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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period                      to                     

 

Commission File Number 001-16441

 


 

CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   76-0470458

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

510 Bering Drive

Suite 500

Houston, Texas

  77057-1457
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(713) 570-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

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

 

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

 

Number of shares of common stock outstanding at April 30, 2004: 223,378,007

 


 


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP.

INDEX

 

     Page

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    

Item 1. Financial Statements

    

Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004

   3

Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the three months ended

March 31, 2003 and 2004

   4

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004

   5

Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   6

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   17

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   26

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

   27

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

    

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

   27

Signatures

   29

 

 

2


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(In thousands of dollars, except share amounts)

 

    

December 31,

2003


   

March 31,

2004


 
           (Unaudited)  

ASSETS

                

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 462,427     $ 171,485  

Receivables:

                

Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $9,160 and $9,659 at December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004, respectively

     80,659       83,252  

Other

     1,394       1,735  

Inventories

     15,542       17,435  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     81,738       81,195  
    


 


Total current assets

     641,760       355,102  

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,232,718 and $1,322,830 at December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004, respectively

     4,741,945       4,700,727  

Goodwill

     1,206,713       1,235,433  

Deferred financing costs and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $48,585 and $49,050 at December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004, respectively

     147,173       155,618  
    


 


     $ 6,737,591     $ 6,446,880  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable

   $ 40,749     $ 37,235  

Accrued interest

     49,063       31,230  

Accrued compensation and related benefits

     19,117       7,857  

Deferred rental revenues and other accrued liabilities

     267,459       274,089  

Long-term debt, current maturities

     267,142       46,461  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     643,530       396,872  

Long-term debt, less current maturities

     3,182,850       3,138,866  

Other liabilities

     211,763       222,162  
    


 


Total liabilities

     4,038,143       3,757,900  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies

                

Minority interests

     208,333       210,317  

Redeemable preferred stock

     506,702       507,037  

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Common stock, $.01 par value; 690,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued: December 31, 2003—220,758,321 and March 31, 2004—222,154,730

     2,208       2,222  

Additional paid-in capital

     3,333,402       3,348,416  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     257,435       307,833  

Unearned stock compensation

     (8,122 )     (11,672 )

Accumulated deficit

     (1,600,510 )     (1,675,173 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     1,984,413       1,971,626  
    


 


     $ 6,737,591     $ 6,446,880  
    


 


 

See condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

3


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Unaudited)

(In thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


 
     2003

    2004

 

Net revenues:

                

Site rental and broadcast transmission

   $ 184,960     $ 219,377  

Network services and other

     31,764       29,110  
    


 


       216,724       248,487  
    


 


Operating expenses:

                

Costs of operations (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion):

                

Site rental and broadcast transmission

     73,360       82,987  

Network services and other

     24,942       25,316  

General and administrative

     22,192       23,643  

Corporate development

     1,620       439  

Restructuring charges (credits)

     —         (33 )

Asset write-down charges

     —         1,948  

Non-cash general and administrative compensation charges

     2,431       2,696  

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

     80,357       84,822  
    


 


       204,902       221,818  
    


 


Operating income

     11,822       26,669  

Other income (expense):

                

Interest and other income (expense)

     (1,642 )     (24,829 )

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs

     (72,638 )     (59,506 )
    


 


Loss before income taxes, minority interests and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (62,458 )     (57,666 )

Provision for income taxes

     (3,966 )     (5,955 )

Minority interests

     (557 )     (1,346 )
    


 


Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (66,981 )     (64,967 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle for asset retirement obligations, net of related income tax benefits of $636

     (2,035 )     —    
    


 


Net loss

     (69,016 )     (64,967 )

Dividends on preferred stock, net of gains on purchases of preferred stock

     (14,371 )     (9,696 )
    


 


Net loss after deduction of dividends on preferred stock, net of gains on purchases of preferred stock

   $ (83,387 )   $ (74,663 )
    


 


Net loss

   $ (69,016 )   $ (64,967 )

Other comprehensive income (loss):

                

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     (11,477 )     49,852  

Derivative instruments:

                

Net change in fair value of cash flow hedging instruments

     (711 )     (434 )

Amounts reclassified into results of operations

     1,659       980  
    


 


Comprehensive loss

   $ (79,545 )   $ (14,569 )
    


 


Per common share—basic and diluted:

                

Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ (0.37 )   $ (0.34 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (0.01 )     —    
    


 


Net loss

   $ (0.38 )   $ (0.34 )
    


 


Common shares outstanding—basic and diluted (in thousands)

     216,958       219,294  
    


 


 

See condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(In thousands of dollars)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


 
     2003

    2004

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                

Net loss

   $ (69,016 )   $ (64,967 )

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

                

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

     80,357       84,822  

Losses on purchases of long-term debt

     —         24,367  

Amortization of deferred financing costs and discounts on long-term debt

     17,488       2,960  

Non-cash general and administrative compensation charges

     2,431       2,696  

Asset write-down charges

           1,948  

Minority interests

     557       1,346  

Equity in losses and write-downs of unconsolidated affiliates

     2,453       1,173  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     2,035       —    

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                

Decrease in accrued interest

     (28,307 )     (17,833 )

Decrease in accounts payable

     (12,248 )     (4,306 )

Increase (decrease) in deferred rental revenues and other liabilities

     8,051       (2,068 )

(Increase) decrease in receivables

     2,595       (1,697 )

Increase in inventories, prepaid expenses and other assets

     (464 )     (1,524 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     5,932       26,917  
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                

Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment

     7,472       755  

Capital expenditures

     (52,849 )     (19,448 )

Investments in affiliates and other

     (250 )     (14,028 )

Maturities of investments

     93,496       —    

Purchases of investments

     (56,063 )     —    
    


 


Net cash used for investing activities

     (8,194 )     (32,721 )
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Proceeds from issuance of capital stock

     1,055       3,562  

Purchases of long-term debt

     —         (267,359 )

Net borrowings (payments) under revolving credit agreements

     (22,895 )     (15,000 )

Purchases of capital stock

     (13,558 )     (4,108 )

Principal payments on long-term debt

     —         (2,750 )

Incurrence of financing costs

     —         (412 )
    


 


Net cash used for financing activities

     (35,398 )     (286,067 )
    


 


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (1,562 )     929  
    


 


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (39,222 )     (290,942 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     516,172       462,427  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 476,950     $ 171,485  
    


 


Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

                

Interest paid

   $ 81,415     $ 71,904  

Income taxes paid

     117       153  

 

See condensed notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

5


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. General

 

The information contained in the following notes to the consolidated financial statements is condensed from that which would appear in the annual consolidated financial statements; accordingly, the consolidated financial statements included herein should be reviewed in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, and related notes thereto, included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”) filed by Crown Castle International Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All references to the “Company” include Crown Castle International Corp. and its subsidiary companies unless otherwise indicated or the context indicates otherwise.

 

The consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited; however, they include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company at March 31, 2004 and the consolidated results of operations and the consolidated cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004. Accounting measurements at interim dates inherently involve greater reliance on estimates than at year end. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company used the “intrinsic value based method” of accounting for its stock-based employee compensation plans until December 31, 2002. This method does not result in the recognition of compensation expense when employee stock options are granted if the exercise price of the options equals or exceeds the fair market value of the stock at the date of grant. On January 1, 2003, the Company adopted the fair value method of accounting (using the “prospective” method of transition) for stock-based employee compensation awards granted on or after that date (see Note 2). The following table shows the pro forma effect on the Company’s net loss and loss per share as if compensation cost had been recognized for all stock options based on their fair value at the date of grant. The pro forma effect of stock options on the Company’s net loss for those periods may not be representative of the pro forma effect for future periods due to the impact of vesting and potential future awards.

