-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, VPLm3UHNRKLTlQ4a5jIxdkx7ntA5ulNpVYHDeAMdFzemIdIp1h/99tADZGZ3DvU1 3BCa4cZq9C4NT2GARbfOtg== 0001193125-05-052876.txt : 20050316 0001193125-05-052876.hdr.sgml : 20050316 20050316170511 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-05-052876 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 12 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20041231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050316 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050316 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001034054 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: COMMUNICATION SERVICES, NEC [4899] IRS NUMBER: 650716501 STATE OF INCORPORATION: FL FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-30110 FILM NUMBER: 05686334 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE TOWN CENTER RD STREET 2: THIRD FLOOR CITY: BOCA RATON STATE: FL ZIP: 33486 BUSINESS PHONE: 5619957670 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE TOWN CENTER RD STREET 2: THIRD FLOOR CITY: BOCA RATON STATE: FL ZIP: 33486 10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number: 000-30110

 


 

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Florida   65-0716501

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

5900 Broken Sound Parkway NW

Boca Raton, Florida

  33487
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (561) 995-7670

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Class A common stock, $.01 par value

 


 

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

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $164.6 million as of June 30, 2004.

 

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s common stock (as of March 8, 2005):

 

Class A common stock—65,377,083 shares

 

Documents Incorporated By Reference

 

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its 2005 annual meeting of shareholders, which proxy statement will be filed no later than 120 days after the close of the Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, are hereby incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 



PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

General

 

We are a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications towers in the Eastern third of the United States. We generate revenues from our two businesses, site leasing and site development. In our site leasing business, we lease antenna space to wireless service providers on towers and other structures that we own, manage or lease from others. The towers that we own have been constructed by us at the request of a carrier, built or constructed based on our own initiative or acquired. As of December 31, 2004, we owned 3,060 towers in continuing operations, approximately 60% of which we have built ourselves. In our site development business, we offer wireless service providers assistance in developing and maintaining their own wireless service networks. Since our founding in 1989, we have participated in the development of more than 25,000 antenna sites in 49 of the 51 major wireless markets in the United States.

 

Site Leasing Services

 

Our primary focus is the leasing of antenna space on our multi-tenant towers to a variety of wireless service providers under long-term lease contracts. Our site leasing business generates substantially all of our gross profit. Our activities are focused in the Eastern third of the United States where substantially all of our towers are located. We believe that over the long term our site leasing revenues will continue to grow as wireless service providers lease additional antenna space on our towers due to increasing minutes of network use and network coverage requirements. We lease antenna space on the towers we have constructed, the towers we have acquired, and the towers we lease, sublease and/or manage for third parties. Our site leasing revenue comes from a variety of wireless carrier tenants, including ALLTEL, Cingular, Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless, and we believe our current tower portfolio positions us to take advantage of wireless carriers’ antenna and equipment deployment. We believe our site leasing business is characterized by stable and long-term recurring revenues, predictable operating costs and minimal capital expenditures. Due to the relatively young age and mix of our tower portfolio, we expect future expenditures required to maintain these towers will be minimal. Consequently, we expect to grow our cash flows by adding tenants to our towers at minimal incremental costs by using existing tower capacity or requiring carriers to bear all or a portion of the cost of tower modifications. Because our towers are strategically positioned and our customers typically do not re-locate, we have historically experienced low customer churn as a percentage of revenue. Our lease contracts typically have terms of five years or more with multiple term tenant renewal options and provide for annual rent escalators.

 

During 2004 we announced our intention to re-commence, on a limited basis, our new build program. The towers under our new build program will be constructed either under build-to-suit arrangements or in locations chosen by us. Under our build-to-suit arrangements, we will build towers for a wireless service provider on a location of their direction. We retain ownership of the tower and the exclusive right to co-locate additional tenants on the tower. In addition, we intend on building towers on locations chosen by us. Based on our knowledge of our customers’ needs, we seek to identify attractive locations for new towers and complete pre-construction procedures necessary to secure the site concurrently with our leasing efforts. Our intent is that each of our new builds will have at least one tenant on the day that it is completed and we expect that many will have multiple tenants. We expect to build a total of 50 to 75 new towers during 2005.

 

The table below provides information regarding the development and status of our tower portfolio over the past five years.

 

     As of December 31,

     2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

   2000

Towers owned at beginning of period

   3,093     3,877     3,734     2,390    1,163

Towers constructed

   10     13     141     667    779

Towers acquired

   5     —       53     677    448

Towers reclassified/disposed of (1)

   (42 )   (797 )   (51 )   —      —  
    

 

 

 
  

Towers owned at end of period

   3,066     3,093     3,877     3,734    2,390
    

 

 

 
  

Towers held for sale at end of period

   6     47     837     815    552

Towers in continuing operations at end of period

   3,060     3,046     3,040     2,919    1,838
    

 

 

 
  

Towers owned at end of period

   3,066     3,093     3,877     3,734    2,390
    

 

 

 
  

 

1


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

 

As of December 31, 2004, we had 7,257 tenants on our 3,060 towers included in continuing operations.

 

At December 31, 2004, our same tower revenue growth (defined as year over year growth on towers owned at December 31, 2003 that were still owned by the Company at December 31, 2004) was 14% and our same tower site leasing gross profit growth was 20% on the 3,053 towers we owned as of December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004 in continuing operations.

 

The following chart includes details regarding our site leasing revenue and gross profit percentage:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
     (dollars in thousands)  

Site leasing revenue

   $ 144,004     $ 127,852     $ 115,121  

Percentage of total revenue

     62.2 %     66.6 %     53.7 %

Site leasing gross profit percentage contribution of total

     94.1 %     93.5 %     79.4 %

 

To help maximize the revenue and profit we earn from our capital investment in our towers, we provide services at our tower locations beyond the leasing of antenna space. The services we provide, or may provide in the future, include generator provisioning, antenna installation, equipment installation, maintenance, and backhaul, which is the transport of the wireless signals transmitted or received by an antenna to a carrier’s network. Some of these services are part of our site leasing services (e.g., the generator provisioning) and are recurring in nature, and are contracted for by a wireless carrier or other user in a manner similar to the way they lease antenna space.

 

Site Development Services

 

Our site development business consists of two segments, site development consulting and site development construction, through which we provide wireless service providers a full range of end-to-end services. In the consulting segment of our site development business, we offer clients the following services: (1) network pre-design; (2) site audits; (3) identification of potential locations for towers and antennas; (4) support in buying or leasing of the location; and (5) assistance in obtaining zoning approvals and permits. In the construction segment of our site development business we provide a number of services, including, but not limited to the following: (1) tower and related site construction; (2) antenna installation; and (3) radio equipment installation, commissioning and maintenance. During 2004, we completed our previously announced plan to exit the services business in the Western portion of the United States based on our determination that this business was no longer beneficial to our site leasing business. Consequently, our services business is focused in the Northeast and Southeast regions of the U.S. In these regions we are involved in major projects with most of the major wireless communications and services companies. Our site development customers include Bechtel Corporation, Cingular, General Dynamics, Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless.

 

Business Strategy

 

Our primary strategy is to capture the maximum benefits from our position as a leading owner and operator of wireless communications towers. Key elements of our strategy include:

 

Focusing on Site Leasing Business with Stable, Recurring Revenues. We intend to continue to focus on and allocate substantially all of our capital resources to expanding our site leasing business due to its attractive characteristics such as long-term contracts, built-in rent escalators, high operating margins and low customer churn. The long-term nature of the revenue stream of our site leasing business makes it less volatile than our site development business, which is more reactive to changes in industry conditions. By focusing on our site leasing business, we believe that we can maintain a stable, recurring cash flow stream and reduce our exposure to cyclical changes in customer spending.

 

Maximizing Use of Tower Capacity. We generally have constructed our towers to accommodate multiple tenants and a substantial majority of our towers are high capacity lattice or guyed towers. Most of our towers have significant capacity available for additional antennas and we believe that increased use of our towers can be achieved at a low incremental cost. We actively market space on our towers through our internal sales force.

 

2


Geographically Focusing our Tower Ownership. We have decided to focus our tower ownership geographically in the Eastern third of the United States. We believe that focusing our site leasing activities in this smaller geographic area, where we have a higher concentration of towers, will improve our operating efficiencies and reduce our overhead expenses and procure higher revenue per tower.

 

Disciplined Capital Expenditures While Reducing our Leverage. Over the last two years, we have successfully reduced our leverage and implemented a disciplined level of capital expenditures. While we plan on selectively investing in new tower builds and/or tower acquisitions that we believe present good business opportunities, we intend that these investments will be consistent with our commitment to proactively manage our level of capital expenditures and reduce our leverage below current levels.

 

Using our Local Presence to Build Strong Relationships with Major Wireless Service Providers. Given the nature of towers as location specific communications facilities, we believe that substantially all of what we do is best done locally. Consequently, we have a broad field organization that allows us to develop and capitalize on our experience, expertise and relationships in each of our local markets which in turn enhances our customer relationships. Due to our presence in local markets, we believe we are well positioned to capture additional site leasing business and new tower build opportunities in our markets and identify and participate in site development projects across our markets.

 

Capturing Other Revenues That Flow From our Tower Ownership. To help maximize the revenue and profit we earn from capital investment in our towers, we provide services at our tower locations beyond the leasing of antenna space, including antenna installation and equipment installation. Because of our ownership of the tower, our control of the tower site and experience and capabilities in providing installation services, we believe that we are well positioned to perform more of these services and capture the related revenue.

 

Capitalizing on our Management Experience. Our management team has extensive experience in site leasing and site development services. Management believes that its industry expertise and strong relationships with wireless carriers will allow us to expand our position as a leading provider of site leasing and site development services.

 

Company Services

 

We provide our services on a local basis, through regional offices, territory offices and project offices, some of which are opened and closed on a project-by-project basis. Operationally, we are divided into two regions in the Eastern portion of the United States, run by vice presidents. Each region is divided into geographic territories run by local managers. Within each manager’s geographic area of responsibility, he or she is responsible for all site development operations, including hiring employees and opening or closing project offices, and a substantial portion of the sales in such area.

 

Our executive, corporate development, accounting, finance, human resources, legal and regulatory, information technology and site administration personnel, and our network operations center are located in our headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida. Certain sales, new tower build support and tower maintenance personnel are also located in our Boca Raton office.

 

Customers

 

Since commencing operations, we have performed site leasing and site development services for most of the largest wireless service providers. The majority of our contracts have been for PCS, enhanced specialized mobile radio, or ESMR, and cellular providers of wireless telephony services. We also serve wireless data and Internet, paging, PCS narrowband, specialized mobile radio, multi-channel multi-point distribution service, or MMDS, and multi-point distribution service, or MDS, wireless providers. In both our site development and site leasing businesses, we work with large national providers and smaller local, regional or private operators. We depend on a relatively small number of customers for our site leasing and site development revenues. The following customers represented at least 10% of our total revenues during at least one of the last three years:

 

    

Percentage of Total Revenues

For the year ended December 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Cingular (including AT&T Wireless)

   22.7 %   20.3 %   14.5 %

Sprint PCS

   15.7 %   8.6 %   5.2 %

Bechtel Corporation

   6.1 %   10.4 %   13.8 %

 

3


During the past two years, we provided services for a number of customers, including:

 

Airgate PCS

     Nextel

Alamosa PCS

     Nextel Partners

ALLTEL

     Nokia

Bechtel Corporation

     PAC 17/A.F.L.

Cingular (including AT&T Wireless)

     Siemens

Dobson Cellular Systems

     Sprint PCS

General Dynamics

     T-Mobile

Horizon PCS

     Triton PCS

Leap Wireless

     U.S. Cellular

MA - COMM

    

U.S. Unwired

Metro PCS

     Verizon Wireless

Motorola

      

 

Sales and Marketing

 

Our sales and marketing goals are to:

 

    use existing relationships, and develop new relationships, with wireless service providers to lease antenna space on and sell related services with respect to our owned or managed towers, enabling us to grow our site leasing business; and

 

    sell our site development services to those wireless service providers that have an actual or potential financial or strategic benefit to our site leasing business.

 

We approach sales on a company-wide basis, involving many of our employees. We have a dedicated sales force that is supplemented by members of our executive management team. Our dedicated salespeople are based regionally as well as in the corporate office. We also rely on our regional vice presidents, general managers and other operations personnel to sell our services and cultivate customers. Our strategy is to delegate sales efforts to those employees of ours who have the best relationships with our customers. Most wireless service providers have national corporate headquarters with regional and local offices. We believe that providers make most decisions for site development and site leasing services at the regional and local levels with input from their corporate headquarters. Our sales representatives work with provider representatives at the regional and local levels and at the national level when appropriate. Our sales staff compensation is heavily weighted to incentive-based goals and measurements. A substantial number of our operations personnel have revenue and gross profit-based incentive components in their compensation plans.

 

In addition to our marketing and sales staff, we rely upon our executive and operations personnel at the regional and territory office levels to identify sales opportunities within existing customer accounts.

 

Our primary marketing and sales support is centralized and directed from our headquarters office in Boca Raton, Florida and is supplemented by our regional and territory offices. We have a full-time staff dedicated to our marketing efforts. The marketing and sales support staff is charged with implementing our marketing strategies, prospecting and producing sales presentation materials and proposals.

 

Competition

 

We compete with:

 

    other large independent tower companies;

 

    smaller local independent tower operators.

 

    site development companies that acquire antenna space on existing towers for wireless service providers, manage new tower construction and provide site development services;

 

    program management firms that operate in the wireless arena; and

 

    wireless service providers that own and operate their own towers and lease, or may in the future decide to lease, antenna space to other providers;

 

Wireless service providers that own and operate their own tower networks and several of the other tower companies generally are substantially larger and have greater financial resources than we do. We believe that tower location and capacity, quality of service, density within a geographic market and, to a lesser extent, price historically have been and will continue to be the most significant competitive factors affecting the site leasing business.

 

4


Our primary competitors for our site leasing activities and generating new tower assets are five large independent tower companies, American Tower Corporation, Crown Castle International Corp., Global Signal, Inc., SpectraSite, Inc., and AAT Communications Corp., and a large number of smaller independent tower owners. In addition, we compete with wireless service providers who currently market excess space on their owned towers to other wireless service providers.

 

We believe that the majority of our competitors in the site development business operate within local market areas exclusively, while some firms appear to offer their services nationally, including American Tower Corporation, Alcoa Fujikura Ltd., Bechtel Corporation, Black & Veach Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, LCC International, Inc. and Wireless Facilities, Inc. The market includes participants from a variety of market segments offering individual, or combinations of, competing services. The field of competitors includes site development consultants, zoning consultants, real estate firms, right-of-way consulting firms, construction companies, tower owners/managers, radio frequency engineering consultants, telecommunications equipment vendors, which provide end-to-end site development services through multiple subcontractors, and providers’ internal staff. We believe that providers base their decisions for site development services on a number of criteria, including a company’s experience, track record, local reputation, price and time for completion of a project. We believe that we compete favorably in these areas.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2004, we had approximately 475 employees, none of whom is represented by a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our employee relations to be good.

 

Regulatory and Environmental Matters

 

Federal Regulations. Both the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) and the Federal Aviation Administration (the “FAA”) regulate antenna towers and structures that support wireless communications and radio or television antennas. Many FAA requirements are implemented in FCC regulations. These regulations govern the construction, lighting and painting or other marking of towers and structures and may, depending on the characteristics of particular towers or structures, require prior approval and registration of towers or structures. Wireless communications equipment and radio or television stations operating on towers or structures are separately regulated and may require independent licensing depending upon the particular frequency or frequency band used.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, the FCC, in conjunction with the FAA, has developed standards to consider proposals involving new or modified antenna towers or structures. These standards mandate that the FCC and the FAA consider the height of the proposed tower or structure, the relationship of the tower or structure to existing natural or man-made obstructions and the proximity of the tower or structure to runways and airports. Proposals to construct or to modify existing towers or structures above certain heights must be reviewed by the FAA to ensure the structure will not present a hazard to air navigation. The FAA may condition its issuance of a no-hazard determination upon compliance with specified lighting and/or painting requirements. Antenna towers that meet certain height and location criteria must also be registered with the FCC. A tower or structure that requires FAA clearance will not be registered by the FCC until it is cleared by the FAA. Upon registration, the FCC may also require special lighting and/or painting. Owners of wireless communications antenna towers and structures may have an obligation to maintain painting and lighting or other marking in conformance with FAA and FCC standards. Antenna tower and structure owners and licensees that operate on those towers or structures also bear the responsibility of monitoring any lighting systems and notifying the FAA of any lighting outage or malfunction. In addition, any applicant for an FCC antenna tower or structure registration must certify that, consistent with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, neither the applicant nor its principals are subject to a denial of Federal benefits because of a conviction for the possession or distribution of a controlled substance. We generally indemnify our customers against any failure to comply with applicable regulatory standards. Failure to comply with the applicable requirements may lead to civil penalties.

 

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 amended the Communications Act of 1934 by preserving state and local zoning authorities’ jurisdiction over the construction, modification and placement of towers. The law, however, limits local zoning authority by prohibiting any action that would (1) discriminate among different providers of personal wireless services or (2) ban altogether the construction, modification or placement of radio communication towers. Finally, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires the federal government to help licensees for wireless communications services gain access to preferred sites for their facilities. This may require that federal agencies and departments work directly with licensees to make federal property available for tower facilities.

 

Owners and operators of antenna towers and structures may be subject to, and therefore must comply with, environmental laws. Any licensed radio facility on an antenna tower or structure is subject to environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, among other statutes, which requires federal agencies to evaluate the

 

5


environmental impact of their decisions under certain circumstances. The FCC has issued regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act. These regulations place responsibility on applicants to investigate potential environmental effects of their operations and to disclose any potential significant effects on the environment in an environmental assessment prior to constructing or modifying an antenna tower or structure and prior to commencing certain operation of wireless communications or radio or television stations from the tower or structure. In the event the FCC determines the proposed structure or operation would have a significant environmental impact based on the standards the FCC has developed, the FCC would be required to prepare an environmental impact statement, which will be subject to public comment. This process could significantly delay the registration of a particular tower or structure.

 

As an owner and operator of real property, we are subject to certain environmental laws that impose strict, joint and several liability for the cleanup of on-site or off-site contamination and related personal or property damage. We are also subject to certain environmental laws that govern tower or structure placement, including pre-construction environmental studies. Operators of towers or structures must also take into consideration certain radio frequency (“RF”) emissions regulations that impose a variety of procedural and operating requirements. Certain proposals to operate wireless communications and radio or television stations from antenna towers and structures are also reviewed by the FCC to ensure compliance with requirements relating to human exposure to RF emissions. Exposure to high levels of RF energy can produce negative health effects. The potential connection between low-level RF energy and certain negative health effects, including some forms of cancer, has been the subject of substantial study by the scientific community in recent years. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with and we have no material liability under any applicable environmental laws. These costs of compliance with existing or future environmental laws and liability related thereto may have a material adverse effect on our prospects, financial condition or results of operations.

 

State and Local Regulations. Most states regulate certain aspects of real estate acquisition, leasing activities and construction activities. Where required, we conduct the site acquisition portions of our site development services business through licensed real estate brokers’ agents, who may be our employees or hired as independent contractors, and conduct the construction portions of our site development services through licensed contractors, who may be our employees or independent contractors. Local regulations include city and other local ordinances, zoning restrictions and restrictive covenants imposed by community developers. These regulations vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but typically require tower and structure owners to obtain approval from local officials or community standards organizations, or certain other entities prior to tower or structure construction and establish regulations regarding maintenance and removal of towers or structures. In addition, many local zoning authorities require tower and structure owners to post bonds or cash collateral to secure their removal obligations. Local zoning authorities generally have been unreceptive to construction of new antenna towers and structures in their communities because of the height and visibility of the towers or structures, and have, in some instances, instituted moratoria.

 

Backlog

 

Our backlog of pending leases for antenna space on our towers varies from time to time and reflects the relatively short-cycle of three to six months of the antenna space leasing process. Leasing backlogs vary widely within a fiscal quarter, and are generally lowest on the last day of a quarter as our customers strive to meet their own quarterly antenna site deployment goals. Backlog related to our site leasing business consists of lease agreements and amendments which have been executed with customers but have not begun generating revenue. As of December 31, 2004 we had 113 new leases and 4 amendments which had been executed with customers but which had not begun generating revenue. These leases contractually provided for approximately $2.5 million of annual revenue. As of December 31, 2003 we had 116 new leases and 15 amendments which had been executed with customers but which had not begun generating revenue. These leases contractually provided for approximately $2.6 million of annual revenue.

 

Backlog related to our site development services business consists of work under contracts executed with customers that have not yet commenced and thus have not begun generating revenue. Our backlog for site development services was approximately $62 million of contractually committed revenue as of December 31, 2004 as compared to approximately $80 million as of December 31, 2003. The decrease in 2004 is attributable to a 2003 contract signed with Sprint for site development work which is expected to be completed by mid 2006. This contract represented approximately $46 million in backlog as of December 31, 2004 and approximately $60 million in backlog as of December 31, 2003.

 

Backlog related to our tower acquisition efforts consists of pending acquisitions under signed purchase agreements which have not yet closed. Our backlog for pending tower acquisitions as of December 31, 2004 was approximately $8.1 million. We did not have any pending acquisitions as of December 31, 2003.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

We may not be able to service our substantial indebtedness.

 

As indicated below, we have and will continue to have a significant amount of indebtedness relative to our equity.

 

6


     As of December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 
     (in thousands)  

Total indebtedness*

   $ 925,797     $ 866,199  

Shareholders’ deficit

   $ (88,671 )   $ (1,566 )

* Excludes deferred gain on interest rate swap of $1,909 at December 31, 2004 and $4,559 at December 31, 2003.

 

Our ability to service our debt obligations will depend on our future operating performance. Our earnings were insufficient to cover our fixed charges for the year ended December 31, 2004 by $143.3 million and $173.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. Based on our outstanding debt at December 31, 2004 we would require approximately $46.0 million of cash flow from operating activities (before net cash interest expenses) to discharge our cash interest and principal obligations for the year ending December 31, 2005. By comparison, for the year ended December 31, 2004, we generated $93.2 million of cash flow from operating activities (before net cash interest expenses). In order to manage our substantial amount of indebtedness, we may from time to time sell assets, issue equity, or repurchase, restructure or refinance some or all of our debt (all of which we have done at various times in the last two years). In 2003, we sold 784 towers located in the Western two-thirds of the United States and realized gross proceeds of $196.7 million. We may not be able to effectuate any of these alternative strategies on satisfactory terms in the future, if at all. The implementation of any of these alternative strategies may dilute our current shareholders or subject us to additional costs or restrictions on our ability to manage our business and as a result could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and growth strategy.

 

We may not have sufficient liquidity or cash flow from operations to repay the remaining amount of our outstanding senior credit facility, our 9 3/4% senior discount notes or our 8 1/2% senior notes upon their respective maturities. Therefore, prior to the maturity of our outstanding debt we may be required to refinance and/or restructure some or all of this debt. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance or restructure this debt on acceptable terms or at all. If we were unable to refinance, restructure or otherwise repay the principal amount of this debt upon its maturity, we may need to sell assets, cease operations and/or file for protection under the bankruptcy laws.

 

As of December 31, 2004, we had approximately $36.5 million of additional borrowing capacity under our senior credit facility, subject to maintenance covenants, borrowing base limitations and other conditions. Furthermore, we and our subsidiaries may be able to incur significant additional indebtedness in the future, subject to the restrictions contained in our debt instruments, some of which may be secured debt.

 

We may not secure as many site leasing tenants as planned or our lease rates on new leases may decline.

 

If tenant demand for tower space or our lease rates on new leases decrease, we may not be able to successfully grow our site leasing business. This may have a material adverse effect on our strategy, revenue growth and our ability to satisfy our financial and other contractual obligations. Our plan for the growth of our site leasing business largely depends on our management’s expectations and assumptions concerning future tenant demand and potential lease rates for independently owned towers

 

If our wireless service provider customers combine their operations to a significant degree, our growth, our revenue and our ability to service our indebtedness could be adversely affected.

 

Demand for our services may decline if there is significant consolidation among our wireless service provider customers as they may then reduce capital expenditures in the aggregate because many of their existing networks and expansion plans overlap. In January 2003, the spectrum cap, which previously prohibited wireless carriers from owning more than 45 MHz of spectrum in any given geographical area, expired. Some wireless carriers have consolidated with each other and others may be encouraged to consolidate with each other as a result of this regulatory change and as a means to strengthen their financial condition. Economic conditions have resulted in the consolidation of several wireless service providers and this trend is likely to continue. To the extent that our customers consolidate, they may not renew any duplicative leases that they have on our towers and/or may not lease as many spaces on our towers in the future. This would adversely affect our growth, our revenue and our ability to service our indebtedness. In October 2004, Cingular acquired AT&T Wireless. As of December 31, 2004, Cingular and AT&T were both tenants on 355 of our 3,060 towers. The contractual revenue generated by both of these tenants on these 355 towers at December 31, 2004 was approximately $16 million. If, as a result of this transaction, Cingular were not to renew duplicate leases, we could lose up to 50% of such revenue. The average remaining contractual life of such duplicate leases was approximately two years.

 

In January 2005, Sprint PCS and Nextel agreed to merge, which is expected to be consummated in the second half of 2005. As of December 31, 2004, Sprint PCS and Nextel were both tenants on 349 of our 3,060 towers. The contractual revenue generated by both of these tenants on the 349 towers at December 31, 2004 was approximately $16 million. If this merger is consummated and either Sprint PCS or Nextel were not to renew duplicate leases, we could lose up to 50% of such revenue. The average remaining contractual life of such duplicate leases was approximately 2 years.

 

7


Similar consequences may occur if wireless service providers engage in extensive sharing or roaming or resale arrangements as an alternative to leasing our antenna space. Wireless voice service providers frequently enter into roaming agreements with competitors allowing them to use another’s wireless communications facilities to accommodate customers who are out of range of their home provider’s services. Wireless voice service providers may view these roaming agreements as a superior alternative to leasing antenna space on communications sites owned or controlled by us or others. The proliferation of these roaming agreements could have a material adverse effect on our revenue.

 

We depend on a relatively small number of customers for most of our revenue.

 

We derive a significant portion of our revenue from a small number of customers, particularly in our site development services business. The loss of any significant customer could have a material adverse effect on our revenue.

 

The following is a list of significant customers and the percentage of our total revenues for the specified time periods derived from these customers:

 

    

Percentage of Total Revenues

For the year ended December 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Cingular (including AT&T Wireless)

   22.7 %   20.3 %   14.5 %

Sprint PCS

   15.7 %   8.6 %   5.2 %

Bechtel Corporation*

   6.1 %   10.4 %   13.8 %
We also have client concentrations with respect to revenues in each of our financial reporting segments:  
    

Percentage of Site Leasing Revenue

for the year ended December 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Cingular (including AT&T Wireless)

   27.5 %   28.0 %   16.9 %

Verizon

   9.5 %   10.0 %   11.7 %

Nextel

   7.3 %   6.5 %   11.3 %
    

Percentage of Site Development

Consulting Revenue

for the year ended December 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Bechtel Corporation*

   24.7 %   40.3 %   46.2 %

Cingular (including AT&T Wireless)

   26.6 %   4.3 %   16.0 %

Verizon Wireless

   26.1 %   13.6 %   4.5 %

Horizon

   —       1.5 %   13.1 %
    

Percentage of Site Development

Construction Revenue

for the year ended December 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Bechtel Corporation*

   14.5 %   28.9 %   26.2 %

Sprint PCS

   35.8 %   13.1 %   3.0 %

Cingular (including AT&T Wireless)

   11.7 %   5.4 %   13.2 %

T-Mobile

   3.9 %   7.5 %   10.7 %

* Substantially all of the work performed for Bechtel Corporation was for its clients Cingular and AT&T Wireless.

 

8


Revenues from these clients are derived from numerous different site leasing contracts and site development contracts. Each site leasing contract relates to the lease of space at an individual tower site and is generally for an initial term of five years renewable for five five-year periods at the option of the tenant. Our site development customers engage us on a project-by-project basis, and a customer can generally terminate an assignment at any time without penalty. In addition, a customer’s need for site development services can decrease, and we may not be successful in establishing relationships with new customers. Furthermore, our existing customers may not continue to engage us for additional projects.

 

Our substantial indebtedness may negatively impact our ability to implement our business plan.

 

Our substantial indebtedness may negatively impact our ability to implement our business plan. For example, it could:

 

    limit our ability to fund future working capital, capital expenditures and development costs;

 

    limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

 

    increase our vulnerability to general economic and industry conditions;

 

    subject us to interest rate risk;

 

    place us at a competitive disadvantage to our competitors that are less leveraged;

 

    require us to sell debt or equity securities or sell some of our core assets, possibly on unfavorable terms, to meet payment obligations; and

 

    limit our ability to borrow additional funds.

 

We are dependent on the financial stability of our customers and any deterioration in their financial condition may reduce the demand for our services which would adversely affect our growth strategy, revenues and financial condition.

 

Our business depends on the financial stability of our customers. The economic slowdown and intense competition in the wireless and telecommunications industries over the past several years have impaired the financial condition of some of our customers, certain of which operate with substantial leverage and certain of which have filed or may file for bankruptcy. The financial uncertainties facing our customers could reduce demand for our communications sites, increase our bad debt expense and reduce prices on new customer contracts. This could affect our ability to satisfy our obligations.

 

In addition, we may be negatively impacted by our customers’ limited access to debt and equity capital. Recently when capital market conditions were difficult for the telecommunications industry, wireless service providers conserved capital by not spending as much as originally anticipated to finance expansion activities. This decrease adversely impacted demand for our services and consequently our financial condition. As a result, we adjusted our business during 2002 and early 2003 to significantly reduce and subsequently suspend any material investment for new towers and our site development activities. If our customers are not able to access the capital markets in the future, our growth strategy, revenues and financial condition may again be adversely affected.

 

Our debt instruments contain restrictive covenants that could adversely affect our business.

 

Our senior credit facility and the indentures governing our outstanding notes each contain certain restrictive covenants. Among other things, these covenants restrict our ability to:

 

    incur additional indebtedness;

 

    sell assets;

 

    pay dividends, or repurchase our common stock;

 

    make certain investments; and

 

    engage in other restricted payments.

 

If we fail to comply with these covenants, it could result in an event of default under one or all of these debt instruments. The acceleration of amounts due under one of our debt instruments would also cause a cross-default under our other debt instruments.

 

9


SBA Senior Finance Inc. (“SBA Senior Finance”), which owns, directly or indirectly, all of the common stock of our operating subsidiaries, is the borrower under our senior credit facility. The senior credit facility requires SBA Senior Finance to maintain specified financial ratios, including ratios regarding SBA Senior Finance’s debt to annualized operating cash flow, debt service, cash interest expense and fixed charges for each quarter. In addition, the senior credit facility contains additional negative covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to commit to capital expenditures and build towers without anchor tenants. Our ability to meet these financial ratios and tests and comply with these covenants can be affected by events beyond our control, and we may not be able to do so. A breach of any of these covenants, if not remedied within the specified period, could result in an event of default under the senior credit facility.

 

Upon the occurrence of any default, our senior credit facility lenders can prevent us from borrowing any additional amounts under the senior credit facility. In addition, upon the occurrence of any event of default, other than certain bankruptcy events, senior credit facility lenders, by a majority vote, can elect to declare all amounts of principal outstanding under the senior credit facility, together with all accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. The acceleration of amounts due under our senior credit facility would cause a cross-default under our indentures, thereby permitting the acceleration of such indebtedness. If the indebtedness under the senior credit facility and/or indebtedness under our outstanding notes were to be accelerated, our current assets would not be sufficient to repay in full the indebtedness. If we were unable to repay amounts that become due under the senior credit facility, the senior credit lenders could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness. Substantially all of our assets are pledged as security under the senior credit facility. In such an event of default, our assets may not be sufficient to satisfy our obligations under the notes.

 

Due to the long-term expectations of revenue from our tenant leases, we are very sensitive to the creditworthiness of our tenants.

 

Due to the long-term nature of our tenant leases, we, like others in the tower industry, are dependent on the continued financial strength of our tenants. Wireless service providers often operate with substantial leverage, and financial problems for our customers could result in uncollected accounts receivable, the loss of customers and lower than anticipated lease revenues. During the past three years, a number of our site leasing customers have filed for bankruptcy including almost all of our paging customers. Although these bankruptcies have not had a material adverse effect on our business or revenues, any future bankruptcies may have a material adverse effect on our business, revenues, and/or the collectability of our accounts receivable.

 

Our quarterly operating results for our site development services fluctuate and therefore should not be considered indicative of our long-term results.

 

The demand for our site development services fluctuates from quarter to quarter and should not be considered as indicative of long-term results. Numerous factors cause these fluctuations, including:

 

    the timing and amount of our customers’ capital expenditures;

 

    the size and scope of our projects;

 

    the business practices of customers, such as deferring commitments on new projects until after the end of the calendar year or the customers’ fiscal year;

 

    delays relating to a project or tenant installation of equipment;

 

    seasonal factors, such as weather, vacation days and total business days in a quarter;

 

    the use of third party providers by our customers;

 

    the rate and volume of wireless service providers’ network development; and

 

    general economic conditions.

 

Although the demand for our site development services fluctuates, we incur significant fixed costs, such as maintaining a staff and office space in anticipation of future contracts. In addition, the timing of revenues is difficult to forecast because our sales cycle may be relatively long. Therefore, we may not be able to adjust our cost structure in a timely basis to adjust to market slowdowns.

 

We are not profitable and expect to continue to incur losses.

 

We are not profitable. The following chart shows the net losses we incurred for the periods indicated:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

   

2003

as restated


   

2002

as restated


 
     (in thousands)  

Net Loss

   $ (147,280 )   $ (175,148 )   $ (267,087 )

 

10


Our losses are principally due to significant interest expense and depreciation and amortization in each of the periods presented above. For the year ended December 31, 2004, we recorded an asset impairment charge of $7.1 million and a charge associated with the write-off of deferred financing fees and loss on the extinguishment of debt of $41.2 million. We recorded an asset impairment charge of $13.0 million, a charge associated with the loss from write-off of deferred financing fees and extinguishment of debt of $24.2 million, and a restructuring charge of $2.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2003. We recorded restructuring and other charges of $47.8 million, a $60.7 million charge related to the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle related to the adoption of SFAS No. 142, and an asset impairment charge of $24.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2002. We expect to continue to incur significant losses which may affect our ability to service our indebtedness.

 

Increasing competition in the tower industry may adversely affect us.

 

Our industry is highly competitive, particularly with respect to securing quality tower assets and adequate capital to support tower networks. Competitive pressures for tenants on their towers from these competitors could adversely affect our lease rates and services income. In addition, the loss of existing customers or the failure to attract new customers would lead to an accompanying adverse effect on our revenues, margins and financial condition. Increasing competition could also make the acquisition of quality tower assets more costly.

 

We compete with:

 

    wireless service providers that own and operate their own towers and lease, or may in the future decide to lease, antenna space to other providers;

 

    site development companies that acquire antenna space on existing towers for wireless service providers, manage new tower construction and provide site development services;

 

    other large independent tower companies; and

 

    smaller local independent tower operators.

