Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number: 000-30110

 

 

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Florida   65-0716501

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

5900 Broken Sound Parkway NW  
Boca Raton, Florida   33487
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

(561) 995-7670

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

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

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 116,888,578 shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of November 2, 2009.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

INDEX

 

          Page
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
Item 1.    Financial Statements   
   Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (restated)    3
  

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 (restated)

   4
  

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity (unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2009

   5
  

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 (restated)

   6
  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 (restated)

   7
  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

   9
Item 2.   

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   30
Item 3.   

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   48
Item 4.   

Controls and Procedures

   53
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION   
Item 5.   

Other Information

   54
Item 6.   

Exhibits

   55
SIGNATURES    56

 

2


Table of Contents

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited) (in thousands, except par values)

 

     September 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  
           (as restated)  
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 285,843      $ 78,856   

Short-term investments

     6,332        162   

Restricted cash

     26,534        38,599   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $316 and $852 in 2009 and 2008, respectively

     15,630        16,351   

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

     10,181        10,658   

Prepaid and other current assets

     10,226        9,689   
                

Total current assets

     354,746        154,315   

Property and equipment, net

     1,469,067        1,502,672   

Intangible assets, net

     1,385,200        1,425,132   

Deferred financing fees, net

     39,855        29,705   

Other assets

     102,735        96,005   
                

Total assets

   $ 3,351,603      $ 3,207,829   
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ -      $ 6,000   

Accounts payable

     10,142        8,963   

Accrued expenses

     24,594        21,529   

Deferred revenue

     49,804        45,306   

Interest payable

     26,796        5,946   

Other current liabilities

     2,918        2,850   
                

Total current liabilities

     114,254        90,594   
                

Long-term liabilities:

    

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     2,508,419        2,386,230   

Other long-term liabilities

     90,980        80,495   
                

Total long-term liabilities

     2,599,399        2,466,725   
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock - par value $.01, 30,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding

     -        -   

Common stock - Class A, par value $.01, 200,000 shares authorized, 116,771 and 117,525 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively

     1,167        1,175   

Additional paid-in capital

     2,221,794        2,085,915   

Accumulated deficit

     (1,582,372     (1,435,031

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net

     (3,777     (1,549

Noncontrolling interests

     1,138        -   
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     637,950        650,510   
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 3,351,603      $ 3,207,829   
                

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     For the three months
ended September 30
    For the nine months
ended September 30
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
           (as restated)           (as restated)  

Revenues:

        

Site leasing

   $ 120,551      $ 100,506      $ 353,371      $ 283,620   

Site development

     18,738        18,150        57,162        56,905   
                                

Total revenues

     139,289        118,656        410,533        340,525   
                                

Operating expenses:

        

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion and amortization shown below):

        

Cost of site leasing

     28,645        24,726        83,727        69,367   

Cost of site development

     16,643        17,282        49,972        52,237   

Selling, general and administrative

     13,204        12,419        38,440        35,459   

Acquisition related expenses

     899        77        2,646        77   

Depreciation, accretion and amortization

     64,946        52,725        192,850        149,331   
                                

Total operating expenses

     124,337        107,229        367,635        306,471   
                                

Operating income

     14,952        11,427        42,898        34,054   
                                

Other income (expense):

        

Interest income

     334        1,847        917        5,574   

Interest expense

     (36,421     (26,747     (93,316     (75,845

Non-cash interest expense

     (14,035     (9,877     (35,427     (22,385

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     (2,603     (2,935     (7,991     (7,997

Loss from extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing fees

     (12,518     (414     (4,189     (414

Other income (expense)

     120        (525     89        (5,412
                                

Total other expense

     (65,123     (38,651     (139,917     (106,479
                                

Loss before provision for income taxes

     (50,171     (27,224     (97,019     (72,425

Provision for income taxes

     (18     (424     (490     (692
                                

Net loss

     (50,189     (27,648     (97,509     (73,117

Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     80        -        148        -   
                                

Net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation

   $ (50,109   $ (27,648   $ (97,361   $ (73,117
                                

Basic and diluted loss per common share amount

   $ (0.43   $ (0.26   $ (0.83   $ (0.68
                                

Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares

     116,686        107,384        117,245        107,661   
                                

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

(unaudited) (in thousands)

 

    Class A Common Stock     Additional
Paid-In
    Accumulated     Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
    Noncontrolling        
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Deficit     Loss     Interest     Total  

BALANCE, December 31, 2008 (as restated)

  117,525      $ 1,175      $ 2,085,915      $ (1,435,031   $ (1,549   $ -      $ 650,510   

Net loss

  -        -        -        (97,361     -        (148     (97,509

Amortization of deferred loss from settlement of derivative financial instruments, net

  -        -        -        -        75        -        75   

Write-off of deferred gain (loss) from derivative instruments related to repurchase of debt, net

  -        -        -        -        (3,513     -        (3,513

Foreign currency translation adjustments

  -        -        -        -        1,210        -        1,210   

Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions and earn-outs

  864        9        20,303        -        -        -        20,312   

Purchase of non-wholly owned entity

  -        -        -        -        -        1,286        1,286   

Non-cash compensation

  -        -        5,918        -        -        -        5,918   

Common stock issued in connection with stock purchase/option plans

  326        3        2,965        -        -        -        2,968   

Equity component related to 4.0% convertible debt issuance

  -        -        168,933        -        -        -        168,933   

Purchase of convertible note hedges

  -        -        (160,100     -        -        -        (160,100

Proceeds from issuance of common stock warrants

  -        -        98,491        -        -        -        98,491   

Stock issued in connection with early retirement of the 0.375% convertible debt

  618        6        11,193        -        -        -        11,199   

Equity component related to repurchases of the 0.375% convertible debt

  -        -        (11,830     -        -        -        (11,830

Stock received related to the termination of a portion of the 0.375% convertible note hedge

  (874     (9     9        -        -        -        -   

Stock issued related to the termination of a portion of the 0.375% convertible debt common stock warrants

  328        3        (3     -        -        -        -   

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

  (2,016     (20     -        (49,980     -        -        (50,000
                                                     

BALANCE, September 30, 2009

  116,771      $ 1,167      $ 2,221,794      $ (1,582,372   $ (3,777   $ 1,138      $ 637,950   
                                                     

 

5


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

 

     For the three months
ended September 30
    For the nine months
ended September 30
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
           (as restated)           (as restated)  
           (in thousands)        

Net loss

   $ (50,189   $ (27,648   $ (97,509   $ (73,117

Other comprehensive loss for derivative instruments:

        

Amortization of deferred (gain)/loss from settlement of terminated swaps reclassified into consolidated statements of operations, net

     355        (139     75        (419

Write-off of deferred gain from derivative instruments related to repurchase of debt, net

     (3,343     -        (3,513     -   

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     1,156        -        1,210        -   
                                

Comprehensive loss

   $ (52,021   $ (27,787   $ (99,737   $ (73,536

Less: Comprehensive (gain) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     (31     -        32        -   
                                

Comprehensive loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation

   $ (52,052   $ (27,787   $ (99,705   $ (73,536
                                

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited) (in thousands)

 

     For the nine months
ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008  
           (as restated)  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net loss

   $ (97,509   $ (73,117

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation, accretion and amortization

     192,850        149,331   

Write-down of short-term investments

     -        5,478   

Non-cash interest expense

     35,427        22,385   

Non-cash compensation expense

     5,873        5,627   

Provision (credit) for doubtful accounts

     235        (206

Deferred income tax (benefit) provision

     (100     120   

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     7,991        7,997   

Loss from extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing fees

     4,189        414   

Gain on sale of assets

     (109     (5

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net

     844        14,411   

Prepaid and other assets

     (10,121     (9,386

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     203        543   

Interest payable

     20,850        5,123   

Other liabilities

     9,178        5,394   
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     169,801        134,109   
                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from sales of investments

     -        40,900   

Purchases of investments

     (6,164     -   

Capital expenditures

     (34,106     (26,723

Acquisitions and related earn-outs

     (54,619     (342,415

Proceeds from disposition of fixed assets

     518        46   

Proceeds (payment) of restricted cash relating to tower removal obligations

     6,073        (863
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (88,298     (329,055
                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of original issue discount and fees paid

     728,717        -   

Proceeds from issuance of 4.0% convertible senior notes, net of fees paid

     488,195        -   

Proceeds from issuance of 1.875% convertible senior notes, net of fees paid

     -        536,815   

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

     (50,000     (120,000

Proceeds from issuance of common stock warrants

     98,491        56,183   

Purchase of convertible note hedges

     (160,100     (137,698

Payments on early extinguishment of CMBS Certificates

     (523,015     -   

Payments on early extinguishment of convertible debt

     (90,554     -   

Repayment of Senior Credit Facilty

     (239,060     (235,000

Borrowings under Senior Credit Facility

     8,507        460,448   

Repayment of Optasite Credit Facility

     (149,117     -   

Proceeds from employee stock purchase/stock option plans

     2,968        5,947   

Release of restricted cash relating to CMBS Certificates

     10,823        383   

Payment of deferred financing fees

     (371     (3,249
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     125,484        563,829   
                

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     206,987        368,883   

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:

    

Beginning of period

     78,856        70,272   
                

End of period

   $ 285,843      $ 439,155   
                

(continued)

 

7


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited) (in thousands)

 

     For the nine months
ended September 30,
     2009    2008
          (as restated)

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

     

Cash paid during the period for:

     

Interest

   $ 72,555    $ 70,835
             

Income taxes

   $ 860    $ 739
             

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES:

     

Assets acquired through capital leases

   $ 92    $ 676
             

Class A common stock issued relating to acquisitions and earn-outs

   $ 20,312    $ 289,398
             

Class A common stock issued in connection with early extinguishment of debt

   $ 11,199    $ -
             

Debt assumed through acquisition

   $ -    $ 147,000
             

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

8


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 for SBA Communications Corporation (the “Company”). These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, omit or condense certain footnotes and other information normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair financial statement presentation have been made. The results of operations for an interim period may not give a true indication of the results for the year.

All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that do not utilize the United States dollar as its functional currency are translated at period-end rates of exchange, while revenues and expenses are translated at monthly weighted average rates of exchange for the year. Unrealized translation gains or losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments through other comprehensive loss in shareholders’ equity.

 

2. RESTATEMENT FOR ADOPTION OF NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted new convertible debt accounting which requires the issuer of certain convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash (including partial cash settlement) on conversion to separately account for the liability (debt) and equity (conversion option) components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer’s non-convertible debt borrowing rate. It also requires companies to retroactively apply the requirements of the pronouncement to all periods presented. The Company’s 0.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2010 (“0.375% Notes”) and 1.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 (“1.875% Notes” and collectively with the 0.375% Notes, the “Notes”) are subject to the retroactive restatement required by the new convertible debt accounting. As a result of the adoption of the new convertible debt accounting, the Company recorded a debt discount and corresponding increase to additional paid in capital of approximately $74.4 million for the 0.375% Notes and approximately $163.0 million for the 1.875% Notes as of their dates of issuance (March 26, 2007 for the 0.375% Notes and May 16, 2008 for the 1.875% Notes). The Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008 has been retroactively adjusted to reduce the carrying value of the 0.375% Notes and 1.875% Notes and reflect the conversion option in equity. In addition, as of their respective issuance dates, the Company reclassified, as a reduction to equity, deferred financing fees of $1.8 million and $3.8 million for the 0.375% Notes and 1.875% Notes, respectively, relating to debt issuance costs of the equity component of the Notes. The Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the non-cash interest expense related to the accretion of the reduced carrying value of the Notes back to their full principal balance over the term of the Notes. In addition, the amortization of deferred financing fees has been restated to reflect the amortization of the fees related only to the liability component of the Notes. See Note 9 for further information on the Notes.

 

9


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

Following is a summary of the effects of these changes on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008 and consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008:

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

     As of December 31, 2008
     As previously
reported
   As restated
     (audited)    (unaudited)
     (in thousands)

Current assets

   $ 154,315    $ 154,315

Property and equipment, net

     1,502,672      1,502,672

Intangible assets, net

     1,425,132      1,425,132

Deferred financing fees, net

     33,384      29,705

Other assets

     96,005      96,005
             

Total assets

   $ 3,211,508    $ 3,207,829
             

Current liabilities

   $ 90,594    $ 90,594

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     2,548,660      2,386,230

Other long-term liabilities

     80,495      80,495
             

Total liabilities

     2,719,749      2,557,319

Total shareholders’ equity

     491,759      650,510
             

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 3,211,508    $ 3,207,829
             

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     For the three months
ended September 30, 2008
    For the nine months
ended September 30, 2008
 
     As previously
reported
    As restated     As previously
reported
    As restated  
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)  

Revenues

   $ 118,656      $ 118,656      $ 340,525      $ 340,525   

Operating expenses

     107,229        107,229        306,471        306,471   
                                

Operating income

     11,427        11,427        34,054        34,054   

Other income (expense):

        

Interest income

     1,847        1,847        5,574        5,574   

Interest expense

     (26,747     (26,747     (75,845     (75,845

Non-cash interest benefit (expense)

     1,667        (9,877     1,947        (22,385

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     (3,254     (2,935     (8,659     (7,997

Loss from extinguishment of debt, net of write-off of deferred financing fees

     (414     (414     (414     (414

Other expense

     (525     (525     (5,412     (5,412
                                

Total other expense

     (27,426     (38,651     (82,809     (106,479
                                

Loss before provision for income taxes

     (15,999     (27,224     (48,755     (72,425

Provision for income taxes

     (424     (424     (692     (692
                                

Net loss

   $ (16,423   $ (27,648   $ (49,447   $ (73,117
                                

Basic and diluted loss per common share amounts:

        

Net loss per common share

   $ (0.15   $ (0.26   $ (0.46   $ (0.68
                                

Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares

     107,384        107,384        107,661        107,661   
                                

 

10


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

3. CURRENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2009-01, Amendments Based on Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 168 – The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“ASU 2009-01”), which states that the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) will become the source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) recognized by the FASB. The codification does not change existing GAAP but instead is a major restructuring of accounting and reporting standards designed to simplify user access to all authoritative GAAP by providing the authoritative literature in a topically organized structure. On the effective date the Codification supersedes all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. The FASB will no longer issue new standards in the form of statements, instead it will issue accounting standard updates. ASU 2009-01 became effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual reporting periods ending after September 15, 2009. ASU 2009-01 is not intended to change or alter existing GAAP and as such the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The FASB issued business combination accounting guidance which amends and clarifies the accounting for assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination that arise from contingencies. This accounting guidance is effective for assets or liabilities arising from contingencies in business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The FASB also issued business combinations accounting guidance which requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to record all assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their respective acquisition-date fair values and changes other practices some of which could have a material impact on how the Company accounts for business combinations. These changes include, among other things, expensing acquisition costs as incurred as a component of operating expense. Effective January 1, 2009, these costs are reflected as acquisition related expenses in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The Company historically capitalized these acquisition costs as part of the purchase price and then amortized these costs using the straight line method over the life of the associated acquired assets. This accounting guidance also requires additional disclosure of information surrounding a business combination, such that users of the entity’s financial statements can fully understand the nature and financial impact of a business combination. This accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this accounting guidance effective January 1, 2009.

The FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2009-05, Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value (“ASU 2009-05”). ASU 2009-05 amends fair value accounting by providing additional guidance clarifying the measurement of liabilities at fair value. ASU 2009-05 addresses several key issues with respect to estimating the fair value of liabilities and clarifies how the price of a traded debt security should be considered in estimating the fair value of the issuer’s liability. ASU 2009-05 became effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual reporting periods ending after its issuance (August 2009). The adoption of ASU 2009-05 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The FASB issued fair value accounting guidance which requires disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies as well as in annual

 

11


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

financial statements. This accounting guidance is effective for interim reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009 and does not require disclosures for earlier periods presented for comparative purposes at initial adoption. The Company adopted this accounting guidance and it had no impact on the Company’s disclosures.

The FASB issued fair value accounting guidance which provides additional guidance for estimating fair value when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased. This accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009, and is applied prospectively. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The FASB issued fair value accounting guidance which defines fair value, establishes guidelines for measuring fair value and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. This accounting guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. However, in February 2008, FASB issued additional guidance which excludes from fair value accounting for leases and other accounting pronouncements that address fair value measurements for purposes of lease classification or measurement. In addition the additional guidance delayed the effective date to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, or in fiscal 2009 for the Company, and interim periods within those fiscal years for fair value measurements for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). In October 2008, the FASB issued additional accounting guidance which clarifies the application of fair value measurements in an inactive market by providing an illustrative example to demonstrate how the fair value of a financial asset is determined when the market for the financial asset is inactive. Effective January 1, 2008, the guidelines of fair value measurement were applied in recording the Company’s investments. Effective January 1, 2009, the guidelines of fair value measurements were applied to non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities. The adoption of the above fair value accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

The FASB issued subsequent events accounting guidance which established principles and requirements for disclosing subsequent events. This accounting guidance is effective for interim or annual financial periods ending after June 15, 2009, and is applied prospectively. The Company adopted this accounting guidance and has disclosed all significant subsequent events that have occurred through November 4, 2009, the day the financial statements were issued.

The FASB issued accounting guidance on investment in debt and equity securities which changed the existing accounting requirements for other-than-temporary impairments. This accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The FASB issued derivative and hedging accounting guidance which addresses the determination of whether an instrument (or an embedded feature) is indexed to an entity’s own stock. This accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The FASB issued derivative and hedging accounting guidance which establishes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities and expands the disclosure requirements. This accounting guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008 and the adoption did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

12


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The FASB issued accounting guidance for intangibles other than goodwill which amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset. This accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and early adoption is prohibited and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The FASB issued consolidation accounting guidance which requires entities to report non-controlling (minority) interests in subsidiaries as equity in the consolidated financial statements. This accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company adopted this accounting guidance effective January 1, 2009 and the noncontrolling interests are reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statement of shareholders’ equity.

 

4. RESTRICTED CASH

Restricted cash consists of the following:

 

     As of
September 30, 2009
   As of
December 31, 2008
  

Included on Balance Sheet

     (in thousands)     

CMBS Certificates

   $ 25,358    $ 36,182    Restricted cash - current asset

Payment and performance bonds

     1,176      2,417    Restricted cash - current asset

Surety bonds and workers compensation

     11,065      16,660    Other assets - noncurrent
                

Total restricted cash

   $ 37,599    $ 55,259   
                

In connection with the issuance of the CMBS Certificates (as defined in Note 9), the Company is required to fund a restricted cash amount, which is held in escrow pursuant to the mortgage loan agreement underlying the CMBS Certificates. Pursuant to the terms of the mortgage loan agreement, all rents and other sums due on the towers that secure the CMBS Certificates are directly deposited into a controlled deposit account by the lessees and are held by the indenture trustee. The restricted cash amount is used to fund certain reserve accounts for the payment of debt service costs, ground rents, real estate and personal property taxes, insurance premiums related to tower sites, and trustee and servicing expenses, management fees and to reserve a portion of advance rents from tenants. The restricted cash held by the indenture trustee in excess of required reserve balances is subsequently released to the Borrowers monthly, provided that the Company is in compliance with its debt service coverage ratio and that no Event of Default has occurred. All monies held by the indenture trustee are classified as restricted cash on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Payment and performance bonds relate primarily to collateral requirements for tower construction currently in process by the Company. Cash is pledged as collateral related to surety bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or its affiliates in the ordinary course of business and primarily related to the Company’s tower removal obligations. As of September 30, 2009, the Company had $17.9 million in removal bonds for which it is only required to post $9.1 million in collateral. In addition, as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company had pledged $2.4 million and $2.0 million, respectively, as collateral related to its workers compensation policy. These amounts are included in other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

13


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

5. ACQUISITIONS

During the third quarter of 2009, the Company acquired 58 completed towers and related assets and liabilities from various sellers. The aggregate consideration paid for these towers and related assets was approximately $24.2 million (excluding working capital adjustments), which was paid in cash. The results of operations of the acquired assets are included with those of the Company from the dates of the respective acquisitions.

The Company accounted for the above tower acquisitions under the acquisition method of accounting. The acquisitions are recorded at fair market value at the date of each acquisition. The acquisitions consummated were not significant to the Company and accordingly, pro forma financial information has not been presented. In addition, in the third quarter of 2009 as part of the ground lease purchase program, the Company paid $1.1 million in cash for long-term lease extensions and $2.1 million for land and perpetual easement purchases, consisting of $1.9 million paid in cash and $0.2 million paid through the issuance of the Company’s Class A common stock.

The Company continues to evaluate all acquisitions within one year after the applicable closing date of each transaction to determine whether any additional adjustments need to be made to the allocation of the purchase price paid for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed by major balance sheet caption, as well as the separate recognition of intangible assets apart from goodwill, if certain criteria are met. These intangible assets represent the value associated with current leases in place at the acquisition date (“Current Contract Intangibles”) and future tenant leases anticipated to be added to the acquired towers (“Network Location Intangibles”) and were calculated using the discounted values of the current or future expected cash flows. The intangible assets are estimated to have an economic useful life consistent with the economic useful life of the related tower assets, which is typically 15 years.

From time to time, the Company agrees to pay additional consideration in connection with its acquisitions if the towers or businesses that are acquired meet or exceed certain performance targets in the one to three years after they have been acquired. During the third quarter of 2009, certain earnings targets associated with previously acquired towers were achieved and therefore, the Company paid $0.4 million in cash. As of September 30, 2009, the Company had obligations to pay up to an additional $6.7 million in consideration if the performance targets contained in various acquisition agreements are met. In certain acquisitions, the additional consideration may be paid in cash or shares of Class A common stock at the Company’s option. The Company accrues for contingent consideration in connection with acquisitions at fair value as of the date of the acquisition. Prior to January 1, 2009, the Company recorded such obligations as additional consideration when it became probable that the targets would be met.

 

14


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

6. INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

The following table provides the gross and net carrying amounts for each major class of intangible assets:

 

     As of September 30, 2009    As of December 31, 2008
     Gross carrying
amount
   Accumulated
amortization
    Net book
value
   Gross carrying
amount
   Accumulated
amortization
    Net book
value
     (in thousands)

Current Contract Intangibles

   $ 1,043,820    $ (155,305   $ 888,515    $ 1,022,022    $ (103,837   $ 918,185

Network Location Intangibles

     587,863      (91,178     496,685      569,301      (62,354     506,947
                                           

Intangible assets, net

   $ 1,631,683    $ (246,483   $ 1,385,200    $ 1,591,323    $ (166,191   $ 1,425,132
                                           

All intangible assets noted above are included in our site leasing segment. The Company amortizes its intangible assets using the straight line method over 15 years. Amortization expense relating to the intangible assets above was $27.0 million and $18.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $80.3 million and $51.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. These amounts are subject to changes in estimates until the preliminary allocation of the purchase price is finalized for all acquisitions.

 

7. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property and equipment, net (including assets held under capital leases) consists of the following:

 

     As of
September 30, 2009
    As of
December 31, 2008
 
     (in thousands)  

Towers and related components

   $ 2,202,304      $ 2,136,179   

Construction-in-process

     10,265        10,295   

Furniture, equipment and vehicles

     30,196        29,563   

Land, buildings and improvements

     112,249        102,898   
                
     2,355,014        2,278,935   

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (885,947     (776,263
                

Property and equipment, net

   $ 1,469,067      $ 1,502,672   
                

Construction-in-process represents costs incurred related to towers that are under development and will be used in the Company’s operations. Depreciation expense was $37.8 million and $33.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $112.3 million and $97.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

The amounts applicable to capital leases for vehicles included in property and equipment, net was:

 

     As of
September 30, 2009
    As of
December 31, 2008
 
     (in thousands)  

Vehicles

   $ 1,833      $ 1,741   

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (664     (397
                

Vehicles, net

   $ 1,169      $ 1,344   
                

 

15


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

8. COSTS AND ESTIMATED EARNINGS ON UNCOMPLETED CONTRACTS

Costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts consist of the following:

 

     As of
September 30, 2009
    As of
December 31, 2008
 
     (in thousands)  

Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts

   $ 30,506      $ 43,945   

Estimated earnings

     11,181        13,486   

Billings to date

     (31,732     (47,132
                
   $ 9,955      $ 10,299   
                

These amounts are included on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets under the following captions:

 

     As of
September 30, 2009
    As of
December 31, 2008
 
     (in thousands)  

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

   $ 10,181      $ 10,658   

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

     (226     (359
                
   $ 9,955      $ 10,299   
                

At September 30, 2009, five significant customers comprised 77.5% of the costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net of billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings, while at December 31, 2008, five significant customers comprised 66.7% of the costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net of billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings.

 

16


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

9. DEBT

Debt consists of the following:

 

     As of
September 30, 2009
   As of
December 31, 2008
 
          (as restated)  
     (in thousands)  

Commercial mortgage pass-through certificates, series 2005-1, secured, interest payable monthly in arrears. Interest at fixed rates ranging from 5.369% to 6.706%. Paid off in full in July 2009.

   $ -    $ 398,800   

Commercial mortgage pass-through certificates, series 2006-1, secured, interest payable monthly in arrears, balloon payment of principal with an anticipated repayment date of November 9, 2011. Interest at fixed rates ranging from 5.314% to 7.825%.

     973,900      1,090,747   

Convertible senior notes net of discount, unsecured, interest payable June 1 and December 1, aggregate principal amount with a maturity date of December 1, 2010. Interest at 0.375%. Principal balance of $30.4 million and $138.1 million as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

     28,188      121,965   

Convertible senior notes net of discount, unsecured, interest payable May 1 and November 1, aggregate principal amount with a maturity date of May 1, 2013. Interest at 1.875%. Principal balance of $550 million as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

     425,030      403,754   

Convertible senior notes net of discount, unsecured, interest payable April 1 and October 1, aggregate principal amount with a maturity date of October 1, 2014. Interest at 4.0%. Principal balance of $500 million as of September 30, 2009.

     336,907      -   

Senior notes net of discount, unsecured, interest payable February 15 and August 15, aggregate principal amount with maturity date of August 15, 2016. Interest at 8.0%. Principal balance of $375 million as of September 30, 2009

     372,537      -   

Senior notes net of discount, unsecured, interest payable February 15 and August 15, aggregate principal amount with maturity date of August 15, 2019. Interest at 8.25%. Principal balance of $375 million as of September 30, 2009

     371,857      -   

Senior Credit Facility originated in January 2008. Maturity date of January 18, 2011.

     -      230,552   

Optasite Credit Facility net of discount. Paid off and terminated in July 2009. Principal balance of $149.0 million as of December 31, 2008.

     -      146,412   
               

Total debt

     2,508,419      2,392,230   

Less: current maturities of long-term debt

     -      (6,000
               

Total long-term debt, net of current maturities

   $ 2,508,419    $ 2,386,230   
               

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-1

On November 18, 2005, SBA CMBS Trust (the “Trust”), a trust established by an indirect subsidiary of SBA Communications, issued, in a private transaction, $405.0 million of CMBS Certificates (the “Initial CMBS Certificates”).

The Initial CMBS Certificates consisted of five classes with annual pass-through interest rates ranging from 5.369% to 6.706%. The weighted average annual fixed coupon interest rate of the Initial CMBS Certificates was 5.6%, payable monthly, and the effective weighted average annual fixed interest rate was 4.8%, after giving effect to the settlement of two interest rate swap agreements entered into in contemplation of the transaction.

 

17


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

On July 28, 2009, the Company repaid the remaining principal balance of $380.2 million of the Initial CMBS Certificates and paid $10.1 million for related prepayment consideration plus accrued interest and fees. During the quarter and year-to-date period ended September 30, 2009 but prior to the payoff of the principal balance, the Company repurchased, an aggregate of $1.1 million and $18.6 million, respectively, in principal amount of Initial CMBS Certificates for cash of $1.1 million and $16.6 million, respectively. The Company recorded a $9.3 million and $7.2 million net loss on the early extinguishment of debt and write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees and write-off of the deferred gain on the Initial CMBS Certificate Swaps in its Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-1

On November 6, 2006, the Trustee issued $1.15 billion of Additional CMBS Certificates, Series 2006-1 (the “Additional CMBS Certificates,” and collectively with the Initial CMBS Certificates, the “CMBS Certificates”).

The Additional CMBS Certificates consist of nine classes with annual pass-through interest rates ranging from 5.314% to 7.825%. The weighted average annual fixed coupon interest rate of the Additional CMBS Certificates at September 30, 2009 was 5.9%, payable monthly, and the effective weighted average annual fixed interest rate was 6.2% after giving effect to the settlement of the nine interest rate swap agreements entered into in contemplation of the transaction. The Additional CMBS Certificates have an anticipated repayment date of November 2011 with a final repayment date in 2036. At September 30, 2009, the estimated fair value was $972.4 million as determined by market prices provided by a third party valuation firm.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased an aggregate of $105.6 million and $116.8 million, respectively, in principal amount of Additional CMBS Certificates for $105.3 million and $116.2 million in cash, respectively. The Company recorded a $1.4 million and $1.2 million loss on the early extinguishment of debt and write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees and write-off of the deferred gain on the Additional CMBS Swaps in its Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.

Subsequent to September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased an aggregate of $0.6 million in principal amount of the Additional CMBS Certificates for $0.6 million in cash.

The assets of the Trust, which issued both the Initial CMBS Certificates and the Additional CMBS Certificates, consist of a non-recourse mortgage loan initially made in favor of SBA Properties Inc. as the initial borrower. In connection with the issuance of the Additional CMBS Certificates in November 2006, each of SBA Sites, Inc., SBA Structures, Inc., SBA Towers, Inc., SBA Puerto Rico, Inc. and SBA Towers USVI, Inc. were added as additional borrowers under the mortgage loan and the principal amount of the mortgage loan was increased by $1.15 billion to an aggregate of $1.56 billion. The mortgage loan consists of multiple tranches, or components, each of which has terms that are identical to the subclass of CMBS Certificates to which it relates. The borrowers are special purpose vehicles which exist solely to hold the towers which are subject to the securitization. The borrowers are jointly and severally liable under the mortgage loan.

On July 28, 2009, in connection with the repayment of the Initial CMBS Certificates, SBA Towers, Inc., SBA Puerto Rico, Inc. and SBA Towers USVI, Inc. were released from their obligations under the mortgage loan underlying the CMBS Certificates. Effective July 28, 2009, SBA Properties Inc., SBA Sites, Inc., and SBA Structures, Inc., (the “Borrowers”) are the borrowers under the mortgage loan and the mortgage loan is to be paid from the operating cash flows from the aggregate 3,747 towers owned by the Borrowers (the “CMBS Towers”).

 

18


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

As of September 30, 2009, the Borrowers met the required debt service coverage ratio as defined by the mortgage loan agreement.

0.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2010

On March 26, 2007, the Company issued $350.0 million of its 0.375% Notes. Interest on the 0.375% Notes is payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1. The maturity date of the 0.375% Notes is December 1, 2010.

During the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased an aggregate of $4.0 million in principal amount of 0.375% Notes for $3.9 million in cash. The Company recorded a gain on the early extinguishment of debt net of write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees of $0.1 million and a net reduction to additional paid in capital of $0.4 million related to these transactions.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company consummated privately negotiated exchanges of the 0.375% Notes for Class A common stock in reliance on Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Pursuant to these exchanges, the Company issued approximately 618,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock in exchange for $12.5 million in principal amount of 0.375% Notes. In addition, the Company also repurchased an aggregate of $95.2 million in principal amount of 0.375% Notes for $90.6 million in cash. The Company recorded a gain on the early extinguishment of debt net of write-off unamortized deferred financing fees of $6.1 million and a net reduction to additional paid in capital of $0.6 million related to these transactions.

In April 2009, the Company also terminated the portion of the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions that it entered into in March 2007 with respect to its 0.375% Notes which related to the $264.1 million principal amount of 0.375% Notes that the Company previously repurchased for cash or stock. The Company received a net settlement of approximately 546,000 shares from the counterparties of the hedge and warrant transactions.

The Company is amortizing the debt discount on the 0.375% Notes utilizing the effective interest method over the life of the 0.375% Notes which increases the effective interest rate of the 0.375% Notes from its coupon rate of 0.375% to 6.9%. The Company incurred cash interest expense of $0.03 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $0.2 million and $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company recorded non-cash interest expense of $0.5 million and $4.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and non-cash interest expense of $3.2 million and $14.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. As of September 30, 2009, the carrying amount of the equity component related to the 0.375% Notes was $60.1 million. The estimated fair value of the 0.375% Notes as of September 30, 2009 was $31.0 million.

 

19


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The 0.375% Notes are reflected in long-term debt in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at carrying value. The following table summarizes the balances for the 0.375% Notes:

 

     As of
September 30, 2009
    As of
December 31, 2008
 
           (as restated)  
     (in thousands)  

Principal balance

   $ 30,403      $ 138,149   

Debt discount

     (2,215     (16,184
                

Carrying value

   $ 28,188      $ 121,965   
                

1.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2013

On May 16, 2008, the Company issued $550.0 million of its 1.875% Notes. Interest on the 1.875% Notes is payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1. The maturity date of the 1.875% Notes is May 1, 2013.

The Company is amortizing the debt discount on the 1.875% Notes utilizing the effective interest method over the life of the 1.875% Notes which increases the effective interest rate of the Notes from its coupon rate of 1.875% to 9.4%. The Company incurred cash interest expense of $2.6 million for each of the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and cash interest expense of $7.7 million and $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company recorded non-cash interest expense of $7.3 million and $6.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $21.3 million and $9.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. As of September 30, 2009, the carrying amount of the equity component related to the 1.875% Notes was $159.2 million. The estimated fair value of the 1.875% Notes as of September 30, 2009 was $507.4 million.

The 1.875% Notes are reflected in long-term debt in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at carrying value. The following table summarizes the balances for the 1.875% Notes:

 

     As of
September 30, 2009
    As of
December 31, 2008
 
           (as restated)  
     (in thousands)  

Principal balance

   $ 550,000      $ 550,000   

Debt discount

     (124,970     (146,246
                

Carrying value

   $ 425,030      $ 403,754   
                

4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014

On April 24, 2009, the Company issued $500.0 million of its 4.0% Convertible Senior Notes (“4.0% Notes”) in a private placement transaction. Interest on the 4.0% Notes is payable semi-annually on April 1 and October 1. The maturity date of the 4.0% Notes is October 1, 2014. The Company incurred deferred financing fees of $11.7 million with the issuance of the 4.0% Notes.

 

20


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The 4.0% Notes are convertible, at the holder’s option, into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, at an initial conversion rate of 32.9164 shares of Class A common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 4.0% Notes (subject to certain customary adjustments), which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $30.38 per share or a 22.5% conversion premium based on the last reported sale price of $24.80 per share of the Company’s Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on April 20, 2009, the purchase agreement date. The 4.0% Notes are convertible only under the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing at any time after June 30, 2009 and only during such calendar quarter, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s Class A common stock for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the last trading day of the preceding calendar quarter is more than 130% of the applicable conversion price per share of Class A common stock on the last day of such preceding calendar quarter; (2) during the five business day period after any 10 consecutive trading day period (the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each day in the measurement period was less than 95% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s Class A common stock and the applicable conversion rate; (3) if specified distributions to holders of the Company’s Class A common stock are made or specified corporate transactions occur; or (4) at any time on or after July 22, 2014. Upon conversion, the Company has the right to settle its conversion obligation in cash, shares of Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its Class A common stock. From time to time, upon notice to the holders of the 4.0% Notes, the Company may change its election regarding the form of consideration that the Company will use to settle its conversion obligation; provided, however, that the Company is not permitted to change its settlement election after July 21, 2014.

The net proceeds of this offering were approximately $488.2 million after deducting discounts, commissions and expenses. Contemporaneously with the closing of the sale of the 4.0% Notes, a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the 4.0% Notes was used to repurchase 2.0 million shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, valued at $50.0 million based on the closing stock price of $24.80 on April 20, 2009. These repurchased shares were immediately retired by the Company. The repurchased shares will be recorded as a reduction to Class A common stock for the par value of the Class A common stock as well as an increase to accumulated deficit.

Concurrently with the pricing of the 4.0% Notes, the Company entered into convertible note hedge transactions whereby the Company purchased from affiliates of certain of the initial purchasers of the 4.0% Notes an option covering 16,458,196 shares of its Class A common stock at an initial strike price of $30.38 per share (the same as the initial conversion price of the notes). Separately and concurrently with the pricing of the 4.0% Notes, the Company entered into warrant transactions whereby it sold to affiliates of certain of the initial purchasers of the 4.0% Notes warrants to acquire 16,458,196 shares of its Class A common stock at an initial price of $44.64 per share. The Company used approximately $61.6 million of the net proceeds from the 4.0% Notes offering plus the proceeds from the warrant transactions to fund the cost of the convertible note hedge transactions. The convertible note hedge transactions and the warrant transactions, taken as a whole, effectively increase the conversion price of the 4.0% Notes from $30.38 per share to $44.64 per share, reflecting a premium of 80% based on the closing stock price of $24.80 per share of the Company’s Class A common stock on April 20, 2009. The remaining net proceeds of $376.6 million will be used for general corporate purposes, including repurchases or repayments of the Company’s outstanding debt.

The Company is amortizing the debt discount on the 4.0% Notes utilizing the effective interest method over the life of the 4.0% Notes which increases the effective interest rate of the Notes from its coupon rate of 4.0% to 13.0%. The Company incurred cash interest expense of $5.0 million and $8.8 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and non-cash interest expense of $5.8 million and $9.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. As of September 30, 2009, the carrying amount of the equity component related to the 4.0% Notes was $169.0 million. The estimated fair value of the 4.0% Notes as of September 30, 2009 was $560.6 million.

 

21


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The 4.0 % Notes are reflected in long-term debt in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at carrying value. The following table summarizes the balances for the 4.0% Notes:

 

     As of
September 30, 2009
 
     (in thousands)  

Principal balance

   $ 500,000   

Debt discount

     (163,093
        

Carrying value

   $ 336,907   
        

Senior Credit Facility

On January 18, 2008, SBA Senior Finance, Inc. (“SBA Senior Finance”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a $285.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Senior Credit Facility”) with several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties to the credit agreement (the “Lenders”).

Effective April 14, 2009, SBA Senior Finance entered into a New Lender Supplement with Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”). The New Lender Supplement added Barclays as a lender under the Senior Credit Facility and increased the aggregate commitment under the Senior Credit Facility from $285.0 million to $320.0 million, the availability of which is based on compliance with certain financial ratios. All other terms of the Senior Credit Facility remain the same.

During the first nine months of 2009, SBA Senior Finance borrowed $8.5 million and repaid $239.1 million under its Senior Credit Facility, which is presented within “Cash flows from financing activities” on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company used or designated such proceeds for construction and acquisition of towers and for ground lease buyouts. As of September 30, 2009, the Company did not have any amounts outstanding under this facility. The Company had approximately $0.1 million of letters of credit posted against the availability of this credit facility outstanding. The weighted average interest rate for amounts borrowed under the Senior Credit Facility for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 was 2.31% and 2.46%, respectively. As of September 30, 2009, availability under the credit facility was approximately $319.9 million. As of September 30, 2009, SBA Senior Finance and the Company were in full compliance with the financial covenants contained in the Senior Credit Facility.

SBA Senior Finance entered into an Amendment and Restatement (the “Restated Credit Agreement”) of the Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), which was effective July 31, 2009.

The Restated Credit Agreement mirrors the material terms of the Credit Agreement, except that the Restated Credit Agreement:

 

   

clarifies that the credit facility will terminate on January 18, 2011;

 

   

eliminates the ability of SBA Senior Finance and its subsidiaries to enter into additional securitization arrangements;

 

22


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

   

amends the definition of Excluded Subsidiaries such that only subsidiaries of SBA Senior Finance, rather than of SBA (other than SBA Telecommunications, Inc. (“Telecommunications”)), are required to guarantee SBA Senior Finance’s obligations under the credit facility;

 

   

modifies the provision relating to the limitation of asset sales and when the net proceeds of asset sales are required to be used to permanently reduce the credit facility commitments and repay outstanding revolving loans;

 

   

amends the definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to reflect recent changes in GAAP;

 

   

reduces the maximum financial ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Annualized Adjusted EBITDA that SBA Senior Finance must maintain to 5.0 times; and

 

   

expands the approved use of proceeds for borrowings under the credit facility to general corporate purposes, including distributions to Telecommunications.

In connection with the Restated Credit Agreement, on July 28, 2009, SBA Communications, Telecommunications, SBA Senior Finance and certain of SBA Senior Finance’s subsidiaries, entered into an Amendment and Restatement of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in favor of Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent (the “Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”). The Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement clarifies that only subsidiaries of SBA Senior Finance, rather than of SBA Communications (other than Telecommunications), are required to guarantee SBA Senior Finance’s obligations under the credit facility and added SBA Towers, Inc., SBA Puerto Rico, Inc. and SBA Towers USVI, Inc. as guarantors, as each of these entities had been released from its obligations under the mortgage loan underlying the CMBS Certificates.

Optasite Credit Facility

On September 16, 2008, in connection with the acquisition of Optasite, the Company assumed Optasite’s fully drawn $150 million senior credit facility (the “Optasite Credit Facility”). Interest on the Optasite Credit Facility accrued at the one month Eurodollar Rate plus 165 basis points and interest payments were due monthly. Commencing November 1, 2008, the Company began paying required installment payments on the Optasite Credit Facility. On July 31, 2009, the Company paid off the facility in full and the facility was subsequently terminated. The Company recorded a loss on the early extinguishment of debt of $1.9 million.

Senior Notes

On July 24, 2009, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Telecommunications issued $750 million of unsecured senior notes (“Senior Notes”), $375 million of which are due August 15, 2016 (“2016 Notes”) and $375 million of which are due August 15, 2019 (“2019 Notes”). The 2016 Notes have an interest rate of 8.00% and were issued at a price of 99.330% of their face value. The 2019 Notes have an interest rate of 8.25% and were issued at a price of 99.152% of their face value. Interest on the 2016 Notes and 2019 Notes are due semi-annually on February 15, and August 15 of each year beginning on February 15, 2010. Net proceeds of this offering were $728.7 million after deducting expenses and original issue discount.