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


 
     2003

    2004

 

Net loss, as reported

   $ (69,016 )   $ (64,967 )

Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net loss

     2,431       2,696  

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards

     (6,221 )     (4,383 )
    


 


Net loss, as adjusted

     (72,806 )     (66,654 )

Dividends on preferred stock, net of gains on purchases of preferred stock

     (14,371 )     (9,696 )
    


 


Net loss applicable to common stock for basic and diluted computations, as adjusted

   $ (87,177 )   $ (76,350 )
    


 


Loss per common share—basic and diluted:

                

As reported

   $ (0.38 )   $ (0.34 )
    


 


As adjusted

   $ (0.40 )   $ (0.35 )
    


 


 

 

6


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

2. New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations (“SFAS 143”). SFAS 143 addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the related asset retirement costs. The fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation is to be recognized in the period in which it is incurred and can be reasonably estimated. Such asset retirement costs are to be capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset and depreciated over the asset’s estimated useful life. Fair value estimates of liabilities for asset retirement obligations will generally involve discounted future cash flows. Periodic accretion of such liabilities due to the passage of time is to be recorded as an operating expense. The provisions of SFAS 143 were effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002, with initial application as of the beginning of the fiscal year. The Company adopted the requirements of SFAS 143 as of January 1, 2003. The adoption of SFAS 143 resulted in the recognition of liabilities amounting to $4,062,000 for contingent retirement obligations under certain tower site land leases (included in other long-term liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet), the recognition of asset retirement costs amounting to $1,391,000 (included in property and equipment on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet), and the recognition of a charge for the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle amounting to $2,035,000 (net of related income tax benefits of $636,000). Accretion expense related to liabilities for contingent retirement obligations (included in depreciation, amortization and accretion on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations) amounted to $103,000 and $125,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively. At December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004, liabilities for contingent retirement obligations amounted to $4,836,000 and $5,020,000, respectively.

 

In June 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (“SFAS 146”). SFAS 146 replaces the previous accounting guidance provided by Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)” (“EITF 94-3”). SFAS 146 requires that costs associated with exit or disposal activities be recognized when they are incurred, rather than at the date of a commitment to an exit or disposal plan (as provided by EITF 94-3). Examples of costs covered by SFAS 146 include certain employee severance costs and lease termination costs that are associated with a restructuring or discontinued operation. The provisions of SFAS 146 were effective for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002, and are to be applied prospectively. The Company adopted the requirements of SFAS 146 as of January 1, 2003. See Note 11.

 

In November 2002, the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force released its final consensus on Issue No. 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables” (“EITF 00-21”). EITF 00-21 addresses certain aspects of the accounting for arrangements under which multiple revenue-generating activities will be performed, including the determination of whether an arrangement involving multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of accounting. The guidance in EITF 00-21 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company adopted the provisions of EITF 00-21 as of July 1, 2003, and such adoption did not have a significant effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure (“SFAS 148”). SFAS 148 amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS 123”), to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, SFAS 148 amends the provisions of SFAS 123 to require more prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results of operations. The Company adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS 148 as of December 31, 2002. On January 1, 2003, the Company adopted the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation using the “prospective” method of transition as provided by SFAS 148. Under this transition method, the Company is recognizing compensation cost for all employee awards granted on or after January 1, 2003. The adoption of this new accounting method did not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“FIN 46”). In December 2003, the FASB issued a revised version of FIN 46. FIN 46 clarifies existing accounting

 

7


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

literature regarding the consolidation of entities in which a company holds a “controlling financial interest”. A majority voting interest in an entity has generally been considered indicative of a controlling financial interest. FIN 46 specifies other factors (“variable interests”) which must be considered when determining whether a company holds a controlling financial interest in, and therefore must consolidate, an entity (“variable interest entities”). The provisions of FIN 46, as revised, are effective for the first reporting period ending after March 15, 2004. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 46 as of March 31, 2004, and such adoption did not have a significant effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity (“SFAS 150”). SFAS 150 requires that mandatorily redeemable financial instruments issued in the form of shares be classified as liabilities, and specifies certain measurement and disclosure requirements for such instruments. The provisions of SFAS 150 were effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company adopted the requirements of SFAS 150 as of July 1, 2003. The Company determined that (1) its 12 3/4% Exchangeable Preferred Stock was to be reclassified as a liability upon adoption of SFAS 150 and (2) its 8 1/4% Convertible Preferred Stock and its 6.25% Convertible Preferred Stock were not to be reclassified as liabilities, since the conversion features caused them to be contingently redeemable rather than mandatorily redeemable financial instruments. In addition, the dividends on the Company’s 12 3/4% Exchangeable Preferred Stock were included in interest expense on its consolidated statement of operations beginning on July 1, 2003. The Company redeemed the remaining outstanding shares of 12 ¾% Exchangeable Preferred Stock in December of 2003.

 

In December 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132 (revised 2003), Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (“SFAS 132(R)”). SFAS 132(R) revises the required disclosures about pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. SFAS 132(R) replaces Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132, Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (which was originally issued in February 1998), but retains its disclosure requirements. SFAS 132(R) requires additional disclosures about the assets, obligations, cash flows and net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit pension plans, and requires that certain disclosures be included in interim financial statements. SFAS 132(R) applies to the Company’s disclosures for CCUK’s defined benefit plan. The provisions of SFAS 132(R) are generally effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2003; however, many of the new disclosure requirements for information about foreign plans, as well as information about future benefit payments, do not become effective until fiscal years ending after June 15, 2004. The interim-period disclosure requirements of SFAS 132(R) are effective for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2003. The Company has adopted the annual reporting requirements of SFAS 132(R) as of December 31, 2003, except for the disclosure about future benefit payments. The Company will provide such disclosure about future benefit payments as of December 31, 2004. The Company has adopted the interim-period reporting requirements as of March 31, 2004 (see Note 7).

 

3. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

A summary of goodwill by operating segment is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2004

     CCUSA

   CCUK

  

Crown

Atlantic


  

Consolidated

Total


     (In thousands of dollars)

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 211,694    $ 939,642    $ 55,377    $ 1,206,713

Effect of exchange rate changes

     —        28,720      —        28,720
    

  

  

  

Balance at end of period

   $ 211,694    $ 968,362    $ 55,377    $ 1,235,433
    

  

  

  

 

8


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The value of site rental contracts from acquisitions included in CCUSA are accounted for as other intangible assets with finite useful lives, and are included in deferred financing costs and other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. A summary of other intangible assets with finite useful lives is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2004

 
    

Gross

Carrying

Amount


  

Accumulated

Amortization


   

Net Book

Value


 
     (In thousands of dollars)  

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 30,005    $ (14,653 )   $ 15,352  

Amortization expense

     —        (463 )     (463 )
    

  


 


Balance at end of period

   $ 30,005    $ (15,116 )   $ 14,889  
    

  


 


Estimated aggregate amortization expense:

                       

Years ending December 31, 2004 through 2008

          $ 1,852          
           


       

 

4. Long-term Debt

 

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

    

December 31,

2003


   

March 31,

2004


 
     (In thousands of dollars)  

2000 Credit Facility

   $ 1,289,750     $ 1,287,000  

Crown Atlantic Credit Facility

     195,000       180,000  

4% Convertible Senior Notes due 2010

     230,000       230,000  

10 3/8% Senior Discount Notes due 2011, net of discount

     12,366       11,201  

9% Senior Notes due 2011

     161,712       26,133  

11 1/4% Senior Discount Notes due 2011, net of discount

     10,979       10,320  

9 1/2% Senior Notes due 2011

     114,265       4,753  

10 3/4% Senior Notes due 2011

     428,695       428,695  

9 3/8% Senior Notes due 2011

     407,225       407,225  

7.5% Senior Notes due 2013

     300,000       300,000  

7.5% Series B Senior Notes due 2013

     300,000       300,000  
    


 


       3,449,992       3,185,327  

Less: current maturities

     (267,142 )     (46,461 )
    


 


     $ 3,182,850     $ 3,138,866  
    


 


 

Crown Atlantic Credit Facility

 

In February of 2004, Crown Atlantic amended its credit facility to reduce the available borrowings from $301,050,000 to $250,000,000. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, Crown Atlantic repaid $15,000,000 in outstanding borrowings under the Crown Atlantic Credit Facility. Crown Atlantic utilized cash provided by its operations to effect this repayment. As a result, available borrowings under the Crown Atlantic Credit Facility amount to $70,000,000.

 

Purchases of the Company’s Debt Securities

 

        On December 5, 2003, the Company commenced cash tender offers and consent solicitations for all of its outstanding 9% Senior Notes and 9 1/2% Senior Notes. On December 31, 2003, in accordance with the terms of the tender offers, the purchase prices for the tendered notes (excluding accrued interest through the purchase date) were determined to be 107.112% of the outstanding principal amount for the 9% Senior Notes and 109.140% of the outstanding principal amount for the 9 1/2% Senior Notes. Such purchase prices include a consent payment of $20.00 for each $1,000 principal amount of the tendered notes. On January 7, 2004, the Company (1) utilized $146,984,000 of its cash to purchase the $135,579,000 in outstanding principal amount of the tendered 9% Senior Notes, including accrued interest thereon of $1,763,000, and (2) utilized $124,030,000 of its cash to purchase the $109,512,000 in outstanding principal amount of the tendered 9½% Senior Notes, including accrued interest thereon of $4,508,000.