 

Wireless service providers that own and operate their own tower networks and several of the other tower companies generally are substantially larger and have greater financial resources than we do. We believe that tower location and capacity, quality of service, density within a geographic market and, to a lesser extent, price historically have been and will continue to be the most significant competitive factors affecting the site leasing business.

 

The site development market includes participants from a variety of market segments offering individual, or combinations of, competing services. We believe that a company’s experience, track record, local reputation, price and time for completion of a project have been and will continue to be the most significant competitive factors affecting the site development business.

 

We may not be able to build and/or acquire as many towers as we anticipate.

 

We currently intend to build 50 to 75 new towers during 2005 and to consummate a limited number of tower acquisitions. However, our ability to build these new towers is dependent upon (1) the availability of sufficient capital to fund construction, (2) our ability to locate, and acquire at commercially reasonable prices, attractive locations for such towers and (3) our ability to obtain the necessary zoning and permits.

 

Our ability to consummate tower acquisitions is also subject to risks. Specifically, these risks include (1) our ability to identify those towers that would be attractive to our clients and accretive to our revenues, (2) our ability to negotiate and consummate agreements to acquire such towers and (3) sufficient capital to fund such acquisitions. Due to these risks, it may take longer to complete our new tower builds than anticipated, the costs of constructing or acquiring these towers may be higher than we expect or we may not be able to add as many towers as we had planned in 2005. If we are not able to increase our tower portfolio as anticipated, it could negatively impact our ability to make our goals for site leasing revenue.

 

11


The loss of the services of certain of our key personnel or a significant number of our employees may negatively affect our business.

 

Our success depends to a significant extent upon performance and active participation of our key personnel. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in retaining the services of these key personnel. We have employment agreements with Jeffrey A. Stoops, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Kurt L. Bagwell, our Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Thomas P. Hunt, our Senior Vice President and General Counsel. We do not have employment agreements with any of our other key personnel. If we were to lose any key personnel, we may not be able to find an appropriate replacement on a timely basis and our results of operations could be negatively affected. Further, the loss of a significant number of employees or our inability to hire a sufficient number of qualified employees could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

New technologies and their use by carriers may have a material adverse effect on our growth rate and results of operations.

 

The emergence of new technologies could reduce the demand for space on our towers. For example, the development of and use of products that would permit multiple wireless carriers to use a single antenna, share networks or increase the range and capacity of an antenna could reduce the number of antennas needed by our customers. In addition, the deployment of WiFi and WiMax technologies could impact the network needs of our existing customers providing wireless telephony services. This could have a material adverse effect on our growth rate and results of operations.

 

Our costs could increase and our revenues could decrease due to perceived health risks from radio frequency (“RF”) energy.

 

The government imposes requirements and other guidelines on our towers relating to RF energy. Exposure to high levels of RF energy can cause negative health effects.

 

The potential connection between exposure to low levels of RF energy and certain negative health effects, including some forms of cancer, has been the subject of substantial study by the scientific community in recent years. According to the FCC, the results of these studies to date have been inconclusive. However, public perception of possible health risks associated with cellular and other wireless communications media could slow the growth of wireless companies, which could in turn slow our growth. In particular, negative public perception of, and regulations regarding, health risks could cause a decrease in the demand for wireless communications services. Moreover, if a connection between exposure to low levels of RF energy and possible negative health effects, including cancer, were demonstrated, we could be subject to numerous claims. If we were subject to claims relating to RF energy, even if such claims were not ultimately found to have merit, our financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Our business is subject to government regulations and changes in current or future regulations could harm our business.

 

We are subject to federal, state and local regulation of our business. In particular, both the FCC and FAA regulate the construction and maintenance of antenna towers and structures that support wireless communications and radio and television antennas. In addition, the FCC separately licenses and regulates wireless communications equipment and television and radio stations operating from such towers and structures. FAA and FCC regulations govern construction, lighting, painting and marking of towers and structures and may, depending on the characteristics of the tower or structure, require registration of the tower or structure. Certain proposals to construct new towers or structures or to modify existing towers or structures are reviewed by the FAA to ensure that the tower or structure will not present a hazard to air navigation.

 

Antenna tower owners and antenna structure owners may have an obligation to mark or paint towers or structures or install lighting to conform to FAA standards and to maintain such marking, painting and lighting. Antenna tower owners and antenna structure owners may also bear the responsibility of notifying the FAA of any lighting outages. Certain proposals to operate wireless communications and radio or television stations from antenna towers and structures are also reviewed by the FCC to ensure compliance with environmental impact requirements. Failure to comply with existing or future applicable requirements may lead to civil penalties or other liabilities and may subject us to significant indemnification liability to our customers against any such failure to comply. In addition, new regulations may impose additional costly burdens on us, which may affect our revenues and cause delays in our growth.

 

Local regulations, including municipal or local ordinances, zoning restrictions and restrictive covenants imposed by community developers, vary greatly, but typically require antenna tower and structure owners to obtain approval from local officials or community standards organizations prior to tower or structure construction or modification. Local regulations can delay, prevent, or increase the cost of new construction, co-locations, or site upgrade projects, thereby limiting our ability to respond to customer demand. In addition, new regulations may be adopted that increase delays or result in additional costs to us. These factors could have a material adverse effect on our future growth and operations.

 

12


Our towers are subject to damage from natural disasters.

 

Our towers are subject to risks associated with natural disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes. We maintain insurance to cover the estimated cost of replacing damaged towers, but these insurance policies are subject to loss limits and deductibles. We also maintain third party liability insurance, subject to deductibles, to protect us in the event of an accident involving a tower. A tower accident for which we are uninsured or underinsured, or damage to a significant number of our towers, could require us to make significant capital expenditures and may have a material adverse effect on our operations or financial condition.

 

We could have liability under environmental laws that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our operations, like those of other companies engaged in similar businesses, are subject to the requirements of various federal, state, local and foreign environmental and occupational safety and health laws and regulations, including those relating to the management, use, storage, disposal, emission and remediation of, and exposure to, hazardous and non-hazardous substances, materials, and wastes. As owner, lessee or operator of numerous tower sites, we may be liable for substantial costs of remediating soil and groundwater contaminated by hazardous materials, without regard to whether we, as the owner, lessee or operator, knew of or were responsible for the contamination. We may be subject to potentially significant fines or penalties if we fail to comply with any of these requirements. The current cost of complying with these laws is not material to our financial condition or results of operations. However, the requirements of these laws and regulations are complex, change frequently, and could become more stringent in the future. It is possible that these requirements will change or that liabilities will arise in the future in a manner that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our dependence on our subsidiaries for cash flow may negatively affect our business.

 

We are a holding company with no business operations of our own. Our only significant asset is and is expected to be the outstanding capital stock of our subsidiaries. We conduct, and expect to conduct, all of our business operations through our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our ability to pay our obligations, including the principal and interest, premium, if any, and additional interest, if any, on our outstanding 9¾% senior discount notes and our 8½% senior notes, is dependent upon dividends and other distribution from our subsidiaries to us. Other than amounts required to make interest and principal payments on the notes, we currently expect that the earnings and cash flow of our subsidiaries will be retained and used by them in their operations, including servicing their debt obligations. Our operating subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise to pay the principal, interest and other amounts on the notes or make any funds available to us for payment. The ability of our operating subsidiaries to pay dividends or transfer assets to us may be restricted by applicable state law and contractual restrictions, including the terms of the senior credit facility. Although the indenture governing the notes will limit the ability of our operating subsidiaries to enter into consensual restrictions on their ability to pay dividends to us, these limitations are subject to a number of significant qualifications and exceptions.

 

Availability of Reports and Other Information

 

Our corporate website is www.sbasite.com. We make available, free of charge, access to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A and amendments to those materials filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 on our website under “Investor Relations—SEC Filings,” as soon as reasonably practicable after we file electronically such material with, or furnish it to, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). In addition, the Commission’s website is www.sec.gov. The Commission makes available on this website, free of charge, reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, such as us, that file electronically with the Commission. Additionally, our reports, proxy and information statements may be read and copied at the Commission’s public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. Information on our website or the Commission’s website is not part of this document.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

We are headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, where we currently lease approximately 73,000 square feet of space. We have entered into long-term leases for regional and certain site development office locations where we expect our activities to be longer-term. We open and close project offices from time to time in connection with our site development business, and offices for new tower build projects are generally leased for periods not to exceed 18 months.

 

Our interests in towers are comprised of a variety of fee interests, leasehold interests created by long-term lease agreements, private easements, easements and licenses or rights-of-way granted by government entities. Of the 3,060 towers in our portfolio, approximately 10% are located on parcels of land that we own and approximately 90% are located on parcels of land that have leasehold interests created by long-term lease agreements, private easements and easements, licenses or

 

13


right-of-way granted by government entities. In rural areas, a wireless communications site typically consists of up to a 10,000 square foot tract, which supports towers, equipment shelters and guy wires to stabilize the structure. Less than 2,500 square feet is required for a monopole or self-supporting tower structure of the kind typically used in metropolitan areas for wireless communication tower sites. Land leases generally have an initial term of five years with five or more additional automatic renewal periods of five years, for a total of thirty years or more. In some instances, we have entered into 99 year ground leases.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We are involved in various legal proceedings relating to claims arising in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

No matter was submitted to the vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

The Class A common stock commenced trading under the symbol “SBAC” on The Nasdaq National Market System (“Nasdaq”) on June 16, 1999. The following table presents the high and low bid price for the Class A common stock for the periods indicated:

 

     High

   Low

Quarter ended March 31, 2004

   5.43    3.28

Quarter ended June 30, 2004

   4.74    3.10

Quarter ended September 30, 2004

   7.11    4.15

Quarter ended December 31, 2004

   10.62    6.81

Quarter ended March 31, 2003

   1.44    0.40

Quarter ended June 30, 2003

   3.47    1.11

Quarter ended September 30, 2003

   4.11    2.47

Quarter ended December 31, 2003

   4.33    3.09

 

As of March 8, 2005, there were 174 record holders of our Class A common stock.

 

We have never paid a dividend on any class of common stock and anticipate that we will retain future earnings, if any, to fund the development and growth of our business. Consequently, we do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. In addition, we are restricted under the senior credit facility, the 9¾% senior discount notes and the 8½% senior notes from paying dividends or making distributions and repurchasing, redeeming or otherwise acquiring any shares of common stock except under certain circumstances.

 

14


The following table gives information about our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants, and rights under all existing equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2004:

 

     Equity Compensation Plan Information

     (in thousands except exercise price)

    

Number of Securities to be

Issued Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,

Warrants and Rights


  

Weighted Average Exercise

Price of Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights


  

Number of Securities Remaining
Available for Future Issuance
Under Equity Compensation

Plans (excluding securities

reflected in first column)


Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   4,415    $ 7.04    5,205

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   —        —      —  
    
  

  

Total

   4,415    $ 7.04    5,205
    
  

  

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following table sets forth selected historical financial data as of and for each of the five years ended December 31, 2004. The financial data for fiscal year ended 2004 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The financial data for the fiscal years ended 2003 and 2002 have been derived from, and are qualified by reference to, our restated audited consolidated financial statements. These restated financial statements include adjustments for a change in the method of accounting for certain types of ground leases underlying our tower sites. The financial data as of and for the fiscal years ended 2001 and 2000 have been derived from our restated unaudited consolidated financial statements. The unaudited financial data as of and for the year ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, have been derived from our books and records without audit and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments, (consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments) that management considers necessary for a fair statement of results for these periods. The following consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to reflect the discontinued operations treatment of our western site development services and reclassification of 14 towers previously classified as discontinued operations into continuing operations. You should read the information set forth below in conjunction with our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes to those consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K.

 

15


     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

   

2003

as restated


   

2002

as restated


   

2001

as restated


   

2000

as restated


 
     (audited)     (audited)     (audited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands except per share data)  

Operating Data:

                                        

Revenues:

                                        

Site leasing

   $ 144,004     $ 127,852     $ 115,121     $ 85,519     $ 44,332  

Site development

     87,478       64,257       99,352       115,773       103,677  
    


 


 


 


 


Total revenues

     231,482       192,109       214,473       201,292       148,009  
    


 


 


 


 


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

                                        

Cost of site leasing

     47,283       47,793       46,709       35,537       19,676  

Cost of site development

     81,398       58,683       81,565       92,755       81,630  
    


 


 


 


 


Total cost of revenues

     128,681       106,476       128,274       128,292       101,306  
    


 


 


 


 


Gross profit

     102,801       85,633       86,199       73,000       46,703  

Operating expenses:

                                        

Selling, general and administrative

     28,887       30,714       32,740       39,697       26,482  

Restructuring and other charges

     250       2,094       47,762       24,399       —    

Asset impairment charges

     7,092       12,993       24,194       —         —    

Depreciation, accretion and amortization

     90,453       93,657       95,627       73,390       29,901  
    


 


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     126,682       139,458       200,323       137,486       56,383  
    


 


 


 


 


Operating loss from continuing operations

     (23,881 )     (53,825 )     (114,124 )     (64,486 )     (9,680 )

Other income (expense):

                                        

Interest income

     516       692       601       7,058       6,252  

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized

     (47,460 )     (81,501 )     (54,822 )     (47,713 )     (4,879 )

Non-cash interest expense

     (28,082 )     (9,277 )     (29,038 )     (25,843 )     (23,000 )

Amortization of debt issuance costs

     (3,445 )     (5,115 )     (4,480 )     (3,887 )     (3,006 )

Write-off of deferred financing fees and loss on extinguishment of other debt

     (41,197 )     (24,219 )     —         (5,069 )     —    

Other

     236       169       (169 )     (56 )     66  
    


 


 


 


 


Total other expense

     (119,432 )     (119,251 )     (87,908 )     (75,510 )     (24,567 )
    


 


 


 


 


Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles

     (143,313 )     (173,076 )     (202,032 )     (139,996 )     (34,247 )

Provision for income taxes

     (710 )     (1,729 )     (300 )     (1,489 )     (954 )
    


 


 


 


 


Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (144,023 )     (174,805 )     (202,332 )     (141,485 )     (35,201 )

(Loss) gain from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     (3,257 )     202       (4,081 )     74       323  
    


 


 


 


 


Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (147,280 )     (174,603 )     (206,413 )     (141,411 )     (34,878 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle(4)

     —         (545 )     (60,674 )     —         —    
    


 


 


 


 


Net loss

   $ (147,280 )   $ (175,148 )   $ (267,087 )   $ (141,411 )   $ (34,878 )
    


 


 


 


 


Basic and diluted loss per common share amounts:

                                        

Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ (2.47 )   $ (3.35 )   $ (4.01 )   $ (2.99 )   $ (0.86 )

(Loss) gain from discontinued operations

     (0.05 )     —         (0.08 )     —         0.01  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     —         (0.01 )     (1.20 )     —         —    
    


 


 


 


 


     $ (2.52 )   $ (3.36 )   $ (5.29 )   $ (2.99 )   $ (0.85 )
    


 


 


 


 


Basic and diluted weighted average shares oustanding

     58,420       52,204       50,491       47,321       41,156  
    


 


 


 


 


 

16


     As of December 31,

 
     2004

   

2003

as restated


   

2002

as restated


   

2001

as restated


   

2000

as restated


 
     (audited)     (audited)     (audited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands)  

Balance Sheet Data:

                                        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 69,627     $ 8,338     $ 61,141     $ 13,904       14,980  

Short-term investments

     —         15,200       —         —         —    

Restricted cash (1)

     2,017       10,344       —         —         —    

Property and equipment (net)

     745,831       830,145       922,392       975,662       762,644  

Total assets

     917,244       958,252       1,279,267       1,394,280       945,285  

Total debt(2)

     927,706       870,758       1,024,282       845,453       248,273  

Total Shareholders’ equity (deficit)

     (88,671 )     (1,566 )     161,024       424,369       529,406  
     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

 
     (audited)     (audited)     (audited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands)  

Other Data:

                                        

Cash provided by (used in):

                                        

Operating activities

   $ 14,216     $ (29,808 )   $ 17,807     $ 28,753     $ 47,516  

Investing activities

     1,326       155,456       (102,716 )     (554,700 )     (445,280 )

Financing activities

     45,747       (178,451 )     132,146       524,871       409,613  

 

     For the year ended December 31,

     2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

   2000

Tower owned at the beginning of period

   3,093     3,877     3,734     2,390    1,163

Towers constructed

   10     13     141     667    779

Towers acquired

   5     —       53     677    448

Towers reclassified/disposed of(3)

   (42 )   (797 )   (51 )   —      —  
    

 

 

 
  

Total towers owned at the end of period

   3,066     3,093     3,877     3,734    2,390
    

 

 

 
  

Total held for sale at end of period

   6     47     837     815    552

Towers in continuing operations at end of period

   3,060     3,046     3,040     2,919    1,838
    

 

 

 
  
     3,066     3,093     3,877     3,734    2,390
    

 

 

 
  

(1) Restricted cash of $2.0 million as of December 31, 2004 is related to surety bonds issued for our benefit. Restricted cash of $10.3 million as of December 31, 2003 consists of $7.3 million of cash held by an escrow agent in accordance with certain provisions of the Western tower sale agreement and $3.0 million related to surety bonds issued for our benefit.
(2) Includes deferred gain on interest rate swap of $1.9 million as of December 31, 2004, $4.6 million as of December 31, 2003 and $5.2 million as of December 31, 2002, respectively.
(3) Reclassifications reflect the combination for reporting purposes of multiple acquired tower structures on a single parcel of real estate, which we market and customers view as a single location, into a single owned tower site. Dispositions reflect the sale, conveyance or other legal transfer of owned tower sites.
(4) The Company adopted FAS 143, “Asset Retirement Obligations” effective January 1, 2003 and FAS 142, “Goodwill and other Intangible Assets,” effective January 1, 2002. See Note 6 to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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

 

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the information contained in our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. The following discussion includes forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in the “Risks Related to Our Business” section of this annual report. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed below. See “Forward-looking statements” and “Risks Related to Our Business.”

 

17


We are a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications towers in the Eastern third of the United States. We generate revenues from our two businesses, site leasing and site development. In our site leasing business, we lease antenna space to wireless service providers on towers and other structures that we own, manage for or lease from others. The towers that we own have been constructed by us at the request of a carrier, built or constructed based on our own initiative or acquired. In our site development business, we offer wireless service providers assistance in developing and maintaining their own wireless service networks.

 

Revenues derived from the leasing of antenna space at, or on, communication towers continued to increase as a result of our emphasis on our site leasing business through the leasing and management of tower sites. We focus our leasing and site development activities in the Eastern third of the United States where substantially all of our towers are located. During 2004, we completed our previously announced plan of disposing of our services business in the Western third of the United States.

 

Operating results in prior periods may not be meaningful predictors of future results. You should be aware of the changes in the nature and scope of our business when reviewing the ensuing discussion of comparative historical results.

 

Restatement of Financial Results

 

On February 7, 2005, the Office of the Chief Accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued a letter to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants expressing its views regarding certain operating lease accounting issues and their application under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In light of this letter, we initiated a review of our accounting practices and determined that we would adjust our method of accounting for certain types of ground leases underlying our tower sites and amortization of tower assets. As a result, we have restated our consolidated financial statements for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 included in this Report.

 

We had historically defined the minimum lease term of our ground leases underlying our tower sites as the initial term of the leases and had been straight lining all rental payments due to the lessor evenly over this term, which typically is five years in length. As a result of the February 7, 2005 letter from the SEC, we changed our rental expense recognition policy to redefine the minimum lease term as the period from lease inception through the end of the term in which all tenant lease obligations in existence at ground lease inception, including renewal periods, will be met. If no tenant lease obligations existed at the date of ground lease inception, the initial term of the ground lease is considered the minimum lease term. All rental obligations due to be paid out over the minimum lease term, including fixed escalations, have therefore been straight-lined evenly over the minimum lease term. Additionally, if the minimum lease term ends prior to the originally established depreciable life of the tower (typically 15 years), we have shortened the depreciable life of the tower to coincide with the minimum lease term of the ground lease.

 

As a result of the adjustments described above, the accompanying results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 have been adjusted to record additional rent expense (included in cost of sales on the statements of operations) of $5.7 million and $5.9 million, respectively; additional depreciation expense of $9.5 million and $10.1 million, respectively; a reduction of asset impairment charges of $4.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively; a decrease in provision for income taxes of $0.09 million and $0.01 million, respectively; and a (decrease) increase in loss from discontinued operations of ($8.1) million and $3.4 million, respectively.

 

The consolidated balance sheets have been adjusted to record additional straight line rent liabilities (included in other long term liabilities) of $2.4 million and $7.3 million, a reduction in fixed assets of $5.5 million and $8.8 million, as well as a decrease in assets held for sale of $0.02 million and $4.9 million, at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Additionally, retained earnings (deficit) have been reduced by $45.5 million and $42.5 million at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These adjustments did not have any impact on the cash flows of the Company

 

See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements of this Report for a summary of the effects of these changes on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2003, as well as on our consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002. The accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis gives effect to these corrections.

 

18


Site Leasing Services

 

Site leasing revenues are received primarily from wireless communications companies. Revenues from these clients are derived from numerous different site leasing contracts. Each site leasing contract relates to the lease or use of space at an individual tower site and is generally for an initial term of five years, and is renewable for five 5-year periods at the option of the tenant. Almost all of our site leasing contracts contain specific rent escalators, which average 3-4% per year, including the renewal option periods. Site leasing contracts are generally paid on a monthly basis and revenue from site leasing is recorded monthly on a straight-line basis over the current term of the related lease agreements. Rental amounts received in advance are recorded in deferred revenue.

 

Cost of site leasing revenue primarily consists of:

 

    Rental payments on ground and other underlying property leases;

 

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

 

    Repairs and maintenance (exclusive of employee related costs);

 

    Utilities;

 

    Insurance; and

 

    Property taxes.

 

For any given tower, such costs are relatively fixed over a monthly or an annual time period. As such, operating costs for owned towers do not generally increase significantly as a result of adding additional customers to the tower.

 

The table below details the percentage of total company revenues and gross profit contributed by site leasing services. Information regarding the total and percentage of assets used in our site leasing services business is included in Note 24 of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Report.

 

    

Percentage of

Revenues


   

Gross Profit

Contribution


 

For the year ended December 31, 2004

   62.2 %   94.1 %

For the year ended December 31, 2003

   66.6 %   93.5 %

For the year ended December 31, 2002

   53.7 %   79.4 %

 

Site Development Services

 

Our site development services business consists of two segments, site development consulting and site development construction, through which we provide wireless service providers a full range of end-to-end services. In the consulting segment of our site development business, we offer clients the following services: (1) network pre-design; (2) site audits; (3) identification of potential locations for towers and antennas; (4) support in buying or leasing of the location; and (5) assistance in obtaining zoning approvals and permits. In the construction segment of our site development business, we provide a number of services, including, but not limited to the following: (1) tower and related site construction; (2) antenna installation; and (3) radio equipment installation, commissioning and maintenance.

 

Site development services revenues are received primarily from wireless communications companies or companies providing development or project management services to wireless communications companies. Our site development customers engage us on a project-by-project basis, and a customer can generally terminate an assignment at any time without penalty. Site development projects, both consulting and construction, include contracts on a time and materials basis or a fixed price basis. The majority of our site development services are billed on a fixed price basis. Time and materials based site development contracts are billed and revenue is recognized at contractual rates as the services are rendered. Our site development projects generally take from three to 12 months to complete. For those site development consulting contracts in which we perform work on a fixed price basis, we bill the client, and recognize revenue, based on the completion of agreed upon phases of this project on a per site basis. Upon the completion of each phase, we recognize the revenue related to that phase.

 

Our revenue from construction projects is recognized on the percentage-of-completion method of accounting, determined by the percentage of cost incurred to date compared to management’s estimated total anticipated cost for each contract. This method is used because management considers total cost to be the best available measure of progress on the contracts. These amounts are based on estimates, and the uncertainty inherent in the estimates initially is reduced as work on

 

19


the contracts nears completion. Revenue from our site development construction business may fluctuate from period to period depending on construction activities, which are a function of the timing and amount of our clients’ capital expenditures, the number and significance of active customer engagements during a period, weather and other factors.

 

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

 

The table below provides the percentage of total company revenues and gross profit contributed by site development services. Information regarding the total and percentage of assets used in our site development services businesses is included in Note 24 of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Report.

 

     Percentage of Revenues

    Gross Profit Contribution

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

    2004

    2003

    2002

 

Site development consulting

   6.2 %   6.4 %   8.1 %   1.6 %   1.2 %   4.6 %

Site development construction

   31.6 %   27.0 %   38.2 %   4.3 %   5.4 %   16.1 %

 

In May 2004, our Board of Directors approved a plan of disposition related to the Western site development services. In June 2004, two business units were sold, and two business units were closed within Western site development services. In the third quarter of 2004, the remaining two site development construction business units were sold. Gross proceeds realized from sales during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 were $0.4 million, and a loss on disposal of discontinued operations of $0.8 million was recorded, which is included in loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

We have identified the policies and significant estimation processes below as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our results of operations. The listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, with no need for management’s judgment in their application. In other cases, management is required to exercise judgment in the application of accounting principles with respect to particular transactions. The impact and any associated risks related to these policies on our business operations is discussed throughout “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” where such policies affect reported and expected financial results. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2004, included herein. Our preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from those estimates and such differences could be significant.

 

Construction Revenue

 

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

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

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

 

20


Asset Impairment

 

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

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

Effective January 1, 2003, we adopted the provisions of SFAS 143. Under the new accounting principle, we recognize asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred if a reasonable estimate of a fair value can be made and we accrete such liability through the obligation’s estimated settlement date. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related tower fixed assets and depreciated over its estimated useful life.

 

Significant management estimates and assumptions are required in determining the scope and fair value of our obligations to restore leaseholds to their original condition upon termination of ground leases. In determining the scope and fair value of our obligations, assumptions were made with respect to the historical retirement experience as an indicator of future restoration probabilities, intent in renewing existing ground leases through lease termination dates, current and future value and timing of estimated restoration costs, and the credit adjusted risk-free rate used to discount future obligations. While we feel the assumptions were appropriate, there can be no assurances that actual costs and the probability of incurring obligations will not differ from estimates. We will review these assumptions periodically and we may need to adjust them as necessary. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Operating results in prior periods may not be meaningful predictors of future results as our gross profit mix shifts more towards site leasing. You should be aware of the dramatic changes in the nature and scope of our business in prior periods when reviewing the ensuing discussion of comparative historical results.

 

Year Ended 2004 Compared to Year Ended 2003

 

Revenues:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

   Percentage
of Revenues


    2003

   Percentage
of Revenues


    Percentage
Change


 
     (dollars in thousands)  

Site leasing

   $ 144,004    62.2 %   $ 127,852    66.6 %   12.6 %

Site development consulting

     14,456    6.2 %     12,337    6.4 %   17.2 %

Site development construction

     73,022    31.6 %     51,920    27.0 %   40.6 %
    

  

 

  

 

Total revenues

   $ 231,482    100.0 %   $ 192,109    100.0 %   20.5 %
    

  

 

  

 

 

Site leasing revenue increased due to the increased number of tenants and the amount of equipment added to our towers. As of December 31, 2004 we had 7,257 tenants as compared to 6,847 tenants at December 31, 2003. During the year ended 2004, 88% of contractual revenues from new leases and amendments executed in 2004 were related to new tenant installation and 12% were related to additional equipment being added by existing tenants. During the year ended 2003, 89% of contractual revenues from new leases and amendments executed in 2003 were related to new tenant installation and 11% were related to additional equipment being added by existing tenants. Additionally, we have experienced, on average, higher rents per tenant due to higher rents from new tenants, higher rents upon renewal by existing tenants and additional equipment added by existing tenants.

 

Site development construction revenue increased primarily as a result of the significant services contract awarded by Sprint Spectrum L.P. in mid 2003, which increased our volume of activity for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to the same period a year ago.

 

21


Cost of Revenues:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


  

Percentage

Change


 
     2004

   2003

  
     (in thousands)       

Site leasing

   $ 47,283    $ 47,793    (1.1 )%

Site development consulting

     12,768      11,350    12.5 %

Site development construction

     68,630      47,333    45.0 %
    

  

  

Total cost of revenues

   $ 128,681    $ 106,476    20.9 %
    

  

  

 

Cost of revenues increased primarily due to increased activity associated with the significant services contract awarded by Sprint in mid 2003 related to the site development construction business.

 

Gross Profit:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


   Percentage
Change


 
     2004

   2003

  
     (in thousands)       

Site leasing

   $ 96,721    $ 80,059    20.8 %

Site development consulting

     1,688      987    71.0 %

Site development construction

     4,392      4,587    (4.2 )%
    

  

  

Total gross profit

   $ 102,801    $ 85,633    20.0 %
    

  

  

 

Gross Profit Margin Percentages:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Site leasing

   67.2 %   62.6 %

Site development consulting

   11.7 %   8.0 %

Site development construction

   6.0 %   8.8 %
    

 

Gross profit margin

   44.4 %   44.6 %
    

 

 

Gross profit and gross profit margin percentage for the site leasing business increased as a result of higher revenues per tower and tower operating cost reduction initiatives. Gross profit from site development construction decreased as a result of lower pricing without a commensurate reduction in cost and performance issues which resulted in actual margins below estimates.

 

Operating Expenses:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


  

Percentage

Change


 
     2004

   2003

  
     (in thousands)       

Selling, general and administrative

   $ 28,887    $ 30,714    (5.9 )%

Restructuring and other charges

     250      2,094    (88.1 )%

Asset impairment charges

     7,092      12,993    (45.4 )%

Depreciation, accretion and amortization

     90,453      93,657    (3.4 )%
    

  

  

Total operating expenses

   $ 126,682    $ 139,458    (9.2 )%
    

  

  

 

22


In 2004, we recognized approximately $7.1 million in asset impairment charges related to 40 towers. By comparison, in 2003 we recognized approximately $13.0 million of asset impairment charges related to 70 towers. In addition, selling general and administrative expenses decreased primarily due to the reduction of bad debt expense of approximately $2.0 million as a result of improved collections and credit quality of our receivables.

 

Operating Loss From Continuing Operations:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2004

    2003

   
     (in thousands)        

Operating loss from continuing operations

   $ (23,881 )   $ (53,825 )   (55.6 )%

 

The decrease in operating loss from continuing operations primarily was a result of higher gross profit and lower impairment charges in 2004 as compared to 2003.

 

Other Expense:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2004

    2003

   
     (in thousands)        

Interest income

   $ 516     $ 692     (25.4 )%

Interest expense

     (47,460 )     (81,501 )   (41.8 )%

Non-cash interest expense

     (28,082 )     (9,277 )   202.7 %

Amortization of debt issuance costs

     (3,445 )     (5,115 )   (32.6 )%

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

     (41,197 )     (24,219 )   70.1 %

Other

     236       169     39.6 %
    


 


 

Total other income (expense)

   $ (119,432 )   $ (119,251 )   0.2 %
    


 


 

 

Interest expense decreased primarily as a result of the repurchases and redemption of the 12% senior discount notes with proceeds from the 9¾% senior discount notes issued in December 2003 and proceeds from our senior credit facility which we obtained in January 2004, as well as repurchases of our 10¼% senior notes throughout 2004.

 

Non cash interest expense increased due to the amortization of the original interest discount of the 9¾% senior discount notes, which replaced the 12% senior discount notes.

 

The increase in loss from write-off of deferred financing fees and extinguishment of debt was attributed to a write-off of $13.1 million of deferred financing fees and $28.1 million loss on the extinguishment of debt associated with the early retirement of our 12% senior discount notes, a significant portion of our 10¼% senior notes and the termination of the prior senior credit facility in the year ended December 31, 2004 versus the write-off of $4.4 million of deferred financing fees associated with the refinancing of our senior credit facility loans which were repaid in full, and a loss on extinguishment of debt of $19.8 million relating to the repurchase of our 12% senior discount notes for the comparable period in 2003.

 

Discontinued Operations, Net of Income Taxes:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


  

Percentage

Change


 
     2004

    2003

  
     (in thousands)       

(Loss) gain from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

   $ (3,257 )   $ 202    (1,712.4 )%

 

The increase in loss from discontinued operations was primarily a result of the gain from discontinued operations relating to the towers sold in the Western tower sale in 2003 versus the loss on the Western Services business which was sold in 2004.

 

23


Cumulative Effect of Changes In Accounting Principle:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2004

   2003

   
     (in thousands)        

Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle

   $
 

  
   $ (545 )   (100.0 )%

 

The decrease in the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle was the result of the adoption of SFAS 143 on January 1, 2003.

 

Net Loss:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2004

    2003

   
     (in thousands)        

Net loss

   $ (147,280 )   $ (175,148 )   (15.9 )%

 

The decrease in net loss is primarily a result of higher gross profit, lower asset impairment charges and lower depreciation expense and restructuring expense for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared with the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

Year Ended 2003 Compared to Year Ended 2002

 

Revenues:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2003

  

Percentage

of Revenues


    2002

  

Percentage

of Revenues


   

Percentage

Change


 
     (dollars in thousands)  

Site leasing

   $ 127,852    66.6 %   $ 115,121    53.7 %   11.1 %

Site development consulting

     12,337    6.4 %     17,361    8.1 %   (28.9 )%

Site development construction

     51,920    27.0 %     81,991    38.2 %   (36.7 )%
    

  

 

  

 

Total revenues

   $ 192,109    100.0 %   $ 214,473    100.0 %   (10.4 )%
    

  

 

  

 

 

Site leasing revenue increased due to the increased number of tenants and the amount of equipment added to our towers. As of December 31, 2003 we had 6,847 tenants as compared to 6,389 tenants at December 31, 2002. During the year ended 2003, 89% of contractual revenues from new leases and amendments executed in 2003 were related to new tenant installation and 11% were related to additional equipment being added by existing tenants. During the year ended 2002, 87% of contractual revenues from new leases and amendments executed in 2002 were related to new tenant installation and 13% were related to additional equipment being added by existing tenants. Additionally, we have experienced, on average, higher rents per tenant due to higher rents from new tenants, higher rents upon renewal by existing tenants and additional equipment added by existing tenants.

 

Both site development consulting and construction revenue decreased primarily as a result of the decline in capital expenditures by wireless carriers for additional antenna sites and vigorous competition, which adversely affected our volume of activity and the pricing for our services.

 

24


Cost of Revenues:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


 

Percentage

Change


 
     2003

   2002

 
     (in thousands)      

Site leasing

   $ 47,793    $ 46,709   2.3 %

Site development consulting

     11,350      13,434   (15.5 )%

Site development construction

     47,333      68,131   (30.5 )%
    

  

 

Total cost of revenues

   $ 106,476    $ 128,274   (17.0 )%
    

  

 

 

Both site development consulting and construction cost of revenues decreased due primarily to lower levels of activity.

 

Gross Profit:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


 

Percentage

Change


 
     2003

   2002

 
     (in thousands)      

Site leasing

   $ 80,059    $ 68,412   17.0 %

Site development consulting

     987      3,927   (74.9 )%

Site development construction

     4,587      13,860   (66.9 )%
    

  

 

Total gross profit

   $ 85,633    $ 86,199   (0.7 )%
    

  

 

 

Gross Profit Margin Percentages:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


 
     2003

    2002

 

Site leasing

   62.6 %   59.4 %

Site development consulting

   8.0 %   22.6 %

Site development construction

   8.8 %   16.9 %
    

 

Gross profit margin

   44.6 %   40.2 %
    

 

 

Gross profit and gross profit margin percentage for the site leasing business increased as a result of higher revenues per tower and tower operating cost reduction initiatives. Gross profit from both site development consulting and construction decreased as a result of the lower volumes and lower pricing without a commensurate reduction in cost.

 

Operating Expenses:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


 

Percentage

Change


 
     2003

   2002

 
     (in thousands)      

Selling, general and administrative

   $ 30,714    $ 32,740   (6.2 )%

Restructuring and other charges

     2,094      47,762   (95.6 )%

Asset impairment charges

     12,993      24,194   (46.3 )%

Depreciation, accretion and amortization

     93,657      95,627   (2.1 )%
    

  

 

Total operating expenses

   $ 139,458    $ 200,323   (30.4 )%
    

  

 

 

Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased primarily as a result of reductions in the number of offices, elimination of personnel and elimination of other infrastructure. As of December 31, 2003, we had approximately 600 employees whereas as of December 31, 2002, we had approximately 750 employees.

 

In 2003, we recognized approximately $13.0 million in asset impairment charges related to 70 towers. By comparison, in 2002 we recognized approximately $15.0 million of asset impairment charges related to 144 towers. The impairment of operational tower assets resulted primarily from our evaluations of the fair value of our operating tower portfolio through a discounted cash flow analysis. Towers determined to be impaired were primarily towers with no tenants and/or with little or deteriorating prospects for future lease up. In addition, the 2002 asset impairment charge included $9.2 million of goodwill impairment that was recorded during the first two quarters of 2002, which was determined to be impaired during June 2002 when the transitional impairment test of goodwill was performed under SFAS 142.

 

In February 2002, as a result of the deterioration of capital market conditions for wireless carriers, we reduced our capital expenditures for new tower development and acquisition activities, suspended any new investment for additional towers, reduced our workforce and closed or consolidated offices. Of the $47.3 million charge recorded during the year ended December 31, 2002, approximately $40.4 million related to the abandonment of new tower build and acquisition work in progress and related construction materials on approximately 764 sites. The remaining $6.9 million related primarily to the costs of employee separation for approximately 470 employees and exit costs associated with the closing and consolidation of approximately 40 offices. During 2003, in response to a decline in expenditures by wireless services providers, particularly with respect to site development activities, we committed to new plans of restructuring associated with further downsizing activities. Of the $2.1 million charge recorded for the year ended December 31, 2003, approximately $0.1 million related to the abandonment of new tower build work in process and trailing costs associated with previously abandoned new tower build work in process. The remaining $2.0 million related primarily to the costs of employee separation for approximately 165 employees and exit costs associated with the closing or consolidation of 17 offices. Annualized aggregate lease costs associated with the 17 offices closed or consolidated during 2003 were $0.7 million.

 

25


Operating Loss From Continuing Operations:

 

    

For the years ended

December 31,


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2003

    2002

   
     (in thousands)        

Operating loss from continuing operations

   $ (53,825 )   $ (114,124 )   (52.8 )%

 

This decrease in operating loss from continuing operations primarily was a result of lower restructuring and other charges and lower asset impairment charges in 2003 as compared to 2002.

 

Other Expense:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31,


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2003

    2002

   
     (in thousands)        

Interest income

   $ 692     $ 601     15.1 %

Interest expense

     (81,501 )     (54,822 )   48.7 %

Non-cash interest expense

     (9,277 )     (29,038 )   (68.1 )%

Amortization of debt issuance costs

     (5,115 )     (4,480 )   (14.2 )%

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

     (24,219 )     —       —   %

Other

     169       (169 )   (200.0 )%
    


 


 

Total other income (expense)

   $ (119,251 )   $ (87,908 )   35.7 %
    


 


 

 

Interest expense increased as a result of higher borrowings and higher weighted average interest rates. Additionally, interest expense in 2002 was reduced as a result of our interest rate swap agreement that existed during most of 2002. The write-off of deferred financing fees and loss on extinguishment of debt is attributable to a write-off of $4.4 million of deferred financing fees associated with the termination of the prior senior credit facility and $19.8 million associated with the early retirement of a portion of our 12% senior discount notes and our 10¼% senior notes.

 

Discontinued Operations, Net of Income Taxes:

 

    

For the years ended

December 31,


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2003

   2002

   
     (in thousands)        

Gain (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

   $ 202    $ (4,081 )   (104.9 )%

 

The decrease in loss from discontinued operations was the result of the gain on the sale of the 784 towers sold in the Western tower sale in 2003.

 

26


Cumulative Effect of Changes In Accounting Principle:

 

    

For the years ended

December 31,


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2003

    2002

   
     (in thousands)        

Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle

   $ (545 )   $ (60,674 )   (99.1 )%

 

The decrease in the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle was the result of completing the transitional impairment test of goodwill under FAS 142 effective January 1, 2002, which resulted in a cumulative effect of accounting change in the amount of $60.7 million representing the excess of the carrying value of certain assets as compared to their estimated fair value. Of this amount, $58.5 million related to the site development construction segment and $2.2 million related to the site leasing reporting segment. In 2003, we recorded $0.5 million in cumulative effect of accounting change related to the adoption of SFAS 143 effective January 1, 2003, which resulted in the recording of an asset retirement obligation on our tower portfolio.

 

Net Loss:

 

    

For the years ended

December 31,


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2003

    2002

   
     (in thousands)        

Net Loss

   $ (175,148 )   $ (267,087 )   (34.4 )%

 

The decrease in net loss is primarily a result of lower restructuring and other charges, lower asset impairment charges, and lower amounts resulting from a cumulative effect in change in accounting principle offset by an increase in interest expense and write-offs associated with the extinguishment of debt.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

SBA Communications Corporation is a holding company with no business operations of its own. Our only significant asset is the outstanding capital stock of SBA Telecommunications, Inc. (“Telecommmunications”), which is also a holding company that owns the outstanding capital stock of SBA Senior Finance. SBA Senior Finance owns, directly or indirectly, the capital stock of our subsidiaries. We conduct all of our business operations through our SBA Senior Finance subsidiaries.

 

Accordingly, our only source of cash to pay our obligations, other than financings, is distributions with respect to our ownership interest in our subsidiaries from the net earnings and cash flow generated by these subsidiaries. Even if we decided to pay a dividend, we cannot assure you that our subsidiaries will generate sufficient cash flow to pay a dividend. Furthermore, the ability of our subsidiaries to pay cash or stock dividends is restricted under the terms of our senior credit facility and the indenture for the 9¾% senior discount notes and the 8½% senior notes.

 

A summary of our cash flows is as follows:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31, 2004


     (in thousands)

Summary Cash Flow Information:

      

Cash provided by operating activities

   $ 14,216

Cash provided by investing activities

     1,326

Cash provided by financing acitivities

     45,747
    

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     61,289

Cash and cash equivalents, December 31, 2003

     8,338
    

Cash and cash equivalents, December 31, 2004

   $ 69,627
    

 

27


Sources of Liquidity

 

In December 2003, SBA Communications and Telecommunications co-issued $402.0 million of aggregate principal amount at maturity of their 9¾% senior discount notes, which produced net proceeds of approximately $267.1 million after deducting offering expenses. A portion of the proceeds from the senior discount notes were used to tender, repurchase and redeem all of our 12% senior discount notes during the first quarter of 2004 and to repurchase a portion of our 10¼% senior notes during the quarter ended March 31, 2004.

 

During January 2004, SBA Senior Finance closed on a new senior credit facility in the amount of $400.0 million. This new credit facility consists of a $275.0 million term loan which was funded at closing, a $50.0 million delayed draw term loan and a $75.0 million revolving line of credit. SBA Senior Finance used the proceeds from the funding of the $275.0 million term loan under the new senior credit facility, in part, to repay the old credit facility in full, consisting of $144.2 million of principal and accrued interest outstanding. In addition to the amounts outstanding on the old credit facility, we were required to pay $8.0 million to the lenders under the old credit facility to facilitate the assignment of the old credit facility to the new lenders. SBA Senior Finance has recorded additional deferred financing fees of approximately $6.5 million associated with this new credit facility. Between June and November 2004, we drew an additional $50.0 million on the delayed draw term loan. As of December 31, 2004, we were in full compliance with the financial covenants contained in this agreement and had an outstanding balance of $323.4 million, which consisted entirely of the term loan. As of December 31, 2004, we have approximately $36.5 million of additional borrowing capacity under our senior credit facility, subject to maintenance covenants, borrowing base limitations and other conditions.

 

On December 1, 2004, we issued $250.0 million of 8½% senior notes due 2012, which produced net proceeds of $244.8 million after deducting offering expenses. Interest accrues on the notes and is payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1, commencing June 1, 2005. Proceeds from the 8½% senior notes were used to repay $236.5 million of our outstanding 10¼% senior notes, of which we redeemed $186.5 million in December 2004 and the remaining $50.0 million on February 1, 2005.

 

In order to manage our significant levels of indebtedness and to ensure continued compliance with our financial covenants, in addition to our capital restructuring activities completed in 2003 and 2004 we may explore a number of alternatives, including selling certain assets or lines of business, issuing equity, repurchasing, restructuring or refinancing or exchanging for equity some or all of our debt or pursuing other financial alternatives, and we may from time to time implement one or more of these alternatives. One or more of the alternatives may include the possibility of issuing additional shares of common stock or securities convertible into shares of common stock, or converting existing indebtedness into shares of common stock, any of which would dilute our existing shareholders. We cannot assure you that any of these strategies can be consummated, or if consummated, would effectively address the risks associated with our significant level of indebtedness.

 

Cash provided by operating activities was $14.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Included in this amount is $15.2 million related to a decrease in short-term investments associated with the sale of trading securities. Additionally, growth in our site leasing business during the year ended December 31, 2004 also contributed to the increase in cash provided by operating activities, offset by a net increase of other working capital items.

 

Uses of Liquidity

 

During the first quarter of 2004, we repurchased and redeemed all $65.7 million of our outstanding 12% senior discount notes. During the year ended December 31, 2004 we repurchased in the open market $373.2 million of our outstanding 10¼% senior notes. Of these repurchases, $306.8 million were repurchased with cash and $49.7 million were exchanged for 8.7 million shares of our Class A common stock. On February 1, 2005, we called the remaining $50.0 million of our 10¼% senior notes. Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2004, we paid approximately $63.7 million of cash for interest on our various debt instruments. As a result of our refinancing activities discussed above and the effect of this offering, our cash interest requirements for 2005 are expected to be significantly lower than our requirements in 2004.

 

Our cash capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2004 were $9.0 million, which was comprised of $4.0 million of tower upgrades and other capital improvements, $1.9 million of new tower construction, $1.8 million of earn-outs and acquisitions, and $1.3 million for general corporate expenditures. Due to the relatively young age of our towers and remaining capacity available to accommodate new tenants, it is not necessary for us to spend a significant amount of funds for capital improvements or modifications to our towers to accommodate new tenants. We estimate we will incur approximately $1,000 per tower per year on maintenance capital expenditures. For 2005, we expect to incur capital expenditures of approximately $10.0 million to $15.0 million primarily in connection with our plans to build 50 to 75 new towers. Additionally, we expect to incur capital expenditures of approximately $12.0 million to $13.0 million primarily in connection with acquiring towers during the first quarter of 2005. All of these planned capital expenditures are expected to be funded by cash on hand, cash flow from operations and availability under our senior credit facility. The exact amount of our future capital expenditures will depend on a number of factors including amounts necessary to support our tower portfolio.

 

28


Debt Service Requirements

 

At December 31, 2004, we had $51.9 million outstanding of our 10¼% senior notes. This amount includes a $1.9 million deferred gain related to the termination of a derivative instrument in 2002. These notes were redeemed in full on February 1, 2005 at the call price of 105.125% of the aggregate principal amount. The 10¼% senior notes were scheduled to mature February 1, 2009.

 

At December 31, 2004, we had $302.4 million outstanding of our 9¾% senior discount notes. The 9¾% notes accrete in value until December 15, 2007, at which time they will have a fully accreted balance of $400.8 million. These notes mature December 15, 2011. Interest on these notes is payable June 15 and December 15, beginning June 15, 2008.

 

At December 31, 2004, we had $250.0 million outstanding of our 8½% senior notes. The 8½% notes mature on December 1, 2012. Interest on these notes is payable June 1 and December 1, beginning June 1, 2005. Based on the amounts outstanding at December 31, 2004, annual debt service on these notes is $21.3 million.

 

As of December 31, 2004, we had $323.4 million outstanding under our senior credit facility. Based on this outstanding amount and rates in effect at such time, we estimate our annual debt service including amortization to be approximately $15.7 million annually related to our senior credit facility.

 

The issuance of our 8½% senior notes in December 2004 as well as the repurchase of $186.5 million of 10¼% senior notes in December 2004 pursuant to a tender offer and the redemption of the remaining $50.0 million of 10¼% senior notes in February 2005 is expected to result in a cash savings of approximately $2.6 million in debt service payments in 2005.

 

Capital Instruments

 

Senior Notes and Senior Discount Notes

 

Our 8½% senior notes are unsecured and are pari passu in right of payment with our other existing and future senior indebtedness. Our 9¾% senior discount notes were co-issued by us and Telecommunications in December 2003, are unsecured, rank pari passu with the senior indebtedness and are structurally senior to all indebtedness of SBA Communications. The 8½% senior notes, and the 9¾% senior discount notes place certain restrictions on, among other things, the incurrence of debt and liens, issuance of preferred stock, payment of dividends or other distributions, sale of assets, transactions with affiliates, sale and leaseback transactions, certain investments and our ability to merge or consolidate with other entities.

 

January 2004 Senior Credit Facility

 

On January 30, 2004, SBA Senior Finance closed on a new senior credit facility in the amount of $400.0 million. This facility consists of a $275.0 million term loan which was funded at closing, a $50.0 million delayed draw term loan, and a $75.0 million revolving line of credit. The revolving line of credit may be borrowed, repaid and redrawn. Amortization of the term loan is at a quarterly rate of 0.25% and is payable quarterly beginning September 30, 2004 and ends September 30, 2008. All remaining outstanding amounts under the term loans are due October 31, 2008. There is no amortization of the revolving line of credit and all amounts outstanding under the revolving line of credit are due on July 31, 2008. On November 12, 2004, we entered into an amendment to the senior credit facility. Under the amendment, amounts borrowed will accrue interest at either the Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the senior credit facility) plus a spread of 275 basis points or the Base Rate (as defined in the senior credit facility) plus a spread of 175 basis points. This facility may be prepaid at any time with no prepayment penalty.

 

Amounts borrowed under this facility are secured by a first lien on substantially all of SBA Senior Finance’s assets. In addition, each of SBA Senior Finance’s domestic subsidiaries has guaranteed the obligations of SBA Senior Finance under the senior credit facility and has pledged substantially all of their respective assets to secure such guarantee. In addition, SBA Communications and Telecommunications have pledged, on a non-recourse basis, all of the common stock of Telecommunications and SBA Senior Finance to secure SBA Senior Finance’s obligations under this senior credit facility.

 

The new senior credit facility requires SBA Senior Finance to maintain specified financial ratios, including ratios regarding its debt to annualized operating cash flow, debt service, cash interest expense and fixed charges for each quarter. This new senior credit facility contains affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, restrict its ability to incur debt and liens, sell assets, commit to capital expenditures, enter into affiliate transactions or sale-leaseback transactions,

 

29


and/or build towers without anchor tenants. Additionally, this facility permits distributions by SBA Senior Finance to Telecommunications and SBA Communications to service their debt, pay consolidated taxes, pay holding company expenses and for the repurchase of senior notes or senior discount notes subject to compliance with the covenants discussed above. SBA Senior Finance’s ability in the future to comply with the covenants and access the available funds under the senior credit facility in the future will depend on its future financial performance. As of December 31, 2004, we were in full compliance with the financial covenants contained in this agreement.

 

Registration Statements

 

We have on file with the Commission shelf registration statements on Form S-4 registering up to a total of 8.0 million shares of Class A common stock that we may issue in connection with the acquisition of wireless communication towers or companies that provide related services at various locations in the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2004, we issued 412,556 shares of Class A common stock under these registration statements in connection with the acquisition of five towers and related assets. As of December 31, 2004, we had 3,972,800 million shares of Class A common stock remaining available under these shelf registration statements. Subsequent to December 31, 2004, we issued 448,000 shares under these shelf registration statements in partial payment of the purchase price in connection with the acquisition of 24 towers.

 

We have on file with the SEC a universal shelf registration statement registering the sale of up to $252.7 million of any combination of the following securities: Class A common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares or warrants.

 

Inflation

 

The impact of inflation on our operations has not been significant to date. However, we cannot assure you that a change in the rate of inflation in the future will not adversely affect our operating results.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued a revised SFAS No. 123, Share-Based Payment (“Statement 123R”), which is effective for our third quarter of fiscal 2005. Statement 123R requires companies to expense in their consolidated statement of operations the estimated fair value of employee stock options and similar awards. We are currently evaluating which application method will be applied once SFAS 123R is adopted. Depending on the model used to calculate stock-based compensation expense in the future, the implementation of certain other requirements of Statement 123R and additional option grants expected to be made in the future, the pro forma disclosure may not be indicative of the stock-based compensation expense that will be recognized in our future financial statements. We are in the process of determining how the new method of valuing stock-based compensation as prescribed in Statement 123R will be applied to valuing stock-based awards granted after the effective date and the impact the recognition of compensation expense related to such awards will have on its financial statements.

 

The effective date of certain elements of SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity (“Statement 150”), has been delayed indefinitely by the FASB. These elements of Statement 150 require that noncontrolling interests in limited-life subsidiaries be classified as liabilities. As a result of this indefinite delay, we have not adopted these elements of Statement 150. The Company has adopted the other elements of Statement 150, for which the effective date was not delayed. Currently, we do not expect that the adoption of the remaining elements of Statement 150 will have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No.153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets—an Amendment of APB No. 29” (SFAS 153). The amendments made by SFAS 153 are based on the principle that exchanges of nonmonetary assets should be measured based on the fair value of the assets exchanged. Further, the amendments eliminate the narrow exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replace it with a broader exception for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have “commercial substance.” This standard is effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges occurring after July 1, 2005. The adoption of this standard is not expected to impact our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Commitments and Contractual Obligations

 

The following table summarizes our scheduled contractual commitments as of December 31, 2004:

 

Contractual Obligations


   Total

   Less than 1
Year


   1-3 Years

   4-5 Years

  

More than 5

Years


Short-term and long-term debt

   $ 1,024,134    $ 3,250    $ 6,500    $ 313,625    $ 700,759

Interest payments (1)

     407,302      41,203      83,587      140,611      141,901

Operating leases

     623,128      26,093      49,381      49,751      497,903

Employment agreements

     1,510      975      535      —        —  
    

  

  

  

  

     $ 2,056,074    $ 71,521    $ 140,003    $ 503,987    $ 1,340,563
    

  

  

  

  


(1) Represents interest payments of 8 1/2% senior notes, 10 1/4% senior notes, and 9 3/4% senior discount notes based on stated interest rates on those facilities. This also includes interest on the senior credit facility, which had a weighted average interest rate of 4.86% at December 31, 2004.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We are not involved in any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

30


ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

We are exposed to certain market risks that are inherent in our financial instruments. These instruments arise from transactions entered into in the normal course of business. We are subject to interest rate risk on our senior credit facility and any future financing requirements. We attempt to limit our exposure to interest rate risk by managing the mix of our long-term fixed rate senior notes and our borrowings under our senior credit facility. As of December 31, 2004, long-term fixed rate borrowings represented approximately 65.4% of our total borrowings. Assuming a 100 basis-point change in LIBOR, our annual interest cost would change by approximately $3.2 million, based on outstanding balances as of the date of this report.

 

The following table presents the future principal payment obligations and interest rates associated with our long-term debt instruments assuming our actual level of long-term indebtedness as of December 31, 2004:

 

     2005

   2006

   2007

   2008

   2009

   Thereafter

  Total

   Fair Value

     (in thousands)

Long-term debt:

                                                      

Fixed rate (10 1/4%)(1)

     —        —        —        —      $ 49,985      —     $ 49,985    $ 52,547

Fixed rate (9 3/4%)

     —        —        —        —        —      $ 400,774   $ 400,774    $ 337,652

Fixed rate (8 1/2%)

     —        —        —        —        —      $ 250,000   $ 250,000    $ 255,000

Senior credit facility (rates varying from 4.81% to 5.51% at December 31, 2004)

   $ 3,250    $ 3,250    $ 3,250    $ 313,625      —        —     $ 323,375    $ 323,375

(1) These notes were redeemed in full on February 1, 2005.

 

Our primary market risk exposure relates to (1) the interest rate risk on variable-rate long-term and short-term borrowings, (2) our ability to refinance our 9¾% senior discount notes and our 8½% senior notes, at maturity at market rates, and (3) the impact of interest rate movements on our ability to meet financial covenants. We manage the interest rate risk on our outstanding long-term and short-term debt through our use of fixed and variable rate debt. While we cannot predict or manage our ability to refinance existing debt or the impact interest rate movements will have on our existing debt, we continue to evaluate our financial position on an ongoing basis.

 

Senior Note and Senior Discount Note Disclosure Requirements

 

The indentures governing our 8½% senior notes and our 9¾% senior discount notes require certain financial disclosures for restricted subsidiaries separate from unrestricted subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2004 we had no unrestricted subsidiaries. Additionally, we are required to disclose (i) Tower Cash Flow, as defined in the indentures, for the most recent fiscal quarter and (ii) Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow, as defined in the indentures, for the most recently completed four-quarter period. This information 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 flows 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.

 

Tower Cash Flow and Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow, as defined in our senior note and senior discount note indentures, are as follows:

 

    

9 3/4% Senior

Discount Notes


     (in thousands)

HoldCo Tower Cash Flow for the three months ended December 31, 2004(1)

   $ 26,812

OpCo tower Cash Flow for the three months ended December 31, 2004(2)

   $ 26,812

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

   $ 84,911

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

   $ 89,622

(1) In the indenture for the 9¾% senior discount notes HoldCo is referred to as the “Co-Issuer” or SBA Communications Corporation.
(2) In the indenture for the 9¾% senior discount notes OpCo is referred to as the “Company” or SBA Telecommunications, Inc.

 

     8½% Senior Notes

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

   $ 26,812

Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004

   $ 84,911

Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow of SBA Senior Finance for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004

   $ 89,918

 

31


Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

 

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

 

    our estimates regarding our liquidity, capital expenditures and sources of both, and our ability to fund operations and meet our obligations as they become due;

 

    our ability to sell those towers accounted for in discontinued operations and the timing of such sales;

 

    our belief that we will experience continued long-term growth of our site leasing revenues due to increasing minutes of use and network coverage and capacity requirements;

 

    our strategy to focus our business on the site leasing business, and the consequential shift in our revenue stream and gross profits from project driven revenues to recurring revenues, predictable operating costs and minimal capital expenditures;

 

    our belief that focusing our site leasing activities in the Eastern third of the United States will improve our operating efficiencies, reduce overhead expenses and procure higher revenue per tower;

 

    our expectation of growing our cash flows by using existing tower capacity or requiring carriers to bear all or a portion of the cost of tower modifications;

 

    our belief that our towers have significant capacity to accommodate additional tenants and increased use of our towers can be achieved at a low incremental cost;

 

    our intention to selectively invest in new tower builds and/or tower acquisitions;

 

    our expectations regarding our new build program and our intent to build 50-75 new towers in 2005;

 

    our intent that each new build will at least have one tenant upon completion and our expectation that many will have multiple tenants;

 

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

 

    our estimates regarding our annual debt service and cash interest requirements in 2005 and thereafter; and

 

    our estimates regarding cash savings in debt service and amortization payments in 2005 as a result of our debt refinancing activities.

 

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

 

    our inability to sufficiently increase our revenues and maintain or decrease expenses and cash capital expenditures to permit us to fund operations and meet our obligations as they become due;

 

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

 

    our ability to continue to comply with covenants and the terms of our senior credit facility and to access sufficient capital to fund our operations;

 

    our ability to secure as many site leasing tenants as planned;

 

32


    our ability to expand our site leasing business and maintain or expand our site development business;

 

    our ability to successfully build 50-75 new towers in 2005;

 

    our ability to successfully implement our strategy of having at least one tenant on each new build upon completion;

 

    our ability to successfully address zoning issues;

 

    our ability to retain current lessees on our towers;

 

    the actual amount and timing of services rendered and revenues received under our contract with Sprint;

 

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

 

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

 

We assume no responsibility for updating forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

Financial statements and supplementary data are on pages F-1 through F-35.

 

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

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures - The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, as the Company’s are designed to do, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

 

In connection with the preparation of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as of December 31, 2004, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). In performing this evaluation, management reviewed the Company’s lease accounting and leasehold depreciation practices partially in light of the recent attention and focus on such practices by restaurant and retail companies. As a result of this review, the Company concluded that its previously established lease accounting and leasehold depreciation practices were not appropriate and determined that the Company’s annual rent and depreciation expense over the last several years had been understated. Accordingly, as described below, the Company determined to restate certain of its previously issued financial statements to reflect the correction in the Company’s lease accounting and leasehold depreciation practices. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s CEO and CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2004.

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting - Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

 

Management has assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004. In making its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (“COSO”) of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework.

 

33


In performing this assessment, management reviewed the Company’s lease accounting and leasehold depreciation practices partially in light of the recent attention and focus on such practices by restaurant and retail companies. As a result of this review, management concluded that the Company’s controls over the selection and monitoring of appropriate assumptions and factors affecting lease accounting and leasehold depreciation practices were insufficient, and, as a result, management has determined that the Company’s annual rent and depreciation expense over the last several years had been understated. On February 25, 2005, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) and senior management determined to restate certain of the Company’s previously issued financial statements to reflect the correction in its lease accounting and leasehold depreciation practices.

 

Management evaluated the impact of this restatement on the Company’s assessment of its system of internal control and has concluded that the control deficiency that resulted in the incorrect lease accounting and leasehold depreciation practices represented a material weakness. As a result of this material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2004, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective based on the criteria set forth by the COSO of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting is a control deficiency (within the meaning of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Auditing Standard No. 2), or combination of control deficiencies, that results in there being more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 2 identifies a number of circumstances that, because of their likely significant negative effect on internal control over financial reporting, are to be regarded as at least significant deficiencies as well as strong indicators that a material weakness exists, including the restatement of previously issued financial statements to reflect the correction of a misstatement.

 

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. This report appears below.

 

Remediation Steps to Address Material Weakness - To remediate the material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, subsequent to year end the Company has implemented additional review procedures over the selection and monitoring of appropriate application of accounting standards affecting lease accounting and leasehold depreciation accounting practices.

 

Change in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting - There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, that SBA Communications Corporation and Subsidiaries did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, because of the effect of the Company’s insufficient controls over the selection and monitoring of appropriate assumptions and factors affecting lease accounting and leasehold depreciation practices, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). SBA Communications Corporation and Subsidiaries management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

34


Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. The following material weakness has been identified and included in management’s assessment: In its assessment as of December 31, 2004, management identified as a material weakness the Company’s insufficient controls over the selection and monitoring of appropriate assumptions and factors affecting lease accounting and leasehold depreciation practices. As a result of this material weakness in internal control, management concluded the Company’s previously reported annual depreciation expense and rent expense had been understated and that previously issued financial statements should be restated. This material weakness was considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2004 financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated March 14, 2005 on those financial statements.

 

In our opinion, management’s assessment that SBA Communications Corporation and Subsidiaries did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO control criteria. Also, in our opinion, because of the effect of the material weakness described above on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, SBA Communications Corporation and Subsidiaries has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the COSO control criteria.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of SBA Communications Corporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, and our report dated March 14, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

West Palm Beach, Florida

March 14, 2005

 

35


PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer. The Code of Ethics is located on our internet web site at www.sbasite.com under “Investor Relations-Corporate Governance.”

 

The remaining items required by Part III, Item 10 are incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Proxy Statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed on or before April 30, 2005.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The items required by Part III, Item 11 are incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Proxy Statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed on or before April 30, 2005.

 

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The items required by Part III, Item 12 are incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Proxy Statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed on or before April 30, 2005.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

The items required by Part III, Item 13 are incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Proxy Statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed on or before April 30, 2005.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The items required by Part III, Item 14 are incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant’s Proxy Statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed on or before April 30, 2005.

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a) Documents filed as part of this report:

 

(1) Financial Statements

 

See Item 8 for Financial Statements included with this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

(2) Financial Statement Schedules

 

None.

 

(3) Exhibits

 

36


Exhibit

No.


 

Description of Exhibits


3.4   —Fourth Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of SBA Communications Corporation.(1)
3.5   —Amended and Revised By-Laws of SBA Communications Corporation.(1)
4.4   —Indenture, dated as of February 2, 2001, between SBA Communications Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee, relating to $500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount and maturity of 10¼% senior notes due 2009.(2)
4.5   —Form of 10¼% senior note due February 1, 2009.(2)
4.6   —Rights Agreement, dated as of January 11, 2002, between SBA Communications Corporation and the Rights Agent.(3)
4.7   —Indenture, dated as of December 19, 2003, among SBA Communications Corporation, SBA Telecommunications, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the $402,024,000 in aggregate principal amount at maturity of 9¾% senior discount notes due 2011.(4)
4.8   —Form of 9¾% senior discount note due 2011.(4)
4.9   —Indenture, dated as of December 14, 2004, between SBA Communications Corporation and U.S. Bank, N.A., as trustee, relating to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8½% senior notes due 2012.*
4.10   —Form of 8½% senior note due December 1, 2012.*
5.1   —Opinion of Akerman Senterfitt.*
10.1   —SBA Communications Corporation Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 5, 1997, among the Company, Steven E. Bernstein, Ronald G. Bizick, II and Robert Grobstein.(5)
10.3   —Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2003, by and among SBA Properties, Inc.*, SBA Towers, Inc., SBA Properties Louisiana LLC and AAT Communications Corp.(6)
10.23   —1996 Stock Option Plan.(1)+
10.24   —1999 Equity Participation Plan.(1)+
10.25   —1999 Stock Purchase Plan.(1)+
10.27   —Incentive Stock Option Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2000, between SBA Communications Corporation and Thomas P. Hunt.(7)+
10.28   —Restricted Stock Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2000, between SBA Communications Corporation and Thomas P. Hunt.(7)+
10.33   —2001 Equity Participation Plan.(8)+
10.35   —Employment Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2003, between SBA Properties Inc. and Jeffrey A. Stoops.(9)+
10.36   —Employment Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2003, between SBA Properties Inc. and Kurt L. Bagwell.(9)+
10.37   —Employment Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2003, between SBA Properties Inc. and Thomas P. Hunt.(9)+
10.41   —$400,000,000 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2004, among SBA Senior Finance, Inc., as borrower, the lenders from time to time parties thereto, Lehman Brothers Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners, Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as Administrative Agent, General Electric Capital Corporation as Co-Lead Arranger and Co-Syndication Agent, and TD Securities (USA) Inc., as Documentation Agent.(4)
10.42   —Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated January 30, 2004 among SBA Communications Corporation, SBA Telecommunications, Inc., SBA Senior Finance, Inc. and certain of their subsidiaries in favor of Lehman Commercial Paper, Inc.(4)
10.44   —First Amendment, dated as of November 12, 2004, to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2004, among SBA Senior Finance, Inc., as borrower, the lenders from time to time parties thereto, Lehman Brothers Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as Joint Advisors, Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners, Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as Administrative Agent, General Electric Capital Corporation as Co-Lead Arranger and Co-Syndication Agent, and TD Securities (USA) Inc., as Documentation Agent. (10)
10.45   —Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2004, among SBA Communications Corporation, and Lehman Brothers Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as representatives of the Initial Purchasers relating to the 8 1/2% senior notes due 2012.*
12.1   —Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.*
21   —Subsidiaries.*
23.1   —Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.*
31.1   —Certification by Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
31.2   —Certification by Anthony J. Macaione, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*

 

37


32.1   —Certification by Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
32.2   —Certification by Anthony J. Macaione, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*

+ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
* Filed herewith
(1) Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 previously filed by the Registrant (Registration No. 333-76547).
(2) Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 previously filed by the Registrant (Registration No. 333-58128).
(3) Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K, dated January 11, 2002, previously filed by the Registrant.
(4) Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 previously filed by the Registrant.
(5) Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 previously filed by the Registrant (Registration No. 333-50219).
(6) Incorporated by reference to Form 8-K, dated May 9, 2003, previously filed by Registrant.
(7) Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000, previously filed by the Registrant.
(8) Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-8, previously filed by the Registrant (Registration No. 333-69236).
(9) Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, previously filed by the Registrant.
(10) Incorporated by reference to the Form 8-K, dated November 12, 2004, previously filed by the Registrant.

 

38


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ STEVEN E. BERNSTEIN


   

Steven E. Bernstein

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Date:   March 16, 2005

 

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

 

Signature


  

Title


 

Date


/s/ STEVEN E. BERNSTEIN


Steven E. Bernstein

   Chairman of the Board of Directors   March 16, 2005
    

/s/ JEFFREY A. STOOPS


Jeffrey A. Stoops

  

Chief Executive Officer and President

(Principal Executive Officer) and Director

  March 16, 2005
    

/s/ ANTHONY J. MACAIONE


Anthony J. Macaione

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

  March 16, 2005
    

/s/ BRIAN C. CARR


Brian. C. Carr

   Director   March 16, 2005
    

/s/ DUNCAN H. COCROFT


Duncan H. Cocroft

   Director   March 16, 2005
    

/s/ PHILIP L. HAWKINS


Philip L. Hawkins

   Director   March 16, 2005
    

/s/ DONALD B. HEBB, JR.


Donald B. Hebb, Jr.

