SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORP (Form: 10-Q, Received: 11/08/2018 14:38:22)

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except par values)



	September 30,		December 31,
	2018		2017
ASSETS	(unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	136,221	$	68,783
Restricted cash		24,700		32,924
Accounts receivable, net		89,302		90,673
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts		17,799		17,437
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		59,641		49,716
Total current assets		327,663		259,533
Property and equipment, net		2,787,714		2,812,346
Intangible assets, net		3,387,955		3,598,131
Other assets		710,491		650,195
Total assets	$	7,213,823	$	7,320,205
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	32,087	$	33,334
Accrued expenses		68,129		69,862
Current maturities of long-term debt		24,000		20,000
Deferred revenue		96,577		97,969
Accrued interest		34,186		48,899
Other current liabilities		10,533		8,841
Total current liabilities		265,512		278,905
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, net		9,710,145		9,290,686
Other long-term liabilities		383,249		349,728
Total long-term liabilities		10,093,394		9,640,414
Shareholders' deficit:
Preferred stock - par value $.01, 30,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outst.		—		—
Common stock - Class A, par value $.01, 400,000 shares authorized, 114,244
and 116,446 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018
and December 31, 2017, respectively		1,142		1,164
Additional paid-in capital		2,233,793		2,167,470
Accumulated deficit		(4,851,501)		(4,388,288)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net		(528,517)		(379,460)
Total shareholders' deficit		(3,145,083)		(2,599,114)
Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit	$	7,213,823	$	7,320,205

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

Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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


	For the three months				For the nine months
	ended September 30,				ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Revenues:
Site leasing	$	435,260	$	408,538	$	1,295,686	$	1,209,089
Site development		31,961		25,407		86,160		75,513
Total revenues		467,221		433,945		1,381,846		1,284,602
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion,
and amortization shown below):
Cost of site leasing		92,294		90,351		278,800		269,070
Cost of site development		24,447		21,117		67,693		62,713
Selling, general, and administrative (1)		34,908		32,559		106,901		100,177
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		2,995		1,583		9,171		6,857
Asset impairment and decommission costs		6,868		9,417		22,778		25,908
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization		167,703		161,907		502,659		480,457
Total operating expenses		329,215		316,934		988,002		945,182
Operating income		138,006		117,011		393,844		339,420
Other income (expense):
Interest income		2,006		2,505		4,972		8,648
Interest expense		(95,717)		(81,357)		(278,278)		(237,415)
Non-cash interest expense		(632)		(725)		(2,002)		(2,146)
Amortization of deferred financing fees		(4,980)		(4,957)		(15,265)		(16,603)
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net		—		—		(14,443)		(1,961)
Other (expense) income, net		(24,518)		20,062		(110,175)		16,218
Total other expense		(123,841)		(64,472)		(415,191)		(233,259)
Income (loss) before income taxes		14,165		52,539		(21,347)		106,161
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		1,979		(3,378)		11,645		(10,167)
Net income (loss)	$	16,144	$	49,161	$	(9,702)	$	95,994
Net income (loss) per common share
Basic	$	0.14	$	0.41	$	(0.08)	$	0.80
Diluted	$	0.14	$	0.41	$	(0.08)	$	0.79
Weighted average number of common shares
Basic		114,597		119,746		115,378		120,745
Diluted		116,114		121,026		115,378		121,727

(1)

Includes non-cash compensation of $10,261 and $9,213 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, and $31,188 and $28,069 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively.

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

Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

(unaudited) (in thousands)



	For the three months				For the nine months
	ended September 30,				ended September 30,

	2018		2017		2018		2017
Net income (loss)	$	16,144	$	49,161	$	(9,702)	$	95,994
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(27,598)		36,472		(149,057)		27,734
Comprehensive (loss) income	$	(11,454)	$	85,633	$	(158,759)	$	123,728

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

Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS ’ DEFICIT

(unaudited) (in thousands)



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

BALANCE, December 31, 2017	116,446	$	1,164	$	2,167,470	$	(4,388,288)	$	(379,460)	$	(2,599,114)
Net loss	—		—		—		(9,702)		—		(9,702)
Common stock issued in connection with
stock purchase/option plans	611		6		33,523		—		—		33,529
Non-cash stock compensation	—		—		32,800		—		—		32,800
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(2,813)		(28)		—		(453,511)		—		(453,539)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	—		—		—		—		(149,057)		(149,057)
BALANCE, September 30, 2018	114,244	$	1,142	$	2,233,793	$	(4,851,501)	$	(528,517)	$	(3,145,083)

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

Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited) (in thousands)



	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net (loss) income	$	(9,702)	$	95,994
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization		502,659		480,457
Non-cash asset impairment and decommission costs		22,146		22,316
Non-cash compensation expense		32,140		28,894
Amortization of deferred financing fees		15,265		16,603
Loss (gain) on remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans		113,138		(11,649)
Loss from extinguishment of debt		14,087		1,961
Deferred income tax benefit		(27,925)		(1,220)
Other non-cash items reflected in the Statements of Operations		2,022		237
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of
billings on uncompleted contracts, net		(4,655)		(11,950)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(28,061)		(18,168)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(2,496)		4,846
Accrued interest		(14,813)		(24,836)
Other liabilities		10,338		7,987
Net cash provided by operating activities		624,143		591,472
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions		(403,835)		(161,007)
Capital expenditures		(104,966)		(106,310)
Purchase of investments		(99,823)		(382)
Proceeds from sale of investments		95,890		—
Other investing activities		(7,583)		(23,216)
Net cash used in investing activities		(520,317)		(290,915)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility		805,000		415,000
Repayments under Revolving Credit Facility		(725,000)		(375,000)
Repayment of Tower Securities		(755,000)		(610,000)
Proceeds from issuance of Tower Securities, net of fees		631,479		749,811
Proceeds from Term Loans, net of fees		2,377,264		—
Repayment of Term Loans		(1,941,000)		(15,000)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		(453,539)		(523,370)
Other financing activities		29,607		40,957
Net cash used in financing activities		(31,189)		(317,602)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		(13,608)		3,537
NET CHANGE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH		59,029		(13,508)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH:
Beginning of period		104,295		185,970
End of period	$	163,324	$	172,462

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

Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)



	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	$	293,372	$	262,257
Income taxes	$	16,525	$	11,323

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES:
Assets acquired through capital leases	$	1,142	$	254
Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions	$	—	$	63,313

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

Table of Contents

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 for SBA Communications Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, omit or condense certain footnotes and other information normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair financial statement presentation have been made. The results of operations for an interim period may not give a true indication of the results for the year. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts or balances to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. While the Company believes that such estimates are fair when considered in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, the actual amounts, when known, may vary from these estimates.

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

Revenue from site leasing is recognized on a straight-line basis over the current term of the related lease agreements, which are generally five to ten years. Receivables recorded related to the straight-line impact of site leases are reflected in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Rental amounts received in advance are recorded as deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Revenues from site leasing represent 94% of the Company’s total revenues.

Site development projects in which the Company performs consulting services include contracts on a fixed price basis that are billed at contractual rates. Revenue is recognized over time based on milestones achieved, which are determined based on costs incurred. Amounts billed in advance (collected or uncollected) are recorded as deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Revenue from construction projects is recognized over time, 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. Refer to Note 8 for further detail of costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined to be probable.

The site development segment represents approximately 6% of the Company’s total revenues. The Company accounts for site development revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which was adopted on January 1, 2018 by applying the modified retrospective transition method. Payment terms do not result in any significant financing arrangements. Furthermore, these contracts do not typically include variable consideration; therefore, the transaction price that is recognized over time is generally the amount of the total contract. The cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard had no impact on the Company’s financial results. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The adoption of the new standard will have no impact to net income on an ongoing basis.

The accounts receivable balance was $89.3 million and $90.7 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively, of which $23.2 million and $20.8 million related to the site development segment as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers. In addition, the Company monitors collections and payments from its customers and maintains a provision for estimated credit losses based upon historical experience, specific customer collection issues identified, and past due balances as determined based on contractual terms. Interest is charged on outstanding receivables from customers on a case by case basis in accordance with the terms of the respective contracts or agreements with those customers. Amounts determined to be uncollectible are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts in the period in which uncollectibility is determined to be probable. Refer to Note 14 for further detail of the site development segment.

Table of Contents

Foreign Currency Translation

All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that do not utilize the U.S. dollar as its functional currency are translated at period-end rates of exchange, while revenues and expenses are translated at monthly average rates of exchange prevailing during the period. Unrealized remeasurement gains and losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments through Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Deficit.

For foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, monetary assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries, which are not denominated in U.S. dollars, are remeasured at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are remeasured at monthly average rates prevailing during the year. Unrealized translation gains and losses are reported as other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The Argentinean economy was deemed to be highly inflationary as of the second quarter of 2018 and, as a result, the Company adopted highly inflationary accounting as of July 1, 2018 for its subsidiary in Argentina. Under highly inflationary accounting, the functional currency of its subsidiary in Argentina became the U.S. Dollar. All monetary and non-monetary assets and liabilities were remeasured at the U.S. Dollar to Argentinean Peso exchange rate of 1 to 28.9 as of June 30, 2018. These amounts became the new basis for those assets and liabilities as of July 1, 2018. Non-monetary assets and liabilities, as well as the corresponding income statement activities such as depreciation, amortization and equity, will continue to be measured at the historical exchange rate. This change did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as Argentina’s assets and revenue are each less than 1% of consolidated assets and revenue, respectively.

Intercompany Loans Subject to Remeasurement

The Company has two wholly owned subsidiaries, Brazil Shareholder I, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, and SBA Torres Brasil, Limitada, a limited liability company existing under the laws of the Republic of Brazil, which have entered into intercompany loan agreements pursuant to which the entities may from time to time agree to lend/borrow amounts under the terms of each agreement. The first agreement entered into in November 2014 was for $750.0 million and was created to fund the acquisition of 1,641 towers in Brazil. The second agreement entered into in December 2017 was for $500.0 million and was created to fund the acquisition of 941 towers in Brazil.

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 830, the Company remeasures foreign denominated intercompany loans with the corresponding change in the balance being recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as settlement is anticipated or planned in the foreseeable future. The Company recorded a $25.9 million loss and an $18.4 million gain on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, and a $113.1 million loss and an $11.6 million gain on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, due to changes in foreign exchange rates. As of September 30, 2018 , the aggregate amount outstanding under the two intercompany loan agreements with the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary was $536.9 million.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The standard requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments for all leases with a term greater than 12 months. The accounting for lessors remains largely unchanged from existing guidance. This standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted; however, the Company does not currently plan to early adopt. The Company has established a cross functional project plan and is in the process of testing key system functionality developed in order to account for the new standard. The Company expects this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated balance sheet due to the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for its ground leases. The Company does not expect adoption to have a significant impact on its lease classification, a material impact on its consolidated statement of operations, or a notable impact on its liquidity. Additionally, the sta ndard will have no impact on the Company’s debt-covenant compliance under its current agreements.

In July 2018, the FASB issued additional guidance on the accounting for leases. The guidance provides companies with another transition method that allows entities to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the date of adoption. Under this method, previously presented years’ financial positions and results would not be adjusted. The Company expects it will adopt this alternative transition method. The new guidance also provides lessors with a practical expedient, by class of underlying asset, to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component if (1) the non-lease components would otherwise be accounted for under the new revenue recognition standard, (2) both the timing and pattern of transfer are the same for the non-lease components and associated lease component, and (3) if accounted for separately, the lease component would be classified as an operating lease. The Company is assessing the use of this practical expedient in its accounting for leases.

Table of Contents

2. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis — The Company’s earnout liabilities related to business combinations are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs and are recorded in Accrued expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in estimates are recorded in Acquisition related adjustments and expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company determines the fair value of earnouts (contingent consideration) and any subsequent changes in fair value using a discounted probability-weighted approach using Level 3 inputs. Level 3 valuations rely on unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. The fair value of the earnouts is reviewed quarterly and is based on the payments the Company expects to make based on historical internal observations related to the anticipated performance of the underlying assets. The Company’s estimate of the fair value of its obligation contained in acquisitions prior to January 1, 2017 (adoption of ASU 2017-01) was $1.9 million and $2.5 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively. The maximum potential obligation related to the performance targets for these acquisitions was $2.4 million and $3.1 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively. The maximum potential obligation related to the performance targets for acquisitions after January 1, 2017, which have not been recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet, were $14.2 million and $11.1 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively.

The Company’s asset retirement obligations are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs and are recorded in Other long-term liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of the asset retirement obligations is calculated using a discounted cash flow model.

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis — The Company’s long-lived and intangible assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 inputs. The Company considers many factors and makes certain assumptions when making this assessment, including but not limited to: general market and economic conditions, historical operating results, geographic location, lease-up potential and expected timing of lease-up. The fair value of the long-lived and intangible assets is calculated using a discounted cash flow model.

Asset impairment and decommission costs for all periods presented and the related impaired assets primarily relate to the Company’s site leasing operating segment. The following summarizes the activity of asset impairment and decommission costs (in thousands):



	For the three months				For the nine months
	ended September 30,				ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017

Asset impairment (1)	$	2,909	$	4,128	$	13,291	$	10,162
Write-off of carrying value of decommissioned towers		3,561		4,496		7,932		12,143
Other (including third party decommission costs)		398		793		1,555		3,603
Total asset impairment and decommission costs	$	6,868	$	9,417	$	22,778	$	25,908

(1)

Represents impairment charges resulting from the Company’s regular analysis of whether the future cash flows from certain towers are adequate to recover the carrying value of the investment in those towers.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted cash, accounts payable, and short-term investments approximate their estimated fair values due to the short maturity of these instruments. Short-term investments consisted of $0.2 million in Treasury securities as of December 31, 2017 . The Company’s estimate of the fair value of its held-to-maturity investments in treasury and corporate bonds, including current portion, are based primarily upon Level 1 reported market values. As of September 30, 2018 , the carrying value and fair value of the held-to-maturity investments were $0.2 million. As of December 31, 2017 , the carrying value and fair value of the held-to-maturity investments, including current portion, were $0.5 million. The current portion is recorded in Prepaid and other current assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, while held-to-maturity investments are recorded in Other assets. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company purchased and sold $95.0 million of short-term investments.