 

9


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The purchase of the tendered 9% Senior Notes resulted in a loss of $12,466,000 for the first quarter of 2004, consisting of the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs ($2,823,000) and the excess of the total purchase price over the carrying value of the tendered notes ($9,643,000). The purchase of the tendered 9½% Senior Notes resulted in a loss of $11,652,000 for the first quarter of 2004, consisting of the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs ($1,642,000) and the excess of the total purchase price over the carrying value of the tendered notes ($10,010,000). Such losses are included in interest and other income (expense) on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The 9% Senior Notes and 9½% Senior Notes that were tendered through December 31, 2003 have been classified as current maturities of long-term debt on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003.

 

In January of 2004, the Company (1) utilized $1,570,000 of its cash to purchase $1,500,000 in outstanding principle amount at maturity of its 10 3/8% Discount Notes and (2) utilized $1,046,000 of its cash to purchase $1,000,000 in outstanding principle amount at maturity of its 11¼% Discount Notes, both in public market transactions. The debt purchases resulted in losses of $249,000 that are included in interest and other income (expense) on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

Reporting Requirements Under the Indentures Governing the Company’s Debt Securities (the “Indentures”)

 

The following information (as such capitalized terms are defined in the Indentures) is presented solely as a requirement of the Indentures; such information is not intended as an alternative measure of financial position, operating results or cash flow from operations (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles). Furthermore, the Company’s measure of the following information may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

 

Summarized financial information for (1) the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (2) the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries is as follows:

 

     March 31, 2004

    

Company

and Restricted
Subsidiaries


   Unrestricted
Subsidiaries


   Consolidation
Eliminations


   

Consolidated

Total


     (In thousands of dollars)

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 83,744    $ 87,741    $ —       $ 171,485

Other current assets

     176,910      6,707      —         183,617

Property and equipment, net

     4,005,077      695,650      —         4,700,727

Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries

     519,582      —        (519,582 )     —  

Goodwill

     1,180,056      55,377      —         1,235,433

Other assets, net

     113,366      42,252      —         155,618
    

  

  


 

     $ 6,078,735    $ 887,727    $ (519,582 )   $ 6,446,880
    

  

  


 

Current liabilities

   $ 377,013    $ 19,859    $ —       $ 396,872

Long-term debt, less current maturities

     2,958,866      180,000      —         3,138,866

Other liabilities

     216,028      6,134      —         222,162

Minority interests

     48,165      162,152      —         210,317

Redeemable preferred stock

     507,037      —        —         507,037

Stockholders’ equity

     1,971,626      519,582      (519,582 )     1,971,626
    

  

  


 

     $ 6,078,735    $ 887,727    $ (519,582 )   $ 6,446,880
    

  

  


 

 

10


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2004

 
    

Company

and Restricted
Subsidiaries


    Unrestricted
Subsidiaries


   

Consolidated

Total


 
     (In thousands of dollars)  

Net revenues

   $ 218,889     $ 29,598     $ 248,487  

Costs of operations (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion)

     97,172       11,131       108,303  

General and administrative

     20,521       3,122       23,643  

Corporate development

     439       —         439  

Restructuring charges (credits)

     (33 )     —         (33 )

Asset write-down charges

     1,768       180       1,948  

Non-cash general and administrative compensation charges

     2,522       174       2,696  

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

     74,308       10,514       84,822  
    


 


 


Operating income

     22,192       4,477       26,669  

Interest and other income (expense)

     (23,876 )     (953 )     (24,829 )

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs

     (56,826 )     (2,680 )     (59,506 )

Provision for income taxes

     (5,955 )     —         (5,955 )

Minority interests

     1,128       (2,474 )     (1,346 )
    


 


 


Net loss

   $ (63,337 )   $ (1,630 )   $ (64,967 )
    


 


 


 

Tower Cash Flow and Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is as follows under the indentures governing the 4% Convertible Senior Notes, the 10¾% Senior Notes, the 9 3/8% Senior Notes, the 7.5% Senior Notes and the 7.5% Series B Senior Notes:

 

     (In thousands of dollars)  

Tower Cash Flow, for the three months ended March 31, 2004

   $ 110,241  
    


Consolidated Cash Flow, for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004

   $ 375,783  

Less: Tower Cash Flow, for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004

     (404,234 )

Plus: four times Tower Cash Flow, for the three months ended March 31, 2004

     440,964  
    


Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow, for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004

   $ 412,513  
    


 

Letters of Credit

 

The Company has issued letters of credit to various landlords, insurers and other parties in connection with certain contingent retirement obligations under various tower site land leases and certain other contractual obligations. The letters of credit were issued through one of CCUSA’s lenders in amounts aggregating $13,841,000 and expire on various dates through October 2005.

 

5. Redeemable Preferred Stock

 

Redeemable preferred stock ($.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized) consists of the following:

 

     December 31,
2003


  

March 31,

2004


     (In thousands of dollars)

8¼% Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock; shares issued and outstanding: 200,000 (stated net of unamortized value of warrants; mandatory redemption and aggregate liquidation value of $200,000)

   $ 196,614    $ 196,717

6.25% Convertible Preferred Stock; shares issued and outstanding: 6,361,000 (stated net of unamortized issue costs; mandatory redemption and aggregate liquidation value of $318,050)

     310,088      310,320
    

  

     $ 506,702    $ 507,037
    

  

 

11


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

In March of 2004, the Company paid its quarterly dividends on the 8¼% Convertible Preferred Stock by issuing a total of 325,000 shares of its common stock. As allowed by the Deposit Agreement relating to dividend payments on the 8¼% Convertible Preferred Stock, the Company repurchased the 325,000 shares of common stock from the dividend paying agent for a total of $4,108,000 in cash. The Company utilized cash from an Unrestricted investment subsidiary to effect the stock repurchase. The Company may choose to continue such issuances and repurchases of stock in the future in order to avoid further dilution caused by the issuance of common stock as dividends on its preferred stock.

 

6. Stockholders’ Equity

 

In February of 2004, the Company issued 35,400 shares of common stock to the non-executive members of its Board of Directors. These shares had a grant-date fair value of $11.85 per share. In connection with these shares, the Company recognized non-cash general and administrative compensation charges of approximately $419,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

In March of 2004, the Company granted 457,163 shares of restricted common stock to certain of its executives. These restricted shares had a grant-date fair value of $12.60 per share, determined based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The restrictions on the shares will expire in various annual amounts over the vesting period of four years, with provisions for accelerated vesting based on the market performance of the Company’s common stock. In connection with these restricted shares, the Company will recognize non-cash general and administrative compensation charges of approximately $5,760,000 over the vesting period. In order to reach the first target level for accelerated vesting of these restricted shares, the market price of the Company’s common stock would have to close at or above $14.81 per share for twenty consecutive trading days. Reaching the first target level would result in the restrictions expiring with respect to one third of these restricted shares.

 

7. Employee Benefit Plan

 

The components of net periodic pension cost for CCUK’s defined benefit pension plan are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,

 
     2003

    2004

 
     (In thousands of dollars)  

Service cost

   $ 854     $ 680  

Interest cost

     473       666  

Expected return on plan assets

     (473 )     (684 )

Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss

     133       190  
    


 


Net periodic pension cost

   $ 987     $ 852  
    


 


 

CCUK contributed approximately $664,000 to its pension plan during the three months ended March 31, 2004, and expects to contribute a total of approximately $2,746,000 for the year ending December 31, 2004.

 

8. Per Share Information

 

Per share information is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each period for the basic computation and, if dilutive, the weighted-average number of potential common shares resulting from the assumed conversion of outstanding stock options, warrants, convertible preferred stock and convertible senior notes for the diluted computation.

 

12


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted per share computations is as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


 
     2003

    2004

 
    

(In thousands of dollars,

except per share
amounts)

 

Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ (66,981 )   $ (64,967 )

Dividends on preferred stock

     (17,682 )     (9,696 )

Gains on purchases of preferred stock

     3,311       —    
    


 


Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle applicable to common stock for basic and diluted computations

     (81,352 )     (74,663 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (2,035 )     —    
    


 


Net loss applicable to common stock for basic and diluted computations

   $ (83,387 )   $ (74,663 )
    


 


Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period for basic and diluted computations (in thousands)

     216,958       219,294  
    


 


Per common share—basic and diluted:

                

Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ (0.37 )   $ (0.34 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (0.01 )     —    
    


 


Net loss

   $ (0.38 )   $ (0.34 )
    


 


 

The calculations of common shares outstanding for the diluted computations exclude the following potential common shares. The inclusion of such potential common shares in the diluted per share computations would be antidilutive since the Company incurred net losses for all periods presented.

 

     March 31,

     2003

   2004

     (In thousands)

Options to purchase shares of common stock at exercise prices currently ranging from $-0-  to $39.75 per share

   22,372    18,469

Warrants to purchase shares of common stock at an exercise price of $7.50 per share

   640    640

Warrants to purchase shares of common stock at an exercise price of $26.875 per share

   1,000    1,000

Shares of 8¼% Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock which are convertible into shares of common stock

   7,442    7,442

Shares of 6.25% Convertible Preferred Stock which are convertible into shares of common stock

   8,625    8,625

Shares of restricted common stock

   5,817    2,326

4% Convertible Senior Notes which are convertible into shares of common stock

   —      21,237
    
  

Total potential common shares

   45,896    59,739
    
  

 

9. Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company is involved in various claims, lawsuits and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. While there are uncertainties inherent in the ultimate outcome of such matters and it is impossible to presently determine the ultimate costs that may be incurred, management believes the resolution of such uncertainties and the incurrence of such costs should not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

13


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

10. Operating Segments

 

The measurement of profit or loss currently used to evaluate the results of operations for the Company and its operating segments is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted (“Adjusted EBITDA”). The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, minority interests, provision for income taxes, interest expense, amortization of deferred financing costs and dividends on preferred stock, interest and other income (expense), depreciation, amortization and accretion, non-cash general and administrative compensation charges, asset write-down charges and restructuring charges (credits). Adjusted EBITDA is not intended as an alternative measure of operating results or cash flow from operations (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles), and the Company’s measure of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. There are no significant revenues resulting from transactions between the Company’s operating segments. The financial results for the Company’s operating segments are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2004

 
     CCUSA

    CCUK

    CCAL

   

Crown

Atlantic


   

Corporate
Office

and Other


    Consolidated
Total


 
     (In thousands of dollars)  

Net revenues:

                                                

Site rental and broadcast transmission

   $ 92,622     $ 90,408     $ 8,274     $ 28,073     $ —       $ 219,377  

Network services and other

     11,974       14,407       1,204       1,525       —         29,110  
    


 


 


 


 


 


       104,596       104,815       9,478       29,598       —         248,487  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Costs of operations (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion)

     36,370       56,372       4,430       11,131       —         108,303  

General and administrative

     11,903       2,033       2,380       1,448       5,879       23,643  

Corporate development

     —         —         —         —         439       439  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Adjusted EBITDA

     56,323       46,410       2,668       17,019       (6,318 )     116,102  

Restructuring charges (credits)

     —         —         —                 (33 )     (33 )

Asset write-down charges

     1,768       —         —         180       —         1,948  

Non-cash general and administrative compensation charges

     811       481       15       173       1,216       2,696  

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

     45,749       23,597       4,828       10,350       298       84,822  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Operating income (loss)

     7,995       22,332       (2,175 )     6,316       (7,799 )     26,669  

Interest and other income (expense)

     (216 )     198       168       (19 )     (24,960 )     (24,829 )

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs

     (16,024 )     (2,184 )     (1,103 )     (2,680 )     (37,515 )     (59,506 )

Provision for income taxes

     —         (5,802 )     (153 )     —         —         (5,955 )

Minority interests

     —         —         1,128       (2,474 )     —         (1,346 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ (8,245 )   $ 14,544     $ (2,135 )   $ 1,143     $ (70,274 )   $ (64,967 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


Capital expenditures

   $ 5,562     $ 12,672     $ 305     $ 734     $ 175     $ 19,448  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total assets (at period end)

   $ 3,054,068     $ 2,094,608     $ 343,371     $ 765,163     $ 189,670     $ 6,446,880  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 

14


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2003

 
     CCUSA

    CCUK

    CCAL

   

Crown

Atlantic


   

Corporate

Office

and Other


   

Consolidated

Total


 
     (In thousands of dollars)  

Net revenues:

                                                

Site rental and broadcast transmission

   $ 82,899     $ 71,125     $ 5,986     $ 24,950     $ —       $ 184,960  

Network services and other

     13,452       14,845       784       2,683       —         31,764  
    


 


 


 


 


 


       96,351       85,970       6,770       27,633       —         216,724  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Costs of operations (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion)

     37,923       46,083       2,858       11,438       —         98,302  

General and administrative

     12,284       1,674       1,700       1,621       4,913       22,192  

Corporate development

     —         —         —         —         1,620       1,620  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Adjusted EBITDA

     46,144       38,213       2,212       14,574       (6,533 )     94,610  

Non-cash general and administrative compensation charges

     1,184       537             60       650       2,431  

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

     46,874       18,894       3,723       10,466       400       80,357  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Operating income (loss)

     (1,914 )     18,782       (1,511 )     4,048       (7,583 )     11,822  

Interest and other income (expense)

     88       921       182       24       (2,857 )     (1,642 )

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs

     (8,549 )     (8,927 )     (895 )     (3,941 )     (50,326 )     (72,638 )

Provision for income taxes

     —         (3,850 )     (116 )     —         —         (3,966 )

Minority interests

     (156 )     —         836       (1,237 )     —         (557 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle for asset retirement obligations

     (394 )     (1,484 )     (57 )     (100 )     —         (2,035 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ (10,925 )   $ 5,442     $ (1,561 )   $ (1,206 )   $ (60,766 )   $ (69,016 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


Capital expenditures

   $ 3,346     $ 46,228     $ 983     $ 2,207     $ 85     $ 52,849  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 

11. Restructuring Charges and Asset Write-Down Charges

 

At December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004, other accrued liabilities includes $3,085,000 and $2,722,000, respectively, related to restructuring charges. A summary of the restructuring charges by operating segment is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2004

 
     CCUSA

    CCUK

   

Crown

Atlantic


   

Corporate

Office

and Other


   

Consolidated

Total


 
     (In thousands of dollars)  

Amounts accrued at beginning of period:

                                        

Employee severance

   $ 492     $ —       $ —       $ 33     $ 525  

Costs of office closures and other

     2,143       369       48       —         2,560  
    


 


 


 


 


       2,635       369       48       33       3,085  
    


 


 


 


 


Amounts charged (credited) to expense:

                                        

Employee severance

     —         —         —         (33 )     (33 )

Costs of office closures and other

     —         —         —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


 


Total restructuring charges (credits)

     —         —         —         (33 )     (33 )
    


 


 


 


 


Amounts paid:

                                        

Employee severance

     (170 )     —         —         —         (170 )

Costs of office closures and other

     (142 )     (9 )     (9 )     —         (160 )
    


 


 


 


 


       (312 )     (9 )     (9 )     —         (330 )
    


 


 


 


 


Amounts accrued at end of period:

                                        

Employee severance

     322       —         —         —         322  

Costs of office closures and other

     2,001       360       39       —         2,400  
    


 


 


 


 


     $ 2,323     $ 360     $ 39     $ —       $ 2,722  
    


 


 


 


 


 

15


CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL—(Continued)

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Company abandoned or disposed of certain tower sites and recorded asset write-down charges of $1,768,000 for CCUSA and $180,000 for Crown Atlantic.

 

12. Subsequent Events

 

Restricted Common Stock

 

In April and May of 2004, the Company granted approximately 897,000 shares of restricted common stock to approximately 500 of its employees. These restricted shares had an estimated weighted-average grant-date fair value of $14.75 per share, determined based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the grant dates. The restrictions on the shares will expire in various annual amounts over the vesting period of four years, with provisions for accelerated vesting based on the market performance of the Company’s common stock. In connection with these restricted shares, the Company will recognize non-cash general and administrative compensation charges of approximately $13,235,000 over the vesting period. Such charges will be reduced in the event that any of the restricted shares are forfeited before they become vested. In order to reach the first target level for accelerated vesting of these restricted shares, the market price of the Company’s common stock would have to close at or above $14.81 per share for twenty consecutive trading days. Reaching the first target level would result in the restrictions expiring with respect to one third of these restricted shares.

 

On April 27, 2004, the market performance of the Company’s common stock reached the third (and final) target level for accelerated vesting of the restricted common shares that had been issued during the first quarter of 2003. This third target level was reached when the market price of the Company’s common stock closed at or above $12.45 per share (150% of the second target level of $8.30 per share) for twenty consecutive trading days. As a result, the restrictions expired with respect to the final third of such outstanding shares during the second quarter of 2004. The acceleration of the vesting for these shares will result in the recognition of non-cash general and administrative compensation charges of $5,378,000 for the second quarter of 2004. Substantially all of the executives and employees elected to sell a portion of their vested shares in order to pay their respective minimum withholding tax liabilities, and the Company arranged to purchase these shares in order to facilitate the stock sales. The Company purchased approximately 587,600 of such shares of common stock (at a price of $14.92 per share) for a total of $8,767,000 in cash. The Company utilized cash from an Unrestricted investment subsidiary to effect the stock purchase.

 

 

16


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

 

The following discussion is intended to assist in understanding our consolidated financial condition as of March 31, 2004 and our consolidated results of operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2003 and 2004. The statements in this discussion regarding the industry outlook, our expectations regarding the future performance of our businesses and the other nonhistorical statements in this discussion are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including but not limited to prevailing market conditions and those set forth below under the caption “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Factors That Could Affect Future Results”.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the response to Part I, Item 1 of this report and the consolidated financial statements of the Company, including the related notes, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in the Form 10-K. Any capitalized terms used but not defined in this Item have the same meaning given to them in the Form 10-K.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following information is derived from our historical Consolidated Statements of Operations for the periods indicated.

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2003


   

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2004


 
     Amount

   

Percent

of Net

Revenues


    Amount

   

Percent

of Net

Revenues


 
     (In thousands of dollars)  

Net revenues:

                            

Site rental and broadcast transmission

   $ 184,960     85.3 %   $ 219,377     88.3 %

Network services and other

     31,764     14.7       29,110     11.7  
    


 

 


 

Total net revenues

     216,724     100.0       248,487     100.0  
    


 

 


 

Operating expenses:

                            

Costs of operations:

                            

Site rental and broadcast transmission

     73,360     39.7       82,987     37.8  

Network services and other

     24,942     78.5       25,316     87.0  
    


       


     

Total costs of operations

     98,302     45.4       108,303     43.6  

General and administrative

     22,192     10.2       23,643     9.5  

Corporate development

     1,620     0.7       439     0.2  

Restructuring charges (credits)

     —       —         (33 )   —    

Asset write-down charges

     —       —         1,948     0.8  

Non-cash general and administrative compensation charges

     2,431     1.1       2,696     1.1  

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

     80,357     37.1       84,822     34.1  
    


 

 


 

Operating income

     11,822     5.5       26,669     10.7  

Other income (expense):

                            

Interest and other income (expense)

     (1,642 )   (0.8 )     (24,829 )   (10.0 )

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs

     (72,638 )   (33.5 )     (59,506 )   (23.9 )
    


 

 


 

Loss before income taxes, minority interests and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (62,458 )   (28.8 )     (57,666 )   (23.2 )

Provision for income taxes

     (3,966 )   (1.8 )     (5,955 )   (2.4 )

Minority interests

     (557 )   (0.3 )     (1,346 )   (0.5 )
    


 

 


 

Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (66,981 )   (30.9 )     (64,967 )   (26.1 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle for asset retirement obligations

     (2,035 )   (0.9 )     —       —    
    


 

 


 

Net loss

   $ (69,016 )   (31.8 )%   $ (64,967 )   (26.1 )%
    


 

 


 

 

17


Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003

 

Site rental and broadcast transmission revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were $219.4 million, an increase of $34.4 million, or 18.6%, from the three months ended March 31, 2003. Of this increase, $9.7 million was attributable to CCUSA, $19.3 million was attributable to CCUK, $2.3 million was attributable to CCAL and $3.1 million was attributable to Crown Atlantic. Network services and other revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were $29.1 million, a decrease of $2.7 million from the three months ended March 31, 2003. This decrease was primarily attributable to:

 

  (1) a $1.5 million decrease in network services and other revenues from CCUSA,

 

  (2) a $0.4 million decrease in network services and other revenues from CCUK and

 

  (3) a $1.2 million decrease in network services and other revenues from Crown Atlantic, partially offset by

 

  (4) a $0.4 million increase in network services and other revenues from CCAL.

 

Total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were $248.5 million, a net increase of $31.8 million from the three months ended March 31, 2003. The increases in site rental and broadcast transmission revenues reflect the new tenant additions on our tower sites and contractual escalations on existing leases. The increases or decreases in network services and other revenues reflect fluctuations in demand for antenna installations from our tenants. We expect that network services and other revenues may continue to decline as a percentage of total revenues for CCUSA and Crown Atlantic.

 

Site rental and broadcast transmission costs of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were $83.0 million, an increase of $9.6 million from the three months ended March 31, 2003. This increase was primarily attributable to cost increases of $9.3 million for CCUK and $1.4 million for CCAL, partially offset by cost decreases of $0.9 million for CCUSA and $0.2 million for Crown Atlantic. Network services and other costs of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were $25.3 million, an increase of $0.4 million from the three months ended March 31, 2003. This increase was primarily attributable to:

 

  (1) a $1.0 million increase in network services and other costs of operations from CCUK and

 

  (2) a $0.2 million increase in network services and other costs of operations from CCAL, partially offset by

 

  (3) a $0.7 million decrease in network services and other costs of operations from CCUSA and

 

  (4) a $0.1 million decrease in network services and other costs of operations from Crown Atlantic.

 

Total costs of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were $108.3 million, a net increase of $10.0 million from the three months ended March 31, 2003. Gross margins (net revenues less costs of operations) for site rental and broadcast transmission as a percentage of site rental and broadcast transmission revenues increased to 62.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from 60.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2003, because of higher margins from the CCUSA and Crown Atlantic operations, partially offset by lower margins from the CCUK and CCAL operations. Gross margins for network services and other as a percentage of network services and other revenues decreased to 13.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from 21.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2003 because of lower margins from the CCUSA, CCUK and Crown Atlantic operations.

 

The growth of CCUK’s operations relative to CCUSA and Crown Atlantic has increased the impact that CCUK’s margins have on our consolidated results, and CCUK’s margins tend to be lower than our U.S. businesses due to the higher costs associated with our U.K. broadcast business and the costs from the revenue sharing component of leases for land and rooftop sites in the U.K. Such costs for revenue sharing will increase on certain sites to be developed in the future under agreements with British Telecom that were amended in 2003. The amended agreements increase British Telecom’s share of the revenue from co-located tenants to 60% on sites developed after October 1, 2003, in exchange for British Telecom waiving future site access fees and funding the common area capital expenditures required to develop such sites.

 

18


General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were $23.6 million, an increase of $1.5 million from the three months ended March 31, 2003. This increase was primarily attributable to:

 

  (1) a $0.4 million increase in expenses at CCUK,

 

  (2) a $0.7 million increase in expenses at CCAL, and

 

  (3) a $1.0 million increase in expenses at our corporate office segment, partially offset by

 

  (4) a $0.4 million decrease in expenses related to the CCUSA operations, and

 

  (5) a $0.2 million decrease in expenses at Crown Atlantic.

 

General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues decreased to 9.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from 10.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2003, primarily because of lower overhead costs as a percentage of revenues for CCUSA, CCUK and Crown Atlantic.

 

Corporate development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were $0.4 million, compared to $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in salary costs allocated to corporate activities.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2004, we recorded asset write-down charges of $1.9 million. Such non-cash charges related to the abandonment or disposal of certain tower sites.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2004, we recorded non-cash general and administrative compensation charges of $2.7 million related to the issuance of stock and stock options to certain employees and executives, compared to $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. On April 27, 2004, the market performance of our common stock reached the third (and final) target level for accelerated vesting of the restricted common shares that had been issued during the first quarter of 2003. This third target level was reached when the market price of our common stock closed at or above $12.45 per share (150% of the second target level of $8.30 per share) for twenty consecutive trading days. As a result, the restrictions expired with respect to the final third of such outstanding shares during the second quarter of 2004. The acceleration of the vesting for these shares will result in the recognition of non-cash general and administrative compensation charges of approximately $5.4 million for the second quarter of 2004.