   Director   March 16, 2005
    

/s/ JACK LANGER


Jack Langer

   Director   March 16, 2005
    

/s/ STEVEN E. NIELSEN


Steven E. Nielsen

   Director   March 16, 2005
    

 

39


SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Table of Contents

 

     Page

Report of Independent Certified Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003

   F-3

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

   F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

   F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-8

 

F-1


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of SBA Communications Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SBA Communications Corporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

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

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of SBA Communications Corporation and Subsidiaries at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003 and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, have been restated to correct the accounting for leases and leasehold depreciation.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of SBA Communications Corporation and Subsidiaries internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 14, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment and an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

 

West Palm Beach, Florida

 

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

March 14, 2005

   

 

F-2


SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except par values)

 

     December 31, 2004

   

December 31, 2003

As restated


 
ASSETS                 

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 69,627     $ 8,338  

Short-term investments

     —         15,200  

Restricted cash

     2,017       10,344  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,731 and $1,400 in 2004 and 2003, respectively

     21,125       19,414  

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

     19,066       10,227  

Prepaid and other current expenses

     4,327       5,009  

Assets held for sale

     10       1,733  
    


 


Total current assets

     116,172       70,265  

Property and equipment, net

     745,831       830,145  

Deferred financing fees, net

     19,421       24,253  

Other assets

     34,455       31,181  

Intangible assets, net

     1,365       2,408  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 917,244     $ 958,252  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT                 

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable

   $ 15,204     $ 11,352  

Accrued expenses

     14,997       17,866  

Deferred revenue

     10,810       11,137  

Interest payable

     3,729       20,319  

Long term debt, current portion

     3,250       11,538  

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

     1,251       1,168  

Other current liabilities

     1,762       1,959  

Liabilities held for sale

     —         608  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     51,003       75,947  
    


 


Long Term Liabilities:

                

Long-term debt

     924,456       859,220  

Deferred revenue

     384       511  

Other long-term liabilities

     30,072       24,140  
    


 


Total long term liabilities

     954,912       883,871  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies

                

Shareholders’ deficit:

                

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

     —         —    

Common Stock - Class A par value $.01, 200,000 shares authorized, 64,903 and 55,016 shares issued and outstanding in 2004 and 2003, respectively

     649       550  

Common stock - Class B par value $.01, 8,100 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding

     —         —    

Additional paid-in capital

     740,037       679,961  

Accumulated deficit

     (829,357 )     (682,077 )
    


 


Total shareholders’ deficit

     (88,671 )     (1,566 )
    


 


Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficit

   $ 917,244     $ 958,252  
    


 


 

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

 

F-3


SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

   

2003

As restated


   

2002

As restated


 

Revenues:

                        

Site leasing

   $ 144,004     $ 127,852     $ 115,121  

Site development

     87,478       64,257       99,352  
    


 


 


Total revenues

     231,482       192,109       214,473  
    


 


 


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

                        

Cost of site leasing

     47,283       47,793       46,709  

Cost of site development

     81,398       58,683       81,565  
    


 


 


Total cost of revenues

     128,681       106,476       128,274  
    


 


 


Gross profit

     102,801       85,633       86,199  

Operating expenses:

                        

Selling, general and administrative

     28,887       30,714       32,740  

Restructuring and other charges

     250       2,094       47,762  

Asset impairment charges

     7,092       12,993       24,194  

Depreciation, accretion and amortization

     90,453       93,657       95,627  
    


 


 


Total operating expenses

     126,682       139,458       200,323  
    


 


 


Operating loss from continuing operations

     (23,881 )     (53,825 )     (114,124 )

Other income (expense):

                        

Interest income

     516       692       601  

Interest expense

     (47,460 )     (81,501 )     (54,822 )

Non-cash interest expense

     (28,082 )     (9,277 )     (29,038 )

Amortization of debt issuance costs

     (3,445 )     (5,115 )     (4,480 )

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

     (41,197 )     (24,219 )     —    

Other

     236       169       (169 )
    


 


 


Total other expense

     (119,432 )     (119,251 )     (87,908 )
    


 


 


Loss from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (143,313 )     (173,076 )     (202,032 )

Provision for income taxes

     (710 )     (1,729 )     (300 )
    


 


 


Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (144,023 )     (174,805 )     (202,332 )

(Loss) gain from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     (3,257 )     202       (4,081 )
    


 


 


Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (147,280 )     (174,603 )     (206,413 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     —         (545 )     (60,674 )
    


 


 


Net loss

   $ (147,280 )   $ (175,148 )   $ (267,087 )
    


 


 


Basic and diluted loss per common share amounts:

                        

Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle

   $ (2.47 )   $ (3.35 )   $ (4.01 )

Loss from discontinued operations

     (0.05 )     —         (0.08 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     —         (0.01 )     (1.20 )
    


 


 


Net loss per common share

   $ (2.52 )   $ (3.36 )   $ (5.29 )
    


 


 


Weighted average number of common shares

     58,420       52,204       50,491  
    


 


 


 

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

 

F-4


SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003, AND 2002

(in thousands)

 

     Common Stock

   

Additional

Paid-In

Capital


   

Accumulated

Deficit


    Total

 
     Class A

   Class B

       
     Shares

   Amount

   Shares

    Amount

       

BALANCE, December 31, 2001, as previously reported

   43,233    $ 432    5,456     $ 55     $ 663,724     $ (215,467 )   $ 448,744  

Effect of restatement

   —        —      —         —         —         (24,375 )     (24,375 )
    
  

  

 


 


 


 


BALANCE, December 31, 2001, as restated

   43,233      432    5,456       55       663,724       (239,842 )     424,369  

Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions

   1,316      13    —         —         1,383       —         1,396  

Non-cash compensation

   —        —      —         —         2,017       —         2,017  

Common stock issued in connection with employee stock purchase/option plans

   1,125      12    —         —         317       —         329  

Net loss, as restated

   —        —      —         —         —         (267,087 )     (267,087 )
    
  

  

 


 


 


 


BALANCE, December 31, 2002, as restated

   45,674      457    5,456       55       667,441       (506,929 )     161,024  

Conversion of Class B common stock into Class A common stock

   5,456      55    (5,456 )     (55 )     —         —         —    

Non-cash compensation

                               832       —         832  

Payment of restricted stock guarantee

   —        —      —         —         (936 )     —         (936 )

Common stock issued in exchange for 10 1/4% senior notes

   3,853      38    —         —         12,593       —         12,631  

Common stock issued in connection with employee stock purchase/option plans

   33      —      —         —         31       —         31  

Net loss, as restated

   —        —      —         —         —         (175,148 )     (175,148 )
    
  

  

 


 


 


 


BALANCE, December 31, 2003, as restated

   55,016      550    —         —         679,961       (682,077 )     (1,566 )

Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions

   413      4    —         —         3,003       —         3,007  

Non-cash compensation

   —        —      —         —         470       —         470  

Common stock issued in exchange for 10 1/4% senior notes and 9 3/4% senior discount notes

   8,818      88    —         —         54,484       —         54,572  

Common stock issued in connection with stock purchase/option plans

   657      7    —         —         2,119       —         2,126  

Net loss

   —        —      —         —         —         (147,280 )     (147,280 )
    
  

  

 


 


 


 


BALANCE, December 31, 2004

   64,903    $ 649    —       $ —       $ 740,037     $ (829,357 )   $ (88,671 )
    
  

  

 


 


 


 


 

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

 

F-5


SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

   

2003

As restated


   

2002

As restated


 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

                        

Net loss

   $ (147,280 )   $ (175,148 )   $ (267,087 )

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

                        

Depreciation, accretion, and amortization

     90,453       93,657       95,627  

Non-cash restructuring and other charges

     250       1,119       43,438  

Asset impairment charges

     7,092       12,993       24,194  

Non-cash items reported in discontinued operations (primarily depreciation, asset impairment charges, and gain/loss on sale of assets)

     29       5,370       18,886  

Non-cash compensation expense

     470       832       2,017  

Provision for doubtful accounts

     (287 )     3,554       3,371  

Amortization of original issue discount and debt issuance costs

     30,994       11,011       33,518  

Interest converted to term loan

     554       3,227       —    

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

     41,197       24,219       —    

Amortization of deferred gain of derivative

     (746 )     (676 )     (133 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     —         545       60,674  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                        

Short term investments

     15,200       (15,200 )     —    

Accounts receivable

     (1,208 )     13,129       17,133  

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

     (8,839 )     198       908  

Prepaid and other current assets

     641       (343 )     1,356  

Other assets

     (3,759 )     (4,176 )     (5,674 )

Accounts payable

     3,559       (5,758 )     (15,229 )

Accrued expenses

     (3,164 )     103       (144 )

Deferred revenue

     (493 )     1,466       761  

Interest payable

     (15,732 )     (2,387 )     1,104  

Other liabilities

     5,202       1,790       7,127  

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

     83       667       (4,040 )
    


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     14,216       (29,808 )     17,807  
    


 


 


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

                        

Proceeds from termination of interest rate swap agreement

     —         —         5,369  

Capital expenditures

     (7,214 )     (15,136 )     (86,361 )

Acquisitions and related earn-outs

     (1,791 )     (3,126 )     (29,724 )

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets

     1,496       192,450       —    

Receipt (payment) of restricted cash

     8,835       (18,732 )     8,000  
    


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     1,326       155,456       (102,716 )
    


 


 


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

                        

Proceeds from employee stock purchase/option plans

     2,126       31       329  

Proceeds from 9 3/4% senior discount notes payable, net of financing fees

     —         267,109       —    

Proceeds from 8 1/2% senior notes, net of financing fees

     244,788       —         —    

Borrowings under senior credit facility, net of financing fees

     363,457       356,955       143,809  

Bank overdraft borrowings (repayments)

     126       400       (11,547 )

Payment of restricted stock guarantee

     —         (936 )     —    

Repayment of senior credit facility and notes payable

     (173,403 )     (505,085 )     (445 )

Repurchase of 10 1/4% senior notes

     (320,553 )     —         —    

Repurchase of 12% senior notes

     (70,794 )     (296,925 )     —    
    


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     45,747       (178,451 )     132,146  
    


 


 


NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     61,289       (52,803 )     47,237  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:

                        

Beginning of period

     8,338       61,141       13,904  
    


 


 


End of period

   $ 69,627     $ 8,338     $ 61,141  
    


 


 


 

F-6


SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

   

2003

As restated


    2002
As restated


 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

                        

Cash paid during the period for:

                        

Interest, net of amounts capitalized

   $ 63,746     $ 84,847     $ 58,261  
    


 


 


Income taxes, net of refunds

   $ 971     $ 1,852     $ 1,502  
    


 


 


SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES:

                        

Assets acquired in connection with acquisitions

   $ 3,051     $ —       $ 3,396  
    


 


 


Liabilities assumed in connection with acquisitions

   $ (44 )   $ —       $ (2,000 )
    


 


 


Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions

   $ (3,007 )   $ —       $ (1,396 )
    


 


 


Class A common stock issued in exchange for 10 1/4% senior notes, 9 3/4% senior discount notes, and accrued interest

   $ 54,572     $ 12,631     $ —    
    


 


 


10 1/4% senior notes and accrued interest redeemed for Class A common stock

   $ (51,433 )   $ (13,713 )   $ —    
    


 


 


 

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

 

F-7


1. GENERAL

 

SBA Communications Corporation (the “Company” or “SBA”) was incorporated in the State of Florida in March 1997. The Company holds all of the outstanding capital stock of SBA Telecommunications, Inc. (“Telecommunications”). Telecommunications holds all of the capital stock of SBA Senior Finance, Inc. (“SBA Senior Finance”). SBA Senior Finance holds all of the capital stock of SBA Towers, Inc., SBA Properties, Inc., SBA Sites, Inc., and certain other tower companies (collectively “Tower Companies”), SBA Leasing, Inc. (“SBA Leasing”) and SBA Network Services, Inc. SBA Network Services, Inc. holds all of the capital stock of other companies engaged in similar businesses (collectively “Network Services”).

 

The Tower Companies own and operate transmission towers in the Eastern third of the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Space on these towers is leased primarily to wireless communications carriers.

 

SBA Leasing leases antenna tower sites from owners and then subleases such sites to wireless telecommunications providers.

 

Network Services provides comprehensive turnkey services for the telecommunications industry in the areas of site development services for wireless carriers and the construction and repair of transmission towers. Site development services provided by Network Services include network pre-design, site audits, site identification and acquisition, contract and title administration, zoning and land use permitting, construction management, microwave relocation and the construction and repair of transmission towers, including the hanging of antennas, cabling and associated tower components. In addition to providing turnkey services to the telecommunications industry, Network Services historically has constructed, or has overseen the construction of, approximately 60% of the newly built towers that the Company owns.

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements is as follows:

 

a. Basis of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

b. Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The more significant estimates made by management relate to the allowance for doubtful accounts, the costs and revenue relating to the Company’s site development and construction contracts, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, carrying value of long-lived assets, the useful lives of towers and asset retirement obligations. Actual results will differ from those estimates and such differences could be material.

 

c. Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company classifies as cash and cash equivalents all interest-bearing deposits or investments with original maturities of three months or less, and highly liquid short-term commercial paper.

 

d. Short Term Investments

 

The Company’s short-term investments consist of debt securities, which are acquired and held for a short period of time. Trading securities are recorded at fair value. Investment income and unrealized holding gains and losses on trading securities are included in earnings.

 

e. Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, adjusted for asset impairment and estimated asset retirement obligations. Costs associated with the acquisition, development and construction of towers are capitalized as a cost of the towers. Costs for self-constructed towers include direct materials and labor, indirect costs and capitalized interest. Depreciation on towers and related components is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives, not to exceed the minimum

 

F-8


lease term of the underlying ground lease as defined in Note 3. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease. For all other property and equipment, depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives. The Company performs ongoing evaluations of the estimated useful lives of its property and equipment for depreciation purposes. The estimated useful lives are determined and continually evaluated based on the period over which services are expected to be rendered by the asset. If the useful lives of assets are reduced, depreciation may be accelerated in future years. Maintenance and repair items are expensed as incurred.

 

Asset classes and related estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

Towers and related components

   2 –15   years

Furniture, equipment and vehicles

   2 –7   years

Buildings and improvements

   5 –39   years

 

Capitalized costs incurred subsequent to when an asset is originally placed in service are depreciated over the remaining estimated useful life of the respective asset. Changes in an asset’s estimated useful life are accounted for prospectively, with the book value of the asset at the time of the change being depreciated over the revised remaining useful life. There has been no material impact for changes in estimated useful lives for any years presented.

 

Interest is capitalized in connection with the self-construction of Company-owned towers. Capitalized interest is recorded as part of the asset to which it relates and is amortized over the asset’s estimated useful life. Approximately $0.01 million, $0.1 million and $1.7 million of interest cost was capitalized in 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively. Approximately $1.9 million of capitalized interest was reclassified to discontinued operations in 2002. No capitalized interest was reclassified in 2004 or 2003.

 

f. Deferred Financing Fees

 

Financing fees related to the issuance of debt have been deferred and are being amortized using a method that approximates the effective interest rate method over the length of indebtedness to which they relate.

 

g. Deferred Lease Costs

 

The Company defers certain initial direct costs associated with lease originations and lease amendments and amortizes these costs over the initial lease term, generally five years. Such costs deferred were approximately $1.8 million, $2.0 million, and $1.7 million and in 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively. Amortization expense was $1.6 million, $1.3 million, and $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and is included in cost of site leasing in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, unamortized deferred lease costs were $4.3 million and $4.1 million, respectively, and are included in other assets. Accumulated amortization totaled $4.7 million and $3.2 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

h. Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets are comprised of costs paid related to covenants not to compete. These finite-lived intangibles are being amortized over the terms of the contracts, which range from 3 to 5 years.

 

i. Goodwill

 

There was no goodwill at December 31, 2004 or 2003 or amortization of goodwill during 2004 and 2003, as a result of adopting the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (“SFAS 142”) in 2002.

 

j. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

In accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its fair value as determined by an estimate of discounted future cash flows. Estimates and assumptions inherent in the impairment evaluation include, but are not limited to, general market conditions, historical operating results, tower lease-up potential and expected timing of lease-up.

 

F-9


k. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying values of the Company’s financial instruments, which primarily includes cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, restricted cash, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, accrued expenses and notes payable, approximates fair value due to the short maturity of those instruments. The senior credit facility has a floating rate of interest and is carried at an amount which approximates fair value.

 

The Company’s 9 3/4% senior discount notes are registered and the 10 1/4% senior notes were registered. The 8 1/2% senior notes were sold in December 2004 pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S of the Securities Act. Since the 8 1/2% senior notes are not registered, they are subject to certain restrictions on resale. The following table reflects fair values as determined by quoted market prices (except for the 10 1/4% senior notes for which the tendered value of the notes was used in 2004) and carrying values of these notes as of December 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

     At December 31, 2004

   At December 31, 2003

     Fair Value

   Carrying Value

   Fair Value

   Carrying Value

     (dollars in millions)

12% Senior Discount Notes

   $ —      $ —      $ 71.6    $ 65.7

10 1/4% Senior Notes

   $ 52.5    $ 50.0    $ 398.3    $ 406.4

9 3/4% Senior Discount Notes

   $ 337.7    $ 302.4    $ 279.9    $ 275.8

8 1/2% Senior Notes

   $ 255.0    $ 250.0    $ —      $ —  

 

l. Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

 

Revenue from site leasing is recorded monthly and recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the related lease agreements, which are generally five years. Receivables recorded related to the straight-lining of site leases is reflected in prepaid and other current assets and other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Rental amounts received in advance are recorded as deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Site development projects in which the Company performs consulting services include contracts on a time and materials basis or a fixed price basis. Time and materials based contracts are billed at contractual rates as the services are rendered. For those site development contracts in which the Company performs work on a fixed price basis, site development billing (and revenue recognition) is based on the completion of agreed upon phases of the project on a per site basis. Upon the completion of each phase on a per site basis, the Company recognizes the revenue related to that phase. Any estimated losses on a particular phase of completion are recognized in the period in which the loss becomes evident. Site development projects generally take from 3 to 12 months to complete.

 

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

 

Cost of site leasing revenue includes rent, property taxes, maintenance (exclusive of employee related costs) and other tower expenses. Cost of site development revenue includes all materials costs, salaries and labor costs, including payroll taxes, subcontract labor, vehicle expense and other costs directly and indirectly related to the projects. All costs related to site development projects are recognized as incurred.

 

The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers. The Company continuously monitors collections and payments from its customers and maintains a provision for estimated credit losses based upon historical experience, specific customer collection issues identified and past due balances as determined based on contractual terms. Amounts determined to be uncollectible are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts in the period in which uncollectability is determined to be probable. If the capital markets and the ability of wireless carriers to access capital were to deteriorate, the ultimate collectability of accounts receivable may be negatively impacted. The following is a rollforward of the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Beginning Balance

   $ 1,400     $ 5,572     $ 5,921  

Provisions (credits)

     (287 )     3,554       3,371  

Writeoffs, net of recoveries

     618       (7,726 )     (3,720 )
    


 


 


Ending Balance

   $ 1,731     $ 1,400     $ 5,572  
    


 


 


 

F-10


m. Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (“SFAS 109”). SFAS 109 requires the Company to recognize deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future income tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the temporary differences between the consolidated financial statements carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. In assessing the likelihood of utilization of existing deferred tax assets, management has considered historical results of operations and the current operating environment.

 

n. Stock-Based Compensation

 

In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure - an Amendment of SFAS 123 (“SFAS 148”) which provides alternative methods for a voluntary change to the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. The Company has elected to continue to account for its stock-based employee compensation plans under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (“APB 25”), and related interpretations and adopt the disclosure provisions of SFAS 148.

 

The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and loss per share as if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123, to stock-based employee compensation.

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

   

2003

As restated


   

2002

As restated


 
     (in millions)  

Net loss, as reported

   $ (147.3 )   $ (175.1 )   $ (267.1 )

Non-cash compensation charges included in net loss

     0.5       0.8       2.0  

Incremental stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

     (5.4 )     (4.2 )     (6.2 )
    


 


 


Pro forma net loss

   $ (152.2 )   $ (178.5 )   $ (271.3 )
    


 


 


Loss per share

                        

Basic and diluted - as reported

   $ (2.52 )   $ (3.35 )   $ (5.29 )

Basic and diluted - pro forma

   $ (2.61 )   $ (3.42 )   $ (5.37 )

 

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was used with the following assumptions:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Risk free interest rate

   3.5 %   2.0 %   3.25 %

Dividend yield

   0 %   0 %   0 %

Expected volatility

   113 %   90 %   171 %

Expected lives

   4 years     4 years     4 years  

 

The effect of applying SFAS 123 in the pro-forma disclosure is not necessarily indicative of future results.

 

 

F-11


o. Loss Per Share

 

Basic and diluted loss per share is calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share. The Company has potential common stock equivalents related to its outstanding stock options. These potential common stock equivalents were not included in diluted loss per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive. Accordingly, basic and diluted loss per common share and the weighted average number of shares used in the computations are the same for all periods presented. There were 4.4 million, 3.8 million and 2.8 million options outstanding at December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively.

 

p. Comprehensive Loss

 

During the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, the Company did not have any changes in its equity resulting from non-owner sources and, accordingly, comprehensive loss was equal to the net loss amounts presented for the respective periods in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

q. Reclassifications

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2003 and 2002 consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2004 presentation.

 

3. RESTATEMENT

 

On February 7, 2005, the Office of the Chief Accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued a letter to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants expressing its views regarding certain operating lease accounting issues and their application under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In light of this letter, the Company’s management initiated a review of its accounting practices and determined that it will adjust its method of accounting for certain types of ground leases underlying its tower sites, while in line with industry practice was not in accordance with GAAP. As a result, the Company restated its consolidated financial statements the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 in this Report, as well as the first three quarters of fiscal 2004 (see note 25).

 

The Company had previously defined the minimum lease term of its ground leases underlying its tower sites as the initial term of the leases and had been straight lining all rental payments due to the lessor evenly over this term, which typically is five years in length. Management determined tht the appropriate interpretation of the minimum lease term under SFAS 13, “Accounting for Leases” as the shorter of the period from lease inception through the end of the term of all tenant lease obligations in existence at ground lease inception, including renewal periods, or the ground lease term, including renewal periods. If no tenant lease obligations existed at the date of ground lease inception, the initial term of the ground lease is considered the minimum lease term. All rental obligations due to be paid out over the minimum lease term, including fixed escalations, have therefore been straight-lined evenly over the minimum lease term. Additionally, if the minimum lease term ends prior to the originally established depreciable life of the tower (typically 15 years), the Company has shortened the depreciable life of the tower to coincide with the minimum lease term of the ground lease.

 

As a result of the adjustments described above, the accompanying results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 have been adjusted to record additional rent expense (included in cost of sales on the statement of operations) of $5.7 million and $5.9 million, respectively; additional depreciation expense of $9.5 million and $10.1 million, respectively; a reduction of asset impairment charges of $4.0 million and $1.4 million (included in other operating expenses), respectively; a decrease of provision for income taxes of $.09 million and $.01 million; and an increase (decrease) in loss from discontinued operations of ($8.1) million and $3.4 million, respectively.

 

The consolidated balance sheets have been adjusted to record additional straight line rent liabilities (included in other long term liabilities) of $2.4 million and $7.3 million, a reduction in fixed assets of $5.5 million and $8.8 million, as well as a reduction in assets held for sale of $0.02 million and $4.9 million, at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Additionally, retained (deficit) earnings has been reduced by $45.5 million and $42.5 million at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These adjustments did not have any impact on the overall cash flows of the Company.

 

Following is a summary of the effects of these changes on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2003, as well as the effects of these changes on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002.

 

 

F-12


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

     For the year ended
December 31, 2003


    For the year ended
December 31, 2002


 
     As previously
reported


    As restated

    As previously
reported


    As restated

 
     (in thousands)  

Total revenues

   $ 192,109     $ 192,109     $ 214,473     $ 214,473  

Site leasing cost of revenue

     (42,119 )     (47,793 )     (40,759 )     (46,709 )

Site development cost of revenue

     (58,683 )     (58,683 )     (81,565 )     (81,565 )

Depreciation, accretion, and amortization

     (84,149 )     (93,657 )     (85,502 )     (95,627 )

Other operating expenses

     (49,773 )     (45,801 )     (106,047 )     (104,696 )
    


 


 


 


Operating loss from continuing operations

     (42,615 )     (53,825 )     (99,400 )     (114,124 )

Total other expense

     (119,251 )     (119,251 )     (87,908 )     (87,908 )

Provision for income taxes

     (1,820 )     (1,729 )     (309 )     (300 )
    


 


 


 


Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (163,686 )     (174,805 )     (187,617 )     (202,332 )

(Loss) gain from discontinued operations, net

     (7,940 )     202       (705 )     (4,081 )
    


 


 


 


Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (171,626 )     (174,603 )     (188,322 )     (206,413 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     (545 )     (545 )     (60,674 )     (60,674 )
    


 


 


 


Net loss

   $ (172,171 )   $ (175,148 )   $ (248,996 )   $ (267,087 )
    


 


 


 


Net loss per common share

   $ (3.30 )   $ (3.36 )   $ (4.93 )   $ (5.29 )
    


 


 


 


 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

     December 31, 2003

 
     As previously
reported


   As restated

 
     (in thousands)  

Current assets

   $ 70,283    $ 70,265  

Property and equipment

     854,857      830,145  

Other non-current assets

     57,842      57,842  
    

  


Total assets

   $ 982,982    $ 958,252  
    

  


Current liabilities

   $ 76,047    $ 75,947  

Long term debt

     859,220      859,220  

Deferred revenue and other long term liabilities

     3,838      24,651  
    

  


Total liabilities

     939,105      959,818  

Total shareholders’ (deficit) equity

     43,877      (1,566 )
    

  


Total liabilities and shareholders’ (deficit) equity

   $ 982,982    $ 958,252  
    

  


 

F-13


4. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

In March 2003 certain of the Company’s subsidiaries entered into a definitive agreement (the “Western tower sale”) to sell up to an aggregate of 801 towers, which represented substantially all of the Company’s towers in the Western two-thirds of the United States. The Company ultimately sold 784 of the 801 towers as part of the Western tower sale, representing all but three of the 787 total towers sold in 2003. Gross proceeds realized during 2003 from the sale of the 784 towers were $196.7 million, subject to certain remaining potential adjustments. At December 31, 2003, $7.3 million of the proceeds were held by an escrow agent in accordance with the adjustment provisions of the agreement. On April 29, 2004, the Company received notification from the purchaser of the Western towers as to certain claims for indemnification totaling approximately $4.3 million. As a result of these claims, $3.0 million of the escrowed funds were released to the Company in May 2004. In December 2004, the remaining claims for indemnification of $4.3 million were settled for $2.8 million and this amount was released to the purchaser of the Western towers. The remaining $1.5 million was released to the Company in December 2004. The Company recorded a charge of $2.1 million in 2004 relating to the settlement of the claims, which is included in discontinued operations, net of income taxes in the Statement of Operations.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company sold or disposed of 41 of the 61 towers held for sale at December 31, 2003, and reclassified 14 towers back to continuing operations, leaving six towers accounted for as discontinued operations as of December 31, 2004. Five of the six towers accounted for as discontinued operations at December 31, 2004 are under contract to be sold. The Company considers the other tower abandoned. Gross proceeds realized from the sale of towers during the year ended December 31, 2004 was $1.2 million, resulting in a loss on sale of approximately $1.6 million, which is included in loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

The December 31, 2003 loss from discontinued operations includes $3.4 million in asset impairment charges associated with the write-down of the carrying value of the 47 towers to their fair value less estimated cost to sell.

 

The following is a summary of the operating results of the discontinued operations relating to the Western tower sale and the 47 towers accounted for as discontinued operations:

 

     For the years ended December 31,

 
     2004

   

2003

As restated


   

2002

As restated


 
     (in thousands)  

Revenues

   $ 168     $ 11,208     $ 24,582  
    


 


 


Gross (loss) profit

   $ (174 )   $ 6,240     $ 14,180  
    


 


 


Loss from operations, net of income taxes

   $ (270 )   $ (6,170 )   $ (6,974 )

(Loss) gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     (1,622 )     6,750       —    
    


 


 


(Loss) gain from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

   $ (1,892 )   $ 580     $ (6,974 )
    


 


 


 

A portion of the Company’s interest expense has been allocated to discontinued operations based upon the debt balance attributable to those operations. Interest expense allocated to discontinued operations was $0.8 million and $1.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. No interest expense was allocated to discontinued operations in 2004 as there was no associated debt outstanding during 2004.

 

In May 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan of disposition related to site development services operations (including both the site development consulting and site development construction segments) in the Western portion of the United States (“Western site development services”). In June 2004, two business units were sold, and two business units were abandoned within the Western site development services unit. In the third quarter of 2004, the remaining two site development construction business units within the Western site development services unit were sold. Gross proceeds realized from sale during the third quarter were $0.4 million, and a loss on disposal of discontinued operations of $0.8 million was recorded during 2004.

 

 

F-14


The following is a summary of the operating results of the discontinued operations relating to the Western site development services:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

     2004

    2003

    2002

     (in thousands)

Revenues

   $ 14,280     $ 19,961     $ 25,689
    


 


 

Gross (loss) profit

   $ (383 )   $ 834     $ 4,781
    


 


 

Income (loss) from operations, net of income taxes

   $ (578 )   $ (378 )   $ 2,893

Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     (787 )     —         —  
    


 


 

(Loss) gain from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

   $ (1,365 )   $ (378 )   $ 2,893
    


 


 

 

No interest expense has been allocated to discontinued operations related to Western site development services for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

 

The following is a summarized balance sheet presenting the carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities related to the towers held for sale (six at December 31, 2004 and 61 at December 31, 2003) and the western services division which are classified as discontinued operations as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively:

 

     As of
December 31, 2004


  

As of

December 31, 2003

As restated


     (in thousands)

Property and equipment, net

   $ 10    $ 1,361

Other assets

     —        372
    

  

Assets held for sale

   $ 10    $ 1,733
    

  

Liabilities held for sale

   $ —      $ 608
    

  

 

The notes to the consolidated financial statements for all years presented have been adjusted for the discontinued operations described above.

 

5. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued a revised SFAS No. 123, Share-Based Payment (“Statement 123R”), which is effective for the Company’s third quarter of fiscal 2005. Statement 123R requires companies to expense in their consolidated statement of operations the estimated fair value of employee stock options and similar awards. The Company is currently evaluating which application method will be applied once SFAS 123R is adopted. Depending on the model used to calculate stock-based compensation expense in the future, the implementation of certain other requirements of Statement 123R and additional option grants expected to be made in the future, the pro forma disclosure (included in Note 2) may not be indicative of the stock-based compensation expense that will be recognized in the Company’s future financial statements. The Company is in the process of determining how the new method of valuing stock-based compensation as prescribed in Statement 123R will be applied to valuing stock-based awards granted after the effective date and the impact the recognition of compensation expense related to such awards will have on its financial statements.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No.153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets—an Amendment of APB No. 29” (SFAS 153). The amendments made by SFAS 153 are based on the principle that exchanges of nonmonetary assets

 

F-15


should be measured based on the fair value of the assets exchanged. Further, the amendments eliminate the narrow exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replace it with a broader exception for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have “commercial substance.” This standard is effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges occurring after July 1, 2005. The adoption of this standard is not expected to impact the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

6. CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

 

a. SFAS 143

 

Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 143. Under the new accounting principle, the Company recognizes asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred, if a reasonable estimate of a fair value can be made, and accretes such liability through the obligation’s estimated settlement date. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the related tower fixed assets and depreciated over the estimated useful life.

 

The Company has entered into ground leases for the land underlying the majority of the Company’s towers. A majority of these leases require the Company to restore leaseholds to their original condition upon termination of the ground lease. SFAS 143 requires that the net present value of future restoration obligations be recorded as a liability as of the date the legal obligation arises and this amount be capitalized to the related operating asset. At January 1, 2003, the effective date of adoption, the cumulative effect of the change on prior years resulted in a charge of approximately $0.5 million ($0.01 per share), which is included in net loss for the year ended December 31, 2003. In addition, at the date of adoption, the Company recorded an increase in tower assets of approximately $0.6 million and recorded an asset retirement obligation liability of approximately $1.1 million. The asset retirement obligation at December 31, 2004 of $1.4 million is included in other long-term liabilities in the December 31, 2004 Consolidated Balance Sheet. In determining the impact of SFAS 143, the Company considered the nature and scope of legal restoration obligation provisions contained in its third party ground leases, the historical retirement experience as an indicator of future restoration probabilities, intent in renewing existing ground leases through lease termination dates, current and future value and timing of estimated restoration costs, and the credit adjusted risk-free rate used to discount future obligations.

 

The following pro-forma summary presents the Company’s loss from continuing operations, net loss and related loss per share information as if the Company had been accounting for asset retirement obligations under SFAS 143 for all periods presented:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31, 2002

As restated


 
     (in thousands,
except per share
amounts)
 

Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in acccounting principles

   $ (202,332 )
    


Per share loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principles

   $ (4.01 )
    


Net loss

   $ (267,087 )
    


Net loss per common share

   $ (5.29 )
    


Weighted shares outstanding

     50,491  

 

The following summarizes the activity of the asset retirement obligation liability:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

   2003

    2002

 
     (in thousands)  

Asset retirement obligation at January 1

   $ 1,195    $ —       $ 957  

Liability recorded in transition

     —        1,140       —    

Accretion expense

     131      119       130  

Reclassification of asset retirement obligation from discontinued operations

     78      —         —    

Revision in estimates

     —        (64 )     (38 )
    

  


 


Asset retirement obligation at December 31

   $ 1,404    $ 1,195     $ 1,049  
    

  


 


 

b. SFAS 142

 

During 2002, the Company completed the transitional impairment test of goodwill required under SFAS 142, Goodwill and other Intangible Assets (“SFAS 142”), which was adopted effective January 1, 2002. As a result of completing the required transitional test, the Company recorded a charge retroactive to the adoption date for the cumulative effect of the accounting change in the amount of $60.7 million, representing the excess of the carrying value of certain assets as compared to their estimated fair value. Of the total $60.7 million cumulative effect adjustment, $58.5 million related to the site development construction reporting segment and $2.2 million related to the site leasing reporting segment. In addition, during 2002, the Company recorded additional goodwill totaling approximately $9.2 million resulting from the achievement of certain earn-out obligations under various construction acquisition agreements entered into prior to July 1, 2001, which was determined to be impaired during 2002 and written off (See Note 19). The Company currently does not have any remaining goodwill or other intangible assets subject to SFAS 142.

 

The following unaudited pro forma summary presents the Company’s net loss (in thousands) and per share information as if the Company had been accounting for its goodwill under SFAS 142 for all periods presented:

 

    

For the year ended

December 31, 2002

As restated


 
     (in thousands,
except per share
amounts)
 

Reported net loss

   $ (267,087 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     60,674  
    


Adjusted net loss

   $ (206,413 )
    


Reported basic and diluted loss per share

   $ (5.29 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     1.20  
    


Adjusted net loss per share

   $ (4.09 )
    


 

7. SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

 

The carrying value of short-term investments of $15.2 million equaled the fair value of these investments at December 31, 2003. In January 2004 these investments were sold for their face value plus accrued interest.

 

 

F-16


8. RESTRICTED CASH

 

Restricted cash at December 31, 2004 was $9.9 million. This balance includes $7.9 million of cash pledged as collateral to secure certain obligations of the Company and certain of its affiliates related to surety bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or its affiliates in the ordinary course of business, and is included in other assets in the December 31, 2004 Consolidated Balance Sheet. Approximately $2.0 million of the collateral relates to payment and performance bonds, which are shorter term in nature and are included in restricted cash and reflected as a current asset.

 

At December 31, 2003, there was $7.3 million of restricted cash which related to funds being held by an escrow agent in accordance with certain potential purchase price adjustments to the Western tower purchase and sale agreement. On April 29, 2004, the Company received notification from the purchaser of the Western towers as to certain claims for indemnification totaling approximately $4.3 million. As a result of these claims, $3.0 million of the restricted cash was released to the Company in May 2004. In December 2004, the remaining claims for indemnification of $4.3 million were settled for $2.8 million and this amount was released to the purchaser of the Western towers. The remaining $1.5 million was released to the Company in December 2004.