Telecommunications used the net proceeds from this offering to repay the Initial CMBS Certificates issued by its subsidiary and the related prepayment consideration, repay the Senior Credit Facility and repay and terminate the Optasite Credit Facility. Telecommunications also intends to repurchase prior to maturity or repay at maturity SBA’s outstanding 0.375% Notes. The remaining net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.

 

23


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

The 2016 Notes and the 2019 Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part on or after August 15, 2012 and on or after August 15, 2014, respectively, at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to August 15, 2012 for the 2016 Notes and August 15, 2014 for the 2019 Notes, Telecommunications may at its option redeem all or a portion of the 2016 Notes or 2019 Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus a “make whole” premium plus accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, Telecommunications may redeem up to 35% of the originally issued aggregate principal amount of each of the 2016 Notes and 2019 Notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 108.000% and 108.250%, respectively, of the principal amount of the redeemed notes plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The Company is amortizing the debt discount on the 2016 Notes and the 2019 Notes utilizing the effective interest method over the life of the 2016 Notes and 2019 Notes, respectively. The Company incurred cash interest expense of $5.6 million and non-cash interest expense of $0.05 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009, related to the 2016 Notes. The Company incurred cash interest expense of $5.8 million and non-cash interest expense of $0.04 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009, related to the 2019 Notes. The estimated fair value of the 2016 Notes as of September 30, 2009 was $381.6 million. The estimated fair value of the 2019 Notes as of September 30, 2009 was $386.3 million.

The Indenture governing the Senior Notes contains customary covenants, subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications, including restrictions on Telecommunications’ ability to (1) incur additional indebtedness unless its Consolidated Indebtedness to Annualized Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA Ratio (as defined in the Indenture), pro forma for the additional indebtedness does not exceed 7.0 times for the fiscal quarter, (2) merge, consolidate or sell assets, (3) make restricted payments, including dividends or other distributions, (4) enter into transactions with affiliates, and (5) enter into sale and leaseback transactions and restrictions on the ability of Telecommunications’ Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) to incur liens securing indebtedness. The Company is a holding company with no business operations of its own. The Company’s only significant asset is the outstanding capital stock of Telecommunications. The Company has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the Senior Notes issued by Telecommunications.

Capital Lease Obligations

The Company’s capital lease obligations outstanding were $0.9 million as of September 30, 2009 and $1.2 million as of December 31, 2008. These obligations bear interest rates ranging from 0.9% to 4.9% and mature in periods ranging from approximately one to five years.

 

24


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

10. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Additional CMBS Certificate Swaps

The Company’s unamortized value of the net deferred loss related to its Additional CMBS Certificate Swaps, which were terminated in October 2006 in connection with entering into the purchase and sale agreement for the Additional CMBS Certificates (see Note 9), is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The deferred loss is being amortized utilizing the effective interest method over the anticipated five year life of the Additional CMBS Certificates and increases the effective interest rate on these certificates by 0.3%.

The Company recorded amortization of $0.6 million as non-cash interest expense on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 and $1.8 million as non-cash interest expense on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.

Initial CMBS Certificate Swaps

The Company’s unamortized value of the net deferred gain related to its Initial CMBS Certificate Swaps, which were terminated in November 2005 in connection with entering into the purchase and sale agreement for the Initial CMBS Certificates (see Note 9), was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The deferred gain was being amortized utilizing the effective interest method over the anticipated five year life of the Initial CMBS Certificates and reduced the effective interest rate on the Initial CMBS Certificates by 0.8%. On July 28, 2009, the Company wrote off the remaining unamortized net deferred gain of $3.9 million in connection with the repayment of the Initial CMBS Certificates.

The Company recorded amortization of $0.2 and $0.7 million as an offset to non-cash interest expense on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $1.7 and $2.2 million as an offset to non-cash interest expense on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

11. EARNINGS PER SHARE

As of September 30, 2009, the Company has potential common stock equivalents related to its outstanding stock options and the 0.375% Notes, 1.875% Notes and 4.0% Notes (see Note 9). These potential common stock equivalents were not included in diluted loss per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive. Accordingly, basic and diluted loss per common share and the weighted average number of shares used in the computation are the same for each period presented.

 

25


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

12. STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Options

The Company records compensation expense for employee stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the assumptions included in the table below. The Company uses a combination of historical data and implied volatility to establish the expected volatility. Historical data is used to estimate the expected option life and the expected forfeiture rate. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the option. The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model:

 

     For the nine months ended September 30,
     2009    2008

Risk free interest rate

   1.30% -1.80%    2.10% - 2.97%

Dividend yield

   0.0%    0.0%

Expected volatility

   55.7%    41.6%

Expected lives

   3.21-4.08 years    3.35-3.73 years

The following table summarizes the Company’s activities with respect to its stock option plans for the first nine months of 2009 as follows:

 

Options

   Number of
Shares
    Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
   Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual

Life (in years)
     (in thousands)           

Outstanding at December 31, 2008

   3,788      $ 20.31    5.7

Granted

   1,101      $ 19.87   

Exercised

   (304   $ 8.34   

Canceled

   (86   $ 30.44   
           

Outstanding at September 30, 2009

   4,499      $ 20.82    5.3
               

Exercisable at September 30, 2009

   2,202      $ 16.84    4.8
               

Unvested at September 30, 2009

   2,297      $ 24.63    5.8
               

The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 was $8.60 and $10.96, respectively. The total intrinsic value for options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 was $4.8 million and $13.7 million, respectively.

 

26


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

13. INCOME TAXES

The Company had taxable losses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, and as a result, net operating loss carry-forwards have been generated. These net operating loss carry-forwards are fully reserved as management believes it is not “more-likely-than-not” that the Company will generate sufficient taxable income in future periods to recognize the losses.

 

14. SEGMENT DATA

The Company operates principally in three business segments: site leasing, site development consulting and site development construction. The Company’s reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different services. The site leasing segment includes results of the managed and sublease businesses. Revenues, cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion and amortization), capital expenditures (including assets acquired through the issuance of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock) and identifiable assets pertaining to the segments in which the Company operates are presented below:

 

27


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

     Site
Leasing
   Site
Development
Consulting
   Site
Development
Construction
    Not
Identified by
Segment (1)
    Total
               (in thousands)            
Three months ended September 30, 2009             

Revenues

   $ 120,551    $ 4,268    $ 14,470      $ -      $ 139,289

Cost of revenues

   $ 28,645    $ 3,367    $ 13,276      $ -      $ 45,288

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

   $ 64,479    $ 49    $ 213      $ 205      $ 64,946

Operating income (loss)

   $ 15,689    $ 463    $ (334   $ (866   $ 14,952

Capital expenditures(2)

   $ 37,367    $ 5    $ 113      $ 227      $ 37,712
Three months ended September 30, 2008             

Revenues

   $ 100,506    $ 3,783    $ 14,367      $ -      $ 118,656

Cost of revenues

   $ 24,726    $ 3,164    $ 14,118      $ -      $ 42,008

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

   $ 52,234    $ 38    $ 170      $ 283      $ 52,725

Operating income (loss)

   $ 14,279    $ 218    $ (1,274   $ (1,796   $ 11,427

Capital expenditures(2)

   $ 319,926    $ 42    $ 201      $ 113      $ 320,282
Nine months ended September 30, 2009             

Revenues

   $ 353,371    $ 12,788    $ 44,374      $ -      $ 410,533

Cost of revenues

   $ 83,727    $ 9,637    $ 40,335      $ -      $ 133,699

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

   $ 191,450    $ 143    $ 613      $ 644      $ 192,850

Operating income (loss)

   $ 44,761    $ 1,870    $ (520   $ (3,213   $ 42,898

Capital expenditures(2)

   $ 108,355    $ 34    $ 381      $ 359      $ 109,129
Nine months ended September 30, 2008             

Revenues

   $ 283,620    $ 14,081    $ 42,824      $ -      $ 340,525

Cost of revenues

   $ 69,367    $ 11,510    $ 40,727      $ -      $ 121,604

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

   $ 147,731    $ 140    $ 521      $ 939      $ 149,331

Operating income (loss)

   $ 42,171    $ 1,165    $ (2,275   $ (7,007   $ 34,054

Capital expenditures(2)

   $ 661,187    $ 168    $ 626      $ 429      $ 662,410
Assets             

As of September 30, 2009

   $ 2,757,484    $ 4,077    $ 25,103      $ 564,939      $ 3,351,603

As of December 31, 2008 (as restated)

   $ 3,092,965    $ 4,375    $ 25,413      $ 85,076      $ 3,207,829

 

(1)

Assets not identified by segment consist primarily of general corporate assets.

(2)

Includes acquisitions and related earn-outs and vehicle capital lease additions.

 

28


Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

15. CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

The Company’s credit risks consist primarily of accounts receivable with national, regional and local wireless communications providers and federal and state governmental agencies. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and provides allowances for doubtful accounts, as required, based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends and other information. The Company generally does not require collateral.

The following is a list of significant customers (representing at least 10% of revenue for the periods reported) and the percentage of total revenue for the specified time periods derived from such customers:

 

     Percentage of Site Leasing Revenue
for the three months ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008  

AT&T

   25.5   25.9

Sprint

   23.2   25.1

Verizon including Alltel

   16.0   16.9

T-Mobile

   12.0   10.5
     Percentage of Site Development
Consulting Revenue
for the three months ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008  

Verizon including Alltel

   27.0   34.9

Nsoro Mastec

   14.1   6.9

Clearwire Tech

   10.3   -   

Cox Communications

   10.8   -   

Metro-PCS

   4.6   13.7

Sprint

   0.5   13.5
     Percentage of Site Development
Construction Revenue
for the three months ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008  

Nsoro Mastec

   35.0   0.8

T-Mobile

   18.5   16.2

Metro PCS

   7.9   15.2

At September 30, 2009, five significant customers comprised 55.4% of total gross accounts receivable compared to five significant customers which comprised 41.7% of total gross accounts receivable at December 31, 2008.

 

16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On October 29, 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program. This program authorizes the Company to purchase, from time to time, up to $250.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock through open market repurchases in compliance with Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and/or in privately negotiated transactions at management’s discretion based on market and business conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. This program will become effective November 3, 2009 and will continue until otherwise modified or terminated by the Company’s Board of Directors at any time in the Company’s sole discretion.

 

29


Table of Contents

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

We are a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications towers. Our principal operations are in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. Our primary business line is our site leasing business, which contributed 97.8% of our segment operating profit for the three months ended September 30, 2009. In our site leasing business, we lease antenna space to wireless service providers on towers and other structures that we own, manage or lease from others. The towers that we own have been constructed by us at the request of a wireless service provider, constructed based on our own initiative or acquired. As of September 30, 2009, we owned 8,085 towers, the substantial majority of which have been built by us or built by other tower owners or operators who, like us, have built such towers to lease space to wireless service providers. We also own six distributed antenna system (“DAS”) networks and manage or lease approximately 5,200 actual or potential communications sites, approximately 550 of which were revenue producing as of September 30, 2009. Our other business line is our site development business, through which we assist wireless service providers with developing and maintaining their own wireless service networks.

Site Leasing Services

Our primary focus is the leasing of antenna space on our multi-tenant towers to a variety of wireless service providers under long-term lease contracts. Site leasing revenues are received primarily from wireless service provider tenants, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. Wireless service providers enter into numerous different tenant leases with us, each of which relates to the lease or use of space at an individual tower site. Tenant leases are generally for an initial term of five years renewable for five five-year renewal periods at the option of the tenant. These tenant leases typically contain specific rent escalators, which average 3% - 4% per year, including the renewal option periods. Tenant leases are generally paid on a monthly basis and revenue from site leasing is recorded monthly on a straight-line basis over the current term of the related lease agreements. Rental amounts received in advance are recorded as deferred revenue.

Cost of site leasing revenue primarily consists of:

 

   

Rental payments on ground and other underlying property leases;

 

   

Straight-line rent adjustment for the difference between rental payments made and expense recorded as if the payments had been made evenly throughout the minimum lease term (which may include renewal terms) of the underlying property leases;

 

   

Property taxes;

 

   

Site maintenance and monitoring costs (exclusive of employee related costs);

 

   

Utilities;

 

   

Property insurance; and

 

   

Deferred lease origination cost amortization.

For any given tower, such costs are relatively fixed over a monthly or an annual time period. As such, operating costs for owned towers do not generally increase significantly as a result of adding additional customers to the tower. The amount of other direct costs associated with operating a tower varies from site to site depending on the taxing jurisdiction and the height and age of the tower, but typically do not make up a large percentage of total operating costs. The ongoing maintenance

 

30


Table of Contents

requirements are typically minimal and include replacing lighting systems, painting towers or upgrading or repairing access roads or fencing. Lastly, land leases generally have an initial term of five years with five or more additional automatic renewal periods of five years at our option and provide for rent escalators which typically average 3% - 4% annually or provide for term escalators of approximately 15%. Of the 8,085 towers in our portfolio, as of September 30, 2009, approximately 27.2% were located on parcels of land that we own, land subject to perpetual easements, or parcels of land that have a leasehold interest that extends beyond 50 years.

Our site leasing business generates substantially all of our total segment operating profit. As indicated in the table below, our site leasing business generated 86.5% and 86.1% of our total revenue during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. For information regarding our operating segments, please see Note 14 of our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report.

 

     Revenues  
     For the three months
ended September 30,
    For the nine months
ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
           (dollars in thousands)        

Site leasing revenue

   $ 120,551      $ 100,506      $ 353,371      $ 283,620   

Total revenues

   $ 139,289      $ 118,656      $ 410,533      $ 340,525   

Site leasing revenue percentage of total revenues

     86.5     84.7     86.1     83.3
     Segment Operating Profit  
     For the three months
ended September 30,
    For the nine months
ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
           (dollars in thousands)        

Site leasing segment operating profit (1)

   $ 91,906      $ 75,780      $ 269,644      $ 214,253   

Total segment operating profit (1)

   $ 94,001      $ 76,648      $ 276,834      $ 218,921   

Site leasing segment operating profit percentage of total segment operating profit (1)

     97.8     98.9     97.4     97.9

 

(1)

Site leasing segment operating profit and total segment operating profit are non-GAAP financial measures. We reconcile these measures and provide other Regulation G disclosures later in this quarterly report in the section entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

We believe that over the long-term, site leasing revenues will continue to grow as wireless service providers lease additional antenna space on our towers due to increasing minutes of network use, network expansion and network coverage requirements. We believe our site leasing business is characterized by stable and long-term recurring revenues, predictable operating costs and minimal capital expenditures. Due to the relatively young age and mix of our tower portfolio, we expect future expenditures required to maintain these towers to be minimal. Consequently, we expect to grow our cash flows by adding tenants to our towers at minimal incremental costs by using existing tower capacity or requiring wireless service providers to bear all or a portion of the cost of tower modifications. Furthermore, because our towers are strategically positioned and our customers typically do not relocate, we have historically experienced low customer churn as a percentage of revenue.

 

31


Table of Contents

The following rollforward summarizes the activity in our consolidated tower portfolio from December 31, 2008 to September 30, 2009:

 

     Number of Towers  

Towers owned at December 31, 2008

   7,854   

Purchased towers

   7   

Constructed towers

   25   

Towers reclassified/disposed (1)

   (2
      

Towers owned at March 31, 2009

   7,884   

Purchased towers

   95   

Constructed towers

   25   
      

Towers owned at June 30, 2009

   8,004   

Purchased towers

   58   

Constructed towers

   25   

Towers reclassified/disposed (1)

   (2
      

Towers owned at September 30, 2009

   8,085   
      

 

(1)

Reclassifications reflect the combination for reporting purposes of multiple tower structures on a single parcel of real estate, which we market and customers view as a single location, into a single tower site. Dispositions reflect the decommissioning, sale, conveyance or legal transfer of owned tower sites.

Site Development Services

Our site development services business is complementary to our site leasing business and provides us the ability to keep in close contact with the wireless service providers who generate substantially all of our site leasing revenue and capture ancillary revenues that are generated by our site leasing activities, such as antenna installation and equipment installation at our tower locations. Our site development services business consists of two segments, site development consulting and site development construction, through which we provide wireless service providers a full range of end-to-end services. We principally perform services for third parties in our core, historical areas of wireless expertise, specifically site acquisition, zoning, technical services and construction.

Site development services revenues are received primarily from wireless service providers or companies providing development or project management services to wireless service providers. Our site development customers engage us on a project-by-project basis, and a customer can generally terminate an assignment at any time without penalty. Site development projects, both consulting and construction, include contracts on a time and materials basis or a fixed price basis. The majority of our site development services are billed on a fixed price basis. Time and materials based site development contracts are billed and revenue is recognized at contractual rates as the services are rendered. Our site development projects generally take from three to twelve months to complete. For those site development consulting contracts in which we perform work on a fixed price basis, we bill the client, and recognize revenue, based on the completion of agreed upon phases of the project on a per site basis. Upon the completion of each phase, we recognize the revenue related to that phase.

Our revenue from site development construction contracts is recognized on the percentage-of-completion method of accounting, determined by the percentage of cost incurred to date compared to management’s estimated total cost for each contract. This method is used because management considers total cost to be the best available measure of progress on the contracts. These amounts are based on estimates, and the uncertainty inherent in the estimates initially is reduced as work on the contracts nears completion. Revenue from our site development construction business may fluctuate from period to period depending on construction activities, which are a function of the timing and amount of our clients’ capital expenditures, the number and significance of active customer engagements during a period, weather and other factors.

 

32


Table of Contents

Cost of site development consulting revenue and construction revenue include all costs of materials, salaries and labor, including payroll taxes, subcontract labor, vehicle expense and other costs directly and indirectly related to the projects. All costs related to site development consulting contracts and construction contracts are recognized as incurred.

The table below provides the percentage of total company revenues contributed by site development consulting services and site development construction services for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. Information regarding the total assets used in our site development services businesses is included in Note 14 of our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report.

 

     Percentage of Revenues  
     For the three months
ended September 30,
    For the nine months
ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
           (dollars in thousands)        

Site development consulting

   $ 4,268      $ 3,783      $ 12,788      $ 14,081   

Site development construction

     14,470        14,367        44,374        42,824   
                                

Total site development revenues

     18,738        18,150        57,162        56,905   

Total revenues

   $ 139,289      $ 118,656      $ 410,533      $ 340,525   

Site development consulting

     3.1     3.2     3.1     4.1

Site development construction

     10.4     12.1     10.8     12.6

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Segment Operating Profit:

We believe that Segment Operating Profit is an indicator of the operating performance of our site leasing and site development segments and provides management with the ability to monitor the operating results and margin of each segment, while excluding the impact of depreciation, accretion and amortization, which is largely fixed. We reconcile this measure and provide other Regulation G disclosures later in this quarterly report in the section entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

 

     For the three months
ended September 30,
        For the nine months
ended September 30,
    
     2009    2008    Dollar
Change
   2009    2008    Dollar
Change
     (in thousands)         (in thousands)     

Segment operating profit:

                 

Site leasing

   $ 91,906    $ 75,780    $ 16,126    $ 269,644    $ 214,253    $ 55,391

Site development consulting

     901      619      282      3,151      2,571      580

Site development construction

     1,194      249      945      4,039      2,097      1,942
                                         

Total

   $ 94,001    $ 76,648    $ 17,353    $ 276,834    $ 218,921    $ 57,913
                                         

The increase in site leasing segment operating profit related primarily to additional profit generated by the 610 towers acquired and constructed after September 30, 2008 and the 528 towers acquired in late September 2008 in the Optasite acquisition and additional revenue from the new leases and lease modifications for new tenant equipment installed in the first three months and nine months of 2009 compared to the first three months and nine months of 2008, control of our site leasing cost of revenue and the positive impact of our ground lease purchase program.

 

33


Table of Contents

Adjusted EBITDA:

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is an indicator of the performance of our core operations and reflects the changes in our operating results. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be an alternative measure of operating income or gross profit margin as determined in accordance with GAAP. We reconcile this measure and provide other Regulation G disclosures later in this quarterly report in the section entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Adjusted EBITDA increased $18.1 million to $85.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from $66.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 primarily due to increased site leasing segment operating profit.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

We have identified the policies and significant estimation processes below as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our results of operations. The listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, with no need for management’s judgment in their application. In other cases, management is required to exercise judgment in the application of accounting principles with respect to particular transactions. The impact and any associated risks related to these policies on our business operations is discussed throughout “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” where such policies affect reported and expected financial results. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2008, included in the Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2009. Our preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from those estimates and such differences could be significant.

Construction Revenue

Revenue from construction contracts is recognized on the percentage-of-completion method of accounting, determined by the percentage of cost incurred to date compared to management’s estimated total cost for each contract. This method is used because we consider total cost to be the best available measure of progress on each contract. These amounts are based on estimates, and the uncertainty inherent in the estimates initially is reduced as work on each contract nears completion. The asset “Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts” represents expenses incurred and revenues recognized in excess of amounts billed. The liability “Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts” represents billings in excess of revenues recognized.

 

34


Table of Contents

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We perform periodic credit evaluations of our customers. We continuously monitor collections and payments from our customers and maintain an allowance for estimated credit losses based upon our historical experience and any specific customer collection issues that we have identified. Establishing reserves against specific accounts receivable and the overall adequacy of our allowance is a matter of judgment.

Asset Impairment

We evaluate the potential impairment of individual long-lived assets, principally the tower sites, on an annual basis or when an indicator of impairment exists. We record an impairment charge when we believe an investment in towers or the related intangible assets has been impaired, such that future undiscounted cash flows would not recover the then current carrying value of the investment in the tower site. We consider many factors and make certain assumptions when making this assessment, including, but not limited to: general market and economic conditions, historical operating results, geographic location, lease-up potential and expected timing of lease-up. In addition, we make certain assumptions in determining an asset’s fair value less costs to sell for purposes of calculating the amount of an impairment charge. Changes in those assumptions or market conditions may result in a fair value less costs to sell which is different from management’s estimates. Future adverse changes in market conditions could result in losses or an inability to recover the carrying value, thereby possibly requiring an impairment charge in the future. In addition, if our assumptions regarding future undiscounted cash flows and related assumptions are incorrect, a future impairment charge may be required.

Property Tax Expense

We typically receive notifications and invoices in arrears for property taxes associated with the tangible personal property and real property used in our site leasing business. As a result, we recognize property tax expense, which is reflected as a component of site leasing cost of revenue, based on our best estimate of anticipated property tax payments related to the current period. We consider several factors in establishing this estimate, including our historical level of incurred property taxes, the location of the property, our awareness of jurisdictional property value assessment methods and industry related property tax information. If our estimates regarding anticipated property tax expenses are incorrect, a future increase or decrease in site leasing cost of revenue may be required.

RESTATEMENT FOR ADOPTION OF NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted new convertible debt accounting which requires the issuer of certain convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash (including partial cash settlement) on conversion to separately account for the liability (debt) and equity (conversion option) components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer’s non-convertible debt borrowing rate. It also requires companies to retroactively apply the requirements of the pronouncement to all periods presented. Our 0.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2010 (the “0.375% Notes”) and 1.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 (the “1.875% Notes”) are subject to the retroactive restatement requirements required by the new convertible debt accounting. Our consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the impact of adopting the new convertible debt accounting. See Note 2 and Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for a summary of the effects on our consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008. The accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis reflects the changes due to the implementation.

 

35


Table of Contents

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2008

 

     For the three months
ended September 30,
    Dollar     Percentage
     2009     2008     Change     Change
           (as restated)            
     (in thousands, except for percentages)      

Revenues:

        

Site leasing

   $ 120,551      $ 100,506      $ 20,045      19.9      %

Site development consulting

     4,268        3,783        485      12.8      %

Site development construction

     14,470        14,367        103      0.7      %
                            

Total revenues

     139,289        118,656        20,633      17.4      %
                            

Operating expenses:

        

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion and amortization shown below):

        

Cost of site leasing

     28,645        24,726        3,919      15.8      %

Cost of site development consulting

     3,367        3,164        203      6.4      %

Cost of site development construction

     13,276        14,118        (842   (6.0   %

Selling, general and administrative

     13,204        12,419        785      6.3      %

Acquisition related expenses

     899        77        822      100.0      %

Depreciation, accretion and amortization

     64,946        52,725        12,221      23.2      %
                            

Total operating expenses

     124,337        107,229        17,108      16.0      %
                            

Operating income

     14,952        11,427        3,525      30.8      %
                            

Other income (expense):

        

Interest income

     334        1,847        (1,513   (81.9   %

Interest expense

     (36,421     (26,747     (9,674   (36.2   %

Non-cash interest expense

     (14,035     (9,877     (4,158   (42.1   %

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     (2,603     (2,935     332      11.3      %

Loss from extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing fees

     (12,518     (414     (12,104   (100.0   %

Other income (expense)

     120        (525     645      100.0      %
                            

Total other expense

     (65,123     (38,651     (26,472   (68.5   %
                            

Loss before provision for income taxes

     (50,171     (27,224     (22,947   (84.3   %

Provision for income taxes

     (18     (424     406      95.8      %
                            

Net loss

   $ (50,189   $ (27,648   $ (22,541   (81.5   %
                            

Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     80        -        80      100.0      %
                            

Net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation

   $ (50,109   $ (27,648   $ (22,461   (81.2   %
                            

Revenues:

Site leasing revenues increased $20.0 million during the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the same period in the prior year due largely to (i) revenues from the towers that we acquired in the 2008 acquisitions of Optasite and Light Tower and the other towers that we acquired or constructed subsequent to September 30, 2008 and (ii) organic site leasing growth from new leases and contractual rent escalators and lease amendments with current tenants which increased the related rent to reflect additional equipment added to our towers. Average rents per tenant increased in the third quarter of 2009 due primarily to rent escalators, lease amendments and higher rents associated with new leases.

 

36


Table of Contents

Site development consulting revenues increased slightly and site development construction revenues remained relatively stable during the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the same period in the prior year.

Operating Expenses:

Site leasing cost of revenues increased $3.9 million during the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the same period in the prior year primarily as a result of the growth in the number of towers owned by us (8,085 at September 30, 2009 compared to 7,484 at September 30, 2008) offset by the positive impact of our ground lease purchase program.

Site development consulting cost of revenues remained relatively stable and site development construction cost of revenues decreased slightly during the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the same period in the prior year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.8 million during the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the same period in the prior year primarily as a result of an increase in salaries, benefits and other employee related expenses resulting primarily from an increased number of employees.

Acquisition related expenses of $0.9 million are costs associated with acquisitions which effective January 1, 2009, are required to be expensed and included within operating expenses. We had historically capitalized the majority of these expenses.

Depreciation, accretion and amortization expense increased $12.2 million to $64.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from $52.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 due to an increase in the number of towers and associated intangible assets owned at September 30, 2009 compared to those owned at September 30, 2008.

Operating Income:

Operating income increased $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from the three months ended September 30, 2008 primarily due to the result of higher segment operating profit in the site leasing segment offset by increases in depreciation, accretion and amortization expense, acquisition related expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses.

Other Income (Expense):

Interest income decreased $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from the three months ended September 30, 2008. This decrease was primarily the result of lower weighted average interest rates offset by higher average invested funds in the third quarter of 2009 compared to third quarter of 2008.

Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2009 increased $9.7 million from the three months ended September 30, 2008. This increase was primarily due to the higher interest rates on the mix of our outstanding debt and higher weighted average amount of cash-interest bearing debt outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008.

Non-cash interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2009 increased $4.2 million from the three months ended September 30, 2008. This increase primarily reflects the accretion of debt discounts on the Senior Notes which were issued in July 2009 and the 4.0% Notes which were issued in April 2009 and the Optasite Credit Facility acquired in September 2008, offset by the impact of the repurchase of an aggregate of $319.6 million in principal of the 0.375% Notes in the fourth quarter of 2008 and first nine months of 2009.

