreement between Mobile Mini Systems, Inc. and 
the Registrant.  (Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.) 
Employment Agreement dated September 22, 1999 between Mobile Mini, Inc. 
and Steven G. Bunger.  (Filed herewith.) 
Employment Agreement dated September 22, 1999 between Mobile Mini, Inc. 
and Lawrence Trachtenberg.  (Filed herewith.) 
Second Amendment to Lease, made and entered into effective as of December 
31, 2003, by and between CAZ Enterprises, L.L.C. (successor in interest to 
Steven G. Bunger, Michael J. Bunger, Carolyn A. Clawson, Jennifer J. 
Blackwell and Susan E. Bunger), as Landlord, and Mobile Mini, Inc., as 
successor in interest to Mobile Mini Storage Systems, as Tenant [relates to 
premises identified as 3848 South 36th Street, Phoenix, Arizona].  (Filed 
herewith). 
Second Amendment to Lease, made and entered into effective as of December 
31, 2003, by and between CAZ Enterprises, L.L.C. (successor in interest to 
Steven G. Bunger, Michael J. Bunger, Carolyn A. Clawson, Jennifer J. 
Blackwell and Susan E. Bunger), as Landlord, and Mobile Mini, Inc., as 
successor in interest to Mobile Mini Storage Systems, as Tenant [relates to 
premises identified as 3434 East Wood Street, Phoenix, Arizona].  (Filed 
herewith). 
Second Amendment to Lease, made and entered into effective as of December 
31, 2003, by and between Three and Two Enterprises, L.L.C. (successor in 
interest to Steven G. Bunger, Michael J. Bunger, Carolyn A. Clawson, Jennifer 
J. Blackwell and Susan E. Bunger), as Landlord, and Mobile Mini, Inc., as 
successor in interest to Mobile Mini Storage Systems, as Tenant [relates to 
premises identified as 1485 West Glenn, Tucson, Arizona].  (Filed herewith). 
Subsidiaries of Mobile Mini, Inc.  (Filed herewith.) 
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.  (Filed herewith.) 
Information Regarding Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.  (Filed herewith.) 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of 
Regulation S-K.  (Filed herewith). 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Item 601(b)(31) of 
Regulation S-K.  (Filed herewith). 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 
Item 601(b)(32) of Regulation S-K.  (Filed herewith). 

(b) 

Reports on Form 8-K:  

We filed a report on Form 8-K filed October 29, 2003, related to our announcement of third quarter 2003 results of 
operations. 

We filed a report on Form 8-K filed December 22, 2003, related to our announcement of a Florida appellate court 
decision. 

We  filed  a  report  on  Form  8-K  filed  December  23,  2003,  related  to  our  announcement  of  Exchange  Offering  of 
$150 million principal amount of our 9½% Senior Notes due 2013. 

67 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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.  

SIGNATURES 

MOBILE MINI INC.  

Date: March 15, 2004 

By: 

/s/ Steven G. Bunger 
Steven G. Bunger, President 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf 
of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. 

Date: March 15, 2004 

By: 

/s/ Steven G. Bunger 
Steven G. Bunger, President, Chief Executive Officer and 
Director (Principal Executive Officer) 

Date: March 15, 2004 

By: 

/s/ Lawrence Trachtenberg  
Lawrence Trachtenberg, Executive Vice President, Chief 
Financial Officer and Director (Principal Financial Officer) 

Date: March 15, 2004 

By: 

/s/ Deborah K. Keeley 
Deborah K. Keeley, Vice President and Controller 
(Principal Accounting Officer) 

Date: March 15, 2004 

By: 

/s/ Carolyn A. Clawson 
Carolyn A. Clawson, Director 

Date: March 15, 2004 

By: 

/s/ Thomas R. Graunke 
Thomas R. Graunke, Director 

Date: March 15, 2004 

By: 

/s/ Ronald J. Marusiak 
Ronald J. Marusiak, Director 

Date: March 15, 2004 

By: 

/s/ Stephen A McConnell   
Stephen A McConnell, Director 

Date: March 15, 2004 

By: 

/s/ Michael L. Watts 
Michael L. Watts, Director 

68 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SCHEDULE II 

MOBILE MINI, INC. 

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS 

For the years ended December 31, 
2003 
2002 

2001 

Allowance for doubtful accounts: 
Balance at beginning of year 
Provision charged to expense 
Write-offs 
Balance at end of year 

$  1,617,958 
2,286,095 
(1,623,645) 

$  2,131,097 
2,359,830 
(2,388,450) 
$  2,280,408   $  2,131,097   $  2,102,477 

$  2,280,408 
2,021,797 
(2,171,108) 

69 

 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATION 

Exhibit 31.1 

I, Steven G. Bunger, certify that: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Mobile Mini, Inc.; 

Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material 
fact  necessary  to  make  the  statements  made,  in  light  of  the  circumstances  under  which  such  statements  were  made,  not 
misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report; 

Based  on  my  knowledge,  the  financial  statements,  and  other  financial  information  included  in  this  annual  report,  fairly 
present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the 
periods presented in this annual report; 

The  registrant’s  other  certifying  officer(s)  and  I  are  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  disclosure  controls  and 
procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have: 

a)  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed 

under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated 
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is 
being prepared;  

b)  Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our 

conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this 
report based on such evaluation and  

c)  Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the 
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has 
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; 
and  

5. 

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over 
financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons 
performing the equivalent functions):  

a)  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial 

reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report 
financial information; and  

b)  Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the 

registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. 

Date: March 15, 2004 

/s/ Steven G. Bunger 
Steven G. Bunger 
Chief Executive Officer 

70 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATION 

Exhibit 31.2 

I, Lawrence Trachtenberg, certify that: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Mobile Mini, Inc.; 

Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material 
fact  necessary  to  make  the  statements  made,  in  light  of  the  circumstances  under  which  such  statements  were  made,  not 
misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report; 

Based  on  my  knowledge,  the  financial  statements,  and  other  financial  information  included  in  this  annual  report,  fairly 
present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the 
periods presented in this annual report; 

The  registrant’s  other  certifying  officer(s)  and  I  are  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  disclosure  controls  and 
procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have: 

a)  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed 

under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated 
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is 
being prepared;  

b)  Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our 

conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this 
report based on such evaluation and  

c)  Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the 
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has 
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; 
and  

5. 

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over 
financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons 
performing the equivalent functions):  

a)  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial 

reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report 
financial information; and  

b)  Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the 

registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. 

Date: March 15, 2004 

/s/ Lawrence Trachtenberg  
Lawrence Trachtenberg 
Chief Financial Officer 

71 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, 
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO 
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002  

Exhibit 32.1 

In connection with the annual report of Mobile Mini, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 
2003,  as  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on  the  date  hereof  (the  “Report”),  we,  Steven  G.  Bunger,  Chief 
Executive Officer of the Company and Lawrence Trachtenberg, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each, certify, to the best of 
our knowledge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:  

(1)     The  Report  fully  complies  with  the  requirements  of  Section  13(a)  or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange 

Act of 1934; and 

(2)     The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition 

and results of operations of the Company. 

 Dated: March 15, 2004 

 Dated: March 15, 2004 

/s/ Steven G. Bunger 
Steven G. Bunger 
Chief Executive Officer 
Mobile Mini, Inc. 

/s/ Larry Trachtenberg 
Larry Trachtenberg 
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer 
Mobile Mini, Inc. 

This certification accompanies this Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, 
except to the extent required by such Act, be deemed filed by Mobile Mini, Inc. for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).  Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing 
under  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  as  amended,  or  the  Exchange  Act,  except  to  the  extent  that  Mobile  Mini,  Inc.  specifically 
incorporates it by reference.  

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Mobile Mini, Inc. and will be retained by 
Mobile Mini, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. 

72 

 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mobile Mini, Inc.’s 2003 Annual Report

on Form 10-K

is available without charge from:

The Equity Group

800 Third Avenue, 36th Floor

New York, New York 10022

041065a  5/11/04  7:28 AM  Page 2

Branches Coast to Coast 
■ Branch Location
■
■ Manufacturing Plant
■
• Corporate Headquarters
•

Corporate Profile 

Mobile  Mini,  Inc.  is  North  America’s  leading  provider  of  portable  storage  solutions  through  its  total  fleet  of  over  91,000
portable  storage  units  and  portable  offices.    Through  a  Company-owned  network  of  47  branches  located  in  27  states  and  one
Canadian province, the Company implements a replicable operating strategy of leasing secure, high quality portable storage con-
tainers and office units, to offer a diversified product line and to deliver excellent customer service.

Mobile Mini’s ongoing success in deploying this strategy stems from the Company’s consistent attention to a number of key
operational drivers. These include expanding and strengthening its infrastructure; adding new or adapting existing products that
solve customers’ storage problems, marketing, retaining dedicated employees and promoting from within.

Since its founding in 1983, Mobile Mini’s diligent focus on these initiatives has driven the Company’s expansion from one location to a net-
work of 47 locations with nearly 300 commissioned sales people and more than 1,400 total employees. At the same time, this strategic focus
has enabled the Company to build a solid financial foundation and positioned Mobile Mini, Inc. to continue its pattern of profitable growth.

Portable

Storage 

Solutions

EARNINGS PER SHARE
(diluted)

$1.38(3)(4)

OPERATING INCOME
($in millions)

$44.1(3) $44.9 (1)

$1.34

$40.6

$1.21(1)(2)

REVENUES
($in millions)

$133.1

$146.6

$114.7

01

02

03

01

02

03

01

02

03

Margin Analysis

EBITDA

Operating Income

Net Income

2003 (1)

% of total 
revenues

38.2

30.7
11.9 (2)

2002 (3)

% of total 
revenues

2001

% of total
revenues

40.2

33.1

14.9

42.6

35.3

16.3

1 Pro forma financial information for 2003 excludes Florida litigation expense of approximately $ 5.2 million, net of income tax benefit of 

$3.3 million. 

2 Net income for 2003 excludes debt restructuring expense of approximately $6.4 million, net of income tax benefit of $4.0 million.
3 Net income for 2002 excludes debt restructuring expense of approximately $0.8 million, net of income tax benefit of $0.5 million.
4 Before extraordinary item.

CORPORATE INFORMATION
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Steven G. Bunger

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Lawrence Trachtenberg

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Carolyn A. Clawson

President – SkilQuest, Inc.
A sales and management support company

Thomas R. Graunke

CEO and President – KnowledgeNet
A business e-learning company

Ronald J. Marusiak

Division President – Micro-Tronics, Inc.
A precision machining and tool & die company

Stephen A McConnell

President – Solano Ventures
A private capital investment company

Michael L. Watts

Chairman and CEO – Sunstate Equipment Company, LLC
A construction equipment rental company

CORPORATE OFFICERS

Kyle G. Blackwell

Senior Vice President 

Russell C. Lemley

Senior Vice President 

Ronald E. Marshall

Senior Vice President 

Michael J. Bunger

Vice President – Operations

Aric T. Clawson

Vice President – Manufacturing

Deborah K.  Keeley

Vice President – Controller

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Investor Relations
The Equity Group
800 Third Avenue, 36th Floor
NY, NY 10022-7604
Telephone: 212-371-8660
Fax: 212-421-1278

Transfer Agent and Registrar
Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Shareowner Services
161 N. Concord Exchange St.
South St. Paul, MN 55075-1139

Independent Public Auditors
Ernst & Young LLP
Two North Central Avenue, Suite 2300
Phoenix, Arizona 85004-2347

Independent Counsel
Bryan Cave LLP
Two North Central Avenue
22nd Floor 
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4406

Corporate Office
7420 South Kyrene Road, Suite 101
Tempe, AZ 85283-4578
Telephone: 480-894-6311
Fax: 480-894-6433

Recent press releases, quarterly reports and additional
information about Mobile Mini, Inc. can be obtained
by visiting our World Wide Web site at:
www.mobilemini.com

041065a  5/11/04  7:28 AM  Page 1

7402 South Kyrene Road
Suite 101
Tempe, Arizona 85283
Phone: 480-894-6311
www.mobilemini.com

2003 Annual Report

THE STORAGE AND OFFICE SOLUTIONS SPECIALISTS