The Company determines fair value of its debt instruments utilizing various Level 2 sources including quoted prices and indicative quotes (non-binding quotes) from brokers that require judgment to interpret market information including implied credit

Table of Contents

spreads for similar borrowings on recent trades or bid/ask prices. The fair value of the Revolving Credit Facility is considered to approximate the carrying value because the interest payments are based on Eurodollar rates that reset monthly or more frequently. The Company does not believe its credit risk has changed materially from the date the applicable Eurodollar Rate was set for the Revolving Credit Facility ( 112.5 to 175.0 basis points). Refer to Note 10 for the fair values, principal balances, and carrying values of the Company’s debt instruments.

3 . RESTRICTED CASH

The cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balances on the consolidated statement of cash flows consists of the following:



	As of		As of
	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017		Included on Balance Sheet

		(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	136,221	$	68,783
Securitization escrow accounts		24,504		32,699	Restricted cash - current asset
Payment and performance bonds		196		225	Restricted cash - current asset
Surety bonds and workers compensation		2,403		2,588	Other assets - noncurrent
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	$	163,324	$	104,295

Pursuant to the terms of the Tower Securities (see Note 10), the Company is required to establish a securitization escrow account, held by the indenture trustee, into which all rents and other sums due on the towers that secure the Tower Securities are directly deposited by the lessees. These restricted cash amounts are used to fund reserve accounts for the payment of (1) debt service costs, (2) ground rents, real estate and personal property taxes and insurance premiums related to towers, (3) trustee and servicing expenses, and (4) management fees. The restricted cash in the securitization escrow account in excess of required reserve balances is subsequently released to the Borrowers (as defined in Note 10) monthly, provided that the Borrowers are in compliance with their debt service coverage ratio and that no event of default has occurred. All monies held by the indenture trustee are classified as restricted cash on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Payment and performance bonds relate primarily to collateral requirements for tower construction currently in process by the Company. Cash is pledged as collateral related to surety bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or its affiliates in the ordinary course of business and primarily related to the Company’s tower removal obligations. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the Company had $40.4 million and $39.5 million in surety, payment and performance bonds, respectively, for which no collateral was required to be posted. The Company periodically evaluates the collateral posted for its bonds to ensure that it meets the minimum requirements. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , the Company had also pledged $2.3 million and $2.5 million, respectively, as collateral related to its workers compensation policy.

4. PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS AND OTHER ASSETS

The Company’s prepaid expenses and other current assets are comprised of the following:



	As of		As of
	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017

		(in thousands)
Prepaid ground rent	$	31,323	$	32,505
Loan receivables		10,877		948
Other		17,441		16,263
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	59,641	$	49,716

Table of Contents

The Company’s other assets are comprised of the following:



	As of		As of
	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017

		(in thousands)
Prepaid ground rent	$	252,506	$	220,493
Straight-line rent receivable		317,422		313,650
Loan receivables		45,300		52,383
Deferred lease costs, net		26,682		27,703
Deferred tax asset - long term		28,130		1,670
Other		40,451		34,296
Total other assets	$	710,491	$	650,195

5. ACQUISITIONS

The following table summarizes the Company’s cash acquisition capital expenditures:



	For the three months				For the nine months
	ended September 30,				ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017

	(in thousands)
Acquisitions of towers and related intangible assets (1)(2)	$	110,464	$	66,338	$	372,054	$	124,476
Land buyouts and other assets (3)		8,008		12,488		31,781		36,531
Total cash acquisition capital expenditures	$	118,472	$	78,826	$	403,835	$	161,007

(1)

The nine months ended September 30, 2017 excludes $63.3 million of acquisition costs funded through the issuance of 487,963 shares of Class A common stock.

(2)

The nine months e nded September 30, 2017 exclude $21.0 million of acquisitions completed during the second quarter of 2017 which were not funded as of September 30, 2017.

(3)

In addition, the Company paid $6.7 million and $2.4 million for ground lease extensions and term easements on land underlying the Company’s towers during the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, and paid $16.4 million and $10.6 million for ground lease extensions and term easements on land underlying the Company’s towers during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The Company recorded these amounts in prepaid rent on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.

For acquisitions , the aggregate purchase price is allocated on a relative fair value basis to towers and related intangible assets. The fair values of these net assets acquired are based on management’s estimates and assumptions, as well as other information compiled by management, including valuations that utilize customary valuation procedures and techniques. The fair value estimates are based on available historical information and on future expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by management at the time. For asset acquisitions, i f the actual results differ from the estimates and judgments used in these fair values, the amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements could be subject to a possible impairment of the intangible assets, or require acceleration of the amortization expense of intangible assets in subsequent periods. For business combinations, the estimates of the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of an acquisition are subject to adjustment during the measurement period (up to one year from the particular acquisition date). During the measurement period, the Company will adjust assets and/or liabilities if new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have resulted in a revised estimated value of those assets and/or liabilities as of that date. As of September 30, 2018 , there were no purchase price allocations that were preliminary.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , the Company acquired 1,237 completed towers and related assets and liabilities consisting of $124.3 million of property and equipment, $262.6 million of intangible assets, and $14.9 million of working capital adjustments. All acquisitions in the quarter ended September 30, 2018 were accounted for as asset acquisitions.

Table of Contents

Subsequent to September 30, 2018 , the Company acquired 46 towers and related assets for $17.1 million in cash.

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, 2018						As of December 31, 2017
	Gross carrying		Accumulated		Net book		Gross carrying		Accumulated		Net book
	amount		amortization		value		amount		amortization		value

	(in thousands)
Current contract intangibles	$	4,349,404	$	(1,846,918)	$	2,502,486	$	4,355,171	$	(1,673,270)	$	2,681,901
Network location intangibles		1,660,923		(775,454)		885,469		1,617,441		(701,211)		916,230
Intangible assets, net	$	6,010,327	$	(2,622,372)	$	3,387,955	$	5,972,612	$	(2,374,481)	$	3,598,131

All intangible assets noted above are included in the Company’s 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 $100.1 million and $96.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, and $301.7 million and $286.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively.

7. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

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



	As of		As of
	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017

	(in thousands)
Towers and related components	$	4,897,273	$	4,772,807
Construction-in-process		35,336		34,689
Furniture, equipment, and vehicles		54,880		53,260
Land, buildings, and improvements		656,818		630,370
Total property and equipment		5,644,307		5,491,126
Less: accumulated depreciation		(2,856,593)		(2,678,780)
Property and equipment, net	$	2,787,714	$	2,812,346

Construction-in-process represents costs incurred related to towers that are under development and will be used in the Company’s site leasing operations. Depreciation expense was $67.5 million and $65.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, and $200.6 million and $193.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , non-cash capital expenditures that are included in accrued expenses were $10.5 million and $12.4 million, respectively.

Table of Contents

8. COSTS AND ESTIMATED EARNINGS ON UNCOMPLETED CONTRACTS

The Company’s costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts are comprised of the following:



	As of		As of
	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017

	(in thousands)
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$	33,784	$	31,404
Estimated earnings		13,662		10,541
Billings to date		(30,193)		(24,771)
	$	17,253	$	17,174

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



	As of		As of
	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017

	(in thousands)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	$	17,799	$	17,437
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on
uncompleted contracts (included in Other current liabilities)		(546)		(263)
	$	17,253	$	17,174

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , eight customers comprised 95.1% and 87.9% of the costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net of billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings, respectively.

9. ACCRUED EXPENSES

The Company’s accrued expenses are comprised of the following:



	As of		As of
	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017

	(in thousands)
Accrued earnouts on business combinations	$	1,875	$	2,470
Salaries and benefits		11,453		13,506
Real estate and property taxes		9,529		7,125
Non-cash capital expenditures		10,465		12,408
Other		34,807		34,353
Total accrued expenses	$	68,129	$	69,862

Table of Contents

10. DEBT

The principal values, fair values, and carrying values of debt consist o f the following (in thousands):



		As of						As of
		September 30, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Maturity Date	Principal Balance		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Principal Balance		Fair Value		Carrying Value
2014 Senior Notes	Jul. 15, 2022	$	750,000	$	756,563	$	740,714	$	750,000	$	770,625	$	739,079
2016 Senior Notes	Sep. 1, 2024		1,100,000		1,083,500		1,083,071		1,100,000		1,127,500		1,081,262
2017 Senior Notes	Oct. 1, 2022		750,000		734,063		742,676		750,000		750,938		741,437
2013-1C Tower Securities	Apr. 10, 2018		—		—		—		425,000		423,853		424,482
2013-2C Tower Securities	Apr. 11, 2023		575,000		560,108		569,434		575,000		578,433		568,609
2013-1D Tower Securities	Apr. 10, 2018		—		—		—		330,000		330,145		329,585
2014-1C Tower Securities	Oct. 8, 2019		920,000		909,080		917,020		920,000		915,216		914,929
2014-2C Tower Securities	Oct. 8, 2024		620,000		599,298		614,099		620,000		620,942		613,461
2015-1C Tower Securities	Oct. 8, 2020		500,000		489,080		495,162		500,000		496,840		493,474
2016-1C Tower Securities	Jul. 9, 2021		700,000		683,991		694,519		700,000		691,166		693,118
2017-1C Tower Securities	Apr. 11, 2022		760,000		734,244		752,530		760,000		751,404		751,076
2018-1C Tower Securities	Mar. 9, 2023		640,000		631,789		632,339		—		—		—
Revolving Credit Facility	Apr. 11, 2023		120,000		120,000		120,000		40,000		40,000		40,000
2014 Term Loan	Mar. 24, 2021		—		—		—		1,447,500		1,451,119		1,439,373
2015 Term Loan	Jun. 10, 2022		—		—		—		487,500		488,109		480,801
2018 Term Loan	Apr. 11, 2025		2,394,000		2,394,000		2,372,581		—		—		—
Total debt		$	9,829,000	$	9,695,716	$	9,734,145	$	9,405,000	$	9,436,290	$	9,310,686
Less: current maturities of long-term debt							(24,000)						(20,000)
Total long-term debt, net of current maturities						$	9,710,145					$	9,290,686

Table of Contents

The table below reflects cash and non-cash interest expense amounts recognized by debt instru ment for the periods presented:



	For the three months ended September 30,								For the nine months ended September 30,
	2018				2017				2018				2017
	Cash		Non-cash		Cash		Non-cash		Cash		Non-cash		Cash		Non-cash
	Interest		Interest		Interest		Interest		Interest		Interest		Interest		Interest

	(in thousands)
2014 Senior Notes	$	9,141	$	191	$	9,141	$	182	$	27,422	$	567	$	27,422	$	540
2016 Senior Notes		13,406		252		13,406		240		40,219		748		40,219		711
2017 Senior Notes		7,500		—		—		—		22,500		—		—		—
2012 Tower Securities		—		—		—		—		—		—		5,331		—
2013 Tower Securities		5,396		—		10,804		—		20,267		—		32,413		—
2014 Tower Securities		12,785		—		12,785		—		38,354		—		38,354		—
2015-1C Tower Securities		3,985		—		3,985		—		11,954		—		11,954		—
2016-1C Tower Securities		5,090		—		5,090		—		15,271		—		15,271		—
2017-1C Tower Securities		6,096		—		6,096		—		18,268		—		11,098		—
2018-1C Tower Securities		5,570		—		—		—		12,502		—		—		—
Revolving Credit Facility		1,721		—		2,673		—		4,911		—		6,848		—
2014 Term Loan		—		—		12,964		133		15,550		146		36,291		391
2015 Term Loan		—		—		4,366		170		5,237		187		12,221		504
2018 Term Loan		25,096		189		—		—		46,303		354		—		—
Other		(69)		—		47		—		(480)		—		(7)		—
Total	$	95,717	$	632	$	81,357	$	725	$	278,278	$	2,002	$	237,415	$	2,146

Senior Credit Agreement

On April 11, 2018, the Company amended and restated its Senior Credit Agreement to (1) issue a new $2.4 billion Term Loan, (2) increase the total commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility from $1.0 billion to $1.25 billion, (3) extend the maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility to April 11, 2023 , (4) lower the applicable interest rate margins and commitment fees under the Revolving Credit Facility, and (5) amend certain other terms and conditions under the Senior Credit Agreement. The proceeds from the new Term Loan were used to repay the outstanding balances on the 2014 Term Loan, 2015 Term Loan, and Revolving Credit Facility and for general corporate purposes. This transaction was accounted for as an extinguishment of the 2014 Term Loan and 2015 Term Loan.

Revolving Credit Facility under the Senior Credit Agreement

As amended, the Revolving Credit Facility consists of a revolving loan under which up to $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount may be borrowed, repaid and redrawn, based upon specific financial ratios and subject to the satisfaction of other customary conditions to borrowing. Amounts borrowed under the Revolving Credit Facility accrue interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election, at either (i) the Eurodollar Rate plus a margin that ranges from 112.5 basis points to 175.0 basis points or (ii) the Base Rate plus a margin that ranges from 12.5 basis points to 75.0 basis points, in each case based on the ratio of Consolidated Net Debt to Annualized Borrower EBITDA, calculated in accordance with the Senior Credit Agreement. In addition, SBA Senior Finance II is required to pay a commitment fee of between 0.20% and 0.25% per annum on the amount of unused commitment. If not earlier terminated by SBA Senior Finance II, the Revolving Credit Facility will terminate on, and SBA Senior Finance II will repay all amounts outstanding on or before, April 11, 2023. The proceeds available under the Revolving Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , the Company borrowed $260.0 million and $805.0 million, respectively, and repaid $225.0 million and $725.0 million, respectively, of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2018 , the balance outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility was $120.0 million accru ing interest

Table of Contents

at 3.88% per annum. In addition, SBA Senior Finance II was required to pay a commitment fee of 0.25% per annum on the amount of the unused commitment. As of September 30, 2018 , SBA Senior Finance II was in compliance with the financial covenants contained in the Senior Credit Agreement.

Subsequent to September 30, 2018 , the Company borrowed an additional $95.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of the date of this filing, $ 215.0 million was outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Term Loans under the Senior Credit Agreement

2014 Term Loan

The 2014 Term Loan consisted of a senior secured term loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $1.5 billion that was scheduled to mature on March 24, 2021 . The 2014 Term Loan accrued interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election, at either the Base Rate plus 125 basis points (with a zero Base Rate floor) or the Eurodollar Rate plus 225 basis points (with a zero Eurodollar Rate floor). The 2014 Term Loan was originally issued at 99.75% of par value. Principal payments on the 2014 Term Loan commenced on September 30, 2014 and were being made in quarterly installments on the last day of each March, June, September, and December in an amount equal to $3.8 million. The Company incurred financing fees of approximately $14.1 million in relation to this transaction, which were being amortized through the maturity date.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company repaid $3.8 million of principal on the 2014 Term Loan. On April 11, 2018, the Company repaid the remaining $1,443.8 million outstanding principal balance of the 2014 Term Loan with proceeds from the 2018 Term Loan. In connection with the repayment, the Company expensed $5.8 million of net deferred financing fees and $1.7 million of discount related to the debt.

2015 Term Loan

The 2015 Term Loan consisted of a senior secured term loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $500.0 million that was scheduled to mature on June 10, 2022. The 2015 Term Loan accrued interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election at either the Base Rate plus 125 basis points (with a zero Base Rate floor) or the Eurodollar Rate plus 225 basis points (with a zero Eurodollar Rate floor). The 2015 Term Loan was originally issued at 99.0% of par value. Principal payments on the 2015 Term Loan commenced on September 30, 2015 and were being made in quarterly installments on the last day of each March, June, September, and December in an amount equal to $1.3 million. The Company incurred financing fees of approximately $5.5 million in relation to this transaction, which were being amortized through the maturity date.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company repaid $1.3 million of principal on the 2015 Term Loan. On April 11, 2018, the Company repaid the remaining $486.3 million outstanding principal balance of the 2015 Term Loan with proceeds from the 2018 Term Loan. In connection with the repayment, the Company expensed $3.2 million of net deferred financing fees and $3.1 million of discount related to the debt.

2018 Term Loan

On April 11, 2018, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II LLC, obtained a new term loan (the “2018 Term Loan”) under the amended and restated Senior Credit Agreement. The 2018 Term Loan consists of a senior secured term loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $2.4 billion that matures on April 11, 2025. The 2018 Term Loan accrues interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election at either the Base Rate plus 100 basis points (with a zero Base Rate floor) or the Eurodollar Rate plus 200 basis points (with a zero Eurodollar Rate floor). The 2018 Term Loan was issued at 99.75% of par value. As of September 30, 2018 , the 2018 Term Loan was accruing interest at 4.25% per annum. Principal payments on the 2018 Term Loan commence d o n September 30, 2018 and are being made in quarterly installments on the last day of each March, June, September, and December in an amount equal to $6.0 million . The Company incurred financing fees of approximately $16.7 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date. The proceeds from the 2018 Term Loan were used (1) to retire the outstanding $1.93 billion in aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Term Loan and 2015 Term Loan , (2) to pay down the existing outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility, and (3) for general corporate purposes.

During the three and nine months ended September 30 , 2018 , the Company repaid an aggregate of $6.0 million of principal on the 2018 Term Loan. As of September 30, 2018 , the 2018 Term Loan had a principal balance of $2.4 b illion .

Table of Contents

Secured Tower Revenue Securities

2013 Tower Securities

On April 18, 2013, the Company, through a New York common law trust (the “Trust”), issued $425.0 million of 2.240% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2013-1C, which had an anticipated repayment date of April 10, 2018 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2043 (the “2013-1C Tower Securities”), $575.0 million of 3.722% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2013-2C, which have an anticipated repayment date of April 11, 2023 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2048 (the “2013-2C Tower Securities”), and $330.0 million of 3.598% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2013-1D, which had an anticipated repayment date of April 10, 2018 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2043 (the “2013-1D Tower Securities”) (collectively the “2013 Tower Securities”). The aggregate $1.33 billion of 2013 Tower Securities had a blended interest rate of 3.218% per annum, payable monthly . The Company incurred financing fees of $25.5 million in relation to this transaction, which were being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of eac h of the 2013 Tower Securities.

On March 9, 2018, the Company repaid the entire aggregate principal amount of the 2013-1C Tower Securities and 2013-1D Tower Securities in connection with the issuance of the 2018-1C Tower Securities (as defined below).

The sole asset of the Trust consists of a non-recourse mortgage loan made in favor of those entities that are borrowers on the mortgage loan (the “Borrowers”).

2014 Tower Securities

On October 15, 2014, the Company, through the Trust, issued $920.0 million of 2.898% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2014-1C, which have an anticipated repayment date of October 8, 2019 and a final maturity date of October 11, 2044 (the “2014-1C Tower Securities”) and $620.0 million of 3.869% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2014-2C, which have an anticipated repayment date of October 8, 2024 and a final maturity date of October 8, 2049 (the “2014-2C Tower Securities”) (collectively the “2014 Tower Securities”). The aggregate $1.54 billion of 2014 Tower Securities have a blended interest rate of 3.289% per annum, payable monthly. The Company incurr ed financing fees of $22.5 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of each of the 2014 Tower Securities.

2015-1C Tower Securities

On October 14, 2015, the Company, through the Trust, issued $500.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2015-1C, which have an anticipated repayment date of October 8, 2020 and a final maturity date of October 10, 2045 (the “2015-1C Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate of the 2015-1C Tower Securities is 3.156% per annum, payable monthl y. The Company incurred financing fees of $11.2 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of the 2015-1C Tower Securities.

2016-1C Tower Securities

On July 7, 2016, the Company, through the Trust, issued $700.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2016-1C, which have an anticipated repayment date of July 9, 2021 and a final maturity date of July 10, 2046 (the “2016-1C Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate of the 2016-1C Tower Securities is 2.877% per annum, payable monthly. The Company incurred financing fees of $9.5 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of the 2016-1C Tower Securities.

2017-1C Tower Securities

On April 17, 2017, the Company, through the Trust, issued $760.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2017-1C, which have an anticipated repayment date of April 11, 2022 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2047 (the “2017-1C Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate on the 2017-1C Tower Securities is 3.168% per annum, payable monthly. Net proceeds from this offering were used to prepay the entire $610.0 million aggregate principal amount, as well as accrued and unpaid interest, of the 2012-1C Tower Securities and for general corporate purpose s. The Company incurred financing fees of $10.2 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of the 2017-1C Tower Securities.

Table of Contents

In addition, to satisfy certain risk retention requirements of Regulation RR promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), SBA Guarantor, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, purchased $40.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2017-1R issued by the Trust, which have an anticipated repayment date of April 11, 2022 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2047 (the “2017-1R Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate on the 2017-1R Tower Securities is 4.459% per annum, payable monthly. Principal and interest payments made on the 2017-1R Tower Securities eliminate in consolidation.

2018-1C Tower Securities

On March 9, 2018, the Company, through the Trust, issued $640.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2018-1C, which have an anticipated repayment date of March 9, 2023 and a final maturity date of March 9, 2048 (the “2018-1C Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate on the 2018-1C Tower Securities is 3.448% per annum, payable monthly. Net proceeds from this offering, in combination with borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, were used to repay the entire aggregate principal amount of the 2013-1C Tower Securities ( $425.0 million) and 2013-1D Tower Securities ( $330.0 million), as well as accrued and unpaid interes t. The Company incurred financing fees of $8.5 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of the 2018-1C Tower Securities.

In addition, to satisfy certain risk retention requirements of Regulation RR promulgated under the Exchange Act, SBA Guarantor, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, purchased $33.7 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2018-1R issued by the Trust. These securities have an anticipated repayment date of March 9, 2023 and a final maturity date of March 9, 2048 (the “2018-1R Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate on the 2018-1R Tower Securities is 4.949% per annum, payable monthly. Principal and interest payments made on the 2018-1R Tower Securities eliminate in consolidation.

In connection with the issuance of the 2018-1C Tower Securities, the non-recourse mortgage loan was increased by $673.7 million (but decreased by a net of $81.3 million after giving effect to prepayment of the loan components relating to the 2013-1C Tower Securities and 2013-1D Tower Securities). The new loan, after eliminating the risk retention securities, accrues interest at the same rate as the 2018-1C Tower Securities and is subject to all other material terms of the existing mortgage loan, including collateral and interest rate after the anticipated repayment date.

Debt Covenants

As of September 30, 2018 , the Borrowers met the debt service coverage ratio required by the mortgage loan agreement and were in compliance with all other covenants as set forth in the agreement.

Senior Notes

2014 Senior Notes

On July 1, 2014, the Company issued $750.0 million of unsecured senior notes due July 15, 2022 (the “2014 Senior Notes”). The 2014 Senior Notes accrue interest at a rate of 4.875% per annum and were issued at 99.178% of par value. Interest on the 2014 Senior Notes is due semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The Company incurred financing fees of $11.6 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date.

The 2014 Senior Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Company may redeem the 2014 Senior Notes during the twelve-month period beginning on the following dates at the following redemption prices: July 15, 2018 at 102.438%, July 15, 2019 at 101.219%, or July 15, 2020 until maturity at 100.000%, of the principal amount of the 2014 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest.

2016 Senior Notes

On August 15, 2016, the Company issued $1.1 billion of unsecured senior notes due September 1, 2024 (the “2016 Senior Notes”). The 2016 Senior Notes accrue interest at a rate of 4.875% per annum and were issued at 99.178% of par value. Interest on the 2016 Senior Notes is due semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on March 1, 2017. The Company incurred financing fees of $12.8 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date. Net proceeds from this offering and cash on hand were used to redeem $800.0 million, the aggregate principal amount outstanding, of Telecommunications’ 5.75% Senior Notes and $250.0 million of the Company’s 5.625% Senior Notes and pay the associated call premiums.

Table of Contents

The 2016 Senior Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part on or after September 1, 2019 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to September 1, 2019, the Company may, at its option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2016 Senior Notes originally issued at a redemption price of 104.875% of the principal amount of the 2016 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings. The Company may redeem the 2016 Senior Notes during the twelve-month period beginning on the following dates at the following redemption prices: September 1, 2019 at 103.656%, September 1, 2020 at 102.438%, September 1, 2021 at 101.219%, or September 1, 2022 until maturity at 100.000%, of the principal amount of the 2016 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest.

2017 Senior Notes

On October 13, 2017, the Company issued $750.0 million of unsecured senior notes due October 1, 2022 (the “2017 Senior Notes”). The 2017 Senior Notes accrue interest at a rate of 4.0% per annum. Interest on the 2017 Senior Notes is due semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2018 . The Company incurred financing fees of $8.9 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date. Net proceeds from this offering were used to repay $460.0 million outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and for general corporate purposes.

The 2017 Senior Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part on or after October 1, 2019 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to October 1, 2020, the Company may, at its option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Senior Notes originally issued at a redemption price of 104.000% of the principal amount of the 2017 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings. The Company may redeem the 2017 Senior Notes during the twelve-month period beginning on the following dates at the following redemption prices: October 1, 2019 at 102.000% , October 1, 2020 at 101.000% , or October 1, 2021 until maturity at 100.000% , of the principal amount of the 2017 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest.

11. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock Equivalents

The Company has potential common stock equivalents (see Note 12) related to its outstanding stock options and restricted stock units. These potential common stock equivalents were considered in the Company’s diluted earnings per share calculation (see Note 15).

Stock Repurchases

On February 16, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $1.0 billion stock repurchase plan, replacing the prior plan authorized on January 12, 2017 which had a remaining authorization of $150.0 million. This new plan authorizes the Company to purchase, from time to time, up to $1.0 billion of the outstanding Class A common stock through open market repurchases in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act and/or in privately negotiated transactions at management’s discretion based on market and business conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. Shares repurchased will be retired. The plan has no time deadline and will continue until otherwise modified or terminated by the Company’s Board of Directors at any time in its sole discretion.

During the three months ended September 30, 2018 , the Company repurchased 0.7 million shares of its Class A common stock under this plan for $108.0 million, at an average price per share of $155.16 . During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , the Company repurchased 2.8 million shares of its Class A common stock under this plan for $453.5 million, at an average price per share of $161.23 . Shares repurchased were retired.

Subsequent to September 30, 2018 , the Company repurchased 0.9 million shares of its Class A common stock for $142.0 million, at an average price per share of $151.55 . Shares repurchased were retired. As of the date of this filing, the Company had $404.5 million of authorization remaining under the current stock repurchase plan.

Table of Contents

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 historical volatility to establish the expected volatility, as well as to estimate the expected option life. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the option. The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model:



	For the nine months ended
	September 30,
	2018	2017

Risk free interest rate	2.57% - 2.87%	1.70% - 1.97%
Dividend yield	0.7%	0.0%
Expected volatility	22%	20%
Expected lives	4.6 years	4.6 years

The following table summarizes the Company’s activities with respect to its stock option plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as follows (dollars and shares in thousands, except for per share data):



		Weighted-		Weighted-Average
		Average		Remaining
	Number	Exercise Price		Contractual	Aggregate
	of Shares	Per Share		Life (in years)	Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	4,842	$	100.12
Granted	937	$	156.54
Exercised	(548)	$	81.99
Forfeited/canceled	(38)	$	123.91
Outstanding at September 30, 2018	5,193	$	112.05	4.3	$	252,235
Exercisable at September 30, 2018	2,538	$	97.34	3.1	$	160,627
Unvested at September 30, 2018	2,655	$	126.11	5.4	$	91,608

The weighted-average per share fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $33.00 . The total intrinsic value for options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $44.2 million.

Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes the Company’s restricted stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 :

Table of Contents



		Weighted-Average
	Number of	Grant Date Fair
	Shares	Value per Share
	(in thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	328	$	110.20
Granted	137	$	156.61
Vested	(129)	$	110.94
Forfeited/canceled	(11)	$	134.37
Outstanding at September 30, 2018	325	$	128.73

13. INCOME TAXES

The primary reasons for the difference between the Company’s effective tax rate and the U.S. statutory rate are the Company’s REIT election and the Company’s full valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets of the U.S. taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”). The Company has concluded that it is not more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be realized and has recorded a full valuation allowance. A foreign tax provision is recognized because certain foreign subsidiaries of the Company have profitable operations or are in a net deferred tax liability position.

The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2016. As a REIT, the Company generally will be entitled to a deduction for dividends that it pays, and therefore, not subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on that portion of its net income that it distributes to its shareholders. As a REIT, the Company will continue to pay U.S. federal income tax on earnings, if any, from assets and operations held through its TRSs. These assets and operations currently consist primarily of the Company’s site development services and its international operations. The Company’s international operations would continue to be subject, as applicable, to foreign taxes in the jurisdictions in which those operations are located. The Company may also be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local, and foreign income, property, and other taxes on its assets and operations. The Company’s determination as to the timing and amount of future dividend distributions will be based on a number of factors, including REIT distribution requirements, its existing federal net operating losses (“NOLs”) of approximately $1.0 billion as of December 31, 2017, the Company’s financial condition, earnings, debt covenants, and other possible uses of such funds. The Company may use these NOLs to offset its REIT taxable income, and thus any required distributions to shareholders may be reduced or eliminated until such time as the NOLs have been fully utilized.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Tax Act reduces the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred and creates new taxes on certain foreign sourced earnings. The Company is applying the guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 when accounting for the enactment-date effects of the Tax Act. As of September 30, 2018, the Company has not recognized any adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded at December 31, 2017. As additional guidance becomes available related to the Tax Act, the Company will continue to refine its calculations. These estimates may also be affected as the Company gains a more thorough understanding of the Tax Act. These changes may be material to income tax expense.

The global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) provisions of the Tax Act impose a tax on the income of certain foreign subsidiaries in excess of a specified return on tangible assets used by the foreign companies. FASB Staff Q&A, Topic 740, No. 5, Accounting for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, states that an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for temporary basis differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or provide for the tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred. Given the complexity of the GILTI provisions, the Company is still evaluating the effects of the GILTI provisions and has not yet determined the new accounting policy it intends to elect. At September 30, 2018, because the Company is still evaluating the GILTI provisions and the analysis of future taxable income subject to GILTI, the Company has included GILTI related to current-year operations only and have not provided additional GILTI on deferred items. During the quarter ended September 30, 2018 the Company updated the provisional amounts for the annualized GILTI deemed dividend, which res ulted in a reduction from $35.7 million to $12.9 million . Also, recently released IRS guidance has clarified that GILTI and other deemed dividends are considered qualifying in come for REIT testing purposes.

Table of Contents

14. SEGMENT DATA

The Company operates principally in two business segments: site leasing and site development. The Company’s site leasing business includes two reportable segments, domestic site leasing and international site leasing. The Company’s business segments are strategic business units that offer different services. They are managed separately based on the fundamental differences in their operations. The site leasing segment includes results of the managed and sublease businesses. The site development segment includes the results of both consulting and construction related activities. The Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker utilizes segment operating profit and operating income as his two measures of segment profit in assessing performance and allocating resources at the reportable segment level. The Company has applied the aggregation criteria to operations within the international site leasing segment on a basis that is consistent with management’s review of information and performance evaluations of the individual markets in this region.

Revenues, cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion and amortization), capital expenditures (including assets acquired through the issuance of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock) and identifiable assets pertaining to the segments in which the Company continues to operate are presented below.



	Domestic Site		Int'l Site		Site		Not Identified
	Leasing		Leasing		Development		by Segment		Total

For the three months ended September 30, 2018	(in thousands)
Revenues	$	353,502	$	81,758	$	31,961	$	—	$	467,221
Cost of revenues (2)		66,862		25,432		24,447		—		116,741
Operating profit		286,640		56,326		7,514		—		350,480
Selling, general, and administrative		17,763		6,734		3,934		6,477		34,908
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		1,887		1,108		—		—		2,995
Asset impairment and decommission costs		2,801		4,067		—		—		6,868
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		129,246		36,310		646		1,501		167,703
Operating income (loss)		134,943		8,107		2,934		(7,978)		138,006
Other expense (principally interest expense
and other income (expense))								(123,841)		(123,841)
Income before income taxes										14,165
Cash capital expenditures (3)		33,794		120,176		425		666		155,061

For the three months ended September 30, 2017
Revenues	$	328,395	$	80,143	$	25,407	$	—	$	433,945
Cost of revenues (2)		65,226		25,125		21,117		—		111,468
Operating profit		263,169		55,018		4,290		—		322,477
Selling, general, and administrative		16,945		6,658		3,826		5,130		32,559
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		962		621		—		—		1,583
Asset impairment and decommission costs		7,898		1,554		(35)		—		9,417
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		125,142		34,548		605		1,612		161,907
Operating income (loss)		112,222		11,637		(106)		(6,742)		117,011
Other expense (principally interest expense
and other income (expense))								(64,472)		(64,472)
Income before income taxes										52,539
Cash capital expenditures (3)		57,352		57,507		372		724		115,955

Table of Contents



							Not
	Domestic Site		Int'l Site		Site		Identified by
	Leasing		Leasing		Development		Segment		Total

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018	(in thousands)
Revenues	$	1,041,892	$	253,794	$	86,160	$	—	$	1,381,846
Cost of revenues (2)		199,633		79,167		67,693		—		346,493
Operating profit		842,259		174,627		18,467		—		1,035,353
Selling, general, and administrative		55,047		20,242		11,943		19,669		106,901
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		5,242		3,929		—		—		9,171
Asset impairment and decommission costs		15,971		6,475		332		—		22,778
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		382,490		113,550		1,936		4,683		502,659
Operating income (loss)		383,509		30,431		4,256		(24,352)		393,844
Other expense (principally interest expense
and other income (expense))								(415,191)		(415,191)
Loss before income taxes										(21,347)
Cash capital expenditures (3)		287,711		218,739		1,345		2,148		509,943

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017
Revenues	$	974,850	$	234,239	$	75,513	$	—	$	1,284,602
Cost of revenues (2)		195,903		73,167		62,713		—		331,783
Operating profit		778,947		161,072		12,800		—		952,819
Selling, general, and administrative		53,147		19,007		11,495		16,528		100,177
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		4,300		2,557		—		—		6,857
Asset impairment and decommission costs		22,746		2,956		206		—		25,908
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		373,262		100,388		1,968		4,839		480,457
Operating income (loss)		325,492		36,164		(869)		(21,367)		339,420
Other expense (principally interest expense
and other income (expense))								(233,259)		(233,259)
Income before income taxes										106,161
Cash capital expenditures (3)		160,814		103,609		692		2,456		267,571



	Domestic Site		Int'l Site		Site		Not Identified
	Leasing		Leasing		Development		by Segment (1)		Total

Assets	(in thousands)
As of September 30, 2018	$	5,093,302	$	1,988,380	$	51,494	$	80,647	$	7,213,823
As of December 31, 2017	$	5,171,190	$	2,028,479	$	49,487	$	71,049	$	7,320,205

(1)

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

(2)

Excludes depreciation, amortization, and accretion.

(3)

Includes cash paid for capital expenditures and acquisitions and vehicle capital lease additions.

Other than Brazil, no foreign country represented a material amount of the Company’s total revenues in any of the periods presented. Site leasing revenue in Brazil was $167.1 million and $162.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and

Table of Contents

2017 , respectively. Total long-lived assets in Brazil were $1,003.6 million and $1,278.9 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively.

15. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share was computed by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding for each respective period. Diluted earnings per share was calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding adjusted for any dilutive Common Stock equivalents, including unvested restricted stock and shares issuable upon exercise of stock options as determined under the “If-Converted” method and also Common Stock warrants as determined under the “Treasury Stock” method.

The following table sets forth basic and diluted net income per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands, except per share data):



	For the three months				For the nine months
	ended September 30,				ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Numerator:
Net income (loss)	$	16,144	$	49,161	$	(9,702)	$	95,994
Denominator:
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		114,597		119,746		115,378		120,745
Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted shares		1,517		1,280		—		982
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		116,114		121,026		115,378		121,727
Net income (loss) per common share:
Basic	$	0.14	$	0.41	$	(0.08)	$	0.80
Diluted	$	0.14	$	0.41	$	(0.08)	$	0.79

For the three months ended September 30, 2018 , the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding excluded an additional 0.9 million shares issuable upon exercise of the Company’s stock options because the impact would be anti-dilutive.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , all potential common stock equivalents, including 5.2 million shares of stock options outstanding and 0.3 million shares of restricted stock units outstanding, were excluded as the effect would be anti - dilutive.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding excluded an additional 11,674 and 1.8 million shares, respectively, issuable upon exercise of the Company’s stock options because the impact would be anti-dilutive.

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

We are a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure, including tower structures, rooftops and other structures that support antennas used for wireless communications, which we collectively refer to as “towers” or “sites.” Our principal operations are in the United States and its territories. In addition, we own and operate towers in South America, Central America, and Canada. Our primary business line is our site leasing business, which contributed 98.2% of our total segment operating profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 . In our site leasing business, we (1) lease antenna space to wireless service providers on towers that we own or operate and (2) manage rooftop and tower sites for property owners under various contractual arrangements. As of September 30, 2018 , we owned 29,357 towers, a substantial portion of which have been built by us or built by other tower owners or operators who, like us, have built such towers to lease space to multiple wireless service providers. We also managed or leased approximately 9,600 actual or potential sites, approximately 500 of which were revenue producing as of September 30, 2018 . Our other business line is our site development business, through which we assist wireless service providers in developing and maintaining their own wireless service networks.

Table of Contents

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 in the United States, Canada, Central America, and South America. As of September 30, 2018 , (1) no U.S. state or territory accounted for more than 10% of our total tower portfolio by tower count, and (2) no U.S. state or territory accounted for more than 10% of our total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 . In addition, as of September 30, 2018 , approximately 28.9% of our total towers are located in Brazil and less than 3% of our total towers are located in any of our other international markets (each country is considered a market). We derive site leasing revenues primarily from wireless service provider tenants, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Oi S.A., Telefonica, Claro, and TIM. Wireless service providers enter into tenant leases with us, each of which relates to the lease or use of space at an individual site. In the United States and Canada, our tenant leases are generally for an initial term of five to ten years with five 5-year renewal periods at the option of the tenant. These tenant leases typically contain specific rent escalators, which average 3-4% per year, including the renewal option periods. Tenant leases in our Central American and South American markets typically have an initial term of ten years with multiple five-year renewal periods. In Central America, we have similar rent escalators to that of leases in the United States and Canada while our leases in South America escalate in accordance with a standard cost of living index. Site leases in South America typically provide for a fixed rental amount and a pass through charge for the underlying ground lease rent.

In our Central American markets and Ecuador, significantly all of our revenue, expenses, and capital expenditures arising from our new build activities are denominated in U.S. dollars. Specifically, most of our ground leases, tenant leases, and tower-related expenses are due and paid in U.S. dollars. In our Central American markets and Ecuador, our local currency obligations are principally limited to (1) permitting and other local fees, (2) utilities, and (3) taxes. In Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Colombia, significantly all of our revenue, expenses, and capital expenditures, including tenant leases, ground leases, and other tower-related expenses are denominated in local currency. In Argentina and Peru, our revenue, expenses, and capital expenditures, including tenant leases, ground leases, and other tower-related expenses are denominated in a mix of local currency and U.S. dollars.

Cost of site leasing revenue primarily consists of:

Rental payments on ground leases and other underlying property interests;

Property taxes;

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

Utilities;

Property insurance;

Lease origination cost amortization; and

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

Ground leases are generally for an initial term of five years or more with multiple renewal terms of five-year periods at our option and provide for rent escalators which typically average 2-3% annually, or in our South American markets, adjust in accordance with a standard cost of living index. As of September 30, 2018 , approximately 71% of our tower structures were located on parcels of land that we own, land subject to perpetual easements, or parcels of land in which we have a leasehold interest that extends beyond 20 years. For any given tower, costs are relatively fixed over a monthly or an annual time period. As such, operating costs for owned towers do not generally increase as a result of adding additional customers to the tower. The amount of property taxes varies from site to site depending on the taxing jurisdiction and the height and age of the tower. The ongoing maintenance requirements are typically minimal and include replacing lighting systems, painting a tower, or upgrading or repairing an access road or fencing.

As indicated in the table below, our site leasing business generates substantially all of our total segment operating profit. For information regarding our operating segments, see Note 14 of our Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report.



	For the three months ended				For the nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,

Segment operating profit as a percentage of total	2018		2017		2018		2017

Domestic site leasing		81.8%		81.6%		81.3%		81.8%
International site leasing		16.1%		17.1%		16.9%		16.9%
Total site leasing		97.9%		98.7%		98.2%		98.7%

Table of Contents

We believe that the site leasing business continues to be attractive due to its long-term contracts, built-in rent escalators, high operating margins, and low customer churn (which refers to when a customer does not renew its lease or cancels its lease prior to the end of its term) other than in connection with customer consolidation or cessation of a particular technology. We believe that over the long-term, site leasing revenues will continue to grow as wireless service providers lease additional antenna space on our towers due to increasing minutes of network use and data transfer, network expansion and network coverage requirements. During the remainder of 2018 , we expect organic site leasing revenue, in terms of revenue added per tower, in both our domestic and international segments to increase over 2017 levels due in part to wireless carriers deploying unused spectrum and spectrum acquired during auctions completed in 2017 . We believe our site leasing business is characterized by stable and long-term recurring revenues, predictable operating costs and minimal non-discretionary capital expenditures. Due to the relatively young age and mix of our tower portfolio, we expect future expenditures required to maintain these towers to be minimal. Consequently, we expect to grow our cash flows by (1) adding tenants to our towers at minimal incremental costs by using existing tower capacity or requiring wireless service providers to bear all or a portion of the cost of tower modifications and (2) executing monetary amendments as wireless service providers add or upgrade their equipment. Furthermore, because our towers are strategically positioned and our customers typically do not relocate, we have historically experienced low tenant lease terminations as a percentage of revenue other than in connection with customer consolidation or cessations of a specific technology (e.g. iDEN, MetroPCS, Clearwire, and Cricket).

Site Development Services

Our site development business, which is conducted in the United States only, is complementary to our site leasing business and provides us the ability to keep in close contact with the wireless service providers who generate substantially all of our site leasing revenue and to capture ancillary revenues that are generated by our site leasing activities, such as antenna and equipment installation at our tower locations. Site development services revenues are earned primarily from providing a full range of end to end services to wireless service providers or companies providing development or project management services to wireless service providers. Our services include: (1) network pre-design; (2) site audits; (3) identification of potential locations for towers and antennas on existing infrastructure; (4) support in leasing of the location; (5) assistance in obtaining zoning approvals and permits; (6) tower and related site construction; (7) antenna installation; and (8) radio equipment installation, commissioning, and maintenance. We provide site development services at our towers and at towers owned by others on a local basis, through regional, market, and project offices. The market offices are responsible for all site development operations.

Capital Allocation Strategy

Our capital allocation strategy is to prioritize investment in quality assets that meet our return criteria and then stock repurchases when we believe our stock price is below intrinsic value. A primary goal of our capital allocation strategy is to increase our Adjusted Funds From Operations per share. To achieve this, we expect we would continue to deploy capital between portfolio growth and stock repurchases, subject to compliance with REIT distribution requirements, available funds and market conditions, while maintaining our target leverage levels. Key elements of our capital allocation strategy include:

Portfolio Growth. We intend to continue to grow our tower portfolio, domestically and internationally, through tower acquisitions and the construction of new towers.

Stock Repurchase Program. We currently utilize stock repurchases as part of our capital allocation policy when we believe our share price is below its intrinsic value. We believe that share repurchases, when purchased at the right price, will facilitate our goal of increasing our Adjusted Funds From Operations per share.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We have identified the policies and significant estimation processes listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our results of operations. The listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, with no need for management’s judgment in their application. In other cases, management is required to exercise judgment in the application of accounting principles with respect to particular transactions. The impact and any associated risks related to these policies on our business operations is discussed throughout “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” where such policies affect reported and expected financial results. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 of our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 . 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

Table of Contents

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.

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

Revenue from site leasing is recognized on a straight-line basis over the current term of the related lease agreements, which are generally five to ten years. Receivables recorded related to the straight-lining of site leases are reflected in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Rental amounts received in advance are recorded as deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Revenue from site leasing represents 94% of our total revenue.

Site development projects in which we perform consulting services include contracts on a fixed price basis that are billed at contractual rates. Revenue is recognized over time based on milestones achieved, which are determined based on costs incurred. Amounts billed in advance (collected or uncollected) are recorded as deferred revenue on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Revenue from construction projects is recognized over time, 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. Refer to Note 8 in the Condensed Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this filing for further detail of costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined to be probable.

The site development segment represents approximately 6% of our total revenues. We account for site development revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which was adopted on January 1, 2018 by applying the modified retrospective transition method. Payment terms do not result in any significant financing arrangements. Furthermore, these contracts do not typically include variable consideration; therefore, the transaction price that is recognized over time is generally the amount of the total contract. The cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard had no impact on our financial results. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The adoption of the new standard had no impact to net income on an ongoing basis.

The accounts receivable balance was $89.3 million and $90.7 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively, of which $23.2 million and $20.8 million related to the site development segment as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively. We perform periodic credit evaluations of our customers. In addition, we monitor collections and payments from our customers and maintain a provision for estimated credit losses based upon historical experience, specific customer collection issues identified, and past due balances as determined based on contractual terms. Interest is charged on outstanding receivables from customers on a case by case basis in accordance with the terms of the respective contracts or agreements with those customers. Amounts determined to be uncollectible are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts in the period in which uncollectibility is determined to be probable. Refer to Note 14 in the Condensed Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this filing for further detail of the site development segment.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This report presents our financial results and other financial metrics after eliminating the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe that providing these financial results and metrics on a constant currency basis, which are non-GAAP measures, gives management and investors the ability to evaluate the performance of our business without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We eliminate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates by dividing the current period’s financial results by the average monthly exchange rates of the prior year period, and by eliminating the impact of the remeasurement of our intercompany loans.

Table of Contents

Three Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

Revenues and Segment Operating Profit:



	For the three months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

Revenues	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	353,502	$	328,395	$	—	$	25,107		7.6%
International site leasing		81,758		80,143		(13,077)		14,692		18.3%
Site development		31,961		25,407		—		6,554		25.8%
Total	$	467,221	$	433,945	$	(13,077)	$	46,353		10.7%
Cost of Revenues
Domestic site leasing	$	66,862	$	65,226	$	—	$	1,636		2.5%
International site leasing		25,432		25,125		(4,532)		4,839		19.3%
Site development		24,447		21,117		—		3,330		15.8%
Total	$	116,741	$	111,468	$	(4,532)	$	9,805		8.8%
Operating Profit
Domestic site leasing	$	286,640	$	263,169	$	—	$	23,471		8.9%
International site leasing		56,326		55,018		(8,545)		9,853		17.9%
Site development		7,514		4,290		—		3,224		75.2%

Revenues

Domestic site leasing revenues increase d $25.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year, primarily due to (i) revenues from 341 towers acquired and 54 towers built since July 1, 2017 and (ii) organic site leasing growth, primarily from monetary lease amendments for additional equipment added to our towers as well as new leases and contractual rent escalators, partially offset by lease non-renewals primarily by MetroPCS, Clearwire, and Cricket.

International site leasing revenues increase d $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing revenues increase d $14.7 million. These changes were primarily due to (i) revenues from 2,003 towers acquired and 500 towers built since July 1, 2017 , (ii ) organic site leasing growth from new leases, amendments, and contractual escalators, and (iii) an increase in reimbursable pass-through expenses. Site leasing revenue in Brazil represented 11.9% of total site leasing revenue for the period. No other individual international market represented more than 3% of our total site leasing revenue.

Site development revenues increase d $ 6.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to prior year, as a result of increase d carrier activity.

Operating Profit

Domestic site leasing segment operating profit increase d $23.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year, primarily due to additional profit generated by (i) towers acquired and built since July 1, 2017 and organic site leasing growth as noted above, (ii) continued control of our site leasing cost of revenue, and (iii) the positive impact of our ground lease purchase program.

International site leasing segment operating profit increase d $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing segment operating profit increased $9.9 million. These changes were primarily due to additional profit generated by (i) towers acquired and built since July 1, 2017 and organic site leasing growth, (ii) continued c ontrol of our site leasing cost of revenue, and (iii) the positive impact of our ground lease purchase program .

Table of Contents

Site development segment operating profit increase d $3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to the prior year, primarily d ue to an increase in revenue from increased carrier activity as well as a change in the mix of work performed.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses:



	For the three months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	17,763	$	16,945	$	—	$	818		4.8%
International site leasing		6,734		6,658		(1,087)		1,163		17.5%
Total site leasing	$	24,497	$	23,603	$	(1,087)	$	1,981		8.4%
Site development		3,934		3,826		—		108		2.8%
Not identified by segment		6,477		5,130		—		1,347		26.3%
Total	$	34,908	$	32,559	$	(1,087)	$	3,436		10.6%

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increase d $2.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, selling, general, and administrative expenses increase d $3.4 million. These changes we re primarily as a result of increase s in personnel, salaries, benefits, and other support-related costs and non-cash compensation .

Acquisition Related Adjustments and Expenses:



	For the three months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	1,887	$	962	$	—	$	925		96.2%
International site leasing		1,108		621		(138)		625		100.6%
Total	$	2,995	$	1,583	$	(138)	$	1,550		97.9%

Acquisition related adjustments and expenses increase d $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, acquisition related adjustments and expenses increase d $1.6 million. These changes were primarily as a result of an increase in third party acquisition and integration related costs compared to the prior year.

Asset Impairment and Decommission Costs:



	For the three months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	2,801	$	7,898	$	—	$	(5,097)		(64.5%)
International site leasing		4,067		1,554		(201)		2,714		174.6%
Total site leasing	$	6,868	$	9,452	$	(201)	$	(2,383)		(25.2%)
Site development		—		(35)		—		35		(100.0%)
Total	$	6,868	$	9,417	$	(201)	$	(2,348)		(24.9%)

Table of Contents

Domestic site leasing asset imp airment and decommission costs decreased $5.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. This change was primarily as a result of a $3.2 million decrease in the impairment charge recorded on decommissioned to wers and a $1.8 million decrease in impairment charges resulting from our regular analysis of whether the future cash flows from certain towers are adequate to recover the carrying value of the investment in those towers.

International site leasing asset imp airment and decommission costs increased $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing asset impairment and decommission costs increased $2.7 million. These changes were primarily as a result of a $1.9 million increase in the impairment charge recorded on decommissioned towers and a $0.6 million increase in impairment charges resulting from our regular analysis of whether the future cash flows from certain towers are adequate to recover the carrying value of the investment in those towers.

Depreciation, Accretion, and Amortization Expenses:



	For the three months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	129,246	$	125,142	$	—	$	4,104		3.3%
International site leasing		36,310		34,548		(5,806)		7,568		21.9%
Total site leasing	$	165,556	$	159,690	$	(5,806)	$	11,672		7.3%
Site development		646		605		—		41		6.8%
Not identified by segment		1,501		1,612		—		(111)		(6.9%)
Total	$	167,703	$	161,907	$	(5,806)	$	11,602		7.2%

Depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense increased $5.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense increased $11.6 million. These changes were primarily due to an increase in the number of towers we acquired and built since July 1, 2017 , partially offset by the impact of assets that became fully depreciated since the prior year period.

Operating Income (Expense):



	For the three months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	134,943	$	112,222	$	—	$	22,721		20.2%
International site leasing		8,107		11,637		(1,313)		(2,217)		(19.1%)
Total site leasing	$	143,050	$	123,859	$	(1,313)	$	20,504		16.6%
Site development		2,934		(106)		—		3,040		(2,867.9%)
Not identified by segment		(7,978)		(6,742)		—		(1,236)		18.3%
Total	$	138,006	$	117,011	$	(1,313)	$	22,308		19.1%

Domestic site leasing operating income increase d $22.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher segment operating profit and a decrease in asset impairment and decommission costs, partially offset by increases in depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense, acquisition related adjustments and expenses, and selling, general, and administrative expenses.

International site leasing operating income decreased $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing operating income decrease d $2.2 million. These changes were primarily due to increases in depreciation, accretion, and amortization expenses, asset impairment and decommission costs, selling,

Table of Contents

general, and administrative expenses, and acquisition r elated adjustments and expenses primarily attributable to our ongoing international expansion, partially offset by higher segment operating profit.

Site development operating income increase d $3.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year, primarily du e to higher segment operating profit.

Other Income (Expense):



	For the three months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Interest income	$	2,006	$	2,505	$	(171)	$	(328)		(13.1%)
Interest expense		(95,717)		(81,357)		(12)		(14,348)		17.6%
Non-cash interest expense		(632)		(725)		—		93		(12.8%)
Amortization of deferred financing fees		(4,980)		(4,957)		—		(23)		0.5%
Other (expense) income, net		(24,518)		20,062		(44,825)		245		14.8%
Total	$	(123,841)	$	(64,472)	$	(45,008)	$	(14,361)		17.3%

Interest income decreased $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, interest income decreased $0.3 million. These changes were due to a lower amount of interest bearing deposits held in Brazil as compared to the prior year.

Interest expense increase d $14.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. These changes were due to a higher weighted average interest rate and higher average principal amount of cash-interest bearing debt outstanding as compared to the prior year.

Other (expense) income, net includes a $25.9 million loss on the remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with a Brazilian subsidiary for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , while the prior year period included an $18.4 million gain .

Provision for Income Taxes:



	For the three months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	$	1,979	$	(3,378)	$	9,431	$	(4,074)		120.6%

Benefit for i ncome taxes increased $5.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. These changes were primarily due to a benefit in foreign deferred tax expense, primarily attributable to our Brazilian operations .

Net Income :



	For the three months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Net income	$	16,144	$	49,161	$	(36,890)	$	3,873		12.6%

Table of Contents

Net income decreased $33.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. This change was primarily due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates including changes recorded on the remeasurement of the U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with a Brazilian subsidiary (net of the tax impact) and an increase in interest expense, partially offset by an increase in operating income.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

Revenues and Segment Operating Profit:



	For the nine months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

Revenues	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	1,041,892	$	974,850	$	—	$	67,042		6.9%
International site leasing		253,794		234,239		(21,313)		40,868		17.4%
Site development		86,160		75,513		—		10,647		14.1%
Total	$	1,381,846	$	1,284,602	$	(21,313)	$	118,557		9.2%
Cost of Revenues
Domestic site leasing	$	199,633	$	195,903	$	—	$	3,730		1.9%
International site leasing		79,167		73,167		(7,404)		13,404		18.3%
Site development		67,693		62,713		—		4,980		7.9%
Total	$	346,493	$	331,783	$	(7,404)	$	22,114		6.7%
Operating Profit
Domestic site leasing	$	842,259	$	778,947	$	—	$	63,312		8.1%
International site leasing		174,627		161,072		(13,909)		27,464		17.1%
Site development		18,467		12,800		—		5,667		44.3%

Revenues

Domestic site leasing revenues increase d $67.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year, due to (i) revenues from 441 towers acquired and 79 towers built since January 1, 2017 and (ii) organic site leasing growth, primarily from monetary lease amendments for additional equipment added to our towers as well as new leases and contractual rent escalators, partially offset by lease non-renewals primarily by MetroPCS, Clearwire, and Cricket.