 

37


Table of Contents

The loss from extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing fees of $12.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 includes a loss of $9.3 million related to the payoff of our Initial CMBS Certificates in July 2009, $1.9 million related to the payoff of our Optasite Credit Facility in July 2009, $1.4 million associated with the repurchase of $105.6 million in principal of our Additional CMBS Certificates offset slightly by a gain of $0.1 million associated with the repurchases of an aggregate of $4.0 million in principal of our 0.375% Notes. See discussion in Note 9 in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information. The loss from extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing fees of $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 was due to the write-off of deferred financing fees related to the reduction in the aggregate commitment of the lenders under the Senior Credit Facility as a result of Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.’s default of its funding obligation under our Senior Credit Facility.

Other income (expense) for the three months ended September 30, 2009 includes a $0.1 million gain on disposition of assets. Other income (expense) for the three months ended September 30, 2008 includes a $0.5 million other-than-temporary impairment charge on our investments in auction rate securities.

Net Loss

Net loss increased $22.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 from the three months ended September 30, 2008 primarily due to losses from extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing fees and increases in interest expense and non-cash interest expense offset primarily by an increase in site leasing segment operating profit.

 

38


Table of Contents

Nine months Ended September 30, 2009 Compared to Nine months Ended September 30, 2008

 

     For the nine months
ended September 30,
    Dollar     Percentage
     2009     2008     Change     Change
           (as restated)            
     (in thousands, except for percentages)      

Revenues:

        

Site leasing

   $ 353,371      $ 283,620      $ 69,751      24.6      %

Site development consulting

     12,788        14,081        (1,293   (9.2   %

Site development construction

     44,374        42,824        1,550      3.6      %
                            

Total revenues

     410,533        340,525        70,008      20.6      %
                            

Operating expenses:

        

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion and amortization shown below):

        

Cost of site leasing

     83,727        69,367        14,360      20.7      %

Cost of site development consulting

     9,637        11,510        (1,873   (16.3   %

Cost of site development construction

     40,335        40,727        (392   (1.0   %

Selling, general and administrative

     38,440        35,459        2,981      8.4      %

Acquisition related expenses

     2,646        77        2,569      100.0      %

Depreciation, accretion and amortization

     192,850        149,331        43,519      29.1      %
                            

Total operating expenses

     367,635        306,471        61,164      20.0      %
                            

Operating income

     42,898        34,054        8,844      26.0      %
                            

Other income (expense):

        

Interest income

     917        5,574        (4,657   (83.5   %

Interest expense

     (93,316     (75,845     (17,471   (23.0   %

Non-cash interest expense

     (35,427     (22,385     (13,042   (58.3   %

Amortization of deferred financing fees

     (7,991     (7,997     6      0.1      %

Loss from extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing fees

     (4,189     (414     (3,775   (100.0   %

Other income (expense)

     89        (5,412     5,501      100.0      %
                            

Total other expense

     (139,917     (106,479     (33,438   (31.4   %
                            

Loss before provision for income taxes

     (97,019     (72,425     (24,594   (34.0   %

Provision for income taxes

     (490     (692     202      29.2      %
                            

Net loss

   $ (97,509   $ (73,117   $ (24,392   (33.4   %
                            

Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     148        -        148      100.0      %
                            

Net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation

   $ (97,361   $ (73,117   $ (24,244   (33.2   %
                            

Revenues:

Site leasing revenues increased $69.8 million during the first nine months of 2009 as compared to the same period in the prior year due largely to (i) revenue from the towers that we acquired in the 2008 acquisitions of TowerCo, Optasite and Light Tower and the other towers that we acquired or constructed subsequent to September 30, 2008 and (ii) organic growth from new leases and lease amendments with current tenants which increased the related rent to reflect additional equipment added to our historical towers, and contractual rent escalators. Average rents per tenant increased during the nine months of 2009 due primarily to rent escalators, lease amendments and higher rents associated with new leases.

Site development consulting revenues decreased $1.3 million during the first nine months of 2009 as compared to the same period in the prior year as the volume of work done during the period decreased as a result of the completion of major projects in 2008. Site development construction revenues increased $1.6 million during the first nine months of 2009 as compared to the same period in the prior year primarily as a result of higher margin work on similar cost volumes.

 

39


Table of Contents

Operating Expenses:

Site leasing cost of revenues increased $14.4 million during the first nine months of 2009 as compared to the same period in the prior year primarily as a result of the growth in the number of towers owned by us, which was 8,085 at September 30, 2009 up from 7,484 at September 30, 2008 offset by the positive impact of our ground lease purchase program.

Site development consulting cost of revenues decreased $1.9 million as a result of a pullback in site development by one of our largest customers. Site development construction cost of revenues decreased slightly during the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same period in the prior year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $3.0 million during the first nine months of 2009 as compared to the same period in the prior year primarily as a result of an increase in salaries, benefits and other employee related expenses resulting primarily from a higher number of employees.

Acquisition related expenses of $2.6 million are costs associated with acquisitions which effective January 1, 2009, are required to be expensed and included within operating expenses. The Company has historically capitalized the majority of these expenses.

Depreciation, accretion and amortization expense increased $43.5 million to $192.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from $149.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 due to an increase in the number of towers and associated intangible assets owned at September 30, 2009 compared to those owned at September 30, 2008.

Operating Income:

Operating income increased $8.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to higher segment operating profit in the site leasing segment offset by increases in depreciation, accretion and amortization expense, acquisition related expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses.

Other Income (Expense):

Interest income decreased $4.7 million to $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from $5.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. This decrease was primarily the result of lower weighted average interest rates offset by higher average invested funds during the first nine months of 2009 compared to the first nine months of 2008.

Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 increased $17.5 million from the nine months ended September 30, 2008. This increase was primarily due to the higher interest rates on our mix of outstanding debt and higher weighted average amount of cash-interest bearing debt outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

Non-cash interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 increased $13.0 million from the nine months ended September 30, 2008. This increase reflects the accretion of debt discounts on the Senior Notes, 4.0% Notes, 1.875% Notes and the Optasite Credit Facility offset by the repurchases of an aggregate of $319.6 million of the 0.375% Notes in the fourth quarter of 2008 and first nine months of 2009.

Loss from extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $4.2 million. The September 30, 2009 loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing fees includes $7.2 million related to repurchases and subsequent payoff of our

 

40


Table of Contents

Initial CMBS Certificates, $1.9 million related to the payoff of our Optasite Credit Facility, $1.2 million associated with the repurchases of an aggregate of $116.8 million of our Additional CMBS Certificates offset by a gain of $6.1 million associated with the repurchases of an aggregate of $107.7 million of our 0.375% Notes. See discussion in Note 9 in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

Other income (expense) for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 includes a $5.5 million other-than-temporary impairment charge on our investments in auction rate securities.

Net loss

Net loss increased $24.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from the nine months ended September 30, 2008 primarily due to losses from the extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing fees and increases in interest expense and non-cash interest expense offset by an increase in site leasing segment operating profit.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

SBA Communications Corporation is a holding company with no business operations of its own. SBA Communications’ only significant asset is the outstanding capital stock of SBA Telecommunications, Inc. which is also a holding company that owns equity interests in (1) SBA Infrastructure I, Inc. (the entity that indirectly owns all of the towers and other assets acquired in the Optasite acquisition), (2) SBA Senior Finance, Inc. (the entity that indirectly owns all of our other domestic towers and assets) and (3) our international entities. We conduct all of our business operations through Telecommunications’ subsidiaries. Accordingly, our only source of cash to pay our obligations, other than financings, is distributions with respect to our ownership interest in our subsidiaries from the net earnings and cash flow generated by these subsidiaries.

A summary of our cash flows is as follows:

 

     For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2009
    For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2008
 
           (as restated)  
     (in thousands)  

Summary cash flow information:

    

Cash provided by operating activities

   $ 169,801      $ 134,109   

Cash used in investing activities

     (88,298     (329,055

Cash provided by financing activities

     125,484        563,829   
                

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     206,987        368,883   

Cash and cash equivalents, December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007

     78,856        70,272   
                

Cash and cash equivalents, September 30, 2009 and 2008

   $ 285,843      $ 439,155   
                

Sources of Liquidity

We fund our growth, including our tower portfolio growth, through cash flows from operations, long-term indebtedness and equity issuances. With respect to our debt financing, we have utilized secured and unsecured financings and issuances at various levels of our organizational structure to minimize our financing costs while maximizing our operational flexibility.

Cash provided by operating activities was $169.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to $134.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. This increase was primarily the result of an increase in the segment operating profit from the site leasing segment.

 

41


Table of Contents

On July 24, 2009, Telecommunications issued $750 million of unsecured senior notes, which we refer to as the Senior Notes, $375 million of which are due 2016 (the “2016 Notes”) and $375 million of which are due 2019 (the “2019 Notes”). The 2016 Notes have an interest rate of 8.00% and were issued at a price of 99.330% of their face value. The 2019 Notes have an interest rate of 8.25% and were issued at a price of 99.152% of their face value. Net proceeds of this offering were $728.7 million after deducting expenses and original issue discount. Telecommunications used the net proceeds to repay the Initial CMBS Certificates issued by its subsidiary and the related prepayment consideration and repay the principal amounts outstanding under the Optasite Credit Facility and the Senior Credit Facility. Telecommunications also intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repurchase prior to maturity or repay at maturity our outstanding 0.375% Notes. The remaining net proceeds are being used for general corporate purposes.

On April 24, 2009, SBA Communications issued $500.0 million of our 4.0% Notes in a private placement. The net proceeds of this offering were approximately $488.2 million after deducting discounts, commissions and expenses. Contemporaneously with the closing of the sale of the 4.0% Notes, a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the 4.0% Notes was used to repurchase and subsequently retire 2.0 million shares of our Class A common stock, valued at approximately $50.0 million based on the closing stock price of $24.80 on April 20, 2009. Concurrently with the pricing of the 4.0% Notes, the Company entered into convertible note hedge and warrant transactions. A portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the 4.0% Notes and the warrants were used to pay for the cost of the convertible note hedge transactions. The remaining net proceeds of $376.6 million were used for general corporate purposes, including repurchases or repayments of our outstanding debt.

Effective April 14, 2009, SBA Senior Finance entered into a New Lender Supplement to the Senior Credit Agreement with Barclays Bank PLC. The New Lender Supplement added Barclays as a lender under the Senior Credit Facility and increased the aggregate commitment under the Senior Credit Facility from $285.0 million to $320.0 million, availability of which is based on compliance with certain financial ratios. Availability under the Senior Credit Facility was $319.9 million as of September 30, 2009.

Registration Statements

We have on file with the Commission a shelf registration statement on Form S-4 registering shares of Class A common stock that we may issue in connection with the acquisition of wireless communications towers or antenna sites and related assets or companies that own wireless communications towers, antenna sites or related assets. During the three months ended September 30, 2009, we issued approximately 7,000 shares of Class A common stock under this registration statement. As of September 30, 2009, we had approximately 1.7 million shares of Class A common stock remaining under this shelf registration statement.

On March 3, 2009, we filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement for well-known seasoned issuers on Form S-3ASR. This registration statement enables us to issue shares of our Class A common stock, preferred stock or debt securities either separately or represented by warrants, or depositary shares as well as units that include any of these securities. Under the rules governing automatic shelf registration statements, we will file a prospectus supplement and advise the Commission of the amount and type of securities each time we issue securities under this registration statement.

 

42


Table of Contents

Uses of Liquidity

Traditionally, our principal use of liquidity has been cash capital expenditures associated with the growth of our tower portfolio. During the recent market disruptions that occurred from October 2008 through the second quarter of 2009, we utilized our liquidity to take advantage of certain market opportunities and repurchase our outstanding debt. However, based on the normalization of the capital markets and our recent financing activity, we currently believe that our principal use of liquidity will be to fund tower growth and, secondarily, our recently announced stock repurchase program. However, in the future, we may, from time to time, repurchase, for cash or equity, our outstanding indebtedness in privately-negotiated or open market transactions in order to optimize our liquidity and leverage and take advantage of market opportunities.

Our cash capital expenditures, including cash used for acquisitions, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $88.7 million. The $88.7 million primarily consists of cash capital expenditures of $48.4 million that we incurred primarily in connection with the acquisition of 160 completed towers, net of related working capital adjustments, and earnouts paid in connection with previous acquisitions and $22.3 million for construction and related costs associated with the completion of 75 new towers during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and on sites currently in process. The $88.7 million also includes $5.1 million for tower maintenance capital expenditures, $5.8 million for augmentations and tower upgrades, $0.9 million for general corporate expenditures and $6.2 million for ground lease purchases.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we repurchased, in privately negotiated or open market transactions an aggregate of $107.7 million of our 0.375% Notes, $18.6 million in principal of our Initial CMBS Certificates and $116.8 million in principal of our Additional CMBS Certificates for aggregate consideration of 618,000 shares of our Class A common stock and $223.4 million in cash. In addition, in July 2009 we used the proceeds from the issuance of our Senior Notes to repay the remaining outstanding balances of our Initial CMBS Certificates and our Senior Credit Facility and repay and terminate the Optasite Credit Facility.

Subsequent to September 30, 2009, we have repurchased an aggregate of $0.6 million of our Additional CMBS Certificates for $0.6 million in cash.

During 2009, we expect to incur non-discretionary cash capital expenditures associated with tower maintenance and general corporate expenditures of $8 million to $9 million and discretionary cash capital expenditures based on current obligations of $141.7 million to $151.7 million primarily associated with the approximately 100 towers we intend to build in 2009, tower acquisitions, tower augmentations and ground lease purchases.

During 2010, we expect to incur non-discretionary cash capital expenditures associated with tower maintenance and general corporate expenditures of $7 million to $11 million and discretionary cash capital expenditures, based on current obligations, of $90 million to $110 million primarily associated with the 100 to 110 towers we intend to build in 2010, tower acquisitions currently under contract, tower augmentations and ground lease purchases. We intend to spend additional capital in 2010 on acquiring revenue producing assets not yet identified and under contract.

We estimate that we will incur approximately $1,000 per tower per year for capital improvements or modifications to our towers. All of these planned cash capital expenditures are expected to be funded by cash on hand, cash flow from operations and borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility. The exact amount of our future capital expenditures will depend on a number of factors including amounts necessary to support our tower portfolio, our new tower build and tower acquisition program, and our ground lease purchase program.

 

43


Table of Contents

Debt Instruments and Debt Service Requirements

As of September 30, 2009, we believe that our cash on hand and our cash flows from operations for the next twelve months will be sufficient to service our outstanding debt during the next twelve months.

CMBS Certificates

In November 2005, an indirect subsidiary of SBA Senior Finance (the “Trust”), issued $405 million of CMBS Certificates (the “Initial CMBS Certificates”). In November 2006, the Trust subsequently issued $1.15 billion of CMBS Certificates (the “Additional CMBS Certificates” and collectively with the Initial CMBS Certificates, the “CMBS Certificates”).

The Initial CMBS Certificates consisted of five classes with annual pass-through interest rates ranging from 5.369% to 6.706%. The Initial CMBS Certificates had an anticipated repayment date of November 2010 with a final repayment date in 2035. On July 28, 2009, we paid $390.3 million in cash to pay off the remaining outstanding balance on the Initial CMBS Certificates including the $10.1 million prepayment consideration.

The Additional CMBS Certificates consist of nine classes with annual pass-through interest rates ranging from 5.314% to 7.825%. The weighted average annual fixed coupon interest rate of the Additional CMBS Certificates at September 30, 2009 was 5.9%, payable monthly, and the effective weighted average annual fixed interest rate was 6.2% after giving effect to the settlement of the nine interest rate swap agreements entered into in contemplation of the transaction. The Additional CMBS Certificates have an anticipated repayment date of November 2011 with a final repayment date in 2036. However, to the extent that the full amount of the mortgage loan component corresponding to the Additional CMBS Certificates are not fully repaid by their anticipated repayment dates, the interest rate of each component would increase by the greater of (i) 5% or (ii) the amount, if any, by which the sum of (x) the ten-year U.S. treasury rate plus (y) the credit-based spread for such component (as set forth in the mortgage loan agreement) plus (z) 5%, exceeds the original interest rate for such component. As of September 30, 2009, we had $973.9 million of CMBS Certificates outstanding. Based on the amounts outstanding and a weighted average annual fixed coupon interest rate of 5.9% at September 30, 2009, annual debt service for the next twelve months on the Additional CMBS Certificates would be $57.5 million.

The CMBS Certificates are repayable with the proceeds of a non-recourse mortgage loan, the sole asset of the Trust, made in favor of certain operating subsidiaries of SBA Senior Finance (the “CMBS Borrowers”). The CMBS Borrowers are special purpose vehicles which exist solely to hold the towers which are subject to the securitization. Each of the CMBS Borrowers, who are jointly and severally liable under the mortgage loan, have pledged the cash flows from towers owned by the entity as security under the mortgage loan. In connection with the repayment of the Initial CMBS Certificates, certain of the CMBS Borrowers were released from their obligations under the mortgage loan and the towers owned by such entities released from their pledge. As of September 30, 2009, the remaining CMBS Borrowers owned an aggregate 3,747 towers.

Pursuant to the terms of the CMBS Certificates, all rental cash receipts received by the CMBS Borrowers are initially placed in a reserve account to fund the payment of debt service costs, ground rents, real estate and personal property taxes, insurance premiums related to tower sites, trustee and service expenses, management fees and to reserve a portion of advance rents from tenants. Amounts received into the reserve account in excess of the required reserve balances (the “excess cash flows”) are released to the CMBS Borrowers monthly, unless the CMBS Borrowers are not in compliance with the

 

44


Table of Contents

required Debt Service Coverage Ratio (as defined in the mortgage loan agreement). If the Debt Service Coverage Ratio is less than (1) 1.30x, the excess cash flows will be held in the reserve account until the CMBS Borrowers are in compliance with the Debt Service Coverage Ratio for two consecutive quarters or (2) 1.15x, then an “amortization period” will commence and all funds on deposit in the reserve account will be applied to prepay the mortgage loan until such time as the Debt Service Coverage Ratio exceeds 1.15x for a calendar quarter. As of September 30, 2009, we met the required Debt Service Coverage Ratio.

Subsequent to September 30, 2009, we repurchased an aggregate of $0.6 million in principal amount of Additional CMBS Certificates for $0.6 million in cash. Our outstanding balance on the Additional CMBS Certificates was $973.3 million as of the date of this filing.

0.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2010

At September 30, 2009, we had $30.4 million outstanding of 0.375% Notes (which was recorded at its discounted carrying value of $28.2 million). The maturity date of the 0.375% Notes is December 1, 2010. Interest on the 0.375% Notes is payable semi-annually each June 1 and December 1. Based on the amounts outstanding at September 30, 2009, debt service for the next twelve months on the 0.375% Notes will be $0.1 million. We intend to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Senior Notes issued in July 2009 to repurchase prior to maturity or repay at maturity our remaining 0.375% Notes outstanding.

1.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2013

At September 30, 2009, we had $550.0 million outstanding of 1.875% Notes (which was recorded at its discounted carrying value of $425.0 million). The maturity date of the 1.875% Notes is May 1, 2013. Interest on the 1.875% Notes is payable semi-annually each May 1 and November 1. Based on the amounts outstanding at September 30, 2009, debt service for the next twelve months on the 1.875% Notes would be $10.3 million.

4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014

As of September 30, 2009, we had outstanding $500.0 million of our 4.0% Notes (which was recorded at its discounted carrying value of $336.9 million). The maturity date of the 4.0% Notes is October 1, 2014. Interest on the 4.0% Notes is payable semi-annually on April 1 and October 1. We incurred deferred financing fees of $11.7 million with the issuance of the 4.0% Notes. Based on the amounts outstanding at September 30, 2009, debt service for the next twelve months on the 4.0% Notes would be $20.0 million.

The 4.0% Notes are convertible, at the holder’s option, into shares of our Class A common stock, at an initial conversion rate of 32.9164 shares of our Class A common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 4.0% Notes (subject to certain customary adjustments), which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $30.38 per share or a 22.5% conversion premium based on the last reported sale price of $24.80 per share of our Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on April 20, 2009, the purchase agreement date. Concurrently with the pricing of the 4.0% Notes, we entered into convertible note hedge transactions whereby we purchased from affiliates of the initial purchasers of the 4.0% Notes an option covering 16,458,196 shares of our Class A common stock at an initial price of $30.38 per share (the same as the initial conversion price of the notes). Separately and concurrently with the pricing of the 4.0% Notes, we entered into warrant transactions whereby we sold to affiliates of the initial purchasers of the 4.0% Notes warrants to acquire 16,458,196 shares of our Class A common stock at an initial exercise price of $44.64 per share. The convertible note hedge transactions and the warrant transactions, taken as a whole, effectively increase the conversion price of the 4.0% Notes from $30.38 per share to $44.64 per share, reflecting a premium of 80% based on the closing stock price of $24.80 per share of our Class A common stock on April 20, 2009.

 

45


Table of Contents

The 4.0% Notes are convertible only under the following circumstances:

 

   

during any calendar quarter commencing at any time after June 30, 2009 and only during such calendar quarter, if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the last trading day of the preceding calendar quarter is more than 130% of the applicable conversion price per share of Class A common stock on the last day of such preceding calendar quarter;

 

   

during the five business day period after any 10 consecutive trading day period (the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each day in the measurement period was less than 95% of the product of the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock and the applicable conversion rate;

 

   

if specified distributions to holders of our Class A common stock are made or specified corporate transactions occur; or

 

   

at any time on or after July 22, 2014.

Upon conversion, we will have the right to settle our conversion obligation in cash, shares of Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our Class A common stock. From time to time, upon notice to the holders of the 4.0% Notes, we may change our election regarding the form of consideration that we will use to settle our conversion obligation; provided, however, that we are not permitted to change our settlement election after July 21, 2014.

Senior Credit Facility

As of September 30, 2009, we did not have any amounts outstanding under our Senior Credit Facility and had approximately $0.1 million of letters of credit posted against the availability of the Senior Credit Facility outstanding. Amounts borrowed under the facility accrue interest at the Eurodollar rate plus a margin that ranges from 150 to 300 basis points or at a Base Rate (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) plus a margin that ranges from 50 basis points to 200 basis points. As of September 30, 2009, availability under this facility was $319.9 million. The Senior Credit Facility matures on January 18, 2011.

Effective as of July 31, 2009, we entered into an Amendment and Restatement of the Senior Credit Agreement. The material amendments to the Senior Credit Agreement, included, (1) eliminating the ability of SBA Senior Finance and its subsidiaries to enter into additional securitization arrangements, (2) amending the definition of Excluded Subsidiaries such that only subsidiaries of SBA Senior Finance, rather than all subsidiaries of Telecommunications, are required to guarantee SBA Senior Finance’s obligations under the Senior Credit Facility, (3) modifying the provision relating to the limitation of asset sales and when the net proceeds of asset sales are required to be used to permanently reduce the credit facility commitments and repay outstanding revolving loans, and (4) expanding the approved use of proceeds for borrowings under the credit facility to general corporate purposes, including distributions to Telecommunications.

As amended, the Senior Credit Agreement requires SBA Senior Finance and SBA Communications to maintain specific financial ratios, including, at the SBA Senior Finance level, a Consolidated Total Debt to Annualized Borrower EBITDA ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) that does not exceed 5.0 times for any fiscal quarter and an Annualized Borrower EBITDA to Annualized Cash Interest Expense ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) of not less than 2.0 times for any fiscal quarter. In addition, SBA Communications’ ratio of Consolidated Total Net Debt to Consolidated Adjusted

 

46


Table of Contents

EBITDA (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) for any fiscal quarter cannot exceed 9.9 times. The Senior Credit Agreement also contains customary affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, limit SBA Senior Finance’s ability to incur indebtedness, grant certain liens, make certain investments, enter into sale leaseback transactions or merge or consolidate, or engage in certain asset dispositions, including a sale of all or substantially all of its assets. As of September 30, 2009, the CMBS Borrowers were in compliance with all of our covenants under the Senior Credit Agreement.

Optasite Credit Facility

In July 2009, we paid off the full amount outstanding under the Optasite Credit Facility and the facility was subsequently terminated.

Senior Notes

On July 24, 2009, Telecommunications issued $750 million of unsecured senior notes, $375 million of which are due in 2016 and $375 million of which are due in 2019. The 2016 Notes and the 2019 Notes are guaranteed by SBA Communications.

The 2016 Notes have an interest rate of 8.00% and were issued at a price of 99.330% of their face value. The 2019 Notes have an interest rate of 8.25% and were issued at a price of 99.152% of their face value. Interest on the 2016 Notes and 2019 Notes are due semi-annually on February 15, and August 15 of each year beginning on February 15, 2010. Based on the amounts outstanding at September 30, 2009, debt service for the next twelve months on the 2016 Senior Notes and the 2019 Senior Notes would be $30.0 million and $30.9 million, respectively.

The 2016 Notes and the 2019 Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part on or after August 15, 2012 and on or after August 15, 2014, respectively, at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to August 15, 2012 for the 2016 Notes and August 15, 2014 for the 2019 Notes, we may at our option redeem all or a portion of the 2016 Notes or 2019 Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus a “make whole” premium, using a discount rate of Treasuries plus 0.5%. In addition, we may redeem up to 35% of the originally issued aggregate principal amount of each of the 2016 Notes and 2019 Notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 108.000% and 108.250%, respectively, of the principal amount of the redeemed notes plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The Indenture governing the 2016 Notes and the 2019 Notes contains customary covenants, subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications, including restrictions on Telecommunications’ ability to (1) incur additional indebtedness unless its Consolidated Indebtedness to Annualized Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA Ratio (as defined in the Indenture), pro forma for the additional indebtedness, does not exceed 7.0 times for the fiscal quarter, (2) merge, consolidate or sell assets, (3) make restricted payments, including dividends or other distributions, (4) enter into transactions with affiliates, and (5) enter into sale and leaseback transactions and restrictions on the ability of Telecommunications’ Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) to incur liens securing indebtedness.

Inflation

The impact of inflation on our operations has not been significant to date. However, we cannot assure you that a high rate of inflation in the future will not adversely affect our operating results particularly in light of the fact that our site leasing revenues are governed by long-term contracts with pre-determined pricing that we will not be able to increase in response to increases in inflation.

Accounting Changes and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For a description of accounting changes and recent accounting pronouncements, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects, if any, on our consolidated condensed financial

 

47


Table of Contents

statements, see “Note 2: Restatement for Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncement” and “Note 3: Current Accounting Pronouncements” in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to certain market risks that are inherent in our financial instruments.

The following table presents the future principal payment obligations and interest rates associated with our debt instruments assuming our actual level of indebtedness as of September 30, 2009:

 

     2009    2010    2011    2012    2013    Thereafter    Total    Fair
Value
                    (in thousands)                    

Debt:

                       

Fixed rate Additional CMBS Certificates (1)

   $ -    $ -    $ 973,900    $ -    $ -    $ -    $ 973,900    $ 972,386

0.375% Convertible Senior Notes

   $ -    $ 30,403    $ -    $ -    $ -    $ -    $ 30,403    $ 31,011

1.875% Convertible Senior Notes

   $ -    $ -    $ -    $ -    $ 550,000    $ -    $ 550,000    $ 507,375

4.00% Convertible Senior Notes

   $ -    $ -    $ -    $ -    $ -    $ 500,000    $ 500,000    $ 560,625

2016 Senior Notes

   $ -    $ -    $ -    $ -    $ -    $ 375,000    $ 375,000    $ 381,563

2019 Senior Notes

   $ -    $ -    $ -    $ -    $ -    $ 375,000    $ 375,000    $ 386,250

 

(1)

The anticipated repayment date is November 2011 for the Additional CMBS Certificates with a weighted average interest rate of 5.9%. The maturity date for the Additional CMBS Certificates is November 2036.