 

9. INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

 

As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, total costs of covenants not to compete were $6.3 million, and accumulated amortization totaled $4.9 million and $3.9 million, respectively. Amortization expense was $1.0 million, $1.3 million and $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

Estimated amortization expense on the Company’s covenants not to compete is as follows (in thousands):

 

For the year ended

December 31,


   (In thousands)

2005

   $ 951

2006

     406

2007

     8
    

Total

   $ 1,365
    

 

10. ACQUISITIONS

 

During 2004, the Company acquired five towers and related assets from various sellers. The aggregate consideration paid was $0.5 million in cash and 412,566 shares of Class A common stock. In addition, the Company paid $0.6 million in settlement of contingent purchase price amounts payable as a result of towers it acquired having met or exceeded certain earnings or new tower targets.

 

During 2003, the Company did not acquire any towers or businesses. However, during 2003, the Company paid approximately $3.1 million in settlement of contingent purchase price amounts payable as a result of towers it acquired having met or exceeded earnings or new tower targets.

 

During 2002, the Company acquired 53 towers and related assets from various sellers. The aggregate consideration paid was $15.5 million in cash and 330,736 shares of Class A common stock. In addition, the Company issued 397,773 shares of Class A common stock in settlement of contingent purchase price amounts payable as a result of towers it acquired having met or exceeded certain earnings or new tower targets.

 

The Company accounted for all the above tower acquisitions at the fair market value at the date of acquisition. The results of operations of the acquired assets and companies are included with those of the Company from the dates of the respective acquisitions. The Company is currently evaluating all 2004 acquisitions within one year after the respective closing date of the transaction for compliance with the provisions of SFAS 141 -Business Combinations, which requires disclosure of the primary reasons for a business combination and the allocation of the purchase price paid to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed by major balance sheet caption, as well as the separate recognition of intangible assets from goodwill if certain criteria are met. None of the individual acquisitions consummated were significant to the Company and, accordingly, pro forma financial information has not been presented.

 

F-17


11. CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

 

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

 

     Percentage of Total Revenues
for the year ended December 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Cingular (including AT&T Wireless)

   22.7 %   20.3 %   14.5 %

Sprint PCS

   15.7 %   8.6 %   5.2 %

Bechtel Corporation

   6.1 %   10.4 %   13.8 %

 

The Company’s site development consulting, site development construction and site leasing segments derive revenue from these customers. Client concentrations with respect to revenues in each of the segments are as follows:

 

     Percentage of Site Leasing Revenue
for the year ended December 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Cingular (including AT&T Wireless)

   27.5 %   28.0 %   16.9 %

Verizon

   9.5 %   10.0 %   11.7 %

Nextel

   7.3 %   6.5 %   11.3 %

 

    

Percentage of Site Development
Consulting Revenue

for the year ended December 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Bechtel Corporation*

   24.7 %   40.3 %   46.2 %

Cingular (including AT&T Wireless)

   26.6 %   4.3 %   16.0 %

Verizon Wireless

   26.1 %   13.6 %   4.5 %

Horizon

   —       1.5 %   13.1 %

 

    

Percentage of Site Development

Construction Revenue

for the year ended December 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Bechtel Corporation*

   14.5 %   28.9 %   26.2 %

Sprint PCS

   35.8 %   13.1 %   3.0 %

Cingular (including AT&T Wireless)

   12.5 %   5.4 %   13.2 %

T-Mobile

   3.9 %   7.5 %   10.7 %

* Substantially all the work performed for Bechtel Corporation was for its clients Cingular and AT&T wireless.

 

F-18


12. COSTS AND ESTIMATED EARNINGS IN EXCESS OF BILLINGS ON UNCOMPLETED CONTRACTS

 

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

 

     As of
December 31, 2004


   

As of

December 31, 2003


 
     (in thousands)  

Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts

   $ 63,198     $ 43,738  

Estimated earnings

     10,334       4,218  

Billings to date

     (55,717 )     (38,897 )
    


 


     $ 17,815     $ 9,059  
    


 


 

These amounts are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets under the following captions:

 

    

As of

December 31, 2004


   

As of

December 31, 2003


 
     (in thousands)  

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

   $ 19,066     $ 10,227  

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

     (1,251 )     (1,168 )
    


 


     $ 17,815     $ 9,059  
    


 


 

13. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property and equipment, excluding assets held for sale, consists of the following:

 

    

As of

December 31, 2004


   

As of

December 31, 2003

As restated


 
     (in thousands)  

Towers and related components

   $ 1,064,085     $ 1,059,880  

Construction-in-process

     55       498  

Furniture, equipment and vehicles

     30,223       38,403  

Land, buildings and improvements

     20,658       16,160  
    


 


       1,115,021       1,114,941  

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (369,190 )     (284,796 )
    


 


Property and equipment, net

   $ 745,831     $ 830,145  
    


 


 

Construction-in-process represents costs incurred related to towers that are under development and will be used in the Company’s operations.

 

Depreciation expense was $89.3 million, $92.3 million, and $94.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively.

 

 

F-19


14. ACCRUED EXPENSES

 

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

 

     As of December 31,

     2004

   2003

     (in thousands)

Salaries and benefits

   $ 2,941    $ 2,420

Real estate and property taxes

     4,319      6,084

Restructuring and other charges

     733      1,040

Tower sale purchase price adjustment

     —        2,573

Other

     7,004      5,749
    

  

Total

   $ 14,997    $ 17,866
    

  

 

F-20


15. CURRENT AND LONG-TERM DEBT

 

    As of
December 31, 2004


    As of
December 31, 2003


 
    (in thousands)  
10 1/4% senior notes, unsecured, interest payable semi-annually in arrears, balloon principal payment of $49,985 due at maturity on February 1, 2009, includes deferred gain related to termination of derivative of $1,909 and $4,559 at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively (See Note 21). These notes were redeemed in full February 1, 2005.   $ 51,894     $ 411,000  
8 1/2% senior notes, unsecured, interest payable semi - -annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1. Balance due in full December 1, 2012.     250,000       —    
9 3/4% senior discount notes, net of unamortized original issue discount of $98,337 and $124,954 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, unsecured, cash interest payable semi-annually in arrears beginning June 15, 2008, balloon principal payment of $400,774 due at maturity on December 15, 2011.     302,437       275,820  
12% senior discount notes, unsecured, cash interest payable semi-annually in arrears beginning September 1, 2003. Balance redeemed in full March 1, 2004.     —         65,673  
Senior secured credit facility, interest at varying rates (5.15% to 5.175%) at December 31, 2003. This facility was paid in full in January 2004.     —         118,227  
Senior secured credit facility, interest at varying rates (4.81% to 5.51%) at December 31, 2004. Amortization of 0.25% is payable quarterly on term loans and commenced September 30, 2004. Outstanding term loan balance due October 31, 2008. Outstanding revolving line of credit balance due July 31, 2008.     323,375       —    
Notes payable, interest at varying rates (2.9% to 11.4% at December 31, 2003). Notes matured on November 2, 2004.     —         38  
   


 


      927,706       870,758  
Less: current maturities     (3,250 )     (11,538 )
   


 


Long-term debt   $ 924,456     $ 859,220  
   


 


 

10 1/4% Senior Notes

 

In February 2001, the Company issued $500.0 million of its 10¼% senior notes due 2009, which produced net proceeds of approximately $484.3 million after deducting offering expenses. Interest accrued on the notes and was payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2001. Proceeds from the senior notes were used to acquire and construct telecommunications towers, repay borrowings under the senior credit facility, and for general working capital purposes.

 

The 10¼% senior notes were unsecured and were pari passu in right of payment with the Company’s other existing and future senior indebtedness. The 10¼% senior notes place certain restrictions on, among other things, the incurrence of debt and liens, issuance of preferred stock, payment of dividends or other distributions, sales of assets, transactions with affiliates, sale and leaseback transactions, certain investments and the Company’s ability to merge or consolidate with other entities.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company exchanged $49.7 million in principal amount of the notes for 8.7 million shares of Class A common stock. Additionally, the Company repurchased $306.8 million in principal amount of

 

F-21


the notes in the open market for $320.5 million in cash. During 2004, the Company recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $14.9 million and wrote-off deferred financing fees of $6.2 million in connection with the 10¼% senior note retirement transactions.

 

On November 16, 2004, the Company commenced a cash tender offer to purchase up to $236.5 million aggregate principal amount of its 10¼% senior notes. The Company offered consideration of $1,050.75 per $1,000 of principal amount of the notes tendered plus a premium of $10.00 per $1,000 of principal amount of notes tendered prior to November 30, 2004. Tenders submitted after November 30, 2004, and prior to the expiration date of December 14, 2004 did not receive the premium of $10.00 per $1,000 of principal amount tendered. An aggregate of $186.5 million of the senior notes were redeemed in connection with the tender offer. Consequently at December 31, 2004, there was $50.0 million of the 10¼% senior notes remaining outstanding. The remaining 10¼% senior notes were redeemed by the Company on February 1, 2005 for $52.5 million plus accrued interest, in accordance with the terms of the indenture.

 

8 1/2% Senior Notes

 

On December 1, 2004, the Company issued $250.0 million of its 8½% senior notes due 2012, which produced net proceeds of $244.8 million after deducting offering expenses. Interest accrues on the notes and is payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1, commencing June 1, 2005. Proceeds from the 8½% senior notes were used to repurchase and/or redeem the 10¼% senior notes as discussed above.

 

The 8 1/2% senior notes are unsecured and are pari passu in right of payment with the Company’s other existing and future senior indebtedness. The 8½% senior notes place certain restrictions on, among other things, the incurrence of debt and liens, issuance of preferred stock, payment of dividends or other distributions, sales of assets, transactions with affiliates, sale and leaseback transactions, certain investments and the Company’s ability to merge or consolidate with other entities. The ability of the Company to comply with the covenants and other terms of the 8½% senior notes and to satisfy its respective debt obligations will depend on the future operating performance of the Company. In the event the Company fails to comply with the various covenants contained in the 8½% senior notes, it would be in default there under, and in any such case, the maturity of a portion or all of its long-term indebtedness could be accelerated. In addition, the acceleration of amounts due under the senior credit facility would also cause a cross-default under the indenture for the 8½% senior notes.

 

9 3/4% Senior Discount Notes

 

In December 2003, the Company and Telecommunications co-issued $402.0 million of their 9¾% senior discount notes due 2011, which produced net proceeds of approximately $267.1 million after deducting offering expenses. The senior discount notes accrete in value until December 15, 2007 at which time they will have an aggregate principal amount of $400.8 million. Thereafter, interest accrues on the senior discount notes and will be payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15, commencing June 15, 2008. Proceeds from the senior discount notes were used to tender for approximately $153.3 million of the Company’s 12% senior discount notes and for general working capital purposes. During 2004, the Company exchanged $1.3 million in face value of the 9 3/4%senior discount notes for approximately 136,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock.

 

The 9 3/4% senior discount notes are unsecured and are pari passu in right of payment with the Company’s other existing and future senior indebtedness. The 9¾% senior discount notes place certain restrictions on, among other things, the incurrence of debt and liens, issuance of preferred stock, payment of dividends or other distributions, sales of assets, transaction with affiliates, sale and leaseback transactions, certain investments and the Company’s ability to merge or consolidate with other entities. The ability of the Company to comply with the covenants and other terms of the 9¾% senior discount notes and to satisfy its respective debt obligations will depend on the future operating performance of the Company. In the event the Company fails to comply with the various covenants contained in the 9¾% senior discount notes, it would be an event of default under the indenture governing the notes and the trustee may accelerate the maturity of the notes. In addition, the acceleration of amounts due under the senior credit facility would also cause a cross-default under the indenture for the 9¾% senior discount notes.

 

12% Senior Discount Notes

 

In March 1998, the Company issued $269.0 million of its 12% senior discount notes due March 1, 2008, which produced net proceeds of approximately $150.2 million. The senior discount notes accreted in value until March 1, 2003 at which time they had an aggregate principal amount of $269.0 million. Thereafter, interest accrued on the senior discount notes and was payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1, commencing September 1, 2003. Proceeds from the senior discount notes were used to acquire and construct telecommunications towers as well as for general working capital purposes. During the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company repurchased $50.0 million in principal amount of its 12% senior discount notes in the open market for $50.3 million in cash. Additionally, during 2003, the Company completed a

 

F-22


tender for 70% of its outstanding 12% senior discount notes and retired $153.3 million face value of its 12% senior discount notes for $167.1 million. During 2003, the Company recognized a loss on extinguishment of $14.6 million and wrote-off deferred financing fees of $4.8 million in connection with the 12% senior discount note retirement transactions.

 

In the first quarter of 2004, the Company repurchased $19.3 million of its 12% senior discount notes in open market transactions. The Company paid $20.9 million plus accrued interest in cash and recognized a loss of $1.6 million related to these debt repurchases and wrote-off $0.4 million of deferred financing fees. Additionally, on March 1, 2004 the Company, pursuant to the indenture for the 12% senior discount notes, redeemed all remaining outstanding 12% notes. These notes were redeemed at a price of 107.5% of the principal balances outstanding. As a result of this transaction, the Company recorded a loss of $3.5 million associated with the premium paid and wrote off $1.0 million of deferred financing fees associated with this transaction.

 

The 12% senior discount notes were unsecured and were pari passu in right of payment with the Company’s other existing and future senior indebtedness. The 12% senior discount notes placed certain restrictions on, among other things, the incurrence of debt and liens, issuance of preferred stock, payment of dividends or other distributions, sales of assets, transaction with affiliates, sale and leaseback, certain investments and the Company’s ability to merge or consolidate with other entities.

 

Senior Secured Credit Facility (closed in January 2004)

 

On January 30, 2004, SBA Senior Finance closed on a new senior credit facility in the amount of $400.0 million. This facility consists of a $275.0 million term loan which was funded at closing, a $50.0 million delayed draw term loan, and a $75.0 million revolving line of credit. This facility accrued interest at either the Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the senior credit facility) plus a spread of 350 basis points or the Base Rate (as defined in the senior credit facility) plus a spread of 250 basis points. On January 30, 2004, SBA Senior Finance used the proceeds from funding of the $275.0 million term loan under the new senior credit facility to repay the old credit facility in full, consisting of $144.2 million of principal and accrued interest outstanding. In addition to the amounts outstanding, the Company was required to pay $8.0 million associated with the assignment to the new lenders of the old credit facility. As a result of this prepayment, SBA Senior Finance has written off deferred financing fees associated with the old facility of $5.4 million. These amounts are included in loss from write-off of deferred financing fees and extinguishment of debt in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. SBA Senior Finance has recorded deferred financing fees of approximately $6.5 million associated with this new facility.

 

The revolving line of credit may be borrowed, repaid and redrawn. Amortization of the term loan is at a quarterly rate of 0.25% and is payable quarterly beginning September 30, 2004 and ending September 30, 2008. All remaining outstanding amounts under the term loans are due October 31, 2008. There is no amortization of the revolving line of credit and all amounts outstanding under the revolving line of credit are due on July 31, 2008. The new credit facility required amortization payments of $1.6 million during 2004. This facility may be prepaid at any time with no prepayment penalty. On November 12, 2004, we entered into an amendment to the senior credit facility. Under the amendment, amounts borrowed will accrue interest at either the Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the senior credit facility) plus a spread of 275 basis points or the Base Rate (as defined in the senior credit facility) plus a spread of 175 basis points.

 

Amounts borrowed under this facility are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of SBA Senior Finance’s assets. In addition, each of SBA Senior Finance’s domestic subsidiaries has guaranteed the obligations of SBA Senior Finance under the senior credit facility and has pledged substantially all of their respective assets to secure such guarantee. In addition, SBA Communications and Telecommunications have pledged, on a non-recourse basis, all of the common stock of Telecommunications and SBA Senior Finance to secure SBA Senior Finance’s obligations under this senior credit facility.

 

The new senior credit facility requires SBA Senior Finance to maintain specified financial ratios, including ratios regarding its debt to annualized operating cash flow, debt service, cash interest expense and fixed charges for each quarter. This new senior credit facility contains affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, restrict its ability to incur debt and liens, sell assets, commit to capital expenditures, enter into affiliate transactions or sale-leaseback transactions, and/or build towers without anchor tenants. SBA Senior Finance’s ability in the future to comply with the covenants and access the available funds under the senior credit facility in the future will depend on its future financial performance. As of December 31, 2004, SBA Senior Finance was in full compliance with the terms of the new credit facility and had the ability to draw an additional $36.5 million.

 

F-23


Senior Secured Credit Facility (paid in full January 2004)

 

On May 9, 2003, Telecommunications closed on a senior credit facility in the amount of $195.0 million from General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECC”) and affiliates of Oak Hill Advisors, Inc. (“Affiliates of Oak Hill”). The facility consisted of $95.0 million of term loans and a $100.0 million revolving line of credit. In November 2003, in connection with the offering of the Company’s 9¾% senior discount notes and the Company’s tender offer for 70% of its outstanding 12% senior discount notes, SBA Senior Finance assumed all rights and obligations of Telecommunications under the senior credit facility pursuant to an amended and restated credit agreement with the senior credit lenders. Telecommunications was released from any obligation to repay the indebtedness under the senior credit facility. Simultaneously with this assumption, Telecommunications contributed substantially all of its assets, consisting primarily of stock in our various operating subsidiaries, to SBA Senior Finance. The Company refinanced this credit facility in January 2004 and used the proceeds from the new facility to repay this facility in full. See senior credit facility discussion above.

 

Senior Secured Credit Facility (paid in full May 2003)

 

In June 2001, Telecommunications entered into a $300.0 million senior secured credit facility. The facility provided for a $100.0 million term loan and a $200.0 million revolving line of credit. In addition, the Company had $14.5 million of letters of credit issued on its behalf to serve as collateral to secure certain obligations in the ordinary course of business. The Company refinanced this credit facility in May 2003 and used the proceeds from the new credit facility, cash on hand and a portion of the proceeds from the Western tower sale to repay this credit facility in full. As a result of this prepayment, the Company wrote-off deferred financing fees associated with this facility of approximately $4.4 million during 2003.

 

As of December 31, 2004, the Company was in compliance with the covenants of each of the indentures relating to the 10 1/4% senior notes, the 8 1/2% senior notes and the 9 3/4% senior discount notes, and the January 2004 senior secured credit facility, as amended. The Company’s debt, excluding the deferred interest rate swap of $1.9 million (discussed in Note 21) at December 31, 2004, matures as follows:

 

For the year ended

December 31,


   (in thousands)

2005

   $ 3,250

2006

     3,250

2007

     3,250

2008

     313,625

2009

     49,985

Thereafter*

     552,437
    

Total

   $ 925,797
    


* Includes 9 3/4% senior discount notes at accreted value of $302.4 million as of December 31, 2004. These notes will have an accreted value of $400.8 million at their maturity date of December 15, 2011.

 

The Company previously entered into an interest rate swap agreement to manage its exposure to interest rate movements by effectively converting a portion of its $500.0 million senior notes from fixed interest rate to variable rate notes. During October 2002, the counter party to this agreement terminated the agreement. The termination resulted in a $5.4 million deferred gain which is recorded in long term debt and is being recognized as a reduction to interest expense over the remaining term of the notes to which the swap related. Amortization during 2004, 2003, and 2002 was approximately $0.7 million, $0.7 million, and $0.2 million, respectively. The amortization of the remaining deferred gain as of December 31, 2004 is as follows:

 

For the year ended

December 31,


   (in thousands)

2005

   $ 405

2006

     443

2007

     485

2008

     530

2009

     46
    

Total

   $ 1,909
    

 

See note 21 for further discussion regarding the interest rate swap agreement.

 

F-24


16. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

a. Offerings of Common Stock

 

In July 2000, the Company filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission registering the sale of up to $500.0 million of any combination of Class A common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, depository shares, or warrants.

 

b. Registration of Additional Shares

 

During 2001, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission registering an aggregate 5.0 million shares of its Class A common stock. These 5.0 million shares are in addition to 3.0 million shares registered during 2000. These shares may be issued in connection with acquisitions of wireless communication towers or companies that provide related services. During the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, the Company issued 0.4 million shares, zero shares and 1.3 million shares, respectively, of its Class A common stock pursuant to these registration statements in connection with acquisitions.

 

c. Other Common Stock Transactions

 

During 2004, the Company exchanged $49.7 million of its 10¼% senior notes for 8.7 million shares of its Class A common stock. The Company also exchanged $1.3 million in face value of its 9¾% senior discount notes for approximately 136,000 shares of its Class A common stock.

 

During 2003, the Company exchanged $13.5 million of its 10¼% senior notes for 3.85 million shares of its Class A common stock. The issuance of these shares triggered an event whereby the 5.5 million of Class B common stock outstanding automatically converted to Class A common stock.

 

d. Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

In 1999, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 1999 Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”). A total of 500,000 shares of Class A common stock were reserved for purchase under the Purchase Plan. During 2003, an amendment to the Purchase Plan was adopted which increased the number of shares reserved for purchase from 500,000 to 1,500,000 shares. The Purchase Plan permits eligible employee participants to purchase Class A common stock at a price per share which is equal to the lesser of 85% of the fair market value of the Class A common stock on the first or the last day of an offering period. No compensation expense is recognized for the difference between the employees’ purchase price and the fair value of the stock. The pro forma net income and earnings per share is included in the SFAS 123 calculation included in Note 2. For the year ended December 31, 2004, employees purchased 484,564 shares under the Purchase Plan.

 

e. Non-cash Compensation

 

From time to time, restricted shares of Class A common stock or options to purchase Class A common stock have been granted under the Company’s equity participation plans at prices below market value at the time of grant. In addition, the Company had bonus agreements with certain executives and employees to issue shares of the Company’s Class A common stock in lieu of cash payments. The Company recorded approximately $0.5 million, $0.8 million and $2.0 million of non-cash compensation expense during the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

In connection with an employment agreement with one of the officers of the Company, the Company was obligated to pay an amount equal to the difference between $1.0 million and the value of all vested options and restricted stock belonging

 

F-25


to this officer on September 19, 2003. The Company had the option of settling the obligation in cash or shares of Class A common stock. This obligation was settled in September 2003 in cash for $0.9 million. This amount had been expensed over the three-year period of the original agreement as non-cash compensation expense.

 

  f. Shareholder Rights Plan and Preferred Stock

 

During January 2002, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a shareholder rights plan and declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right for each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock. Each of these rights which are currently not exercisable, will entitle the holder to purchase one one-thousandth (1/1000) of a share of the Company’s newly designated Series E Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the event that any person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock or commences or announces an intention to commence a tender offer that would result in such person or group owning 15% or more of the Company’s common stock, each holder of a right (other than the acquirer) will be entitled to receive, upon payment of the exercise price, a number of shares of common stock having a market value equal to two times the exercise price of the right. In order to retain flexibility and the ability to maximize shareholder value in the event of transactions that may arise in the future, the Board retains the power to redeem the rights for a set amount. The rights were distributed on January 25, 2002 and expire on January 10, 2012, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged or terminated in accordance with the Rights Agreement.

 

17. STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS

 

The Company has three stock option plans (the 1996 Stock Option Plan, the 1999 Equity Participation Plan and the 2001 Equity Participation Plan) whereby options (both non-qualified and incentive stock options), stock appreciation rights and restricted stock may be granted to directors, employees and consultants. Upon adoption of the 2001 Equity Participation Plan, all unissued options under the 1996 Stock Option Plan and the 1999 Equity Participation Plan were cancelled. The 2001 Equity Participation Plan provides for a maximum issuance of shares, together with all outstanding options and unvested shares of restricted stock under all three of the plans, equal to 15% of the Company’s common stock outstanding, adjusted for certain shares issued pursuant to the exercise of certain options.

 

A summary of shares reserved for future issuance under these plans as of December 31, 2004 is as follows:

 

     (in thousands)

Reserved for 1996 Stock Option Plan

     172

Reserved for 1999 Equity Participation Plan

     490

Reserved for 2001 Equity Participation Plan

     8,958
    

     $ 9,620
    

 

These options generally vest between three and six years from the date of grant on a straight-line basis and generally have a ten year life.

 

A summary of the status of the Company’s stock option plans including their weighted average exercise price is as follows:

 

     2004

   2003

   2002

     Shares

    Price

   Shares

    Price

   Shares

    Price

     (shares in thousands)

Outstanding at beginning of year

   3,788     $ 7.79    2,848     $ 11.37    3,824     $ 20.57

Granted

   1,390     $ 4.27    1,630     $ 2.20    2,445     $ 10.17

Exercised/redeemed

   (173 )   $ 3.11    (34 )   $ 1.26    (145 )   $ 0.93

Forfeited/canceled

   (590 )   $ 6.81    (656 )   $ 9.78    (3,276 )   $ 21.59
    

        

        

     

Outstanding at end of year

   4,415     $ 7.04    3,788     $ 7.79    2,848     $ 11.37
    

        

        

     

Options exercisable at end of year

   1,588     $ 11.56    1,235     $ 12.66    993     $ 12.63

 

 

F-26


Option groups outstanding at December 31, 2004 and related weighted average exercise price and remaining life, in years, is as follows:

 

Options Outstanding

  Options Exercisable

Range

  Outstanding
(in thousands)


  Weighted Average
Contractual Life


  Weighted Average
Exercise Price


  Exercisable
(in thousands)


  Weighted Average
Exercise Price


$  0.05 -$  4.00   1,740   7.8   $ 2.22   588   $ 2.27
$  5.37 -$  9.75   1,840   8.7   $ 5.69   337   $ 8.01
$10.17 -$13.35   321   7.0   $ 12.42   171   $ 12.31
$15.25 -$24.75   295   5.4   $ 17.27   276   $ 16.95
$26.63 -$51.94   219   6.0   $ 35.01   216   $ 34.96
   
           
     
    4,415       $ 7.04   1,588   $ 11.56
   
           
     

 

18. RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER CHARGES

 

In response to capital market conditions in the telecommunications industry during the past three years, the Company has implemented various restructuring plans discussed below.

 

2002 Plan

 

In February 2002, as a result of the continuing deterioration of capital market conditions for wireless carriers, the Company announced it was reducing its capital expenditures for new tower development and acquisition activities, suspending any material new investment for additional towers, and reduced its workforce and closed or consolidated offices. In connection with this restructuring, a portion of the Company’s workforce was reduced and certain offices were closed, substantially all of which were primarily dedicated to new tower development activities. As a result of the implementation of its plans, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $47.3 million. The accrual of approximately $0.7 million remaining at December 31, 2004, with respect to the 2002 plan, relates to remaining obligations through the year 2012 associated with offices exited or downsized as part of this plan.

 

The following summarizes the activity during the year ended December 31, 2004 related to the 2002 restructuring plan:

 

     Accrual as of
January 1, 2004


   Restructuring
Charges (credits)


    Payments

    Non-cash
adjustments


   Accrual as of
December 31, 2004


     (in thousands)

Abandonment of new tower build work in process

   $ —      $ (99 )   $ —       $ 99    $ —  

Employee separation of costs

     1,040      308       (615 )     —        733
    

  


 


 

  

     $ 1,040    $ 209     $ (615 )   $ 99    $ 733
    

  


 


 

  

 

2003 Plan

 

In 2003, in response to the continued deterioration in expenditures by wireless service providers, particularly with respect to site development activities, the Company committed to new plans of restructuring associated with further downsizing activities, including reduction in workforce and closing or consolidation of offices. As a result of the implementation of its plans, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $2.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2003. Of the $2.1 million charge recorded during the year ended December 31, 2003, approximately $0.6 million related to the abandonment of new tower build work in process. The remaining $1.5 million related primarily to the costs of employee separation and exit costs associated with the closing or consolidation of approximately 12 offices. In connection with employee separation costs, the Company paid approximately $0.7 million in one-time termination benefits. Of the $2.1 million in expense recorded during the year ended December 31, 2003, $2.0 million pertains to the Company’s site development segment and $0.1 million pertains to the Company’s site leasing segment.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2004, restructuring charges of $0.04 million and non-cash adjustments reducing these charges of $0.04 million were recorded relating to the 2003 restructuring plan. At December 31, 2004, there are no remaining liabilities relating to the 2003 restructuring plan.

 

F-27


Restructuring expense for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, which relate to the 2003 and 2002 restructuring plans consisted of the following:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

     2004

    2003

   2002

     (in thousands)

Abandonment of new tower build and acquisition work-in-process and related construction materials

   $ (110 )   $ 617    $ 40,380

Employee separation and exit costs

     360       1,477      6,907
    


 

  

     $ 250     $ 2,094    $ 47,287
    


 

  

 

19. ASSET IMPAIRMENT CHARGES

 

During 2004, the Company reevaluated its future cash flow expectations on ten towers and other related equipment that have not achieved expected lease up results. The change in fair value of these towers, as determined using a discounted cash flow analysis, resulted in an impairment charge of $2.6 million. Additionally, the Company reevaluated its future cash flow expectations on three microwave networks utilized by its customers. One of these customers had their microwave backhaul agreement with the Company set aside by the bankruptcy court presiding over their bankruptcy proceedings. The other customer notified the Company in the fourth quarter of 2004 of their intention not to renew their agreement upon expiration. An analysis of these networks resulted in a remote possibility of other customers utilizing the network. As a result, the Company wrote down the value of the underlying equipment utilized in these networks and recorded a charge of $4.5 million. These amounts are included in asset impairment charges in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

During the second quarter of 2004, the Company identified 14 towers previously classified as held for sale and included in discontinued operations and reclassified them into continuing operations as of June 30, 2004 in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. As a result of this reclassification, the book value of the towers were recorded at the lower of (1) the carrying amount of the tower before it was classified as held for sale, net of any depreciation expense that would have been recognized had the asset never been classified as held for sale; or (2) the estimated fair value of the tower at the date of the subsequent decision not to sell. As a result of applying SFAS 144, the Company increased the book value of these towers by $0.3 million, and recorded this charge as a net reduction to asset impairment charges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

During the second and fourth quarters of 2003, the Company modified its future tower lease-up assumptions for certain tower assets that had not achieved expected lease-up results. The changes to the future cash flow expectations and the resulting change in the fair value of these towers, as determined using a discounted cash flow analysis, resulted in an impairment charge of $7.9 million during the second quarter of 2003 related to approximately 40 operating towers and an impairment charge of $4.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2003 related to approximately 30 additional operating towers. These amounts are included in asset impairment charges in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

During the first quarter of 2003, tower assets previously impaired in 2002 were evaluated under the provisions of recently adopted SFAS 143 as to the existence of asset retirement obligations. In connection with the adoption of SFAS 143, approximately $0.5 million of additional tower costs were capitalized to the previously impaired assets effective January 1, 2003. The recoverability of the capitalized tower costs were evaluated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 144 and determined to be impaired. As discussed above, during the second and fourth quarters of 2003, the Company identified approximately 70 operating towers that were determined to be impaired.

 

During the first and second quarters of 2002, the Company recorded goodwill totaling approximately $9.2 million resulting from the achievement of certain earn-out obligations under various construction acquisition agreements entered into prior to July 1, 2001. In accordance with SFAS 142, the Company determined that as of June 30, 2002, indicators of impairment were present related to this goodwill, thereby requiring an impairment analysis be completed. The indicators of impairment during the quarter ended June 30, 2002 giving rise to this analysis included significant deterioration of overall Company value, continued negative trends with respect to wireless carrier capital expenditure plans and related demand for wireless construction services, and perceived reduction in value of similar site development construction services businesses. As a result of this analysis, using a discounted cash flow valuation method for estimating fair value, $9.2 million of goodwill within the site development construction reporting segment was determined to be impaired as of June 30, 2002 and was written off.

 

 

F-28


In the first quarter of 2002, certain tower sites held and used in operations were considered to be impaired. Towers determined to be impaired were primarily towers with no tenants and little or no prospects for future lease-up. An asset impairment charge of approximately $15.0 million was recorded during the first quarter of 2002.

 

20. INCOME TAXES

 

The provision (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations consists of the following components:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

   

2003

As restated


   

2002

As restated


 
     (in thousands)  

Current provision (benefit) for taxes:

                        

Federal income tax

   $ —       $ 125     $ (1,381 )

State and local taxes

     710       1,604       1,681  
    


 


 


Total current

     710       1,729       300  
    


 


 


Deferred provision (benefit) for taxes:

                        

Federal income tax

     (44,937 )     (54,941 )     (59,763 )

State and local taxes

     (10,622 )     (12,658 )     (14,418 )

Increase in valuation allowance

     55,559       67,599       74,181  
    


 


 


Total deferred

     —         —         —    
    


 


 


Total

   $ 710     $ 1,729     $ 300  
    


 


 


 

A reconciliation of the provision (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations at the statutory U.S. Federal tax rate (34%) and the effective income tax rate is as follows:

 

     For the year ended December 31,

 
     2004

   

2003

As restated


   

2002

As restated


 
     (in thousands)  

Statutory Federal benefit

   $ (48,726 )   $ (59,031 )   $ (67,660 )

State and local taxes

     (6,542 )     (7,171 )     (9,788 )

Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle

     —         —         3,018  

Other

     419       332       395  

Goodwill amortization

     —         —         154  

Valuation allowance

     55,559       67,599       74,181  
    


 


 


     $ 710     $ 1,729     $ 300  
    


 


 


 

F-29


The components of the net deferred income tax asset (liability) accounts are as follows:

 

     As of December 31,

 
     2004

   

2003

As restated


 
     (in thousands)  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 391     $ 345  

Deferred revenue

     4,186       4,313  

Accrued liabilities

     2,971       2,490  

Other

     —         —    

Valuation allowance

     (7,548 )     (7,148 )
    


 


Current net deferred taxes

   $ —       $ —    
    


 


Original issue discount

     10,717       12,947  

Net operating loss

     250,322       198,058  

Property, equipment and intangible basis differences

     (3,738 )     (7,404 )

Straight-line rents

     10,273       7,000  

Other

     2,966       2,471  

Valuation allowance

     (270,540 )     (213,072 )
    


 


Non-current net deferred taxes

   $ —       $ —    
    


 


 

The Company has recorded a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets as management believes that it is not “more likely than not” that the Company will be able to generate sufficient taxable income in future periods to recognize the assets. The net change in the valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $57.9 million, $68.6 million, and $76.1 million, respectively.

 

The Company has available at December 31, 2004, a net operating tax loss carry-forward of approximately $645.2 million. These net operating tax loss carry-forwards will expire between 2019 and 2024. The Internal Revenue Code places limitations upon the future availability of net operating losses based upon changes in the equity of the Company. If these occur, the ability for the Company to offset future income with existing net operating losses may be limited.

 

21. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT

 

The Company previously had an interest rate swap agreement to manage its exposure to interest rate movements by effectively converting a portion of its fixed rate senior notes to variable rates. The swap qualified as a fair value hedge.

 

The notional principal amount of the swap was $100.0 million and the maturity date and payment provisions matched that of the underlying senior notes. The swap was to mature in seven years and provided for the exchange of fixed rate payments for variable rate payments without the exchange of the underlying notional amount. The variable rates were based on six-month EURO plus 4.47% and were reset on a semi-annual basis. The differential between fixed and variable rates to be paid or received was accrued as interest rates changed in accordance with the agreement and were recognized as an adjustment to interest expense. The Company recorded a reduction of approximately $3.1 million to interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2002 as a result of the differential between fixed and variable rates.

 

The counter-party to the interest rate swap agreement terminated the swap agreement in October 2002. In connection with this termination, the counter-party paid the Company $6.2 million, which included approximately $0.8 million in accrued interest. The remaining approximately $5.4 million received was deferred and is being recognized as a reduction to interest expense over the remaining term of the senior notes using the effective interest method. Amortization of the deferred gain was approximately $0.7 million during each of 2004 and 2003. Additionally, $1.9 million of the deferred gain was recognized as a reduction in loss from write-off of deferred financing fees and extinguishment of debt in connection with the repurchase of $186.5 million of 10¼% senior notes in December 2004. The deferred gain balance at December 31, 2004 and 2003 of $1.9 million and $4.6 million, respectively, is included in long-term debt in the Consolidated

 

F-30


Balance Sheets. The balance of $1.9 million outstanding at December 31, 2004 was written off in connection with the repayment of the 10¼% senior notes in February 2005.

 

22. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

a. Operating Leases

 

The Company is obligated under various non-cancelable operating leases for land, office space, vehicles and equipment, and site leases that expire at various times through May 2100. The annual minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases in effect as of December 31, 2004 are as follows:

 

     (in thousands)

2005

   $ 26,093

2006

     24,922

2007

     24,459

2008

     24,758

2009

     24,993

Thereafter

     494,555
    

Total

   $ 619,780
    

 

Principally, all of the leases provide for renewal at varying escalations. Fixed rate escalations have been included in the table disclosed above.

 

Rent expense for operating leases was $33.0 million, $34.5 million and $34.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These amounts exclude $0.5 million, $0.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively, which is included in restructuring and other charges. In addition, certain of the Company’s leases include contingent rent provisions which provide for the lessor to receive additional rent upon the attainment of certain tower operating results and/or lease-up. Contingent rent expense for the year ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was, $2.0 million, $1.4 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

 

b. Tenant Leases

 

The annual minimum tower lease income to be received for tower space and antenna rental under non-cancelable operating leases in effect as of December 31, 2004 are as follows:

 

     (in thousands)

2005

   $ 135,335

2006

     109,128

2007

     84,226

2008

     66,288

2009

     41,261

Thereafter

     46,842
    

Total

   $ 483,080
    

 

Principally, all of the leases provide for renewal, generally at the tenant’s option, at varying escalations. Fixed rate escalations have been included in the table disclosed above.

 

c. Employment Agreements

 

The Company has employment agreements with certain officers of the Company that grant these employees the right to receive their base salary and continuation of certain benefits, for a defined period of time, in the event of a termination, as defined by the agreement of such employees. In connection with one of these agreements, the Company was obligated to pay an amount equal to the difference between $1.0 million and the value of all vested options and restricted stock belonging to a particular officer on September 19, 2003. The Company had the option of settling the obligation in cash or shares of Class A common stock. This obligation was settled in September 2003 in cash for $0.9 million. This amount has been expensed over the three year period of the original agreement which ended in September 2003 as non-cash compensation expense.

 

F-31


d. Litigation

 

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 will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

On April 29, 2004, the Company received notification from the purchaser of the Western towers as to certain claims for indemnification totaling approximately $4.3 million. As a result of these claims, $3.0 million of the $7.3 million of restricted cash was released to the Company in May 2004. In December 2004, the remaining claims for indemnification of $4.3 million were settled for $2.8 million and this amount was released to the purchaser of the Western towers. The remaining $1.5 million was released to the Company in December 2004.

 

e. Contingent Purchase Obligations

 

The Company sometimes agrees to pay additional acquisition purchase price consideration if the towers that are acquired meet or exceed certain earnings or new tower targets in the 1-3 years after they have been acquired. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had an obligation to pay up to an additional $1.0 million in consideration if the earnings targets contained in various acquisition agreements are met. This obligation was associated with acquisitions within the Company’s site leasing segment. At the Company’s option, a majority of the additional consideration may be paid in cash or shares of Class A common stock. The Company records such obligations as additional consideration when it becomes probable that the earnings targets will be met. For the year ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 certain earnings targets associated with the acquired towers were achieved, and therefore, the Company paid in cash $0.6 million, $1.1 million and $2.0 million, respectively.

 

23. DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN

 

The Company has a defined contribution profit sharing plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code that provides for voluntary employee contributions of 1% to 14% of compensation. Employees have the opportunity to participate following completion of three months of employment and must be 21 years of age. Employer matching begins after completion of one year of service. For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, the Company made a discretionary matching contribution of 50% of an employee’s contributions up to a maximum of $3,000. Company matching contributions were approximately $0.5 million, $0.4 million and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

F-32


24. SEGMENT DATA

 

The Company operates principally in three business segments: site development consulting, site development construction, and site leasing. The Company’s reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different services. They are managed separately based on the fundamental differences in their operations. Revenues, gross profit, capital expenditures (including assets acquired through the issuance of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock) and identifiable assets pertaining to the segments in which the Company continues to operate are presented below:

 

     Site
Leasing


   Site
Development
Consulting


   Site
Development
Construction


   Not
Identified by
Segment(1)


   Total

     (in thousands)

For the year ended

December 31, 2004

                                  

Revenues

   $ 144,004    $ 14,456    $ 73,022    $ —      $ 231,482

Cost of revenues

   $ 47,283    $ 12,768    $ 68,630    $ —      $ 128,681

Gross profit

   $ 96,721    $ 1,688    $ 4,392    $ —      $ 102,801

Capital expenditures(2)

   $ 7,706    $ 63    $ 317    $ 919    $ 9,005

For the year ended

December 31, 2003

As restated

                                  

Revenues

   $ 127,852    $ 12,337    $ 51,920    $ —      $ 192,109

Cost of revenues

   $ 47,793    $ 11,350    $ 47,333    $ —      $ 106,476

Gross profit

   $ 80,059    $ 987    $ 4,587    $ —      $ 85,633

Capital expenditures(2)

   $ 15,105    $ 124    $ 2,458    $ 575    $ 18,262

For the year ended

December 31, 2002

As restated

                                  

Revenues

   $ 115,121    $ 17,361    $ 81,991    $ —      $ 214,473

Cost of revenues

   $ 46,709    $ 13,434    $ 68,131    $ —      $ 128,274

Gross profit

   $ 68,412    $ 3,927    $ 13,860    $ —      $ 86,199

Capital expenditures(2)

   $ 93,999    $ 430    $ 21,487    $ 1,565    $ 117,481

Assets

                                  

As of December 31, 2004

   $ 784,332    $ 8,843    $ 44,750    $ 79,319    $ 917,244

As of December 31, 2003 (As restated)

   $ 873,150    $ 9,511    $ 46,807    $ 28,784    $ 958,252

(1) Assets not identified by segment consist primarily of general corporate assets.
(2) Includes acquisitions and related earn-outs.

 

F-33


25. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (unaudited)

 

     Quarters Ended

 
     December 31,
2004


    September 30,
2004


    June 30,
2004


    March 31,
2004


 
     (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Revenues

   $ 65,533     $ 58,743     $ 56,347     $ 50,859  

Gross profit

     28,148       26,703       25,105       22,845  

Depreciation, accretion, and amortization

     (22,351 )     (22,641 )     (22,646 )     (22,815 )

Asset impairment charges

     (5,472 )     (88 )     (1,515 )     (17 )

Loss from writeoff of deferred financing fees and extinguishment of debt

     (16,433 )     (2,093 )     (454 )     (22,217 )

Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle

     (41,516 )     (24,830 )     (26,177 )     (51,500 )

Loss from discontinued operations

     (320 )     (2,542 )     (470 )     75  

Net loss

   $ (41,836 )   $ (27,372 )   $ (26,647 )   $ (51,425 )
    


 


 


 


Per common share - basic and diluted:

                                

Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle

   $ (0.65 )   $ (0.43 )   $ (0.46 )   $ (0.92 )

Loss from discontinued operations

     (0.01 )     (0.04 )     (0.01 )     —    
    


 


 


 


Net loss per share

   $ (0.66 )   $ (0.47 )   $ (0.47 )   $ (0.92 )
    


 


 


 


 

     Quarters Ended

 
     December 31,
2003


    September 30,
2003


    June 30,
2003


    March 31,
2003


 
     (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Revenues

   $ 51,435     $ 47,594     $ 45,977     $ 47,103  

Gross profit

     22,923       21,215       20,924       20,571  

Depreciation, accretion, and amortization

     (23,042 )     (23,264 )     (23,205 )     (24,146 )

Asset impairment charges

     (4,598 )     (50 )     (7,893 )     (452 )

Loss from writeoff of deferred financing fees and extinguishment of debt

     (18,969 )     (408 )     (4,842 )     —    

Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle

     (55,127 )     (35,845 )     (47,024 )     (36,809 )

Loss from discontinued operations

     2,311       14,493       (15,235 )     (1,367 )

Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle

     —         —         —         (545 )

Net loss

   $ (52,816 )   $ (21,352 )   $ (62,259 )   $ (38,721 )
    


 


 


 


Per common share - basic and diluted:

                                

Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle

   $ (1.02 )   $ (0.68 )   $ (0.92 )   $ (0.72 )

Loss from discontinued operations

     0.04       0.28       (0.30 )     (0.03 )

Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principle

     —         —         —         (0.01 )
    


 


 


 


Net loss per share

   $ (0.98 )   $ (0.40 )   $ (1.22 )   $ (0.76 )
    


 


 


 


 

The reported amounts for 2003 and 2004 above have been restated to reflect the Company’s restatement of financial results discussed in Note 3 and discontinued operations discussed in Note 4.

 

Because loss per share amounts are calculated using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common shares outstanding during each quarter, the sum of the per share amounts for the four quarters may not equal the total loss per share amounts for the year.

 

F-34


26. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Subsequent to December 31, 2004, the Company closed on the acquisition of 24 towers for an aggregate purchase price of $8.1 million, of which $4.0 million was paid in cash and approximately 448,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock was issued.

 

 

F-35

EX-4.9 2 dex49.htm EXHIBIT 4.9 Exhibit 4.9

Exhibit 4.9


 

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

 

as Issuer

 

and

 


 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

as Trustee

 


 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of December 14, 2004

 

8½% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2012

 



CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

Trust Indenture
Act Section


   Indenture
Section


310(a)(1)

   7.10

      (a)(2)

   7.10

      (a)(3)

   N.A.

      (a)(4)

   N.A.

      (a)(5)

   7.10

      (b)

   7.10

      (c)

   N.A.

311(a)

   7.11

      (b)

   7.11

      (c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.05

      (b)

   10.03

      (c)

   10.03

313(a)

   7.06

      (b)(1)

   10.03

      (b)(2)

   7.06,7.07

      (c)

   7.06,10.02

      (d)

   7.06

314(a)

   10.05

      (b)

   10.02

      (c)(1)

   N.A.

      (c)(2)

   N.A.

      (c)(3)

   N.A.

      (d)

   N.A.

      (e)

   10.05

      (f)

   N.A.

315(a)

   7.01

      (b)

   7.05

      (c)

   7.01

      (d)

   7.01

      (e)

   6.11

316(a) (last sentence)

   2.09

      (a)(1)(A)

   6.05

      (a)(1)(B)

   6.04

      (a)(2)

   N.A.

      (b)

   6.07

      (c)

   2.12

317(a)(1)

   6.08

      (a)(2)

   6.09

      (b)

   2.04

318(a)

   N.A.

      (b)

   N.A.

      (c)

   N.A.

N.A. means Not Applicable

 

* This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture

 


Table of Contents

 

     Page

ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

   1

SECTION 1.01.

  

Definitions

   1

SECTION 1.02.

  

Other Definitions

   21

SECTION 1.03.

  

Incorporation by Reference of TIA

   21

SECTION 1.04.

  

Rules of Construction

   22

ARTICLE 2. THE NOTES

   22

SECTION 2.01.

  

Form and Dating

   22

SECTION 2.02.

  

Execution and Authentication

   24

SECTION 2.03.

  

Registrar and Paying Agent

   24

SECTION 2.04.

  

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

   25

SECTION 2.05.

  

Holder Lists

   25

SECTION 2.06.

  

Transfer and Exchange

   25

SECTION 2.07.

  

Replacement Notes

   40

SECTION 2.08.

  

Outstanding Notes

   40

SECTION 2.09.

  

Treasury Notes

   41

SECTION 2.10.

  

Temporary Notes

   41

SECTION 2.11.

  

Cancellation

   41

SECTION 2.12.

  

Defaulted Interest

   41

SECTION 2.13.

  

Issuance of Additional Notes

   42

ARTICLE 3. REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

   42

SECTION 3.01.

  

Notices to Trustee

   42

SECTION 3.02.

  

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

   42

SECTION 3.03.

  

Notice of Redemption

   43

SECTION 3.04.

  

Effect of Notice of Redemption

   44

SECTION 3.05.

  

Deposit of Redemption Price

   44

SECTION 3.06.

  

Notes Redeemed in Part

   44

SECTION 3.07.

  

Optional Redemption

   44

SECTION 3.08.

  

Mandatory Redemption

   45

SECTION 3.09.

  

Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds

   45

ARTICLE 4. COVENANTS

   47

SECTION 4.01.

  

Payment of Notes

   47

SECTION 4.02.

  

Maintenance of Office or Agency

   48

SECTION 4.03.

  

Reports

   48

SECTION 4.04.

  

Compliance Certificate

   49

SECTION 4.05.

  

Taxes

   49

SECTION 4.06.

  

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

   50

 

- i -


SECTION 4.07.

  

Limitation on Restricted Payments

   50

SECTION 4.08.

  

Limitation on Dividends and Other Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries

   53

SECTION 4.09.

  

Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock

   54

SECTION 4.10.

  

Limitation on Asset Sales

   57

SECTION 4.11.

  

Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates

   58

SECTION 4.12.

  

Limitation on Liens

   59

SECTION 4.13.

  

Limitation on Business Activities

   59

SECTION 4.14.

  

Corporate Existence

   59

SECTION 4.15.

  

Offer to Repurchase upon Change of Control

   59

SECTION 4.16.

  

Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

   61

SECTION 4.17.

  

Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees of Indebtedness

   61

ARTICLE 5. SUCCESSORS

   61

SECTION 5.01.

  

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

   61

SECTION 5.02.

  

Successor Corporation Substituted

   62

ARTICLE 6. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

   62

SECTION 6.01.

  

Events of Default

   62

SECTION 6.02.

  

Acceleration

   64

SECTION 6.03.

  

Other Remedies

   64

SECTION 6.04.

  

Waiver of Past Defaults

   64

SECTION 6.05.

  

Control by Majority

   65

SECTION 6.06.

  

Limitation on Suits

   65

SECTION 6.07.

  

Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment

   65

SECTION 6.08.

  

Collection Suit by Trustee

   66

SECTION 6.09.

  

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

   66

SECTION 6.10.

  

Priorities

   66

SECTION 6.11.

  

Undertaking for Costs

   67

ARTICLE 7. TRUSTEE

   67

SECTION 7.01.

  

Duties of Trustee

   67

SECTION 7.02.

  

Rights of Trustee

   68

SECTION 7.03.

  

Individual Rights of Trustee

   69

SECTION 7.04.

  

Trustee’s Disclaimer

   69

SECTION 7.05.

  

Notice of Defaults

   69

SECTION 7.06.

  

Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes

   69

SECTION 7.07.

  

Compensation and Indemnity

   70

SECTION 7.08.

  

Replacement of Trustee

   71

SECTION 7.09.

  

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

   72

SECTION 7.10.

  

Eligibility; Disqualification

   72

SECTION 7.11.

  

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

   72

 

- ii -


ARTICLE 8. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

   72

SECTION 8.01.

  

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

   72

SECTION 8.02.

  

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

   72

SECTION 8.03.

  

Covenant Defeasance

   73

SECTION 8.04.

  

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

   73

SECTION 8.05.

  

Satisfaction and Discharge

   75

SECTION 8.06.

  

Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

   76

SECTION 8.07.

  

Repayment to Company

   76

SECTION 8.08.

  

Reinstatement

   76

ARTICLE 9. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

   77

SECTION 9.01.

  

Without Consent of Holders of Notes

   77

SECTION 9.02.

  

With Consent of Holders of Notes

   78

SECTION 9.03.

  

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

   79

SECTION 9.04.

  

Revocation and Effect of Consents

   79

SECTION 9.05.

  

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

   79

SECTION 9.06.

  

Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

   80

ARTICLE 10. MISCELLANEOUS

   80

SECTION 10.01.

  

Trust Indenture Act Controls

   80

SECTION 10.02.

  

Notices

   80

SECTION 10.03.

  

Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes

   81

SECTION 10.04.

  

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

   82

SECTION 10.05.

  

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

   82

SECTION 10.06.

  

Rules by Trustee and Agents

   82

SECTION 10.07.

  

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

   82

SECTION 10.08.

  

Governing Law

   83

SECTION 10.09.

  

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

   83

SECTION 10.10.

  

Successors

   83

SECTION 10.11.

  

Severability

   83

SECTION 10.12.

  

Counterpart Originals

   83

SECTION 10.13.

  

Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

   83

 

- iii -


EXHIBITS

    

Exhibit A

   FORM OF NOTE

Exhibit B

   FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Exhibit C

   FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Exhibit D

   FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTORS

Exhibit E

   FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
     TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

 

- iv -


INDENTURE dated as of December 14, 2004 between SBA Communications Corporation, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank National Association, a Massachusetts trust company, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

The Company and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 8½% Series A Senior Notes due 2012 (the “Series A Notes”) and the 8½% Series B Senior Notes due 2012 (the “Series B Notes” and, together with the Series A Notes, the “Notes”):

 

ARTICLE 1.

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

 

144A Global Note” means one or more global notes in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will represent the aggregate principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

 

2011 Notes” means the 9¾% senior discount notes due 2011 that the Company co-issued with SBA Telecommunications, Inc.

 

Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any specified Person, (i) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, including, without limitation, Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

 

Additional Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Additional Notes” means 8½% Senior Notes due 2012 of the Company issued under the Indenture after the Issue Date and having identical terms to the Initial Notes or the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Initial Notes.

 

Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of “Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio.”

 

Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow of SBA Senior Finance” means, the sum of (1) the Consolidated Cash Flow of SBA Senior Finance for the four most recent full fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available, less SBA Senior Finance Tower Cash Flow for such four-quarter period, plus (2) the product of four times SBA Senior Finance Tower Cash Flow for the most recent quarterly period.

 


Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise, provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person shall be deemed to be control.

 

Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.

 

Applicable Premium” means, with respect to a Note at any redemption date, the greater of (i) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Note and (ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such time of (1) the redemption price of such Note at December 1, 2008 (such redemption price being set forth in Section 3.7(b) plus (2) all required interest payments due on such Note through December 1, 2008 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points, over (B) the principal amount of such Note, if greater.

 

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

 

Asset Sale” means (i) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights (including, without limitation, by way of a sale and leaseback, as seller), in any case, outside of the ordinary course of business provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of this Indenture described in Section 4.15 and/or the provisions described in Section 5.01 and not by the provisions of Section 4.10 and (ii) the issue or sale by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Equity Interests of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (other than (x) directors’ qualifying shares or shares required by applicable law to be held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or (y) Permitted Subsidiary Equity Interests), in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (a) that have a fair market value in excess of $2.0 million or (b) for net proceeds in excess of $2.0 million.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Sales: (i) a transfer of assets by the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary or by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted by Section 4.07, (iv) grants of leases or licenses in the ordinary course of business, and (v) disposals of cash or Cash Equivalents.

 

Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP) of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction

 

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(including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended).

 

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Broker-Dealer” means any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

 

Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Stock” means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited) and (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

Cash Equivalents” means (i) United States dollars, (ii) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than 12 months from the date of acquisition, (iii) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding 12 months and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any lender party to the Senior Credit Facility or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thompson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better, (iv) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iii) above, (v) commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group and in each case maturing within 12 months after the date of acquisition and (vi) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (i)-(v) of this definition.

 

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole to any “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act); (ii) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (iii) the filing of a petition by or against the Company under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws, which petition, if involuntary, is not withdrawn within sixty (60) calendar days after such filing; (iv) any Person has the right or ability by voting power or contract to (a) elect

 

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or designate for election a majority of the Board of Directors or (b) direct the operation of the Company pursuant to a management agreement or similar agreement, other than officers or directors serving in their capacities as such; (v) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above), becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company (measured by voting power rather than number of shares); (vi) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors; or (vii) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the surviving or transferee Person constituting a majority of the outstanding shares of such Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee Person (immediately after giving effect to such issuance).

 

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking S.A.

 

Company” has the meaning provided in the preamble to this Indenture.

 

Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the Consolidated Indebtedness of the Company as of such date to (b) the sum of:

 

(1) the Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company for the four most recent full fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to such date for which internal financial statements are available, less the Company’s Tower Cash Flow for such four-quarter period, plus

 

(2) the product of four times the Company’s Tower Cash Flow for the most recent quarterly period (such sum being, referred to as “Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company”), in each case determined on a pro forma basis after giving effect to all acquisitions or dispositions of assets made by the Company and its Subsidiaries from the beginning of such four-quarter period through and including such date of determination (including any related financing transactions) as if such acquisitions and dispositions had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period. For purposes of making the computation referred to above:

 

(A) acquisitions that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the reference period, and

 

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(B) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded.

 

Consolidated Cash Flow” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus:

 

(i) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus

 

(ii) “Consolidated Interest Expense”, which means

 

(A) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations, but excluding any gain or loss from write-off of deferred financing fees and extinguishment of debt), to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus

 

(B) all preferred stock dividends paid or accrued in respect of the Company’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ preferred stock to Persons other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company other than preferred stock dividends paid by the Company in shares of preferred stock that is not Disqualified Stock, plus

 

(iii) depreciation, accretion, amortization (including amortization of goodwill and other intangibles and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period)) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; provided that the amount of the accretion included in Consolidated Cash Flow of any Person shall not exceed $250,000 for such four-quarter ending period, minus

 

(iv) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding any items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business), minus

 

(v) interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that any such income was included in computing such Consolidated Net Income, minus

 

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(vi) for purposes of Section 4.09 only and calculating only the Consolidated Cash Flow of SBA Senior Finance, the amount by which the selling, general and administrative expenses of the Company exceeds $6.0 million for such four-quarter ending period,

 

in each case on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of determination, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the total amount of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus (ii) the total amount of Indebtedness of any other Person, to the extent that such Indebtedness has been Guaranteed by the referent Person or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus (iii) the aggregate liquidation value of all Disqualified Stock of such Person and all preferred stock of Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person (other than Permitted Subsidiary Equity Interests), in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of Consolidated Cash Flow.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that:

 

(i) the Net Income (and net loss) of any Person (other than the Company) that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting shall be excluded, except that for purposes of determining compliance with Section 4.07, such Net Income shall be included but only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof, and

 

(ii) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be excluded whether or not distributed to the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or whether or not otherwise included pursuant to clause (i).

 

Consolidated Tangible Assets” means, with respect to the Company, the total consolidated assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, less the total intangible assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent internal consolidated balance sheet of the Company and such Restricted Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors who (i) was a member of such Board of Directors on the Issue Date, or (ii) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election.

 

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Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 10.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

 

Credit Facility” means one or more senior debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Senior Credit Facility) or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time (including subsequent refinancings).

 

Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

 

Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

 

Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable, in each case, at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the Holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature; provided, however, (i) that any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a Change of Control or an Asset Sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 and (ii) that any preferred stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if issued as a dividend on then outstanding shares of preferred stock of the same class or series.

 

Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock) (it being understood that Permitted Subsidiary Equity Interests shall not be deemed Equity Interests of the Company until they have been converted into Equity Interests of the Company in accordance with the terms thereof).

 

Equity Offering” means an underwritten primary public offering of common stock of the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or

 

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to the extent net proceeds hereof are paid to the Company as a capital contribution, a primary sale of common stock of the Company.

 

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A., as operator of the Euroclear system.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exchange Notes” means any substantially identical issue of notes (other than with respect to transfer restrictions) issued in an Exchange Offer for the Initial Notes or any Additional Notes.

 

Exchange Offer” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.

 

Existing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Facility) in existence on the Issue Date, until such amounts are repaid.

 

fair market value” means the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing and able seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure, or compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair market value shall be determined by the Board of Directors acting reasonably and in good faith, evidenced by a resolution of Board of Directors delivered to the Trustee; provided, however, that fair market value shall be determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking, accounting or appraisal firm for any transaction which is reasonably likely to exceed $10 million in value.

 

Final Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum dated December 1, 2004 relating to the offer and sale of the Notes.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time.

 

Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(ii), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

 

Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Note and the Unrestricted Global Note, in the form of Exhibit A hereto issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(iv), 2.06(d)(ii) or 2.06(f) hereof.

 

Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.

 

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Guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.

 

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other agreements or arrangements relating to or based upon fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates.

 

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

 

IAI Global Note” means the Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes sold to Institutional Accredited Investors.

 

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker’s acceptances or representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging Obligations, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, if and to the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person (the amount of such Indebtedness as of any date being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such property or assets as of such date or the principal amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person so secured) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by such Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be (i) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount, and (ii) the principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness. In calculating the amount of Indebtedness outstanding, letters of credit supporting obligations otherwise included as Indebtedness (and reimbursement obligations with respect to such letters of credit to the extent supporting obligations otherwise included in Indebtedness) shall not be included.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

 

Initial Notes” means the $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8½% Senior Notes due 2012 issued by the Company on the Issue Date.

 

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Initial Purchasers” means (i) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, Lehman Brothers Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation and TD Securities (USA) LLC, and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related purchase agreement.

 

Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, who are not also QIBs.

 

Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of direct or indirect loans (including guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of all Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issues any of its Equity Interests such that, in each case, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07.

 

Issue Date” means December 14, 2004, the date of original issuance of the Notes.

 

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

 

Letter of Transmittal” means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in connection with the Exchange Offer.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction).

 

March 1998 Senior Discount Note Indenture” means that certain Indenture between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of

 

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March 2, 1998, as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Trustee, dated as of March 5, 1999 and as amended by the Second Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Trustee, dated as of October 28, 1999.

 

Maximum Secured Amount” means, as of any date of determination, the maximum amount of Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Obligations) that, as of such date, and after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence as of such date and to the use of proceeds therefrom, would not cause SBA Senior Finance’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio to exceed 5.5 to 1.0.

 

Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (1) any gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with (a) any asset sale outside the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions) or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the write off of any deferred financing fees or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (2) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss, (3) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and (4) any net after-tax income (loss) from discontinued operations.

 

Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of (i) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, (ii) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), (iii) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under a Credit Facility) secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale, (iv) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such Asset Sale, (v) the deduction of appropriate amounts provided by the seller as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Sale, and (vi) without duplication, any reserves that the Board of Directors determines in good faith should be made in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets for post closing adjustments; provided that in the case of any reversal of any reserve referred to in clause (v) or (vi) above, the amount so reserved shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale as of the date of such reversal.

 

Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness (i) as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise), or (c) constitutes the lender; (ii) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders thereof may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or both) any

 

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holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and (iii) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

 

Notes” means the Series A Notes, the Series B Notes, the Initial Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Additional Notes issued under this Indenture.

 

Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

Offering” means the offering of the Notes by the Company.

 

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, which meets the requirements of Section 10.05 hereof.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 10.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

 

Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to The Depository Trust Company, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

 

Participating Broker-Dealer” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Permitted Business” means any business conducted by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date and any other business related, ancillary or complementary to any such business.

 

Permitted Investments” means (a) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; (b) any Investment in Cash Equivalents; (c) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment (i) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; (d) any Restricted Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash

 

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consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10, (e) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; (f) receivables created in the ordinary course of business; (g) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $5.0 million at any one time outstanding; (h) securities and other assets received in settlement of trade debts or other claims arising in the ordinary course of business; (i) other Investments in Permitted Businesses not to exceed 10% of the Company’s Consolidated Tangible Assets at any one time outstanding (each such Investment being measured as of the date made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); and (j) additional Investments having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (j) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed an amount equal to $25.0 million at the time of such Investment (each such Investment being measured as of the date made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).

 

Permitted Liens” means (i) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Company under one or more Credit Facilities that was permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be incurred; (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Subordinated Obligations); provided that the amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens does not, at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness, exceed an amount equal to the greater of (x) the Maximum Secured Amount and (y) the maximum amount of Indebtedness then permitted to be incurred under clause (i) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09 to the extent such Indebtedness is incurred under clause (i) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09; (iii) Liens in favor of the Company; (iv) Liens existing on the Issue Date; (v) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor; (vi) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under clause (iv) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09; and (vii) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed $10 million at any one time outstanding and that (a) are not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit (other than trade credit in the ordinary course of business) and (b) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the property or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of business by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that (i) the principal amount (or initial accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of (or accreted value, if applicable), plus accrued interest on, the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of expenses and prepayment premiums incurred in connection therewith), (ii) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded, (iii) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,

 

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replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded, and (iv) such Indebtedness is incurred (i) solely by the Company if the Company is the sole obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded, (ii) by either the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company if a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded or (iii) by the Restricted Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; provided that, except as provided in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, no Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may incur any Indebtedness in accordance with the provisions set forth in this definition if the proceeds are used to refinance Indebtedness on which the Company is the sole obligor.

 

Permitted Subsidiary Equity Interests” means Equity Interests of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that (i) will automatically convert into common stock of the Company upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under this Indenture, (ii) does not entitle the holder to any registration rights, (iii) is issued as consideration in a Tower Asset Acquisition and (iv) does not provide for any dividends other than in additional shares of such Equity Interests.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or agency or political subdivision thereof (including any subdivision or ongoing business of any such entity or substantially all of the assets of any such entity, subdivision or business).

 

Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(i) to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Prospectus” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.

 

QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

 

Qualified Equity Interests” means Equity Interests of the Company other than Disqualified Stock.

 

Qualified Proceeds” means assets that are used or useful in, or Capital Stock of any Person engaged in, a Permitted Business.

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 14, 2004 between the Company and the Initial Purchasers and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the

 

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Securities Act, the Registration Rights Agreement, if any, among the Company and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related purchase agreement.

 

Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that is filed pursuant to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement and (ii) including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

 

Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Regulation S Global Note” means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as appropriate, in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Regulation S.

 

Regulation S Permanent Global Note” means a permanent global Note bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the Restricted Period.

 

Regulation S Temporary Global Note” means a temporary global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

 

Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(iii), which is required to be placed on all Regulation S Temporary Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

 

Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Administration of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

 

Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

 

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Restricted Period” means the 40-day restricted period as defined in Regulation S.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the relevant Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated the Securities Act.

 

SBA Senior Finance” means SBA Senior Finance Inc.

 

SBA Senior Finance’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the Consolidated Indebtedness of SBA Senior Finance as of such date to (b) Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow of SBA Senior Finance, in each case determined on a pro forma basis after giving effect to all acquisitions or dispositions of assets made by SBA Senior Finance and its Subsidiaries from the beginning of such four-quarter period through and including such date of determination (including any related financing transactions) as if such acquisitions and dispositions had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, (A) acquisitions that have been made by SBA Senior Finance or any of its Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any related financing transactions, during the reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the reference period, and (B) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Seller Paper” means Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as consideration in a Tower Asset Acquisition.

 

Senior Credit Facility” means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2004, by and among SBA Senior Finance, Inc., the several lenders from time to time parties thereto, Lehman Brothers Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and bookrunners, and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as administrative agent, and including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time (including subsequent refinancings).

 

Senior Indebtedness” means, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter issued, created, incurred or assumed, all amounts payable by the Company under or in respect of all Indebtedness of the Company, including premiums and accrued and unpaid interest (including

 

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interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company at the rate specified in the documentation with respect thereto whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations and guarantees relating thereto; provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness will not include:

 

  (1) any Indebtedness incurred in violation of this Indenture, unless such Indebtedness was incurred based on an Officers’ Certificate (delivered in good faith after reasonable investigation) to the effect that the incurrence of such Indebtedness did not violate the provisions of this Indenture;

 

  (2) any obligation of the Company to any Subsidiary;

 

  (3) any liability for Federal, state, foreign, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company;

 

  (4) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business (including Guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities);

 

  (5) any Indebtedness, Guarantee or obligation of the Company that is expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment to any other Indebtedness, Guarantee or obligation of the Company, including, without limitation, any Senior Subordinated Indebtedness and any Subordinated Obligations; or

 

  (6) any Capital Stock.

 

Shelf Registration Statement” means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Significant Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that would be a “significant subsidiary” of such Person as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of the Final Offering Memorandum, except that all references to “10 percent” in Rule 1-02(w)(1), (2) and (3) shall mean “5 percent.”

 

Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

 

Strategic Equity Investment” means a cash contribution to the common equity capital of the Company or a purchase from the Company of common Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock), in either case by or from a Strategic Equity Investor and for aggregate cash consideration of at least $10.0 million.

 

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Strategic Equity Investor” means a Person engaged in a Permitted Business whose Total Equity Market Capitalization exceeds $1 billion.

 

Subordinated Obligation” means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred), which is expressly subordinated or junior in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to a written agreement.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).

 

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa- 77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA.

 

Total Equity Market Capitalization” of any Person means, as of any day of determination, the sum of (i) the product of (A) the aggregate number of outstanding primary shares of common stock of such Person on such day (which shall not include any options or warrants on, or securities convertible or exchangeable into, shares of common stock of such Person) multiplied by (B) the average closing price of such common stock listed on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market System over the 20 consecutive Business Days immediately preceding such day, plus (ii) the liquidation value of any outstanding shares of preferred stock of such Person on such day.

 

Tower Asset Acquisition” means an acquisition of Tower Assets or a business substantially all of the assets of which are Tower Assets.

 

Tower Assets” means wireless transmission towers and related assets that are located on the site of a transmission tower.

 

Tower Cash Flow” of any Person means, for any period, the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period that is directly attributable to site rental revenue, license or management fees paid to manage, lease or sublease space on communication sites owned, leased or managed by such Person (collectively, “site leasing revenues”), all determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP. Tower Cash Flow will not include revenue of any Person or expenses attributable to non-site rental services provided by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or revenues derived from the sale of assets.

 

Transfer Restricted Securities” means each Note, until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, (b) the date on which such Note has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer

 

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pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein) or (d) the date on which such Note is distributable to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

Treasury Rate” means, as of the applicable redemption date, the yield to maturity, as of such redemption date, of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H. 15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source or similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to December 1, 2008, provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to December 1, 2008 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to December 1, 2008 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

 

Trustee” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

Unrestricted Definitive Note” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

Unrestricted Global Note” means a Global Note in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing a series of Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution; but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

 

(a) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;

 

(b) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;

 

(c) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (x) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (y) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results;

 

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(d) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(e) has at least one director on its board of directors that is not a director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and has at least one executive officer that is not a director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date (and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date Section 4.09, the Company shall be in default of such covenant). The Board of Directors may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation shall be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation shall only be permitted if (i) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, and (ii) no Default would occur as a result of or be in existence following such designation.

 

U.S. Person” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(o) under the Securities Act.

 

Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” of any Person means a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.

 

Term


   Defined in
Section


“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.11

“Asset Sale Offer”

   3.09

“Authentication Agent”

   2.02

“Authentication Order”

   2.02

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.15

“Change of Control Payment”

   4.15

“Change of Control Payment Date”

   4.15

“Covenant Defeasance”

   8.03

“DTC”

   2.03

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.10

“incur”

   4.09

“Legal Defeasance”

   8.02

“Offer Amount”

   3.09

“Offer Period”

   3.09

“Pari Passu Notes”

   4.10

“Paying Agent”

   2.03

“Payment Default”

   6.01

“Permitted Debt”

   4.09

“Purchase Date”

   3.09

“Registrar”

   2.03

“Restricted Payments”

   4.07

 

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of TIA

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

 

The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

indenture securities” means the Notes;

 

indenture security holder” means a Holder of a Note;

 

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

 

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

 

obligor” on the Notes means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Notes.

 

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All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

 

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

 

(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

 

(6) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.

 

ARTICLE 2.

THE NOTES

 

SECTION 2.01. Form and Dating.

 

(a) General.

 

The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. The Company and the Trustee shall approve the forms of the Notes and any notation, legend or endorsement on them. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

 

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

(b) Global Notes.

 

Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of

 

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Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Note Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

 

(c) Temporary Global Notes.

 

Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall bear the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend and which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, at its New York offices, as custodian for the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Restricted Period shall be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of (i) a written certificate from the Depositary, together with copies of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream certifying that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(a)(ii) hereof), and (ii) an Officers’ Certificate from the Company. Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall be exchanged for beneficial interests in Regulation S Permanent Global Notes pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication of Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Trustee shall cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

 

(d) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable.

 

The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

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SECTION 2.02. Execution and Authentication.

 

One Officer of the Company shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

 

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee authenticates the Note. The signature of the Trustee on a Note shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly and validly authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers of the Company or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company (the “Authentication Order”), authenticate (i) on the Issue Date $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Notes and (ii) at any time and from time to time thereafter, Additional Notes (subject to the provisions of Section 2.13) in an aggregate principal amount specified in such order. Such Authentication Order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated and whether the Notes are to be Series A Notes or Series B Notes.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. An Authenticating Agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An Authenticating Agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.

 

SECTION 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Company shall cause each of the Registrar and the Paying Agent to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

 

The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Note Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

 

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SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

By no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date on which any principal of or interest on any Notes is due and payable, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient in immediately available funds to pay such principal or interest when due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium or Additional Interest, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

 

SECTION 2.05. Holder Lists.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).

 

SECTION 2.06. Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is Act no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary, or (ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Temporary Global Note be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(c)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act. Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (i) or (ii) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered

 

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in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b),(c) or (f) hereof.

 

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

 

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).

 

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written or electronic order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903 under the Securities Act. Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(ii) shall

 

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be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

 

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

 

  (A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

  (B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note or the Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

 

  (C) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications and certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

 

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) above and:

 

  (A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

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  (B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

  (C) such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

  (D) the Registrar receives the following:

 

  (1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

 

  (2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above.

 

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

 

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(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.

 

(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

  (A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

 

  (B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

  (C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

 

  (D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

 

  (E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

 

  (F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

 

  (G)

if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a

 

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certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof

 

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

 

(ii) Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(i)(A) and (C) hereof, a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(c)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act, except in the case of a transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.

 

(iii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:

 

  (A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

  (B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

  (C) such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

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  (D) the Registrar receives the following:

 

  (1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

 

  (2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

(iv) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iv) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iii) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

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(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.

 

(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

 

  (A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

 

  (B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

  (C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

 

  (D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

 

  (E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

 

  (F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

 

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  (G) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

 

the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, the IAI Global Note.

 

(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:

 

  (A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

  (B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

  (C) such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

  (D) the Registrar receives the following:

 

  (1) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

 

  (2) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

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and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

 

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

 

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

 

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by such Holder’s attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e).

 

(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

 

  (A)

if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a

 

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certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

  (B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

 

  (C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

 

(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:

 

  (A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a broker-dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

 

  (B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

  (C) any such transfer is effected by a Participating Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

 

  (D) the Registrar receives the following:

 

  (1) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

 

  (2)

if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who

 

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shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

 

(f) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02, the Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (x) they are not broker-dealers, (y) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company, and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer and (ii) Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.

 

(g) Legends. The following legends shall appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

 

(i) Private Placement Legend.

 

(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form.

 

“THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE

 

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“SECURITIES ACT”), OR OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE RE-OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING ITS NOTE IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT PRIOR TO (X) THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144(K) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) OR THE LAST DAY ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”), OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A INSIDE THE UNITED STATES, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED THAT THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE REGISTRAR SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,

 

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CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATION OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THIS TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

 

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(iv), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

 

(ii) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 9.05 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.”

 

(iii) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend. The Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.”

 

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(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.

 

At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

 

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon the Company’s order or at the Registrar’s request.

 

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 hereof).

 

(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(v) The Registrar shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (c) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

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(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

 

(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

 

SECTION 2.07. Replacement Notes.

 

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any Authenticating Agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.

 

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and any other obligor upon the Notes and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

SECTION 2.08. Outstanding Notes.

 

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 3.07(b) hereof.

 

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay

 

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Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.

 

SECTION 2.09. Treasury Notes.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

SECTION 2.10. Temporary Notes.

 

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 2.11. Cancellation.

 

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes shall be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

SECTION 2.12. Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a

 

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notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

SECTION 2.13. Issuance of Additional Notes.

 

The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.09, to issue Additional Notes under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date or the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Initial Notes, other than with respect to the date of issuance and issue price. The Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, any Additional Notes and all Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture.

 

With respect to any Additional Notes, the Company shall set forth in a resolution of the Board of Directors and an Officers’ Certificate, a copy of each which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

 

(a) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(b) the issue price, the issue date and the CUSIP number and corresponding ISIN of such Additional Notes; and

 

(c) whether such Additional Notes shall be Transfer Restricted Securities and issued in the form of Initial Notes as set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture or shall be issued in the form of Exchange Notes as set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 3.

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

 

SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee.

 

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 45 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price (expressed as a percentage or principal amount).

 

SECTION 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.

 

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased among the Holders of the Notes in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in accordance with any other method the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate; provided that no Notes of $1,000 in aggregate principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected,

 

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unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture.

 

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(a) the redemption date;

 

(b) the redemption price;

 

(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

(g) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

 

(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

 

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate requesting

 

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that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

 

SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.

 

SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

One Business Day prior to the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.

 

If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If a Note is redeemed on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

 

SECTION 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and, upon the receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

 

SECTION 3.07. Optional Redemption.

 

(a) Except as set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of this Section 3.07, the Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 3.07 prior to December 1, 2008. Thereafter, the Company shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon, if any, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year


   Percentage

 

2008

   104.250 %

2009

   102.125 %

2010 and thereafter

   100.000 %

 

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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.07, at any time prior to December 1, 2008, the Company may redeem all or a part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each holder’s registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus the Applicable Premium plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the rights of holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due on an interest payment date).

 

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section 3.07, at any time prior to December 1, 2007, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture at a redemption price equal to 108.500% of the principal amount thereof on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings and/or Strategic Equity Investments; provided that at least 65% of the original principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries); and provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 60 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering and/or Strategic Equity Investment.

 

(d) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

 

SECTION 3.08. Mandatory Redemption.

 

The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

SECTION 3.09. Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

 

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company shall be required to commence an offer to holders of Notes and Pari Passu Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable, of Notes and Pari Passu Notes that may be purchased out of Excess Proceeds) of Notes and Pari Passu Notes it shall follow the procedures specified below.

 

The Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement and no longer, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “Purchase Date”), the Company shall purchase the principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and Pari Passu Notes required to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof (on a pro rata basis if Notes and Pari Passu Notes tendered are in excess of

 

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the Excess Proceeds) (which maximum principal amount of Notes shall be the “Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and Pari Passu Notes tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

 

If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

 

Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:

 

(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open;

 

(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

 

(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrete or accrue interest;

 

(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to accrete or accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

 

(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may not elect to have only a portion of such Note purchased;

 

(f) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a depositary, if appointed by the Company, or a Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days before the Purchase Date;

 

(g) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

 

(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and Pari Passu Notes tendered by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes and Pari Passu Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis

 

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(with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes and Pari Passu Notes in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples thereof, shall be purchased); and

 

(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).

 

On or before the Purchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes and Pari Passu Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes, Pari Passu Notes or portions thereof tendered, and shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes, and Pari Passu Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Company shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer no later than the Purchase Date.

 

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

 

ARTICLE 4.

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes.

 

The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, then due. The Company shall pay all Additional Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of

 

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interest and Additional Interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

The Company hereby designates the New York Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03.

 

SECTION 4.03. Reports.

 

Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company shall furnish to the Holders of Notes (i) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K as if the Company were subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” that describes the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (showing in reasonable detail, in the footnotes to the financial statements and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (in each case to the extent not prohibited by the SEC’s rules and regulations), (a) the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company and (b) the Tower Cash Flow for the most recently completed fiscal quarter and the Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company and of SBA Senior Finance for the most recently completed four-quarter period) and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company’s independent certified public accountants; and (ii) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in each case within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations. In addition, following the consummation of the Exchange Offer contemplated by

 

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the Registration Rights Agreement, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company shall file a copy of all such information and reports with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request.

 

For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Company shall furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

SECTION 4.04. Compliance Certificate.

 

(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03 above shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Company’s independent public accountants (who shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.

 

(c) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 4.05. Taxes.

 

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent all material taxes, assessments, and governmental charges levied

 

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or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to pay or discharge the same would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to perform their obligations under the Notes or this Indenture.

 

SECTION 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

SECTION 4.07. Limitation on Restricted Payments.

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable (A) in Qualified Equity Interests or (B) to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company; (iii) designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary; (iv) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes, except a payment of interest or principal at Stated Maturity (other than payments to the Company or payments by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); or (v) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (v) being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

 

  (a) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; and

 

  (b) the Company would have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09; and

 

  (c)

such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries

 

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after the date of the March 1998 Senior Discount Note Indenture (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii) and (iii) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(1) 100% of the Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter during which the March 1998 Senior Discount Note Indenture was executed to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if the Consolidated Cash Flow for such period is a deficit, less 100% of the deficit), less 1.40 times the Consolidated Interest Expense of the Company since the beginning of the fiscal quarter during which the March 1998 Senior Discount Note Indenture was executed to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment; plus

 

(2) (A) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds plus (B) 70% of the aggregate value, as reflected on the Company’s balance sheet in accordance with GAAP using purchase accounting, of any Qualified Proceeds plus (C) 100% of the principal amount of Disqualified Stock or debt securities (other than Subordinated Obligations) of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Equity Interests, received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (from Persons other than Subsidiaries) from the issue and sale of, or conversion into or exchange for, Qualified Equity Interests, in each case since the beginning of the fiscal quarter during which the March 1998 Senior Discount Note Indenture was executed (provided that any net cash proceeds that are used pursuant to Section 3.07(c) shall not be so included); plus

 

(3) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company is redesignated as or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date; the lesser of:

 

(A) the fair market value of the Company’s Investments in such Subsidiaries as of the date they are designated or become Restricted Subsidiaries, and

 

(B) the sum of:

 

(x) the fair market value of the Company’s Investments in such Subsidiaries as of the date on which such Subsidiaries were originally designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, and

 

(y) the amount of any Investments made in such Subsidiaries subsequent to such designation (and treated as Restricted Payments) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; plus

 

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(4) to the extent not included in the Consolidated Cash Flow referred to in clause (1) and to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the Issue Date is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of:

 

(A) the cash return of capital with respect to the Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any), and

 

(B) the initial amount of the Restricted Investment; plus

 

(5) 100% of any other dividends or other distributions received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company since the Issue Date from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent that such dividends were not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period.

 

The foregoing provisions shall not prohibit:

 

(i) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at said date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(ii) the making of any Investment or the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any Subordinated Obligations or Equity Interests of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds, to the extent of the net cash proceeds received by the Company from the sale since the Issue Date (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company), of any Qualified Equity Interests; provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are so utilized shall be excluded from clause (c)(2) of the preceding paragraph;

 

(iii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Obligations with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(iv) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any member of the Company’s (or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’) management; provided that the aggregate amount expended pursuant to this clause (iv) shall not exceed $500,000 in any twelve-month period;

 

(v) the repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company that may be deemed to occur upon the exercise of options to acquire capital stock of the Company if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options; or

 

(vi) cash payments, in lieu of fractional shares issuable as dividends on Equity Interests of the Company, in an amount, when taken together with all other cash payments made pursuant to this clause (vi) since the Issue Date, not to exceed $500,000.

 

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The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such Subsidiary, after giving effect to such designation, would meet the requirements of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into, or suffer to exist, any transaction or arrangement, with a Subsidiary that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary that would be inconsistent with or violate the terms set forth in the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.”

 

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash), including the amount of the Restricted Payment that will be deemed to occur upon the designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, shall be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, or of the Company’s proportionate interest in the Subsidiary so to be designated as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.

 

SECTION 4.08. Limitation on Dividends and Other Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (i) (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) on its Capital Stock or (y) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or (b) pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or (iii) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

However, the foregoing restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (a) any agreement or instrument governing Existing Indebtedness as in effect on the Issue Date or as amended, modified, restated or renewed in any manner not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, (b) the Indenture or the Notes, (c) applicable law, (d) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be incurred, (e) by reason of customary non-assignment provisions in leases or licenses or other contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (f) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (iii) above on the property so acquired, (g) the provisions of agreements governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (iv) of the second paragraph of Section 4.09, (h) any agreement for the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale, (i) any Credit Facility or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained such Credit Facility or in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the Senior Credit Facility as of the Issue Date with respect to a Credit Facility, or the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced with respect to

 

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Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, as applicable, (j) Liens permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to transfer the assets subject to such Liens, (k) any Indebtedness incurred in compliance with Section 4.09 or any agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued if the encumbrance or restriction applies only in the event of a payment default or default with respect to a financial covenant contained in the Indebtedness or agreement and the encumbrance or restriction is not materially more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes than is customary in comparable financings (as determined by the Company) and the Company determines that any such encumbrance or restriction will not materially affect the Company’s ability to pay interest or principal on the Notes, (l) provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements and (m) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business.

 

SECTION 4.09. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly, or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “incur”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that (x) the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock if (1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and (2) the Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness or the issuance of such Disqualified Stock, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance as of such date and to the use of proceeds therefrom would have been no greater than 8.5 to 1.0 and (y) SBA Senior Finance may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and the other Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company may incur Indebtedness or issue preferred stock if, in each case, (1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and (2) SBA Senior Finance’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness or the issuance of such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or issuance as of such date and to the use of proceeds therefrom, would have been no greater than 5.5 to 1.0.

 

The first paragraph of this covenant shall not apply to the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “Permitted Debt”) if no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof:

 

(i) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under one or more Credit Facilities or through the issuance of Seller Paper in an aggregate principal amount (with letters of credit being deemed to have an aggregate principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) at any one time outstanding not to exceed $300.0 million less (i) the aggregate amount of commitment reductions under Credit Facilities resulting from the application of proceeds of Asset Sales since the Issue

 

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Date and (ii) the aggregate amount of outstanding Consolidated Indebtedness of SBA Senior Finance incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant; provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of Seller Paper at any one time outstanding under this clause (i) shall not exceed $50.0 million;

 

(ii) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

 

(iii) the incurrence by the Company of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (other than Additional Notes), and the Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefore;

 

(iv) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (iv), not to exceed $20.0 million at any one time outstanding;

 

(v) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund, Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by the Indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph hereof or clause (ii) or (iii) or this clause (v) of this paragraph;

 

(vi) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness or intercompany preferred stock between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (1) if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Notes and (2)(A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness or preferred stock being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and (B) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness or preferred stock to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness or issuance of such preferred stock by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;

 

(vii) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations that are incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be outstanding or currency exchange risk or otherwise entered into for bona fide purposes designed to protect against interest rate or currency exchange risk and not for speculative purposes;

 

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(viii) the guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of the Indenture;

 

(ix) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Acquired Debt in connection with the acquisition of assets or a new Subsidiary and the incurrence by the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness as a result of the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of any such incurrence of Acquired Debt, such Acquired Debt was incurred by the prior owner of such assets or such Restricted Subsidiary prior to such acquisition by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and provided further that, as a result of such incurrence, in the case of Acquired Debt incurred directly by the Company, the Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio and, in the case of Acquired Debt incurred by SBA Senior Finance or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio and SBA Senior Finance’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio, in each case, at the time of incurrence of such Acquired Debt, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the most recently ended four full fiscal quarter period for the Company for which internal financial statements are available, would have been less than or equal to, in the case of Acquired Debt incurred directly by the Company, the Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio and, in the case of Acquired Debt incurred by SBA Senior Finance or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio and SBA Senior Finance’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio, respectively, for the same period without giving pro forma effect to such incurrence; and

 

(x) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding not to exceed $25.0 million.

 

The Company shall not incur any Indebtedness that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness of the Company shall be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company solely by virtue of being unsecured. The Company shall not permit any of its Unrestricted Subsidiaries to incur any Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt. Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company may not issue or sell, and the Company may not permit any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to have outstanding, any Equity Interests (other than (x) Equity Interests held by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries or (y) Permitted Subsidiary Equity Interests).

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness or preferred stock meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (i) through (x) in the second paragraph of this Section 4.09 or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.09, the Company

 

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shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Accrual of interest, accretion or amortization of original issue discount and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant.

 

SECTION 4.10. Limitation on Asset Sales.

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless (i) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of and (ii) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of (a) cash or Cash Equivalents, (b) Tower Assets or (c) any combination of the foregoing; provided that the amount of (x) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any guarantee thereof) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability and (y) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 20 days of the applicable Asset Sale (to the extent of the cash received), shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision.

 

Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary may apply such Net Proceeds to: (a) reduce (which reduction may be temporary) Indebtedness under a Credit Facility; (b) reduce or repurchase any other Indebtedness of any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries, including the 2011 Notes; (c) reduce or repurchase any Indebtedness represented by the Notes; (d) reduce or repurchase any Senior Indebtedness of the Company, excluding the 2011 Notes; provided that the Notes are reduced or repurchased on a pro rata basis with the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale; (e) acquire all or substantially all the assets of a Permitted Business; provided, that after giving effect thereto, the Company and/or a Restricted Subsidiary own such assets; (f) acquire Voting Stock of a Permitted Business from a Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Company; provided, that, after giving effect thereto, the Company and/or a Restricted Subsidiary own a majority of such Voting Stock; or (g) make a capital expenditure or acquire other long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business; provided, that after giving effect thereto, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is the owner of such assets. Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary may invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by the Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in preceding sentence of this paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary will be required to make an offer (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Senior Indebtedness of the Company, excluding the 2011 Notes, containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (such other Senior Indebtedness, “Pari Passu Notes”) to purchase, on

 

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a pro rata basis, the maximum principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and such Pari Passu Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture and the instruments governing such Pari Passu Notes. To the extent that any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and Pari Passu Notes tendered into such Asset Sale Offer surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such Pari Passu Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes or Pari Passu Notes tendered. Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

 

The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations applicable to any Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or securities regulations conflict with the provisions of the covenant described above, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the covenant described above by virtue thereof.

 

SECTION 4.11. Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates.

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or Guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”), unless (i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person and (ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee (a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $2.5 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors and (b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $10.0 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the Holders of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following items shall not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions: (i) any employment arrangements with any executive officer of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and consistent with compensation arrangements of similarly situated executive officers at comparable companies engaged in Permitted Businesses, (ii) transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries, (iii) payment of outside directors’ fees in an aggregate annual amount not to exceed

 

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$50,000 per Person, (iv) Restricted Payments and Permitted Investments that are permitted by Section 4.07 and (v) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company.

 

SECTION 4.12. Limitation on Liens.

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien securing Indebtedness or trade payables on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, except Permitted Liens, unless (A) in the case of the Liens securing Indebtedness that is expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Notes, the Notes are secured by a Lien on those assets or income or profits that is senior in priority to those Liens, with the same relative priority as that subordinate or junior Indebtedness will have with respect to the Notes and (B) in all other cases, the Notes are secured on an equal and ratable basis, in each case, until such time as such Indebtedness is no longer secured by a Lien.

 

SECTION 4.13. Limitation on Business Activities.

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

SECTION 4.14. Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

SECTION 4.15. Offer to Repurchase upon Change of Control.

 

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Notes shall have the right to require the Company to purchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest thereon, if any (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Additional Interest due on the relevant interest payment date), to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder stating: (i) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15

 

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and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment; (ii) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”); (iii) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest; (iv) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date; (v) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date; (vi) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and (vii) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $1,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple thereof.

 

(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful, (i) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof.

 

(c) The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. The provisions under this Indenture relating to the Company’s obligation to make an offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of a Change of Control may be waived or modified with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

 

(d) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations applicable to any Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or securities regulations conflict with the provisions of the covenant described above, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the covenant described above by virtue thereof.

 

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SECTION 4.16. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

 

The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction (as seller); provided that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction if (i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, could have (a) incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such sale and leaseback transaction (x), in the case of the Company, pursuant to the Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09, and (y) in the case of SBA Senior Finance and any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to SBA Senior Finance’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09 and (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.12, (ii) the gross cash proceeds of such sale and leaseback transaction are at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) of the property that is the subject of such sale and leaseback transaction and (iii) the transfer of assets in such sale and leaseback transaction is permitted by, and the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, Section 4.10.

 

SECTION 4.17. Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees of Indebtedness.

 

The Company will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to Guarantee or pledge any assets to secure the payment of any Indebtedness of the Company (except Indebtedness of the Company under a guarantee of Indebtedness of one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries) unless such Restricted Subsidiary simultaneously executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture providing for the Guarantee of the payment of the premium, if any, principal, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes by such Restricted Subsidiary, which Guarantee shall be senior to or pari passu with such Restricted Subsidiary’s Guarantee of or pledge to secure such other Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such Guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Notes shall provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon any sale, exchange or transfer, to any Person other than a Restricted Subsidiary, of all of the Company’s stock in, or all or substantially all the assets of, such Restricted Subsidiary, which sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture. The form of such supplemental indenture providing for the Guarantee is attached as Exhibit E hereto.

 

ARTICLE 5.

SUCCESSORS

 

SECTION 5.01. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.

 

The Company may not consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to another corporation, Person or entity unless (i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition

 

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shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the entity or Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; (iii) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists; and (iv) immediately after the transaction and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, (A) the Company or the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made will be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.09, or (B) the Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio shall be less than or equal to, the Company’s Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio and for the same period without giving pro forma effect to such transaction.

 

SECTION 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to “the Company” shall refer instead to the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, provided, however, that the predecessor company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of the Company’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

 

ARTICLE 6.

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default.

 

An “Event of Default” occurs if:

 

(a) the Company defaults in the payment when due of interest or Additional Interest on the Notes and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

(b) the Company defaults in the payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon redemption (including in connection with an offer to purchase) or otherwise;

 

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(c) the Company fails to comply with any of the provisions of Section 4.10, 4.15 or 5.01 hereof;

 

(d) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fail to observe or perform any other covenant, representation, warranty or other agreement in this Indenture or the Notes for 30 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class;

 

(e) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, which default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”) or (b) results in the acceleration of any such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10.0 million or more;

 

(f) a final judgment or final judgments for the payment of money are entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary and such judgment or judgments remain undischarged for a period (during which execution shall not be effectively stayed) of 60 days; provided that the aggregate of all such undischarged judgments exceeds $10.0 million;

 

(g) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i) commences a voluntary case,

 

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

 

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

 

(v) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

 

(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(i) is for relief against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

 

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(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary; or

 

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

 

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration.

 

If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 hereof with respect to the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any group of Significant Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon any such declaration, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, and Additional Interest, if any, shall become due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs with respect to the Company, any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, and Additional Interest, if any, shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders of all the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in payment of interest or premium or Additional Interest on, or the principal of, the Notes.

 

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies.

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

 

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase) (provided,

 

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however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority.

 

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits.

 

A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

 

(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

 

(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

 

(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

 

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

 

SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium and Additional Interest, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

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SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium and Additional Interest, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

SECTION 6.10. Priorities.

 

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium and Additional Interest, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on

 

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the Notes for principal, premium and Additional Interest, if any and interest, respectively; and

 

Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.

 

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

ARTICLE 7.

TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

 

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

 

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(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.

 

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this Section.

 

(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.

 

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

 

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

 

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

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(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.

 

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

 

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

 

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is not opposed to the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

 

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

 

Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the Issue Date, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).

 

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A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.

 

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.

 

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

 

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SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.

 

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

 

The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of Notes of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

 

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

 

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of Notes of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who has been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

 

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).

 

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

ARTICLE 8.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT

DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

When (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee all outstanding Notes (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.07) for cancellation or (ii) all outstanding Notes have become due and payable, whether at maturity or as a result of the mailing of a notice of redemption pursuant to Article 3 hereof and the Company irrevocably deposits with the Trustee funds sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all outstanding Notes, including interest thereon to maturity or such redemption date (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.07), and if in either case the Company pays all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall, subject to the proviso set forth in Section 8.02, cease to be of further effect. The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Eight.

 

SECTION 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes and this Indenture on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied

 

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(hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same); provided that the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 8.04 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Interest on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article Eight. Subject to compliance with this Article Eight, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

 

SECTION 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16 and 4.17 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(d) through 6.01(f) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

 

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SECTION 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in United States dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Interest on the outstanding Notes on their Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;

 

(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness all or a portion of the proceeds of which will be used to defease the Notes pursuant to this Article Eight concurrently with such incurrence) or insofar as Sections 6.01(g) or 6.01(h) hereof is concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;

 

(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is bound;

 

(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (which may be subject to customary exceptions) to the effect that on the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally;

 

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(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others; and

 

(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

SECTION 8.05. Satisfaction and Discharge

 

This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, when:

 

(a) either:

 

(i) all Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(ii) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, taking into account earnings on Government Securities so deposited but without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium and Additional Interest, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

 

(b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound;

 

(c) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under the Indenture; and

 

(d) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under the Indenture to apply the deposited money and/or proceeds of deposited Government Securities toward the payment of the notes at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

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In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers” Certificate and an opinion of counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

 

SECTION 8.06. Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

Anything in this Article Eight to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

SECTION 8.07. Repayment to Company.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as a secured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

 

SECTION 8.08. Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this

 

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Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE 9.

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a Note:

 

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or to alter the provisions of Article 2 hereof (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder;

 

(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture or pursuant to Article 5 hereof;

 

(d) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture;

 

(e) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder of the Note;

 

(f) to provide for the guarantee of the Notes by a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.17;

 

(g) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into

 

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such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including Section 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereto) and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes). Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for purposes of this Section 9.02.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

(a) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

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(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof;

 

(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest or Additional Interest, including default interest, on any Note;

 

(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest or Additional Interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

 

(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes;

 

(g) change the ranking of the Notes, or

 

(h) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 hereof or in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.

 

SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

 

SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

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Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

 

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized pursuant to this Article Nine if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 10.04 hereof, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 10.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA § 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.

 

SECTION 10.02. Notices.

 

Any notice or communication shall be in writing and delivered in person, by facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery or mailed by first class mail addressed as follows:

 

If to the Company:

 

SBA Communications Corporation

5900 Broken Sound Parkway NW

Boca Raton, FL 33487

Telephone No.: (561) 995-7670

Facsimile No.: (561) 995-2941

Attention: General Counsel

 

With a copy to:

Akerman Senterfitt

One Southeast Third Avenue

28th Floor

Miami, FL 33131-1714

Telephone No.: (305) 374-5600

Facsimile No.: (305) 374-5095

Attention: Kara L. MacCullough, Esq.

 

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If to the Trustee:

 

Boston Corporate Trust Office:

 

U.S. Bank National Association

One Federal Street, 3rd Floor

Boston, MA 02110

Facsimile No.: (617) 603-6683

 

and

 

New York Corporate Trust Office:

 

U.S. Bank National Association

100 Wall Street

Suite 1600

New York, NY 10005

 

The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if sent via facsimile transmission; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

 

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

 

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SECTION 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 10.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

 

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 10.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.

 

SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:

 

(a) a statement that the Person(s) making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has or they have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person or Persons to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

 

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Persons, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

 

SECTION 10.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

SECTION 10.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.

 

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture, Registration Rights Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or

 

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by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

SECTION 10.08. Governing Law.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

SECTION 10.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

SECTION 10.10. Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

SECTION 10.11. Severability.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

SECTION 10.12. Counterpart Originals.

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

SECTION 10.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Dated as of December 14 , 2004
SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By:   /s/ Thomas P. Hunt
   

Name:

 

Thomas P. Hunt

   

Title:

  Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:   /s/ Gerald R. Wheeler
   

Name:

 

Gerald R. Wheeler

   

Title:

 

Vice President

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

[THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 9.05 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.]

 

[THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE RE-OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING ITS NOTE IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT PRIOR TO (X) THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144(K) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) OR THE LAST DAY ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”), OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A INSIDE THE UNITED

 

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STATES, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED THAT THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE REGISTRAR SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATION OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THIS TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

 

[THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.]

 

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CUSIP No.

ISIN No.

 

8½% Series      Senior Notes due 2012

 

No.    Principal Amount $

 

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

 

SBA Communications Corporation, a Florida corporation (the “Company”) promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of                      Dollars on December 1, 2012 [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto]1.

 

Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1

 

Record Dates: May 15 and November 15

 

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

Dated:

 

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

By:    
   

Name:

   
   

Title:

   

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee, certifies
that this is one of
the Notes referred
to in the Indenture

By:    
    Authorized Signatory

1 If this Note is a Global Note, include this provision.

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTES]

 

8½% Senior Notes due 2012

 

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

1. Interest. SBA Communications Corporation, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 8½% per annum from December 14, 2004 until maturity. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”); provided that the first such interest payment date shall be June 1, 2005. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date on which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from December 14, 2004. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the May 15 or November 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date (each, a “Record Date”), even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, Additional Interest, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest and Additional Interest and premium on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent prior to the Record Date. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of December 14, 2004 (“Indenture”) between the Company and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are

 

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subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The aggregate principal amount of Notes issuable under the Indenture is unlimited, although the issuance of Initial Notes will be limited to $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount.

 

5. Optional Redemption.

 

(A) EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPHS (B) AND (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH 5, THE NOTES SHALL NOT BE REDEEMABLE AT THE COMPANY’S OPTION PRIOR TO DECEMBER 1, 2008. THEREAFTER, THE NOTES WILL BE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT ANY TIME AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UPON NOT LESS THAN 30 NOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS’ NOTICE AT THE REDEMPTION PRICES (EXPRESSED AS PERCENTAGES OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT) SET FORTH BELOW PLUS ACCRUED AND UNPAID INTEREST AND ADDITIONAL INTEREST, IF ANY, TO THE APPLICABLE REDEMPTION DATE (SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF HOLDERS OF RECORD ON THE RELEVANT RECORD DATE TO RECEIVE INTEREST AND ADDITIONAL INTEREST DUE ON THE RELEVANT INTEREST PAYMENT DATE), IF REDEEMED DURING THE TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 1 OF THE YEARS INDICATED BELOW:

 

Year


   Percentage

 

2008

   104.250 %

2009

   102.125 %

2010 and thereafter

   100.000 %

 

(B) AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO DECEMBER 1, 2008, THE COMPANY MAY REDEEM ALL OR A PART OF THE NOTES UPON NOT LESS THAN 30 NOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS’ PRIOR NOTICE MAILED BY FIRST-CLASS MAIL TO EACH HOLDER’S REGISTERED ADDRESS, AT A REDEMPTION PRICE EQUAL TO 100% OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE NOTES TO BE REDEEMED PLUS THE APPLICABLE PREMIUM PLUS ACCRUED AND UNPAID INTEREST AND ADDITIONAL INTEREST, IF ANY, TO THE REDEMPTION DATE (SUBJECT TO THE RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RECORD ON RELEVANT RECORD DATES TO RECEIVE INTEREST DUE ON AN INTEREST PAYMENT DATE).

 

(C) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPHS (A) AND B OF THIS PARAGRAPH 5, AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO DECEMBER 1, 2007, THE COMPANY MAY ON ANY ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS REDEEM UP TO 35% OF THE ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES ISSUED UNDER THE INDENTURE AT A REDEMPTION PRICE EQUAL TO 108.500%% OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT THEREOF ON THE REDEMPTION DATE, PLUS ACCRUED AND UNPAID ADDITIONAL INTEREST, IF ANY, WITH THE NET CASH PROCEEDS OF ONE OR MORE EQUITY OFFERINGS AND/OR STRATEGIC EQUITY INVESTMENTS; PROVIDED THAT AT LEAST 65% OF THE ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES ISSUED UNDER THE INDENTURE REMAINS OUTSTANDING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OCCURRENCE

 

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OF SUCH REDEMPTION (EXCLUDING NOTES HELD BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES);AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT SUCH REDEMPTION SHALL OCCUR WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THE CLOSING OF SUCH EQUITY OFFERING AND/OR STRATEGIC EQUITY INVESTMENT.

 

6. Mandatory Redemption. Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.

 

7. Repurchase at Option of Holder.

 

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Additional Interest, if any, due on the relevant interest payment date), to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

 

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales, when the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10 million, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary shall commence an offer pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Senior Indebtedness excluding the 2011 Notes, containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (such other Senior Indebtedness, the “Pari Passu Notes”) to purchase the maximum principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and such Pari Passu Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture and the instruments governing such Pari Passu Notes. To the extent that any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and Pari Passu Notes tendered into such Asset Sale Offer surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and Pari Passu Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and Pari Passu Notes tendered. Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset to zero. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes.

 

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8. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Registrar need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 Business Days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

10. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes (other than a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Interest on the Notes) may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation, to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, or to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

12. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest or Additional Interest on the Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon redemption (including in connection with an offer to purchase) or otherwise, (iii) failure by the Company to comply with Section 4.10, 4.15 or 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company to observe or perform any other covenant, representation, warranty or other agreement in the Indenture or the Notes for 30 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the

 

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Notes then outstanding voting as a single class; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries which default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (“Payment Default”) or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates to $10.0 million or more; (vi) certain final judgments for the payment of money that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days provided that the aggregate of all such undischarged judgments exceeds $10.0 million; and (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Company, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium or Additional Interest on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

13. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

14. No Recourse Against Others. Any past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent.

 

16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the

 

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entirety), JT TEN (= joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

17. Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 14, 2004, between the Company and Initial Purchasers.

 

18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

 

SBA Communications Corporation

5900 Broken Sound Parkway NW

Boca Raton, FL 33487

Attention: General Counsel

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

(Insert assignee’s sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint                                                                                                                                                                                                         to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:                     

 

Your Signature:    
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee.