International site leasing revenues increase d $19.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing revenues increase d $40.9 million. These changes were primarily due to (i) revenues from 2,221 towers acquired and 629 towers built since January 1, 2017 , (ii) organic site leasing growth from new leases, amendments, and contractual escalators, and (iii) an increase in reimbursable pass-through expenses. Site leasing revenue in Brazil represented 12.9% of total site leasing revenue for the period. No other individual international market represented more than 3% of our total site leasing revenue.

Site development revenues increase d $10.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year, as a result of increase d carrier activity.

Operating Profit

Domestic site leasing segment operatin g profit increase d $63.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year, primarily due to additional profit generated by (i) towers acquired and built since January 1, 2017 and organic site leasing growth as noted above, (ii) continued control of our site leasing cost of revenue, and (iii) the positive impact of our ground lease purchase program.

Table of Contents

International site leasing segment operating profit increase d $13.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a const ant currency basis, international site leasing segment operating profit increase d $27.5 million. These changes were primarily due to additional profit generated by (i) towers acquired and built since January 1, 2017 and organic site leasing growth, (ii) continued c ontrol of our site leasing cost of revenue, and (iii) the positive impact of our ground lease purchase program .

Site development segment operating profit increase d $5.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year, primarily due to an increase in revenue from increased carrier activity as well as a change in mix of work performed.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses:



	For the nine months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	55,047	$	53,147	$	—	$	1,900		3.6%
International site leasing		20,242		19,007		(1,829)		3,064		16.1%
Total site leasing	$	75,289	$	72,154	$	(1,829)	$	4,964		6.9%
Site development		11,943		11,495		—		448		3.9%
Not identified by segment		19,669		16,528		—		3,141		19.0%
Total	$	106,901	$	100,177	$	(1,829)	$	8,553		8.5%

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increase d $6.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, selling, general, and administrative expenses increase d $8.6 million. These changes were primarily as a result o f an increase in personnel, salaries, benefits, and other support-related costs and non-cash compensation costs .

Acquisition Related Adjustments and Expenses:



	For the nine months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	5,242	$	4,300	$	—	$	942		21.9%
International site leasing		3,929		2,557		(284)		1,656		64.8%
Total	$	9,171	$	6,857	$	(284)	$	2,598		37.9%

Acquisition related adjustments and expenses increase d $2.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, acquisition related adjustments and expenses increase d $2.6 million. These changes were primarily as a result of an increase in third party acquisition and integration related costs compared to the prior year.

Table of Contents

Asset Impairment and Decommission Costs:



	For the nine months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	15,971	$	22,746	$	—	$	(6,775)		(29.8%)
International site leasing		6,475		2,956		(210)		3,729		126.2%
Total site leasing	$	22,446	$	25,702	$	(210)	$	(3,046)		(11.9%)
Site development		332		206		—		126		61.2%
Total	$	22,778	$	25,908	$	(210)	$	(2,920)		(11.3%)

Domestic site leasing asset impairment and decommission costs decreased $6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. This change was primarily as a result of an $8.8 million decrease in the impairment charge recorded on decommissioned towers, partially offset by a $2.2 million increase in impairment charges resulting from our regular analysis of whether the future cash flows from certain towers are adequate to recover the carrying value of the investment in those towers.

International site leasing asset impairment and decommission costs increased $3.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing asset impairment and decommission costs increase d $3.7 million. These changes were primarily as a result of a $2.6 million increase in the impairment charge recorded on decommissioned towers and a $0.9 million increase in impairment charges resulting from our regular analysis of whether the future cash flows from certain towers are adequate to recover the carrying value of the investment in those towers.

Depreciation, Accretion, and Amortization Expenses:



	For the nine months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	382,490	$	373,262	$	—	$	9,228		2.5%
International site leasing		113,550		100,388		(9,620)		22,782		22.7%
Total site leasing	$	496,040	$	473,650	$	(9,620)	$	32,010		6.8%
Site development		1,936		1,968		—		(32)		(1.6%)
Not identified by segment		4,683		4,839		—		(156)		(3.2%)
Total	$	502,659	$	480,457	$	(9,620)	$	31,822		6.6%

Depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense increase d $22.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense increase d $31.8 million. These changes were primarily due to additional domestic site leasing and international site leasing depreciation and amortization associated with an increase in the number of towers we acquired and built since January 1, 2017 , partially offset by the impact of assets that became fully depreciated since the prior year period.

Table of Contents

Operating Income (Expense):



	For the nine months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	383,509	$	325,492	$	—	$	58,017		17.8%
International site leasing		30,431		36,164		(1,966)		(3,767)		(10.4%)
Total site leasing	$	413,940	$	361,656	$	(1,966)	$	54,250		15.0%
Site development		4,256		(869)		—		5,125		(589.8%)
Not identified by segment		(24,352)		(21,367)		—		(2,985)		14.0%
Total	$	393,844	$	339,420	$	(1,966)	$	56,390		16.6%

Domestic site leasing operating income increase d $58.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher segment operating profit and a decrease in asset impairment and decommission costs, partially offset by increases in depreciation, accretion, and amortization, selling, general, and administrative expenses, and acquisition related adjustments and expenses.

International site leasing operating income decrease d $5.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing operating income decrease d $3.8 million. These changes were primarily due to increases in depreciation, accretion, and amortization expenses, asset impairment and decommission costs, selling, general, and administrative expenses, and acquisition related adjustments and expenses primarily attributable to our ongoing international expansion, partially offset by higher segment operating profit.

Site development operating income increase d $5.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year, primarily d ue to higher segment operating profit, partially offset by an increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses.

Other Income (Expense):



	For the nine months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Interest income	$	4,972	$	8,648	$	(255)	$	(3,421)		(39.6%)
Interest expense		(278,278)		(237,415)		(20)		(40,843)		17.2%
Non-cash interest expense		(2,002)		(2,146)		—		144		(6.7%)
Amortization of deferred financing fees		(15,265)		(16,603)		—		1,338		(8.1%)
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net		(14,443)		(1,961)		—		(12,482)		636.5%
Other (expense) income, net		(110,175)		16,218		(125,546)		(847)		(18.5%)
Total	$	(415,191)	$	(233,259)	$	(125,821)	$	(56,111)		22.9%

Interest income decrease d $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, interest income decrease d $3.4 million. These changes were primarily due to a lower amount of interest bearing deposits held in Brazil and lower effective interest rates on those deposits as compared to the prior year.

Interest expense increase d $40.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. These changes were primarily due to a higher weighted average interest rate and higher average principal amount of cash-interest bearing debt outstanding as compared to the prior year.

Table of Contents

Loss from extinguishment of debt was $14.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 due to the write-off of the original issuance discount and unamortized financing fees associated with the repayment of the 2013-1C Tower Securities and 2013-1D Tower Securities in March 2018, as well as the 2014 Term Loan and 2015 Term Loan in April 2018. Loss from extinguishment of debt was $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due to the write-off of unamortized financing fees associated with the repayment of the 2012-1C Tower Securities in April 2017.

Other (expense) income, net includes a $113.1 million loss on the remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with a Brazilian subsidiary for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , while the prior year period included an $11.6 million gain .

Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes:



	For the nine months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	$	11,645	$	(10,167)	$	39,813	$	(18,001)		177.1%

Benefit for income taxes increased $21.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as comp ared to the prior year. These changes were primarily due to a benefit in foreign deferred tax expense, primarily in Brazil.

Net (Loss) Income:



	For the nine months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Net (loss) income	$	(9,702)	$	95,994	$	(87,974)	$	(17,722)		(21.0%)

Net loss increase d $105.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year. This change was primarily due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates including changes recorded on the remeasurement of the U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with a Brazilian subsidiary (net of the tax impact) and an increase in interest expense , partially offset by an increase in operating income .

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This report contains information regarding a non-GAAP measure, Adjusted EBITDA. We have provided below a description of Adjusted EBITDA, a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP measure and an explanation as to why management utilizes this measure. This report also presents our financial results and other financial metrics after eliminating the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe that providing these financial results and metrics on a constant currency basis, which are non-GAAP measures, gives management and investors the ability to evaluate the performance of our business without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We eliminate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates by dividing the current period’s financial results by the average monthly exchange rates of the prior year period, and by eliminating the impact of the remeasurement of our intercompany loans.

Adjusted EBITDA

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income excluding the impact of non-cash straight-line leasing revenue, non-cash straight-line ground lease expense, non-cash compensation, net loss from extinguishment of debt, other income and expenses, acquisition related adjustments and expenses, asset impairment and decommission costs, interest income, interest expenses, depreciation, accretion, and amortization, and provision for or benefit from taxes.

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors or other interested parties in evaluating our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is the primary measure used by management (1) to evaluate the economic productivity of our operations and (2) for

Table of Contents

purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to, and assessing the performance of, our operations. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA helps investors or other interested parties to meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of our operations (1) from period to period and (2) to our competitors, by excluding the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest charges from our outstanding debt) and asset base (primarily depreciation, amortization and accretion) from our financial results. Management also believes Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by investors or other interested parties in the evaluation of REITs. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is a component of the calculation that has been used by our lenders to determine compliance with certain covenants under our Senior Credit Agreement and the indentures relating to the 2014 Senior Notes, 2016 Senior Notes, and 2017 Senior Notes. Adjusted EBITDA should be considered only as a supplement to net income computed in accordance with GAAP as a measure of our performance.



	For the three months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Net income	$	16,144	$	49,161	$	(36,890)	$	3,873		12.6%
Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue		(5,064)		(4,376)		433		(1,121)		25.6%
Non-cash straight-line ground lease expense		6,961		7,698		(3)		(734)		(9.5%)
Non-cash compensation		10,433		9,423		(288)		1,298		13.8%
Other expense (income), net		24,518		(20,062)		44,825		(245)		(14.8%)
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		2,995		1,583		(138)		1,550		97.9%
Asset impairment and decommission costs		6,868		9,417		(201)		(2,348)		(24.9%)
Interest income		(2,006)		(2,505)		171		328		(13.1%)
Interest expense (1)		101,329		87,039		12		14,278		16.4%
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization		167,703		161,907		(5,806)		11,602		7.2%
(Benefit) provision for income taxes (2)		(1,786)		3,835		(9,432)		3,811		99.4%
Adjusted EBITDA	$	328,095	$	303,120	$	(7,317)	$	32,292		10.7%

Table of Contents



	For the nine months ended								Constant
	September 30,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2018		2017		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change

	(in thousands)
Net (loss) income	$	(9,702)	$	95,994	$	(87,974)	$	(17,722)		(21.0%)
Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue		(15,691)		(12,440)		681		(3,932)		31.6%
Non-cash straight-line ground lease expense		20,328		23,461		4		(3,137)		(13.4%)
Non-cash compensation		32,140		28,894		(438)		3,684		12.8%
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net		14,443		1,961		—		12,482		636.5%
Other expense (income), net		110,175		(16,218)		125,546		847		18.5%
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		9,171		6,857		(284)		2,598		37.9%
Asset impairment and decommission costs		22,778		25,908		(210)		(2,920)		(11.3%)
Interest income		(4,972)		(8,648)		255		3,421		(39.6%)
Interest expense (1)		295,545		256,164		20		39,361		15.4%
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization		502,659		480,457		(9,620)		31,822		6.6%
(Benefit) provision for income taxes (2)		(11,069)		11,680		(39,814)		17,065		146.1%
Adjusted EBITDA	$	965,805	$	894,070	$	(11,834)	$	83,569		9.3%

(1)

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

(2)

Provision for taxes includes $193 and $457 of franchise and gross receipts taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, and $576 and $1,513 of franchise and gross receipts taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, reflected in selling, general, and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Adjusted EBITDA increase d $25.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year period. On a constant currency basis, Adjusted EBITDA increase d $32.3 million. These changes were primarily due to increases in segment operating profit, partially offset by an increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses.

Adjusted EBITDA increase d $71.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , as compared to the prior year period. On a constant currency basis, Adjusted EBITDA increase d $83.6 million. These changes were primarily due to increases in segment operating profit, partially offset by an increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

SBAC is a holding company with no business operations of its own. SBAC’s only significant asset is 100% of the outstanding capital stock of SBA Telecommunications, LLC (“Telecommunications”), which is also a holding company that owns equity interests in entities that directly or indirectly own all of our domestic and international towers and assets. We conduct all of our business operations through Telecommunications’ subsidiaries. Accordingly, our only source of cash to pay our obligations, other than financings, is distributions with respect to our ownership interest in our subsidiaries from the net earnings and cash flow generated by these subsidiaries.

Table of Contents

A summary of our cash flows is as follows:



	For the nine months ended
	September 30, 2018		September 30, 2017

	(in thousands)
Cash provided by operating activities	$	624,143	$	591,472
Cash used in investing activities		(520,317)		(290,915)
Cash used in financing activities		(31,189)		(317,602)
Change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		72,637		(17,045)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equiv., and restricted cash		(13,608)		3,537
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period		104,295		185,970
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	$	163,324	$	172,462

Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities was $624.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to $591.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . The increase of $32.7 million was primarily due to increases in segment operating profit and a decrease in cash outflows associated with working capital changes, partially offset by an increase in cash interest payments, an increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses, and lower interest income earned on interest bearing deposits.