Our current primary market risk exposure is interest rate risk relating to (1) the impact of interest rate movements on our ability to refinance the Additional CMBS Certificates on its anticipated repayment date or at maturity at market rates, (2) our ability to meet financial covenants and (3) the impact of interest rate movements on any borrowings that we may incur under our Senior Credit Facility, which are all floating rate. We manage the interest rate risk on our outstanding debt through our large percentage of fixed rate debt. While we cannot predict our ability to refinance existing debt or the impact interest rate movements will have on our existing debt, we continue to evaluate our financial position on an ongoing basis.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This quarterly report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements concern expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Specifically, this quarterly report contains forward-looking statements regarding:

 

   

our expectation that we will continue to incur losses;

 

   

our expectation that site leasing revenues will continue to grow as wireless service providers lease additional space on our towers due to increasing minutes of use, network expansion and network coverage requirements;

 

   

our belief that our site leasing business is characterized by stable and long-term recurring revenues, predictable operating costs and minimal maintenance and non-discretionary capital expenditures;

 

   

our expectations regarding the growth of our cash flows by adding tenants to our towers at minimal incremental costs by using existing tower capacity or requiring wireless service providers to bear all or a portion of the cost of tower modifications;

 

48


Table of Contents
   

our intent to grow our tower portfolio by pursuing domestic and international opportunities that meet our investment criteria and are available at prices which allow us to maintain our long-term target leverage ratios;

 

   

our intent to build approximately 100 new towers in 2009 and 100 to 110 new towers in 2010 and our intent to have at least one signed tenant lease on each new tower on the day it is completed;

 

   

our expectations regarding the amount of future cash capital expenditures, both discretionary and non-discretionary, including expenditures required to maintain, improve and modify our towers;

 

   

our belief that our towers have significant capacity to accommodate additional tenants, that our tower operations are highly scalable and that we can add tenants to our towers at minimal incremental costs;

 

   

our belief regarding our position to capture additional site leasing business in our markets and identify and participate in site development projects across our markets;

 

   

our expectations regarding our cash capital expenditures in 2009 and 2010 for maintenance and augmentation, for new tower builds and acquisitions and ground lease purchases and our ability to fund such cash capital expenditures;

 

   

actions we may pursue to manage our leverage position and ensure continued compliance with our financial covenants including the amount, consideration or price that we may pay in connection with any debt repurchases;

 

   

our estimates regarding our liquidity, our sources of liquidity and our ability to fund operations, and refinance or repay our obligations as they become due;

 

   

our estimates regarding our annual debt service in 2009 and thereafter, and our belief that our cash flows from operations for the next twelve months will be sufficient to service our outstanding debt during the next twelve months;

 

   

our expectations regarding the impact of our convertible note hedge transactions, and the termination of such transactions, with Lehman Derivatives;

 

   

our intent and ability to continue to purchase and/or enter into long-term leases for the land that underlies our towers and the effect of such ground lease purchases on our margins and long-term financial condition;

 

   

our estimates regarding certain accounting and tax matters, including the adoption of certain accounting pronouncements and the availability of sufficient net operating losses to offset future taxable income; and

 

   

our use of the net proceeds from our recent debt offerings.

These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We wish to caution readers that certain important factors may have affected and could in the future affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. The most important factors that could prevent us from achieving our goals, and cause the assumptions underlying forward-looking statements and the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by those forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

our ability to sufficiently increase our revenues and maintain expenses and cash capital expenditures at appropriate levels to permit us to meet our anticipated uses of liquidity for operations and estimated portfolio growth;

 

49


Table of Contents
   

the ability of our clients to access sufficient capital or their willingness to expend capital to fund network expansion or enhancements;

 

   

our ability to continue to comply with covenants and the terms of our credit instruments;

 

   

our ability to successfully refinance our indebtedness ahead of their maturity dates or anticipated repayment dates, on favorable terms, or at all;

 

   

our ability to secure as many site leasing tenants as planned, including our ability to retain current leases on towers and deal with the impact, if any, of recent consolidation among wireless service providers;

 

   

our ability to identify towers and land underneath towers that would be attractive to our clients and accretive to our financial results; and to negotiate and consummate agreements to acquire such towers and land;

 

   

our ability to identify, acquire at acceptable prices and terms and integrate into our leasing business towers and tower assets, domestically and internationally, that meet our investment criteria and, to the extent that any such towers are located internationally, our ability to successfully manage the risks associated with international operations, including foreign exchange risk, currency restrictions and foreign regulatory and legal risks;

 

   

our ability to build approximately 100 new towers in 2009 and 100 – 110 new towers in 2010;

 

   

our ability to secure and deliver anticipated services business at contemplated margins;

 

   

our ability to successfully and timely address zoning issues, permitting and other issues that arise in connection with the building of new towers;

 

   

our ability to realize economies of scale from our tower portfolio;

 

   

the business climate for the wireless communications industry in general and the wireless communications infrastructure providers in particular;

 

   

the state of the credit markets and capital markets, including the level of volatility, illiquidity and interest rates that may affect our ability to pursue actions to manage our leverage position;

 

   

the continued use of towers and dependence on outsourced site development services by the wireless communications industry; and

 

   

our ability to successfully estimate certain accounting and tax matters, including the effect on our company of adopting certain accounting pronouncements and the availability of sufficient net operating losses to offset taxable income.

 

50


Table of Contents

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This report contains certain non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and Segment Operating Profit information. We have provided below a description of such non-GAAP measures, a reconciliation of such non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures, an explanation as to why management utilizes these measures, their respective limitations and how management compensates for such limitations.

Adjusted EBITDA

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation less the impact of net interest expenses (including amortization of deferred financing fees), provision for taxes, depreciation, accretion and amortization, asset impairment and other charges, non-cash compensation, loss from extinguishment of debt and write off of deferred financing fees, other income and expenses, non-recurring acquisition related integration costs, non-cash straight-line leasing revenue and non-cash straight-line ground lease expense. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA excludes acquisition related costs which were previously capitalized but, commencing January 1, 2009, are required to be expensed and included within operating expenses pursuant to the adoption of SFAS 141(R). We have included this non-GAAP financial measure because we believe this item is an indicator of the performance of our core operations and reflects the changes in our operating results. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is a component of the calculation that has been used by our lenders to determine compliance with certain covenants under our Senior Credit Facility and Senior Notes. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be an alternative measure of operating income or gross profit margin as determined in accordance with GAAP.

The non-GAAP measurement of Adjusted EBITDA has certain material limitations, including:

 

   

it does not include interest expense. Because we have borrowed money in order to finance our operations, interest expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate profits and cash flows. Therefore, any measure that excludes interest expense has material limitations;

 

   

it does not include depreciation, accretion and amortization expense. Because we use capital assets, depreciation, accretion and amortization expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate profits. Therefore, any measure that excludes depreciation, accretion and amortization expense has material limitations;

 

   

it does not include provision for taxes. Because the payment of taxes is a necessary element of our costs, particularly in the future, any measure that excludes tax expense has material limitations;

 

   

it does not include non-cash expenses such as asset impairment and other charges, non- cash compensation, other expenses/income, non-cash straight-line leasing revenue and non-cash straight-line ground lease expense. Because these non-cash items are a necessary element of our costs and our ability to generate profits, any measure that excludes these non-cash items has material limitations; and

 

   

it does not include acquisition related costs. Because acquisition related costs are a necessary element of our costs to grow the business, any measure that excludes these costs has material limitations.

We compensate for these limitations by using Adjusted EBITDA as only one of several comparative tools, together with GAAP measurements, to assist in the evaluation of our profitability and operating results.

 

51


Table of Contents

The reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:

 

     For the three months
ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008  
           (as restated)  
     (in thousands)  

Net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation

   $ (50,109   $ (27,648

Interest income

     (334     (1,847

Interest expense (1)

     53,059        39,559   

Depreciation, accretion, and amortization

     64,946        52,725   

Provision for income taxes (2)

     566        684   

Loss from extinguishment of debt

     12,518        414   

Acquisition related expenses (3)

     899        77   

Non-cash compensation

     1,922        1,615   

Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue

     (1,412     (1,866

Non-cash straight-line ground lease expense

     3,094        2,702   

Other Income/(Expense)

     (120     525   
                

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 85,029      $ 66,940   
                

 

(1)

Interest expense includes cash interest expense, non-cash interest expense and amortization of deferred financing fees.

(2)

This amount includes $548 and $260 of franchise taxes reflected in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

(3)

The three months ended September 30, 2008 reflect acquisition integration costs that were previously reflected on the Statement of Operations in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Segment Operating Profit

Each respective Segment Operating Profit is defined as segment revenues less segment cost of revenues (excluding depreciation, accretion and amortization). Total Segment Operating Profit is the total of the operating profits of the three segments. Segment Operating Profit is, in our opinion, an indicator of the operating performance of our site leasing and site development segments and is used to provide management with the ability to monitor the operating results and margin of each segment, while excluding the impact of depreciation, accretion and amortization, which is largely fixed and non-cash in nature. Segment Operating Profit is not intended to be an alternative measure of revenue or segment gross profit as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

52


Table of Contents

The non-GAAP measurement of Segment Operating Profit has certain material limitations. Specifically this measurement does not include depreciation, accretion and amortization expense. As we use capital assets in our business, depreciation, accretion and amortization expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate profit. Therefore, any measure that excludes depreciation, accretion and amortization expense has material limitations. We compensate for these limitations by using Segment Operating Profit as only one of several comparative tools, together with GAAP measurements, to assist in the evaluation of the operating performance of our segments.

 

     Site leasing segment  
     For the three months
ended September 30,
    For the nine months
ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
           (in thousands)        

Segment revenue

   $ 120,551      $ 100,506      $ 353,371      $ 283,620   

Segment cost of revenues (excluding depreciation, accretion and amortization)

     (28,645     (24,726     (83,727     (69,367
                                

Segment operating profit

   $ 91,906      $ 75,780      $ 269,644      $ 214,253   
                                
     Site development consulting segment  
     For the three months
ended September 30,
    For the nine months
ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2009  
           (in thousands)        

Segment revenue

   $ 4,268      $ 3,783      $ 12,788      $ 14,081   

Segment cost of revenues (excluding depreciation, accretion and amortization)

     (3,367     (3,164     (9,637     (11,510
                                

Segment operating profit

   $ 901      $ 619      $ 3,151      $ 2,571   
                                
     Site development construction segment  
     For the three months
ended September 30,
    For the nine months
ended September 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
           (in thousands)        

Segment revenue

   $ 14,470      $ 14,367      $ 44,374      $ 42,824   

Segment cost of revenues (excluding depreciation, accretion and amortization)

     (13,276     (14,118     (40,335     (40,727
                                

Segment operating profit

   $ 1,194      $ 249      $ 4,039      $ 2,097   
                                

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

In order to ensure that the information we must disclose in our filings with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis, we have formalized our disclosure controls and procedures. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Securities and Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e), as of September 30, 2009. Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of September 30, 2009, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

53


Table of Contents

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

Item 5.02(e)

On October 28, 2009, SBA Communications Corporation (the “Company”) entered into employment agreements with each of Kurt L. Bagwell, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Brendan Cavanagh, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Thomas P. Hunt, Senior Vice President and General Counsel. The agreements with Messrs. Bagwell and Hunt will become effective upon expiration of their existing employment agreements entered into with them on September 16, 2006, as amended and restated on January 1, 2008, which expire by their terms on December 31, 2009. The employment agreement with Mr. Cavanagh became effective upon its execution, as Mr. Cavanagh did not previously have an employment agreement with the Company. The employment agreements provide for each of Messrs. Bagwell, Cavanagh and Hunt to serve in their present positions and expire on December 31, 2012.

Pursuant to the employment agreements, each of the executive officers is entitled to receive an annual base salary and annual bonus based on achievement of performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The employment agreements provide for each of the executive officers to be paid a minimum annual base salary equal to the rate in effect immediately prior to the effective date of the employment agreement. The employment agreements also provide for each of the executive officers to be eligible to earn a minimum target bonus (as defined in the employment agreements) for each year of 100%, 75% and 100% of base salary for Messrs. Bagwell, Cavanagh and Hunt, respectively.

The employment agreements provide that upon termination of the executive officer’s employment without cause, or upon the executive officer’s resignation for good reason, the executive officer is entitled to receive: (1) if the termination occurs prior to (and not in contemplation of) a change in control, an amount equal to the sum of: (a) his annual base salary in effect for the year in which termination or resignation occurs and (b) the minimum target bonus, plus continuation of medical, dental and life insurance benefits until the earlier of (x) the first anniversary of the termination date or (y) the date the executive officer becomes eligible for comparable benefits provided by a third party or (2) if the termination occurs on or after a change in control an amount equal to two times the sum of: (a) the executive officer’s annual base salary in effect for the year in which termination or resignation occurs and (b) the minimum target bonus, plus continuation of medical, dental and life insurance benefits until the earlier of (x) the second anniversary of the termination date or (y) the date the executive officer becomes eligible for comparable benefits provided by a third party. In addition, in either case, the executive officer is eligible to receive (i) accrued and unpaid salary and benefits and (ii) an amount equal to the pro rata portion of the minimum target bonus for the year in which the termination or resignation occurs. Upon a change in control, the employment agreements will automatically be deemed to end on the later of December 31, 2012 or the second anniversary of the effective date of the change in control. The employment agreements also provide for noncompetition, nonsolicitation and nondisclosure covenants.

 

54


Table of Contents

Item 5.05 Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

On October 29, 2009, the Company adopted an amended and restated Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (“Code of Ethics”) and posted it on its website at http://ir.sbasite.com/documents.cfm?CategoryID=235. The Company revised the Code of Ethics to add clarity and specificity to some of the general principals set forth in the Code of Ethics, but did not make any substantive revisions.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

  (a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

   Description
5.1    Opinion of Holland & Knight LLP regarding legality of Class A common stock.
31.1    Certification by Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification by Brendan T. Cavanagh, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification by Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification by Brendan T. Cavanagh, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

55


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
November 4, 2009  

/s/ Jeffrey A. Stoops

  Jeffrey A. Stoops
  Chief Executive Officer
  (Duly Authorized Officer)
November 4, 2009  
 

/s/ Brendan T. Cavanagh

  Brendan T. Cavanagh
  Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial Officer)

 

56


Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

5.1    Opinion of Holland & Knight LLP regarding legality of Class A common stock.
31.1    Certification by Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification by Brendan T. Cavanagh, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification by Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification by Brendan T. Cavanagh, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.