BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation—The accompanying consolidated and condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those entities in which it has a controlling interest. Investments in entities that the Company does not control are accounted for using the equity method or as investments in equity securities, depending upon the Company’s ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Change in Reportable Segments

Change in Reportable Segments— During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) property segment was divided into the Africa property segment and the Europe property segment. As a result, the Company has six reportable segments: U.S. property, Asia property, Africa property, Europe property, Latin America property and services, which are discussed further in note 15. The change in reportable segments had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for any periods. Historical financial information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) has been adjusted to reflect the change in reportable segments.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash—The reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the applicable balance sheet that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statement of cash flows is as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,326.0	$	1,004.8
Restricted cash	74.3		94.9
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	1,400.3	$	1,099.7

Revenue

Revenue—The Company’s revenue is derived from leasing the right to use its communications sites and the land on which the sites are located (the “lease component”) and from the reimbursement of costs incurred by the Company in operating the communications sites and supporting the tenants’ equipment as well as other services and contractual rights (the “non-lease component”). Most of the Company’s revenue is derived from leasing arrangements and is accounted for as lease revenue unless the timing and pattern of revenue recognition of the non-lease component differs from the lease component. If the timing and pattern of the non-lease component revenue recognition differs from that of the lease component, the Company separately determines the stand-alone selling prices and pattern of revenue recognition for

each performance obligation. Revenue related to distributed antenna system (“DAS”) networks and fiber results from agreements with tenants that are not leases.

Non-lease revenue—Non-lease revenue consists primarily of revenue generated from DAS networks, fiber and other property related revenue. DAS networks and fiber arrangements require that the Company provide the tenant the right to use the applicable communications infrastructure. Performance obligations are satisfied over time for the duration of the arrangements. Other property related revenue streams, which include site inspections, are not material on either an individual or consolidated basis. There were no material changes in the receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with tenants for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Services revenue—The Company offers tower-related services in the United States. These services include site acquisition, zoning and permitting (“AZP”) and structural analysis. There is a single performance obligation related to AZP and revenue is recognized over time based on milestones achieved, which are determined based on costs expected to be incurred. Structural analysis services may have more than one performance obligation, contingent upon the number of contracted services. Revenue is recognized at the point in time the services are completed.

Accounting Standards Updates

Accounting Standards Updates

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance that modifies how entities measure credit losses on most financial instruments. The new guidance replaces the current "incurred loss" model with an "expected credit loss" model that requires consideration of a broader range of information to estimate expected credit losses over the lifetime of the asset. Operating lease receivables are not within the scope of this guidance. Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the new guidance using the modified retrospective approach. There was no cumulative-effect adjustment to Distributions in excess of earnings on the consolidated balance sheet as of the effective date. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. Results for reporting periods beginning January 1, 2020 are presented under the new standard, while prior-period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with accounting under the previously applicable guidance.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance on accounting for goodwill impairments. The guidance eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test and requires, among other things, recognition of an impairment loss when the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. The loss recognized is limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the new guidance on a prospective basis. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.