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Crown Castle International Reports Third Quarter 2010 Results; Provides 2011 Outlook

HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Castle International Corp. (NYSE:CCI) today reported results for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.
/ Source: GlobeNewswire

HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Castle International Corp. (NYSE:CCI) today reported results for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

"We had another excellent quarter as our results exceeded the high-end of our third quarter Outlook for site rental revenue, site rental gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and recurring cash flow, and we closed the previously announced acquisition of NewPath Networks," stated Ben Moreland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crown Castle. "As reflected in our 2010 and 2011 Outlook, we continue to experience solid growth in our business and remain excited about the strong fundamentals underlying our industry, driven by increasing network demand from integrated devices and the move toward fourth generation wireless data services. Further, as a core part of our strategy, we seek to invest our capital in activities we expect will maximize recurring cash flow per share. We remain disciplined as we pursue augmenting our organic growth through investments such as tower acquisitions, new site construction and share purchases."

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS

Total revenue for the third quarter of 2010 increased 12% to $481.9 million from $429.1 million in the same period in 2009. Site rental revenue for the third quarter of 2010 increased $40.6 million, or 10%, to $437.1 million from $396.5 million for the same period in the prior year. Site rental gross margin, defined as site rental revenue less site rental cost of operations, increased $39.3 million, or 14%, to $320.8 million in the third quarter of 2010 from $281.6 million in the same period in 2009. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2010 increased $45.6 million, or 18%,to $306.1 million from $260.5 million in the same period in 2009.

Recurring cash flow, defined as Adjusted EBITDA less interest expense and sustaining capital expenditures, increased 24% from $143.8 million in the third quarter of 2009 to $177.8 million for the third quarter of 2010. Weighted average common shares outstanding was 286.1 million for the third quarter of 2010, as compared to 286.7 million for the same period in the prior year. Recurring cash flow per share, defined as recurring cash flow divided by weighted average common shares outstanding, was $0.62 in the third quarter of 2010, up 24% compared to $0.50 in the third quarter of 2009.

Net loss attributable to CCIC stockholders was $135.0 million for the third quarter of 2010, inclusive of $104.4 million of net losses from interest rate swaps and $71.9 million of net losses from repayments, purchases and early retirement of debt, compared to a net loss of $31.6 million for the same period in 2009, inclusive of $58.3 million of net losses from interest rate swaps. Net loss attributable to CCIC common stockholders after deduction of dividends on preferred stock was $140.2 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared to a net loss of $36.8 million for the same period in 2009. Third quarter 2010 net loss attributable to CCIC common stockholders after deduction of dividends on preferred stock per common share was $0.49, compared to $0.13 in the third quarter of 2009. 

FINANCING AND INVESTING ACTIVITIES

On August 15, 2010, Crown Castle issued, at par, $1.55 billion of Senior Secured Tower Revenue Notes. These notes were issued at a weighted average interest rate of 4.48%. The proceeds of these notes were used to repay in full the remaining $1.33 billion outstanding of Senior Secured Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2006-1. 

"I am very pleased with the successful refinancing we accomplished in August and our third quarter results," stated Jay Brown, Chief Financial Officer of Crown Castle. "Our significant outperformance in the third quarter was aided by a modification to a customer's lease agreement, which resulted in an increase in its rent in exchange for rights to additional antenna space relating to amendment activity on towers it currently leases. As such, we achieved a meaningful step-up in recurring site rental revenue commencing in the third quarter. As I look forward, I am excited about the strength of our balance sheet and the significant amount of cash that we expect to produce and deploy in activities, such as share purchases, tower acquisitions and land purchases, that we believe will increase long-term recurring cash flow per share."   

During the third quarter of 2010, Crown Castle invested $56.5 million in capital expenditures, comprised of $26.1 million of land purchases, $5.1 million of sustaining capital expenditures and $25.2 million of revenue generating capital expenditures, the latter consisting of $22.1 million on existing sites and $3.1 million on the construction of new sites. Additionally, during the third quarter we closed the previously announced acquisition of NewPath Networks for $128 million, inclusive of construction-in-progress.   

After the third quarter of 2010, Crown Castle spent $5.8 million to purchase its common shares at an average price of $42.42 per share. Common shares outstanding at September 30, 2010 were 286.4 million. Since January 2003, Crown Castle has spent $2.4 billion to purchase approximately 92.5 million of its common shares and potential shares, at an average price of $25.62 per share. 

Further, during and after the third quarter, Crown Castle used $52 million of cash to settle approximately $302.5 million of the total notional $1.55 billion interest rate swap ("February 2011 Swap") due to be settled in February 2011. 

As of September 30, 2010, pro forma for the purchase of its common shares and partial settlement of the February 2011 Swap, Crown Castle has approximately $279.1 million in cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted cash) and $400 million of availability under its revolving credit facility. A summary of our debt outstanding as of September 30, 2010 is set forth below under "Other Calculations."

In addition to the tables and information contained in this press release, Crown Castle will post supplemental information on its website at that will be discussed during its conference call tomorrow morning, Thursday, October 28, 2010. 

OUTLOOK

This Outlook section contains forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially. Information regarding potential risks which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements herein is set forth below and in Crown Castle's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").  

The following Outlook table is based on current expectations and assumptions and assumes a US dollar to Australian dollar exchange rate of 0.95 US dollars and 0.90 US dollars to 1.00 Australian dollar for fourth quarter 2010 and full year 2011 Outlook, respectively. 

As reflected in the following table, Crown Castle has increased the midpoint of its full year 2010 Outlook, previously issued on July 28, 2010, for site rental revenue by $26.5 million, site rental gross margin by $25.5 million, Adjusted EBITDA by $30.0 million and recurring cash flow by $25.0 million.

The following table sets forth Crown Castle's current Outlook for the fourth quarter of 2010, full year 2010 and full year 2011:

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

Crown Castle has scheduled a conference call for Thursday, October 28, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. eastern time. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 480-629-9678 and asking for the Crown Castle call at least 30 minutes prior to the start time. The conference call may also be accessed live over the Internet by logging onto the web at . Any supplemental materials for the call will be posted at the Crown Castle website at .

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available from 12:30 p.m. eastern time on Thursday, October 28, 2010, through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on Thursday, November 4, 2010, and may be accessed by dialing 303-590-3030 using access code 4374729. An audio archive will also be available on the company's website at shortly after the call and will be accessible for approximately 90 days.

Crown Castle owns, operates, and leases towers and other infrastructure for wireless communications.  Crown Castle offers significant wireless communications coverage to 92 of the top 100 US markets and to substantially all of the Australian population.  Crown Castle owns, operates and manages over 22,000 and approximately 1,600 wireless communication sites in the US and Australia, respectively.  For more information on Crown Castle, please visit .

The Crown Castle International Corp. logo is available at

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Calculations

This press release includes presentations of Adjusted EBITDA and recurring cash flow, which are non-GAAP financial measures.

Crown Castle defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus restructuring charges (credits), asset write-down charges, acquisition and integration costs, depreciation, amortization and accretion, interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, gains (losses) on purchases and redemptions of debt, net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps, impairment of available-for-sale securities, interest and other income (expense), benefit (provision) for income taxes, cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, income (loss) from discontinued operations and stock-based compensation expense. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended as an alternative measure of operating results or cash flow from operations (as determined in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP")). 

Crown Castle defines recurring cash flow to be Adjusted EBITDA, less interest expense and less sustaining capital expenditures. Each of the amounts included in the calculation of recurring cash flow are computed in accordance with GAAP, with the exception of sustaining capital expenditures, which is not defined under GAAP. We define sustaining capital expenditures as capital expenditures (determined in accordance with GAAP) which do not increase the capacity or life of our revenue generating assets and include capitalized costs related to (i) maintenance activities on our towers, (ii) vehicles, (iii) information technology equipment, and (iv) office equipment. Recurring cash flow is not intended as an alternative measure of cash flow from operations or operating results (as determined in accordance with GAAP). 

Adjusted EBITDA and recurring cash flow are presented as additional information because management believes these measures are useful indicators of the financial performance of our core businesses. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is a measure of current financial performance used in our debt covenant calculations.  Our measures of Adjusted EBITDA and recurring cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, including other companies in the tower sector. The tables set forth below reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures to comparable GAAP financial measures. The components in these tables may not sum to the total due to rounding.

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Comparable GAAP Financial Measures:

Adjusted EBITDA, recurring cash flow and recurring cash flow per share for the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are computed as follows:

Other Calculations:

Adjusted EBITDA and recurring cash flow for the quarter ending December 31, 2010 and the years ending

The components of interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs are as follows:

The components of interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs are forecasted as follows:

Debt balances and maturity dates as of September 30, 2010:
 

Sustaining capital expenditures for the quarters ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is computed as follows:

Site rental gross margin for the quarter ending December 31, 2010 and for the years ending December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011 is forecasted as follows:

Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on our management's current expectations. Such statements include plans, projections, Outlook and estimates regarding (i) the growth of our business, (ii) demand for our sites and towers, including the drivers of such demand, (iii) demand for integrated devices and fourth generation wireless data services, (iv) the availability and amount of funds and liquidity available for discretionary investments, (v) our investments of cash from cash flows and other sources, including the availability and type of investments and the impact and return on our investments, (vi) currency exchange rates, (vii) site rental revenues, (viii) site rental cost of operations, (ix) site rental gross margin, (x) Adjusted EBITDA, (xi) interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, (xii) capital expenditures, including sustaining capital expenditures, (xiii) recurring cash flow, including on a per share basis, (xiv) net income (loss), including on a per share basis, and (xv) the utility of certain financial measures in analyzing our results. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including but not limited to prevailing market conditions and the following:

  • Our substantial level of indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to react to changes in our business, and the terms of our debt instruments limit our ability to take a number of actions that our management might otherwise believe to be in our best interests. In addition, if we fail to comply with our covenants, our debt could be accelerated.
  • We have a substantial amount of indebtedness. In the event we do not repay or refinance such indebtedness, we could face substantial liquidity issues and might be required to issue equity securities or securities convertible into equity securities, or sell some of our assets to meet our debt payment obligations.
  • Our interest rate swaps are currently in a substantial liability position and will need to be cash settled within the next thirteen months, which could adversely affect our financial condition.
  • Our business depends on the demand for wireless communications and towers, and we may be adversely affected by any slowdown in such demand.
  • A substantial portion of our revenues is derived from a small number of customers, and the loss, consolidation or financial instability of, or network sharing among, any of our limited number of customers may materially decrease revenues and reduce demand for our towers and network services.
  • Consolidation among our customers may result in duplicate or overlapping parts of networks, which may result in a reduction of sites and have a negative effect on revenues and cash flows.
  • Sales or issuances of a substantial number of shares of our common stock may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
  • A wireless communications industry slowdown may materially and adversely affect our business (including reducing demand for our towers and network services) and the business of our customers.
  • As a result of competition in our industry, including from some competitors with significantly more resources or less debt than we have, we may find it more difficult to achieve favorable rental rates on our new or renewing customer leases.
  • New technologies may significantly reduce demand for our towers and negatively impact our revenues.
  • New wireless technologies may not deploy or be adopted by customers as rapidly or in the manner projected.
  • If we fail to retain rights to the land under our towers, our business may be adversely affected.
  • Our network services business has historically experienced significant volatility in demand, which reduces the predictability of our results.
  • If we fail to comply with laws and regulations which regulate our business and which may change at any time, we may be fined or even lose our right to conduct some of our business.
  • If radio frequency emissions from wireless handsets or equipment on our towers are demonstrated to cause negative health effects, potential future claims could adversely affect our operations, costs and revenues.
  • Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation, by-laws and operative agreements and domestic and international competition laws may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us or for us to acquire control of a third party, even if such a change in control would be beneficial to our stockholders.
  • We may be adversely affected by our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates relating to our operations in Australia.

Should one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected.  More information about potential risk factors which could affect our results is included in our filings with the SEC. As used in this press release, the term "including", and any variation thereof, means "including, without limitation."

CONTACT: Crown Castle International Corp. Jay Brown, CFO Fiona McKone, VP - Finance 713-570-3050