As confidentially submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2020
This draft registration statement has not been filed publicly with the Securities and Exchange Commission and all information herein remains strictly confidential.
Registration No. 333-[ ]
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Digital Landscape Group, Inc.*
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
The British Virgin Islands* |
6519 |
98-1524226 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Digital Landscape Group, Inc.
660 Madison Avenue
Suite 1435
New York, NY 10065
212-301-2800
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
Scott G. Bruce
Digital Landscape Group, Inc.
3 Bala Plaza East, Suite 502
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-660-4910
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Thomas E. Dunn
D. Scott Bennett
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Worldwide Plaza
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(212) 474-1000
Approximate date of commencement of the proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement and the completion of the Domestication described herein.
If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☒
If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:
Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer) ☐
Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer) ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| ||||||||
Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Amount to be registered (1) |
Proposed maximum per share |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price |
Amount of registration fee | ||||
Class A Common Shares |
[●](2) | $[●](3) | $[●] | $[●] | ||||
Class A Common Shares |
10,000,000(4) | (5) | | (5) | ||||
Warrants |
50,025,000(6) | $[●](7) | $[●] | $[●] | ||||
Class A Common Shares underlying Warrants |
16,675,000(8) | (9) | | (9) | ||||
Series A Founder Preferred Shares |
1,600,000(10) | $[●](11) | $[●] | $[●](11) | ||||
Class A Common Shares underlying Series A Founder Preferred Shares |
1,600,000(12) | (13) | | (13) | ||||
Total |
$[●] | $[●] | $[●] | |||||
| ||||||||
|
* | In connection with this registration, the registrant intends to effect a discontinuance under Section 184 of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004, as amended, (the registrant as a British Virgin Islands business company with limited liability prior to the Domestication (as defined below), DLGI BVI) and a domestication under Section 388 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, pursuant to which the registrants jurisdiction of incorporation will be changed from the British Virgin Islands to the State of Delaware (the Domestication). Effective upon the Domestication, the registrant is expected to be renamed Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc. All securities being registered will be issued by Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc., a Delaware corporation (DLGI Delaware), the continuing entity following the Domestication. |
(1) | Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act, this registration statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction of any securities. |
(2) | Represents (i) the total number of ordinary shares, no par value, of DLGI BVI (the Ordinary Shares) issued and outstanding as of [●], 2020, all of which will automatically convert, by operation of law, into shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (Class A Common Shares), of DLGI Delaware in the Domestication and (ii) up to [●] Class A Common Shares issuable upon the exercise or settlement of the registrants outstanding options and restricted stock following the Domestication. |
(3) | Estimated at $[●] per share, the average high and low prices for the Ordinary Shares, as reported by the London Stock Exchange, on [●], 2020, solely for the purposes of calculating the proposed maximum offering price and registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(f)(1) under the Securities Act. |
(4) | Represents up to 10,000,000 Class A Common Shares offered in the Domestication that may be reoffered from time to time following the Domestication by the selling stockholders identified herein pursuant to the prospectus contained herein. |
(5) | No additional registration fee payable in accordance with Rule 457(f)(5) under the Securities Act. |
(6) | Represents the total number of warrants to acquire Ordinary Shares outstanding as of [●], 2020, all of which will automatically become warrants to acquire Class A Common Shares in the Domestication (the Warrants). |
(7) | Estimated at $[●] per Warrant, the average high and low prices for the Warrants, as reported by the London Stock Exchange, on [●], 2020, solely for the purposes of calculating the proposed maximum offering price and registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(f)(1) under the Securities Act. |
(8) | Represents the issuance by the registrant of up to 16,675,000 Class A Common Shares upon exercise of the Warrants following the Domestication. |
(9) | No registration fee payable in accordance with Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act. |
(10) | Represents the total number of series A founder preferred shares, no par value, of DLGI BVI (the BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares) issued and outstanding as of [●], 2020, all of which will automatically convert, by operation of law, into shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of DLGI Delaware designated as Series A Founder Preferred Stock (the Series A Founder Preferred Shares) in the Domestication. |
(11) | Estimated at $10.00 per share, based on the book value of the BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares as of [●], 2020, solely for the purposes of calculating the proposed maximum offering price and registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(f)(2) under the Securities Act. |
(12) | Represents the issuance by the registrant of up to 16,000,000 Class A Common Shares upon conversion of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares following the Domestication. |
(13) | No registration fee payable in accordance with Rule 457(i) under the Securities Act. |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. No securities may be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated [●], 2020
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
Digital Landscape Group, Inc.
Class A Common Shares
Warrants
Series A Founder Preferred Shares
We were incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands on November 1, 2017 and were formed to undertake an acquisition of a target company or business. On February 10, 2020, we completed an acquisition of AP WIP Investments, LLC and its subsidiaries (the APW Group) for consideration of approximately $859,500,000, consisting of cash, shares and assumption of debt (the APW Acquisition), as further described herein. In connection with the Domestication (defined below), we intend to change our name to Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc.
This prospectus relates to our proposal to change our jurisdiction of incorporation from the British Virgin Islands to the State of Delaware (the Domestication) by effecting a discontinuance under Section 184 of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004, as amended (the BVI Companies Act), and a domestication under Section 388 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL). To effect the Domestication, upon the final approval of our board of directors (the Board) and effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we intend to file a notice of continuation out of the British Virgin Islands with the British Virgin Islands Registrar of Corporate Affairs (the British Virgin Islands entity prior to the Domestication, DLGI BVI) and file a certificate of incorporation and a certificate of corporate domestication with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, pursuant to which we will be domesticated and continue as the same legal entity incorporated under the laws of Delaware (the Delaware entity following the Domestication, DLGI Delaware). In the Domestication:
| each issued and outstanding ordinary share, no par value, of DLGI BVI (collectively, the Ordinary Shares) will automatically convert, by operation of law, on a one-to-one basis into a share of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of DLGI Delaware (collectively, the Class A Common Shares); |
| each issued and outstanding Class B share, no par value, of DLGI BVI (collectively, the BVI Class B Shares) will automatically convert, by operation of law, on a one-to-one basis into a share of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of DLGI Delaware (collectively, the Class B Common Shares); |
| each issued and outstanding preferred share, no par value, of DLGI BVI of any series will automatically convert, by operation of law, on a one-to-one basis into a share of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of DLGI Delaware of a corresponding series; and |
| all outstanding options, warrants and other rights to acquire shares of DLGI BVI will automatically become options, warrants and other rights to acquire the corresponding shares of DLGI Delaware, on the same terms and, if applicable, in the same proportions. |
We are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send us a proxy. Shareholders are not required to approve the Domestication in order to effect the Domestication. For more information, see The Domestication.
In addition, this prospectus relates to the issuance by DLGI Delaware of the Class A Common Shares that will be issuable upon the exercise or settlement of our outstanding warrants (the Warrants), options and restricted stock following the Domestication. Each Warrant will entitle the holder (each, a Warrantholder) to receive one-third of a Class A Common Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, in each case subject to adjustment in accordance with the warrant instrument governing the Warrants. See Description of Capital Stock Warrants.
This prospectus also relates to the issuance by DLGI Delaware of up to 1,600,000 Class A Common Shares that will be issuable upon the conversion of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares following the Domestication and upon the terms and conditions described herein. See Description of Capital Stock Series A Founder Preferred Shares Conversion into Class A Common Shares.
This prospectus further relates to the resale of up to 10,000,000 Class A Common Shares (the Resale Shares) that, after the Domestication, may be offered for sale from time to time by the selling stockholders named in this prospectus. See Selling Stockholders. The selling stockholders may from time to time sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their Resale Shares in a number of different ways and at varying prices. See Plan of Distribution. We will not receive any proceeds from the resales of any Class A Common Shares by the selling stockholders. See Use of Proceeds.
The Ordinary Shares and Warrants are currently traded on the London Stock Exchange (the LSE) under the symbols DLGI and DLGW, respectively. We intend to apply to list the Class A Common Shares and Warrants on the Nasdaq Global Market (Nasdaq) under the symbols [●] and [●], respectively, effective upon the completion of the Domestication. We intend to cancel the listing of the Ordinary Shares and Warrants on the LSE upon the listing of the Class A Common Shares and Warrants on Nasdaq.
We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time by filing amendments or supplements as required.
You should read this entire prospectus and any amendments or supplements carefully before you make your investment decision.
We are an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the JOBS Act), and therefore have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and future filings. See Prospectus Summary Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company.
Investing in our securities involves risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page 18 of this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus will not be filed with the British Virgin Islands Registrar of Corporate Affairs. Neither the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission nor the British Virgin Islands Registrar of Corporate Affairs accepts any responsibility for DLGI Delawares financial soundness or the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed in this prospectus.
Prospectus dated , 2020.
vii | ||||
1 | ||||
18 | ||||
43 | ||||
48 | ||||
49 | ||||
Selected Historical Financial Information of the Company Prior to the APW Acquisition |
50 | |||
Selected Historical Financial Information of the Predecessor |
51 | |||
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information |
55 | |||
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
64 | |||
84 | ||||
96 | ||||
106 | ||||
114 | ||||
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
128 | |||
131 | ||||
133 | ||||
135 | ||||
153 | ||||
163 | ||||
169 | ||||
169 | ||||
169 | ||||
F-1 |
i
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any amendment or supplement to this prospectus or any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf. Neither we, nor the selling stockholders, have authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. Neither we, nor the selling stockholders, take responsibility for, nor can we provide assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may provide. Neither we, nor the selling stockholders, are making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or such other date stated in this prospectus, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or prospects may have changed since those dates.
Except as otherwise set forth in this prospectus, neither we nor the selling stockholders have taken any action to permit a public offering of these securities outside the United States or to permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of these securities and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.
SELECTED TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
Unless the context otherwise requires, as used in this prospectus: (i) we, us, our, the Company, DLGI and our business refer to Digital Landscape Group, Inc. (formerly known as Landscape Acquisition Holdings Limited, and expected to be renamed as Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc. in connection with the Domestication) and its consolidated subsidiaries (including, following the APW Acquisition, the APW Group), (ii) DLGI BVI refers specifically to Digital Landscape Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries before its domestication to Delaware from the British Virgin Islands and (iii) DLGI Delaware refers specifically to Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries after its domestication to Delaware from the British Virgin Islands.
Following the acquisition of the APW Group by DLGI (the APW Acquisition) on February 10, 2020 (the Acquisition Closing Date), the APW Group is considered to be our predecessor for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, all references in this prospectus to the Predecessor refer to the APW Group for all periods prior to the Acquisition Closing Date and all references to the Successor refer to DLGI for all periods after the Acquisition Closing Date. Unless the context otherwise requires, all of the information set forth in this prospectus assumes the completion of the APW Acquisition and of the Domestication.
In addition, as used in this prospectus:
2017 Placing means the initial placement of 48,400,000 Ordinary Shares and the Warrants on behalf of the Company on November 20, 2017.
Acquisition Closing Date means February 10, 2020, the effective date of the APW Acquisition.
AG Group means William Berkman, Berkman Family Investments, LLC, Scott Bruce, Richard Goldstein and their Permitted Transferees (as defined in the Shareholders Agreement).
AG Investor means William Berkman and Berkman Family Investments, LLC.
AG Investors Representative means Berkman Family Investments, LLC, in its capacity as agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact for the AG Group.
APW Acquisition means the acquisition of the APW Group by DLGI pursuant to the APW Merger Agreement.
ii
APW Group means AP WIP Investments, LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries.
APW Merger Agreement means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 19, 2019, by among the Company, AP Wireless, Associated Partners, APW OpCo, LAH Merger Sub LLC, and Associated Partners, as the Company Partners Representative.
APW OpCo means APW OpCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the sole limited partner of AP Wireless, in which the Company acquired a 91.8% interest (as of the Acquisition Closing Date) pursuant to the APW Acquisition.
AP WIP Investments means AP WIP Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
AP Wireless means AP WIP Investments Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the direct parent of AP WIP Investments.
APW OpCo LLC Agreement means the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of APW OpCo, dated as of February 10, 2020, by and between its Members (as defined therein) and the Company.
Associated Partners means Associated Partners, L.P., a Guernsey limited partnership, the selling party in the APW Acquisition.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
BVI Articles means the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of DLGI BVI.
BVI Class B Shares means the Class B shares, no par value, of DLGI BVI.
BVI Companies Act means the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004, as amended.
BVI Founder Preferred Shares means the BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares and the BVI Series B Founder Preferred Shares.
BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares means the series A founder preferred shares, no par value, of DLGI BVI.
BVI Series B Founder Preferred Shares means the series B founder preferred shares, no par value, of DLGI BVI.
Bylaws means the Bylaws of DLGI Delaware, to be effective upon the Domestication.
Centerbridge Entities means Centerbridge Partners Real Estate Fund, LP., Centerbridge Partners Real Estate Fund SBS, LP. and Centerbridge Special Credit Partners III, LP., each of which are entities affiliated with Centerbridge Partners, LP.
Centerbridge Subscription means the subscription by the Centerbridge Entities for 10,000,000 Ordinary Shares, at $10 per share, pursuant to the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement.
Centerbridge Subscription Agreement means that certain Subscription Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2019, by and among the Company and the Centerbridge Entities, as amended and supplemented.
Charter means the certificate of incorporation of DLGI Delaware, to be effective upon the Domestication.
iii
Class A Common Shares means shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001, of DLGI Delaware.
Class A Common Units means the Units designated as Class A Common Units pursuant to the APW OpCo LLC Agreement.
Class B Common Shares means shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001, of DLGI Delaware.
Class B Common Units means the Units designated as Class B Common Units pursuant to the APW OpCo LLC Agreement.
Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Common Shares means the Class A Common Shares and the Class B Common Shares.
Common Units means the Class A Common Units and the Class B Common Units.
Continuing OpCo Members means the members of APW OpCo other than the Company, which are the former partners of Associated Partners that were members of APW OpCo immediately prior to the Acquisition Closing Date and that elected, pursuant to the APW Merger Agreement, to receive Class B Common Units, Rollover Profits Units (as defined in the APW OpCo LLC Agreement) and BVI Class B Shares (rather than cash) in the APW Acquisition.
DGCL means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended.
Director means a member of the Board.
Domestication means the change in the Companys jurisdiction of incorporation by discontinuing from the British Virgin Islands and continuing and domesticating as a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, as further described herein.
Effective Time means the effective time of the Domestication, which is expected to occur as promptly as practicable after the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Former OpCo Members means the former partners of Associated Partners who were members of APW OpCo immediately prior to the Acquisition Closing Date and that, unlike the Continuing OpCo Members, elected pursuant to the APW Merger Agreement to receive cash in the APW Acquisition.
Founder Directors means the four Directors that the Founder Entities, their affiliates and Permitted Transferees (as defined in the Shareholders Agreement), acting together, will have the right to appoint for as long as such Founder Entities, their affiliates and their Permitted Transferees in the aggregate hold 20% or more of the Founder Preferred Shares issued and outstanding (as further described herein).
Founder Entities means the Series A Founder Entities, the Series A Founder Preferred Holder and William H. Berkman.
Founder Preferred Shares means the Series A Founder Preferred Shares and the Series B Founder Preferred Shares.
Founders means the Series A Founders and William Berkman.
iv
GAAP or U.S. GAAP means the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
Independent Director means Michael D. Fascitelli, Noam Gottesman, William D. Rahm, Paul A. Gould, Antoinette Cook Bush, Thomas C. King and Nick S. Advani, or any other non-executive Directors from time to time considered by the Board to be independent for the purposes of the governance standards set forth in section 5600 of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, as the context requires.
Investors means the AG Group, the Series A Group and their Permitted Transferees (as defined in the Shareholders Agreement) who may execute a joinder to the Shareholders Agreement from time to time.
LSE means the London Stock Exchange.
LTIP Units means the Series A LTIP Units and the Series B LTIP Units.
Nasdaq means the Nasdaq Global Market.
Resale Shares means the Class A Common Shares that may be sold by the selling stockholders from time to time after the Domestication pursuant to this prospectus.
Rollover Profits Units means the Series A Rollover Profits Units and the Series B Rollover Profits Units.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Series A Founder Entities means TOMS Acquisition II LLC and Imperial Landscape Sponsor LLC.
Series A Founder Preferred Holder means Digital Landscape Partners Holding LLC, an entity controlled by the Series A Founder Entities.
Series A Founder Preferred Shares means shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of DLGI Delaware designated as Series A Founder Preferred Stock.
Series B Founder Preferred Shares means shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of DLGI Delaware designated as Series B Founder Preferred Stock.
Series A Founders means Noam Gottesman and Michael D. Fascitelli.
Series A Group means the Series A Founder Entities, the Series A Founder Preferred Holder and their Permitted Transferees (as defined under the Shareholders Agreement).
Series A LTIP Units means the Units designated as Series A LTIP Units pursuant to the APW OpCo LLC Agreement.
Series A Rollover Profits Units means the Units designated as Series A Rollover Profits Units pursuant to the APW OpCo LLC Agreement.
Series B LTIP Units means the Units designated as Series B LTIP Units pursuant to the APW OpCo LLC Agreement.
Series B Rollover Profits Units means the Units designated as Series B Rollover Profits Units pursuant to the APW OpCo LLC Agreement.
v
Units means a Unit of Company Interest (as defined in the APW OpCo LLC Agreement).
Warrant Instrument means the instrument constituting the Warrants executed by the Company on November 15, 2017, as amended or supplemented from time to time pursuant to its terms.
Warrantholder means a holder of one or more Warrants.
Warrants means the warrants to subscribe for Ordinary Shares (prior to the Domestication) or Class A Common Shares (upon and after the Domestication), as applicable, issued pursuant to the Warrant Instrument.
PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION
Currencies
In this prospectus, references to Euro and are to the single currency adopted by participating member states of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union, references to $ and U.S. dollars are to the lawful currency of the United States of America, and references to Pound Sterling, Sterling, GBP and £ are to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom. Unless otherwise noted, all financial information for the Company and the APW Group provided in this prospectus is denominated in U.S. dollars.
Fiscal Year
Prior to completion of the APW Acquisition, DLGIs fiscal year ended on October 31 of each year. APW Groups fiscal year prior to the APW Acquisition ended on December 31 of each year. DLGIs fiscal year currently ends on December 31 of each year, as does its reporting year.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this prospectus, we present certain supplemental financial measures that are not recognized by United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These financial measures are unaudited, are presented as supplemental disclosure and should not be considered in isolation of, as a substitute for or superior to the financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The non-GAAP financial measures used in this prospectus include EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Acquisition Capex, ground cash flow and annualized in-place rents. For additional information on why we present non-GAAP financial measures, the limitations associated with using non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations of our non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable applicable GAAP measure, see Prospectus Summary Summary Historical Financial Information, Selected Historical Financial Information and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA
We obtained certain market and industry data included in this prospectus from third-party sources. Market and industry estimates are calculated by using independent industry publications and research, government publications and research, and third-party forecasts in conjunction with our own internal estimates and assumptions about our markets. While we believe these third-party sources to be reliable, we have not independently verified such third-party information. Where third-party information has been used in this prospectus, the source of such information has been identified. While we believe our internal assumptions and estimates are reasonable and the definitions of our market and industry are appropriate, neither this research nor these definitions have been verified by any independent source. Further, while we are not aware of any
vi
misstatements regarding any market, industry or similar data presented herein, such data involves risks and uncertainties and is subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the headings Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors in this prospectus. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the third parties and by us. See Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
TRADEMARKS
We own or have rights to various trademarks, service marks and trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business, all of which are registered under applicable intellectual property laws. This prospectus may contain references to our trademarks and service marks and to those belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus. This information is available for you to review through the SECs website at www.sec.gov. You may request copies of this prospectus, without charge, by written request to the Companys Secretary at Digital Landscape Group, Inc., 660 Madison Avenue, Suite 1435, New York, New York 10065; by telephone request at (212) 301-2800; by visiting our website at www.digitallandscapegroup.com; or from the SEC through the SEC website at the address provided above. We do not incorporate the information contained on, or accessible through, our website into this prospectus, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts, and which may concern our possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business strategy. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms targets, believes, estimates, anticipates, expects, intends, may, will, should or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. Any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based upon our historical performance and on our current plans, estimates and expectations in light of information currently available to us. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us, the selling stockholders or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, financial results, financial condition, business, prospects, growth strategy and liquidity. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to:
| the extent to which wireless carriers or tower companies consolidate their operations, exit the wireless communications business or share site infrastructure to a significant degree; |
| the extent to which new technologies reduce demand for wireless infrastructure; |
| competition for assets; |
vii
| whether the Tenant Leases (as defined herein) for the wireless communication tower or antennae located on our real property interests are renewed with similar rates or at all; |
| the extent of unexpected lease cancellations, given that substantially all of the Tenant Leases associated with our assets may be terminated upon limited notice by the wireless carrier or tower company and unexpected lease cancellations could materially impact cash flow from operations; |
| economic, political, cultural and other risks to our operations outside the U.S., including risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and local inflation rates; |
| the effect of foreign currency exchange rates; |
| the effect of the Electronic Communications Code enacted in the United Kingdom, which may limit the amount of lease income we generate in the United Kingdom; |
| the extent to which we continue to grow at an accelerated rate, which may prevent us from achieving profitability or positive cash flow at a company level (as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP) for the foreseeable future, particularly given the APW Groups history of net losses and negative net cash flow; |
| the fact that we have incurred a significant amount of debt and may in the future incur additional indebtedness; |
| the extent to which the terms of our debt agreements limit our flexibility in operating our business; |
| the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and the response thereto; |
| the extent to which unfavorable capital markets environments impair our growth strategy, which requires access to new capital; |
| the adverse effect that increased market interest rates may have on our interest costs, the value of our assets and on the growth of our business; |
| the adverse effect that perceived health risks from radio frequency energy may have on the demand for wireless communication services; |
| our ability to protect and enforce our real property interests in, or contractual rights to, the revenue streams generated by leases on our communications sites; |
| the loss, consolidation or financial instability of any of our limited number of customers; |
| our ability to pay dividends or satisfy our other financial obligations, including dividends we may be required to pay on our Class A Common Shares; |
| whether we are required to issue additional Class A Common Shares pursuant to the terms of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares or the APW OpCo LLC Agreement or upon the exercise of the Warrants or options to acquire Class A Common Shares, which would dilute the interests of our securityholders in the Class A Common Shares; |
| the possibility that an active, liquid and orderly trading market for our securities may not develop or be maintained following the Domestication; |
| the possibility that securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business, or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our securities adversely; |
| the possibility that the Warrants may not be in the money at a time when they are exercisable or may be mandatorily redeemed prior to their exercise, which may render them worthless to the Warrantholders; |
| the effect that the significant resources and management attention required as a U.S. public company may have on our results and on our ability to attract and retain executive management and qualified Board members; and |
| the other risks and uncertainties described under Risk Factors. |
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These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included elsewhere in this prospectus. The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement except as required by law, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from what we may have expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution that you should not place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. You should specifically consider the factors identified in this prospectus that could cause actual results to differ before making an investment decision with respect to our securities. Furthermore, new risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us.
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This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our securities. Before making an investment decision regarding our securities, you should read this entire prospectus carefully, including Risk Factors, Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation and the financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.
Our Company
Digital Landscape Group, Inc. (formerly known as Landscape Acquisition Holdings Limited and expected to be renamed as Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc. in connection with the Domestication) (DLGI or the Company) was incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands on November 1, 2017 and was formed to undertake an acquisition of a target company or business. On November 20, 2017, the Ordinary Shares and Warrants were admitted to listing on the LSE, and DLGI raised approximately $500 million before expenses through its initial placement of Ordinary Shares and Warrants in the UK (the 2017 Placing) and a private subscription by the Series A Founders for the series A founder preferred shares, no par value, of DLGI BVI (the BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares).
On February 10, 2020, DLGI completed its initial acquisition by purchasing the APW Group from Associated Partners in the APW Acquisition. See Recent Developments The APW Acquisition.
Following the APW acquisition, DLGI is a holding company with no material assets other than its 91.8% interest in APW OpCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (APW OpCo) and the sole member of AP WIP Investment Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (AP Wireless), which in turn is the parent of AP WIP Investments, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (AP WIP Investments and, together with its subsidiaries, the APW Group). The remaining interests in APW OpCo, all of which are exchangeable for shares in DLGI, are held by the Continuing OpCo Members (as defined and further described under APW Acquisition below).
The APW Group is one of the largest international aggregators of rental streams underlying wireless sites through the acquisition of wireless telecom real property interests and contractual rights. The APW Group was established as a U.S. cell site lease aggregator in 2010 and made its first foreign lease investment in November of 2011. Since that time, it has entered into, and holds assets in, a total of 18 jurisdictions in addition to the United States. We believe that the APW Group was a first mover in many of these jurisdictions; that is, until its market entry no other parties were engaged in the systematic aggregation of cell site leases in any kind of scale.
Our Business Model
We purchase, primarily for a lump sum, the right to receive future rental payments generated pursuant to an existing ground lease or rooftop lease (and any subsequent lease or extension or amendment thereof) between a property owner and an owner of a wireless tower or antennae (each such lease, a Tenant Lease). Typically, we acquire the rental streams by way of a purchase of a real property interest in the land underlying the wireless tower or antennae, most commonly easements, usufructs, leasehold and sub-leasehold interests, or fee simple interests, each of which provides us with the right to receive all communications rents relating to the property, including the rents from the Tenant Lease. In addition, we purchase contractual interests, such as an assignment of rents, either in conjunction with the property interest or as a stand-alone right.
We believe that our business model and the nature of our assets provides us with stable, predictable and growing cash flow. First, we seek to acquire real property interests and rental streams subject to triple net or
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effectively triple net lease arrangements, whereby all taxes, utilities, maintenance costs and insurance are the responsibility of either the owner of the tower or antennae or the property owner (as further described under Business herein). Furthermore, Tenant Leases contain contractual rent increase clauses, or rent escalators, calculated either as a fixed rate, typically between 2% and 3%, or tied to a consumer price index (CPI), or subject to open market valuation (OMV). As of December 31, 2019, over 99% of the APW Groups Tenant Leases had contractual rent escalators; 30% had fixed escalators and 68% were either tied to a local CPI or subject to OMV. In addition, the APW Group has historically experienced low annual churn as a percentage of revenue, ranging from 1% to 2% during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, primarily due to the significant network challenges and expenses incurred by owners of wireless communications towers and antennae in connection with the relocation of these infrastructure assets to alternative sites. Finally, we seek to obtain the ability to negotiate amendments and renewals of our Tenant Leases, thereby providing us with additional recurring revenue and one-time fees.
As of December 31, 2019, the APW Group had interests in approximately 6,100 leases that generate rents for the APW Group. These leases related to properties that were situated on approximately 4,600 different communications sites located throughout the United States and 18 other countries. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the APW Groups revenue was $55.7 million, and the annualized contractual revenue from the rents expected to be collected on the leases we had in place at that time (the annualized in-place rents) from the APW Group assets was approximately $62.1 million. For a definition of annualized in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
Our Strategy
We seek to continually expand our business by primarily implementing organic growth strategies, including expanding into different geographies, asset classes and technologies; continued acquisition of real estate interests and contractual rights (as well as other revenue streams) in wireless communications sites and other communications infrastructure (as well as through annual rent escalators, the addition of new tenants and/or lease modifications) and developing a portfolio of infrastructure assets including through acquisition or build to suit. We intend to achieve these objectives by executing the following strategies:
Grow Through Additional Acquisitions. We intend to pursue acquisitions of real property interests and contractual rights underlying wireless communications cell sites, utilizing the expertise of our management and our proven, proprietary underwriting process to identify and assess potential acquisitions. When acquiring real property interests and contractual rights, we aim to target communications infrastructure locations that are essential to the ongoing operations and profitability of the respective tenants, which we expect will result in continued high tenant occupancy and cash flow stability. We have established a local presence in high opportunity countries in order to expand our operating jurisdictions. In addition, we can utilize our advanced acquisition expertise to pursue acquisitions and investments in either single assets or portfolios of assets.
Increase Cash Flow Without Additional Capital Investment. We seek to organically grow our cash flow on our existing portfolio without additional capital investment through (i) contractual rent escalations, (ii) lease renewals, at higher rates, with existing tenants, (iii) rent increases based on equipment, technology or site modification upgrades at our infrastructure locations and (iv) the addition of new tenants to existing locations.
Leverage Existing Platform to Expand our Business into the Broader Communications Infrastructure. We intend to explore other potential areas of growth within the communications infrastructure market segment that have similar characteristics to our core Tenant Lease (i.e., an existing ground lease or rooftop lease between a property owner and an owner of a wireless tower or antennae) business and plan to explore expansion into other existing rental streams underlying critical communications infrastructure. Areas of expansion may
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include investing in Tenant Leases underneath (i) mobile switching centers, which is a telephone exchange that makes the connection between mobile users within a network, from mobile users to the public switched telephone network, and from mobile users to other mobile networks, (ii) data centers, which is a large group of networked computer servers typically used by organizations for remote storage, processing or distribution of large amounts of data that are typically located in a stand-alone building and (iii) distributed antenna system (DAS) networks, which is a way to address isolated spots of poor coverage in a large building or facility (such as a hospital or transportation hub) by installing a network of small antennae to serve as repeaters.
Explore Expansion Opportunities into Digital Infrastructure Assets. As part of our expansion strategy, we intend to explore opportunities to develop other digital infrastructure assets, including build-to-suit opportunities where we would be contracted to build communications infrastructure (such as wireless towers) and lease such equipment to tenants on a long-term basis. Cell:cm Chartered Surveyors, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary within the APW Group, already offers building consultancy services including architecture and design, building and roof maintenance, building surveys and development, and project monitoring.
Recent Developments
APW Acquisition
On November 19, 2019, we announced our entry into a definitive agreement to acquire AP Wireless and its subsidiaries from Associated Partners. Upon completion of the APW Acquisition on the Acquisition Closing Date, we acquired a 91.8% interest in APW OpCo, the parent of AP Wireless and the indirect parent of the APW Group, for consideration of approximately $860 million less (i) debt as of June 30, 2019 of approximately $539 million, (ii) approximately $65 million to redeem a minority investor in the AP Wireless business and (iii) allocable transaction expenses of approximately $10.7 million plus (iv) cash as of June 30, 2019 of approximately $66.5 million (subject to certain limited adjustments). The acquisition was completed through a merger of one of DLGIs subsidiaries with and into APW OpCo, with APW OpCo surviving such merger as a majority owned subsidiary of ours. Following the APW Acquisition, we own 91.8% of APW OpCo, with certain former partners of Associated Partners who were members of APW OpCo immediately prior to the Acquisition Closing Date and who elected to roll over their investment in APW OpCo in connection with the APW Acquisition (the Continuing OpCo Members) owning the remaining 8.2% interest in APW OpCo. As a result, the AP Wireless business is 100% owned by DLGI and the Continuing OpCo Members. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions APW Merger Agreement for more information.
Certain securities of APW OpCo issued and outstanding upon completion of the APW Acquisition are subject to time and performance vesting conditions. In addition, all securities of APW OpCo held by persons other than the Company are exchangeable for Ordinary Shares and, following the Domestication, will be exchangeable for Class A Common Shares. If all APW OpCo securities vested and no securities have been exchanged for Ordinary Shares or Class A Common Shares, as applicable, the Company will own approximately 82.0% of APW OpCo. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions APW OpCo LLC Agreement for more information about the APW OpCo securities, and Security Ownership by Management and Certain Beneficial Owners for more information about ownership of our securities.
The APW Acquisition constituted a Reverse Takeover under UK listing rules, causing the listing on the LSE of the Ordinary Shares and Warrants to be suspended on November 20, 2019, pending the Company publishing a prospectus in relation to admission of the Class A Common Shares and Warrants to listing on the LSE. The UK Financial Conduct Authority accepted the Companys application for listing on March 27, 2020 and trading of the Companys Ordinary Shares and Warrants on the LSE recommenced on April 1, 2020. In connection with the filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we intend to apply to list the Class A Common Shares and Warrants on the Nasdaq Global Market (Nasdaq) under the symbols [●]
3
and [●], respectively, effective upon the completion of the Domestication. We intend to cancel the listing of the Ordinary Shares and Warrants on the LSE upon the listing of the Class A Common Shares and Warrants on Nasdaq.
Centerbridge Subscription
In connection with the APW Acquisition, we entered into a subscription agreement, dated as of November 20, 2019 and amended and supplemented as of February 7, 2020 (the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement), with the Centerbridge Entities. Pursuant to the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement, the Centerbridge Entities subscribed for $100 million of Ordinary Shares, at a price of $10 per Ordinary Share, on the Acquisition Closing Date (the Centerbridge Subscription). The cash proceeds from the Centerbridge Subscription are available for general working capital purposes, including the acquisition of real property interests and revenue streams critical for wireless communications. As a result of the Centerbridge Subscription, as of [●], 2020, after giving pro forma effect to the Domestication, the Centerbridge Entities beneficially own approximately 17.12% of the issued and outstanding Class A Common Shares.
Pursuant to the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement, we agreed to register the Class A Common Shares held by the Centerbridge Entities for resale under the Securities Act prior to cancelling the listing of our Ordinary Shares on the LSE. Accordingly, the Centerbridge Entities have been named as selling stockholders that may, from time to time after the Domestication, offer and sell pursuant to this prospectus any or all of the Resale Shares owned by them. See Selling Stockholders.
Also pursuant to the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement, we and the Centerbridge entities intend to enter into a Registration Rights Agreement providing the Centerbridge Entities with the certain registration rights (including piggy-back registration rights), effective from and after the date on which the Company becomes a U.S. reporting company under SEC rules.
Our obligations to maintain an effective registration statement with respect to sales by the Centerbridge Entities of shares acquired pursuant to the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement (or in exchange therefor) will terminate on the first date on which the Centerbridge Entities can sell such shares under Rule 144 of the Securities Act without limitation as to the manner of sale or the amount of such securities that may be sold.
We have agreed to bear most of the costs associated with the fulfilment of our registration obligations under the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement and related Registration Rights Agreement, including all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the Resale Shares offered under this registration statement. The Centerbridge Entities, however, will bear all commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to their sale of the Resale Shares. See Plan of Distribution. We have also agreed to indemnify the Centerbridge Entities and their respective officers, directors, employees, advisors and agents (subject to certain limited exceptions) against liabilities that may arise from sales made by them in connection with the exercise of their registration rights.
The Centerbridge Entities have also entered into a voting agreement, dated February 7, 2020, with us, pursuant to which the Centerbridge Entities agreed to vote, for a period of one year following the Acquisition Closing Date, all voting securities of the Company owned by them, certain of their transferees and any of their affiliates (i) in favor of any and all director nominees that are nominated by our Boards Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and (ii) against the removal of any such nominee that is subsequently elected to the Board who is subject to removal without cause.
For more information about the Centerbridge Subscription, the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement and related matters, see Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions Centerbridge Agreements.
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The Domestication
We intend to domesticate to the United States from the British Virgin Islands and incorporate in Delaware, as DLGI Delaware, by means of a statutory domestication under Section 388 of the DGCL and Section 184 of the BVI Business Companies Act (the Domestication). We intend to effect the Domestication (the time of such effectiveness, the Effective Time) as promptly as practicable after the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In connection with the Domestication, the Company intends to change its name to Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc.
To effect the Domestication, upon the final approval of our Board and the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we intend to file with the British Virgin Islands Registrar of Corporate Affairs a notice of continuation out of the British Virgin Islands and file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a certificate of corporate domestication and the certificate of incorporation of DLGI Delaware (the Charter), to be effective upon the Domestication. Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the Domestication, the Board and the shareholders will approve the Charter. In connection with the Domestication, the Board will adopt the bylaws of DLGI Delaware (the Bylaws), to be effective upon the Domestication. DLGI is not required by British Virgin Islands law to receive, and has not sought or received, approval of a plan of arrangement in the British Virgin Islands, and no plan of arrangement is contemplated.
Following the Domestication, DLGI Delaware will be deemed to be the same legal entity as DLGI BVI. None of our business, assets and liabilities on a consolidated basis, nor our directors, executive officers, principal business locations and fiscal year, are expected to change as a result of the Domestication. For more information about the Domestication and its effects, see The Domestication.
Background and Reasons for the Domestication
The Board has approved the Domestication, as well as the related registration of the securities of DLGI Delaware under the Securities Act. We consider Delaware to be a longstanding leader in adopting, implementing and interpreting comprehensive and flexible corporate laws that are responsive to the legal and business needs of corporations. The Board believes that the Domestication will, among other things:
| provide legal, administrative and other similar efficiencies; |
| relocate our jurisdiction of organization to one that is the choice of domicile for many publicly-traded corporations, in part because there is an abundance of case law to assist in interpreting the DGCL and the Delaware legislature frequently updates the DGCL to reflect current technology and legal trends; and |
| provide a more favorable corporate environment which will help us compete more effectively with other publicly-traded companies in raising capital and in attracting and retaining skilled, experienced personnel, including because Delaware law is more developed and provides more guidance than British Virgin Islands law on matters regarding a companys ability to limit director liability. |
Domestication Share Conversion
In the Domestication, DLGI BVIs issued and outstanding securities will automatically convert into securities of DLGI Delaware. Specifically, at the Effective Time:
| each issued and outstanding Ordinary Share will automatically convert, by operation of law, on a one-to-one basis into a Class A Common Share; |
| each issued and outstanding BVI Class B Share will automatically convert, by operation of law, on a one-to-one basis into a Class B Common Share; |
5
| each issued and outstanding BVI Series A Founder Preferred Share will automatically convert, by operation of law, on a one-to-one basis into a Series A Founder Preferred Share; |
| each issued and outstanding BVI Series B Founder Preferred Share will automatically convert, by operation of law, on a one-to-one basis into a Series B Founder Preferred Share; |
| all outstanding Warrants to acquire Ordinary Shares will automatically become Warrants to acquire Class A Common Shares under the same terms and in the same proportion; and |
| all outstanding options and any other rights to acquire shares of DLGI BVI will automatically become options and other rights to acquire the corresponding shares of DLGI Delaware under the same terms. |
Consequently, at the Effective Time, each holder of an Ordinary Share, BVI Class B Share, BVI Founder Preferred Share or Warrant or option to acquire Ordinary Shares will instead hold a Class A Common Share, Class B Common Share, Founder Preferred Share or Warrant or option to acquire Class A Common Shares, respectively, representing the same proportional equity interest in DLGI Delaware as that holder held in DLGI BVI immediately prior to the Effective Time. The number of shares of DLGI Delaware outstanding immediately after the Effective Time will be the same as the number of shares of DLGI BVI outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Comparison of Shareholder Rights
As described above, the Domestication will change our jurisdiction of incorporation from the British Virgin Islands to the State of Delaware and, as a result, our organizational documents will change and will be governed by Delaware law rather than British Virgin Islands law. Those new organizational documents of DLGI Delaware, which consist of the Charter and the Bylaws, will contain, and Delaware law contains, provisions that may differ in certain respects from those in DLGI BVIs current organizational documents, which consist of the BVI Articles, and British Virgin Islands law.
The following are among the most significant differences between the existing BVI Articles of DLGI BVI and British Virgin Islands law, on the one hand, and the Charter and Bylaws of DLGI Delaware and Delaware law, on the other hand:
| Delaware law will provide that amendments to the Charter must be approved by both the Board and by the stockholders of DLGI Delaware, while British Virgin Islands law permits amendments to the BVI Articles to be made either by the shareholders or, where the BVI Articles and British Virgin Islands law permit, by resolutions of the Board (although the BVI Articles do not currently permit any amendments to be made by the Board); |
| Delaware law prohibits the repurchase of shares of DLGI Delaware when its capital is impaired or would become impaired by the repurchase, while there are no such capital limitations in the BVI Companies Act; |
| the Bylaws require stockholders desiring to bring a matter before an annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate a candidate for election as director to provide notice to DLGI Delaware within certain time frames, while the BVI Articles do not contain similar advance notice requirements; |
| under Delaware law, only the stockholders may remove directors, while under British Virgin Islands law, a majority of the directors may remove a fellow director (although this power has been restricted under the BVI Articles); |
| under Delaware law, directors may not act by proxy, while under British Virgin Islands law, directors may appoint another director or person to vote in his place, exercise his other rights as director, and perform his duties as director; |
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| the Charter and Bylaws do not provide stockholders of DLGI Delaware with preemptive rights, while the BVI Articles provide shareholders of DLGI BVI with certain preemptive rights; and |
| under Delaware law, business combinations with interested stockholders (each as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) are prohibited for a certain period of time absent certain requirements, while British Virgin Islands law provides no similar prohibition. |
For a more detailed description of certain differences between the rights that shareholders of DLGI BVI currently have under the BVI Articles and British Virgin Islands law, and the rights that stockholders of DLGI Delaware will have under the Charter, Bylaws and Delaware law after we become a Delaware corporation in the Domestication, see Comparison of Stockholder Rights.
No Vote or Dissenters Rights of Appraisal in the Domestication
Under the BVI Companies Act and the BVI Articles, our shareholders do not have statutory rights of appraisal or any other appraisal rights of their shares as a result of the Domestication. Nor does Delaware law provide for any such rights. Shareholder approval of the Domestication is not required by the BVI Companies Act or the BVI Articles to effect the Domestication, and the Domestication is not conditioned on receipt of such approval. We are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send us a proxy.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Domestication
U.S. Holders (as defined in Material United States Federal Income Tax consequences) should not recognize taxable gain or loss upon (a) the conversion of their Ordinary Shares into Class A Common Shares, (b) the conversion of their BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares into Series A Founder Preferred Shares or (c) the conversion of their Warrants to acquire Ordinary Shares into Warrants to acquire Class A Common Shares as a result of the Domestication for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. Holder should have an initial tax basis in the Class A Common Shares, Series A Founder Preferred Shares or Warrants deemed received in the Domestication equal to its adjusted tax basis in the Ordinary Shares, BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares or Warrants deemed surrendered in exchange therefor. The holding period for the Class A Common Shares, Series A Founder Preferred Shares or Warrants deemed received in the Domestication should include such holders holding period for the Ordinary Shares, BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares or Warrants deemed surrendered in exchange therefor. See Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences for important information regarding U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to (i) the Domestication and (ii) the ownership and disposition of our securities.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We are an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the JOBS Act). We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (a) the last day of the fiscal year (i) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (ii) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion or (iii) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30 and (b) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References in this prospectus to emerging growth company have the meaning ascribed to such term in the JOBS Act.
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An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting requirements and other burdens that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to:
| being permitted to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in this prospectus; |
| not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act); |
| an exemption from compliance with any new requirements adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board requiring mandatory audit firm rotations; |
| reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements; |
| exemptions from the requirement to hold a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and to obtain stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved; and |
| an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. |
We have elected to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards under Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act, which election is irrevocable. As a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the same timeline as other public companies.
We may use these provisions until such time as we cease to be an emerging growth company.
Corporate and Other Information
Our principal executive office is located at 660 Madison Avenue, Suite 1435, New York, New York 10065. Our telephone number is 212-301-2800. We maintain a website at www.digitallandscapegroup.com. We do not incorporate the information contained on, or accessible through, our website into this prospectus, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus.
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Organizational Structure
The following chart depicts, on a condensed basis, our organizational structure as of [●], 2020, after giving pro forma effect to the Domestication:
Presentation of Common Shares Outstanding
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the number of Ordinary Shares (or Class A Common Shares) presented in this prospectus is based on our securities outstanding as of [●], 2020 and excludes:
| 16,675,000 Ordinary Shares (or Class A Common Shares) issuable upon exercise of the Warrants outstanding as of such date; |
| 1,600,000 Ordinary Shares (or Class A Common Shares) issuable upon the conversion of the BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares (or Series A Founder Preferred Shares) outstanding as of such date; |
| 11,414,030 Ordinary Shares (or Class A Common Shares) reserved for issuance upon the redemption or direct exchange of Class B OpCo Units, equitized LTIP Units and equitized Series B Rollover Profits Units; |
| 125,000 Ordinary Shares (or Class A Common Shares) issuable upon the exercise of options to acquire such shares that are vested and outstanding as of such date; and |
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| [●] Ordinary Shares (or Class A Common Shares) reserved for issuance upon vesting and exercise of outstanding options and vesting of restricted stock granted pursuant to equity compensation plans. |
In addition, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the number of BVI Class B Shares (or Class B Common Shares) presented in this prospectus is based on the number of such shares outstanding as of [●], 2020 and excludes 1,386,033 BVI Class B Shares (or Class B Common Shares) issuable upon the conversion of the BVI Series B Founder Preferred Shares (or Series B Founder Preferred Shares) outstanding as of such date.
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Summary Historical Financial Information of the Company Prior to the APW Acquisition
The following tables present summary historical consolidated financial information of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to the completion of the APW Acquisition as of the dates and for each of the periods indicated. The summary historical consolidated financial information as of and for the periods ended October 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company (prior to its completion of the APW Acquisition) included elsewhere in this prospectus. Effective as of the Acquisition Closing Date, the Company changed its fiscal year end from October 31 of each year to December 31 of each year.
The summary historical consolidated financial information included below is not necessarily indicative of future results and should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information, as well as the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Year Ended October 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data: |
||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
$ | 7,537 | $ | 7,661 | ||||
|
|
|
|
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Operating loss |
(7,537 | ) | (7,661 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Investment income |
11,308 | 7,264 | ||||||
Other income, net |
226 | 250 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
3,997 | (147 | ) | |||||
Income tax expense |
979 | 375 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 3,018 | $ | (522 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share |
$ | 0.06 | (0.01 | ) |
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 501,331 | $ | 3,434 | ||||
Marketable securities |
| 490,127 | ||||||
Total assets |
501,407 | 493,589 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
8,377 | 3,577 | ||||||
Total stockholders equity |
493,030 | 490,012 |
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Summary Historical Financial Information of the Predecessor
Following the closing of the APW Acquisition on February 10, 2020, the APW Group is considered to be our Predecessor for financial reporting purposes.
The following tables present summary historical consolidated financial information of our Predecessor, as of the dates and for each of the periods indicated. The summary historical consolidated financial information as of and for the periods ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of our Predecessor included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The summary historical consolidated financial information included below is not necessarily indicative of future results and should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information, as well as the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
(in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data: |
||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 55,706 | $ | 46,406 | ||||
Cost of service |
326 | 233 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Gross profit |
55,380 | 46,173 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Selling, general and administrative |
36,783 | 27,891 | ||||||
Management incentive plan |
893 | 5,241 | ||||||
Amortization and depreciation |
19,132 | 29,170 | ||||||
Impairment decommission of cell sites |
2,570 | 271 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Operating loss |
(3,998 | ) | (16,400 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency debt |
(6,118 | ) | 13,836 | |||||
Interest expense, net |
(32,038 | ) | (27,811 | ) | ||||
Other income (expense), net |
177 | (2,468 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Loss before income taxes |
(41,977 | ) | (32,843 | ) | ||||
Income tax expense |
2,468 | 2,833 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net loss |
$ | (44,445 | ) | $ | (35,676 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Per Share Data |
||||||||
Cash dividends declared per share |
N/A | N/A | ||||||
Income (loss) per share from continuing operations (basic and diluted) |
N/A | N/A |
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: |
||||||||
Cash and restricted cash |
$ | 78,046 | $ | 101,414 | ||||
Trade receivables, net |
7,578 | 5,863 | ||||||
Real property interests, net |
427,160 | 352,673 | ||||||
Total assets |
532,809 | 472,360 | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
22,786 | 13,813 | ||||||
Rent received in advance |
13,856 | 11,290 | ||||||
Finance lease liabilities |
16,200 | | ||||||
Cell site leasehold interest liabilities |
16,841 | 26,554 | ||||||
Debt, net of deferred financing costs |
572,931 | 493,866 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
648,145 | 550,234 | ||||||
Members deficit |
(115,336 | ) | (77,874 | ) |
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As of or for Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
Other Data |
||||||||
Leases (1) |
6,046 | 4,904 | ||||||
Sites (2) |
4,586 | 3,717 | ||||||
Acquisition Capex (3) |
98,926 | $ | 79,840 | |||||
EBITDA (4) |
$ | 9,193 | $ | 24,138 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA (4) |
$ | 20,473 | $ | 19,699 | ||||
Ground Cash Flow (5) |
$ | 55,380 | $ | 46,173 | ||||
Annualized In-Place Rents (6) |
$ | 62,095 | $ | 51,221 |
(1) | Leases is an operating metric that represents each lease acquired by the APW Group. Each site purchased by the APW Group consists of at least one revenue producing lease stream, and many of these sites contain multiple lease streams. |
(2) | Sites is an operating metric that represents each individual physical location where the APW Group has acquired a real property interest or a contractual right that generates revenue. |
(3) | Acquisition Capex is a non-GAAP financial measure. Acquisition Capex is calculated based on total dollars spent on the direct costs related to the acquisition of assets during the period measured. Management believes the presentation of Acquisition Capex provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the financial performance and growth of the APW Group. Acquisition Capex has important limitations as an analytical tool, because it excludes certain fixed and variable costs related to the APW Groups selling and marketing activities included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations, including corporate overhead expenses. Further, this financial measure may be different from calculations used by other companies and comparability may therefore be limited. You should not consider Acquisition Capex or any of the other non-GAAP measures we utilize as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results. |
The following is a reconciliation of Acquisition Capex to the amounts included as an investing cash flow in the APW Groups consolidated statements of cash flows for investments in real property interests and related intangible assets, the most comparable GAAP measure. The adjustments to the comparable GAAP measure primarily include investments resulting from incurring liabilities under origination agreements that future cash payments, including both the recorded amounts at the present value of the future cash payments and all future interest costs under these arrangements as of the origination dates. Additionally, foreign exchange translation adjustments impact the determination of Acquisition Capex.
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
Investments in real property interests and related intangible assets cash |
$ | 78,052 | $ | 67,146 | ||||
Noncash investments under lease and installment arrangements |
16,989 | 13,940 | ||||||
Future interest on noncash investments lease and installment agreements |
3,199 | 1,963 | ||||||
Foreign exchange translation impacts and other |
686 | (3,209 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Acquisition Capex |
$ | 98,926 | $ | 79,840 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(4) | EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before net interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by taking EBITDA and further adjusting for management incentive plan expense, non-cash impairment decommission of cell sites expense, realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency debt, unrealized foreign exchange gains/losses associated with intercompany account balances denominated in a currency other than the functional currency and severance costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Management believes the presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the |
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financial condition and results of operations of the APW Group. Each of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA has important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income, therefore the calculation of these financial measures may be different from the calculations used by other companies and comparability may therefore be limited. You should not consider EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA or any of our other non-GAAP financial measures as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results. |
The following are reconciliations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most comparable GAAP measure:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | (44,445 | ) | $ | (35,676 | ) | ||
Amortization and depreciation |
19,132 | 29,170 | ||||||
Interest expense, net |
32,038 | 27,811 | ||||||
Income tax expense |
2,468 | 2,833 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
EBITDA |
9,193 | 24,138 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Impairment decommission of cell sites |
2,570 | 271 | ||||||
Realized/unrealized loss (gain) on foreign currency debt |
6,118 | (13,836 | ) | |||||
Management incentive plan expense |
893 | 5,241 | ||||||
Non-cash foreign currency adjustments |
(632 | ) | 3,885 | |||||
One-time severance expense |
2,331 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Adjusted EBITDA (a) |
$ | 20,473 | $ | 19,699 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(a) | Adjusted EBITDA includes the impact of 100% of selling, general, and administrative expense from the applicable statement of operations. Management estimates that approximately 80% of the historical selling, general, and administrative costs for each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are related to the acquisition of revenue producing assets. Therefore, if costs associated with the acquisition of revenue producing assets were excluded from the statement of operations, the corresponding Adjusted EBITDA would be significantly higher. In contrast, if the additional selling, general, and administrative costs related to management compensation and expenses that, prior to the Acquisition Closing Date and for the periods presented, were obligations of Associated Group Management (the manager of Associated Partners) were included in the statement of operations, then such items would correspondingly decrease historical Adjusted EBITDA. |
(5) | Ground cash flow is a non-GAAP measure that measures the revenue that is directly attributable to the site rental revenue generated from our real property interests and contractual rights. Ground cash flow is calculated as revenue less cost of site-specific service expenses, which are generally limited to expenses such as taxes, utilities, maintenance, and insurance. Ground cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure equivalent to Gross Profit on the APW Groups financial statements. Management believes the presentation of ground cash flow provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the results of operations of the APW Group. Ground cash flow has important limitations as an analytical tool because it does not account for the effect of our other expenses, including selling, general and administrative expenses that do not relate directly to the financial performance of our real property interests and contractual rights. You should not consider ground cash flow or any of the other non-GAAP measures we utilize as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results. |
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The following is a reconciliation of ground cash flow to revenue, the most comparable GAAP measure.
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 55,706 | $ | 46,406 | ||||
Cost of service |
326 | 233 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Ground cash flow |
$ | 55,380 | $ | 46,173 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(6) | Annualized in-place rents is a non-GAAP measure that measures performance based on annualized contractual revenue from the rents expected to be collected on the leases in place as of the measurement date. Annualized in-place rents is calculated using the implied monthly revenue from all revenue producing leases that are in place as of the measurement date multiplied by twelve. Management believes the presentation of annualized in-place rents provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the financial performance and growth of the APW Group. Annualized in-place rents has important limitations as an analytical tool because, among other things, the underlying leases used in calculating the Annualized in-place rents financial measure may be terminated, new leases may be acquired, or the contractual rents payable under such leases may not be collected. In these respects, among others, annualized in-place rents differs from revenue, which is the closest comparable GAAP measure and which represents all revenues (contractual or otherwise) earned over the applicable period. You should not consider annualized in-place rents or any of the other non-GAAP measures we utilize as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results. |
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Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presented below have been prepared from the respective historical consolidated financial statements of DLGI and the APW Group and have been adjusted to reflect the estimated effects of (i) the APW Acquisition and (ii) the Centerbridge Subscription (collectively, the Transactions). The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared as if the Transactions had been completed on October 31, 2019, for balance sheet purposes, and on November 1, 2018, for statement of operations purposes. As further described in the notes appearing under Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information, the summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not include additional costs associated with the internalization of the management team, public company costs and other administrative expenses that are expected to result from the Transactions.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information included below is not necessarily indicative of future results and should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation and the more detailed unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and the related notes appearing under Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information, as well as the separate consolidated financial statements of DLGI and the APW Group and notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, which has been provided for illustrative purposes only, by its nature addresses a hypothetical situation and, therefore, does not purport to represent our actual results or financial position or what they would have been had the Transactions occurred on the dates assumed, and may not be indicative of future results or financial position.
(in thousands, except per share data) |
Pro Forma Condensed Combined |
|||
Statements of Operations Data Year Ended October 31, 2019 |
||||
Revenue |
$ | 55,706 | ||
Operating loss |
(42,183 | ) | ||
Net loss |
(83,383 | ) | ||
Net loss attributable to the Company |
(76,546 | ) | ||
Net loss per ordinary share, basic and diluted |
(1.31 | ) | ||
Balance Sheet Data As of October 31, 2019 |
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
294,997 | |||
Real property interests, net |
899,600 | |||
Total assets |
1,273,673 | |||
Total liabilities |
650,142 | |||
Total stockholders equity |
623,531 |
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Market Price and Dividend Information
Our Ordinary Shares and Warrants are currently listed on the LSE under the symbols DLGI and DLGW, respectively. We intend to apply to list the Class A Common Shares and Warrants on the Nasdaq Global Market (Nasdaq) under the symbols [●] and [●], respectively, effective upon the completion of the Domestication.
The most recent closing price of the Ordinary Shares and Warrants as of [●], 2020, the last trading day before our filing of this prospectus, was $[●] and $[●], respectively.
Holders of our Ordinary Shares and Warrants should obtain current market quotations for their securities. The market price of DLGI BVIs securities could vary at any time before the Domestication.
Dividend Policy
We may pay dividends on the Class A Common Shares at such times (if any) and in such amounts (if any) as the Board determines. Our current intention is to retain any earnings for use in our business operations, and we do not anticipate declaring any dividends on the Class A Common Shares in the foreseeable future. We will pay dividends only to the extent that to do so is in accordance with the Charter and all applicable laws. See Dividend Policy.
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Investing in our securities carries a significant degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of the other information in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before deciding whether to invest in our securities. If any or a combination of the following risks were to materialize, our results of operations, financial condition and prospects could be materially adversely affected. If that were to be the case, the market price of our securities could decline, and investors could lose all or part of their investment. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business.
Risks Relating to Our Business and the Industry
If the wireless carriers or tower companies consolidate their operations, exit the wireless communications business or share site infrastructure to a significant degree, our business and profitability could be materially and adversely affected.
The U.S. wireless carrier industry has experienced, and may continue to experience, significant consolidation, such as the recent merger between Sprint and T-Mobile. Historically, consolidation among wireless carriers has resulted in the decommissioning of certain existing communications sites, due to overlap of the networks or the consolidation of different technologies. For example, the Sprint-Nextel merger led to significant churn as the consolidated company terminated leases of sites on which iDen technology had been located. Internationally, wireless carriers are increasingly entering into active and passive network sharing agreements or roaming or resale arrangements. For example, in 2019 Vodafone announced that it had entered into active and passive network sharing agreements in Italy, Spain and the UK. These agreements could also result in decommissioning of certain existing communications sites due to network overlap or redundancy.
The underlying Tenant Leases from which we derive our revenue can typically be terminated upon a very short notice period, generally 30-180 days, regardless of the length of the lease term. To the extent that a wireless carrier does not need a redundant communications site, it may terminate the sites lease prior to the end of the lease term or simply refuse to renew the lease. As part of our business strategy, we purchase the revenue stream under a lease from the site owner, typically including any renewal periods, and assumes the risk that such lease is early terminated or not renewed. As we do not have recourse to the site owner in the case of such early termination (absent fraud or breach of contractual representations or covenants by such site owner), our ongoing in-place rents and future results may be negatively impacted if a significant number of these leases are terminated or not renewed, materially impairing the value of our real property and contractual interests in such sites.
Consolidation can also potentially reduce the diversity of the tenants from which we derive revenue and give tenants greater leverage over us, as their effective landlord, by increasing co-location on nearby existing sites and aggressively negotiating master lease terms for multiple sites, all of which could materially and adversely affect our revenue.
New technologies may significantly reduce demand for wireless infrastructure and therefore negatively impact our revenue and future growth.
Improvements in the efficiency of wireless networks could reduce the demand for the wireless carriers or tower companies wireless infrastructure. For example, signal combining technologies that permit one antenna to service multiple frequencies and, thereby, more customers, may reduce the need for wireless infrastructure. In addition, other technologies, such as Wi-Fi, femtocells, other small cells, or satellite (such as low earth orbiting) and mesh transmission systems may, in the future, serve as substitutes for, or alternatives to, leasing additional tower or antennae sites that might otherwise be anticipated as wireless infrastructure had such technologies not existed. Any significant reduction in wireless infrastructure leasing demand resulting from the previously mentioned technologies or other technologies could materially and adversely affect our revenue, financial condition and future growth.
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We may become involved in expensive litigation or other contentious legal proceedings relating to our real property interests and contractual rights, the outcome of which is unpredictable and could require us to change our business model in certain jurisdictions or exit certain markets altogether.
The tenants under our Tenant Leases are typically wireless carriers and tower companies that may have competitive or other concerns regarding the assignment of the right to receive lease payments to us from the site owners, and as a result some of these tenants may challenge our real property interests and contractual rights. For example, wireless carriers and tower companies have challenged certain of our real property interests in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and the Netherlands and alleged that the grant of the real property interest in the land underlying the wireless tower or antennae violated either a contractual non-assignment provision or a statutory pre-emptive right. In Hungary, a regulatory agency has initiated an inquiry that may result in new regulations on some of our activities. In addition, certain wireless carriers in Canada have filed claims alleging that our business and marketing practices constitute harassment of the landlords, defamation of the carriers and interference of their site leases. In addition, under eminent domain laws (or equivalent laws in jurisdictions outside of the United States), governments can take real property without the owners consent, sometimes for less compensation than the owner believes the property is worth. If these or similar claims are successful, we may not be able to continue to operate in those jurisdictions using our current business model, or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to acquire new assets or grow our business as planned.
Any litigation or other proceeding, even if resolved favorably, could require us to incur substantial costs and be a distraction to management. Also, such litigation could be used as a nuisance to disrupt our business. Litigation results are highly unpredictable, particularly in some of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Even if we believe we have a strong legal basis to defend such claims, we may not prevail in any litigation or other proceeding in which we may become involved. If we are unsuccessful in defending claims by our tenants relating to our business model in a particular jurisdiction, it may be difficult or impossible to continue operations in those jurisdictions, or we may incur significant additional expense to adjust our business model in response to any legal order or judgment, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We have a history of net losses and negative net cash flow; if we continue to grow at an accelerated rate, we may be unable to achieve profitability or positive cash flow at a company level (as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP) for the foreseeable future.
The APW Group had a members deficit as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 and had net losses of $35.7 million and $44.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, the APW Group had negative operating cash flow of $10.7 million and $6.6 million, respectively, and negative cash flow from investing activities of $68.0 million and $73.9 million, respectively. Our members deficit and net losses have historically resulted primarily from expenses incurred in acquiring assets, recognizing depreciation and amortization in connection with the properties we own and interest expense. Our negative cash flows have historically resulted from the substantial investments required to grow our business, including the significant increase in recent periods in the number of assets we have acquired. We expect that these costs and investments will continue to increase as we continue to grow our business. These expenditures will make it more difficult for us to achieve profitability and positive cash flow from operations and investing activities, and we cannot predict whether we will achieve profitability for the foreseeable future.
Competition for assets could adversely affect our ability to achieve our anticipated growth.
If we are unable to make accretive acquisitions of real property interests and contractual rights in the revenue streams of Tenant Leases, our growth could be limited. As none of the individual revenue streams that we acquire are material, our business model requires us to identify and negotiate a significant number of new interests each year in order to deliver material growth. We may experience increased competition for these assets from new entrants to the industry. Further, in some jurisdictions, including Europe, the number of wireless towers and antennae owned by tower companies, as compared to wireless carriers, is growing quickly. These
19
tower companies may be more likely to seek to own or control the land underlying their tower as that is their asset or service as compared to the wireless carriers who have traditionally allocated their capital to network development rather than acquisition of the underlying real property. This could make the acquisition of high-quality assets significantly more costly or prohibitive. The wireless tower companies are larger than us and may have greater financial resources than we do, while other competitors may apply less stringent investment criteria than we do. Higher prices for assets or the failure to add new assets to our portfolio could make it more difficult to achieve our anticipated returns on investment or future growth, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
If the Tenant Leases for the wireless communication tower or antennae located on our real property interests are not renewed with similar rates or at all, our future revenue may be materially affected.
A significant portion (as at December 31, 2019, approximately 17%) of the Tenant Leases located on communications sites on which we hold a property interest are either hold-over leases or will be subject to renewal over the next 12 months. The wireless carriers and tower companies are under no obligation to renew their ground or rooftop leases. In addition, there is no assurance that such tenants will renew their current leases with similar terms or rental rates even if they do want to renew. The extension, renewal or replacement of existing leases depends on a number of factors, several of which are beyond our control, including the level of existing and new competition in markets in which we operate; the macroeconomic factors affecting lease economics for our current and potential customers; the balance of supply and demand on a short-term, seasonal and long-term basis in our markets; the extent to which customers are willing to contract on a long-term basis and the effects of international, federal, state or local regulations on the contracting practices of our customers. Unsuccessful negotiations could potentially reduce revenue generated from the assets. As a result, we may not fully recognize the anticipated benefits of the assets that we acquire, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flow.
Substantially all of the Tenant Leases associated with our assets may be terminated upon limited notice by the wireless carrier or tower company, and unexpected lease cancellations could materially impact cash flow from operations.
Virtually every Tenant Lease associated with our assets permits the wireless carrier or tower company tenant to cancel the lease at any time with limited prior written notice. The termination provisions vary from lease to lease, but substantially all of the Tenant Leases underlying our assets require the tenant to provide only 30-180 days advance notification to terminate the lease. Cancellations are determined by the tenants themselves in their sole discretion. For instance, sites are independently assessed by tenants for their ability to provide coverage. This assessment is made prior to construction or installation of the asset and there is no guarantee such coverage will remain static in the future due to independent developments, technological developments, property and infrastructure developments (e.g., construction of new buildings and roads), foliage growth or other physical changes in the landscape that are unforeseeable and out of our control. We have previously experienced terminations and cancellations of leases for the following reasons:
| network consolidations and mergers that make a particular tower site redundant for a wireless carrier; |
| primarily in the UK, where the wireless carrier has a shared lease with the tower company or tower owner and we only receive a portion of the shared rent; |
| the wireless carrier secures an alternative site to allow it to save operational expenses; and |
| the wireless carrier identifies a location that provides better coverage and renders the existing site obsolete or unused. |
Such results could lead to site removal or relocation, leading to a reduction in our revenue. Any significant number of cancellations will adversely affect our revenue and cash flow.
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Our operations outside the U.S. are subject to economic, political, cultural and other risks that could materially and adversely affect our revenues or financial position, including risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, approximately 72% of the APW Groups revenue arose from business operations outside the U.S. and approximately 74% of the APW Groups annualized in-place rents arose from business operations outside the U.S. For a definition of annualized in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures. We anticipate that the overall proportion of revenues from our international operations will continue to grow. Accordingly, our business is subject to risks associated with doing business internationally that could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations, including:
| laws and regulations that dictate how we conduct business, including zoning, maintenance and environmental matters, and laws related to ownership of real property interests; |
| uncertain, inconsistent or changing interpretations of laws and regulations, especially those that address our business model, as well as judicial systems that may move more slowly, or be more unpredictable, than U.S. judicial systems; |
| changes in a specific countrys or regions political or economic conditions, including inflation or currency devaluation; |
| laws affecting communications infrastructure, including the sharing of such infrastructure; |
| laws and regulations that tax or otherwise restrict repatriation of earnings or other funds or otherwise limit distributions of capital; |
| changes to existing or enactment of new domestic or international tax laws; |
| expropriation and governmental regulation restricting foreign ownership or requiring reversion or divestiture; |
| laws and regulations governing employee relations, including occupational health and safety matters and employee compensation and benefits matters; |
| our ability to comply with, and the costs of compliance with, anti-bribery laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and similar international anti-bribery laws; |
| changes to zoning regulations or construction laws, which could be applied retroactively to our existing communications sites; |
| reluctance or unwillingness of communications site property owners in an existing country of our operations, or in a new country that we determine to enter, generally to do business with a U.S.-headquartered company or a company engaged in our business, especially where there is no history of such a business in the country; and |
| actions restricting or revoking the wireless carriers spectrum licenses or suspending or terminating business under prior licenses. |
Our results may be negatively affected by foreign currency exchange rates.
We conduct our business and incur costs in the local currencies in the countries in which we operate and, as a result, are subject to foreign exchange exposure due to changes in exchange rates, both as a result of translation and transaction risks.
We are exposed to foreign currency risk to the extent that we enter into transactions denominated in currencies other than our functional currencies (non-functional currency risk), such as our indebtedness. For
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example, we generate revenue from our Brazilian operations, which are denominated in Brazilian reals, while the indebtedness that funds those operations is presently denominated in Euros. Although we generally seek to match the currency of our obligations with the functional currency of the operations supporting those obligations, we are not always able to match the currency of our costs and expenses with the currency of our revenues. Changes in exchange rates with respect to amounts recorded in our consolidated financial statements related to these items will result in unrealized (based upon period-end exchange rates) or realized foreign currency transaction gains and losses upon settlement of the transactions.
Although substantially all of our operations are conducted in the local currency of the countries in which we operate, we are also exposed to unfavorable and potentially volatile fluctuations of the U.S. dollar (our reporting currency), against the currencies of our operating subsidiaries when their respective financial statements are translated into U.S. dollars for inclusion in our consolidated financial statements. Increasing exchange rate risk has been brought on by external factors such as increasing interest rates in the United States, as well as internal factors as a consequence of high fiscal and external deficits in some of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Volatility in exchange rates can affect our reported revenue, margins and stockholders equity both positively and negatively and can make our results difficult to predict. Cumulative translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive earnings or loss as a separate component of equity. Any increase (or decrease) in the value of the U.S. dollar against any foreign currency that is the functional currency of one of our operating subsidiaries will cause us to experience unrealized foreign currency translation losses (gains) with respect to amounts already invested in such foreign currencies. Accordingly, we may experience a positive or negative impact on our comprehensive earnings or loss and equity solely as a result of foreign currency translation. The APW Groups primary exposure to exchange rate risk during the 12 months ended December 31, 2019 was to the British pound sterling, Euro, Brazilian real and the Australian dollar representing 27%, 14%, 9% and 5% of our reported revenue during the period, respectively. In addition, our reported operating results are impacted by changes in the exchange rates for the Chilean peso, Mexican peso, Canadian dollar, Colombian peso, Hungarian forint and Romanian leu. We generally do not hedge against the risk that we may incur non-cash losses upon the translation of financial statements of our subsidiaries and affiliates into U.S. dollars; however, even if we were to enter into such hedges, they may not be effective to off-set any such non-cash losses.
The Electronic Communications Code enacted in the United Kingdom may limit the amount of lease income we generate in the United Kingdom, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
The Electronic Communications Code, which came into force on December 28, 2017 as part of the United Kingdoms Digital Economy Act 2017, governs certain relationships between landowners and operators of electronic communications services, such as cellular towers. It gives operators certain rights to install, inspect and maintain electronic communications apparatus including masts, cables and other equipment on land, even where the operator cannot agree with the landowner as to the terms of the rights. Among other measures, the Electronic Communications Code restricts the ability of landowners to charge premium prices for the use of their land by basing the consideration paid on the underlying value of the land, not the value attributable to the high public demand for communications services, and provides authority to the courts to determine the rent if the parties are unable to come to agreement. As a result, our future results may be negatively impacted if a significant number of our leases in the United Kingdom are renegotiated at lower rates. The APW Groups revenue run rate as of December 31, 2019 generated by property located in the United Kingdom was approximately 24.5%. A material reduction in our annualized in-place rents in the United Kingdom would have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
We have incurred a significant amount of debt and may in the future incur additional indebtedness. Our payment obligations under such indebtedness may, in the longer term, limit the funds available to us.
As of December 31, 2019, the APW Group had total outstanding indebtedness of $588.2 million, the majority of which was secured through multiple liens, pledges and other security interests on its different assets.
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Our ability to make scheduled payments or refinance our obligations depends on our financial condition and operating performance, which are subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. Taking into consideration our current cash on hand and our available credit facilities, including the maturity of such facilities, we do not believe our ability to service our debt and sustain our operations will be materially affected for at least a 12-month period following the date of this prospectus. In the longer term, however, we may be unable to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness and to pursue growth. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient in the longer term to fund our obligations, we could face substantial liquidity problems and could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or to dispose of material assets or operations, seek additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness and other obligations or our lenders could seek to foreclose on our assets or could also sell all or substantially all of our assets under such foreclosure or other realization upon those encumbrances without prior approval of our stockholders. In the longer term, we may not be able to effect any such alternative measures, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all and, even if successful, those alternative actions may not allow us to meet our scheduled debt obligations. For more information about our debt obligations, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity and Capital Resources.
The terms of our debt agreements may restrict our flexibility in operating our business.
Under certain of our existing debt instruments, we and certain of our subsidiaries are subject to limitations regarding our business and operations, including limitations on the amount of certain types of assets that can be acquired, or the jurisdictions in which assets can be acquired, limitations on incurring additional indebtedness and liens, limitations on certain consolidations, mergers, and sales of assets, and restrictions on the payment of dividends or distributions. Any debt financing that we secure in the future could involve additional restrictive covenants relating to our capital-raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital to pursue business opportunities, including potential acquisitions.
These restrictions could limit our ability to plan for or react to market conditions, meet extraordinary capital needs or otherwise take actions that we believe are in our best interests. Further, a failure by us to comply with any of these covenants and restrictions could result in an event of default that, if not waived or cured, could result in the acceleration of all or a substantial portion of the outstanding indebtedness thereunder. For more information about our debt obligations and the covenants and restrictions thereunder, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity and Capital Resources.
Our growth strategy requires access to new capital, which could be impaired by unfavorable capital markets.
Our growth strategy requires significant capital as we primarily purchase for an upfront fee the future stream of rental payments. Any limitations on access to new capital will impair our ability to execute our growth strategy. If the cost of capital becomes too expensive, our ability to grow will be limited. We may not be able to raise the necessary funds on satisfactory terms, if at all. To the extent that we raise capital through issuance of equity, our stockholders may suffer significant dilution. To the extent that we raise capital through additional debt, that debt (i) may adversely affect our profitability, (ii) may be secured and (iii) would rank senior to any of our equity. We have historically raised a significant portion of our capital through the issuance of secured debt, which has a lower coupon rate than unsecured debt, but our ability to obtain secured debt in the future to execute our growth strategy is subject to our having sufficient assets eligible for securitization that are not subject to prior securitization from our existing debt. Weak economic conditions and volatility and disruption in the financial markets, including as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, could increase the cost of raising money in the debt and equity capital markets substantially while diminishing the availability of funds from those markets which could materially impact our ability to implement our growth strategy.
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An increase in market interest rates could increase our interest costs on future debt, reduce the value of our assets and affect the growth of our business, all of which may materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Fluctuations in interest rates may negatively impact our business. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors beyond our control, including general economic conditions, both domestic and foreign, and the monetary and fiscal policies of various governmental and regulatory authorities. If interest rates increase, so could our interest expense for new debt, making the financing of new assets costlier. We may incur variable interest rate indebtedness in the future. Rising interest rates could limit our ability to refinance existing debt when it matures or cause us to pay higher interest rates upon refinancing and increased interest expense on refinanced indebtedness.
Changes in interest rates may also affect the value of our assets and affect our ability to acquire new assets as site owners may be more reluctant to sell their interests during times of higher interest rates or may demand a higher cost than we have historically paid for our assets. If we cannot acquire additional assets at appropriate prices and returns or determine to pay higher amounts for additional assets, we will not be able to grow revenue to the extent expected, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial results and condition.
Our revenue is primarily derived from lease payments due from wireless carriers and tower operators; consequently, a slowdown in the demand for wireless communication services may adversely affect our business.
Our assets consist primarily of real property interests in wireless communications sites and contractual rights to the revenue stream generated from Tenant Leases. If consumers significantly reduce their minutes of use or data usage or fail to widely adopt and use wireless data applications or new technologies, wireless carriers could experience a decrease in demand for their services. In addition, delays or changes in the deployment of new technologies could reduce consumer demand. To the extent that that the demand for wireless communications services decreases, the owners and operators of wireless communications towers and antennae may be less willing or able to invest additional capital in their networks, and may even reduce the number of wireless communications sites in their networks, all of which could materially and adversely affect the demand for our assets, the revenue that we are able to generate, and the rate of growth in our business.
The ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
The recent outbreak of COVID-19 (commonly referred to as coronavirus) which first occurred in Wuhan City, China and has subsequently spread to many countries throughout the world, including each of the jurisdictions in which we operate, has had a negative impact on economic conditions globally and there are concerns for a prolonged deterioration of global financial conditions. The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in a more widespread public health crisis than that observed during the SARS epidemic of 2002-2003, which has resulted in protracted volatility in international markets and a decline in global economic conditions, including as a consequence of disruptions to travel and retail segments, tourism and manufacturing supply chains. Beginning in March 2020, we took measures to mitigate the broader public health risks associated with COVID-19 to our business and employees, including through office closures and self-isolation of employees where possible in line with the recommendations of relevant health authorities; however, the full extent of the COVID-19 outbreak and the adverse impact this may have on our workforce and operations is unknown. In addition, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, there may be short-term impacts on our ability to acquire new rental streams. For example, leasing transactions in certain civil law jurisdictions such as France, Italy and Portugal often require the notarization of legal documents in person as part of the closing procedure. Government-imposed restrictions on the opening of offices and/or self-isolation measures have had, and may continue to have an adverse impact on the availability of notaries or other legal service providers or the availability of witnesses to legal documents in common law jurisdictions such as the UK and Ireland and, consequently, our ability to complete transactions
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may be adversely impacted during the COVID-19 outbreak. Similarly, government-imposed travel restrictions may impair our employees ability to conduct physical inspections of cell-site infrastructure which are part of our normal transaction underwriting process.
The extent to which COVID-19 may impact our results of operations and financial condition will depend on numerous evolving factors that we cannot predict, including the duration and scope of the pandemic; governmental, business and individuals actions that have been and continue to be taken in response to the outbreak; the impact of the outbreak on global economic activity and financial markets, including the possibility of a global recession and volatility in the global capital markets which, among other things, may increase the cost of capital and adversely impact our access to capital. These impacts, individually or collectively, could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. Further, the impact of COVID-19 may heighten or exacerbate many of the other risks discussed in this prospectus, any of which could have a material impact on us.
Perceived health risks from radio frequency (RF) energy could reduce demand for wireless communications services.
The U.S. and other governments impose requirements and other guidelines relating to exposure 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. According to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, 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 carriers, 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 which could materially and adversely affect the demand for our assets, the revenue that we are able to generate, and the rate of growth in our business. 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 relating to exposure to RF energy and, even if such claims ultimately had no merit, our financial condition could be materially and adversely affected by having to defend such claims.
If we are unable to protect and enforce our real property interests in, or contractual rights to, the revenue streams generated by leases on our communications sites, our business and operating results could be materially adversely affected.
Pursuant to our business model, we purchase the stream of future rental payments generated by an existing lease, and that will be generated by future leases, between a site owner and an owner or operator of a wireless communications tower or wireless antennae. As a lease generating such revenue stream already exists, our business model effectively puts us in the position of landlord without the consent of the wireless carrier or tower operator. Where possible, we seek to purchase an in rem real property interest in the land underlying the wireless tower or antennae, typically easements, usufructs, leasehold and sub-leasehold interests, and fee simple interests. If that is not feasible due to local legal requirements or commercial limitations, we will purchase a contractual assignment of rents. As we are one of the first companies to develop an asset portfolio of revenue streams from existing wireless communications sites in some of the jurisdictions in which we operate, the in rem right that we have purchased has not traditionally been used in a commercial context. Consequently, our real property rights may be subject to challenge by third parties, including the wireless carriers or tower companies that are counterparties to the underlying site leases, or become subject to new regulations. Further, where we have rooftop easements (or comparable property interests), we are subject to the risk that the underlying property owners may block access to the rooftop. If we cannot enforce our real property and contractual rights, particularly to the extent any claim or regulatory constraint impacts a large number of our assets, our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
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Due to the long-term expectations of revenue from our assets, our results are sensitive to the creditworthiness and financial strength of our tenants and their sub-lessees.
We have purchased, for an upfront fee, the future revenue stream pursuant to the underlying Tenant Leases and subsequent leases and do not have recourse to the site owner if the tenant fails to make such future payments (absent fraud or breach of contractual representations or covenants by such site owner). Due to the long-term nature of most cell site leases, including the Tenant Leases and their sub-leases, our financial performance is dependent on the continued financial strength of the tenants, including the wireless carriers, tower companies and other owners of structures where we own the attached property rights, many of whom operate with substantial leverage. Many tenants and potential tenants rely on capital raising activities to fund their operations and capital expenditures, and downturns in the economy or disruptions in the financial and credit markets may make it more difficult and more expensive to raise capital. If, as a result of a prolonged economic downturn or otherwise, one or more of our tenants experienced financial difficulties or filed for bankruptcy, such an event could result in uncollectible accounts receivable and an impairment of our deferred rent asset. In addition, it could result in the loss of significant customers and all or a portion of our anticipated lease revenue from certain tenants, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, if the Tenant Lease tenants or sub-lessees (or potential tenants or sub-lessees) are unable to raise adequate capital to fund their business plans, they may reduce their spending, which could materially and adversely affect demand for the communications sites and the rental rates that we will be able to charge upon renewal.
Certain of our real property interests are subordinated to senior debt such as mortgages on the underlying properties.
The real property interests and contractual rights we purchase typically relate to a portion of a larger parcel of land that is owned by the site owner from whom we acquired the interests or rights. As a result, mortgages and other encumbrances, including any tax liens, which attach to the parcel as a whole, may also attach to or have enforcement priority over our interests or rights. We make an effort to target investment opportunities that are free from mortgages and other encumbrances. Where that option is not available, we make an effort to obtain non-disturbance agreements or locally comparable protections on the real property interests we acquire on mortgaged sites, but sometimes we are unable to do so. Under certain circumstances and in the absence of a non-disturbance agreement or locally comparable protections, if the underlying property owner fails to comply with or make payments under debt arrangements that grant creditors with claims on the property that are senior to ours, an event of default may result, which would allow the creditors to foreclose on any of our real property interests and contractual rights associated with that site. Any such default or foreclosure could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flow.
The tenants on the Tenant Leases underlying our assets may be exposed to force majeure events and other unforeseen events for which their insurance may not provide adequate coverage.
The communications sites underlying our real property interests and contract rights are subject to risks associated with natural disasters, such as ice and windstorms, fires, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes, cyber-attacks, terrorism as well as other unforeseen damage. Substantially all of the leases in our portfolio allow the tenants either to terminate the lease or to withhold rent payments until the site is restored to its original condition should such a disaster cause damage to one of these communications sites or the equipment on such site. While tenants generally maintain insurance coverage for natural disasters, they may not have adequate insurance to cover the associated costs of repair or reconstruction for a future major event. Furthermore, while all of the Tenant Leases require that the tenants have access to the communications site, we often must rely on the site owners to take all the necessary steps to restore access to the site. In the event of any damage to the communications equipment, federal, state and local regulations may restrict the ability to repair or rebuild damaged towers or antennae. If the tenants are unwilling or unable to repair or rebuild due to damage, we may experience losses in revenue due to terminated leases and/or lease payments that are withheld pursuant to the terms of the Tenant Lease while the site is repaired.
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A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from a small number of wireless carriers or tower companies in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate, and the loss, consolidation or financial instability of any of our limited number of customers may materially decrease revenue.
In each of the jurisdictions in which we operate, there are a small number of wireless carriers or tower companies. Consequently, the loss of any one of our large customers as a result of consolidation, merger, bankruptcy, insolvency, network sharing, roaming, joint development, resale agreements with other wireless carriers or otherwise may result in (i) a material decrease in our revenue, (ii) uncollectible account receivables, (iii) an impairment of our deferred site rental receivables, site rental contracts, customer relationships or intangible assets or (iv) other adverse effects on our business. Additionally, the rental payments due to us from foreign affiliates and subsidiaries of large, nationally recognized wireless carriers or tower companies may not provide for full recourse to the larger, more creditworthy parent entities affiliated with our lessees.
We may not be able to consummate or successfully integrate future acquisitions into our business, which could result in unanticipated expenses and losses.
Part of our strategy is to seek to grow through acquisitions of portfolios of assets or entities that are engaged in similar or complementary businesses. Our ability successfully to implement our acquisition strategy will depend on our ability to identify, negotiate, complete and integrate acquisitions and, if necessary, to obtain satisfactory debt or equity financing to fund those acquisitions. Mergers and acquisitions are inherently risky, and any mergers and acquisitions that we complete may not be successful. The process of integrating a large portfolio of assets or an acquired companys business into our operations is challenging and may result in expected or unexpected operating or compliance challenges, which may require significant expenditures and a significant amount of managements attention that would otherwise be focused on the ongoing operation of our business. The potential difficulties or risks of integrating an acquired companys business that could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations include the following, which risks can be magnified when one or more integrations are occurring simultaneously or within a small period of time:
| the effect of the acquisition on our financial and strategic positions and our reputation; |
| risk that we may be unable to obtain the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, including synergies, economies of scale, revenues and cash flow; |
| challenges in retaining, assimilating and training new employees; |
| potential increased expenditure on human resources and related costs; |
| retention risk with respect to an acquired companys key executives and personnel; |
| potential disruption to our ongoing business; |
| investments in immature businesses or assets with unproven track records that have an especially high degree of risk, with the possibility that we may lose the value of our entire investment or incur additional unexpected liabilities (including becoming subject to foreign laws and regulations not previously applicable to us); |
| potential diversion of cash for an acquisition or integration activities that would limit other potential uses for cash including marketing, and other investments; |
| the assumption of known and unknown debt and other liabilities and obligations of the acquired company; |
| potential integration risks relating to acquisition targets that had not previously maintained internal controls and policies and procedures over financial reporting as would be required of a public company, which may amplify our risks and liabilities with respect to our ability to develop and maintain appropriate internal controls and procedures; and |
| challenges in reconciling accounting issues, especially if an acquired company utilizes accounting principles different from those used by us. |
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Unforeseen liabilities under environmental laws could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flow.
Laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment are applicable to the communications sites in which we have a real property interest and to the businesses and operations of our lessees, property owners and other surface owners or operators. International, federal, state and local government agencies issue regulations that often require difficult and costly compliance measures that carry substantial administrative, civil and criminal penalties and that may result in injunctive obligations for non-compliance. These laws and regulations often require permits before operations commence, restrict the types, quantities and concentrations of various substances that can be released into the environment, require remediation of released substances, and limit or prohibit construction or operations on certain lands (e.g. wetlands). Although we do not conduct any operations on our properties, the wireless carriers or tower companies on our communications sites may maintain small quantities of materials that, if released, would be subject to certain environmental laws. Similarly, the site owners, lessees and other surface interest owners may have liability or responsibility under these laws that could have an indirect impact on our business. For those communications sites in which we hold real property interests that are not full fee simple ownership, our liability is typically limited to damages caused by our actions. However, in limited circumstances certain jurisdictions may seek to impose liability if all other owners are not available. With respect to the communications sites that we own in fee simple, we are subject to environmental liability in accordance with local law. Although we do not purchase property where we are aware that there are or may be any environmental issues, we do not conduct any environmental due diligence such as Phase 1 Environmental Assessments in the United States or similar inquiries outside the United States before purchasing the real property. Our agreements with lessees, counterparties and other surface owners generally include environmental representations, warranties and indemnities to minimize the extent to which we may be financially responsible for liabilities arising under these laws. However, these counterparties may not have the financial ability to comply with their assumed obligations, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Although our real property and contractual interests generally do not make it contractually responsible for the payment of real property taxes, in our U.S. operations, if the responsible party fails to pay real property taxes, the resulting tax lien could put our real property interest in jeopardy.
Substantially all of our real property and contractual interests are subject to triple net or effectively triple net lease arrangements under which we are not responsible for paying real property taxes. In the United States, if the property owner or tenant fails to pay real property taxes, any lien resulting from such unpaid taxes would be senior to our real property interest or contract rights in the applicable site. Failure of the property owner or tenant to pay such real property taxes could result in our real property interest or contract rights being impaired or extinguished or we may be forced to incur costs and pay the real property tax liability to avoid impairment of our assets. Internationally, although our real property interests would typically be senior to any subsequent tax lien, those assets that are contractual rights (such as an assignment of rents) could be subject to liens and be deemed subordinate to such governmental claims.
The failure of the property owner or tenant to maintain the property or infrastructure assets could result in a diminution of our real property and contractual interest, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
Substantially all of our real property and contractual interests are subject to triple net or effectively triple net lease arrangements under which we are not responsible for maintenance expenditures related to the property or infrastructure. Failure of the property owner or tenant to maintain the property or infrastructure could result in a diminution of our real property and contractual interests, or we may be forced to incur costs to maintain the property to avoid diminution of our assets. For example, the placement and performance of wireless transmissions might be impaired in a situation where a structure is not adequately maintained by the property owner, which would result in a diminution of the property. A diminution of the property could materially and
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adversely affect our results of operations through losses in revenue due to terminated Tenant Leases and/or lease payments that are withheld, lower lease renewal rates, the inability to lease the property, costs to maintain the assets and costs related to litigation related to the diminution of the property.
Security breaches and other disruptions could compromise our information, which would cause our business and reputation to suffer.
As part of our day-to-day operations, we rely on information technology and other computer resources and infrastructure to carry out important business activities and to maintain our business records. We utilize both cloud infrastructure as well as on-premise systems physically located in our offices. These (cloud) systems are subject to interruption or damage from power outages, ISP failures, computer viruses, security breaches, errors, catastrophic events such as natural disasters and other events beyond our control which could halt or impede our business activities. Depending on the nature and scope of the incident, backups might have to be restored in order to resume business. In extreme events, backup systems could become compromised as well.
If such systems and backup systems are compromised, degraded, damaged or breached, or otherwise cease to function properly, we could suffer interruptions in our operations or unintentionally allow misappropriation of proprietary or confidential information including information about the wireless carriers or tower companies or the site owners. This could damage our reputation and disrupt operations which could adversely affect our business and operating results.
We are subject to laws, regulations and other legal obligations related to privacy, data protection, information and cyber security, and the costs of compliance with, and potential liability associated with, our actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could harm our business.
We receive, store and process personal information and other data from and about (i) site owners from whom we have purchased assets, (ii) the wireless carriers and tower companies from whom we receive rental payments and (iii) our employees and other service providers. Our handling of data is subject to a variety of laws and regulations by state, local and foreign agencies, as well as contractual obligations and industry standards. Regulatory focus on data privacy and security concerns continues to increase globally, and laws and regulations concerning the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information are expanding and becoming more complex.
In the United States, these include security breach notification laws and consumer protection laws, as well as state laws addressing privacy and data security. Internationally, various foreign jurisdictions in which we operate have established, or are developing, their own data privacy and security legal framework with which we or our customers must comply. In certain cases, these international laws and regulations are more restrictive than those in the United States. Our significant operations in the European Union are subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which imposes stringent data protection requirements on companies that receive or process personal information from EU residents and establishes significant penalties for non-compliance. Violations of the GDPR can result in penalties up to the greater of 20.0 million or 4% of global annual revenues and may also lead to damages claims by data controllers and data subjects. Such penalties are in addition to any civil litigation claims by data controllers, customers and data subjects. Further, the United Kingdoms departure from the European Union (Brexit) has created uncertainty regarding the regulation of data protection in the United Kingdom. In particular, although the United Kingdom enacted a Data Protection Act in May 2018 that is designed to be consistent with the GDPR, uncertainty remains regarding how data transfers to and from the United Kingdom will be regulated following Brexit.
Compliance with privacy, data protection and information security laws, regulations and other obligations, which includes a long-term engagement with a cybersecurity firm to assess IT security and implement IT best practices, penetration testing by independent external parties on a recurring basis and investment in additional server hardware and licenses to monitor security events through the use of a Security Information and Event
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Management System (SIEM), is costly, and we may encounter difficulties, delays or significant expenses in connection with our compliance, or because of our customers need to comply or our customers interpretation of their own legal requirements. In addition, any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with laws, regulations, policies, legal or contractual obligations, industry standards or regulatory guidance relating to privacy or data security could result in governmental investigations and enforcement actions, litigation, fines and penalties, exposure to indemnification obligations or other liabilities, and adverse publicity, all of which could have an adverse effect on our reputation, as well as our business, financial condition, and results of operation.
Our compliance with data security laws, regulations and legal obligations is in a context in which the frequency, intensity, and sophistication of cyber-attacks, ransom-ware attacks, and other data security incidents has significantly increased in recent years. As with many other businesses, we are continually at risk of being subject to attacks and incidents. Due to the increased risk of these types of attacks and incidents, we expend significant resources on information technology and data security tools, measures, and processes designed to protect our information technology systems, as well as the personal, confidential, or sensitive information stored on or transmitted through those systems, and to ensure an effective response to any cyber-attack or data security incident. Whether or not these measures are ultimately successful, these expenditures could have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations and divert managements attention from pursuing our strategic objectives.
If we were to lose the services of certain of senior management, it could negatively affect our business.
Our senior management developed our business model and have been integral in implementing this model in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our success depends to a significant extent upon the performance and active participation of our senior management key personnel. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in retaining the services of members of our senior management. Although we have employment agreements with certain members of our senior management, these agreements do not ensure that those officers will continue with us in their current capacity for any particular period of time. If any of our key personnel were to leave or retire, we may not be able to find an appropriate replacement on a timely basis and our results of operations could be negatively affected.
Our directors (the Directors), officers and/or certain of their respective affiliates may in the future enter into related party transactions with us, which may give rise to conflicts of interest between us and some or all of our directors and officers.
Our directors and/or officers, and/or one or more of their affiliates may in the future enter into agreements with us that are not currently contemplated. While we will not enter into any related party transaction without the approval of our Audit Committee, it is possible that the entering into of such an agreement might raise conflicts of interest between us and some of our Directors and officers. For more information and a description of our policy with respect to related party transactions, see Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.
We may enter into additional credit agreements or mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or a portion of our assets without prior approval of our stockholders.
We expect to incur additional debt to finance our operations all or a portion of which will be secured by a lien on our assets. We anticipate that the leverage we employ will vary depending on our ability to sell additional Company debt, obtain credit facilities, the targeted leveraged return we expect from our portfolio and our ability to meet ongoing covenants related to our asset mix and financial performance. Our results of operations and cash flow may be materially adversely affected to the extent that changes in market conditions cause the cost of our future financings to increase. Any significant indebtedness incurred by us or our subsidiaries could have the following material consequences, among others:
| require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of cash flow to fund acquisitions, working capital, capital expenditures, dividends, research and development efforts and other general corporate purposes; |
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| increase the amount of our interest expense because our borrowings could include instruments with variable rates of interest, which, if interest rates increase, would result in higher interest expense; |
| increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; |
| limit our ability to make strategic acquisitions, introduce new technologies or exploit business opportunities; |
| place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less indebtedness; and |
| limit, among other things, our ability to borrow additional funds. |
We may have limited redress in respect of claims under the APW Merger Agreement.
On February 10, 2020, DLGI acquired the APW Group from Associated Partners pursuant to the APW Merger Agreement. Except in the event of fraud, we cannot make a claim for indemnification against Associated Partners for a breach of the representations and warranties or covenants in the APW Merger Agreement. In connection with the APW Acquisition, we obtained a representation and warranty insurance policy to provide indemnification for breaches of certain representations and warranties, which policy will be subject to certain specified limitations and exclusions. There can be no assurance that, in the event of a claim, the insurance policy will cover the relevant losses, or that proceeds that are recoverable under the insurance policy (if any) will be sufficient to compensate us for any losses incurred. Therefore, we may have limited redress against Associated Partners and/or the representations and warranties insurance provider in respect of claims for breach of the warranties, covenants and other provisions in the APW Merger Agreement which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The due diligence undertaken by us in connection with the APW Acquisition may not have revealed all relevant considerations or liabilities of the APW Group, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Although we conducted due diligence in connection with the APW Acquisition, we cannot assure you that this due diligence revealed all relevant facts necessary to evaluate the APW Acquisition. Furthermore, the information provided during due diligence may have been incomplete, inadequate or inaccurate. As part of the due diligence process, we also made subjective judgments regarding the results of operations, financial condition and prospects of the APW Group. If the due diligence investigation failed to correctly identify material issues and liabilities that may be present in the APW Group, or if we considered certain material risks to be commercially acceptable relative to the opportunity, we may incur substantial impairment charges or other losses should such risks materialize. In addition, we may be subject to significant, previously undisclosed liabilities of the APW Group that were not identified during due diligence and that could contribute to poor operational performance and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information included in this prospectus may not be indicative of what our actual financial position or results of operations would have been.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated combined financial information for the Company following the APW Acquisition contained in this prospectus is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what our actual financial position or results of operations would have been had the APW Acquisition been completed on the dates indicated. See Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information in the financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
We are a holding company whose principal source of operating cash is the income received from our subsidiaries, which may limit our ability to pay dividends or satisfy our other financial obligations.
We are a holding company with no material assets other than our limited liability company interests in APW OpCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (APW OpCo) and the indirect parent company of the APW
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Group, and therefore we have no independent means of generating revenue or cash flow. To the extent APW OpCo has available cash, we intend to cause APW OpCo (i) to make distributions to its unitholders, including us, in an amount sufficient to cover all applicable taxes at assumed tax rates and (ii) to reimburse us for our expenses. Our ability to pay dividends will be dependent upon the financial results and cash flows of APW OpCo and distributions received from APW OpCo with respect to our limited liability company interests in APW OpCo. The amount of distributions and dividends, if any, which may be paid from APW OpCo to us will depend on many factors, including its results of operations and financial condition, limits on dividends under applicable law, our subsidiaries constitutional documents and documents governing any indebtedness of our subsidiaries, and other factors that may be outside our control. If our subsidiaries are unable to generate sufficient cash flow or APW OpCo does not make distributions to us with respect to our limited liability company interests in APW OpCo for any other reason, we may be unable to make distributions and dividends on the Class A Common Shares, pay our expenses or satisfy our other financial obligations, including our obligations to service and repay our indebtedness and to pay any dividends that may be required to be paid in respect of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares.
Risks Relating to Our Securities
We cannot assure you that we will declare dividends on our Class A Common Shares or have the available cash to make such dividend payments.
Although we may pay dividends on the Class A Common Shares at such times (if any) and in such amounts (if any) as the Board determines appropriate, our current intention is to retain any earnings for use in our business operations, and we do not anticipate declaring any dividends on the Class A Common Shares in the foreseeable future. Any future determination by us to pay dividends on our Class A Common Shares will be made at the discretion of the Board, subject to applicable laws, and may depend on a number of factors, including our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions, general business conditions and other factors that the Board may deem relevant. If our subsidiaries are unable to generate sufficient cash flow or APW OpCo does not make distributions to us with respect to our limited liability company interests in APW OpCo for any other reason, we may be unable to make distributions and dividends on our Class A Common Shares and other securities. In addition, our ability to pay cash dividends may be restricted by the terms of any future debt financing arrangements, which may contain terms restricting or limiting the amount of dividends that may be declared or paid on our Class A Common Shares and other securities. Holders of our Class A Common Shares should be aware that they have no contractual or other legal right to dividends that have not been declared. See Dividend Policy.
We may be required to issue additional Class A Common Shares pursuant to the terms of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares, which may dilute your interests in the Class A Common Shares.
The terms of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares will provide (i) that they will, in accordance with their terms, automatically convert into Class A Common Shares on a one-for-one basis (subject to adjustment in accordance with the certificate of incorporation of DLGI Delaware (the Charter), to be effective upon the Domestication) on the last day of the seventh full financial year after the Acquisition Closing Date, i.e., December 31, 2027, (or if such date is not a trading day, the first trading day immediately following such date) and (ii) that some or all of them may be converted at the option of the holder, at any time, five trading days following the Companys receipt of a written request from the holder.
In addition, once the average price per Class A Common Share (subject to adjustment in accordance with the Charter) for any ten consecutive trading days is at least $11.50, holders of Series A Founder Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive when, as and if declared by the Board, and payable in preference and priority to the declaration or payment of any dividends on the Class A Common Shares and any other junior stock a cumulative dividend in an annual dividend amount, calculated in accordance with the Charter (the Annual Dividend Amount). Such Annual Dividend Amount will be payable in Class A Common Shares or cash, in the
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sole discretion of the Board. If the Board determines to pay such Annual Dividend Amount in Class A Common Shares, then the Annual Dividend Amount will be paid by the issue of a number of Class A Common Shares equal to the Annual Dividend Amount divided by the Dividend Price. For more information on certain terms used in this paragraph and the Series A Founder Preferred Shares, see Description of Capital Stock Founder Preferred Shares Series A Founder Preferred Shares.
The precise number of Class A Common Shares that we may issue pursuant to the terms of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares cannot be ascertained at this time. The issuance of Class A Common Shares pursuant to the terms of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares will increase the number of Class A Common Shares outstanding and may therefore dilute your interests in our Class A Common Shares and/or have an adverse effect on the market price of the Class A Common Shares and the Warrants.
We may be required to issue additional Class A Common Shares pursuant to the terms of the APW LLC Operating Agreement upon the redemption or exchange of certain APW OpCo units, which may dilute your interests in the Class A Common Shares.
At any time beginning 180 days after the Acquisition Closing Date, a member of APW OpCo (other than the Company) holding Class B Common Units of APW OpCo that are Redeemable Units (as defined herein) may cause APW OpCo to redeem such Redeemable Units upon compliance with the procedures set forth in the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of AP OpCo (the APW LLC Operating Agreement). In redemption of the Redeemable Units so redeemed, the holders thereof will be entitled to receive either (i) the Share Settlement (as defined herein) of a number of Class A Common Shares equal to such Redeemable Units or (ii) the Cash Settlement (as defined herein), as determined in accordance with the procedures set forth in the APW LLC Operating Agreement by our Independent Directors who are disinterested. The Independent Directors who are disinterested may, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the APW LLC Operating Agreement, also effect the direct exchange of such Redeemable Units for the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as applicable, rather than through a redemption by APW OpCo. Simultaneous with such redemption (or direct exchange), the member of APW OpCo whose Redeemable Units were redeemed or exchanged is required to surrender to the Company for no consideration, and the Company is required to cancel for no consideration, a number of Class B Common Shares or Series B Founder Preferred Shares, as applicable, equal to the number of Redeemable Units so redeemed or exchanged. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions APW OpCo LLC Agreement Redemption of Class B Common Units and Description of Capital Stock Class B Common Shares Transfer of Class B Common Shares.
The issuance of additional Class A Common Shares pursuant to a redemption or exchange of Redeemable Units pursuant to the APW LLC Operating Agreement will increase the number of Class A Common Shares outstanding and may therefore dilute your interests in our Class A Common Shares and/or have an adverse effect on the market price of the Class A Common Shares and the Warrants.
We will be required to issue additional Class A Common Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants and/or the Options, which may dilute your interests in the Class A Common Shares.
The terms of the Warrants will provide for the issuance of Class A Common Shares upon any exercise of the Warrants. Each Warrant will entitle the holder to one-third of a Class A Common Share, exercisable in multiples of three Warrants at $11.50 per Class A Common Share (subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Warrant Instrument). Based on the number of Warrants outstanding as of [●], 2020, after giving pro forma effect to the Domestication, the maximum number of Class A Common Shares that we may be required to issue pursuant to the terms of the Warrants, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Warrant Instrument, is 16,675,000. The exercise of the Warrants will result in a dilution of the value of a stockholders interests in our Class A Common Shares if the value of a Class A Common Share exceeds the exercise price payable on the exercise of a Warrant at the relevant time.
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In addition, as of [●], 2020, after giving pro forma effect to the Domestication, we had outstanding options to acquire [●] Class A Common Shares (125,000 of which were vested). The exercise of such options will result in a dilution of the value of a stockholders interests in our Class A Common Shares.
The potential for the issuance of additional Class A Common Shares pursuant to exercise of the Warrants or the Options could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Class A Common Shares. See Description of Capital Stock Warrants.
We may issue additional shares of preferred stock in the future, and the terms of such preferred stock may reduce the value of our existing securities.
The Charter will authorize us to issue up to 202,986,033 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company. As of [●], 2020, after giving pro forma effect to the Domestication, we had outstanding 1,600,000 Series A Founder Preferred Shares and 1,386,033 Series B Founder Preferred Shares. We may issue additional shares or series of preferred stock in the future, and the terms of such preferred stock may reduce the value of the Class A Common Shares, Founder Preferred Shares and Warrants.
The Board will be authorized to create and issue one or more additional series of preferred stock, and, with respect to each series, to fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of such series, the powers (including voting powers), if any, of the shares of such series and the preferences and relative, participating, optional, special or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, if any, of the shares of such series, in each case without stockholder approval. If we create and issue one or more additional series of preferred stock, it could affect your rights or reduce the value of your investment in our securities. The Board could, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our Common Shares, including holders of the Class A Common Shares, and which could have certain anti-takeover effects. See Description of Capital Stock Additional Preferred Stock.
Future sales of substantial amounts of our securities, or the perception that such sales could occur, may have an adverse effect on the price of our securities.
Sales of substantial amounts of the Class A Common Shares or our other securities in the public market, particularly sales by our directors, executive officers and significant stockholders, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our Class A Common Shares and/or Warrants and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.
The Charter will authorize us to issue up to 1,790,000,000 shares of common stock, consisting of 1,590,000,000 Class A Common Shares and 200,000,000 Class B Common Shares. As of [●], 2020, after giving pro forma effect to the Domestication, we had outstanding 58,425,000 Class A Common Shares and 11,414,030 Class B Common Shares. In addition, as of [●], 2020, after giving pro forma effect to the Domestication, we had outstanding restricted stock awarded in respect of [●] Class A Common Shares (none of which was vested). Holders of the Class A Common Shares and the holders of the Class B Common Shares will vote together as a single class on all matters to be voted on by our stockholders, except as otherwise provided in the Charter and subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Shares. See Description of Capital Stock.
As of the Effective Time, the outstanding Class A Common Shares, Founder Preferred Shares and Warrants of DLGI Delaware will have been registered under the Securities Act, and the Class A Common Shares and Warrants may be immediately sold either by our stockholders who are not our affiliates or by the selling stockholders pursuant to this prospectus (subject, in the case of certain selling stockholders, to the transfer restrictions described below and elsewhere in this prospectus). Moreover, once we have been a reporting company subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act for 90 days,
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and assuming the availability of certain public information about us, our Directors, executive officers and other affiliates who have beneficially owned our securities for at least six months, including certain Class A Common Shares and Warrants covered by this prospectus to the extent not sold hereunder, will be entitled to sell such securities subject to volume limitations under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and certain transfer restrictions described below and elsewhere in this prospectus.
In connection with the 2017 Placing, the Series A Founders, the Series A Founder Entities and each of DLGI BVIs directors at that time (including Michael Fascitelli and Noam Gottesman) entered, and upon the Acquisition Closing Date the Series A Founder Preferred Holder entered, into lock up arrangements pursuant to which they agreed not to offer, sell or otherwise dispose of any Ordinary Shares or any other securities exchangeable for or convertible into, or substantially similar to, Ordinary Shares (including Warrants, BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares and, following the Domestication, Class A Common Shares and Series A Founder Preferred Shares) they may hold until 365 days after we completed an initial acquisition of an interest in an operating company or business, subject to certain customary exceptions. Because the Acquisition Closing Date occurred on February 10, 2020, these lock up arrangements will terminate on February 9, 2021. As of the date of this prospectus, 2,400,000 Ordinary Shares, 4,000,000 Warrants and 1,600,000 BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares are subject to these lock up arrangements (all of which are also subject to the transfer restrictions under the Shareholders Agreement described below). See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions Lock-Up Agreements.
Further, in connection with the APW Acquisition, we entered into the Shareholders Agreement, pursuant to which the Founder Entities and the other Investors (as defined herein) agreed not to make or solicit, until December 31, 2027, any transfer of any equity securities of the Company (or, in the case of Scott Bruce, Richard Goldstein and their respective permitted transferees, any BVI Series B Founder Preferred Shares or Series B Founder Preferred Shares, as applicable) owned or acquired by them or their affiliates, in each case at the time of or in connection with the APW Acquisition, subject to limited exceptions. As of the date of this prospectus, 2,400,000 Ordinary Shares, 2,781,485 BVI Class B Shares, 4,000,000 Warrants, 1,600,000 BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares and 1,386,033 BVI Series B Founder Preferred Shares are subject to these transfer restrictions. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions Shareholders Agreement Transfer Restrictions.
Also pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement, the Investors are entitled to certain demand and registration rights. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions Shareholders Agreement Registration Rights and Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions Centerbridge Agreements Centerbridge Subscription Agreement Registration Rights. We may also choose to provide additional entities certain demand and registration rights in the future, in connection with a merger, acquisition or similar transaction, or otherwise. Any registration statement we file to register additional shares of our capital stock, whether as a result of registration rights or otherwise, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.
Further, at any time beginning 180 days after the Acquisition Closing Date, a member of APW OpCo (other than the Company) holding Redeemable Units may cause APW OpCo to redeem such Redeemable Units upon compliance with the procedures set forth in the APW LLC Operating Agreement and, in redemption thereof, may be entitled to receive a Share Settlement consisting of a number of Class A Common Shares equal to such Redeemable Units. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions APW LLC Operating Agreement Redemption of Class B Common Units.
We also may issue capital stock or securities convertible into our capital stock from time to time in connection with a financing, acquisition, investments or otherwise. Any such issuance could result in substantial dilution to our existing stockholders and have an adverse effect on the market price of the Common Shares, Founder Preferred Shares and Warrants.
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Holders of our Common Shares will have the right to elect only four out of our eight Directors, which will limit the ability of such holders to influence the composition of the Board.
Pursuant to the Charter, so long as the Founder Entities, their affiliates and their permitted transferees under the Shareholders Agreement in the aggregate hold 20% or more of the issued and outstanding Founder Preferred Shares, the holders of the Founder Preferred Shares will, acting together, have the right to appoint four of the eight Directors on the Board (such Directors, the Founder Directors), two appointed by the AG Investor and two appointed by the Series A Founder Preferred Holder. In addition, the AG Group will have the right to designate a majority of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board, and at least four-ninths of other committee of the Board will be comprised of Founder Directors or other Directors selected by them. As a result, holders of our Common Shares (which include holders of both our Class A Common Shares and our Class B Common Shares) will have the right to elect only four out of our eight Directors, which will limit such holders ability to influence the composition of the Board and, in turn, potentially influence and impact future actions taken by the Board. As of the date of this prospectus, the Founder Entities hold approximately 94.98% of the outstanding BVI Founder Preferred Shares. Further, so long as Founder Preferred Shares remain outstanding, the Company may not increase the size of the Board to more than nine Directors without the prior vote or consent of the holders of at least 80% in voting power of the outstanding Founder Preferred Shares. See Description of Capital Stock Founder Preferred Shares and Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions Shareholders Agreement Founder Directors.
In addition, for so long as the Centerbridge Entities hold at least 50% of the Ordinary Shares that they purchased under the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement (or any shares of DLGI issued in exchange therefor, including Class A Common Shares), they are entitled to nominate one Director to the Board, subject to reasonable approval by AP WIP Investments Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the parent company of the APW Group (AP Wireless). As of the date of this prospectus, the Centerbridge Entities hold 100% of such shares. The Centerbridge Entities also entered into a voting agreement with us whereby the Centerbridge Entities have agreed to vote any voting securities of DLGI owned by them, certain of their transferees or any of their affiliates in favor of the Founder Director nominees for a period of one year following the Acquisition Closing Date. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions Centerbridge Agreements.
Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents and under Delaware law could delay, discourage or prevent takeover attempts or changes in our management that stockholders may consider favorable.
The Charter and bylaws (the Bylaws) of DLGI Delaware, to be effective upon the Domestication, will contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, discouraging or preventing takeover attempts or changes in our management without the consent of the Board. These provisions include:
| that so long as the Founder Entities, their affiliates and their permitted transferees under the Shareholders Agreement in aggregate hold 20% or more of the issued and outstanding Founder Preferred Shares, four of our eight Directors will be Founder Directors, appointed by the holders of the Founder Preferred Shares without any vote of the holders of our Common Shares; |
| no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which may limit the ability of minority stockholders to elect Director candidates; |
| the exclusive right of our Board to elect a director to fill a vacancy on the Board resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors, or from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other cause (subject to the rights of the holders of Founder Preferred Shares), which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our Board; |
| a prohibition on stockholder action by written consent (subject to exceptions for action by holders of Founder Preferred Shares), which forces stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders; |
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| the ability of our Board to issue preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquirer; |
| the requirement that an annual meeting of stockholders may be called only (a) by (i) the chairman or a co-chairman of the Board, (ii) the chief executive officer, (iii) the Board or (iv) an officer of the Company authorized by the Board to do so or (b) upon the written request of holders of at least 30% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock, which may delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action, including the removal of directors; |
| advance notice procedures that stockholders must comply with in order to nominate candidates to our Board or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders meeting, which may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirers own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us; |
| limitations on the liability of, and the provision of indemnification to, our directors and officers; and |
| absent our written consent to an alternative forum, the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, in the case of actions arising under the Securities Act, the federal district courts of the United States of America, for certain actions against us. |
In addition, effective upon the Domestication, we and our organizational documents will be governed by Delaware law. The application of Delaware law to us may have the effect of deterring hostile takeover attempts or a change in control. In particular, Section 203 of the DGCL imposes certain restrictions on business combinations (defined to include mergers, asset sales and other transactions) between us and interested stockholders (defined to include persons who hold 15% or more of our voting stock and their affiliates). Any provision of the Charter or Bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their securities and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our securities.
For more information, see Description of Capital Stock Anti-Takeover Provisions.
There has been no prior public market for our securities in the United States, and an active, liquid and orderly trading market for our securities may not develop or be maintained in the United States, which could limit your ability to sell our securities.
There has previously been no public market for the Class A Common Shares or the Warrants in the United States. Although we intend to apply to list the Class A Common Shares and the Warrants on Nasdaq, we cannot assure you that Nasdaq will approve such listing or that an active U.S. public market for our securities will develop or be sustained after this offering. If an active market does not develop, you may experience difficulty selling the Class A Common Shares and/or the Warrants at a price that is attractive to you or at all.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our securities adversely, the market price and trading volume of our securities could decline.
The trading market for our securities will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. Currently, securities and industry analysts do not publish research on us. If there is limited or no securities or industry analyst coverage of us, the market price and trading volume of our securities would likely be negatively impacted. If any of the analysts who may cover us adversely changes their recommendation regarding our securities, provides more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, or publishes incorrect or unfavorable research about us, the price of our securities could decline. If any analyst who may cover us were to cease coverage of us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets or demand for our securities could decrease, which could cause the market price or trading volume of our securities to decline.
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You may not be able to realize returns on your investment in our securities within a period that you would consider to be reasonable.
Investments in our securities may be relatively illiquid. There may be a limited number of investors and this factor, together with the number of Class A Common Shares, Series A Founder Preferred Shares and Warrants outstanding, may contribute both to infrequent trading in our securities and to volatile market price movements. Investors should not expect that they will necessarily be able to realize their investment in our securities within a period that they would regard as reasonable. Accordingly, the Class A Common Shares, Series A Founder Preferred Shares and Warrants may not be suitable for short-term investment. Even if an active trading market develops, the market price for the Class A Common Shares and Warrants may fall below the price at which they were purchased.
There is no guarantee that the Warrants will be in the money at a time when they are exercisable, and they may expire worthless. In addition, the terms of the Warrants may be amended without the consent of all holders.
The exercise price for the Warrants will be $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Instrument). There is no guarantee that the Warrants will be in the money at a time when they are exercisable, and as such, the Warrants may expire worthless.
In addition, the Warrant Instrument will provide that we may amend the terms of the Warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 75% of the then outstanding Warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the Warrants with the consent of holders of at least 75% of the then outstanding Warrants will be unlimited, examples of such amendments could include amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the Warrants, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of Class A Common Shares purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant. See Description of Capital Stock Warrants.
The Warrants may be mandatorily redeemed prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to holders, thereby making the Warrants worthless.
The Warrants will be subject to mandatory redemption at $0.01 per Warrant if at any time the average price per Class A Common Share equals or exceeds $18.00 (subject to any prior adjustment in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the Warrant Instrument) for a period of ten consecutive trading days. See Description of Capital Stock Warrants.
Mandatory redemption of the outstanding Warrants could force holders of Warrants:
| to exercise their Warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for them to do so; |
| to sell their Warrants at the then-current market price when they might otherwise wish to hold their Warrants; or |
| to accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding Warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of their Warrants. |
The market price of our securities may fluctuate significantly, and such volatility could adversely affect your investment in our securities.
Fluctuations in the market price of our securities could contribute to the loss of all or part of your investment in our securities. Even if an active market for our securities develops and is maintained, the market price of our securities could be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. Any of the factors listed below could have a material adverse effect on your
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investment in our securities and our securities may trade at prices significantly below the price you paid for them. In such circumstances, the trading price of our securities may not recover and may experience a further decline. A decline in the market price of our securities also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future.
Factors that may cause the market price of our securities to fluctuate significantly include, among others:
| quarterly variations in our operating results; |
| interest rate changes; |
| changes in the markets expectations about our operating results; |
| our operating results failing to meet the expectation of securities analysts or investors in a particular period; |
| changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts concerning our company or our industry in general; |
| operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us; |
| news reports relating to trends in our markets; |
| additions or departures of our Directors or executive officers; |
| changes in laws and regulations affecting our business; |
| material announcements by us or our competitors; |
| sales of substantial amounts of our securities by our Directors, executive officers or significant stockholders, or the perception that such sales could occur; |
| announcement or expectation of additional equity or debt financing efforts by us; |
| general economic and political conditions such as recessions, acts of war or terrorism and global pandemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic); and |
| the risk factors set forth in this prospectus and other matters discussed herein. |
Furthermore, broad market and industry factors could cause the market price of our securities to materially decline. The stock markets have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. These fluctuations have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the particular companies affected. A loss of investor confidence in the market for retail stocks or the stocks of other companies which investors perceive to be similar to us, as well as fluctuations in general economic, political and market conditions, could depress the price of our securities regardless of our business, prospects, financial conditions or results of operations.
We are an emerging growth company, and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting requirements applicable to us will make our securities less attractive to investors.
We qualify as an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act. As such, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies for as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, including (i) the exemption from the auditor attestation requirements with respect to internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) the exemptions from say-on-pay, say-on-frequency and say-on-golden parachute voting requirements and (iii) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they deem important. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of this offering, (b) in which we have total
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annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A Common Shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our prior second fiscal quarter and (ii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the exemption from complying with new or revised accounting standards provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. An emerging growth company can therefore delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. The JOBS Act provides, however, that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected to opt out of such extended transition period. As a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the same timeline as other public companies, and we will not be able to revoke such election.
We cannot predict if investors will find our securities less attractive because of our status as an emerging growth company and reliance on related exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and our stock price may be more volatile.
Being a U.S. public company requires significant resources and management attention and may affect our ability to attract and retain executive management and qualified Board members.
As a U.S. public company following this offering, we will incur legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not previously incur. We will be subject to the Exchange Act, including the reporting requirements thereunder, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Nasdaq listing requirements and other applicable securities rules and regulations. Compliance with these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time consuming or costly and increase demand on our systems and resources, particularly after we are no longer an emerging growth company.
Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Section 404), we will be required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting, including an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. However, while we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to include this attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. When our independent registered public accounting firm is required to undertake an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, the cost of complying with Section 404 will significantly increase and managements attention may be diverted from other business concerns, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. We may need to hire more employees in the future or engage outside consultants to comply with these requirements, which will further increase our costs and expenses. If we fail to implement the requirements of Section 404 in the required timeframe, we may be subject to sanctions or investigations by regulatory authorities, including the SEC and Nasdaq. Furthermore, if we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of our securities could decline, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by regulatory authorities. Failure to implement or maintain effective internal control systems required of public companies could also restrict our future access to the capital markets. In addition, enhanced legal and regulatory regimes and heightened standards relating to corporate governance and disclosure for public companies result in increased legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more time consuming.
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The Charter will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders. The Charter will also provide that the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. These choice of forum provisions could limit our stockholders ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our Directors, officers or employees.
The Charter will provide that, unless we consent in writing to an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our Directors, officers or employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Charter or the Bylaws and (iv) any action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware (in each case, unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, in which case the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding will be another state or federal court located within the State of Delaware).
The Charter will also provide that, unless we consent in writing to an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of and have consented to the forum provisions in the Charter. These choice of forum provisions may limit a stockholders ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our Directors, officers, other employees or stockholders which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provisions contained in the Charter to be inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Risks Relating to Taxation
Holders of Series A Founder Preferred Shares may have to pay taxes if we make distributions of Class A Common Shares on the Series A Founder Preferred Shares, even if such holders do not receive any cash.
Under certain circumstances, the holders of Series A Founder Preferred Shares may receive distributions of Class A Common Shares. The distribution of Class A Common Shares may be treated as a taxable stock dividend under Section 305(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), depending on the circumstances that exist at the time of the distribution. One such instance in which a distribution would be taxable is where, as a result of a stock dividend, a shareholders proportionate interest in the earnings and profits or assets of the Company is increased while any other shareholder receives a distribution (or deemed distribution) of cash or other property from the Company. The application of Section 305 of the Code to the distribution of Class A Common Shares on the Series A Founder Preferred Shares is not clear, and it is possible that the IRS will take a view that is contrary to the position that we take at the time of any future distribution. If Section 305(b) of the Code is applied to a distribution, a holder of Series A Founder Preferred Shares who receives Class A Common Shares could be treated as having received a taxable distribution in an amount equal to the value of such Class A Common Shares. Holders of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares should read Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences and consult their tax advisers regarding the risk of having a taxable distribution as a result of the receipt of Class A Common Shares.
41
Holders may have to pay taxes if we adjust the number of Class A Common Shares into which the Series A Founder Preferred Shares are convertible, or if we adjust the exercise price with respect to the Warrants, even though holders would not receive any cash.
Holders of the Warrants and Series A Founder Preferred Shares may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have received constructive distributions where an adjustment is made to the number of Class A Common Shares into which Series A Founder Preferred Shares are convertible, or an adjustment is made to the exercise price with respect to the Warrants. If such adjustments are made, the holders of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares or the Warrants, as applicable, may be deemed to have received a taxable distribution. Accordingly, U.S. Holders could be considered to have received distributions taxable as dividends even though they did not receive any cash or property as a result of such adjustments. In addition, non-U.S. Holders (as defined in Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences) of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares or the Warrants may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have received a distribution subject to U.S. federal withholding tax. Please consult your tax advisor and read Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of such adjustments.
42
Overview
As promptly as practicable following the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, DLGI BVI intends to domesticate to the United States from the British Virgin Islands and will incorporate in Delaware, as DLGI Delaware, by means of a statutory domestication under Section 388 of the DGCL and Section 184 of the BVI Business Companies Act (the Domestication). We refer to the effective time of the Domestication as the Effective Time.
To effect the Domestication, upon the final approval of our Board and the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we intend to file with the British Virgin Islands Registrar of Corporate Affairs a notice of continuation out of the British Virgin Islands and file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a certificate of corporate domestication and the Charter. Under British Virgin Islands law and Delaware law, the Domestication is deemed effective upon the filing of the certificate of corporate domestication and the Charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. In addition, DLGI must file with the British Virgin Islands Registrar of Corporate Affairs certified copies of the certificates filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware within 30 days of the date of their issuance by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Upon our making this filing in the British Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands Registrar of Corporate Affairs will issue a certificate of discontinuance and, at that time, DLGI shall cease to be registered as a company in the British Virgin Islands. We intend to file the certified copies of the certificates filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with the British Virgin Islands Registrar of Corporate Affairs on the same day such certified copies are issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the Domestication, the Board and the shareholders will approve the Charter. In connection with the Domestication, the Board will adopt the Bylaws, to be effective upon the Domestication. DLGI is not required by British Virgin Islands law to receive, and has not sought or received, approval of a plan of arrangement in the British Virgin Islands, and no plan of arrangement is contemplated.
Following the Domestication, DLGI Delaware will be deemed to be the same legal entity as DLGI BVI. As further discussed below, none of our business, assets and liabilities on a consolidated basis, nor our directors, executive officers, principal business locations and fiscal year, are expected to change as a result of the Domestication. In connection with the Domestication, the Company intends to change its name to Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc.
Background and Reasons for the Domestication
We consider Delaware to be a longstanding leader in adopting, implementing and interpreting comprehensive and flexible corporate laws that are responsive to the legal and business needs of corporations. The Board believes that the Domestication will, among other things:
| provide legal, administrative and other similar efficiencies; |
| relocate our jurisdiction of organization to one that is the choice of domicile for many publicly-traded corporations, in part because there is an abundance of case law to assist in interpreting the DGCL and the Delaware legislature frequently updates the DGCL to reflect current technology and legal trends; and |
| provide a more favorable corporate environment which will help us compete more effectively with other publicly-traded companies in raising capital and in attracting and retaining skilled, experienced personnel, including because Delaware law is more developed and provides more guidance than British Virgin Islands law on matters regarding a companys ability to limit director liability. |
43
Effects of the Domestication
The BVI Companies Act permits a British Virgin Islands company to discontinue from the British Virgin Islands and continue in an appointed jurisdiction (which includes Delaware) as if it had been incorporated under the laws of that other jurisdiction. While we intend to seek and obtain shareholder approval of the Charter prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, shareholder approval of the Domestication is not required by the BVI Companies Act or the BVI Articles to effect the Domestication, and the Domestication is not conditioned on receipt of such approval. We are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send us a proxy. The BVI Companies Act does not provide shareholders with statutory rights of appraisal in relation to a discontinuance under the BVI Companies Act.
Section 388 of the DGCL provides that an entity organized in a country outside the United States may become domesticated as a corporation in Delaware by filing in Delaware a certificate of incorporation and a certificate of corporate domestication stating, among other things, that the domestication has been approved as provided in the organizational documents of the non-U.S. entity or applicable non-Delaware law, as appropriate. Section 388 of the DGCL provides that prior to the filing of a certificate of corporate domestication with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the domestication and the certificate of incorporation to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware must be approved in the manner provided for by the document, instrument, agreement or other writing, as the case may be, governing the internal affairs of the non-U.S. entity and the conduct of its business or by applicable non-Delaware law, as appropriate. Section 388 of the DGCL does not provide any other approval requirements for a domestication. The DGCL does not provide stockholders with statutory rights of appraisal in connection with a domestication under Section 388.
Pursuant to Section 184 of the BVI Companies Act, upon discontinuation DLGI BVI will cease to be a company incorporated under the BVI Companies Act and will continue as the same legal entity incorporated under the laws of Delaware. Similarly, Section 388 of the DGCL provides that, upon domesticating in Delaware:
| DLGI Delaware shall be deemed to be the same entity as DLGI BVI, and the domestication shall constitute a continuation of the existence of DLGI BVI in the form of DLGI Delaware; |
| all rights, privileges and powers, as well as all property, of DLGI BVI shall remain vested in DLGI Delaware; |
| all debts, liabilities and duties of DLGI BVI shall remain attached to DLGI Delaware and may be enforced against DLGI Delaware to the same extent as if originally incurred by it; and |
| unless otherwise agreed to or otherwise required under applicable British Virgin Islands law, the domestication shall not be deemed a dissolution of DLGI BVI. |
No Change in Business, Locations, Fiscal Year or Employee Plans
The Domestication will effect a change in our jurisdiction of incorporation, and other changes of a legal nature, including changes in our organizational documents, which are described in this prospectus. However, DLGI Delaware will be deemed to be the same legal entity as DLGI BVI.
Accordingly, the business, assets and liabilities of DLGI and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as well as our principal locations and fiscal year, will be the same upon effectiveness of the Domestication as they are prior to the Domestication. Further, upon effectiveness of the Domestication, all of our obligations will continue as outstanding and enforceable obligations of DLGI Delaware.
All DLGI BVI employee benefit plans and agreements will be continued by DLGI Delaware. The terms of our share-based benefit plans provide that, following the Domestication, shares of stock in DLGI Delaware will be issued upon the exercise of any options or the payment of any other share-based awards granted under the plans.
44
Accounting Treatment of the Domestication
There will be no accounting effect or change in the carrying amount of the consolidated assets and liabilities of DLGI BVI as a result of Domestication. The consolidated business, capitalization, assets, liabilities and financial statements of DLGI Delaware immediately following the Domestication will be the same as those of DLGI BVI immediately prior thereto.
Our Directors and Executive Officers
Our Directors before the effectiveness of the Domestication will be the Directors of DLGI Delaware from and after the effectiveness of the Domestication. Our current Directors are William H. Berkman, Michael D. Fascitelli, Nick S. Advani, Antoinette Cook Bush, Noam Gottesman, Paul A. Gould, Thomas C. King and William D. Rahm. See Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance Directors.
Our executive officers before the effectiveness of the Domestication will be the executive officers of DLGI Delaware from and after the effectiveness of the Domestication. Our current executive officers are William H. Berkman (Chief Executive Officer), Scott G. Bruce (President), Richard I. Goldstein (Chief Operating Officer), Glenn J. Breisinger (Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer) and Jay L. Birnbaum (General Counsel). See Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance Executive Officers.
In addition, Daniel Hasselman and Scott Langeland will continue to serve as Co-CEOs of the AP Wireless Operating Subsidiaries (as defined herein). See Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance Certain Officers of AP Wireless Operating Subsidiaries.
Domestication Share Conversion
In the Domestication, DLGI BVIs issued and outstanding securities will automatically convert into securities of DLGI Delaware. Specifically, at the Effective Time:
| each issued and outstanding Ordinary Share will automatically convert, by operation of law, on a one-to-one basis into a Class A Common Share; |
| each issued and outstanding BVI Class B Share will automatically convert, by operation of law, on a one-to-one basis into a Class B Common Share; |
| each issued and outstanding BVI Series A Founder Preferred Share will automatically convert, by operation of law, on a one-to-one basis into a Series A Founder Preferred Share; |
| each issued and outstanding BVI Series B Founder Preferred Share will automatically convert, by operation of law, on a one-to-one basis into a Series B Founder Preferred Share; |
| all outstanding Warrants to acquire Ordinary Shares will automatically become Warrants to acquire Class A Common Shares under the same terms and in the same proportion; and |
| all outstanding options and any other rights to acquire shares of DLGI BVI will automatically become options and other rights to acquire the corresponding shares of DLGI Delaware under the same terms. |
Consequently, at the Effective Time, each holder of an Ordinary Share, BVI Class B Share, BVI Founder Preferred Share or Warrant or option to acquire Ordinary Shares will instead hold a Class A Common Share, Class B Common Share, Founder Preferred Share or Warrant or option to acquire Class A Common Shares, respectively, representing the same proportional equity interest in DLGI Delaware as that holder held in DLGI BVI immediately prior to the Effective Time. The number of shares of DLGI Delaware outstanding immediately after the Effective Time will be the same as the number of shares of DLGI BVI outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
45
We do not intend to issue new stock certificates to DLGI Delaware stockholders who currently hold any of our share certificates in connection with the Domestication, and it is not necessary for shareholders of DLGI BVI to exchange their existing share certificates for share certificates of DLGI Delaware in connection with the Domestication. A shareholder who currently holds any of our share certificates will receive a new stock certificate upon request pursuant to Section 158 of the DGCL or upon any future transaction in common stock of DLGI Delaware that requires our transfer agent to issue stock certificates in exchange for existing share certificates. Until surrendered and exchanged, each certificate evidencing Ordinary Shares will be deemed for all purposes of the Company to evidence the identical number of Class A Common Shares. Holders of uncertificated Ordinary Shares immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Domestication will continue as holders of uncertificated Class A Common Shares upon effectiveness of the Domestication.
Similarly, DLGI Delaware will not issue new options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares in DLGI Delaware until a future transaction that requires the issuance of options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares in DLGI Delaware in exchange for existing options, warrants or rights to acquire shares in DLGI BVI. Until surrendered and exchanged, each existing option, warrant or other right to acquire Ordinary Shares or any other shares in DLGI BVI will be deemed for all purposes of the Company to evidence an option, warrant or other right to acquire the identical number (or fraction, as applicable) of Class A Common Shares or other corresponding shares in DLGI Delaware.
Comparison of Shareholder Rights
As described above, the Domestication will change our jurisdiction of incorporation from the British Virgin Islands to the State of Delaware and, as a result, our organizational documents will change and will be governed by Delaware law rather than British Virgin Islands law. Those new organizational documents of DLGI Delaware, which consist of the Charter and the Bylaws, will contain, and Delaware law contains, provisions that may differ in certain respects from those in DLGI BVIs current organizational documents, which consist of the BVI Articles, and British Virgin Islands law.
The following are among the most significant differences between the existing BVI Articles of DLGI BVI and British Virgin Islands law, on the one hand, and the Charter and Bylaws of DLGI Delaware and Delaware law, on the other hand:
| Delaware law will provide that amendments to the Charter must be approved by both the Board and by the stockholders of DLGI Delaware, while British Virgin Islands law permits amendments to the BVI Articles to be made either by the shareholders or, where the BVI Articles and British Virgin Islands law permit, by resolutions of the Board (although the BVI Articles do not currently permit any amendments to be made by the Board); |
| Delaware law prohibits the repurchase of shares of DLGI Delaware when its capital is impaired or would become impaired by the repurchase, while there are no such capital limitations in the BVI Companies Act; |
| the Bylaws require stockholders desiring to bring a matter before an annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate a candidate for election as director to provide notice to DLGI Delaware within certain time frames, while the BVI Articles do not contain similar advance notice requirements; |
| under Delaware law, only the stockholders may remove directors, while under British Virgin Islands law, a majority of the directors may remove a fellow director (although this power has been restricted under the BVI Articles); |
| under Delaware law, directors may not act by proxy, while under British Virgin Islands law, directors may appoint another director or person to vote in his place, exercise his other rights as director, and perform his duties as director; |
| the Charter and Bylaws do not provide stockholders of DLGI Delaware with preemptive rights, while the BVI Articles provide shareholders of DLGI BVI with certain preemptive rights; and |
46
| under Delaware law, business combinations with interested stockholders (each as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) are prohibited for a certain period of time absent certain requirements, while British Virgin Islands law provides no similar prohibition. |
For a more detailed description of certain differences between the rights that shareholders of DLGI BVI currently have under the BVI Articles and British Virgin Islands law, and the rights that stockholders of DLGI Delaware will have under the Charter, Bylaws and Delaware law after we become a Delaware corporation in the Domestication, see Comparison of Stockholder Rights.
No Vote or Dissenters Rights of Appraisal in the Domestication
Under the BVI Companies Act and the BVI Articles, our shareholders do not have statutory rights of appraisal or any other appraisal rights of their shares as a result of the Domestication. Nor does Delaware law provide for any such rights. Shareholder approval of the Domestication is not required by the BVI Companies Act or the BVI Articles to effect the Domestication, and the Domestication is not conditioned on receipt of such approval. We are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send us a proxy.
47
We will not receive any proceeds from the offering of the Class A Common Shares, Series A Founder Preferred Shares or the Warrants in the Domestication.
We will receive the proceeds from the exercise of Warrants, but not from the sale of the underlying shares. In the event of the exercise of all of the outstanding Warrants at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, we would expect to receive $575,287,500. We intend to use any proceeds for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions.
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of any Class A Common Shares by the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds from the sale of any Class A Common Shares offered by them under this prospectus. The selling stockholders will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the selling stockholders for brokerage, accounting, tax, legal services or any other expenses incurred by the selling stockholders in disposing of such shares. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the Class A Common Shares covered by this prospectus.
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We may pay dividends on the Class A Common Shares at such times (if any) and in such amounts (if any) as the Board determines. Our current intention is to retain any earnings for use in our business operations, and we do not anticipate declaring any dividends on the Class A Common Shares in the foreseeable future. We will pay dividends only to the extent that to do so is in accordance with all applicable laws.
Once the Average Price per Class A Common Share (subject to adjustment in accordance with the Charter) for any ten consecutive Trading Days is at least $11.50, a holder of Series A Founder Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive when, as and if declared by the Board, and payable in preference and priority to the declaration or payment of any dividends on the Class A Common Shares and any other junior stock a cumulative annual dividend of the Annual Dividend Amount for each relevant Dividend Year. Such dividend will be payable in Class A Common Shares or cash, in the sole discretion of the Board. In the first Dividend Year in which such dividend becomes payable, such dividend will be equal in value to (i) 20% of the increase in the market value of one Class A Common Share, being the difference between $10.00 and the Dividend Price, multiplied by (ii) such number of Class A Common Shares equal to the Preferred Share Dividend Equivalent.
Thereafter, the Annual Dividend Amount will become payable only if the Dividend Price during any subsequent Dividend Year is greater than the highest Dividend Price in any preceding Dividend Year in which a dividend was paid in respect of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares. Such Annual Dividend Amount will be equal in value to 20% of the increase in the Dividend Price over the highest Dividend Price in any preceding Dividend Year multiplied by the Preferred Share Dividend Equivalent. On the last day of the seventh full financial year after the Acquisition Closing Date, i.e. December 31, 2027, (or, if any such day is not a Trading Day, the first Trading Day immediately following such day), the Series A Founder Preferred Shares will automatically convert to Class A Common Shares on a one-to-one basis (subject to adjustment in accordance with the Charter).
The Series A Founder Preferred Shares will participate in any dividends on the Class A Common Shares on an as-converted to Class A Common Shares basis. In addition, commencing on and after the Acquisition Closing Date, where the Company pays a dividend on the Class A Common Shares, the Series A Founder Preferred Shares will also receive an amount equal to 20% of the dividend that would be distributable on such number of Class A Common Shares equal to the Preferred Share Dividend Equivalent. All such dividends on the Series A Founder Preferred Shares will be paid contemporaneously with the dividends on the Class A Common Shares.
The Class B Common Shares and the Series B Founder Preferred Shares will not entitle their holders to receive any distributions or dividends.
For more information on the terms used in this section and the dividend rights of the Series A Founder Preferred Shares, see Description of Capital Stock Founder Preferred Shares Series A Founder Preferred Shares.
49
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY
PRIOR TO THE APW ACQUISITION
The following tables present selected historical consolidated financial information of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to the completion of the APW Acquisition as of the dates and for each of the periods indicated. The selected historical consolidated financial information as of and for the periods ended October 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company (prior to its completion of the APW Acquisition) included elsewhere in this prospectus. Effective as of the Acquisition Closing Date, the Company changed its fiscal year end from October 31 of each year to December 31 of each year.
The selected historical consolidated financial information included below is not necessarily indicative of future results and should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information, as well as the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
Year Ended October 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
(in thousands, except share and per-share data) |
||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data: |
||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
$ | 7,537 | $ | 7,661 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Operating loss |
(7,537 | ) | (7,661 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Investment income |
11,308 | 7,264 | ||||||
Other income, net |
226 | 250 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
3,997 | (147 | ) | |||||
Income tax expense |
979 | 375 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 3,018 | $ | (522 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share |
$ | 0.06 | $ | (0.01 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
As of October 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 501,331 | $ | 3,434 | ||||
Marketable securities |
| 490,127 | ||||||
Total assets |
501,407 | 493,589 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
8,377 | 3,577 | ||||||
Total stockholders equity |
493,030 | 490,012 |
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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE PREDECESSOR
Following the closing of the APW Acquisition on February 10, 2020, the APW Group is considered to be our Predecessor for financial reporting purposes.
The following tables present selected historical consolidated financial information of our Predecessor, as of the dates and for each of the periods indicated. The selected historical consolidated financial information as of and for the periods ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of our Predecessor included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The selected historical consolidated financial information included below is not necessarily indicative of future results and should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information, as well as the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
(in thousands, except per share data) |
||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data: |
||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 55,706 | $ | 46,406 | ||||
Cost of service |
326 | 233 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Gross profit |
55,380 | 46,173 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Selling, general and administrative |
36,783 | 27,891 | ||||||
Management incentive plan |
893 | 5,241 | ||||||
Amortization and depreciation |
19,132 | 29,170 | ||||||
Impairment decommission of cell sites |
2,570 | 271 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Operating loss |
(3,998 | ) | (16,400 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency debt |
(6,118 | ) | 13,836 | |||||
Interest expense, net |
(32,038 | ) | (27,811 | ) | ||||
Other income (expense), net |
177 | (2,468 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Loss before income taxes |
(41,977 | ) | (32,843 | ) | ||||
Income tax expense |
2,468 | 2,833 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net loss |
$ | (44,445 | ) | $ | (35,676 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Per Share Data |
||||||||
Cash dividends declared per share |
N/A | N/A | ||||||
Income (loss) per share from continuing operations (basic and diluted) |
N/A | N/A |
As of December 31, | ||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: |
||||||||
Cash and restricted cash |
$ | 78,046 | $ | 101,414 | ||||
Trade receivables, net |
7,578 | 5,863 | ||||||
Real property interests, net |
427,160 | 352,673 | ||||||
Total assets |
532,809 | 472,360 | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
22,786 | 13,813 | ||||||
Rent received in advance |
13,856 | 11,290 | ||||||
Finance lease liabilities |
16,200 | | ||||||
Cell site leasehold interest liabilities |
16,841 | 26,554 | ||||||
Debt, net of deferred financing costs |
572,931 | 493,866 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
648,145 | 550,234 | ||||||
Members deficit |
(115,336 | ) | (77,874 | ) |
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As of or for Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||||
Other Data |
||||||||
Leases (1) |
6,046 | 4,904 | ||||||
Sites (2) |
4,586 | 3,717 | ||||||
Acquisition Capex (3) |
$ | 98,926 | $ | 79,840 | ||||
EBITDA (4) |
$ | 9,193 | $ | 24,138 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA (4) |
$ | 20,473 | $ | 19,699 | ||||
Ground Cash Flow (5) |
$ | 55,380 | $ | 46,173 | ||||
Annualized In-place Rents (6) |
$ | 62,095 | $ | 51,221 |
(1) | Leases is an operating metric that represents each lease acquired by the APW Group. Each site purchased by the APW Group consists of at least one revenue producing lease stream, and many of these sites contain multiple lease streams. |
(2) | Sites is an operating metric that represents each individual physical location where the APW Group has acquired a real property interest or a contractual right that generates revenue. |
(3) | Acquisition Capex is a non-GAAP financial measure. Acquisition Capex is calculated based on total dollars spent on the direct costs related to the acquisition of assets during the period measured. Management believes the presentation of Acquisition Capex provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the financial performance and growth of the APW Group. Acquisition Capex has important limitations as an analytical tool, because it excludes certain fixed and variable costs related to the APW Groups selling and marketing activities included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations, including corporate overhead expenses. Further, this financial measure may be different from calculations used by other companies and comparability may therefore be limited. You should not consider Acquisition Capex or any of the other non-GAAP measures we utilize as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results. |
The following is a reconciliation of Acquisition Capex to the amounts included as an investing cash flow in the APW Groups consolidated statements of cash flows for investments in real property interests and related intangible assets, the most comparable GAAP measure. The adjustments to the comparable GAAP measure primarily include investments resulting from incurring liabilities under origination agreements that future cash payments, including both the recorded amounts at the present value of the future cash payments and all future interest costs under these arrangements as of the origination dates. Additionally, foreign exchange translation adjustments impact the determination of Acquisition Capex.
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
Investments in real property interests and related intangible assets cash |
$ | 78,052 | $ | 67,146 | ||||
Noncash investments under lease and installment arrangements |
16,989 | 13,940 | ||||||
Future interest on noncash investments lease and installment agreements |
3,199 | 1,963 | ||||||
Foreign exchange translation impacts and other |
686 | (3,209 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Acquisition Capex |
$ | 98,926 | $ | 79,840 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(4) | EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before net interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by taking EBITDA and further adjusting for management incentive plan expense, non-cash impairment decommission of cell sites expense, realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency debt, unrealized foreign exchange gains/losses associated with intercompany account balances denominated in a currency other than the functional currency and severance costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Management believes the presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the financial condition and results of operations of the APW Group. Each of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA |
52
has important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income, therefore the calculation of these financial measures may be different from the calculations used by other companies and comparability may therefore be limited. You should not consider EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA or any of our other non-GAAP financial measures as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results. |
The following are reconciliations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most comparable GAAP measure:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | (44,445 | ) | $ | (35,676 | ) | ||
Amortization and depreciation |
19,132 | 29,170 | ||||||
Interest expense, net |
32,038 | 27,811 | ||||||
Income tax expense |
2,468 | 2,833 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
EBITDA |
9,193 | 24,138 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Impairment decommission of cell sites |
2,570 | 271 | ||||||
Realized/unrealized loss (gain) on foreign currency debt |
6,118 | (13,836 | ) | |||||
Management incentive plan expense |
893 | 5,241 | ||||||
Non-cash foreign currency adjustments |
(632 | ) | 3,885 | |||||
One-time severance expense |
2,331 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Adjusted EBITDA (a) |
$ | 20,473 | $ | 19,699 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(a) | Adjusted EBITDA includes the impact of 100% of selling, general, and administrative expense from the applicable statement of operations. Management estimates that approximately 80% of the historical selling, general, and administrative costs for each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are related to the acquisition of revenue producing assets. Therefore, if costs associated with the acquisition of revenue producing assets was excluded from the statement of operations the corresponding Adjusted EBITDA would be significantly higher. In contrast, if the additional selling, general, and administrative costs related to management compensation and expenses that, prior to the Acquisition Closing Date and for the periods presented, were obligations of Associated Group Management (the manager of Associated Partners) were included in the statement of operations, then such items would correspondingly decrease historical Adjusted EBITDA. |
(5) | Ground cash flow is a non-GAAP measure that measures the revenue that is directly attributable to the site rental revenue generated from our real property interests and contractual rights. Ground cash flow is calculated as revenue less cost of site-specific service expenses, which are generally limited to expenses such as taxes, utilities, maintenance, and insurance. Ground cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure equivalent to Gross Profit on the APW Groups financial statements. Management believes the presentation of ground cash flow provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the results of operations of the APW Group. Ground cash flow has important limitations as an analytical tool because it does not account for the effect of our other expenses, including selling, general and administrative expenses that do not relate directly to the financial performance of our real property interests and contractual rights. You should not consider ground cash flow or any of the other non-GAAP measures we utilize as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results. |
53
The following is a reconciliation of ground cash flow to revenue, the most comparable GAAP measure.
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 55,706 | $ | 46,406 | ||||
Cost of service |
326 | 233 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Ground cash flow |
$ | 55,380 | $ | 46,173 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(6) | Annualized in-place rents is a non-GAAP measure that measures performance based on annualized contractual revenue from the rents expected to be collected on the leases in place as of the measurement date. Annualized in-place rents is calculated using the implied monthly revenue from all revenue producing leases that are in place as of the measurement date multiplied by twelve. Management believes the presentation of annualized in-place rents provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the financial performance and growth of the APW Group. Annualized in-place rents has important limitations as an analytical tool because, among other things, the underlying leases used in calculating the annualized in-place rents financial measure may be terminated, new leases may be acquired, or the contractual rents payable under such leases may not be collected. In these respects, among others, annualized in-place rents differs from revenue, which is the closest comparable GAAP measure and which represents all revenues (contractual or otherwise) earned over the applicable period. You should not consider annualized in-place rents or any of the other non-GAAP measures we utilize as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results. |
54
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
On February 10, 2020 (the Acquisition Closing Date), DLGI completed the APW Acquisition and acquired a 91.8% interest in APW OpCo, the parent of AP Wireless and the indirect parent of the APW Group, for consideration of approximately $860 million less (i) debt as of June 30, 2019 of approximately $539 million, (ii) approximately $65 million to redeem a minority investor in the AP Wireless business, (iii) allocable transaction expenses of approximately $10.7 million plus (iv) cash as of June 30, 2019 of approximately $66.5 million (subject to certain limited adjustments). Also on the Acquisition Closing Date, in connection with the APW Acquisition, DLGI entered into the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which the Centerbridge Entities subscribed for $100 million of Ordinary Shares, at a price of $10.00 per Ordinary Share (the Centerbridge Subscription).
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presented below has been prepared on the basis set forth in the notes below and have been adjusted to illustrate the estimated effects of (i) the APW Acquisition and (ii) the Centerbridge Subscription (collectively, the Transactions). The APW Acquisition is being accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method with DLGI as the accounting acquirer in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 805, Business Combinations. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared as if the Transactions had been completed on October 31, 2019, for balance sheet purposes, and on November 1, 2018, for statement of operations purposes.
The historical financial information of DLGI has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of DLGI as of and for the year ended October 31, 2019, included elsewhere in this prospectus. The historical information of the APW Group has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the APW Group as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, included elsewhere in this prospectus. Subsequent to the APW Acquisition, DLGI changed its fiscal year end from October 31 to December 31.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of October 31, 2019 and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the twelve months ended October 31, 2019 (collectively, the Pro Forma Statements) have been prepared in compliance with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act using accounting policies in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The pro forma adjustments presented below are based on preliminary estimates and currently available information and assumptions that management believes are reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances and are factually supported based on information currently available. The notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information provide a discussion of how such adjustments were derived and presented in the Pro Forma Statements. Changes in facts and circumstances or discovery of new information may result in revised estimates. As a result, there may be material adjustments to the Pro Forma Statements. Certain historical DLGI and APW Group financial statement caption amounts have been reclassified or combined to conform to presentation and the disclosure requirements of the combined company.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information included below is not necessarily indicative of future results and should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, as well as the separate consolidated financial statements of DLGI and the APW Group and notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus, including the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto of DLGI as of and for the year ended October 31, 2019 and the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto of APW Group as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, which has been provided for illustrative purposes only, by its nature addresses a hypothetical situation and, therefore, does not purport to represent our actual results or financial position or what they would have been had the Transactions occurred on the dates assumed, and may not be indicative of future results or financial position.
55
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of October 31, 2019
(In thousands)
DLGI(a) | APW Group(a) |
Adjustments | Note 3 | Pro Forma Combined |
||||||||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 501,331 | $ | 62,892 | $ | (325,424 | ) | (b | ) | $ | 294,997 | |||||||||
(43,302 | ) | (c | ) | |||||||||||||||||
99,500 | (f | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash |
| 1,140 | 1,140 | |||||||||||||||||
Trade receivable, net |
| 7,578 | 7,578 | |||||||||||||||||
Prepaid expense and other current assets |
76 | 9,199 | 9,275 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current assets |
$ | 501,407 | $ | 80,809 | $ | (269,226 | ) | $ | 312,990 | |||||||||||
Real property interests, net: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Right-of-use assets finance leases, net |
| 80,498 | 69,902 | (d | ) | 150,400 | ||||||||||||||
Cell site leasehold interests, net |
| 346,662 | 402,538 | (d | ) | 749,200 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Real property interests, net |
| 427,160 | 472,440 | 899,600 | ||||||||||||||||
Intangible asset, net |
| 2,848 | 2,552 | (d | ) | 5,400 | ||||||||||||||
Goodwill |
| | 30,508 | (d | ) | 30,508 | ||||||||||||||
Property and equipment, net |
| 1,095 | | 1,095 | ||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax asset |
| 991 | | 991 | ||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash, long-term |
| 14,014 | | 14,014 | ||||||||||||||||
Other long-term assets |
| 5,892 | 3,183 | (c | ) | 9,075 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 501,407 | $ | 532,809 | $ | 239,457 | $ | 1,273,673 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY/ MEMBERS DEFICIT |
| |||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$ | 8,377 | $ | 22,786 | $ | (6,380 | ) | (c | ) | $ | 24,783 | |||||||||
Rent received in advance |
| 13,856 | 13,856 | |||||||||||||||||
Finance lease liabilities, current |
| 5,749 | 5,749 | |||||||||||||||||
Cell site leasehold interest liabilities, current |
| 8,379 | 8,379 | |||||||||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs |
| 48,884 | 48,884 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
8,377 | 99,654 | (6,380 | ) | 101,651 | |||||||||||||||
Finance lease liabilities |
| 10,451 | 10,451 | |||||||||||||||||
Cell site leasehold interest liabilities |
8,462 | 8,462 | ||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs |
| 524,047 | 524,047 | |||||||||||||||||
Other long-term liabilities |
| 5,531 | 5,531 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total liabilities |
8,377 | 648,145 | (6,380 | ) | 650,142 | |||||||||||||||
Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||||||||||||||
Stockholders equity / Members deficit |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares |
| | | |||||||||||||||||
BVI Series B Founder Preferred Shares |
| | | |||||||||||||||||
Ordinary Shares |
| | | |||||||||||||||||
BVI Class B Shares |
| | | |||||||||||||||||
Class A units |
| 33,672 | (33,672 | ) | (d | ) | | |||||||||||||
Common units |
| 85,347 | (85,347 | ) | (d | ) | | |||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
490,534 | | 99,500 | (f | ) | 659,883 | ||||||||||||||
69,487 | (e | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
362 | (e | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) |
2,496 | (208,883 | ) | 208,883 | (d | ) | (101,092 | ) | ||||||||||||
(33,739 | ) | (c | ) | |||||||||||||||||
(69,487 | ) | (e | ) | |||||||||||||||||
(362 | ) | (e | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
| (25,472 | ) | 25,472 | (d | ) | | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total stockholders equity attributable to the Company/ Members deficit |
493,030 | (115,336 | ) | 181,097 | 558,791 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Non-controlling interest |
| | 64,740 | (b | ) | 64,740 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total stockholders equity/ Members deficit |
493,030 | (115,336 | ) | 245,837 | 623,531 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders equity/ Members deficit |
$ | 501,407 | $ | 532,809 | $ | 239,457 | $ | 1,273,673 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
56
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations Year Ended October 31, 2019
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
DLGI(a) | APW Group(a) |
Pro Forma Adjustments |
Note 3 | Pro Forma Combined |
||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
$ | | $ | 55,706 | $ | $ | 55,706 | |||||||||||||
Cost of service |
| 326 | 326 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Gross profit |
| 55,380 | | 55,380 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Operating Expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
7,537 | 36,783 | 12,914 | (g | ) | 51,777 | ||||||||||||||
(6,380 | ) | (j | ) | |||||||||||||||||
923 | (k | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Management incentive plan |
| 893 | 893 | |||||||||||||||||
Amortization and depreciation |
| 19,132 | 23,088 | (h | ) | 42,323 | ||||||||||||||
103 | (i | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Impairment decommission of cell sites |
| 2,570 | 2,570 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
7,537 | 59,378 | 30,648 | 97,563 | ||||||||||||||||
Operating loss |
(7,537 | ) | (3,998 | ) | (30,648 | ) | (42,183 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other income (expense): |
||||||||||||||||||||
Investment income |
11,308 | | (11,308 | ) | (l | ) | | |||||||||||||
Interest income |
233 | | 233 | |||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
| (32,038 | ) | (32,038 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Foreign exchange |
(7 | ) | (6,118 | ) | (6,125 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other |
| 177 | 177 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total other income (expense), net |
11,534 | (37,979 | ) | (11,308 | ) | (37,753 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income tax expense |
3,997 | (41,977 | ) | (41,956 | ) | (79,936 | ) | |||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
979 | 2,468 | 3,447 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 3,018 | $ | (44,445 | ) | $ | (41,956 | ) | $ | (83,383 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest |
| (6,837 | ) | (m | ) | (6,837 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company |
$ | 3,018 | $ | (44,445 | ) | $ | (35,119 | ) | $ | (76,546 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income (loss) per Ordinary Share, basic and diluted |
$ | 0.06 | $ | (1.31 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average Ordinary Shares, outstanding, basic and diluted |
48,425,000 | 10,000,000 | (n | ) | 58,425,000 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information
57
Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
Note 1 Basis of Presentation and Description of Transactions
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information was prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of SEC Regulation S-X and presents the pro forma financial position and results of operations of the combined companies based upon the historical data of DLGI and the APW Group.
Description of Transactions
Upon completion of the APW Acquisition on the Acquisition Closing Date, DLGI acquired a 91.8% interest in APW OpCo, the parent of AP Wireless and the indirect parent of the APW Group, for consideration of approximately $860 million less (i) debt as of June 30, 2019 of approximately $539 million, (ii) approximately $65 million to redeem a minority investor in the AP Wireless business, (iii) allocable transaction expenses of approximately $10.7 million plus (iv) cash as of June 30, 2019 of approximately $66.5 million (subject to certain limited adjustments). The acquisition was completed through a merger of one of DLGIs subsidiaries with and into APW OpCo, with APW OpCo surviving such merger as a majority owned subsidiary of DLGI. Following the APW Acquisition, DLGI owns 91.8% of APW OpCo, with certain former partners of Associated Partners who were members of APW OpCo immediately prior to the Acquisition Closing Date and who elected to roll over their investment in APW OpCo in connection with the APW Acquisition (the Continuing OpCo Members) owning the remaining 8.2% interest in APW OpCo.
The aggregate consideration transferred in the APW Acquisition was approximately $390 million, which consisted of cash consideration of approximately $325 million and equity consideration of approximately $65 million. The cash component of the consideration, which includes approximately $65 million to redeem a minority investor in the AP Wireless business, was funded through the liquidation of cash equivalents owned by DLGI. The equity component of the consideration represents the fair value of the limited liability company units in APW OpCo issued to the Continuing OpCo Members, and includes Class B Common Units, Series A Rollover Profits Units and Series B Rollover Profits Units (collectively, the Consideration Units).
In connection with the APW Acquisition, DLGI entered into the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement with the Centerbridge Entities. Pursuant to the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement, the Centerbridge Entities subscribed for $100 million of Ordinary Shares, at a price of $10.00 per Ordinary Share, on the Acquisition Closing Date. The cash proceeds from the Centerbridge Subscription are available for general working capital purposes. Set forth below is a table detailing the number of Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of October 31, 2019, on an actual basis and on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Centerbridge Subscription:
Actual | Pro forma | |||||||
Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding |
48,425,000 | 58,425,000 |
Basis of Presentation
The historical consolidated financial statements have been adjusted in the pro forma condensed combined financial statements to give effect to pro forma events that are (1) directly attributable to the APW Acquisition, (2) factually supportable and (3) with respect to the pro forma condensed combined statement of operations, expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results of DLGI following the APW Acquisition.
The APW Acquisition is being accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method with DLGI as the accounting acquirer in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. As the accounting acquirer, DLGI has estimated the fair value of the APW Groups assets acquired and liabilities assumed and conformed the accounting policies of the APW Group to its own accounting policies.
58
The pro forma combined financial statements do not necessarily reflect what the combined companys financial condition or results of operations would have been had the acquisition occurred on the dates indicated. They also may not be useful in predicting the future financial condition and results of operations of the combined company. The actual financial position and results of operations may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors.
Items Not Adjusted in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
During the APW Groups fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the APW Group was managed by and under the direction of Associated Partners, and the APW Groups executive officers were employees of Associated Group Management, the manager of Associated Partners. DLGI anticipates that the APW Acquisition will result in an estimate of approximately $11.5 million of annual incremental selling, general and administrative expenses for the internalization of the APW Group management team, which prior to the APW Acquisition were obligations of Associated Group Management and therefore excluded from the selling, general, and administrative expenses of the APW Group. Additionally, DLGI estimates that the APW Acquisition will result in an additional $7.0 million of year-one public company costs, which are also excluded from the selling, general, and administrative expenses of the APW Group. The inclusion of these costs would decrease Cash and cash equivalents by $18.5 million and increase the stockholders equity accumulated deficit by a corresponding $18.5 million on the unaudited consolidated pro forma balance sheet. Additionally, the inclusion of these costs on the unaudited pro forma statement of operations would increase selling, general and administrative expenses by $18.5 million and increase net loss by $18.5 million.
Note 2 Preliminary purchase price allocation
The aggregate purchase consideration transferred in the APW Acquisition was estimated to be approximately $390.2 million, and is calculated as the sum of the fair values of the cash and equity consideration, as follows:
(in thousands) | ||||
Cash consideration |
$ | 325,424 | ||
Equity consideration |
64,740 | |||
|
|
|||
Total consideration |
$ | 390,164 | ||
|
|
In connection with the APW Acquisition, the APW OpCo units held by the Continuing OpCo Members prior to the APW Acquisition were canceled and converted into the right to receive BVI Class B Shares and certain limited liability company units in APW OpCo as equity consideration. Such limited liability company units in APW OpCo consisted of Class B Common Units, Series A Rollover Profit Units and Series B Rollover Profit Units (collectively, the Consideration Units). The Company determined that the Consideration Units represent and are accounted for as a single, hybrid financial instrument classified as permanent equity and presented as noncontrolling interests on the balance sheet in the consolidated financial statements of DLGI. The estimated fair value of the Consideration Units was calculated as monte carlo simulation model, using the following assumptions: 18.6% expected volatility, a risk-free interest rate of 1.47%, estimated term of 7 years and a fair value of DLGIs Ordinary Shares of $10.00.
59
DLGI has performed a preliminary valuation analysis of the fair market value of the APW Groups assets and liabilities. The following table summarizes the allocation of the preliminary purchase price as of the Acquisition Closing Date:
(in thousands) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 62,892 | ||
Restricted cash |
1,140 | |||
Trade receivable, net |
7,578 | |||
Prepaid expense and other current assets |
9,199 | |||
Right-of-use assets finance leases |
150,400 | |||
Cell site leasehold interests |
749,200 | |||
Intangible assets |
5,400 | |||
Property and equipment |
1,095 | |||
Deferred tax asset |
991 | |||
Restricted cash, long term |
14,014 | |||
Other long-term assets |
5,892 | |||
Goodwill |
30,508 | |||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
(22,786 | ) | ||
Rent received in advance |
(13,856 | ) | ||
Finance lease liabilities |
(16,200 | ) | ||
Cell site leasehold interest liabilities |
(16,841 | ) | ||
Long-term debt |
(572,931 | ) | ||
Other long-term liabilities |
(5,531 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Total consideration, including cash acquired |
$ | 390,164 | ||
|
|
Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total consideration transferred is allocated to the acquired tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities of the APW Group based on their estimated fair values as of the transaction close date. Identified intangible assets relate to in-place tenant leases.
The preliminary purchase price allocation has been used to prepare pro forma adjustments in the pro forma condensed combined balance sheet and condensed combined statement of operation. The final purchase price allocation will be determined when the Company has completed the detailed valuations and necessary calculations. The final allocation could differ materially from the preliminary allocation used in the pro forma adjustments. The final allocation may include (1) changes in fair values of right-of-use assets and cell site leasehold interests, (2) changes in allocations to intangibles assets such as in-place tenant leases as well as goodwill and (3) other changes to assets and liabilities.
Amortization related to the fair value adjustments to the right-of-use assets, cell site leasehold interests and identified in-place tenant lease intangible assets is reflected as a pro forma adjustment in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations based on the estimated remaining useful lives, as further described in Note 3(h) and Note 3(i). The fair value of the right-of-use assets, cell site leasehold interests and identified in-place tenant lease intangible assets and related amortization are preliminary and are based on preliminary valuations prepared by third-party advisors and reviewed by management. As discussed above, the amount that will ultimately be allocated to right-of-use assets, cell site leasehold interests and identified in-place tenant lease intangible assets and the related amount of amortization, may differ materially from this preliminary allocation. In addition, the amortization impacts will ultimately be based upon the periods in which the associated economic benefits or detriments are expected to be derived. Therefore, the amount of amortization following the APW Acquisition may differ significantly between periods based upon the final value assigned and amortization methodology used for each the right-of-use assets, cell site leasehold interests and identified in-place tenant lease intangible asset.
60
Note 3 Pro forma adjustments
The pro forma adjustments are based on preliminary estimates and assumptions that are subject to change. In certain circumstances, the pro forma adjustment was based on a determination of fair value. Estimating fair value requires management judgment and often involves the use of estimates and assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset, liability or equity at the measurement date. The following adjustments have been reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information:
a) | The historical financial information of DLGI has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of DLGI as of and for the year ended October 31, 2019, included elsewhere in this prospectus. The historical financial information of the APW Group has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the APW Group as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, included elsewhere in this prospectus. |
b) | Adjustment to reflect the acquisition consideration transferred by DLGI, which includes the Consideration Units transferred as equity consideration to the Continuing OpCo Members and the cash consideration transferred to other former members of APW OpCo, who elected to receive cash in lieu of equity consideration, as part of the APW Acquisition. |
c) | Adjustment to reflect the transaction costs of approximately $43.3 million paid in conjunction with the APW Acquisition, including but not limited to financial advisory fees, attorneys fees and accountants fees. Of the estimated transaction costs: |
1. | approximately $3.2 million represents prepaid insurance amounts to be amortized over future periods and have been reflected as an adjustment to Other long-term assets in the pro-forma balance sheet; |
2. | approximately $6.4 million were previously accrued by DLGI within Accounts payable and accrued expenses on the balance sheet as of October 31, 2019 and have been adjusted in the pro forma balance sheet to reflect payment of these costs upon the closing of the APW Acquisition; and |
3. | approximately $33.7 million are shown as a cash adjustment to retained earnings in the pro forma balance sheet as if they were already incurred as of closing of the APW Acquisition. As this will not have an ongoing impact to the statement of operations, it is not presented as an adjustment in the pro forma statement of operations. |
d) | Represents the elimination of the historical equity of the APW Group and the initial allocation of excess purchase price to the fair value adjustment to right-of-use assets, cell site leasehold interests, intangible assets and goodwill, as follows: |
Total consideration |
$ | 390,164 | ||
Elimination of the historical equity of APW Group |
||||
Class A Units |
(33,672 | ) | ||
Common Units |
(85,347 | ) | ||
Retained earnings |
208,883 | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
25,472 | |||
Step-up of assets: |
||||
Increase in fair value of right-of-use assets finance leases |
(69,902 | )(1) | ||
Increase in fair value of cell site leasehold interests |
(402,538 | )(1) | ||
Increase in intangible assets |
(2,552 | )(2) | ||
|
|
|||
Goodwill |
$ | 30,508 | ||
|
|
1. | The preliminary fair value of the right-of-use assets and cell site leasehold interests (collectively, the real property interests) was estimated under an income approach based upon managements projections of monthly cash flows for the beneficial rights to the real property interests. With consideration given to the specified term of each real property interest arrangement, which ranged from 23 to 99 years as of the Acquisition Closing Date, the monthly cash flow streams were discounted to |
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present value using an appropriate pre-tax discount rate for the geographic region of each arrangement, with the discount rate for each region determined based on a base pre-tax discount rate for the United States with a premium to account for additional risk associated with the respective region. Discount rates used in the determination of the fair value of real property interests ranged from 8.2% to 18.5%. |
2. | The fair value of the intangible assets was estimated under a replacement cost method. This approach measures the value of an asset by the cost to reconstruct or replace it with another of like utility. The in-place lease intangible asset represents the avoided cost of originating the acquired lease with the in-place tenant. Based on industry experience, the Company estimated one month as a reasonable amount of time to allot for origination of a tenant lease. Accordingly, the fair value of the in-place lease intangible asset approximated the cash flows associated with one-months net cash flows for each in-place tenant lease. |
e) | Adjustment reflects DLGIs recording of an estimated share-based expense associated with the grant date fair value of the Annual Dividend Amount in respect of the BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares and the stock options granted to three of DLGI BVIs directors Lord Myners and Messrs. Isaacs and Yamen (collectively, the Independent Non-Founder DLGI BVI Directors) , which were triggered upon the closing of the APW Acquisition. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions Director Options and Warrants. The share-based expense represents a one-time expense recorded at the closing of the APW Acquisition and will not have a continuing impact on the consolidated statement of operations in future periods. Accordingly, it is not presented as an adjustment in the pro forma statement of operations; however, the adjustment is reflected as a reduction in retained earnings and an increase in additional paid-in capital in the unaudited pro forma balance sheet. |
The estimated grant date fair value of $69.5 million associated with the Annual Dividend Amount in respect of the BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation, using the following assumptions: fair value of DLGIs Ordinary Shares of $10.00, 83.3% probability of acquisition, 38.68% expected volatility, a risk-free interest rate of 2.26% and estimated time to acquisition of 1.5 years.
This estimated grant date fair value of $0.4 million associated with the stock options granted to the Independent Non-Founder DLGI Directors was calculated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: fair value of DLGIs ordinary shares of $10.00, a risk-free interest rate of 2.06%, 34.79% expected volatility and no dividend yield.
f) | Reflects the net proceeds from the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement of $99.5 million, which represents gross proceeds of $100.0 million calculated on the basis that the Company issued 10 million new Ordinary Shares at a price of $10.00 per share, net of estimated offering costs incurred in connection with the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement of approximately $0.5 million, which are recognized in additional paid-in capital. |
g) | Adjustment to record the vesting of long-term incentive awards granted to certain executives of APW Group in conjunction with the APW Acquisition. The grant date fair value of the long-term incentive awards will be recognized ratably over the service periods, ranging from approximately 3 to 7 years. The estimated grant date fair values of the long-term incentive awards were calculated either: (1) based upon the price of the Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement or (2) using a Monte Carlo simulation model, using the following assumptions: fair value of DLGIs Ordinary Shares of $10.00, 18.6-19.4% expected volatility, a risk-free interest rate of 1.47-1.59% and estimated term of 7-9 years. |
h) | Represents the amortization adjustment of acquired real property interests resulting from the fair value adjustment of these assets. DLGI estimated that the fair value of the right-of-use assets and cell site leasehold interests was greater than the APW Groups carrying value as of December 31, 2019 by approximately $69.9 million and $402.5 million, respectively. The amortization adjustment was calculated as the future annual amortization amounts on the real property interests less historical amortization recorded on the real property interests during the year ended December 31, 2019. The future annual amortization amounts on the real property interest was determined using a straight-line method of depreciation based on |
62
an estimated weighted average remaining useful lives of the right-of-use assets and cell site leasehold interests of approximately 25 years and 21 years, respectively. |
i) | Represents the amortization adjustment of the in-place tenant lease intangible asset calculated as the future annual amortization amounts less historical amortization recorded on intangible assets during the year ended December 31, 2019. The future amortization of the in-place tenant lease intangible asset was based on an estimated useful life of 8.5 years. The estimated useful life was determined based on a review of the time period over which the economic benefit is estimated to be generated, generally considered to be the remaining cell site lease term with the in-place tenant, including ordinary renewals at the option of the tenant. |
j) | Reflects the elimination of non-recurring transaction costs recorded by DLGI as selling, general and administrative expense during the year ended October 31, 2019. |
k) | Adjustment to record the amortization of prepaid insurance costs incurred in the APW Acquisition over the term of the policy of 3 years to 6 years. |
l) | Adjustment to eliminate DLGIs investment income during the year ended October 31, 2019. The marketable securities and cash equivalents that generated the investment income were used as proceeds in the APW Acquisition and therefore would not have resulted in investment income if the APW Acquisition had been completed as of the beginning of the period. |
m) | Adjustment to allocate net income (loss) to noncontrolling interest holders as a result of the issuance of limited liability company units in APW OpCo as part of the consideration transferred in the APW Acquisition. The net income (loss) allocated to noncontrolling interest is computed by applying the percentage of limited liability company units in APW OpCo issued to the Continuing OpCo Members of approximately 8.2%. |
n) | Represents the increase in the weighted average shares outstanding due to the issuance of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Centerbridge Subscription as follows: |
Weighted average Ordinary Shares, outstanding, basic and diluted, as reported |
48,425,000 | |||
Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to the Centerbridge Subscription |
10,000,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Pro forma weighted average Ordinary Shares, outstanding, basic and diluted |
58,425,000 | |||
|
|
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS BUSINESS
The following is a discussion and analysis of our financial condition and result of operations and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Please see Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this prospectus, particularly under Risk Factors.
Overview
We are a holding company with no material assets other than our limited liability company interests in APW OpCo, the sole member of AP Wireless and indirect parent of the APW Group. We were incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands on November 1, 2017 and were formed to undertake an acquisition of a target company or business. On November 20, 2017, we raised approximately $500 million before expenses through the 2017 Placing and a private subscription by the Series A Founders for the BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares, and our Ordinary Shares and Warrants were listed on the LSE.
On February 10, 2020, we completed the APW Acquisition. Effective as of the Acquisition Closing Date, the APW Group is considered to be our Predecessor for financial reporting purposes. Except as the context otherwise requires, for all dates and periods ending on or before the Acquisition Closing Date, the historical financial results discussed below with respect to such periods reflect the results of the APW Group. We did not own the APW Group during any such periods, and such historical financial results may not be indicative of the results we would expect to recognize for periods after the Acquisition Closing Date, or that we would have recognized had we owned the APW Group during such periods.
Except as the context otherwise requires, references in the following discussion to the Company, DLGI, we, our or us with respect to periods prior to the Acquisition Closing Date are to the APW Group and its operations prior to the Acquisition Closing Date; such references with respect to periods after to the Acquisition Closing Date are to DLGI and its subsidiaries (including the APW Group) and their operations after the Acquisition Closing Date. AP Wireless and its subsidiaries (including AP WIP Investments) continue to exist as separate subsidiaries of DLGI and those entities are separately financed, with each having debt obligations that are not obligations of DLGI. See Liquidity and Capital Resources Debt Obligations below. For a chart showing our simplified organizational structure following the APW Acquisition, see Liquidity and Capital Resources Debt Obligations below.
In connection with the Domestication, we intend to change our name from Digital Landscape Group, Inc. to Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc.
The APW Group
The APW Group is one of the largest international aggregators of rental streams underlying wireless sites through the acquisition of wireless telecom real property interests and contractual rights. The APW Group purchases, primarily for a lump sum, the right to receive future rental payments generated pursuant to an existing Tenant Lease (and any subsequent lease or extension or amendment thereof). Typically, the APW Group acquires the rental stream by way of a purchase of a real property interest in the land underlying the wireless tower or antennae, most commonly easements, usufructs, leasehold and sub-leasehold interests, or fee simple interests, each of which provides the APW Group the right to receive the rents from the Tenant Lease. In addition, the APW Group purchases contractual interests, such as an assignment of rents, either in conjunction with the property interest or as a stand-alone right. As of December 31, 2019, the APW Group had interests in
64
approximately 6,100 leases that generate rents for the APW Group. These leases related to properties that were situated on approximately 4,600 different communications sites throughout the United States and 18 other countries. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the APW Groups revenue was $55.7 million, and annualized in-place rents were approximately $62.1 million. For a definition of annualized in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
The APW Groups primary objectives are to continuously acquire, aggregate and hold underlying real property interests and revenue streams critical for wireless communications. The APW Group purchases the right to receive future rental payments generated pursuant to an existing Tenant Lease between a property owner and an owner of a wireless tower or antennae either through an up-front payment or on an installment basis from landowners who have leased their property to companies that own telecommunications infrastructure assets. The real property interests (other than fee simple interests which are perpetual) typically have stated terms of 30 to 99 years, although some are shorter, and provide the APW Group with the right to receive the future income from the future Tenant Lease rental payments over a specified duration. In most cases, the stated term of the real property interest is longer than the remaining term of the Tenant Lease, which provides the APW Group with the right and opportunity for renewals and extensions. In addition to real property rights, the APW Group acquires contractual rights by way of an assignment of rents. The rent assignment is a contractual obligation pursuant to which the property owner assigns its right to receive all communications rents relating to the property, including rents arising under the Tenant Lease, to the APW Group. A rent assignment relates only to an existing Tenant Lease and therefore would not provide the APW Group the ability automatically to benefit from lease renewals beyond those provided for in the existing Tenant Lease. However, in these cases, the APW Group either limits the purchase price of the asset to the term of the current Tenant Lease or obtains the ability to negotiate future leases and a contractual obligation from the property owner to assign rental streams from future Tenant Lease renewals.
The APW Groups primary long-term objective is to continue to grow its business organically, through annual rent escalators, the addition of new tenants and/or lease modifications, and acquisitively, as it has done in recent years, and fully take advantage of the established asset management platform it has created.
Recent Developments
APW Acquisition
On November 19, 2019, we announced our entry into a definitive agreement to acquire AP Wireless and its subsidiaries from Associated Partners. Upon completion of the APW Acquisition on the Acquisition Closing Date, we acquired a 91.8% interest in APW OpCo, the parent of AP Wireless and the indirect parent of the APW Group, for consideration of approximately $860 million less (i) debt as of June 30, 2019 of approximately $539 million, (ii) approximately $65 million to redeem a minority investor in the AP Wireless business and (iii) allocable transaction expenses of approximately $10.7 million plus (iv) cash as of June 30, 2019 of approximately $66.5 million (subject to certain limited adjustments). The acquisition was completed through a merger of one of DLGIs subsidiaries with and into APW OpCo, with APW OpCo surviving such merger as a majority owned subsidiary of ours. Following the APW Acquisition, we own 91.8% of APW OpCo, with certain former partners of Associated Partners who were members of APW OpCo immediately prior to the Acquisition Closing Date and who elected to roll over their investment in APW OpCo in connection with the APW Acquisition (the Continuing OpCo Members) owning the remaining 8.2% interest in APW OpCo. As a result, the AP Wireless business is 100% owned by DLGI and the Continuing OpCo Members. See Certain Relationships and Related Party TransactionsAPW Merger Agreement for more information.
Certain securities of APW OpCo issued and outstanding upon completion of the APW Acquisition are subject to time and performance vesting conditions. In addition, all securities of APW OpCo held by persons other than the Company are exchangeable for Ordinary Shares and, following the Domestication, will be exchangeable for Class A Common Shares. If all APW OpCo securities vested and no securities have been
65
exchanged for Ordinary Shares or Class A Common Shares, as applicable, the Company will own approximately 82.0% of APW OpCo. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions APW OpCo LLC Agreement for more information about the APW OpCo securities, and Security Ownership by Management and Certain Beneficial Owners for more information about ownership of our securities.
The APW Acquisition constituted a Reverse Takeover under United Kingdom listing rules, causing the listing on the LSE of the Ordinary Shares and Warrants to be suspended on November 20, 2019 pending the Company publishing a prospectus in relation to admission of the Class A Common Shares and Warrants to listing. The United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority accepted the Companys application for listing on March 27, 2020 and trading of the Companys Ordinary Shares and Warrants on the LSE recommenced on April 1, 2020. In connection with the filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we intend to apply to list the Class A Common Shares and Warrants on Nasdaq under the symbols [●] and [●], respectively, effective upon the completion of the Domestication. We intend to cancel the listing of the Ordinary Shares and Warrants on the LSE upon the listing of the Class A Common Shares and Warrants on Nasdaq.
Centerbridge Subscription
In connection with the APW Acquisition, the Company entered into the Centerbridge Subscription Agreement with the Centerbridge Entities, pursuant to which the Centerbridge Entities subscribed for $100 million of Ordinary Shares, at a price of $10 per Ordinary Share, on the Acquisition Closing Date. The cash proceeds from the Centerbridge Subscription are available for general working capital purposes, including the acquisition of real property interests and revenue streams critical for wireless communications. See Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions Centerbridge Agreements Centerbridge Subscription Agreement for more information.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements presented and discussed below include the accounts of AP WIP Investments and its wholly owned subsidiaries, as well as a variable interest entity (VIE) for which a subsidiary of AP WIP Investments is considered the primary beneficiary. Such consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated.
Effective as of February 10, 2020, the Acquisition Closing Date, the APW Group is considered to be our Predecessor for financial reporting purposes. Except as the context otherwise requires, for all dates and periods ending on or before the Acquisition Closing Date, the historical financial results discussed below with respect to such periods reflect the results of the APW Group. We did not own the APW Group during any such periods, and such historical financial results may not be indicative of the results we would expect to recognize for periods after the Acquisition Closing Date, or that we would have recognized had we owned the APW Group during such periods.
Key Factors Affecting Financial Results
The APW Group operates in a complex environment with several factors affecting its operations in addition to those described above. The following discussion describes key factors affecting AP Wireless and the APW Group, and that will affect the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates, interest rates, and inflation rates
The APW Groups results are affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates that give rise to translational exchange rate risks.
66
Translation Risks
The APW Groups business consists of eleven different functional currencies. The reporting currency of the Company is U.S. dollars. Movement in exchange rates have a direct impact on the reported revenues of the business.
A portion of the impact to the revenues reported from movement in exchange rates is offset from expenses denominated in the same functional currencies.
The APW Group has debt facilities denominated in Euro and British pounds sterling. Movement to the exchange rates for the Euro and Pound Sterling will impact the amount of interest expense reported by the Company.
Interest Rate Risks
Changes in global interest rates may have an impact on the acquisition price of cell site lease prepayments. Changes to the acquisition price can impact the APW Groups ability to deploy capital at company targeted returns. The APW Group limits interest rate risk on debt instruments through long term debt with fixed interest rates.
Inflation Rate Risks
As of December 31, 2019, approximately 68% of the APW Groups Tenant Lease contract escalators were tied to a local CPI or OMV. Low global inflation rates could have a material impact on the annual growth of our revenue and annualized in-place rents.
Competition
The APW Group faces varying levels of competition in the acquisition of its assets in each operating country. Some competitors are larger and include public companies with greater access to capital and scale of operations than the APW Group. Competition can drive up the acquisition price of cell site lease prepayment, which would have an impact on the amount of revenue acquired on an annual basis.
Network Consolidation
Virtually all Tenant Leases associated with the APW Groups assets permit the tenant to cancel the lease at any time with limited prior notices. Generally, a lease termination is permitted with only 30180 days notice from the tenant. The risk of termination is greater upon a network consolidation and merger between two wireless carriers. The APW Groups two largest customers accounted for 22% of its revenue for each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. See Risk Factors Risks Relating to Our Business and the Industry If the wireless carriers or tower companies consolidate their operations, exit the wireless communications business or share site infrastructure to a significant degree, our business and profitability could be materially and adversely affected.
Seasonality
The APW Group has historically acquired approximately 35% of annual cell cite lease prepayments in the fourth quarter of the year. The impact and timing of these cell lease prepayments in the fourth quarter can have a delayed impact on the annual revenue recognized by the APW Group. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the below table compares the revenue recognized on the audited financial statements compared to the annualized in-place rents of the APW Group as of the end of that period. For a definition of annualized
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in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
Revenue for year ended December 31 |
$ | 55,706 | $ | 46,406 | ||||
Annualized in-place rents as of December 31 |
$ | 62,095 | $ | 51,221 |
Key Statement of Operations Items
Revenue
The APW Group generates revenue by acquiring the right to receive future rental payments at operating wireless communications sites generated pursuant to existing Tenant Leases between a property owner and companies that own and operate cellular communication towers and other telecommunications infrastructure. Revenue is generated on in-place existing Tenant Leases, amendments and extensions on in-place existing Tenant Leases, and additional Tenant Leases at the operating wireless communications site. Revenue is recorded as earned over the term of the lease.
Selling, general, and administrative expense
Selling, general, and administrative expense predominantly relates to activities associated with the acquisition of wireless communications assets and consists primarily of sales and related compensation expense, marketing expense, data accumulation cost, underwriting costs, site inspection cost, notary fees and other legal and professional fees, travel and facilities costs.
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency debt
The APW Groups debt facilities are denominated in Euros, Pound Sterling and U.S. dollars, with U.S. dollars being the APW Groups functional currency. The Facility Agreement is denominated in Euros and Pound Sterling and the Facility Agreements balance is translated to U.S. dollars on the balance sheet date and any resulting translation adjustments are reported on the APW Groups statement of operations as a gain (loss) on foreign currency debt.
Interest expense
Interest expense includes interest due under the APW Groups debt agreements, amortization of deferred financing costs and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties.
Key Performance Indicators
Leases
Leases is an operating metric that represents each lease acquired by the APW Group. Each site purchased by the APW Group consists of at least one revenue producing lease stream, and many of these sites contain multiple lease streams. The APW Group had 6,046 leases as of December 31, 2019, and 4,904 leases as of December 31, 2018.
Sites
Sites is an operating metric that represents each individual physical location where the APW Group has acquired a real property interest or a contractual right that generates revenue. The APW Group had 4,586 sites as of December 31, 2019, and 3,717 sites as of December 31, 2018.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
AP WIP Investments identifies certain additional financial measures to be used internally not defined by GAAP which are beneficial in assessing its annual financial performance. The non-GAAP measures are additional financial measures not defined by GAAP that provide supplemental information we believe is useful to analysts and investors to evaluate our financial performance and ongoing results of operations, when considered alongside other GAAP measures such as net income, operating income, gross profit and net cash provided by operating activities. These non-GAAP measures exclude the financial impact of items management does not consider in assessing our ongoing operating performance, and thereby facilitate review of our operating performance on a period-to-period basis.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before net interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by taking EBITDA and further adjusting for management incentive plan expense, non-cash impairmentdecommission of cell sites expense, realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency debt, unrealized foreign exchange gains/losses associated with intercompany account balances denominated in a currency other than the functional currency and severance costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Management believes the presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the financial condition and results of operations of the APW Group. Each of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA has important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income, therefore the calculation of these financial measures may be different from the calculations used by other companies and comparability may therefore be limited. You should not consider EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA or any of our other non-GAAP financial measures as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results.
The following are reconciliations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most comparable GAAP measure:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | (44,445 | ) | $ | (35,676 | ) | ||
Amortization and depreciation |
19,132 | 29,170 | ||||||
Interest expense, net |
32,038 | 27,811 | ||||||
Income tax expense |
2,468 | 2,833 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
EBITDA |
9,193 | 24,138 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Impairment decommission of cell sites |
2,570 | 271 | ||||||
Realized/unrealized loss (gain) on foreign currency debt |
6,118 | (13,836 | ) | |||||
Management incentive plan expense |
893 | 5,241 | ||||||
Non-cash foreign currency adjustments |
(632 | ) | 3,885 | |||||
One-time severance expense |
2,331 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Adjusted EBITDA (1) |
$ | 20,473 | $ | 19,699 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | Adjusted EBITDA includes the impact of 100% of selling, general, and administrative expense from the applicable statement of operations. Management estimates that approximately 80% of the historical selling, general, and administrative costs for each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are related to the acquisition of revenue producing assets. Therefore, if costs associated with the acquisition of revenue producing assets was excluded from the statement of operations the corresponding Adjusted EBITDA would be significantly higher. In contrast, if the additional selling, general, and administrative |
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costs related to management compensation and expenses that, prior to the Acquisition Closing Date and for the periods presented, were obligations of Associated Group Management (the manager of Associated Partners) were included in the statement of operations, then such items would correspondingly decrease historical Adjusted EBITDA. |
Acquisition Capex
Acquisition Capex is a non-GAAP financial measure. Acquisition Capex is calculated based on total dollars spent on the direct costs related to the acquisition of assets during the period measured. Management believes the presentation of Acquisition Capex provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the financial performance and growth of the APW Group. Acquisition Capex has important limitations as an analytical tool, because it excludes certain fixed and variable costs related to the APW Groups selling and marketing activities included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations, including corporate overhead expenses. Further, this financial measure may be different from calculations used by other companies and comparability may therefore be limited. You should not consider Acquisition Capex or any of the other non-GAAP measures we utilize as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results.
The following is a reconciliation of Acquisition Capex to the amounts included as an investing cash flow in the APW Groups consolidated statements of cash flows for investments in real property interests and related intangible assets, the most comparable GAAP measure. The adjustments to the comparable GAAP measure primarily include investments resulting from incurring liabilities under origination agreements that future cash payments, including both the recorded amounts at the present value of the future cash payments and all future interest costs under these arrangements as of the origination dates. Additionally, foreign exchange translation adjustments impact the determination of Acquisition Capex.
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
Investments in real property interests and related intangible assets cash |
$ | 78,052 | $ | 67,146 | ||||
Noncash investments under lease and installment arrangements |
16,989 | 13,940 | ||||||
Future interest on noncash investments lease and installment agreements |
3,199 | 1,963 | ||||||
Foreign exchange translation impacts and other |
686 | (3,209 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Acquisition Capex |
$ | 98,926 | $ | 79,840 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Ground Cash Flow
Ground cash flow is a non-GAAP measure that measures the revenue that is directly attributable to the site rental revenue generated from our real property interests and contractual rights. Ground cash flow is calculated as revenue less cost of site-specific service expenses, which are generally limited to expenses such as taxes, utilities, maintenance, and insurance. Ground cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure equivalent to Gross Profit on the APW Groups financial statements. Management believes the presentation of ground cash flow provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the results of operations of the APW Group. Ground cash flow has important limitations as an analytical tool because it does not account for the effect of our other expenses, including selling, general and administrative expenses that do not relate directly to the financial performance of our real property interests and contractual rights. You should not consider ground cash flow or any of the other non-GAAP measures we utilize as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results.
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The following is a reconciliation of ground cash flow to revenue, the most comparable GAAP measure.
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 55,706 | $ | 46,406 | ||||
Cost of service |
326 | 233 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Ground cash flow |
$ | 55,380 | $ | 46,173 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Annualized In-Place Rents
Annualized in-place rents is a non-GAAP measure that measures performance based on annualized contractual revenue from the rents expected to be collected on the leases in place as of the measurement date. Annualized in-place rents is calculated using the implied monthly revenue from all revenue producing leases that are in place as of the measurement date multiplied by twelve. Management believes the presentation of annualized in-place rents provides valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in assessing the financial performance and growth of the APW Group. Annualized in-place rents has important limitations as an analytical tool because, among other things, the underlying leases used in calculating the annualized in-place rents financial measure may be terminated, new leases may be acquired, or the contractual rents payable under such leases may not be collected. In these respects, among others, annualized in-place rents differs from revenue, which is the closest comparable GAAP measure and which represents all revenues (contractual or otherwise) actually received over the applicable period. You should not consider annualized in-place rents or any of the other non-GAAP measures we utilize as an alternative or substitute for AP WIP Investments results.
Results of Operations
The selected financial information for the APW Group for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 set out below has been extracted without material adjustment from the consolidated financial information of the APW Group included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data |
||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 55,706 | $ | 46,406 | ||||
Cost of service |
326 | 233 | ||||||
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Gross profit |
55,380 | 46,173 | ||||||
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Selling, general and administrative |
36,783 | 27,891 | ||||||
Management incentive plan |
893 | 5,241 | ||||||
Amortization and depreciation |
19,132 | 29,170 | ||||||
Impairment decommission of cell sites |
2,570 | 271 | ||||||
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|||||
Operating loss |
(3,998 | ) | (16,400 | ) | ||||
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|
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|
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Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency debt |
(6,118 | ) | 13,836 | |||||
Interest expense, net |
(32,038 | ) | (27,811 | ) | ||||
Other (expense) income, net |
177 | (2,468 | ) | |||||
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|
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Loss before income taxes |
(41,977 | ) | (32,843 | ) | ||||
Income tax expense |
2,468 | 2,833 | ||||||
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|
|
|
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Net loss |
$ | (44,445 | ) | $ | (35,676 | ) | ||
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Comparison of the results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018
Revenue
Revenue increased by 20% to $55.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 from US $46.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in revenue during the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 was primarily attributable to the additional revenue streams from investments in real property interests during 2019. Also contributing to the period over period increase in revenues was escalations on the existing asset base as well as a full twelve months of revenues recorded on assets acquired during the year ended December 31, 2018
Cost of service
Cost of service increased by 40% to $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in cost of service during the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 was driven primarily by the acquisition of fee simple interests in 2019.
Selling, general, and administrative expense
Selling, general and administrative expense increased by 32% to $36.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $27.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The overall increase in selling general and administrative expense of $8.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 was primarily due to an increase in compensation expense of approximately $7.1 million. This increase was primarily due to an increase in costs associated with the growth of APW Groups investments in real property interests, as well as expenses for severance costs recorded in 2019 totaling $2.3 million.
Management incentive plan
Management incentive plan expenses decreased to $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Management incentive plan expense relates to loans made to participants in the management carve-out plan, which are expensed because these loans are non-recourse. The decrease in management carve-out expense during the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 was due to larger loans made in 2018 compared to 2019.
Amortization and depreciation
Amortization and depreciation expense decreased by 34% to $19.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $29.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. In 2019, APW Group adjusted the remaining estimated useful life of cell site leasehold interests as of January 1, 2019 based on a twenty five-year useful life of the underlying cell site asset, which previously was considered to be a fifteen-year useful life. This change in estimate was accounted for prospectively effective January 1, 2019, and resulted in a decrease in amortization and depreciation expense of $13.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 from that which would have been reported if the previous estimates of useful life had been used. The decrease in amortization and depreciation resulting from the change in the remaining estimated useful life was offset by amortization on the real property interests added during 2019.
Impairment decommission of cell sites
Impairment related to the decommission of cell site increased to $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in impairment during the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 was driven primarily by an increase in decommissions from tenants period over period.
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Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency debt
The APW Group recorded a loss on foreign currency debt of $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to a gain on foreign currency debt of $13.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. A large portion of the Companys debt is denominated in Euro and Pound Sterling, and the respective gains and losses were due to foreign exchange movements in the Euro and Pound Sterling relative to the U.S. dollar.
Interest expense, net
Interest expense increased by 15% to $32.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $27.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in interest expense between the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 was primarily a result of additional borrowings in 2019, which were primarily used to acquire additional assets.
Other (expense) income, net
Other income (expense), net changed to income of $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to an expense of $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The change in other income (expense), net during the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 was driven primarily by unrealized foreign exchange gains totaling $0.6 million in 2019 and losses totaling $3.9 million in 2018, resulting primarily from remeasurements of APW Group subsidiaries intercompany account balances that are denominated in currency other than the subsidiarys functional currency.
Income tax expense (benefit)
Income tax expense decreased to $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 from $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease in income tax expense between the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 was the result of a decrease in expense associated with uncertain income tax positions of $1.1 million, partially offset by higher tax expense resulting from increased taxable income in certain foreign jurisdictions.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our future liquidity will depend primarily on: (i) the profitability of the APW Group, (ii) our management of available cash, (iii) cash distributions on sale of existing assets, (iv) the use of borrowings, if any, to fund short term liquidity needs and (v) dividends or distributions from subsidiary companies. Our operating cash is derived from income received from the APW Group, and we are dependent on the income generated by the APW Group to meet our expenses and operating cash requirements. See We are a holding company whose principal source of operating cash is the income received from our subsidiaries, which may limit our ability to pay dividends or satisfy our other financial obligations in the section entitled Risk Factors.
The APW Group requires cash to pay its operating expenses, service its debt obligations and acquire additional real property interests and rental streams underlying wireless communication cell sites. The APW Groups principal sources of liquidity include its revenue generated from its sites and related leases, its cash and cash equivalents and borrowings available under its credit arrangements. As of December 31, 2019, the APW Group had negative working capital of approximately $18.8 million, including $62.9 million in cash and $1.1 million in short term restricted cash. Included in the APW Groups working capital as of December 31, 2019, was the current portion of long-term debt of $48.9 million associated with outstanding borrowings under the Mezzanine Loan Agreement. Additionally, the APW Group has access to $14.0 million in long-term restricted cash available under the Facility Agreement for acquisition capital expenditures. The APW Group has available borrowing capacity under the Facility Agreement, as described below, and expects to have access to the worldwide credit and capital markets, subject to market conditions, in order to issue additional debt if needed or desired.
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Although the APW Group believes that its cash on hand, available restricted cash, and future cash from operations, together with its access to cash at APW OpCo and the credit and capital markets, will provide adequate resources to fund its operating and financing needs, its access to, and the availability of, financing on acceptable terms in the future will be affected by many factors, including: (i) the performance of the APW Group and/ or its operating subsidiaries, as applicable, (ii) the APW Groups credit rating or absence of a credit rating and/or the credit rating of its operating subsidiaries, as applicable, (iii) the provisions of any relevant credit agreements and similar or associated documents, (iv) the liquidity of the overall credit and capital markets and (v) the current state of the economy. There can be no assurances that the APW Group will continue to have access to the credit and capital markets on acceptable terms. See Risk Factors for more information.
Cash Flows
The table below summarizes the cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities of the APW Group for the periods indicated and the cash and restricted cash as of the applicable period end.
As of or for Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
Cash used in operating activities |
$ | (6,589 | ) | $ | (10,654 | ) | ||
Cash used in investing activities |
(73,912 | ) | (68,038 | ) | ||||
Cash provided by financing activities |
59,098 | 81,430 | ||||||
Cash |
62,892 | 13,746 | ||||||
Restricted cash |
15,154 | 87,668 |
Cash used in operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $6.6 million, compared to $10.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This year-over-year decrease was primarily due to the decrease in management incentive plan expense of $4.3 million to $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 from $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Cash used in investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $73.9 million, compared to $68.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2018. This year-over-year increase was primarily attributable to an increase in cash payments for real property interests and intangible assets of $10.9 million, partially offset by $4.5 million cash received upon the contribution by Associated Partners of 100% of the limited liability company interests in the Servicer (as defined under Debt Obligations below) to AP WIP Investments.
Cash provided by financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $59.1 million, compared to $81.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Borrowings under the Facility Agreement decreased by $22.9 million in 2019 as compared to 2018.
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Debt Obligations
The following group structure chart sets forth where our debt is owed within the Company as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020:
* | On April 21, 2020, APW OpCo acquired all the rights to the loans and obligations under the Mezzanine Loan Agreement from the lenders thereunder, as further described below. Following consummation of the acquisition by APW OpCo, the Mezzanine Loan Agreement remains effect and any amounts outstanding thereunder are treated as intercompany loans between DWIP II and APW OpCo. |
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DWIP Agreement
On August 12, 2014, AP WIP Holdings, LLC (DWIP), a subsidiary of AP WIP Investments, entered into a $115 million loan agreement (as amended or supplemented, the DWIP Agreement). Under the terms of the DWIP Agreement, DWIP is the sole borrower and the lending syndicate is a collection of lenders managed by an affiliate of the administrative agent (the DWIP Lender). AP Service Company, LLC (Servicer), a wholly owned subsidiary of AP Wireless, is the servicer under the DWIP Agreement. An unrelated party to DWIP was named as backup servicer in the event of a default by the Servicer as defined in the DWIP Agreement. The DWIP Agreement requires an annual rating be performed by Fitch Ratings, Inc. The private securitization loan provided pursuant to the DWIP Agreement is structured as non-recourse to other collateral of the APW Group.
On October 16, 2018, DWIP signed an amendment to the DWIP Agreement that (i) extended the maturity of the DWIP loan from August 10, 2019, to October 16, 2023, at which time all outstanding principal balances are required to be repaid, and (ii) reduced the fixed rate coupon from 4.50% to 4.25% per annum. The amendment provides that principal balances may be prepaid in whole on any date, provided that a prepayment premium equal to: 3.0% of the prepayment loan amount shall apply if the payment occurs on or prior to 24 months after October 16, 2018, 2.0% of the prepayment loan amount shall apply if the payment occurs on or prior to 36 months after October 16, 2018 but after 24 months after October 16, 2018, 1.0% of the prepayment loan amount shall apply if the payment occurs on or prior to 60 months after October 16, 2018 but after 36 months after October 16, 2018, and 0% of the prepayment loan amount shall apply if the payment occurs after 60 months after October 16, 2018.
Interest and fees due under the DWIP Agreement are payable monthly through the application of funds secured in a bank account controlled by the collateral agent (the collection account). The collateral agent sweeps customer collections from DWIPs lockbox account each month. After receipt of a monthly report prepared by the Servicer detailing loan activity, borrowing compliance, customer collections, and general reserve account required balances, the collateral agent disburses funds monthly for interest, fees, deposits to the reserve account (if required), mandatory prepayments (if required), and remaining amounts from the prior months collections to DWIP. Fees equal to 0.80% to 1.00% of the $102.6 million loan amount are payable to the DWIP Lender, Servicer, backup servicer, and rating agency of the loan, as applicable.
Pursuant to the DWIP Agreement, DWIP is subject to restrictive covenants relating to, among others, a leverage cap of 7.75x eligible annual cash flow, future indebtedness, transfers of control of DWIP and compliance with a financial ratio relating to interest coverage (as defined in the DWIP Agreement as Debt Service). For the periods presented, DWIP was in compliance with all covenants associated with the DWIP Agreement.
Amounts outstanding under the DWIP Agreement are due in full on the maturity date of October 16, 2023. As of December 31, 2019, the balance outstanding under the DWIP Agreement was $102.6 million.
Facility Agreement
On October 24, 2017, AP WIP International Holdings, LLC (IWIP), a subsidiary of AP WIP Investments, entered into a facility agreement (the Facility Agreement) providing for loans of up to £1.0 billion, with AP WIP Investments, as guarantor, Telecom Credit Infrastructure Designated Activity Company (TCI DAC), as original lender, Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, as agent, and GLAS Trust Corporation Limited, as security agent. The Facility Agreement provides for funding in the form of 10-year term loans consisting of tranches in Euros, Pounds Sterling, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars and U.S. dollars.
TCI DAC is an Irish Section 110 Designated Activity Company and is a passive/holding vehicle. The TCI DAC is an uncommitted, £1.0 billion note issuance program with an initial 10-year term (due 2027) and was created by Associated Partners, in its capacity as sponsor (Sponsor), as a special purpose vehicle with the
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objective of issuing notes from time to time and using proceeds thereof to originate and acquire loans (Portfolio Loans) to the Sponsor (including its successors and assigns, including DLGI) subsidiary companies, secured by cash flows from communication infrastructure assets (ground leases, towers and other opportunistic assets) in predominantly OECD jurisdictions according to Investment Criteria in the Trust Deed dated October 24, 2017, governing the issuance of the notes. Pursuant to the Investment Criteria, the notes may be issued in U.S. dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euros, Australian dollars or Canadian dollars, and no rating of the loans is required. Portfolio Loans are fixed rate senior secured loans of portfolio companies which are wholly owned or controlled and will not be available to invest in preferred or common equity, unsecured debt or subordinated debt. At least 80% of the revenue generated by assets backing any Portfolio Loan must be from Investment Grade Permitted Jurisdictions. The notes are listed on the International Stock Exchange (TISE).
The TCI DAC issuer has no subsidiaries and raises funds through the issuance of notes to investors. All notes issued by the DAC are cross collateralized and rank pari-passu upon recovery. Additional note holders may be added with the issuance of additional notes over time.
Portfolio Loans acquired by Telecom DAC support the notes issued on a pass-through basis and are not cross collateralized or cross defaulted to other Portfolio Loans. The initial Portfolio Loans were made to IWIP in 2017 and 2018 and additional Loans may be issued through additional Tranches or Series as per the Facility agreement up to the Limit.
Under the terms of the Facility Agreement, IWIP is the sole borrower and the finance parties include a lender, an agent and certain other financial institutions. AP WIP Investments is a guarantor of the loan and the loan is secured by the direct equity interests in IWIP. The loan is also secured by a debt service reserve account and escrow cash account of IWIP available for growth as well as direct equity interests and bank accounts of all significant IWIPs asset owning subsidiaries. The Servicer is the Servicer under the Facility Agreement. The loan is senior in right of payment to all other debt of IWIP. The payments under the Facility Agreement are made quarterly.
On October 30, 2017, $266.2 million of the amount available under the Facility Agreement was funded. This amount comprised 115.0 million (Series 1-A Tranche) and £100.0 million (Series 1-B Tranche), equivalent to $273.0 million, in total, at December 31, 2017. The Series 1-A Tranche and the Series 1-B Tranche loans accrue interest of 4.098% and 4.608% per annum, respectively. At closing of the Facility Agreement, $5.0 million was funded to and is required to be held in an escrow account.
On November 26, 2018, an additional $98.4 million of the amount available under the Facility Agreement was funded. This amount comprised of 40.0 million (Series 2-A Tranche) and £40.0 million (Series 2-B Tranche), equivalent to $96.9 million, in total, at December 31, 2018. The Series 2-A Tranche and the Series 2-B Tranche loans accrue interest of 3.442% and 4.294% per annum, respectively.
Each tranche may include sub-tranches which may have a different interest rate than the other loans under the initial tranche. All tranches will have otherwise identical terms. For any floating interest rate portion of any tranche (or sub tranche), the interest rate is as reported and delivered to IWIP five days prior to a quarter end date. Coupons do not reflect certain related administration or servicing costs from third parties.
IWIP is subject to certain financial condition and testing covenants (such as interest coverage, leverage cap of 9.0x eligible annual cash flow and equity requirements and limits) pursuant to Facility Agreement documentation, as well as restrictive covenants relating to, among other things, future indebtedness (issuance cap of 8.25x eligible annual cash flow), liens and other material activities of IWIP and its subsidiaries. IWIP was in compliance with all covenants associated with the Facility Agreement as of December 31, 2019.
Loans under the Facility Agreement mature on October 30, 2027, at which time all outstanding principal balances shall be repaid. Principal balances under the Facility Agreement may be prepaid in whole on any date,
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subject to the payment of a make-whole at the related benchmark plus a 50 basis point margin (as calculated pursuant to the applicable Facility Agreement documentation). Amounts outstanding under the Facility Agreement as of December 31, 2019 totaled $ 359.8 million.
Mezzanine Loan and Security Agreement
On September 20, 2018, AP WIP Domestic Investment II, LLC (DWIP II), a wholly owned subsidiary of AP WIP Investments, entered into an amended and restated loan and security agreement (as further amended by first amendment to amended and restated loan and security agreement dated July 25, 2019, the Mezzanine Loan Agreement). This Mezzanine Loan Agreement provided credit facilities that are designed to work in concert with the DWIP Agreement described under DWIP Agreement above. Such credit facilities also replaced the $40.0 million facility provided to DWIP II under a secured loan and security agreement dated December 15, 2015.
Pursuant to the Mezzanine Loan Agreement, DWIP II obtained an original term loan of $56.3 million and a bridge loan of $18.6 million, which each accrue interest at a rate of 6.5% per annum, with interest payable monthly. The original term loan matures on the earlier of (i) June 30, 2020, and (ii) the maturity date under the DWIP Agreement. The bridge loan was repaid on November 8, 2019. All amounts received by AP WIP Domestic Investments II, LLC on account of its indirect ownership of AP WIP Holdings, LLC are pledged as security. AP WIP Investments is a guarantor of the obligations under the Mezzanine Loan Agreement, and loans under the Mezzanine Loan Agreement are subordinated in right of repayment upon default under the senior DWIP Agreement.
Amortization under the Mezzanine Loan Agreement is $250,000 per calendar quarter plus that amount necessary such that the total of the outstanding balance of the DWIP Agreement and the term loans do not exceed 12.0x Eligible Free Cash Flow (as defined in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement). Principal payments are applied first to the bridge loan until paid in full and then to the original term loan. The original term loan may be prepaid voluntarily at any time without premium or penalty. DWIP II is subject to mandatory prepayments in full upon the repayment or prepayment of the DWIP loan and of any proceeds in excess of $10 million upon an asset sale or refinancing. The Mezzanine Loan Agreement contains limited negative covenants that, among other things, restrict the borrowers ability to incur additional indebtedness other than as described in the agreement, create certain liens on assets, pay dividends and make distributions and make certain investments. In addition, DWIP II cannot permit the outstanding debt under the DWIP loan to exceed $102.6 million. As of December 31, 2019, DWIP II was in compliance with all covenants associated with the Mezzanine Loan Agreement. Amounts outstanding under the Mezzanine Loan Agreement as of December 31, 2019 totaled $49.3 million.
On April 21, 2020, APW OpCo acquired all of the rights to the loans and obligations under the Mezzanine Loan Agreement from the lenders thereunder for approximately $48.0 million, including accrued interest. Following consummation of the acquisition by APW OpCo, the Mezzanine Loan Agreement remains in effect and any amounts outstanding thereunder are treated as intercompany loans between DWIP II and APW OpCo.
Subscription Agreement
On November 6, 2019, AP WIP Investments Borrower, LLC (AP WIP Investments Borrower), a subsidiary of AP WIP Investments, entered into a subscription agreement (the Subscription Agreement) to borrow funds for working capital and other corporate purposes. Under the terms of the Subscription Agreement, AP WIP Investments Borrower is the sole borrower and AP WIP Investments is the guarantor of the loan and the loan is secured by AP Wireless direct equity interests in AP WIP Investments. The loan is senior in right of payment to all other debt of AP WIP Investments Borrower. There is no cross default or cross acceleration to senior secured debt other than if there is an acceleration under the senior debt in relation to certain events as per documentation such as the breach by the Guarantor in certain cases. The Subscription Agreement provides for uncommitted funding up to £250.0 million in the form of nine-year term loans consisting of three tranches available in Euros, Pounds Sterling and U.S. dollars.
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On November 8, 2019, $75.5 million of the amount available under the Subscription Agreement was funded (Class A, Tranche 1 Euro). This amount was comprised of 68.0 million. At closing of the Subscription Agreement, $3.0 million was funded to and is required to be held in a debt service reserve account.
Other tranches maybe be issued as long as in compliance and certain parameters in the deal documentation such as (a) loan to value less than 65%; (b) Interest Coverage is not less than 1.5x; and (c) Leverage as at any Collection Period End Date shall not exceed 10.0x (each as defined in the Subscription Agreement).
The initial Euro Class A Tranche balance outstanding under the Facility Agreement accrues interest at a fixed annual rate equal to 4.25%, which is payable quarterly on the twentieth day following the end of each calendar quarter; provided that, on February 10, 2020 the Subscription Agreement was amended to provide that the first quarterly interest payment (including the amount accrued from November 8, 2019 through December 31, 2019) would be due on the twentieth day following March 31, 2020. The loans under the Subscription Agreement mature on November 6, 2028, at which time all outstanding principal balances shall be repaid. The loans also carry a 2.00% payment-in-kind interest (PIK), payable on repayment of principal. Principal balances under the Facility Agreement may be prepaid in whole on any date, subject to the payment of any applicable prepayment fee. Each Tranche may include sub-tranches, which may have a different interest rate than other promissory certificates under its related Tranche.
Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, AP WIP Investments Borrower is subject to certain financial condition and testing covenants (such as interest coverage of 1.5x and leverage cap of 12.0x eligible annual cash flow) as well as restrictive and operating covenants relating to, among others, future indebtedness and liens and other material activities of AP WIP Investments Borrower and its affiliates. As of December 31, 2019, AP WIP Investments Borrower was in compliance with all covenants associated with the Subscription Agreement. The amounts outstanding under the Subscription Agreement as of December 31, 2019 totaled $76.6 million.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2019, the APW Group had no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The APW Groups activities expose it to a variety of financial risks, including translational exchange rate risk, interest rate risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. Risk management is led by senior management and is mainly carried out by the finance department.
Translational Exchange Rate Risk
The APW Group is exposed to foreign exchange rate risk arising from the retranslation of its debt agreements in currencies other than its functional currency. In particular, this affects Euro and Pound Sterling loan balances and fluctuation in these loan balances is caused by variation in the closing exchange rates from Euro and Pound Sterling to the U.S. dollar. As of December 31, 2019, 43.7% of the APW Groups total debt outstanding was denominated in Euros and 32.4% of its total debt outstanding was denominated in Pound Sterling. The APW Group is also exposed to translational foreign exchange impacts when it converts its international subsidiaries financial statements to U.S. dollars from the local currency. See Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Business and Operations Our results may be negatively affected by foreign currency exchange rates.
To date, we have not entered into any hedging arrangements with respect to foreign currency risk or other derivative financial instruments. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the effect of a hypothetical 10% change in foreign currency exchange rates applicable to the APW Groups business would not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
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Interest Rate Risk
All of the APW Groups borrowed funds are at fixed interest rates. If the APW Group were to borrow funds that have floating interest rates, the APW Group would expect to manage this risk by maintaining an appropriate mix between fixed and floating rate borrowings and hedging activities. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the effect of a hypothetical 10% increase or decrease in interest rates would not have had a material impact on the APW Groups consolidated results of operations.
Credit Risk
In the event of a default by a tenant, the APW Group will suffer a shortfall in revenue and incur additional costs, including expenses incurred to attempt to recover the defaulted amounts and legal expenses. Although the APW Group monitors the creditworthiness of its customers and maintains minimal trade receivable balances on an asset by asset basis, a substantial portion of its revenue is derived from a small number of customers. The loss, consolidation or financial instability of, or network sharing among, any of the limited number of customers may materially decrease revenue.
Liquidity Risk
The APW Group manages its liquidity risk by maintaining adequate reserves and banking facilities and continuously monitoring forecasted and actual cash flows. As of December 31, 2019, cash was $62.9 million and restricted cash was $15.2 million; total debt outstanding was $588.2 million, including $102.6 million outstanding under the DWIP Loan Agreement, $359.8 million outstanding under the Facility Agreement, $49.3 million outstanding under the Mezzanine Loan Agreement and $76.6 million outstanding under the Subscription Agreement. The APW Group has remained compliant with all the covenants contained in its debt obligations throughout the periods presented.
Contractual Obligations
As of December 31, 2019, the APW Groups contractual obligations were as follows:
($ in thousands) |
Total | Less than 1 year |
1-3 years | 3-5 years | More than 5 years |
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Debt obligations |
588,181 | 49,250 | | 102,600 | 436,331 | |||||||||||||||
Cell site leasehold interest liabilities |
18,607 | 8,762 | 7,487 | 2,029 | 329 | |||||||||||||||
Finance lease liabilities |
18,895 | 5,829 | 6,991 | 4,303 | 1,772 | |||||||||||||||
Other lease liabilities (a) |
2,224 | 868 | 1,074 | 174 | 108 | |||||||||||||||
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Total |
$ | 627,907 | $ | 64,709 | $ | 15,552 | $ | 109,106 | $ | 438,540 | ||||||||||
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(a) | Other lease liabilities includes amounts included in other long-term liabilities in the APW Groups consolidated balance as of December 31, 2019, totaling $1,303. Other long-term liabilities also included liabilities associated with unrecognized income tax benefits and other taxes, totaling $4,228, which are excluded from this table because the timing of eventual payment cannot be reliably estimated. |
Critical Accounting Policies of the APW Group
The consolidated financial statements of the APW Group are prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which 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 date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
While the significant accounting policies of the APW Group are described in greater detail in Note 2 to the APW Groups consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, the APW Group believes
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that the following accounting policies are those most critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.
Real Property Interests
The APW Groups core business is to contract for the purchase of cell site leasehold interests either through an up-front payment or on an installment basis from property owners who have leased their property to companies that own telecommunications infrastructure assets. Real property interests include costs recorded under cell site leasehold interest arrangements either as intangible assets or right of use assets, depending on whether or not the arrangement is determined to be a lease at the inception of the agreement. For acquisitions of real property interests that meet the definition of an asset acquisition, the cell site leasehold interests are recorded as intangible assets and are stated at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of these real property interests, which is estimated as the lesser of the useful life of the underlying cell site asset or the term of the arrangement.
Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (ASU 2016-02 and or ASC 842) requires the APW Group to recognize assets and liabilities arising from a lease for both financing and operating leases, along with qualitative and quantitative disclosures. This classification determines whether the lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. A lessee is also required to record right-of-use asset and a lease liability in the balance sheet for all leases with a term of greater than twelve months regardless of their classification.
On January 1, 2019, the APW Group adopted the new lease standard using the modified retrospective method applied to lease arrangements that were in place on the transition date. Results for reporting periods beginning January 1, 2019 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.
The APW Group elected certain available practical expedients which permit the adopter to not reassess certain items upon adoption, including: (i) whether any existing contracts are or contain leases, (ii) the classification of existing leases, (iii) initial direct costs for existing leases and (iv) short-term leases, which permits an adopter to not apply the lease standard to leases with a remaining maturity of one year or less and applied the new lease accounting standard to all leases, including short-term leases. The APW Group also elected the practical expedient related to easements, which permits carryforward accounting treatment for land easements (included in cell site leasehold interests in the consolidated balance sheets) on existing agreements.
Commencing with the adoption of ASC 842, the APW Group determines if an arrangement, including cell site leasehold interest arrangements, is a lease at the inception of the agreement. The APW Group considers an arrangement to be a lease if it conveys the right to control the use of the asset for a specific period of time in exchange for consideration.
The APW Groups lease liability, recorded in real property interest liabilities, is the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments to be made over the remaining lease term, including renewal options reasonably certain to be exercised. The APW Group also considers termination options and factors those into the determination of lease payments when appropriate. To determine the lease term, the APW Group considers all renewal periods that are reasonably certain to be exercised, taking into consideration all economic factors, including the cell sites estimated economic life. Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded in the consolidated balance sheet. The finance lease right-of-use asset is amortized over the lesser of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the underlying asset associated with the leasing arrangement, which is estimated to be twenty-five years.
The Company continually reassesses the estimated useful lives used in determining amortization of its real property interests. The APW Group reviewed its estimates of the useful lives of its existing cell site leasehold
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interest arrangements as of January 1, 2019. Assessments of the remaining useful lives of the underlying cell site assets associated with leasehold interest arrangements indicated that the estimated useful lives used in the determination of amortization expense of cell site leasehold interests accounted for as asset acquisitions should be increased based upon the Companys experience as well as observable industry data. Accordingly, as of January 1, 2019, the APW Group adjusted the remaining useful life of the existing cell site leasehold interests based on a twenty five-year useful life of the underlying cell site asset, which previously was considered to be a fifteen-year useful life. This change in estimate was accounted for prospectively effective January 1, 2019, and resulted in a decrease in amortization and depreciation expense, operating loss and net loss of $13,259 for the year ended December 31, 2019 from that which would have been reported if the previous estimates of useful life had been used.
Long-Lived Assets, Including Definite-Lived Intangible Assets
The APW Groups primary long-lived assets include real property interests and intangible assets. Intangible assets recorded for in-place tenant leases are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining cell site lease term with the in-place tenant, including ordinary renewals at the option of the tenant. The carrying amount of any long-lived asset group is evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable through the estimated undiscounted future cash flows derived from such assets. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds its fair value.
Revenue Recognition
The APW Group receives rental payments from in-place tenants of wireless communication sites under operating lease agreements. Revenue is recorded as earned over the term of the lease, because the operating lease arrangements are cancellable by both parties. Rent received in advance is recorded when the APW Group receives advance rental payments from the in-place tenants. Contractually owed lease prepayments are typically paid one month to one year in advance.
JOBS Act
We qualify as an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act. As such, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. In particular, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the exemption from complying with new or revised accounting standards provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. An emerging growth company can therefore delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. The JOBS Act provides, however, that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected to opt out of such extended transition period. As a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the same timeline as other public companies.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Pronouncement Not Yet Adopted
In June 2016, 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. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, and will be applied using a modified retrospective approach through a
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cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date. The APW Group is finalizing its analysis of the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements, though as operating lease receivables are not within the scope of this guidance, the APW Group does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Recently Adopted
In 2014, the FASB issued a new revenue recognition standard entitled Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The objective of the standard is to establish the principles that an entity shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows from a contract with a customer. The APW Group adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 during the year ended December 31, 2018 and concluded that the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements as current revenue contracts are leases and not within the scope of the Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).
In November 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on amounts described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents within the statement of cash flows. The guidance requires amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included with cash when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period balances in the statement of cash flows. AP WIP Investments adopted ASU 2016-18 during the year ended December 31, 2018.
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Our Business
Through our ownership of the APW Group, we are one of the largest international aggregators of rental streams underlying wireless sites through the acquisition of wireless telecom real property interests and contractual rights. We purchase, primarily for a lump sum, the right to receive future rental payments generated pursuant to an existing ground lease or rooftop lease (and any subsequent lease or extension or amendment thereof) between a property owner and an owner of a wireless tower or antennae (each such lease, a Tenant Lease). Typically, we acquire the rental streams by way of a purchase of a real property interest in the land underlying the wireless tower or antennae, most commonly easements, usufructs, leasehold and sub-leasehold interests, or fee simple interests, each of which provides us with the right to receive all communications rents relating to the property, including the rents from the Tenant Lease. In addition, we purchase contractual interests, such as an assignment of rents, either in conjunction with the property interest or as a stand-alone right.
We believe that our business model and the nature of our assets provides us with stable, predictable and growing cash flow. First, we seek to acquire real property interests and rental streams subject to triple net or effectively triple net lease arrangements, whereby all taxes, utilities, maintenance costs and insurance are the responsibility of either the owner of the tower or antennae or the property owner. Furthermore, Tenant Leases contain contractual rent increase clauses, or rent escalators, calculated either as a fixed rate, typically between 2% and 3%, or tied to a consumer price index (CPI), or subject to open market valuation (OMV). As of December 31, 2019, over 99% of the APW Groups Tenant Leases had contractual rent escalators; 30% had fixed escalators and 68% were either tied to a local CPI or subject to OMV. In addition, the APW Group has historically experienced low annual churn as a percentage of revenue, ranging from 1% to 2% during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, primarily due to the significant network challenges and expenses incurred by owners of wireless communications towers and antennae in connection with the relocation of these infrastructure assets to alternative sites. Finally, we seek to obtain the ability to negotiate amendments and renewals of our Tenant Leases, thereby providing us with additional recurring revenue and one-time fees.
As of December 31, 2019, the APW Group had interests in approximately 6,100 leases that generate rents for the APW Group. These leases related to properties that were situated on approximately 4,600 different communications sites located throughout the United States and 18 other countries. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the APW Groups revenue was $55.7 million, and the annualized contractual revenue from the rents expected to be collected on the leases we had in place at that time (the annualized in-place rents) from the APW Group assets was approximately $62.1 million. For a definition of annualized in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
Our Company
DLGI is a holding company with no material assets other than its limited liability company interests in APW OpCo, which is the sole member of AP Wireless, which in turn is the direct parent of the APW Group. DLGI was incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands on November 1, 2017 and was formed to undertake an acquisition of a target company or business. On November 20, 2017, the Ordinary Shares and Warrants were admitted to listing on the LSE, and DLGI raised approximately $500 million before expenses through its initial placement of Ordinary Shares and Warrants in the 2017 Placing and a private subscription by the Series A Founders for the BVI Series A Founder Preferred Shares.
On February 10, 2020, DLGI completed its initial acquisition by purchasing the APW Group from Associated Partners in the APW Acquisition. For more information relating to the APW Acquisition, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Recent DevelopmentsThe APW Acquisition. Except as the context otherwise requires, references in the following discussion to the Company, DLGI, we, our or us with respect to periods prior to the Acquisition
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Closing Date are to the APW Group and its operations prior to the Acquisition Closing Date; such references with respect to periods after to the Acquisition Closing Date are to DLGI and its subsidiaries (including the APW Group) and their operations after the Acquisition Closing Date.
The APW Group was established as a U.S. cell site lease aggregator in 2010 and made its first foreign lease investment in November of 2011. Since that time, it has entered into, and holds assets in, a total of 18 jurisdictions in addition to the U.S. We believe that the APW Group is a first mover in many of these jurisdictions; that is, until its market entry no other parties were engaged in the systematic aggregation of cell site leases in any kind of scale.
Strategy
We seek to continually expand our business by primarily implementing organic growth strategies, including expanding into different geographies, asset classes and technologies; continued acquisition of real estate interests and contractual rights (as well as other revenue streams) in wireless communications sites and other communications infrastructure (as well as through annual rent escalators, the addition of new tenants and/or lease modifications); and developing a portfolio of infrastructure assets including through acquisition or build to suit. We intend to achieve these objectives by executing the following strategies:
Grow Through Additional Acquisitions. We intend to pursue acquisitions of real property interests and contractual rights underlying wireless communications cell sites, utilizing the expertise of our management and our proven, proprietary underwriting process to identify and assess potential acquisitions. When acquiring real property interests and contractual rights, we aim to target communications infrastructure locations that are essential to the ongoing operations and profitability of the respective tenants, which we expect will result in continued high tenant occupancy and cash flow stability. We have established a local presence in high opportunity countries in order to expand our operating jurisdictions. In addition, we can utilize our advanced acquisition expertise to pursue acquisitions and investments in either single assets or portfolios of assets.
Increase Cash Flow Without Additional Capital Investment. We seek to organically grow our cash flow on our existing portfolio without additional capital investment through (i) contractual rent escalations, (ii) lease renewals, at higher rates, with existing tenants, (iii) rent increases based on equipment, technology or site modification upgrades at our infrastructure locations and (iv) the addition of new tenants to existing locations.
Leverage Existing Platform to Expand our Business into the Broader Communications Infrastructure. We intend to explore other potential areas of growth within the communications infrastructure market segment that have similar characteristics to our core Tenant Lease (i.e., an existing ground lease or rooftop lease between a property owner and an owner of a wireless tower or antennae) business and plan to explore expansion into other existing rental streams underlying critical communications infrastructure. Areas of expansion may include investing in Tenant Leases underneath (i) mobile switching centers, which is a telephone exchange that makes the connection between mobile users within a network, from mobile users to the public switched telephone network, and from mobile users to other mobile networks, (ii) data centers, which is a large group of networked computer servers typically used by organizations for remote storage, processing or distribution of large amounts of data that are typically located in a stand-alone building, and (iii) distributed antenna system (DAS) networks, which is a way to address isolated spots of poor coverage in a large building or facility (such as a hospital or transportation hub) by installing a network of small antennae to serve as repeaters.
Explore Expansion Opportunities into Digital Infrastructure Assets. As part of our expansion strategy, we intend to explore opportunities to develop other digital infrastructure assets, including build-to suit-opportunities where we would be contracted to build communications infrastructure (such as wireless towers) and lease such equipment to tenants on a long-term basis. Cell:cm Chartered Surveyors, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary within the APW Group, already offers building consultancy services including architecture and design, building and roof maintenance, building surveys and development, and project monitoring.
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Our Assets
Types of Assets
As of December 31, 2019, we had interests in approximately 6,100 leases that generate rents for the APW Group. These leases related to properties that were situated on approximately 4,600 different communications sites. Each of these assets is the right to receive the rent payable under the Tenant Lease entered into between the property owner or current lessor of the property and the owner of the wireless communication towers or antennae located on such site. These tower or antennae owners are typically either wireless carriers (mobile network operators, or MNOs) or tower companies. We acquire these interests primarily through individually negotiated transactions with the property owners.
The majority of these assets are real property interests of varying legal structures (for example, easements, usufructs, leases, surface rights or fee simple interests), which provide the Company the right to receive the income from the Tenant Lease rental payments over a specified duration. The real property right granted to us is typically limited to the land underlying the communication asset. However, in certain circumstances we purchase interest in a larger portion of the real property. For rooftop interests, we typically create an interest in the entire rooftop rather than just the portion of the rooftop underlying an antenna, to permit it to grant additional rights to new or existing tower or antenna operators. The scope of the real property interest is also typically tied to our use for wireless communication assets. We also purchase contractual rights in the rental stream, such as through an assignment of rents, either individually or in connection with the purchase of the real property right.
As set forth in the table below, for the year ended of December 31, 2019, approximately 88% and 87% of the total portfolio was generated from real property interests (including fee simple interests), based on total revenue and annualized in-place rents as of such date, respectively, and 11% and 13% was generated from contractual property interests, based on total revenue and annualized in-place rents as of such date, respectively. For a definition of annualized in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
(in thousands) | Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 |
Percentage of Total Revenue |
Annualized In-Place Rents as of December 31, 2019 |
Percentage of Total Annualized In-Place Rents |
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Asset Type |
U.S. | International | U.S. | International | ||||||||||||||||||||
Real Property Interests (including Fee Simple Interests) |
$ | 15,507 | $ | 33,318 | 87.65 | % | $ | 15,655 | $ | 38,565 | 87.32 | % | ||||||||||||
Contractual Rights without a Real Property Interest |
313 | 5,536 | 10.50 | % | 315 | 7,560 | 12.68 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Other (a) |
| 1,032 | 1.85 | % | | | | |||||||||||||||||
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Total |
$ | 15,820 | $ | 39,886 | 100 | % | $ | 15,970 | $ | 46,125 | 100 | % | ||||||||||||
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(a) | Relates to Cell:cm operations. |
Real Property Interests. As of December 31, 2019, we had an aggregate of 5,258 leases arising from real property interests, other than fee simple interests. These real property interests vary by jurisdiction and often bifurcate portions of ownership. In the U.S. the real property interests are generally easements. In the United Kingdom, we typically enter into head leases with the property owner or leaseholder which, as a matter of law, inserts us between the property owner or leaseholder and the Tenant. In other jurisdictions, we may purchase from the property owners (i) a usufruct, which is a real property right that provides us with the ability to benefit from a property arising from the specified use (in this case use for wireless communications services) for a specified duration or (ii) a surface right, which is a real property right to benefit from and use the surface of a property for a specified duration. Under a Usufruct or Surface Right, we become, in accordance with local law, the legal beneficiary of any leases pre-existing on such property and typically have the right to negotiate any new
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leases during the specified duration. At the end of the specified duration, the full property rights again are vested in the property owner. In each case, these real property rights are registered with the property registry in the applicable jurisdiction to provide constructive notice of such interests and to protect against subsequent creditors.
As of December 31, 2019, we had an aggregate 788 assets associated with fee simple interests in land. These assets were primarily held in the United Kingdom (550), the United States (41) and The Netherlands (47). Fee simple ownership confers the greatest bundle of property rights available to us in any jurisdiction. The size of these land holdings is typically limited to the land underlying the communication structure and, in certain cases, the surrounding areas for ancillary buildings. When we hold a fee simple interest in land we will enter into a Tenant Lease directly with the tower owner (the MNO or tower company). In substantially all of our fee simple interests, we have entered into a Tenant Lease that imposes on the tower owner responsibility for taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities for such property.
Contractual Rights. In addition to real property rights, we acquire contractual rights by way of an assignment of rents, typically where legal limitations of local real estate law or commercial circumstances do not make the acquisition of a real property interest practical. These assignments of rent also arise with rooftops where the building is owned by a condominium or governmental entity and it is not feasible to obtain a real property interest. The rent assignment is a contractual obligation pursuant to which the property owner assigns its right to receive the rent arising under the Tenant Lease to us. A rent assignment relates only to an existing Tenant Lease and therefore would not provide us with the ability automatically to benefit from lease renewals beyond those provided for in the existing Tenant Lease. However, in these cases, we either limit the purchase price of the asset to the term of the current Tenant Lease or obtain an irrevocable power of attorney from the property owner that provides us with the ability to negotiate future leases and a contractual obligation from the property owner to assign rental streams from future Tenant Lease renewals.
Common Asset Attributes
Non-disturbance Agreements. When we acquire a real property interest in connection with a property subject to a mortgage, we usually also enter into a non-disturbance agreement (or local equivalent) with the mortgage lender in order to protect us from potential foreclosure on the property owner at the infrastructure location, which foreclosure could, absent a non-disturbance agreement (or local equivalent), extinguish our real property interest. In some instances where we obtain non-disturbance agreements, we remain subordinated to some indebtedness. As of December 31, 2019, substantially all of our real property interests were either subject to non-disturbance agreements or had been otherwise recorded in local real estate records in senior positions to any mortgages.
Revenue Sharing. In most jurisdictions, the instruments granting us the real property interests or contractual rights often contain revenue sharing arrangements with property owners. These revenue sharing arrangements have varying structures and terms, but generally provide that, upon an increase in the rent due under a new Tenant Lease, the existing lease or a renewal of such lease, the property owner is entitled to receive a percentage of the additional rent payments. These revenue sharing amounts are individually negotiated and range from 20% to 50%.
Triple Net Nature of the Assets. Through the acquisition of real property interests and contractual rights from the property owner, we obtain the property owners rights to the rental streams payable under the Tenant Lease. Generally, we do not assume, or contract back to the property owner, the obligations under the pre-existing Tenant Lease, such as the obligations to provide quiet enjoyment of the property or to pay property taxes. Typically, our assets are subject to triple net or effectively triple net lease arrangements, meaning that the tenants or the underlying property owners are contractually responsible for property level operating expenses, including taxes, utilities, maintenance capital and operating expenditures and insurance. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, our property taxes, utilities, maintenance and insurance expenses were less than
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1% of revenue. The Directors believe that our triple net and effectively triple net lease arrangements support a stable, consistent and predictable cash flow profile due to the following characteristics:
| no equipment maintenance costs or obligations; |
| no property level maintenance capital expenditures; and |
| limited property tax or insurance obligations. |
Asset Terms. The terms of our real property interests, other than our fee simple interests, generally range from 30 years to 99 years, although some are shorter, and provide us with the right to receive the future income from the future Tenant Lease rental payments over a specified duration. The average remaining term of our real property interests is approximately 45 years. In most cases, the stated term of the real property interest is longer than the remaining term of the Tenant Lease, which provides us with the right and opportunity for renewals and extensions. The table below provides an overview of the remaining term under our real property interests and contractual rights as of December 31, 2019. For a definition of annualized in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
Remaining Asset Term |
Number of Leases |
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands) |
Percentage of Total Revenue * |
Annualized In- Place Rents as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands) |
Percentage of Total Annualized In-Place Rents |
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5 years or less. |
9 | $ | 172 | <1 | % | $ | 173 | <1 | % | |||||||||||
5 to 20 years |
640 | 7,437 | 14 | % | 7,655 | 12 | % | |||||||||||||
20 to 40 years |
3,048 | 25,778 | 47 | % | 30,777 | 50 | % | |||||||||||||
40 to 60 years |
826 | 8,154 | 15 | % | 8,785 | 14 | % | |||||||||||||
> 60 years |
1,523 | 13,133 | 24 | % | $ | 14,705 | 24 | % |
* | Excludes revenue from Other Asset Types. |
Communication Structures. Our real property interests and contractual rights typically underlie either a wireless communications tower or an antenna. Our structure types include rooftop sites, wireless towers (including monopoles, self-supporting towers, stealth towers and guyed towers) and other structures (including, for example, water towers and church steeples) on which wireless communications assets are located. The table below provides an overview of our portfolio of assets by structure type. For a definition of annualized in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
Structure Type |
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands) |
Percentage of Total Revenue * |
Annualized In-Place Rents as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands) |
Percentage of Total Annualized In- Place Rents |
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Towers |
$ | 32,826 | 60 | % | $ | 38,050 | 61 | % | ||||||||
Rooftops |
19,644 | 36 | % | 21,615 | 35 | % | ||||||||||
Other Structures |
2,204 | 4 | % | 2,430 | 4 | % | ||||||||||
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Total |
$ | 54,674 | 100 | % | $ | 62,095 | 100 | % | ||||||||
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* | Excludes revenue from Other Asset Types. |
Geographic Distribution
We own assets throughout the United States and the following 18 countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom and Turkey.
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Global Operations
The APW Groups operations are headquartered in San Diego, California, with offices also in the following regions: (i) Northern Europe (the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Hungary), (ii) Southern Europe and Brazil (France, Spain, Italy and Portugal and Brazil), (iii) Spanish LatAm (Mexico, Colombia and Chile), and (iv) North America and Australia. Executive, regional and country leaders have responsibility across the full range of the APW Groups activities, from acquisitions to property management.
These activities include (i) establishing and executing our world-wide strategies, (ii) determining the investment structures and documentation used in each of our target jurisdictions, (iii) investment targeting, (iv) developing marketing strategies and materials, (v) finalizing and submitting asset acquisitions for consideration, including pricing, (vi) underwriting, including commercial due diligence, (vii) providing legal functions and managing regional and local legal departments, (viii) property management, including revenue enhancement, (ix) accounting, finance and tax, (x) human resources, (xi) developing and maintaining global systems and processes and (xii) managing and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs).
The table below sets forth our top geographic markets, based on a percentage of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 and annualized in-place rents as of December 31, 2019. For a definition of annualized in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
Country |
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands) |
Percentage of Total Revenue |
Annualized In-Place Rents as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands) |
Percentage of Total Annualized In-Place Rents |
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United States |
$ | 15,820 | 28 | % | $ | 15,970 | 26 | % | ||||||||
United Kingdom |
15,267 | 27 | % | 15,010 | 24 | % | ||||||||||
Other |
24,619 | 44 | % | 31,115 | 50 | % | ||||||||||
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Total |
$ | 55,706 | 100 | % | $ | 62,095 | 100 | % | ||||||||
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The table below presents our principal jurisdictions, calculated on a percentage of revenue generated for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 (based on the billing addresses of the related in-place tenants).
Country |
Year ended December 31, 2019 |
Year ended December 31, 2018 |
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United States |
28 | % | 32 | % | ||||
United Kingdom |
27 | % | 27 | % | ||||
Other |
45 | % | 41 | % | ||||
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Total |
100 | % | 100 | % | ||||
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Before entering into a new geographic market, we evaluate numerous factors, including the following: (i) political stability, (ii) the rule of law, including the ability to obtain judicial enforcement of our property rights and contract rights, (iii) the reliability, quality, and accessibility of local property registries, (iv) macro-economic fundamentals, including inflation and exchange rates, (v) the ability to raise reasonably priced debt to support local acquisitions, (vi) the total addressable market, (vii) taxes, including transfer and/or recordation taxes and indirect taxes such as VAT, (viii) regulatory issues, if any, (ix) the extent of competition in and the maturity of the wireless communications market, (x) consolidation risk among tower companies and wireless carriers, (xi) the potential for sale-leasebacks and/or lease-leasebacks between wireless carriers and tower companies, (xii) passive and active network sharing risk between wireless carriers, (xiii) the nature and creditworthiness of the local tower companies and/or wireless carriers, (xiv) our relationships with local tower companies and wireless carriers in the market based on our operations in other markets, and (xv) the overall cultural compatibility with the target jurisdiction in question.
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Tenant Base
The counterparties to the Tenant Leases from which we derive our revenue are generally either large, investment grade MNOs or tower companies that have a national or international footprint. For the year ended December 31, 2019, our top 20 tenants comprised 84% of our revenue. As of December 31, 2019, our top 20 tenants represented 84% of our annualized in-place rents. Of those 20 tenants, 17 had a credit rating of BBB or better, representing 74% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 75% of our total annualized in-place rents as at such date. Such investment grade tenants, which include AT&T Mobility, Verizon, Telefónica, Orange, Telstra and Vodafone in the wireless carrier industry and American Tower and Crown Castle in the cellular tower industry, also constituted 88% of the revenue of our top 20 customers. For the year ended December 31, 2019, our top five tenants generated approximately 43% of our revenue, and, as of December 31, 2019, generated approximately 41% of our annualized in-place rents. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2019, investment grade tenants comprised approximately 83% of total revenue. For a definition of annualized in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
Our property rights enable us to benefit from the high renewal rates experienced in the cellular industry. Based on the technical challenges and significant expense associated with the decommissioning and repositioning of an existing antennae within a carriers network, and the potential adverse effect on the carriers network quality and coverage, churn in the wireless industry has historically been low. Furthermore, zoning restrictions in many countries have typically significantly delayed, hindered or prevented the construction of new sites, thereby limiting the alternatives available to carriers. In addition, as carriers seek to expand network coverage, we expect that carriers will seek to deploy additional antennae through co-location on existing towers and rooftops, positioning us to benefit from additional revenue opportunities on many of the towers and other structures located on sites where we hold real property interests. We believe each of these attributes helps us achieve stable, consistent and predictable cash flow.
We monitor tenant credit quality on an ongoing basis by reviewing, where available, the publicly filed financial reports, press releases and other publicly available industry information regarding the parent entities of tenants.
Tenant Lease Terms
The Tenant Leases underlying our assets are typically structured with automatically renewable periodic terms. The average remaining lease term of our Tenant Leases is approximately 10 years including renewal terms. Each of our Tenant Leases produce an average of approximately $850 per month in U.S. GAAP rental payments, but can range above and below that significantly. In addition, substantially all of our Tenant Leases include built in rent escalators, which are typically structured as fixed amount increases, fixed percentage increases, CPI increases, or open market review (OMV) increases and increase rent annually or on the renewal of the lease term. As of December 31, 2019, over 98% of our Tenant Leases contained contractual rent escalators, 30% of which were fixed rate (with an average annual escalation rate of approximately 3.0%) and 68% of which were tied to CPI or OMV.
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Although Tenant Leases are typically structured as long-term leases with fixed rents and rent escalators, Tenants generally have the contractual right to terminate their leases upon 30 to 180 days notice. The table below summarizes the remaining lease terms of the Tenant Leases underlying our assets as of December 31, 2019, including as a percentage of revenue and as a percentage of annualized in-place rents. For a definition of annualized in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
Lease Expiration * |
Number of Contracts |
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands) |
Percentage of Total Revenue ** |
Annualized In- Place Rents as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands) |
Percentage of Total Annualized In- Place Rents |
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Less than or equal to 5 years |
3,138 | $ | 25,148 | 46 | % | $ | 28,835 | 46 | % | |||||||||||
5 to 10 years |
1,207 | 10,652 | 19 | % | 12,670 | 21 | % | |||||||||||||
10 to 15 years |
621 | 6,827 | 12 | % | 7,270 | 12 | % | |||||||||||||
15 to 20 years |
609 | 6,482 | 12 | % | 6,983 | 11 | % | |||||||||||||
Over 20 years |
471 | 5,565 | 10 | % | 6,337 | 10 | % | |||||||||||||
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Total |
6,046 | $ | 54,674 | 100 | % | $ | 62,095 | 100 | % | |||||||||||
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* | Assumes full exercise of remaining renewal terms. |
** | Excludes revenue from Other Asset Types. |
Our Acquisition Platform
We have developed experienced and proprietary techniques associated with (i) market targeting and evaluation, (ii) jurisdiction-specific structuring from legal, financial and tax perspectives, (iii) jurisdiction-specific documentation,(iv) asset identification, targeting and evaluation, (v) culturally appropriate marketing and acquisition techniques, (vi) jurisdiction-specific commercial and legal due diligence, (vii) relationships with more than 50 investment grade wireless carriers and tower companies world-wide, (viii) ongoing relationships with regional and local financial, legal and tax advisors who are familiar with our business, (ix) relationships with local notaries in civil law countries, and (x) jurisdiction-specific property management and human resources practices.
Our global real estate acquisition and property management platform consists of four phases: (1) lead generation and marketing, (2) investment origination, (3) underwriting and closing and (4) property management.
Lead Generation
We have developed a proprietary lead generation system, which we use across the jurisdictions in which we operate. This system is based on each jurisdictions local language and is used to identify asset prospects. Once an infrastructure location prospect has been identified, our global data management team leverages a variety of publicly available data and proprietary data and resources to obtain contact information for the property owner. Once the property owners address and contact information are verified, a lead is created in our proprietary customer relationship management (CRM) database and made available to our local teams.
Investment Origination
The investment origination process begins with a material interaction between one of our acquisitions professionals and the property owner, at which point a lead becomes an investment opportunity. Depending on the jurisdiction in question, initial interactions are either telephonic or in person. In most cases our personnel will physically meet with the property owner one or more times prior to closing. During this process we will evaluate the transaction alternatives and the property owners interest level in transacting with us. Once we obtain a copy
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of the lease from the property owner, relevant data is entered into our proprietary asset evaluation system to generate an initial term sheet or option agreement. Terms then are negotiated with the property owner and, upon acceptance of a term sheet or option agreement, we proceed with further diligence.
Underwriting and Closing
After the proposal has been accepted by the property owner and a term sheet or option agreement has been executed, the investment opportunity moves to our underwriting and closing teams. The potential transaction enters a comprehensive due diligence process. Curative measures are taken to clear title on the real property interest during the underwriting and due diligence process.
In the underwriting stage, we review various transaction-related material, documents and other information for compliance with our underwriting criteria.
As a general matter, when acquiring real property interests, we will target infrastructure locations that are material to the operations of the existing tenants. The majority of our acquisitions include leases with investment grade tenants or tenants whose sub-tenants are investment grade companies. Additionally, we will focus on infrastructure locations with characteristics that are difficult to replicate in the respective market, and those with tenant assets that cannot be easily moved to alternative sites or replaced by new construction.
While we typically make a single upfront payment in exchange for the revenue stream, the underwriting process also provides for the option to structure our payments to the property owner over a period of time, paying over a 2- to 5-year period (as opposed to 100% upfront).
Once an opportunity is deemed to meet due diligence and underwriting standards, it proceeds to our investment committee for transaction approval. Pending approval, legal closing documents are prepared, executed and delivered.
Property Management
After funding, the tenant is notified of the transaction and a notarized payment re-direction letter is sent advising the tenant to redirect rental payments to us. The asset management phase includes collections, tenant payment conversion, tenant contact management, the negotiation of lease renewals, modifications, cancellations, reductions, document and consent requests, landlord and tenant complaints and new leasing of available tenant sites. The objective of the asset management function is to ensure that we efficiently receive and process our rental income while optimizing our ability to capitalize on opportunities for additional revenue opportunities.
Employees
As of December 31, 2019, we had 280 employees. We have continued to hire personnel and, as of April 23, 2020, we had 281 employees. The following tables provide a breakdown of our employees by geography as of December 31, 2018 and 2019.
Country |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
United States |
57 | 58 | ||||||
United Kingdom |
62 | 55 | ||||||
Other |
161 | 155 | ||||||
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Total |
280 | 268 | ||||||
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Regulatory and Environmental Matters
Our international operations may be subject to limitations on foreign ownership of land in certain areas. Non-compliance with such regulations may lead to monetary penalties or deconstruction orders. Our
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international operations are also subject to various regulations and guidelines regarding employee relations and other occupational health and safety matters. As we expand our operations into additional international geographic areas, we will be subject to regulations in these jurisdictions.
In the United Kingdom, for example, we are subject to the revised Electronic Communications Code, which came into force on December 28, 2017 as part of the United Kingdoms Digital Economy Act 2017. The Electronic Communications Code governs certain relationships between landowners and operators of electronic communications services, such as cellular towers. It gives operators certain rights to install, inspect and maintain electronic communications apparatus, including masts, cables and other equipment on land, even where the operator cannot agree with the landowner as to the terms of the rights. Among other measures, the Electronic Communications Code restricts the ability of landowners to charge premium prices for the use of their land by basing the consideration paid on the underlying value of the land, not the value attributable to the high public demand for communications services and provides authority to the courts to determine the rent if the parties are unable to come to agreement. As a result, our future results may be negatively impacted if a significant number of our leases in the United Kingdom are renegotiated at lower rates. Nonetheless, despite the revised Electronic Communications Code coming into effect over three years ago, it has not had an impact on the rents which we are currently receiving.
Laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment are applicable to the communications sites in which we have a real property interest and to the businesses and operations of our lessees, property owners and other surface owners or operators. International, Federal, state and local government agencies issue regulations that often require difficult and costly compliance measures that carry substantial administrative, civil and criminal penalties and that may result in injunctive obligations for non-compliance. These laws and regulations often require permits before operations commence, restrict the types, quantities and concentrations of various substances that can be released into the environment, require remediation of released substances, and limit or prohibit construction or operations on certain lands (e.g. wetlands). Although we do not conduct any operations on our properties, the wireless carriers or tower companies on our communications sites may maintain small quantities of materials that, if released, would be subject to certain environmental laws. Similarly, the site owners, lessees and other surface interest owners may have liability or responsibility under these laws that could have an indirect impact on our business. For those communications sites in which we hold real property interests that are not full fee simple ownership, our liability is typically limited to damages caused by our actions. However, in limited circumstances certain jurisdictions may seek to impose liability if all other owners are not available. With respect to the communications sites that we own in fee simple, we are subject to environmental liability in accordance with local law.
Seasonality
Historically, we have generally acquired approximately 35% of annual cell site lease prepayments in the fourth quarter of the year. The impact and timing of these cell lease prepayments in the fourth quarter can have a delayed impact on the revenue we recognize. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the below table compares the revenue recognized on the audited financial statements compared to our annualized in-place rents as of the end of that period. For a definition of annualized in-place rents and a comparison to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, revenue, see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of OperationsNon-GAAP Financial Measures.
(in thousands) |
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
Revenue for year ended December 31: |
$ | 55,706 | $ | 46,406 | ||||
Annualized in-place rents as of December 31: |
$ | 62,095 | $ | 51,221 |
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Competition
We face competition in the acquisition of our assets. Some of the competitors are larger than us and include public entities with greater access to capital and scale of operations than us. Our principal competitors include large independent tower companies such as American Tower, Crown Castle International and SBA Communications, large MNO/wireless carriers and private and public acquirers of similar assets. In some jurisdictions, including Europe, the number of wireless towers and antennae owned by tower companies, as compared to wireless carriers, is growing quickly. These tower companies may be more likely to seek to own or control the land underlying their tower as that is their asset/service as compared to the wireless carriers who have traditionally allocated their capital to network development rather than acquisition of the underlying real property. These wireless tower companies are larger and may have greater financial resources than us.
Significant Trends
Consumer demand for data is the primary driver of the telecom infrastructure services that our tenants, predominantly mobile network operators and tower companies, provide. Consumer demand continues to grow due to increases in data consumption and the increased penetration of bandwidth-intensive devices. There is a need for enhanced network coverage and densification to meet speed and capacity demands. We believe that we are well positioned to benefit from this increase in consumer demand. The following trends are expected to continue to impact the industry:
Mobile Data Traffic Growth. The proliferation of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets and the omnipresence of sophisticated, data-intensive mobile applications and services are expected to drive a strong demand for mobile bandwidth supporting an explosive growth of data usage. The Ericsson Mobility Report, published in November 2019 by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (the Ericsson Mobility Report 2019), estimated that around 95% of all mobile subscriptions will be for mobile broadband by the end of 2024. This demand is expected to drive major wireless carriers to continue to upgrade and enhance their networks in an effort to improve network quality and capacity. Additionally, global mobile data traffic is predicted to grow by 27% annually between 2019 and 2025, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report 2019. With users demanding faster communication speeds and higher bandwidth, and MNOs looking to compete on network quality, we expect our tenants to continue to enjoy strong demand for their services.
Adoption of Higher Capacity Communication Standards. As data usage continues to rapidly increase, consumer demand is expected to continue to drive the transition from 2G and 3G networks to 4G/LTE and 5G networks globally. Forecasts published in the Ericsson Mobility Report 2019 predict there to be 1.9 billion 5G subscriptions globally for enhanced mobile broadband by the end of 2024, with 63% of all North American mobile subscriptions expected to be for 5G in 2024. The continued adoption of bandwidth-intensive applications is expected to result in a growing demand for high-capacity, multi-location, fiber-based network solutions.
New Technologies and Services. Next generation technologies and new uses for wireless communications are expected to result in new entrants or increased demand in the wireless industry, which may include companies involved in the continued evolution and deployment of machine-to-machine applications (M2M), such as connected cars, smart cities and virtual reality. As one example of M2M connections, the proliferation of self-driving cars is expected to significantly accelerate in the near future. The commercial application of partially and fully autonomous vehicles will require the deployment of sophisticated and dense mobile networks, with high connection speeds, reliability and low latency. This and other increases in new technologies and services will require further development of new infrastructures to meet territorial and population coverage requirements.
Consolidation Among Wireless Carriers. The U.S. wireless carrier industry has experienced, and may continue to experience, significant consolidation, such as the recent merger between Sprint and T-Mobile, resulting in the decommissioning of certain existing communications sites, due to overlap of the networks or the rationalization of technology. Internationally, wireless carriers are increasingly entering into active and passive
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network sharing agreements or roaming or resale arrangements which could also result in decommissioning of certain existing communications sites due to network overlap or redundancy. To the extent that a wireless carrier does not need a redundant communication site, it may seek to early terminate or not renew its lease. Consolidation can also potentially reduce the diversity of tenants and give tenants greater leverage over their landlords, such as us, due to overlapping coverage, ability to increase co-location on nearby existing sites and through aggressive lease negotiations on multiple sites.
Legal Proceedings
We are not currently subject to any legal proceedings, and to the best of our knowledge, no such proceeding is threatened, in each case the results of which would have a material impact on our properties, results of operation, or financial condition. Nor, to the best of our knowledge, are any of our officers or directors involved in any legal proceedings in which we are an adverse party.
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DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Directors
The following table lists the names, positions and ages of our directors (our Directors) as of [●], 2020, who are also expected to be our Directors following the Domestication. In addition, biographical information of the Directors is set forth below.
Name |
Age | Position |
Committees | Appointed | ||||||||||
Michael D. Fascitelli (I) | 63 | Co-Chairman | C* | November 3, 2017 | ||||||||||
William H. Berkman | 55 | Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | February 10, 2020 | |||||||||||
Noam Gottesman (I) | 59 | Non-Executive Director | N | November 3, 2017 | ||||||||||
William D. Rahm (I) | 41 | Non-Executive Director | C | February 12, 2020 | ||||||||||
Paul A. Gould (I) | 74 | Non-Executive Director | C, N* | February 10, 2020 | ||||||||||
Antoinette Cook Bush (I) | 63 | Non-Executive Director | A | February 10, 2020 | ||||||||||
Thomas C. King (I) | 59 | Non-Executive Director | A* | February 10, 2020 | ||||||||||
Nick S. Advani (I) | 42 | Non-Executive Director | A, N | February 10, 2020 |
I = Considered by the Board to be independent under section 5600 of the Nasdaq Listing Rules
A = Member of the Audit Committee
C = Member of the Compensation Committee
N = Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
* = Chairman of the applicable committee
Michael D. Fascitelli, Co-Chairman
Mr. Fascitelli has over 30 years experience of investing in real estate and is the co-founder and managing partner of Imperial Companies LLC, a real estate investment, development and management company focused on investing in premium office, urban retail, residential and mixed-use real estate located primarily in New York City and other select U.S. gateway cities, which he co-founded in 2014. Mr. Fascitelli joined Goldman, Sachs & Co. in the Real Estate department in 1985, becoming a partner and head of Goldman Sachs real estate banking business in 1992. He co-founded Goldman Sachs first Real Estate Opportunity Fund, Whitehall Real Estate Fund, in 1991 and served on its investment committee. In December 1996, he became president of Vornado Realty Trust, a publicly-traded REIT and one of the largest owners and managers of real estate in the United States, and was its chief executive officer from 2009 until April 2013. During his 16-year tenure, Vornado achieved total returns of 4.2x the S&P 500 and 1.8x the NAREIT index, an increase in enterprise value from $1.2 billion to over $29 billion (CAGR of 21%), executed in excess of 150 separate transactions, including a variety of operating businesses and iconic real estate, primarily in New York City, and successfully established Vornado Capital Partners Fund I in 2010 worth $800 million. At the time Mr. Fascitelli left Vornado, it had a market cap of approximately $15 billion. Mr. Fascitelli has been a member of the Vornado Board of Trustees since December 1996. Mr. Fascitelli is a trustee and director of the Urban Land Institute, an independent trustee of Invitation Homes (formerly Starwood Waypoint Homes), an independent director of Sculptor Capital Management (formerly Och Ziff Capital Management) and is past chairman of the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center at Wharton and still serves on its executive committee. He also serves as chair of the investment committee, senior advisor and board member of Quadro Partners Inc. (formerly Realcadre) and is on the board of the Child Mind Institute and The Rockefeller University Board of Trustees.
William H. Berkman, Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
William H. Berkman is the Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Berkman is an entrepreneur and investor in the communications, media, technology and energy industries. Mr. Berkman previously served as the Co-Managing Partner at Associated Partners and its predecessor partnership, Liberty
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Associated Partners, LP, both investment partnerships with Liberty Media Corporation that own controlling interests in wireless communications infrastructure companies AP Wireless Infrastructure Services, LLC and AP Towers, LLC. Mr. Berkman has co-founded multiple other telecommunications companies, such as Current Group, Teligent, Inc. and Nextel Mexico. Mr. Berkman previously served as a member of the board of directors for public companies IAC/InterActiveCorp, Liberty Satellite & Technology, Inc. and Teligent, Inc. Mr. Berkman serves as an independent director of Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., a publicly-traded NYSE listed company. He also serves as a member of the board of directors for The Partnership for New York City and the Partnerships Fund for New York City. Mr. Berkman holds multiple patents for smart electric grid and communications systems. He has an A.B. from Harvard University, and in 1997, his family established the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. Mr. Berkman is a member of the 2009 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.
Noam Gottesman, Non-Executive Director
Noam Gottesman is the founder and Managing Partner of TOMS Capital LLC, a single-family office which manages the commercial and private interests of its family clients, which he founded in 2012. Mr. Gottesman was the co-founder of GLG Partners Inc. and its predecessor entities where he served in various chief executive capacities until January 2012. Mr. Gottesman served as GLGs chief executive officer from September 2000 until September 2005, and then as its co-chief executive officer from September 2005 until January 2012. Mr. Gottesman was also chairman of the board of GLG following its merger with Freedom Acquisition Holdings Inc. and prior to its acquisition by Man Group plc. Mr. Gottesman co-founded GLG as a division of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) in 1995 where he was a Managing Director. Prior to 1995, Mr. Gottesman was an executive director of Goldman Sachs International, where he managed global equity portfolios in the private client group. Mr. Gottesman was a co-founder and non-executive director of Nomad Holdings Limited, an acquisition vehicle which completed its $500 million initial public offering and listing on the London Stock Exchange in April 2014. In 2015 it acquired Iglo Foods Holdings Limited in the UK and Ireland, Findus in Italy and Iglo in Germany and continental Europe for approximately $2.6 billion and Findus Sverige AB for approximately £500 million and changed its name to Nomad Foods Limited. It relisted on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016 and Mr. Gottesman continues to serve as co-chairman of Nomad Foods Limiteds board of directors.