 

Depreciation, amortization and accretion for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $84.8 million, an increase of $4.5 million from the three months ended March 31, 2003. This increase was primarily attributable to:

 

  (1) a $4.7 million increase in depreciation related to property and equipment from CCUK, and

 

  (2) a $1.1 million increase in depreciation related to property and equipment from CCAL, partially offset by

 

  (3) a $1.1 million decrease in depreciation related to property and equipment from CCUSA, and

 

  (4) a $0.1 million decrease in depreciation related to property and equipment from Crown Atlantic.

 

Interest and other income (expense) for the three months ended March 31, 2004 resulted primarily from:

 

  (1) losses of approximately $24.4 million from purchases of our debt securities (see “—Liquidity and Capital Resources”) and

 

  (2) approximately $1.2 million from our share of losses incurred by unconsolidated affiliates, partially offset by

 

  (3) interest income and foreign exchange gains from invested cash balances.

 

19


Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $59.5 million, a decrease of $13.1 million, or 18.1%, from the three months ended March 31, 2003. This decrease was primarily attributable to:

 

  (1) purchases and redemptions of our debt securities in 2003 and 2004 (see “—Liquidity and Capital Resources”), and

 

  (2) reductions in outstanding bank indebtedness at Crown Atlantic, partially offset by

 

  (3) the issuance of the 4% senior notes, the 7.5% senior notes and the 7.5% Series B senior notes in 2003, and

 

  (4) an increase in outstanding bank indebtedness at CCUSA, the proceeds of which were used to retire CCUK’s indebtedness and purchase certain of our public debt and preferred stock.

 

The provision for income taxes of $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 consists primarily of a non-cash deferred tax liability recognized by CCUK. CCUK’s deferred tax liability resulted from differences between book and tax basis for its property and equipment.

 

Minority interests represent the minority partner’s interest in Crown Atlantic’s operations (43.1% through April 30, 2003 and 37.245% since May 1, 2003), the minority partner’s interest in the operations of the Crown Castle GT joint venture (17.8% through April 30, 2003) and the minority shareholder’s 22.4% interest in the CCAL operations.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Since inception, we have generally funded our activities, other than acquisitions and investments, through cash provided by operations, excess proceeds from contributions of equity capital and borrowings under our senior credit facilities. We have financed acquisitions and investments with the proceeds from equity contributions, borrowings under our senior credit facilities and issuances of debt securities.

 

Our goal is to maximize net cash from operating activities and fund all capital spending and debt service from our operating cash flow, without reliance on additional borrowing or the use of our cash. However, due to the risk factors outlined below (see “Factors that Could Affect Future Results”), there can be no assurance that this will be possible. As part of our strategy to achieve increases in net cash from operating activities, we seek to lower our interest expense by reducing outstanding debt balances or lowering interest rates. Such reductions can be made either by using a portion of our existing cash balances to purchase our debt securities, or with attractive refinancing opportunities.

 

Our business strategy contemplates substantial capital expenditures, although significantly reduced from previous years’ levels, in connection with the further improvement, maintenance and selective expansion of our existing tower portfolios. During 2004, we expect that the majority of our discretionary capital expenditures will occur at CCUK in connection with the development of the sites acquired from British Telecom, selected expansion of certain broadcast infrastructure for additional services and additional site improvements.

 

A summary of our net cash provided by operating activities and capital expenditures (both amounts from our consolidated statement of cash flows) is as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


     2003

   2004

     (In thousands of dollars)

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 5,932    $ 26,917

Capital expenditures

     52,849      19,448

 

The increase in net cash from operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2004 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2003 is largely due to growth in our core site leasing and broadcast business and a decrease in cash interest paid, partially offset by the continued decline in our network services business. Changes in

 

20


working capital, and particularly changes in accrued interest, can have a dramatic impact on our net cash from operating activities for interim periods, largely due to the timing of interest payments on our various senior notes issues. The decrease in capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2004 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2003 is primarily due to the payment of approximately $33.2 million in site access fees to British Telecom in March of 2003.

 

For the year ending December 31, 2004, we currently expect that our net cash provided by operating activities will be between approximately $240.0 million and $250.0 million. We expect that our net cash from operating activities will be positively impacted by continued growth in our core site leasing and broadcast business in 2004, but we do not expect to benefit from improvements in working capital to the same extent as in 2003. For the year ending December 31, 2004, we currently expect that our cash interest payments will total approximately $216.4 million, compared to approximately $213.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

Capital expenditures were $19.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, of which $5.6 million were for CCUSA, $12.7 million were for CCUK, $0.3 million were for CCAL, $0.7 million were for Crown Atlantic and $0.2 million were for CCIC. For the year ending December 31, 2004, we currently expect that our total capital expenditures will be between approximately $70.0 million and $90.0 million, of which approximately $20.0 million to $40.0 million will be for tower and rooftop improvements and enhancements to their structural capacity in order to support additional leasing, and approximately $40.0 million will be for other activities. As such, we expect that our capital expenditures for this period will be fully funded by net cash from operating activities, as discussed above. Our decisions regarding the construction of new towers are discretionary, and depend upon expectations of achieving acceptable rates of return given current market conditions. Such decisions are influenced by the availability of capital and expected returns on alternative investments.

 

To fund the execution of our business strategy, we expect to use our available cash balances and cash provided by future operations. We do not currently expect to utilize further borrowings available under our U.S. credit facilities in any significant amounts. We may have additional cash needs to fund our operations in the future should our financial performance deteriorate. We may also have additional cash needs in the future if additional tower acquisitions, build-to-suit or other opportunities arise. If we do not otherwise have cash available, or borrowings under our credit facilities have otherwise been utilized, when our cash need arises, we would be forced to seek additional debt or equity financing or to forego the opportunity. In the event we determine to seek additional debt or equity financing, there can be no assurance that any such financing will be available, on commercially acceptable terms or at all, or permitted by the terms of our existing indebtedness.

 

As of March 31, 2004, we had consolidated cash and cash equivalents of $171.5 million (including $23.6 million at CCUSA, $20.5 million at CCUK, $15.0 million at CCAL, $6.3 million at Crown Atlantic, $81.4 million in an unrestricted investment subsidiary and $24.6 million at CCIC), consolidated long-term debt of $3,185.3 million, consolidated redeemable preferred stock of $507.0 million and consolidated stockholders’ equity of $1,971.6 million.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004, our net cash used for financing activities was $35.4 million and $286.1 million, respectively. The amount for 2004 is largely due to financing transactions we have completed in an effort to lower our future cash interest payments and simplify our capital structure. Following is a summary of significant financing transactions completed in 2004.

 

On December 5, 2003, we commenced cash tender offers and consent solicitations for all of our outstanding 9% senior notes and 9½% senior notes. On December 31, 2003, in accordance with the terms of the tender offers, the purchase prices for the tendered notes (excluding accrued interest through the purchase date) were determined to be 107.112% of the outstanding principal amount for the 9% senior notes and 109.140% of the outstanding principal amount for the 9½% senior notes. Such purchase prices include a consent payment of $20.00 for each $1,000 principal amount of the tendered notes. On January 7, 2004, we (1) utilized approximately $147.0 million of our cash to purchase the $135.6 million in outstanding principal amount of the tendered 9% senior notes, including accrued interest thereon of $1.8 million, and (2) utilized approximately $124.0 million of our cash to purchase the $109.5 million in outstanding principal amount of the tendered 9½% senior notes, including accrued interest thereon of $4.5 million. The purchase of the tendered 9% senior notes resulted in a loss of $12.5 million for the first quarter of 2004, consisting of the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs ($2.8 million) and the excess of the total

 

21


purchase price over the carrying value of the tendered notes ($9.7 million). The purchase of the tendered 9½% senior notes resulted in a loss of $11.7 million for the first quarter of 2004, consisting of the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs ($1.7 million) and the excess of the total purchase price over the carrying value of the tendered notes ($10.0 million). Such losses are included in interest and other income (expense) on our consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004. The 9% senior notes and 9½% senior notes that were tendered through December 31, 2003 have been classified as current maturities of long-term debt on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003. Upon completion of these tender offers, the outstanding balances for the 9% senior notes and the 9½% senior notes were $26.1 million and $4.8 million, respectively.