Investing Activities

A detail of our cash capital expenditures is as follows:



	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017

	(in thousands)
Acquisitions of towers and related intangible assets (1)(2)	$	372,054	$	124,476
Construction and related costs on new tower builds		45,029		49,650
Augmentation and tower upgrades		34,978		31,704
Land buyouts and other assets (3)		31,781		36,531
Tower maintenance		21,616		21,752
General corporate		3,343		3,204
Total cash capital expenditures	$	508,801	$	267,317

(1)

The nine months ended September 30, 2017 excludes $63.3 million of acquisition costs funded through the issuance of 487,963 shares of Class A common stock.

(2)

The nine months ended September 30, 2017 excludes $21.0 million of acquisitions completed during the second quarter of 2017 which were not funded as of September 30, 2017.

(3)

In addition, we paid $16.4 million and $10.6 million for ground lease extensions and term easements on land underlying our towers during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , respectively.

For 2018 , we expect to incur non-discretionary cash capital expenditures associated with tower maintenance and general corporate expenditures of $33.0 million to $38.0 million and discretionary cash capital expenditures, based on current or potential acquisition obligations, planned new tower construction, forecasted tower augmentations, and forecasted ground lease purchases, of $580.0 million to $590.0 million. We expect to fund these cash capital expenditures from cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility or new financings. The exact amount of our future cash capital expenditures will depend on a number of factors, including amounts necessary to support our tower portfolio, our new tower build and acquisition programs, and our ground lease purchase program.

Table of Contents

Financing Activities

A detail of our financing activities is as follows:



	For the nine months ended
	September 30, 2018		September 30, 2017

	(in thousands)
Borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility (1)	$	805,000	$	415,000
Repayments under Revolving Credit Facility (1)		(725,000)		(375,000)
Repayment of Tower Securities (1)		(755,000)		(610,000)
Proceeds from issuance of Tower Securities, net of fees (1)		631,479		749,811
Proceeds from Term Loans, net of fees (1)		2,377,264		—
Repayment of Term Loans (1)		(1,941,000)		(15,000)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (2)		(453,539)		(523,370)
Other financing activities		29,607		40,957
Net cash used in financing activities	$	(31,189)	$	(317,602)

(1)

For additional information regarding our debt offerings, refer to the Debt Instruments and Debt Service Requirements below.

(2)

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , we repurchased 2.8 million shares of our Class A common stock under our current stock repurchase plan for $453.5 million at a weighted average price per share of $161.23 . Subsequent to September 30, 2018 , we repurchased 0.9 million shares of our Class A common stock under our current stock repurchase plan for $142.0 million at a weighted average price per share of $151.55 . As of the date of this filing, we had $404.5 million of authorization remaining under the current stock repurchase plan. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we repurchased 3.8 million shares of our Class A common stock under our current stock repurchase plan for $523.4 million at a weighted average price per share of $138.60. For additional information, refer to ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Registration Statements

We have on file with the Commission a shelf registration statement on Form S-4 registering shares of Class A common stock that we may issue in connection with the acquisition of wireless communication towers or antenna sites and related assets or companies who own wireless communication towers, antenna sites, or related assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , we did not issue any shares of Class A common stock under this registration statement. As of September 30, 2018 , we had approximately 1.2 million shares of Class A common stock remaining under this shelf registration statement.

On March 5, 2018, we filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement for well-known seasoned issuers on Form S-3ASR. This registration statement enables us to issue shares of our Class A common stock, preferred stock or debt securities either separately or represented by warrants, or depositary shares as well as units that include any of these securities. Under the rules governing automatic shelf registration statements, we will file a prospectus supplement and advise the Commission of the amount and type of securities each time we issue securities under this registration statement. No securities were issued under this registration statement through the date of this filing.

Debt Instruments and Debt Service Requirements

Senior Credit Agreement

On April 11, 2018, we amended and restated our Senior Credit Agreement to (1) issue a new $2.4 billion Term Loan, (2) increase the total commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility from $1.0 billion to $1.25 billion, (3) extend the maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility to April 11, 2023, (4) lower the applicable interest rate margins and commitment fees under the Revolving Credit Facility, and (5) amend certain other terms and conditions under the Senior Credit Agreement. The proceeds from the new Term Loan were used to repay the outstanding balances on the 2014 Term Loan, 2015 Term Loan, and Revolving Credit

Table of Contents

Facility and for general corporate purposes. This transaction was accounted for as an extinguishment of the 2014 Term Loan and 2015 Term Loan.

Revolving Credit Facility under the Senior Credit Agreement

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , we borrowed $260.0 million and $805.0 million, respectively, and repaid $225.0 million and $725.0 million, respectively, of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2018 , the balance outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility was $120.0 million accruing interest at an average rate of 3.88% per annum. In addition, SBA Senior Fina nce II was required to pay a commitment fee of 0.25% per annum on the amount of the unused commitment. As of September 30, 2018 , SBA Senior Finance II was in compliance with the financial covenants contained in the Senior Credit Agreement.

Subsequent to September 30, 2018 , we borrowed an additional $95.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of the date of this filing, $215.0 million was outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Term Loans under the Senior Credit Agreement

2014 Term Loan

The 2014 Term Loan consisted of a senior secured term loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $1.5 billion that was scheduled to mature on March 24, 2021. The 2014 Term Loan accrued interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election, at either the Base Rate plus 125 basis points (with a zero Base Rate floor) or the Eurodollar Rate plus 225 basis points (with a zero Eurodollar Rate floor). The 2014 Term Loan was originally issued at 99.75% of par value. Principal payments on the 2014 Term Loan commenced on September 30, 2014 and were being made in quarterly installments on the last day of each March, June, September, and December in an amount equal to $3.8 million. We incurred financing fees of approximately $14.1 million in relation to this transaction, which were being amortized through the maturity date.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we repaid $3.8 million of principal on the 2014 Term Loan. On April 11, 2018, we repaid the remaining $1,443.8 million outstanding principal balance of the 2014 Term Loan with proceeds from the 2018 Term Loan. In connection with the repayment, we expensed $5.8 million of net deferred financing fees and $1.7 million of discount related to the debt.

2015 Term Loan

The 2015 Term Loan consisted of a senior secured term loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $500.0 million that was scheduled to mature on June 10, 2022. The 2015 Term Loan accrued interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election at either the Base Rate plus 125 basis points (with a zero Base Rate floor) or the Eurodollar Rate plus 225 basis points (with a zero Eurodollar Rate floor). The 2015 Term Loan was originally issued at 99.0% of par value. Principal payments on the 2015 Term Loan commenced on September 30, 2015 and were being made in quarterly installments on the last day of each March, June, September, and December in an amount equal to $1.3 million. We incurred financing fees of approximately $5.5 million in relation to this transaction, which were being amortized through the maturity date.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we repaid $1.3 million of principal on the 2015 Term Loan. On April 11, 2018, we repaid the remaining $486.3 million outstanding principal balance of the 2015 Term Loan with proceeds from the 2018 Term

Table of Contents

Loan. In connection with the repayment, we expensed $3.2 million of net deferred financing fees and $3.1 million of discount related to the debt.

2018 Term Loan

On April 11, 2018, we, through our wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II LLC, obtained a new term loan (the “2018 Term Loan”) under the amended and restated Senior Credit Agreement. The 2018 Term Loan consists of a senior secured term loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $2.4 billion that matures on April 11, 2025. The 2018 Term Loan accrues interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election at either the Base Rate plus 100 basis points (with a zero Base Rate floor) or the Eurodollar Rate plus 200 basis points (with a zero Eurodollar Rate floor). The 2018 Term Loan was issued at 99.75% of par value. As of September 30, 2018 , the 2018 Term Loan was accruing interest at 4.25% per annum. Principal payments on the 2018 Term Loan commenced on September 30, 2018 and are being made in quarterly installments on the last day of each March, June, September, and December in an amount equal to $6.0 million. We incurred financing fees of approximately $16.7 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date. The proceeds from the 2018 Term Loan were used (1) to retire the outstanding $1.93 billion in aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Term Loan and 2015 Term Loan, (2) to pay down the existing outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility, and (3) for general corporate purposes.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , we repaid an aggregate of $6.0 million of principal on the 2018 Term Loan. As of September 30, 2018, the 2018 Term Loan h ad a principal balance of $2.4 b illion.

Secured Tower Revenue Securities

2013 Tower Securities

On April 18, 2013, we, through a New York common law trust (the “Trust”), issued $425.0 million of 2.240% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2013-1C, which had an anticipated repayment date of April 10, 2018 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2043 (the “2013-1C Tower Securities”), $575.0 million of 3.722% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2013-2C, which have an anticipated repayment date of April 11, 2023 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2048 (the “2013-2C Tower Securities”), and $330.0 million of 3.598% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2013-1D, which had an anticipated repayment date of April 10, 2018 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2043 (the “2013-1D Tower Securities”) (collectively the “2013 Tower Securities”). The aggregate $1.33 billion of 2013 Tower Securities had a blended interest rate of 3.218% per annum, payable monthly. We incurred financing fees of $25.5 million in relation to this transaction, which were being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of each of the 2013 Tower Securities.

On March 9, 2018, we repaid the entire aggregate principal amount of the 2013-1C Tower Securities and 2013-1D Tower Securities in connection with the issuance of the 2018-1C Tower Securities (as defined below).

The sole asset of the Trust consists of a non-recourse mortgage loan made in favor of those entities that are borrowers on the mortgage loan (the “Borrowers”).

2014 Tower Securities

On October 15, 2014, we, through the Trust, issued $920.0 million of 2.898% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2014-1C, which have an anticipated repayment date of October 8, 2019 and a final maturity date of October 11, 2044 (the “2014-1C Tower Securities”) and $620.0 million of 3.869% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2014-2C, which have an anticipated repayment date of October 8, 2024 and a final maturity date of October 8, 2049 (the “2014-2C Tower Securities”) (collectively the “2014 Tower Securities”). The aggregate $1.54 billion of 2014 Tower Securities have a blended interest rate of 3.289% per annum, payable monthly. We incurred financing fees of $22.5 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of each of the 2014 Tower Securities.

2015-1C Tower Securities

On October 14, 2015, we, through the Trust, issued $500.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2015-1C, which have an anticipated repayment date of October 8, 2020 and a final maturity date of October 10, 2045 (the “2015-1C Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate of the 2015-1C Tower Securities is 3.156% per annum, payable monthly. We incurred financing fees of $11.2 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of the 2015-1C Tower Securities.

Table of Contents

2016-1C Tower Securities

On July 7, 2016, we, through the Trust, issued $700.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2016-1C, which have an anticipated repayment date of July 9, 2021 and a final maturity date of July 10, 2046 (the “2016-1C Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate of the 2016-1C Tower Securities is 2.877% per annum, payable monthly. We incurred financing fees of $9.5 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of the 2016-1C Tower Securities.

2017-1C Tower Securities

On April 17, 2017, we, through the Trust, issued $760.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2017-1C, which have an anticipated repayment date of April 11, 2022 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2047 (the “2017-1C Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate on the 2017-1C Tower Securities is 3.168% per annum, payable monthly. Net proceeds from this offering were used to prepay the entire $610.0 million aggregate principal amount, as well as accrued and unpaid interest, of the 2012-1C Tower Securities and for general corporate purposes. We incurred financing fees of $10.2 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of the 2017-1C Tower Securities.

In addition, to satisfy certain risk retention requirements of Regulation RR promulgated under the Exchange Act, SBA Guarantor, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, purchased $40.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2017-1R issued by the Trust, which have an anticipated repayment date of April 11, 2022 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2047 (the “2017-1R Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate on the 2017-1R Tower Securities is 4.459% per annum, payable monthly. Principal and interest payments made on the 2017-1R Tower Securities eliminate in consolidation.

2018-1C Tower Securities

On March 9, 2018, we, through the Trust, issued $640.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2018-1C, which have an anticipated repayment date of March 9, 2023 and a final maturity date of March 9, 2048 (the “2018-1C Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate on the 2018-1C Tower Securities is 3.448% per annum, payable monthly. Net proceeds from this offering, in combination with borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, were used to repay the entire aggregate principal amount of the 2013-1C Tower Securities ($425.0 million) and 2013-1D Tower Securities ($330.0 million), as well as accrued and unpaid interest. We incurred financing fees of $8.5 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of the 2018-1C Tower Securities.

Debt Covenants

As of September 30, 2018 , the Borrowers met the debt service coverage ratio required by the mortgage loan agreement and were in compliance with all other covenants as set forth in the agreement.

Senior Notes

2014 Senior Notes

On July 1, 2014, we issued $750.0 million of unsecured senior notes due July 15, 2022 (the “2014 Senior Notes”). The 2014 Senior Notes accrue interest at a rate of 4.875% per annum and were issued at 99.178% of par value. Interest on the 2014 Senior Notes is due semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year. We incurred financing fees of $11.6 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date.

Table of Contents

The 2014 Senior Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. We may redeem the 2014 Senior Notes during the twelve-month period beginning on the following dates at the following redemption prices: July 15, 2018 at 102.438%, July 15, 2019 at 101.219%, or July 15, 2020 until maturity at 100.000%, of the principal amount of the 2014 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest.

2016 Senior Notes

On August 15, 2016, we issued $1.1 billion of unsecured senior notes due September 1, 2024 (the “2016 Senior Notes”). The 2016 Senior Notes accrue interest at a rate of 4.875% per annum and were issued at 99.178% of par value. Interest on the 2016 Senior Notes is due semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on March 1, 2017. We incurred financing fees of $12.8 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date. Net proceeds from this offering and cash on hand were used to redeem $800.0 million, the aggregate principal amount outstanding, of Telecommunications’ 5.75% Senior Notes and $250.0 million of our 5.625% Senior Notes and pay the associated call premiums.