 

(Participant in a Recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program)

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:

 

¨ Section 4.10   ¨ Section 4.15

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$            

 

Date:                     

 

Your Signature:    
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
Tax Identification No:

 

Signature Guarantee.

 

(Participant in a Recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program)

 

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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE/1/

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange


  

Amount of
decrease in
Principal Amount
of this Global Note


  

Amount of increase
in Principal Amount
of this Global Note


  

Principal Amount
of this Global Note
following such decrease
(or increase)


  

Signature of
authorized officer
of Trustee or
Notes Custodian


                     
                     
                     
                     

/1/ Insert this table only in a Global Note.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

SBA Communications Corporation

One Town Center Road

Boca Raton, FL 33486

 

[Registrar address block]

 

  Re: 8½ % Senior Notes Due 2012

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 14, 2004 (the “Indenture”), between SBA Communications Corporation, as issuer (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

                , (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $             in such Note[s] or interests (the “Transfer”), to              (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

 

1. ¨ CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

2. ¨ CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities

 

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market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note, the Temporary Regulation S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

3. ¨ CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN IAI GLOBAL NOTE OR A DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

 

(a) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

 

or

 

(b) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;

 

or

 

(c) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

 

or

 

(d) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or

 

B-2


Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

4. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.

 

(a) ¨ CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(b) ¨ CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

(c) ¨ CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-3


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:

   
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

Dated:             ,         

 

B-4


 

ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

 

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a) ¨  a beneficial interest in the :

 

  (i) ¨ 144A Global Note (CUSIP             ), or

 

  (ii) ¨ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP             ), or

 

  (iii) ¨ IAI Global Note (CUSIP             ), or

 

  (b) ¨  a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

 

[CHECK ONE]

 

  (a) ¨  a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) ¨ 144A Global Note (CUSIP             ), or

 

  (ii) ¨ Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP             ), or

 

  (iii) ¨ IAI Global Note (CUSIP             ), or

 

  (iv) ¨ Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP             ); or

 

  (b) ¨  a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c) ¨  an Unrestricted Definitive Note,

 

in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-5


 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

 

SBA Communications Corporation

One Town Center Road

Boca Raton, FL 33486

 

[Registrar address block]*

 

  Re: 8½ % Senior Notes due 2012

 

(CUSIP                )

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 14, 2004 (the “Indenture”), between SBA Communications Corporation, as issuer (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

                , (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $                     in such Note[s] or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

 

1. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE

 

(a) ¨ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(b) ¨ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant

 

C-1


to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(c) ¨ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

(d) ¨ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

2. EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES

 

(a) ¨ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

(b) ¨ CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] 144A Global Note, Regulation S Global Note, IAI Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance

 

C-2


with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

By:

   
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

Dated:             ,         

 

C-3


 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM

ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

 

SBA Communications Corporation

One Town Center Road

Boca Raton, Florida 33486

 

U.S. Bank National Association

One Federal Street, 3rd Floor

Boston, MA 02110

 

  Re: SBA Communications Corporation 8½ % Senior Notes due 2012

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of December 14, 2004 (the “Indenture”), between SBA Communications Corporation, as issuer (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

In connection with our proposed purchase of $                     aggregate principal amount of:

 

  (a) ¨ a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

 

  (b) ¨ a Definitive Note,

 

we confirm that:

 

1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Senior Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Senior Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Senior Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Senior Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Senior Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Company a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and

 

D-1


we further agree to provide to any person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

 

3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Senior Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Senior Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

 

4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Senior Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

 

5. We are acquiring the Senior Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

 

You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

 

[Insert Name of Accredited Investor]

By:

   
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

Dated:             ,         

 

D-2


 

[EXHIBIT E]

 

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

 

Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of                 , among                  (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION (or its permitted successor), a Florida corporation (the “Company”), the Company, the other Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of December 14, 2004 providing for the issuance of an aggregate principal amount of up to $250,000,000 of 8½ % Senior Notes due 2012 (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Note Guarantee”); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

2. Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees as follows:

 

  (a) Along with all other Subsidiary Guarantors, to jointly and severally Guarantee to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of the Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

  (i)

the principal of and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the

 

E-1


 

Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

 

  (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately.

 

  (b) The obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.

 

  (c) The following is hereby waived: diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever.

 

  (d) This Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and the Indenture.

 

  (e) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, or any Custodian, Trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

  (f) The Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby.

 

  (g)

As between the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 of the Indenture for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any

 

E-2


 

declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 of the Indenture, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Subsidiary Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee.

 

  (h) The Subsidiary Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Subsidiary Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.

 

3. Execution and Delivery. Each Guaranteeing Subsidiary agrees that the Note Guarantees shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

 

4. Guaranteeing Subsidiary May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms.

 

  (a) In case of any consolidation or merger of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary with another corporation, Person or entity, and upon the assumption by the successor corporation, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be performed by the Subsidiary Guarantor, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for the Subsidiary Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Subsidiary Guarantor. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note Guarantees so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under the Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

  (b) Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 of the Indenture, and notwithstanding clause (a) above, nothing contained in the Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a Subsidiary Guarantor with or into the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Subsidiary Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

5. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the

 

E-3


consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

6. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

 

7. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

 

8. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

9. The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.

 

E-4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

 

Dated:             ,         

 

[Guaranteeing Subsidiary]

By:

   
   

Name:

   

Title:

[COMPANY]

By:

   
   

Name:

   

Title:

[EXISTING SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS]

By:

   
   

Name:

   

Title:

[TRUSTEE]

as Trustee

By:

   
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

E-5

EX-4.10 3 dex410.htm EXHIBIT 4.10 Exhibit 4.10

Exhibit 4.10

 

[THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 9.05 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.]

 

[THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE RE-OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING ITS NOTE IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT PRIOR TO (X) THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144(K) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF (OR OF ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) OR THE LAST DAY ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”), OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A INSIDE THE UNITED

 


STATES, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND; PROVIDED THAT THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE REGISTRAR SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATION OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THIS TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

 

[THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.]

 


 

CUSIP No.

ISIN No.

 

8½% Series      Senior Notes due 2012

 

No.    Principal Amount $

 

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

 

SBA Communications Corporation, a Florida corporation (the “Company”) promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of                      Dollars on December 1, 2012 [or such greater or lesser amount as may be indicated on Schedule A hereto]1.

 

Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1

 

Record Dates: May 15 and November 15

 

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

Dated:

 

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee, certifies
that this is one of
the Notes referred
to in the Indenture

By:    
   

Authorized Signatory


1 If this Note is a Global Note, include this provision.

 


 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTES]

 

8½% Senior Notes due 2012

 

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

1. Interest. SBA Communications Corporation, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 8½% per annum from December 14, 2004 until maturity. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an “Interest Payment Date”); provided that the first such interest payment date shall be June 1, 2005. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date on which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from December 14, 2004. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the May 15 or November 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date (each, a “Record Date”), even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium, if any, Additional Interest, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest and Additional Interest and premium on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent prior to the Record Date. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of December 14, 2004 (“Indenture”) between the Company and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are

 


subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The aggregate principal amount of Notes issuable under the Indenture is unlimited, although the issuance of Initial Notes will be limited to $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount.

 

5. Optional Redemption.

 

(A) EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPHS (B) AND (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH 5, THE NOTES SHALL NOT BE REDEEMABLE AT THE COMPANY’S OPTION PRIOR TO DECEMBER 1, 2008. THEREAFTER, THE NOTES WILL BE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT ANY TIME AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UPON NOT LESS THAN 30 NOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS’ NOTICE AT THE REDEMPTION PRICES (EXPRESSED AS PERCENTAGES OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT) SET FORTH BELOW PLUS ACCRUED AND UNPAID INTEREST AND ADDITIONAL INTEREST, IF ANY, TO THE APPLICABLE REDEMPTION DATE (SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF HOLDERS OF RECORD ON THE RELEVANT RECORD DATE TO RECEIVE INTEREST AND ADDITIONAL INTEREST DUE ON THE RELEVANT INTEREST PAYMENT DATE), IF REDEEMED DURING THE TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 1 OF THE YEARS INDICATED BELOW:

 

Year


   Percentage

 

2008

   104.250 %

2009

   102.125 %

2010 and thereafter

   100.000 %

 

(B) AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO DECEMBER 1, 2008, THE COMPANY MAY REDEEM ALL OR A PART OF THE NOTES UPON NOT LESS THAN 30 NOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS’ PRIOR NOTICE MAILED BY FIRST-CLASS MAIL TO EACH HOLDER’S REGISTERED ADDRESS, AT A REDEMPTION PRICE EQUAL TO 100% OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE NOTES TO BE REDEEMED PLUS THE APPLICABLE PREMIUM PLUS ACCRUED AND UNPAID INTEREST AND ADDITIONAL INTEREST, IF ANY, TO THE REDEMPTION DATE (SUBJECT TO THE RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RECORD ON RELEVANT RECORD DATES TO RECEIVE INTEREST DUE ON AN INTEREST PAYMENT DATE).

 

(C) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPHS (A) AND B OF THIS PARAGRAPH 5, AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO DECEMBER 1, 2007, THE COMPANY MAY ON ANY ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS REDEEM UP TO 35% OF THE ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES ISSUED UNDER THE INDENTURE AT A REDEMPTION PRICE EQUAL TO 108.500%% OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT THEREOF ON THE REDEMPTION DATE, PLUS ACCRUED AND UNPAID ADDITIONAL INTEREST, IF ANY, WITH THE NET CASH PROCEEDS OF ONE OR MORE EQUITY OFFERINGS AND/OR STRATEGIC EQUITY INVESTMENTS; PROVIDED THAT AT LEAST 65% OF THE ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES ISSUED UNDER THE INDENTURE REMAINS OUTSTANDING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OCCURRENCE

 


OF SUCH REDEMPTION (EXCLUDING NOTES HELD BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES); AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT SUCH REDEMPTION SHALL OCCUR WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THE CLOSING OF SUCH EQUITY OFFERING AND/OR STRATEGIC EQUITY INVESTMENT.

 

6. Mandatory Redemption. Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.

 

7. Repurchase at Option of Holder.

 

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Additional Interest, if any, due on the relevant interest payment date), to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

 

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales, when the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10 million, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary shall commence an offer pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Senior Indebtedness excluding the 2011 Notes, containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (such other Senior Indebtedness, the “Pari Passu Notes”) to purchase the maximum principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and such Pari Passu Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture and the instruments governing such Pari Passu Notes. To the extent that any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and Pari Passu Notes tendered into such Asset Sale Offer surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and Pari Passu Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and Pari Passu Notes tendered. Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset to zero. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes.

 


8. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

9. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Registrar need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 Business Days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

 

10. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

11. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes (other than a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Interest on the Notes) may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation, to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, or to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

12. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest or Additional Interest on the Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon redemption (including in connection with an offer to purchase) or otherwise, (iii) failure by the Company to comply with Section 4.10, 4.15 or 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company to observe or perform any other covenant, representation, warranty or other agreement in the Indenture or the Notes for 30 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the

 


Notes then outstanding voting as a single class; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries which default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (“Payment Default”) or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates to $10.0 million or more; (vi) certain final judgments for the payment of money that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days provided that the aggregate of all such undischarged judgments exceeds $10.0 million; and (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by notice to the Company, may declare all the Notes to be due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium or Additional Interest on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.

 

13. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

 

14. No Recourse Against Others. Any past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

15. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent.

 

16. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the

 


entirety), JT TEN (= joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

17. Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 14, 2004, between the Company and Initial Purchasers.

 

18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

 

SBA Communications Corporation

5900 Broken Sound Parkway NW

Boca Raton, FL 33487

Attention: General Counsel

 


 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

(Insert assignee’s soc. or tax I.D. no.)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint                                                                                                                                                                                     to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

Date:                     

 

Your Signature:    
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee.

 

(Participant in a Recognized Signature

Guarantee Medallion Program)

 


 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the box below:

 

¨ Section 4.10   ¨ Section 4.15

 

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$                    

 

Date:                     

 

Your Signature:    
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
Tax Identification No:

 

Signature Guarantee.

 

(Participant in a Recognized Signature

Guarantee Medallion Program)

 


 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE/1/

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange


  

Amount of
decrease in
Principal Amount
of this Global Note


  

Amount of increase
in Principal Amount
of this Global Note


  

Principal Amount
of this Global Note
following such
decrease
(or increase)


  

Signature of
authorized officer
of Trustee or
Notes Custodian


                     
                     
                     
                     

/1/ Insert this table only in a Global Note.

 

EX-5.1 4 dex51.htm OPINION OF AKERMAN SENTERFITT OPINION OF AKERMAN SENTERFITT

Exhibit 5.1

 

Opinion of Akerman Senterfitt

regarding the validity of the Class A common stock

 

March 16, 2005

 

SBA Communications Corporation

5900 Broken Sound Parkway NW

Boca Raton, Florida 33487

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

SBA Communications Corporation, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 12, 2001, a Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, Registration No. 333-71460 (the “Shelf Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such Shelf Registration Statement relates to the offering by the Company of the Company’s Class A common stock, $.01 par value per share (the “Class A Common Stock”). We have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Shelf Registration Statement and the issuance of 412,556 shares (the “Shares”) of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in connection with the acquisition of five towers and related assets.

 

In so acting, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, records, certificates and other instruments of the Company as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

 

Based upon the foregoing examination, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Shelf Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Shelf Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Sincerely,

 

AKERMAN SENTERFITT

 

/s/ Akerman Senterfitt

EX-10.45 5 dex1045.htm EXHIBIT 10.45 Exhibit 10.45

Exhibit 10.45

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of December 14, 2004

 

Among

 

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION,

 

and

 

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.,

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY & CO., INC.,

RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.,

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS CORPORATION,

TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

 

as Initial Purchasers

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

1.    Definitions    1
2.    Securities Subject to This Agreement    3
3.    Registered Exchange Offer    3
4.    Shelf Registration    5
5.    Additional Interest    6
6.    Registration Procedures    7
7.    Registration Expenses    14
8.    Indemnification and Contribution    15
9.    Rule 144A    18
10.    Participation in Underwritten Registrations    18
11.    Selection of Underwriters    18
12.    Miscellaneous    18

 

i


This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 14, 2004 by and among SBA Communications Corporation, a Florida corporation (the “Company”) and Lehman Brothers Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation and TD Securities (USA) LLC (each an “Initial Purchaser”).

 

This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement, dated December 1, 2004, by and among the Company and the Initial Purchasers (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 8½% Senior Notes due 2012 (the “Notes”). In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees and assigns. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Initial Purchasers’ obligations to purchase the Notes under the Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not specifically defined herein have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement.

 

The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Additional Interest: As defined in Section 5(a) hereof.

 

Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

 

Closing Date: The date on which the Notes were sold to the Initial Purchasers.

 

Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Consummate: A registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the New Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (iii) the delivery by the Company of the New Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes that were validly tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

Effectiveness Target Date: As defined in Section 5(a) hereof.

 

Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Securities Act of the New Notes pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the Company offers the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Notes the opportunity

 


to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted Notes held by such Holders for New Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Notes tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the Prospectus which forms a part thereof.

 

Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers propose to sell the Notes to certain “qualified institutional buyers,” as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to certain non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions meeting the requirements of Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

Holders: As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of December 14, 2004, between the Company and U.S. Bank N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Initial Purchasers: Lehman Brothers Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc., RBC Capital Markets Corporation and TD Securities (USA) LLC.

 

NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

 

New Notes: The notes to be issued pursuant to the Indenture in the Exchange Offer.

 

Participant: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.

 

Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.

 

Registration Default: As defined in Section 5(a) hereof.

 

Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company relating to (a) an offering of New Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, in either case, including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

 

2


Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Shelf Filing Deadline: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

 

Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

 

TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb), as amended.

 

Transfer Restricted Notes: Each Note, until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Note has been exchanged by a person other than a Broker-Dealer for a New Note in the Exchange Offer, (b) following the exchange by a Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Note for a New Note, the date on which such New Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such Broker-Dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such Note has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (d) the date on which such Note is eligible to be distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

 

2. Securities Subject to This Agreement.

 

(a) Transfer Restricted Notes. The securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Notes.

 

(b) Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Notes (each such Person, a “Holder”) whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Notes.

 

3. Registered Exchange Offer.

 

(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below have been complied with) or one of the events set forth in Section 4(a)(ii) has occurred, the Company shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed with the Commission promptly after the Closing Date, but in no event later than 120 days after the Closing Date, a Registration Statement under the Securities Act relating to the New Notes and the Exchange Offer, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective no later than 210 days after the Closing Date, (iii) in connection with the foregoing, file (A) all pre-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to cause such Registration Statement to become effective, (B) if applicable, a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act and (C) cause all necessary filings in connection with the registration and qualification of the New Notes to be made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv)

 

3


unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company will commence the Exchange Offer and use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 240 days after the Closing Date and (v) deliver the Exchange Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities that were validly tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the New Notes to be offered in exchange for the Transfer Restricted Notes and to permit resales of New Notes held by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) below. The 120, 210 and 240 day periods referred to in (i), (ii) and (iv) of this Section 3(a) shall not include any period during which the Company is pursuing a Commission ruling pursuant to Section 6(a)(i) below.

 

(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 business days. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply in all material respects with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the New Notes shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

(c) The Company shall indicate in a “Plan of Distribution” section contained in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who holds Notes that are Transfer Restricted Notes and that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Transfer Restricted Notes acquired directly from the Company), may exchange such Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer; provided, however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the New Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such resales by Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of New Notes held by any such Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the Commission.

 

The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) below to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of New Notes acquired by Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective.

 

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The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time during such 180-day period in order to facilitate such resales.

 

4. Shelf Registration.

 

(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to Consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) below have been complied with) or (ii) if any Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes that is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(A)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) shall notify the Company at least 30 business days prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer (A) that such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) that such Holder may not resell the New Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and that the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder or (C) that such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Notes acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, then the Company shall in lieu of, or in the event of (ii) above, in addition to, effecting the registration of the New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement use its reasonable best efforts to:

 

(x) cause to be filed a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the “Shelf Registration Statement”), on or prior to the earlier to occur of (1) the 60th day after the date on which the Company determines that it is not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (2) the 60th day after the date on which the Company receives notice from a Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes as contemplated by clause (ii) above (such earlier date being the “Shelf Filing Deadline”), which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer Restricted Notes the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and

 

(y) cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or before the later of 60 days after the Shelf Filing Deadline or 210 days after the Closing Date.

 

The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Notes by the Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of (a) the second anniversary of the Closing Date and (b) the date on which all Transfer

 

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Restricted Notes covered by such Shelf Registration Statement shall have been sold pursuant thereto.

 

(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes may include any of its Transfer Restricted Notes in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 10 days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. No Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes shall be entitled to Additional Interest pursuant to Section 5 hereof unless and until such Holder shall have used its best efforts to provide all such reasonably requested information. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.

 

5. Additional Interest

 

(a) If (i) any of the Registration Statements required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in this Agreement, (ii) any of such Registration Statements has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in this Agreement (the “Effectiveness Target Date”), (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been Consummated within 30 days after the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or (iv) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or to be usable in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Notes without being succeeded within two business days by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself immediately declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a “Registration Default”), additional cash interest (“Additional Interest”) shall accrue to each Holder of the Transfer Restricted Notes adversely affected by the Registration Default from and during the continuance of the Registration Default in an amount equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes held by such Holder. The amount of Additional Interest will increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes with respect to any period in which the Registration Default has continued for more than 90 days until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of Additional Interest for all Registration Defaults of $.50 per week per $1,000 of the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes. All accrued Additional Interest shall be paid to Holders by the Company in the same manner as interest is paid under the Notes. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Transfer Restricted Notes, the accrual of Additional Interest with respect to such Transfer Restricted Notes will cease.

 

All obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding paragraph that have accrued and are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Note at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Note shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such Transfer Restricted Note shall have been satisfied in full.

 

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(b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within one business day after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest is required to be paid. Additional Interest shall be paid by depositing Additional Interest with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, on or before the applicable Interest Payment Date (as defined in the Notes) (whether or not any payment other than Additional Interest is payable on such Notes), in immediately available funds in sums sufficient to pay the Additional Interest then due to such Holders. Each obligation to pay Additional Interest shall be deemed to accrue from the applicable date of the occurrence of the Registration Default.

 

6. Registration Procedures.

 

(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall comply with all of the provisions of Section 6(c) below, shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such exchange to permit the sale of Transfer Restricted Notes being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof and shall comply with the following provisions:

 

(i) If in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company there is a question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable law, the Company hereby agrees to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Company to Consummate an Exchange Offer for such Notes. The Company hereby agrees to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level but shall not be required to take commercially unreasonable action to effect a change of Commission policy. The Company hereby agrees, however, to (A) participate in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) deliver to the Commission staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursue a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the Commission staff of such submission.

 

(ii) As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the New Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the New Notes in its ordinary course of business. In addition, all such Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes shall otherwise cooperate in the Company’s preparations for the Exchange Offer. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters (including Brown & Wood LLP (available

 

7


February 7, 1997), and any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above) and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of New Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange for Notes acquired by such Holder directly from the Company.

 

(iii) Prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, to the extent required by the Commission, the Company shall provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company is registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991), Brown & Wood LLP (available February 7, 1997) and, if applicable, any no-action letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above and (B) including a representation that the Company has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any Person to distribute the New Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company’s information and belief, each Holder participating in the Exchange Offer is acquiring the New Notes in its ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the New Notes received in the Exchange Offer.

 

(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) below and shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Notes being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Notes in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and any Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Transfer Restricted Notes (including, without limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of Notes by Broker-Dealers), the Company shall:

 

(i) use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Transfer Restricted Notes during the period required by this Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use its reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement and the

 

8


related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter;

 

(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer Restricted Notes covered by such Registration Statement have been sold; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply fully with the applicable provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

(iii) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, and for so long as the Company is required to keep such Shelf Registration Statement effective, advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Notes for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, or (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer Restricted Notes under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

 

(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish to each of the selling or exchanging Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Registration Statement, if any), which documents will be subject to the review of such Holders and underwriter(s), if any, for a period of at least five business days, and the

 

9


Company will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all such documents incorporated by reference) to which selling Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes covered by such Registration Statement or the underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object within five business days after the receipt thereof. A selling Holder or underwriter, if any, shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if such Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be filed, contains a material misstatement or omission;

 

(v) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus, if any, provide copies of such document to the selling Holders and to the underwriter(s), if any, make the Company’s representatives available for discussion of such document and other customary due diligence matters, and include such information in such document prior to the filing thereof as such selling Holders or underwriter(s), if any, reasonably may request;

 

(vi) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, subject to an express agreement to keep such information confidential, make available at reasonable times for inspection by the selling Holders, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney or accountant retained by such selling Holders or any of the underwriter(s), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and cause the Company’s officers, directors, managers and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement subsequent to the filing thereof and prior to its effectiveness;

 

(vii) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, if requested by any selling Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, promptly incorporate in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Transfer Restricted Notes, information with respect to the principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Transfer Restricted Notes to be sold in such offering, and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

 

(viii) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish, upon request, to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, at least one copy of the Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference therein, if any, and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);

 

10


(ix) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, deliver to each selling Holder and each of the underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company hereby consents to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer Restricted Notes covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

 

(x) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in a form customary for similar transactions) and make such representations and warranties, and take all such other actions in connection therewith, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be requested by any purchaser or by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes or underwriter, if any, in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement; and in connection with an Underwritten Registration, the Company shall:

 

(A) upon request, furnish (or in the case of paragraphs (i) and (iii), use its reasonable best efforts to furnish) to each selling Holder and each underwriter, if any, in such substance and scope as they may request and as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings, upon the date of the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement:

 

(1) a certificate, dated the date of the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, signed by (y) the Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice President and (z) the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer or Treasurer of the Company, confirming, as of the date thereof, such matters as such parties may reasonably request;

 

(2) an opinion, dated the date of the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, of counsel for the Company, covering such matters as such parties may reasonably request, and in any event including a statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company, the underwriters’ representatives and the underwriters’ counsel in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus and have considered the matters required to be stated therein and the statements contained therein, although such counsel has not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements, and that such counsel advises that, on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality to a large extent upon facts provided to such counsel by officers and other representatives of the Company and without independent check or verification), no facts came to such counsel’s attention that caused such counsel to believe that the applicable Registration Statement, at the time such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto became effective,

 

11


contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement as of its date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Without limiting the foregoing, such counsel may state further that such counsel assumes no responsibility for, and has not independently verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial statements, notes and schedules and other financial and statistical data included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related Prospectus; and

 

(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, from the Company’s independent accountants, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters by underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings.

 

(B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

 

(C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such parties to evidence compliance with clause (A) above and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to this clause (x), if any.

 

If at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated in clause (A)(1) above cease to be true and correct, the Company shall so advise the Initial Purchasers and the underwriter(s), if any, and each selling Holder promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing.

 

(xi) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Notes, cooperate with the selling Holders, the underwriter(s), if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Notes under the Securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders or underwriter(s) may reasonably request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;

 

(xii) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, shall issue, upon the request of any Holder of Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, New Notes

 

12


in the same amount as the Notes surrendered to the Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder, such New Notes to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such Notes, as the case may be; in return, the Notes held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;

 

(xiii) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, cooperate with the selling Holders and the underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Notes to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Transfer Restricted Notes to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two business days prior to any sale of Transfer Restricted Notes made by such underwriter(s);

 

(xiv) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Transfer Restricted Notes covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter(s), if any, to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Notes, subject to the proviso contained in clause (xi) above;

 

(xv) if any fact or event contemplated by clause (c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Transfer Restricted Notes, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(xvi) obtain CUSIP numbers for all Transfer Restricted Notes not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement and provide certificates for the Transfer Restricted Notes;

 

(xvii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter (including any “qualified independent underwriter”) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and approved by such governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Holders selling Transfer Restricted Notes to consummate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Notes; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits or to taxation, other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;

 

(xviii) otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security

 

13


holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earning statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 under the Securities Act (which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Transfer Restricted Notes are sold to underwriters in a firm or best efforts Underwritten Offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement;

 

(xix) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of Notes to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA, and execute and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and

 

(xx) provide promptly to each Holder upon request each document filed with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and Section 15 of the Exchange Act.

 

Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Note that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Notes that was current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xv) hereof or shall have received the Advice.

 

7. Registration Expenses.

 

All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings made by any purchaser or Holder with the NASD (and, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel that may be required by

 

14


the rules and regulations of the NASD)); (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the New Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), and associated messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing Notes on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system, and the obtaining of a rating of the Notes, if applicable; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

 

The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company.

 

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a) In connection with a Shelf Registration Statement or in connection with any delivery of a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement by any participating Broker-Dealer or any Initial Purchaser, as applicable, who seeks to sell New Notes, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes included within any such Shelf Registration Statement and each participating Broker-Dealer or Initial Purchaser selling New Notes, and each person, if any, who controls any such person within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (each, a “Participant”) from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Notes) to which such Participant may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse each Participant promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Participant in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any such Registration Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in any such amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Participant specifically for inclusion therein; and provided further that as to any preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any such Participant on account of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising from the sale of the New Notes to any person by that Participant if (i) that Participant failed to send or give a copy of the Prospectus, as the same may be amended or supplemented, to that person within the time

 

15


required by the Securities Act and (ii) the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such preliminary Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus, unless, in each case, such failure resulted from non-compliance by the Company with Section 6(c) hereof. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any Participant. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers, directors and employees and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Notes if requested by such Holders.

 

(b) Each Participant, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, officers, employees or agents and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such director, officer, employees or agents or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any prospectus forming part thereof or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of that Participant specifically for inclusion therein, and shall reimburse the Company and any such director, officer, employee or agent or controlling person promptly for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer, employee or agent or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which any Participant may otherwise have to the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person.

 

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure and, provided further, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and such indemnified party shall have notified the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently

 

16


incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel to represent jointly the indemnified party and those other Participants and their respective officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Participants against the indemnifying party under this Section 8 if, in the reasonable judgment of the indemnified party it is advisable for the indemnified party and those Participants, officers, employees and controlling persons to be jointly represented by separate counsel, and in that event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the indemnifying party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to local counsel). Each indemnified party, as a condition of the indemnity agreements contained in Section 8, shall use its best efforts to cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense of any such action or claim. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written consent or if there be a final judgment of the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

 

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Participants on the other from the offering of the Initial Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Participants on the other with respect to the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Participants, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Participants agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Participants were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this

 

17


Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), no Participant shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which proceeds received by such Participant from an offering of the Notes exceeds the amount of any damages which such Participant has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Participants’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 8(d) are several and not joint.

 

9. Rule 144A.

 

The Company hereby agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer Restricted Notes remain outstanding, to make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Transfer Restricted Notes in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Notes from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act, if any, in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to Rule 144A.

 

10. Participation in Underwritten Registrations.

 

No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Transfer Restricted Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-up letters and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

11. Selection of Underwriters.

 

The Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted Notes in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Notes included in such offering; provided that such investment bankers and managers must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

 

12. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Remedies. The Company agrees that monetary damages (including Additional Interest) would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the

 

18


rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except for the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 5, 1997 between the Company, Steven E. Bernstein, Ronald G. Bizick, II and Robert Grobstein as assigned, and the Rights Agreement dated as of January 11, 2002 between the Company and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A., the Company has not previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to its securities to any Person. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

 

(c) Adjustments Affecting the Notes. The Company will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to Notes that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer unless such action or change is required by applicable law.

 

(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes being tendered or registered.

 

(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

 

(i) if to a Holder, at the address of such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture; and

 

(ii) if to the Company:

 

SBA Communications Corporation

5900 Broken Sound Parkway NW

Boca Raton, FL 33487

Attention: General Counsel

Facsimile: (561) 995-2941

Telephone: (561) 995-7670

 

with a copy to:

 

Akerman Senterfitt

One Southeast Third Avenue, 28th Floor

SunTrust International Center

Miami, FL 33131

 

19


Attention: Kara L. MacCullough, Esq.

Facsimile: (305) 374-5095

Telephone: (305) 982-5592

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if via facsimile transmission; and on the next business day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

 

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Indenture.

 

(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Notes from such Holder.

 

(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement together with the other transaction documents is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the Transfer Restricted Notes. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

20


(l) Required Consents. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Transfer Restricted Notes is required hereunder, Transfer Restricted Notes held by the Company or its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

21


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

By:  

/s/ Jeffrey A. Stoops

   

Name:

 

Jeffrey A. Stoops

   

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer and President

 

Accepted:

 

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.,

as Representative of the Initial Purchasers

By:  

/s/ Alex Sade

   

Name:

 

Alex Sade

   

Title:

 

Managing Director

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

as Representative of the Initial Purchasers

By:  

/s/ Mark Federick

   

Name:

 

Mark Federick

   

Title:

 

Managing Director

By:  

/s/ Elizabeth Chang

   

Name:

 

Elizabeth Chang

   

Title:

 

Director

 

EX-12.1 6 dex121.htm EXHIBIT 12.1 Exhibit 12.1

Exhibit 12.1

 

Ratio/Deficiency of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

     Year ended December 31,

 
     2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

 
     (dollars in thousands)  

Earnings:

                                        

Loss from continuing operations

   $ (34,247 )   $ (139,996 )   $ (202,032 )   $ (173,076 )   $ (143,313 )

Plus: fixed charges, less preferred dividends

     38,747       87,333       96,703       104,728       86,076  
    


 


 


 


 


Total Earnings

     4,500       (52,663 )     (105,329 )     (68,278 )     (57,237 )

Fixed Charges:

                                        

Interest expense – cash

     4,879       47,713       54,822       81,501       47,460  

Capitalized Interest

     3,515       3,475       1,672       70       14  

Interest expense – non cash

     23,000       25,843       29,038       9,277       28,082  

Amortization of debt issue costs

     3,006       3,887       4,480       5,115       3,445  

Interest component of operating leases

     4,347       6,415       6,691       8,835       7,075  
    


 


 


 


 


Total fixed charges

     38,747       87,333       96,703       104,798       86,076  
    


 


 


 


 


Total deficiency

   $ 34,247     $ 133,996     $ 202,032     $ 173,076     $ 143,313  
    


 


 


 


 


Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     0.12x       —         —         —         —    

 

EX-21 7 dex21.htm EXHIBIT 21 Exhibit 21

Exhibit 21

 

Subsidiaries of SBA Communications Corporation

 

Name

 

Relationship


   Jurisdiction

SBA Telecommunications, Inc.   100% owned by SBA Communications Corporation    Florida
SBA Senior Finance, Inc.   100% owned by SBA Telecommunications, Inc.    Florida
SBA Network Services, Inc.   100% owned by SBA Senior Finance, Inc.    Florida
SBA Towers, Inc.   100% owned by SBA Senior Finance, Inc.    Florida
SBA Properties, Inc.   100% owned by SBA Senior Finance, Inc.    Florida
SBA Sites, Inc.   100% owned by SBA Senior Finance, Inc.    Florida

 

As of December 31, 2004, SBA Senior Finance, Inc. owned, directly and indirectly, 13 additional subsidiaries, nine of which are incorporated in U.S. jurisdictions and three of which are organized in foreign jurisdictions. These subsidiaries, in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, would not constitute a “Significant Subsidiary” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act as of December 31, 2004.

 

1

EX-23.1 8 dex231.htm CONSENT CONSENT

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:

 

Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-41306)

Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-41308)

Registration Statement (Form S-4 No. 333-71460)

Registration Statement (Form S-4 No. 333-46730)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-69236)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-46734)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-82245)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-115246)

 

of our reports dated March 14, 2005, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of SBA Communications Corporation, SBA Communication Corporation management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of SBA Communications Corporation, included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

West Palm Beach, Florida

  /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

March 14, 2005

   
EX-31.1 9 dex311.htm EXHIBIT 31.1 Exhibit 31.1

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of SBA Communications Corporation;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

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

 

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

 

  a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and


  b. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: March 16, 2005

 

By:  

/s/ JEFFREY A. STOOPS


Name:   Jeffrey A. Stoops
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
EX-31.2 10 dex312.htm EXHIBIT 31.2 Exhibit 31.2

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Anthony J. Macaione, Chief Financial Officer, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of SBA Communications Corporation;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

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

 

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

 

  a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and


  b. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: March 16, 2005

 

By:  

/s/ ANTHONY J. MACAIONE


Name:   Anthony J. Macaione
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

 

EX-32.1 11 dex321.htm EXHIBIT 32.1 Exhibit 32.1

Exhibit 32.1

 

Certification Required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

(as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)

 

In connection with the Annual Report of SBA Communications Corporation (the “Company”), on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, that to the best of my knowledge:

 

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and

 

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: March 16, 2005   

/s/ JEFFREY A. STOOPS


    

Jeffrey A. Stoops

Chief Executive Officer

EX-32.2 12 dex322.htm EXHIBIT 32.2 Exhibit 32.2

Exhibit 32.2

 

Certification Required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

(as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)

 

In connection with the Annual Report of SBA Communications Corporation (the “Company”), on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Anthony J. Macaione, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, that to the best of my knowledge:

 

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and

 

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: March 16, 2005   

/s/ ANTHONY J. MACAIONE


    

Anthony J. Macaione

Chief Financial Officer

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