 

In January of 2004, we (1) utilized approximately $1.6 million of our cash to purchase $1.5 million in outstanding principle amount at maturity of our 10 3/8% discount notes and (2) utilized approximately $1.0 million of our cash to purchase $1.0 million in outstanding principle amount at maturity of our 11¼% discount notes, both in public market transactions. The debt purchases resulted in losses of $0.2 million that are included in interest and other income (expense) on our consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2004, Crown Atlantic repaid $15.0 million in outstanding borrowings under its credit facility. Crown Atlantic utilized cash provided by its operations to effect this repayment. In February of 2004, Crown Atlantic amended its credit facility to reduce the available borrowings from $301.1 million to $250.0 million.

 

In March of 2004, we paid our quarterly dividends on the 8¼% convertible preferred stock by issuing a total of 0.3 million shares of our common stock. As allowed by the Deposit Agreement relating to dividend payments on the 8¼% convertible preferred stock, we repurchased the 0.3 million shares of common stock from the dividend paying agent for a total of $4.1 million in cash. We utilized cash from an unrestricted investment subsidiary to effect the stock repurchase. We may choose to continue such issuances and repurchases of stock in the future in order to avoid further dilution caused by the issuance of common stock as dividends on our preferred stock.

 

In April of 2004, the restrictions expired with respect to the final third of the outstanding restricted common shares that had been issued during the first quarter of 2003 (see “—Results of Operations”). Substantially all of the executives and employees elected to sell a portion of their vested shares in order to pay their respective minimum withholding tax liabilities, and we arranged to purchase these shares in order to facilitate the stock sales. We purchased approximately 0.6 million of such shares of common stock (at a price of $14.92 per share) for a total of $8.8 million in cash. We utilized cash from an unrestricted investment subsidiary to effect the stock purchase.

 

We seek to allocate our available capital among the investment alternatives that provide the greatest risk-adjusted returns given current market conditions. As such, we may continue to (1) acquire sites, build new towers and make improvements to existing towers and (2) make investments in emerging businesses that are complementary to our core site leasing and broadcast businesses when the expected returns from such investments meet our investment return criteria. In addition, we may continue to utilize a portion of our available cash balances to purchase our own stock (either common or preferred) or debt securities from time to time as market prices make such investments attractive.

 

As of April 30, 2004, our restricted U.S., U.K. and Australian subsidiaries had approximately $332.5 million of unused borrowing availability under the amended 2000 credit facility. As of April 30, 2004, Crown Atlantic had unused borrowing availability under its amended credit facility of approximately $70.0 million. Our credit facilities require our subsidiaries to maintain certain financial covenants and place restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things, incur debt and liens, pay dividends, make capital expenditures, undertake transactions with affiliates and make investments. These facilities also limit the ability of the borrowing subsidiaries to pay dividends to CCIC.

 

The primary factors that determine our subsidiaries’ ability to comply with their debt covenants are (1) their current financial performance (as defined in the credit agreements), (2) their levels of indebtedness and (3) their debt service requirements. Since we do not currently expect that our subsidiaries will need to utilize significant additional borrowings under their credit facilities, the primary risk of a debt covenant violation would result from a deterioration of a subsidiary’s financial performance. In addition, the credit facilities will require that financial

 

22


performance increase in future years as covenant calculations become more restrictive. Should a covenant violation occur in the future as a result of a shortfall in financial performance (or for any other reason), we might be required to make principal payments earlier than currently scheduled and may not have access to additional borrowings under these facilities as long as the covenant violation continues. Any such early principal payments would have to be made from our existing cash balances.

 

As a holding company, CCIC will require distributions or dividends from its subsidiaries, or will be forced to use its remaining cash balances, to fund its debt obligations, including interest payments on the notes. The terms of the indebtedness of our subsidiaries limit their ability to distribute cash to CCIC. Subject to certain financial covenants, the terms of the amended 2000 credit facility permit the distribution of funds to CCIC in order for it to pay (1) up to $17.5 million of its annual corporate overhead expenses and (2) interest payments on its existing indebtedness. There can be no assurance, however, that our subsidiaries will generate sufficient cash from their operations to make all of such permitted distributions. As a result, we could be required to apply a portion of our remaining cash to fund interest payments on the notes. If we do not retain sufficient funds or raise additional funds from any future financing, we may not be able to make our interest payments on the notes.

 

If we are unable to refinance our indebtedness or renegotiate the terms of such debt prior to maturity, we may not be able to meet our debt service requirements, including interest payments on the notes, in the future. Our 4% senior notes, our 9% senior notes, our 9½% senior notes, our 10¾% senior notes, our 9 3/8% senior notes, our 7.5% senior notes and our 7.5% Series B senior notes require annual cash interest payments of approximately $9.2 million, $2.4 million, $0.5 million, $46.1 million, $38.2 million, $22.5 million and $22.5 million, respectively. Prior to May 15, 2004 and August 1, 2004, the interest expense on our 10 3/8% discount notes and our 11¼% discount notes, respectively, will be comprised solely of the amortization of original issue discount. Thereafter, the 10 3/8% discount notes and the 11¼% discount notes will require annual cash interest payments of approximately $1.2 million and $1.2 million, respectively. In addition, our credit facilities require periodic interest payments on amounts borrowed thereunder, which amounts are substantial.

 

We have issued letters of credit to various landlords, insurers and other parties in connection with certain contingent retirement obligations under various tower site land leases and certain other contractual obligations. The letters of credit were issued through one of CCUSA’s lenders in amounts aggregating $13.8 million and expire on various dates through October 2005.

 

Our ability to make scheduled payments of principal of, or to pay interest on, our debt obligations, and our ability to refinance any such debt obligations, will depend on our future performance, which, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. In addition, our ability to refinance any indebtedness in the future would depend in part on our maintaining adequate credit ratings from the commercial rating agencies. Such credit ratings are dependent on all the liquidity and performance factors discussed above, as well as general expectations that the rating agencies have regarding the outlook for our business and our industry. We anticipate that we may need to refinance a substantial portion of our indebtedness on or prior to its scheduled maturity. There can be no assurance that we will be able to effect any required refinancings of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

 

Reporting Requirements Under the Indentures Governing the Company’s Debt Securities (the “Indentures”)

 

The following information (as such capitalized terms are defined in the Indentures) is presented solely as a requirement of the Indentures; such information is not intended as an alternative measure of financial position, operating results or cash flow from operations (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles). Furthermore, our measure of the following information may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

 

23


Summarized financial information for (1) CCIC and our Restricted Subsidiaries and (2) our Unrestricted Subsidiaries is as follows:

 

     March 31, 2004

    

Company

and Restricted

Subsidiaries


  

Unrestricted

Subsidiaries


  

Consolidation

Eliminations


   

Consolidated

Total


     (In thousands of dollars)

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 83,744    $ 87,741    $ —       $ 171,485

Other current assets

     176,910      6,707      —         183,617

Property and equipment, net

     4,005,077      695,650      —         4,700,727

Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries

     519,582      —        (519,582 )     —  

Goodwill

     1,180,056      55,377      —         1,235,433

Other assets, net

     113,366      42,252      —         155,618
    

  

  


 

     $ 6,078,735    $ 887,727    $ (519,582 )   $ 6,446,880
    

  

  


 

Current liabilities

   $ 377,013    $ 19,859    $       $ 396,872

Long-term debt, less current maturities

     2,958,866      180,000      —         3,138,866

Other liabilities

     216,028      6,134      —         222,162

Minority interests

     48,165      162,152      —         210,317

Redeemable preferred stock

     507,037      —        —         507,037

Stockholders’ equity

     1,971,626      519,582      (519,582 )     1,971,626
    

  

  


 

     $ 6,078,735    $ 887,727    $ (519,582 )   $ 6,446,880
    

  

  


 

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2004

 
    

Company

and Restricted

Subsidiaries


   

Unrestricted

Subsidiaries


   

Consolidated

Total


 
     (In thousands of dollars)  

Net revenues

   $ 218,889     $ 29,598     $ 248,487  

Costs of operations (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion)

     97,172       11,131       108,303  

General and administrative

     20,521       3,122       23,643  

Corporate development

     439       —         439  

Restructuring charges (credits)

     (33 )     —         (33 )

Asset write-down charges

     1,768       180       1,948  

Non-cash general and administrative compensation charges

     2,522       174       2,696  

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

     74,308       10,514       84,822  
    


 


 


Operating income

     22,192       4,477       26,669  

Interest and other income (expense)

     (23,876 )     (953 )     (24,829 )

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs

     (56,826 )     (2,680 )     (59,506 )

Provision for income taxes

     (5,955 )     —         (5,955 )

Minority interests

     1,128       (2,474 )     (1,346 )
    


 


 


Net loss

   $ (63,337 )   $ (1,630 )   $ (64,967 )
    


 


 


 

Tower Cash Flow and Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow for CCIC and our Restricted Subsidiaries is as follows under the indentures governing the 4% senior notes, the 10¾% senior notes, the 9 3/8% senior notes, the 7.5% senior notes and the 7.5% Series B senior notes:

 

24


    

(In thousands

of dollars)


 

Tower Cash Flow, for the three months ended March 31, 2004

   $ 110,241  
    


Consolidated Cash Flow, for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004

   $ 375,783  

Less: Tower Cash Flow, for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004

     (404,234 )

Plus: four times Tower Cash Flow, for the three months ended March 31, 2004

     440,964  
    


Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow, for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004

   $ 412,513  
    


 

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“FIN 46”). In December 2003, the FASB issued a revised version of FIN 46. FIN 46 clarifies existing accounting literature regarding the consolidation of entities in which a company holds a “controlling financial interest”. A majority voting interest in an entity has generally been considered indicative of a controlling financial interest. FIN 46 specifies other factors (“variable interests”) which must be considered when determining whether a company holds a controlling financial interest in, and therefore must consolidate, an entity (“variable interest entities”). The provisions of FIN 46, as revised, are effective for the first reporting period ending after March 15, 2004. We adopted the provisions of FIN 46 as of March 31, 2004, and such adoption did not have a significant effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132 (revised 2003), Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (“SFAS 132(R)”). SFAS 132(R) revises the required disclosures about pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. SFAS 132(R) replaces Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132, Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (which was originally issued in February 1998), but retains its disclosure requirements. SFAS 132(R) requires additional disclosures about the assets, obligations, cash flows and net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit pension plans, and requires that certain disclosures be included in interim financial statements. SFAS 132(R) applies to our disclosures for CCUK’s defined benefit plan. The provisions of SFAS 132(R) are generally effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2003; however, many of the new disclosure requirements for information about foreign plans, as well as information about future benefit payments, do not become effective until fiscal years ending after June 15, 2004. The interim-period disclosure requirements of SFAS 132(R) are effective for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2003. We have adopted the annual reporting requirements of SFAS 132(R) as of December 31, 2003, except for the disclosure about future benefit payments. We will provide such disclosure about future benefit payments as of December 31, 2004. We have adopted the interim-period reporting requirements as of March 31, 2004.

 

Factors That Could Affect Future Results

 

The following factors could affect our future results or cause actual results to vary materially from those described in our forward-looking statements:

 

Our substantial level of indebtedness may adversely affect our ability to react to changes in our business and limit our ability to use debt to fund future capital needs.

 

Restrictive covenants on our debt instruments may limit our ability to take actions that may be in our best interests. If we fail to comply with our covenants, our debt may be accelerated.

 

Our business depends on the demand for wireless communications and towers, and we may be adversely affected by any slowdown in such demand.

 

The loss, consolidation, network sharing or financial instability of any of our limited number of customers may materially decrease revenues.

 

An economic or wireless telecommunications industry slowdown may materially and adversely affect our business and the business of our customers.

 

We operate in a competitive industry and some of our competitors have significantly more resources or less debt than we do.

 

Technology changes may significantly reduce the demand for site leases and negatively impact our revenues.

 

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2.5G/3G and other technologies, including digital terrestrial television, may not deploy or be adopted by customers as rapidly or in the manner projected.

 

We generally lease or sublease the land under our sites and towers and may not be able to maintain these leases.

 

Our international operations expose us to changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

 

We may need additional financing, which may not be available, for strategic growth opportunities or contractual obligations.

 

Fluctuations in market interest rates may increase interest expense relating to our floating rate indebtedness.

 

Laws and regulations, which may change at any time and with which we may fail to comply, regulate our business.

 

Our network services business has historically experienced significant volatility in demand, which reduces the predictability of our results.

 

We are heavily dependent on our senior management.

 

We may suffer from future claims if radio frequency emissions from equipment on our sites and towers are demonstrated to cause negative health effects.

 

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and operative agreements and domestic and international competition laws may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us or for us to acquire control of a third party, even if such a change in control would be beneficial to our stockholders.

 

Sales or issuances of a substantial number of shares of our common stock may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

Disputes with customers and suppliers may adversely affect results.

 

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. More information about potential factors which could affect our results is included in the Risk Factors sections of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

As a result of our international operating, investing and financing activities, we are exposed to market risks, which include changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial position. In attempting to minimize the risks and/or costs associated with such activities, we seek to manage exposure to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates where economically prudent to do so.

 

Certain of the financial instruments we have used to obtain capital are subject to market risks from fluctuations in market interest rates. The majority of our financial instruments, however, are long-term fixed interest rate notes and debentures. A fluctuation in market interest rates of one percentage point in 2004 would impact our interest expense by approximately $13.9 million. As of March 31, 2004, we have approximately $1,467.0 million of floating rate indebtedness, of which $75.6 million has been effectively converted to fixed rate indebtedness through the use of an interest rate swap agreement.

 

The majority of our foreign currency transactions are denominated in the British pound sterling or the Australian dollar, which are the functional currencies of CCUK and CCAL, respectively. As a result of CCUK’s and CCAL’s transactions being denominated and settled in such functional currencies, the risks associated with currency fluctuations are primarily associated with foreign currency translation adjustments. However, since we are now able to access cash distributions from CCUK upon its inclusion in our restricted borrowing group, we are subject to currency fluctuations on any such amounts distributed. We do not currently hedge against foreign currency translation risks and do not currently believe that foreign currency exchange risk is significant to our operations.

 

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The foreign currency exchange rates used to translate the 2003 and 2004 financial statements for CCUK and CCAL were as follows:

 

    

CCUK

(British pound sterling)


  

CCAL

(Australian dollar)


Average exchange rate for:

             

January 2003

   $ 1.6175    $ 0.5829

February 2003

     1.6079      0.5956

March 2003

     1.5825      0.6015

January 2004

     1.8255      0.7717

February 2004

     1.8673      0.7770

March 2004

     1.8400      0.7496

Ending exchange rate for:

             

December 2003

     1.7842      0.7520

March 2004

     1.8261      0.7620

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in alerting them in a timely manner to material information relating to the Company required to be included in the Company’s periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits:

 

11.1    Computation of Net Loss Per Common Share
12.1    Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

 

The Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 24, 2003 with the SEC on January 6, 2004 reporting under Item 5 that following receipt of the requisite consents from holders of each of its 10 3/8% Senior Discount Notes due 2011 and its 11¼% Senior Discount Notes due 2011, obtained in connection with the Registrant’s tender offer and consent solicitation in respect of such notes, the Registrant entered into a supplemental indenture relating to each of such notes.

 

The Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 7, 2004 with the SEC on January 12, 2004 reporting under Item 5 that following receipt of the requisite consents from holders of each of its 9½% Senior Notes

 

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due 2011 and its 9% Senior Notes due 2011, obtained in connection with the Registrant’s tender offer and consent solicitation in respect of such notes, the Registrant entered into a supplemental indenture relating to each of such notes.

 

The Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 18, 2004 with the SEC on February 19, 2004 furnishing under Item 12 a press release dated February 18, 2004 disclosing the Company’s financial results for the fourth quarter and year-ended 2003.

 

The Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 1, 2004 with the SEC on March 2, 2004 furnishing under Item 12 a press release dated March 1, 2004 regarding moving the recognition of a loss related to the extinguishment of the tendered 9% and 9.5% Senior Notes from the fourth quarter of 2003 to the first quarter of 2004.

 

The Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 14, 2004 with the SEC on April 15, 2004 furnishing under Item 12 a press release dated April 14, 2004 announcing that the Registrant had increased certain elements of its outlook for full year 2004.

 

 

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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.

 

       

CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP.

Date: May 6, 2004       By:   /s/    W. BENJAMIN MORELAND        
             
               

W. Benjamin Moreland

Executive Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

         
Date: May 6, 2004       By:   /s/    WESLEY D. CUNNINGHAM        
             
               

Wesley D. Cunningham

Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer

and Corporate Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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