The 2016 Senior Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part on or after September 1, 2019 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to September 1, 2019, we may, at our option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2016 Senior Notes originally issued at a redemption price of 104.875% of the principal amount of the 2016 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings. We may redeem the 2016 Senior Notes during the twelve-month period beginning on the following dates at the following redemption prices: September 1, 2019 at 103.656%, September 1, 2020 at 102.438%, September 1, 2021 at 101.219%, or September 1, 2022 until maturity at 100.000%, of the principal amount of the 2016 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest.

2017 Senior Notes

On October 13, 2017, we issued $750.0 million of unsecured senior notes due October 1, 2022 (the “2017 Senior Notes”). The 2017 Senior Notes accrue interest at a rate of 4.0% per annum. Interest on the 2017 Senior Notes is due semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2018. We incurred financing fees of $8.9 million in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date. Net proceeds from this offering were used to repay $460.0 million outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and for general corporate purposes.

The 2017 Senior Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part on or after October 1, 2019 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to October 1, 2020, we may, at our option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Senior Notes originally issued at a redemption price of 104.000% of the principal amount of the 2017 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings. We may redeem the 2017 Senior Notes during the twelve-month period beginning on the following dates at the following redemption prices: October 1, 2019 at 102.000%, October 1, 2020 at 101.000%, or October 1, 2021 until maturity at 100.000%, of the principal amount of the 2017 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Table of Contents

Debt Service

As of September 30, 2018 , we believe that our cash on hand, capacity available under our Revolving Credit Facility and cash flows from operations for the next twelve months will be sufficient to service our outstanding debt during the next twelve months.

The following table illustrates our estimate of our debt service requirement over the twelve months ended September 30, 2019 based on the amounts outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and the interest rates accruing on those amounts on such date (in thousands):



2014 Senior Notes	$	36,563
2016 Senior Notes		53,625
2017 Senior Notes		30,000
2013-2C Tower Securities		21,585
2014-1C Tower Securities		26,954
2014-2C Tower Securities		24,185
2015-1C Tower Securities		15,939
2016-1C Tower Securities		20,361
2017-1C Tower Securities		24,318
2018-1C Tower Securities		22,270
Revolving Credit Facility		7,481
2018 Term Loan		125,363
Total debt service for the next 12 months	$	408,644

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to certain market risks that are inherent in our financial instruments. These instruments arise from transactions entered into in the normal course of business.

The following table presents the future principal payment obligations and fair values associated with our long-term debt instruments assuming our actual level of long-term indebtedness as of September 30, 2018 :



	2018		2019		2020		2021		2022		Thereafter		Total		Fair Value

	(in thousands)
2014 Senior Notes	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	750,000	$	—	$	750,000	$	756,563
2016 Senior Notes		—		—		—		—		—		1,100,000		1,100,000		1,083,500
2017 Senior Notes		—		—		—		—		750,000		—		750,000		734,063
2013-2C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		—		—		—		575,000		575,000		560,108
2014-1C Tower Securities (1)		—		920,000		—		—		—		—		920,000		909,080
2014-2C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		—		—		—		620,000		620,000		599,298
2015-1C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		500,000		—		—		—		500,000		489,080
2016-1C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		—		700,000		—		—		700,000		683,991
2017-1C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		—		—		760,000		—		760,000		734,244
2018-1C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		—		—		—		640,000		640,000		631,789
Revolving Credit Facility		—		—		—		—		—		120,000		120,000		120,000
2018 Term Loan		6,000		24,000		24,000		24,000		24,000		2,292,000		2,394,000		2,394,000
Total debt obligation	$	6,000	$	944,000	$	524,000	$	724,000	$	2,284,000	$	5,347,000	$	9,829,000	$	9,695,716

Table of Contents

(1)

The anticipated repayment date and the final maturity date for the 2013-2C Tower Securities is April 11, 2023 and April 9, 2048, respectively.

The anticipated repayment date and the final maturity date for the 2014-1C Tower Securities is October 8, 2019 and October 11, 2044, respectively.

The anticipated repayment date and the final maturity date for the 2014-2C Tower Securities is October 8, 2024 and October 8, 2049, respectively.

The anticipated repayment date and the final maturity date for the 2015-1C Tower Securities is October 8, 2020 and October 10, 2045, respectively.

The anticipated repayment date and the final maturity date for the 2016-1C Tower Securities is July 9, 2021 and July 10, 2046, respectively.

The anticipated repayment date and the final maturity date for the 2017-1C Tower Securities is April 11, 2022 and April 9, 2047, respectively.

The anticipated repayment date and the final maturity date for the 2018-1C Tower Securities is March 9, 2023 and March 9, 2048, respectively.

Our current primary market risk exposure is (1) interest rate risk relating to our ability to refinance our debt at commercially reasonable rates, if at all, and (2) interest rate risk relating to the impact of interest rate movements on our 2018 Term Loan and any borrowings that we may incur under our Revolving Credit Facility, which are at floating rates. We manage the interest rate risk on our outstanding debt through our large percentage of fixed rate debt. 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.

We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates in connection with our operations in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, and to a lesser extent, our markets in Central America. In each of these countries, we pay most of our selling, general, and administrative expenses and a portion of our operating expenses, such as taxes and utilities incurred in the country in local currency. In addition, in Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Colombia we receive significantly all of our revenue and pay significantly all of our operating expenses in local currency. In Peru and Argentina, we receive our revenue and pay our operating expenses in a mix of local currency and U.S. dollars. All transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar are reported in U.S. Dollars at the applicable exchange rate. All assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars at exchange rates in effect at the end of the applicable fiscal reporting period, and all revenues and expenses are translated at average rates for the period. The cumulative translation effect is included in equity as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , approximately 13.6% of our revenues and approximately 17.1% of our total operating expenses were denominated in foreign currencies.

We have performed a sensitivity analysis assuming a hypothetical 10% adverse movement in the Brazilian Real from the quoted foreign currency exchange rates at September 30, 2018 . As of September 30, 2018 , the analysis indicated that such an adverse movement would have caused our revenues and operating income to decline by approximately 1.1% and 0.5% , respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 .

As of September 30, 2018 , we had intercompany debt, which is denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the subsidiary in which it is recorded. As settlement of this debt is anticipated or planned in the foreseeable future, any changes in the foreign currency exchange rates will result in unrealized gains or losses, which will be included in our determination of net income. A change of 10% in the underlying exchange rates of our unsettled intercompany debt at September 30, 2018 would have resulted in approximately $53.0 million of unrealized gains or losses that would have been included in Other income (expense), net in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 .

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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

our expectations on the future growth and financial health of the wireless industry and the industry participants, the drivers of such growth, the demand for our towers, the trends developing in our industry, and competitive factors;

our ability to capture and capitalize on industry growth and the impact of such growth on our financial and operational results;

our intent to grow our tower portfolio domestically and internationally and expand through organic lease up on existing towers;

Table of Contents

our belief that over the long-term, site leasing revenues will continue to grow as wireless service providers increase their use of our towers due to increasing minutes of network use and data transfer, network expansion and network coverage requirements;

our expectation regarding site leasing revenue growth, on an organic basis, in our domestic and international segments;

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

our expectation that, due to the relatively young age and mix of our tower portfolio, future expenditures required to maintain these towers will be minimal;

our expectation that we will grow our cash flows by adding tenants to our towers at minimal incremental costs and executing monetary amendments;

our expectations regarding churn rates;

our ability to remain qualified as a REIT and the timing of such qualification and our election to be subject to tax as a REIT;

our belief that our business is currently operated in a manner that complies with the REIT rules and our intent to continue to do so;

our plans regarding our distribution policy, and the amount and timing of, and source of funds for, any such distributions;

our expectations regarding the use of NOLs to reduce REIT taxable income;

our expectations regarding our capital allocation strategy, including future allocation decisions between the stock repurchases and portfolio growth, the impact of our election to be taxed as a REIT on that strategy, and our goal of increasing our Adjusted Funds From Operations per share;

our expectations regarding our future cash capital expenditures, both discretionary and non-discretionary, including expenditures required to maintain, improve, and modify our towers, ground lease purchases, and general corporate expenditures, and the source of funds for these expenditures;

our intended use of our liquidity;

our intent to maintain our target leverage levels;

our expectations regarding our debt service and our belief that our cash on hand, capacity under our Revolving Credit Facility, and our cash flows from operations for the next twelve months will be sufficient to service our outstanding debt during the next twelve months;

our belief regarding our credit risk, including the impact of recent financings;

our estimates with respect to tax matters as a result of the Tax Act and our expectation that one-time income charges recognized as a result of the Tax Act will be offset by our existing NOLs; and

our estimates regarding certain tax and accounting matters, including the impact on our financial statements.

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

the impact of consolidation among wireless service providers, including the potential impact of the proposed merger between Sprint and T-Mobile if consummated, on our leasing revenue;

our ability to continue to comply with covenants and the terms of our credit instruments and our ability to obtain additional financing to fund our capital expenditures;

our ability to successfully manage the risks associated with international operations, including risks relating to political or economic conditions, inflation, tax laws, currency restrictions and exchange rate fluctuations, legal or judicial systems, and land ownership;

our ability to successfully manage the risks associated with our acquisition initiatives, including our ability to effectively integrate acquired towers into our business and to achieve the financial results projected in our valuation models for the acquired towers;

developments in the wireless communications industry in general, and for wireless communications infrastructure providers in particular, that may slow growth or affect the willingness or ability of the wireless service providers to expend capital to fund network expansion or enhancements;

our ability to secure as many site leasing tenants as anticipated, recognize our expected economies of scale with respect to new tenants on our towers, and retain current leases on towers;

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

our ability to build new towers, including our ability to identify and acquire land that would be attractive for our customers and to successfully and timely address zoning, permitting, weather, availability of labor and supplies and other issues that arise in connection with the building of new towers;

Table of Contents

competition for the acquisition of towers and other factors that may adversely affect our ability to purchase towers that meet our investment criteria and are available at prices which we believe will be accretive to our shareholders and allow us to maintain our long-term target leverage ratios while achieving our expected portfolio growth levels;

our capital allocation decisions and the impact on our ability to achieve our expected tower portfolio growth levels;

our ability to protect our rights to the land under our towers, and our ability to acquire land underneath our towers on terms that are accretive;

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

the impact of rising interest rates on our results of operations and our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness at commercially reasonable rates or at all;

our ability to successfully estimate the impact of regulatory and litigation matters;

natural disasters and other unforeseen damage for which our insurance may not provide adequate coverage;

a decrease in demand for our towers;

the introduction of new technologies or changes in a tenant’s business model that may make our tower leasing business less desirable to existing or potential tenants;

our ability to qualify for treatment as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and to comply with and conduct our business in accordance with such rules;

our ability to utilize available NOLs to reduce REIT taxable income;

the complexity of the Tax Act and our ability to accurately interpret and predict its impact on our financial condition and results; and

our ability to successfully estimate the impact of certain accounting and tax matters, including the effect on our company of adopting certain accounting pronouncements and the availability of sufficient NOLs to offset future REIT taxable income.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

In order to ensure that the information we must disclose in our filings with the Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis, we have formalized our disclosure controls and procedures. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Securities and Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) as of September 30, 2018 . Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of September 30, 2018 , our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table presents information related to our repurchases of Class A common stock during the third quarter of 2018 :



	Total			Total Number of Shares	Approximate Dollar Value
	Number	Average		Purchased as Part of	of Shares that May Yet Be
	of Shares	Price Paid		Publicly Announced	Purchased Under the
Period	Purchased	Per Share		Plans or Programs (1)	Plans or Programs

7/1/2018 - 7/31/2018	—	$	—	—	$	654,518,302
8/1/2018 - 8/31/2018	611,380	$	155.09	611,380	$	559,698,141
9/1/2018 - 9/30/2018	84,673	$	155.67	84,673	$	546,516,904
Total	696,053	$	155.16	696,053	$	546,516,904

(1)

On February 16, 2018, our Board of Directors authorized a new $1.0 billion stock repurchase plan, replacing the prior plan authorized on January 12, 2017 which had a remaining authorization of $150.0 million. This new plan authorizes us to purchase, from time to time, up to $1.0 billion of our outstanding Class A common stock through open market repurchases in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, and/or in privately negotiated transactions at management’s discretion based on market and business conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. Shares repurchased will be retired. The new plan has no time deadline and will continue until otherwise modified or terminated by our Board of Directors at any time in its sole discretion.

Table of Contents

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 5.02 - Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Ar rangements of Certain Officers.

(e) On October 31, 2018, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of SBA Communications Corporation (“Company”) approved an equity plan retirement policy that provides all employees, including the Company’s executive officers, with continued vesting of their outstanding equity awards following a “Qualified Retirement” (as described in the relevant award agreement ). The plan will be effective as of January 1, 2019.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS



Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibits
10.91*	Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement (U.S. and non-U.S. employees and officers) pursuant to SBA Communications Corporation 2010 Performance and Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated
10.92*	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (U.S. and non-U.S. employees and officers) pursuant to SBA Communications Corporation 2010 Performance and Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated
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.
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

*Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

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 8, 2018	/s/ Jeffrey A. Stoops
	Jeffrey A. Stoops
	Chief Executive Officer
	(Duly Authorized Officer)

November 8, 2018	/s/ Brendan T. Cavanagh
	Brendan T. Cavanagh
	Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Financial Officer)


Florida	65-0716501
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Identification No.)


8051 Congress Avenue
Boca Raton, Florida	33487
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)


Title of Each Class	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
	(NASDAQ Global Select Market)


Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐

Non-Accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐

		Emerging growth company	☐



		Page
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements
	Consol idated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017	1
	Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and nine month s ended September 30, 2018 and 2017	2
	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017	3
	Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Deficit (unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2018	4
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017	5
	Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)	7
Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	24
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	45
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	48

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	48

Item 5.	Other Information	49

Item 6.	Exhibits	49


SIGNATURES		50


Date: November 8 , 2018	By:	/s/ Jeffrey A. Stoops
	Name:	Jeffrey A. Stoops
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer