American Tower Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results

American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Jim Taiclet, American Tower’s Chief Executive Officer stated, "2009 has been a very successful year thus far for American Tower, both operationally and financially. Our achievements to date include the integration of over 2,650 new communications sites into our portfolio, while maintaining our industry leading Adjusted EBITDA Margin. In addition, the recent upgrades of our credit rating to investment grade enabled us to issue 4.625% senior unsecured notes, by far the lowest cost unsecured notes we have achieved to date. These trends highlight our disciplined capital allocation process and strong balance sheet which we believe will continue to provide a foundation for strong Core Growth beyond 2009.”

Operating Highlights

American Tower generated the following operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 (unless otherwise indicated, all comparative information is presented against the quarter ended September 30, 2008):

Total revenues increased 8.5% to $444.1 million, and rental and management segment revenues increased 9.2% to $430.5 million. Rental and management segment revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 includes $6.7 million of one-time revenue related to a termination agreement with one of the Company’s broadcast customers. In addition, rental and management segment revenue growth was negatively impacted by approximately 2.1% due to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and 0.9% due to straight-line revenue recognition. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, straight-line revenue recognition and the one-time revenue item described above, our Core Growth in rental and management segment revenue was 10.3%. Rental and management segment Gross Margin increased 9.4% to $333.0 million. Network development services revenue and Gross Margin were $13.6 million and $6.1 million, respectively.

Total selling, general, administrative and development expense was $47.9 million. The Company’s selling, general, administrative and development expense for the quarter included $13.0 million of stock-based compensation expense.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 9.6% to $304.2 million, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 68%. Adjusted EBITDA growth was negatively impacted by approximately 1.4% due to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and 0.8% due to straight-line revenue and expense recognition. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, straight-line revenue recognition and the one-time revenue item described above, our Core Growth in Adjusted EBITDA was 9.2%.

Operating income was $179.1 million and net income was $67.4 million. Net income per basic and diluted common share was $0.17.

The Company is introducing a new performance metric, Recurring Free Cash Flow, which it believes better measures the performance of its underlying assets and reflects the amount that may be available for the Company to reinvest into the business through discretionary capital expenditures and acquisitions or return to shareholders. During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, Recurring Free Cash Flow increased 16.3% to $206.0 million and Recurring Free Cash Flow per Share increased 18.6% to $0.51.

Investing Highlights

During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, cash provided by operating activities of $240.1 million, less $68.6 million in capital expenditures, resulted in Free Cash Flow of $171.5 million. Discretionary capital expenditures of $50.5 million included $32.9 million for the construction of new communications sites and the installation of shared back-up power generators and $17.6 million for the purchase of land under our towers. Additionally, the Company spent $12.0 million for capital improvements and corporate capital expenditures and $6.0 million for the augmentation of existing sites to accommodate new equipment. Separately, the Company spent $67.9 million on acquisitions.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, the Company completed the construction of 267 communications sites and purchased 304 communications sites, including our previously announced acquisition of 230 communications sites in Brazil. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company acquired an additional 326 communications sites in India.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased a total of 3.6 million shares of its Class A common stock for approximately $117.6 million pursuant to its stock repurchase program. As of October 23, 2009, the Company had repurchased approximately 19.9 million shares of its Class A common stock for approximately $721.3 million under its $1.5 billion stock repurchase program announced in March 2008, which includes approximately 20,800 shares of Class A common stock repurchased for approximately $0.8 million subsequent to September 30, 2009. The Company will continue to manage the pacing of the program in the future in response to general market conditions and other relevant factors.

Please refer to Non-GAAP and Defined Financial Measures on pages 3 and 4 for definitions of Rental and Management Segment Gross Margin, Network Development Services Segment Gross Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Recurring Free Cash Flow, Recurring Free Cash Flow per Share, Core Growth and Free Cash Flow. For additional financial information, including reconciliations to GAAP measures, please refer to the supplemental schedules of selected financial information on pages 8 through 12.

Reaffirming Full Year 2009 Outlook

Based on its continued strong operating performance, the Company is reaffirming its Full Year 2009 Outlook that was provided on July 29, 2009.

These estimates are based on a number of assumptions that management believes to be reasonable, and reflect the Company’s expectations as of November 3, 2009. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates as a result of various factors, and we refer you to the cautionary language regarding "forward-looking” statements included in this press release when considering this information.

Conference Call Information

American Tower will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its third quarter 2009 financial results. Supplemental materials for the call will be available on the Company’s website www.americantower.com. The conference call dial-in numbers are as follows:

A replay of the call will be available from 10:30 a.m. ET November 3, 2009 until 11:59 p.m. ET November 17, 2009. The replay dial-in numbers are as follows:

American Tower will also sponsor a live simulcast of the call on its website, www.americantower.com. When available, a replay of the call will be available on the Company’s website.

About American Tower

American Tower is a leading independent owner, operator and developer of broadcast and wireless communications sites. American Tower currently owns and operates approximately 26,700 communications sites in the United States, Mexico, Brazil and India. For more information about American Tower, please visit www.americantower.com.

Non-GAAP and Defined Financial Measures

In addition to the results prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) provided throughout this press release, the Company has presented the following non-GAAP and defined financial measures: Rental and Management Segment Gross Margin, Network Development Services Segment Gross Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Recurring Free Cash Flow, Recurring Free Cash Flow per Share, Core Growth and Free Cash Flow. The Company defines Rental and Management Segment Gross Margin as operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion, other operating expenses, stock-based compensation expense, corporate expenses, international business development expenses, rental and management segment overhead, network development services segment overhead, network development services segment operating expenses, network development services segment revenue, plus interest income, TV Azteca, net. The Company defines Network Development Services Segment Gross Margin as operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion, other operating expenses, stock-based compensation expense, corporate expenses, international business development expenses, network development services segment overhead, rental and management segment overhead, rental and management segment operating expenses, and rental and management segment revenue. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion, other operating expenses, and stock-based compensation expense, plus interest income, TV Azteca, net. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA Margin as the percentage that results from dividing Adjusted EBITDA by total revenue. The Company defines Recurring Free Cash Flow as Adjusted EBITDA before straight-line revenue and expense, plus interest income, less interest expense, cash paid for income taxes and cash payments related to redevelopment, capital improvement and corporate capital expenditures. The Company defines Recurring Free Cash Flow per Share as Recurring Free Cash Flow divided by the diluted weighted average common shares outstanding. The Company defines Core Growth in rental and management segment revenue and Adjusted EBITDA as the increase or decrease, expressed as a percentage, resulting from a comparison of financial results for a current period with corresponding financial results for the corresponding period in a prior year, in each case, excluding the impact of straight-line revenue and expense recognition, foreign currency fluctuations, and material one-time items. The Company defines Free Cash Flow as cash provided by operating activities less payments for purchase of property and equipment and construction activities. These measures are not intended to replace financial performance measures determined in accordance with GAAP. Rather, they are presented as additional information because management believes they are useful indicators of the current financial performance of the Company’s core businesses. The Company believes that these measures can assist in comparing company performances on a consistent basis irrespective of depreciation and amortization or capital structure. Depreciation and amortization can vary significantly among companies depending on accounting methods, particularly where acquisitions or non-operating factors, including historical cost bases, are involved. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s measures of Rental and Management Segment Gross Margin, Network Development Services Segment Gross Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Recurring Free Cash Flow, Recurring Free Cash Flow per Share, Core Growth and Free Cash Flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" concerning the Company’s goals, beliefs, expectations, strategies, objectives, plans, future operating results and underlying assumptions, and other statements that are not necessarily based on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding our full year 2009 outlook, our stock repurchase programs, the financial strength of certain of our customers and foreign currency exchange rates. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: (1) decrease in demand for our communications sites would materially and adversely affect our operating results and we cannot control that demand; (2) if our wireless service provider customers consolidate or merge with each other to a significant degree, our growth, revenue and ability to generate positive cash flows could be adversely affected; (3) substantial leverage and debt service obligations may adversely affect us; (4) restrictive covenants in the loan agreement for the revolving credit facility and term loan, the indentures governing our debt securities, and the loan agreement related to our securitization transaction could adversely affect our business by limiting flexibility; (5) we could suffer adverse tax and other financial consequences if taxing authorities do not agree with our tax positions, or we are unable to utilize our net operating losses; (6) due to the long-term expectations of revenue from tenant leases, the tower industry is sensitive to the creditworthiness and financial strength of its tenants; (7) our foreign operations are subject to economic, political, and other risks that could adversely affect our revenues or financial position, including risks associated with foreign currency exchange rates; (8) a substantial portion of our revenue is derived from a small number of customers; (9) we anticipate that we may need additional financing to fund our stock repurchase programs, to refinance our existing indebtedness and to fund future growth and expansion initiatives; (10) new technologies could make our tower leasing business less desirable to potential tenants and result in decreasing revenues; (11) we could have liability under environmental laws; (12) our business is subject to government regulations and changes in current or future laws or regulations could restrict our ability to operate our business as we currently do; (13) increasing competition in the tower industry may create pricing pressures that may adversely affect us; (14) if we are unable to protect our rights to the land under our towers, it could adversely affect our business and operating results; (15) if we are unable or choose not to exercise our rights to purchase towers that are subject to lease and sublease agreements at the end of the applicable period, our cash flows derived from such towers would be eliminated; (16) our towers may be affected by natural disasters and other unforeseen damage for which our insurance may not provide adequate coverage; (17) our costs could increase and our revenues could decrease due to perceived health risks from radio emissions, especially if these perceived risks are substantiated; and (18) our historical stock option granting practices are subject to ongoing governmental proceedings, which could result in fines, penalties or other liability. For other important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the information contained in Item 1A of our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 under the caption "Risk Factors." We undertake no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances.

Rental and management segment straight-line revenue and expense:

In accordance with GAAP, the Company recognizes rental and management segment revenue and expense related to non-cancelable customer and ground lease agreements with fixed escalations on a straight-line basis, over the applicable lease term. As a result, the Company’s revenue recognized may differ materially from the amount of cash collected per customer lease, and the Company’s expense incurred may differ materially from the amount of cash paid per ground lease. Additional information regarding straight-line accounting can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. A summary of rental and management segment straight-line revenue and expense, which represents the non-cash revenue and expense recorded due to straight-line recognition, is as follows: