Form: 10-Q

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

November 8, 2018



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-
(Mark One)
[X]          QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
 
[  ]           TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                          TO                           
 
Commission File Number
001‑32663
 
CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
 
Delaware
 
86-0812139
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
20880 Stone Oak Parkway
San Antonio, Texas
 
78258
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
(210) 832-3700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes [X] No [  ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes [X] No [  ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an 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   [X]    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 pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes [  ] No [X]

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
Outstanding at November 5, 2018
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value
50,413,296
Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value
315,000,000




CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC.
 
INDEX
 
 
 
Page No.
Part I -- Financial Information
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Part II -- Other Information
 
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 5.
Item 6.
 





PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
September 30, 2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
(Unaudited)
 
CURRENT ASSETS
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
191,117

 
$
144,119

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $21,800 in 2018 and $22,487 in 2017
654,038

 
659,463

Prepaid expenses
125,592

 
111,876

Other current assets
32,725

 
58,714

Total Current Assets
1,003,472

 
974,172

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
 
 
Structures, net
1,038,835

 
1,180,882

Other property, plant and equipment, net
217,155

 
214,147

INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL
 
 
 
Indefinite-lived intangibles
971,163

 
977,152

Other intangibles, net
257,483

 
273,862

Goodwill
708,508

 
714,043

OTHER ASSETS
 
 
 
Due from iHeartCommunications, net of allowance of $855,648 in 2018 and 2017
154,758

 
211,990

Other assets
127,988

 
121,199

Total Assets
$
4,479,362

 
$
4,667,447

CURRENT LIABILITIES
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
99,304

 
$
87,960

Accrued expenses
533,413

 
509,801

Deferred income
85,732

 
59,178

Current portion of long-term debt
321

 
573

Total Current Liabilities
718,770

 
657,512

Long-term debt
5,274,490

 
5,266,153

Due to iHeartCommunications, post iHeart Chapter 11 Cases
1,495

 

Deferred income taxes
360,429

 
318,107

Other long-term liabilities
264,190

 
283,969

Commitments and Contingent liabilities (Note 5)

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interest
153,235

 
157,040

Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, 150,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding

 

Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 750,000,000 shares, issued 51,516,299 and 49,955,300 shares in 2018 and 2017, respectively
501

 
500

Class B common stock, par value $.01 per share, 600,000,000 shares authorized, 315,000,000 shares issued and outstanding
3,150

 
3,150

Additional paid-in capital
3,084,518

 
3,108,148

Accumulated deficit
(5,026,573
)
 
(4,781,245
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(348,317
)
 
(340,094
)
Cost of shares (1,098,625 in 2018 and 946,415 in 2017) held in treasury
(6,526
)
 
(5,793
)
Total Stockholders’ Deficit
(2,140,012
)
 
(1,858,294
)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit
$
4,479,362

 
$
4,667,447

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(UNAUDITED)
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Revenue
$
663,739

 
$
644,430

 
$
1,974,117

 
$
1,860,298

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct operating expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization)
361,681

 
357,946

 
1,095,906

 
1,039,175

Selling, general and administrative expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization)
128,797

 
128,539

 
381,494

 
370,597

Corporate expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization)
37,729

 
35,333

 
111,092

 
105,213

Depreciation and amortization
77,405

 
81,096

 
244,232

 
236,880

Impairment charges
7,772

 
1,591

 
7,772

 
1,591

Other operating income (expense), net
825

 
(11,783
)
 
1,700

 
28,657

Operating income
51,180

 
28,142

 
135,321

 
135,499

Interest expense
97,158

 
95,467

 
291,409

 
282,802

Interest income on Due to/from iHeartCommunications, net
363

 
17,087

 
573

 
47,277

Equity in earnings (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliates
202

 
(628
)
 
384

 
(829
)
Other income (expense), net
(6,087
)
 
9,164

 
(22,030
)
 
21,804

Loss before income taxes
(51,500
)
 
(41,702
)
 
(177,161
)
 
(79,051
)
Income tax expense
(6,896
)
 
(16,347
)
 
(57,016
)
 
(12,900
)
Consolidated net loss
(58,396
)
 
(58,049
)
 
(234,177
)
 
(91,951
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest
6,692

 
6,159

 
9,716

 
10,546

Net loss attributable to the Company
$
(65,088
)
 
$
(64,208
)
 
$
(243,893
)
 
$
(102,497
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
(7,089
)
 
12,348

 
(18,927
)
 
42,353

Unrealized holding loss on marketable securities

 
(320
)
 

 
(218
)
Reclassification adjustments
1,425

 
6,207

 
1,425

 
4,563

Other comprehensive income (loss)
(5,664
)
 
18,235

 
(17,502
)
 
46,698

Comprehensive loss
(70,752
)
 
(45,973
)
 
(261,395
)
 
(55,799
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest
(5,161
)
 
2,548

 
(7,844
)
 
5,734

Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company
$
(65,591
)
 
$
(48,521
)
 
$
(253,551
)
 
$
(61,533
)
Net loss attributable to the Company per common share:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Basic
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(0.28
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding – Basic
361,815

 
361,302

 
361,680

 
361,064

Diluted
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(0.28
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding – Diluted
361,815

 
361,302

 
361,680

 
361,064

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends declared and paid per share
$

 
$
0.07

 
$
0.08

 
$
0.85

 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Consolidated net loss
$
(234,177
)
 
$
(91,951
)
Reconciling items:
 
 
 
Impairment charges
7,772

 
1,591

Depreciation and amortization
244,232

 
236,880

Deferred taxes
40,889

 
(27,315
)
Provision for doubtful accounts
5,108

 
6,328

Amortization of deferred financing charges and note discounts, net
8,000

 
7,996

Share-based compensation
6,757

 
7,153

Gain on disposal of operating and other assets
(2,307
)
 
(30,295
)
Equity in (earnings) loss of nonconsolidated affiliates
(384
)
 
829

Foreign exchange transaction (gain) loss
21,379

 
(22,266
)
Other reconciling items, net
(1,997
)
 
(4,930
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
 
 
 
Increase in accounts receivable
(15,293
)
 
(17,826
)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets
(19,606
)
 
(16,109
)
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses
11,711

 
(8,810
)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
13,627

 
(4,023
)
Increase in accrued interest
10,032

 
6,031

Increase in deferred income
29,122

 
18,718

Changes in other operating assets and liabilities
(4,438
)
 
11,106

Net cash provided by operating activities
$
120,427

 
$
73,107

Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 
 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(110,121
)
 
(134,868
)
Proceeds from disposal of assets
6,563

 
71,034

Purchases of other operating assets
(1,828
)
 
(2,984
)
Change in other, net
56

 
(1,058
)
Net cash used for investing activities
$
(105,330
)
 
$
(67,876
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 

 
 

Payments on credit facilities

 
(909
)
Proceeds from long-term debt

 
156,000

Payments on long-term debt
(482
)
 
(604
)
Net transfers from (to) iHeartCommunications
58,726

 
(165,650
)
Dividends and other payments to noncontrolling interests
(6,144
)
 
(12,027
)
Dividends paid
(30,660
)
 
(282,658
)
Change in other, net
(2,265
)
 
(6,234
)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
$
19,175

 
$
(312,082
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(7,951
)
 
7,037

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
26,321

 
(299,814
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
188,310

 
552,691

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
214,631

 
$
252,877

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
 

 
 

Cash paid for interest
$
272,378

 
$
270,126

Cash paid for income taxes
23,390

 
29,771

 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Preparation of Interim Financial Statements
All references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.  Our reportable segments are Americas outdoor advertising (“Americas”) and International outdoor advertising (“International”). The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and, in the opinion of management, include all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the results of the interim periods shown. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations.  Management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  Due to seasonality and other factors, the results for the interim periods may not be indicative of results for the full year.  The financial statements contained herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries and give effect to allocations of expenses from the Company’s indirect parent entity, iHeartCommunications, Inc. (“iHeartCommunications”).  These allocations were made on a specifically identifiable basis or using relative percentages of headcount or other methods management considered to be a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services provided.  Also included in the consolidated financial statements are entities for which the Company has a controlling financial interest or is the primary beneficiary.  Investments in companies in which the Company owns 20% to 50% of the voting common stock or otherwise exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies of the company are accounted for under the equity method.  All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in the consolidation process. 
The Company re-evaluated its segment reporting and determined that its Latin American operations should be managed by its International leadership team. As a result, beginning on January 1, 2018, the operations of Latin America are no longer reflected within the Company’s Americas segment and are included in the results of its International segment. Accordingly, the Company has recast the corresponding segment disclosures for prior periods to include Latin America within the International segment.
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation.
Corrections to Prior Periods
During the three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company identified misstatements associated with VAT obligations in its International segment, which resulted in an understatement of the Company's VAT obligation. Based on an analysis of the quantitative and qualitative factors in accordance with SEC Staff Bulletins ("SAB") 99, Materiality, SAB 108, Considering the Effects of Prior year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in the Current Year Financial Statements and Accounting Standards Codification 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, the Company concluded that these misstatements were immaterial, individually and in the aggregate, to any of the Company's prior quarterly and annual financial statements previously filed in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K. As a result, amendment of such reports is not required. While the Company concluded that the misstatements were immaterial to each of the prior reporting periods affected, the Company further concluded that correcting the errors cumulatively would materially misstate the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Accordingly, the Company is correcting the VAT misstatements, as well as other previously identified immaterial errors, by revising the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2018.


4



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


A summary of the effect of the corrections on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2017 is as follows:
 
December 31, 2017
(In thousands)
As Reported
 
Correction
 
Revised
Other assets
$
124,534

 
$
(3,335
)
 
$
121,199

Total Assets
4,670,782

 
(3,335
)
 
4,667,447

Other long-term liabilities
270,415

 
13,554

 
283,969

Accumulated deficit
(4,765,514
)
 
(15,731
)
 
(4,781,245
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(338,936
)
 
(1,158
)
 
(340,094
)
Total Stockholders' Deficit
(1,841,405
)
 
(16,889
)
 
(1,858,294
)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit
4,670,782

 
(3,335
)
 
4,667,447

A summary of the effect of the corrections on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
(In thousands)
As Reported
 
Correction
 
Revised
Revenue
$
645,089

 
$
(659
)
 
$
644,430

Direct operating expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization)
356,100

 
1,846

 
357,946

Selling, general and administrative expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization)
128,397

 
142

 
128,539

Operating income
30,789

 
(2,647
)
 
28,142

Loss before income taxes
(39,055
)
 
(2,647
)
 
(41,702
)
Consolidated net loss
(55,402
)
 
(2,647
)
 
(58,049
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest
6,237

 
(78
)
 
6,159

Net loss attributable to the Company
(61,639
)
 
(2,569
)
 
(64,208
)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
12,950

 
(602
)
 
12,348

Other comprehensive income
18,837

 
(602
)
 
18,235

Comprehensive loss
(42,802
)
 
(3,171
)
 
(45,973
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest
2,666

 
(118
)
 
2,548

Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company
(45,468
)
 
(3,053
)
 
(48,521
)
Basic loss per share
(0.17
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.18
)
Diluted loss per share
(0.17
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.18
)

5



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
(In thousands)
As Reported
 
Correction
 
Revised
Revenue
$
1,862,134

 
$
(1,836
)
 
$
1,860,298

Direct operating expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization)
1,034,204

 
4,971

 
1,039,175

Selling, general and administrative expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization)
370,069

 
528

 
370,597

Operating income
142,834

 
(7,335
)
 
135,499

Interest expense
282,730

 
72

 
282,802

Loss before income taxes
(71,644
)
 
(7,407
)
 
(79,051
)
Consolidated net loss
(84,544
)
 
(7,407
)
 
(91,951
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest
10,873

 
(327
)
 
10,546

Net loss attributable to the Company
(95,417
)
 
(7,080
)
 
(102,497
)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
43,947

 
(1,594
)
 
42,353

Other comprehensive income
48,292

 
(1,594
)
 
46,698

Comprehensive loss
(47,125
)
 
(8,674
)
 
(55,799
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest
5,995

 
(261
)
 
5,734

Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company
(53,120
)
 
(8,413
)
 
(61,533
)
Basic loss per share
(0.26
)
 
(0.02
)
 
(0.28
)
Diluted loss per share
(0.26
)
 
(0.02
)
 
(0.28
)
New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
As of January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new accounting standard, ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This standard provides guidance for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of revenue from contracts with customers and supersedes previous revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The Company has applied this standard using the full retrospective method and concluded that its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss, or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for prior periods. Please refer to Note 2, Revenues, for more information.
As a result of adopting this new accounting standard, the Company has updated its significant accounting policies, as follows:
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are recorded when the Company has an unconditional right to payment, either because it has satisfied a performance obligation prior to receiving payment from the customer or has a non-cancelable contract that has been billed in advance in accordance with the Company’s normal billing terms.
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of allowances for doubtful accounts. The Company evaluates the collectability of its accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where it is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, it records a specific reserve to reduce the amounts recorded to what it believes will be collected. For all other customers, it recognizes reserves for bad debt based on historical experience of bad debts as a percent of accounts receivable for each business unit, adjusted for relative improvements or deteriorations in the agings and changes in current economic conditions. The Company believes its concentration of credit risk is limited due to the large number and the geographic diversification of its customers.

6



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when or as it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring a promised good or service to a customer. The Company generates revenue primarily from the sale of advertising space on printed and digital displays, including billboards, street furniture displays, transit displays and retail displays, which may be sold as individual units or as a network package. Revenue from these contracts, which typically cover periods of a few weeks to one year, is generally recognized ratably over the term of the contract as the advertisement is displayed. The Company also generates revenue from production and creative services, which are distinct from the advertising display services, and related revenue is recognized at the point in time the Company installs the advertising copy at the display site.
The Company recognizes revenue in amounts that reflect the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for transferring goods or services to customers, excluding sales taxes and other similar taxes collected on behalf of governmental authorities (the “transaction price”). When this consideration includes a variable amount, the Company estimates the amount of consideration it expects to receive and only recognizes revenue to the extent that it is probable it will not be reversed in a future reporting period. Because the transfer of promised goods and services to the customer is generally within a year of scheduled payment from the customer, the Company is not typically required to consider the effects of the time value of money when determining the transaction price. Advertising revenue is reported net of agency commissions.
Trade and barter transactions represent the exchange of display space for merchandise, services or other assets in the ordinary course of business. The transaction price for these contracts is measured at the estimated fair value of the non-cash consideration received unless this is not reasonably estimable, in which case the consideration is measured based on the standalone selling price of the display space promised to the customer. Revenue is recognized on trade and barter transactions when the advertisements are displayed, and expenses are recorded ratably over a period that estimates when the merchandise, services or other assets received are utilized. Trade and barter revenues and expenses from continuing operations are included in consolidated revenue and selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively. Trade and barter revenues and expenses from continuing operations were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Consolidated:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Trade and barter revenues
$
3,644

 
$
4,002

 
$
11,416

 
$
13,166

  Trade and barter expenses
2,378

 
2,813

 
8,829

 
8,287

In order to appropriately identify the unit of accounting for revenue recognition, the Company determines which promised goods and services in a contract with a customer are distinct and are therefore separate performance obligations. If a promised good or service does not meet the criteria to be considered distinct, it is combined with other promised goods or services until a distinct bundle of goods or services exists. Certain of the Company’s contracts with customers include options for the customer to acquire additional goods or services for free or at a discount, and management judgment is required to determine whether these options are material rights that are separate performance obligations.
For revenue arrangements that contain multiple distinct goods or services, the Company allocates the transaction price to these performance obligations in proportion to their relative standalone selling prices. The Company has concluded that the contractual prices for the promised goods and services in its standard contracts generally approximate management’s best estimate of standalone selling price as the rates reflect various factors such as the size and characteristics of the target audience, market location and size, and recent market selling prices. However, where the Company provides customers with free or discounted services as part of contract negotiations, management uses judgment to determine how much of the transaction price to allocate to these performance obligations.
The Company receives payments from customers based on billing schedules that are established in its contracts, and deferred income is recorded when payment is received from a customer before the Company has satisfied the performance obligation or a non-cancelable contract has been billed in advance in accordance with the Company’s normal billing terms. Americas contracts are generally billed monthly in advance, and International includes a combination of advance billings and billings upon completion of service.

7



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


Contract Costs
Incremental costs of obtaining a contract primarily relate to sales commissions, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and are generally commensurate with sales. These costs are generally expensed when incurred because the period of benefit is one year or less.
Restricted Cash
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash, which requires that restricted cash be presented with cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. Restricted cash is recorded in Other current assets and in Other assets in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company adopted ASU 2016-18 in the first quarter of 2018 using the retrospective transition method, and accordingly, revised prior period amounts as shown in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheet to the total of the amounts reported in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows:
(In thousands)
September 30,
2018
 
December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents
$
191,117

 
$
144,119

Restricted cash included in:
 
 
 
  Other current assets
4,231

 
26,096

  Other assets
19,283

 
18,095

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in the Statement of Cash Flows
$
214,631

 
$
188,310

Stock Compensation
During the second quarter of 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This update mandates that entities will apply the modification accounting guidance if the value, vesting conditions or classification of a stock-based award changes. Entities will have to make all of the disclosures about modifications that are required today, in addition to disclosing that compensation expense hasn't changed. Additionally, the new guidance also clarifies that a modification to an award could be significant and therefore require disclosure, even if the modification accounting is not required. The guidance will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the adoption date and is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018 and the adoption of ASU 2017-09 did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.
New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
During the first quarter of 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The new leasing standard presents significant changes to the balance sheets of lessees. The most significant change to the standard includes the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases. Lessor accounting also is updated to align with certain changes in the lessee model and the new revenue recognition standard which was adopted this year. The standard is effective for annual periods, and for interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018. The standard is expected to have a material impact on our consolidated balance sheet, but is not expected to materially impact our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss or cash flows. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact of the provisions of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In July 2018, The FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) - Targeted Improvements. The update provides an additional (optional) transition method to adopt the new lease standard, allowing entities to apply the new lease standard at the adoption date. The Company plans to adopt Topic 842 following this optional transition method. The update also provides lessors a practical expedient to allow them to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component and instead to account for those components as a single component if certain criteria are met. The updated practical expedient for lessors will not have a material effect to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

8



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


During the first quarter of 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). This update eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value. The standard is effective for annual and any interim impairment tests performed for periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements.
During the third quarter of 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. This update requires that a customer in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract follow the internal use software guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 350-402 to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as assets. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 2 – REVENUES
The Company generates revenue primarily from the sale of advertising space on printed and digital out-of-home advertising displays. Certain of these revenue transactions are considered leases, for accounting purposes, as the agreements convey to customers the right to use the Company’s advertising structures for a stated period of time. In order for a transaction with a customer to qualify as a lease, the arrangement must be dependent on the use of a specified advertising structure, and the customer must have almost exclusive use of that structure during the term of the arrangement. Therefore, arrangements that do not involve the use of an advertising structure, where the Company can substitute the advertising structure that is used to display the customer’s advertisement, or where the advertising structure displays advertisements for multiple customers throughout the day are not leases. The Company accounts for revenue from leases, which are all classified as operating leases, in accordance with the lease accounting guidance (Topic 840). All of the Company’s revenue transactions that do not qualify as a lease are accounted for as revenue from contracts with customers (Topic 606).

9



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table shows, by segment, revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by geographical region, revenue from leases and total revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
(In thousands)
Americas(1)
 
International(1)
 
Consolidated
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
Revenue from contracts with customers:
 
 
 
 
 
  United States
$
116,503

 
$

 
$
116,503

  Other Americas
671

 
11,242

 
11,913

  Europe

 
191,514

 
191,514

  Asia-Pacific and other

 
5,563

 
5,563

     Total
117,174

 
208,319

 
325,493

Revenue from leases
186,247

 
151,999

 
338,246

Revenue, total
$
303,421

 
$
360,318

 
$
663,739

 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
Revenue from contracts with customers:
  United States
$
106,806

 
$

 
$
106,806

  Other Americas
2,488

 
14,224

 
16,712

  Europe

 
181,229

 
181,229

  Asia-Pacific and other
162

 
4,635

 
4,797

     Total
109,456

 
200,088

 
309,544

Revenue from leases
184,351

 
150,535

 
334,886

Revenue, total
$
293,807

 
$
350,623

 
$
644,430

 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
Revenue from contracts with customers:
 
 
 
 
 
  United States
$
328,138

 
$

 
$
328,138

  Other Americas
1,955

 
36,723

 
38,678

  Europe

 
605,032

 
605,032

  Asia-Pacific and other

 
17,685

 
17,685

     Total
330,093

 
659,440

 
989,533

Revenue from leases
529,097

 
455,487

 
984,584

Revenue, total
$
859,190

 
$
1,114,927

 
$
1,974,117

 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Revenue from contracts with customers:
  United States
$
308,988

 
$

 
$
308,988

  Other Americas
10,279

 
37,418

 
47,697

  Europe

 
533,111

 
533,111

  Asia-Pacific and other
568

 
14,853

 
15,421

     Total
319,835

 
585,382

 
905,217

Revenue from leases
534,509

 
420,572

 
955,081

Revenue, total
$
854,344

 
$
1,005,954

 
$
1,860,298

(1) Due to a re-evaluation of the Company’s segment reporting in 2018, its operations in Latin America are included in the International segment results for all periods presented. See Note 1, Basis of Presentation.
All of the Company’s advertising structures are used to generate revenue. Such revenue may be classified as revenue from contracts with customers or revenue from leases depending on the terms of the contract, as previously described.

10



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


Revenue from Contracts with Customers
The following tables show the changes in the Company’s contract balances from contracts with customers for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Accounts receivable from contracts with customers:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Beginning balance, net of allowance
$
323,286

 
$
316,744

 
$
347,279

 
$
296,778

    Additions (collections), net
(14,448
)
 
(8,767
)
 
(36,875
)
 
12,011

    Bad debt, net of recoveries
(561
)
 
(1,176
)
 
(2,127
)
 
(1,988
)
  Ending balance, net of allowance
308,277

 
306,801

 
308,277

 
306,801

Accounts receivable from leases, net of allowance
345,761

 
326,162

 
345,761

 
326,162

Total accounts receivable, net of allowance
$
654,038

 
$
632,963

 
$
654,038

 
$
632,963

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Deferred income from contracts with customers:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Beginning balance
$
45,326

 
$
44,744

 
$
28,201

 
$
28,668

    Revenue recognized, included in beginning balance
(33,668
)
 
(32,742
)
 
(24,886
)
 
(26,784
)
    Additions, net of revenue recognized during period
28,163

 
32,237

 
36,506

 
42,355

  Ending balance
39,821

 
44,239

 
39,821

 
44,239

Deferred income from leases
51,192

 
54,157

 
51,192

 
54,157

Total deferred income
91,013

 
98,396

 
91,013

 
98,396

Less: Non-current portion, included in other long-term liabilities
5,281

 
7,640

 
5,281

 
7,640

Total deferred income, current portion
$
85,732

 
$
90,756

 
$
85,732

 
$
90,756

The increase in deferred income from contracts with customers during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was largely due to the issuance of annual invoices for non-cancelable contracts in some of the Company's International entities and the timing of the Company's billing cycle.
The Company’s contracts with customers generally have a term of one year or less; however, as of September 30, 2018, the Company expects to recognize $60.6 million of revenue in future periods for remaining performance obligations from current contracts with customers that have an original expected duration of greater than one year, with substantially all of this amount to be recognized over the next five years. As part of the transition to the new revenue standard, the Company is not required to disclose information about remaining performance obligations for periods prior to the date of initial application.

11



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


Revenue from Leases
As of December 31, 2017, the Company’s future minimum rentals under non-cancelable operating leases were as follows:
(In thousands)
2018
$
279,413

2019
34,395

2020
17,155

2021
12,004

2022
8,552

Thereafter
7,197

  Total minimum future rentals
$
358,716


NOTE 3 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL
Property, Plant and Equipment

The Company’s property, plant and equipment consisted of the following classes of assets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively:
(In thousands)
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
 
Land, buildings and improvements
$
145,108

 
$
145,763

Structures
2,808,059

 
2,864,442

Furniture and other equipment
194,366

 
179,215

Construction in progress
60,853

 
55,753

 
3,208,386

 
3,245,173

Less: accumulated depreciation
1,952,396

 
1,850,144

Property, plant and equipment, net
$
1,255,990

 
$
1,395,029

 
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of billboard permits in its Americas segment. Due to significant differences in both business practices and regulations, billboards in the International segment are subject to long-term, finite contracts unlike the Company’s permits in the United States.  Accordingly, there are no indefinite-lived intangible assets in the International segment.

Annual Impairment Test on Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

The Company performs its annual impairment test on indefinite-lived intangible assets as of July 1 of each year.

The impairment tests for indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of a comparison between the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset at the market level with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to that excess. After an impairment loss is recognized, the adjusted carrying amount of the indefinite-lived asset is its new accounting basis. The fair value of the indefinite-lived asset is determined using the direct valuation method as prescribed in ASC 805-20-S99. Under the direct valuation method, the fair value of the indefinite-lived assets is calculated at the market level as prescribed by ASC 350-30-35. The Company engaged a third-party valuation firm, to assist it in the development of the assumptions and the Company’s determination of the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangible assets.

12



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)



The application of the direct valuation method attempts to isolate the income that is attributable to the indefinite-lived intangible asset alone (that is, apart from tangible and identified intangible assets and goodwill). It is based upon modeling a hypothetical “greenfield” build-up to a “normalized” enterprise that, by design, lacks inherent goodwill and whose only other assets have essentially been paid for (or added) as part of the build-up process. The Company forecasts revenue, expenses and cash flows over a ten-year period for each of its markets in its application of the direct valuation method. The Company also calculates a “normalized” residual year which represents the perpetual cash flows of each market. The residual year cash flow was capitalized to arrive at the terminal value of the permits in each market.

Under the direct valuation method, it is assumed that rather than acquiring indefinite-lived intangible assets as part of a going concern business, the buyer hypothetically develops indefinite-lived intangible assets and builds a new operation with similar attributes from scratch. Thus, the buyer incurs start-up costs during the build-up phase which are normally associated with going concern value. Initial capital costs are deducted from the discounted cash flow model which results in value that is directly attributable to the indefinite-lived intangible assets.

The key assumptions using the direct valuation method are market revenue growth rates, market share, profit margin, duration and profile of the build-up period, estimated start-up capital costs and losses incurred during the build-up period, the risk-adjusted discount rate and terminal values. This data is populated using industry normalized information representing an average billboard permit within a market.

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $7.8 million related to permits in one market in its Americas Segment. The Company concluded no impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets was required for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
Other Intangible Assets
Other intangible assets include definite-lived intangible assets and permanent easements.  The Company’s definite-lived intangible assets primarily include transit and street furniture contracts, site leases and other contractual rights, all of which are amortized over the shorter of either the respective lives of the agreements or over the period of time the assets are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the Company’s future cash flows.  Permanent easements are indefinite-lived intangible assets which include certain rights to use real property not owned by the Company.  The Company periodically reviews the appropriateness of the amortization periods related to its definite-lived intangible assets.  These assets are recorded at cost.

The following table presents the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for each major class of other intangible assets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively:

(In thousands)
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
Transit, street furniture and other outdoor
   contractual rights
$
533,274

 
$
(440,452
)
 
$
548,918

 
$
(440,284
)
Permanent easements
162,920

 

 
162,920

 

Other
6,076

 
(4,335
)
 
4,626

 
(2,318
)
Total
$
702,270

 
$
(444,787
)
 
$
716,464

 
$
(442,602
)
 
Total amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $5.0 million and $7.1 million, respectively. Total amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $15.3 million and $21.2 million, respectively.

As acquisitions and dispositions occur in the future, amortization expense may vary.  The following table presents the Company’s estimate of amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years for definite-lived intangible assets:


13



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


(In thousands)
 
2019
$
15,045

2020
$
12,790

2021
$
12,548

2022
$
10,737

2023
$
6,335

 
Goodwill
Annual Impairment Test to Goodwill
The Company performs its annual impairment test on goodwill as of July 1 of each year.

Each of the Company’s advertising markets are components. The U.S. advertising markets are aggregated into a single reporting unit for purposes of the goodwill impairment test using the guidance in ASC 350-20-55. The Company also determined that each country within its Americas segment and its International segment constitutes a separate reporting unit.

The goodwill impairment test is a two-step process. The first step, used to screen for potential impairment, compares the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If applicable, the second step, used to measure the amount of the impairment loss, compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill.

Each of the Company’s reporting units is valued using a discounted cash flow model which requires estimating future cash flows expected to be generated from the reporting unit and discounting such cash flows to their present value using a risk-adjusted discount rate. Terminal values were also estimated and discounted to their present value. Assessing the recoverability of goodwill requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions about sales, operating margins, growth rates and discount rates based on its budgets, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and marketplace data. There are inherent uncertainties related to these factors and management’s judgment in applying these factors.

The Company concluded no goodwill impairment was required during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. The Company recognized goodwill impairment of $1.6 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to one market in the Company's International outdoor segment.
The following table presents the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill in each of the Company’s reportable segments:
(In thousands)
Americas
 
International
 
Consolidated
Balance as of December 31, 2016
$
505,478

 
$
190,785

 
$
696,263

Acquisitions
2,252

 

 
2,252

Impairment

 
(1,591
)
 
(1,591
)
Dispositions

 
(1,817
)
 
(1,817
)
Foreign currency

 
18,847

 
18,847

Assets held for sale
89

 

 
89

Balance as of December 31, 2017
$
507,819

 
$
206,224

 
$
714,043

Foreign currency

 
(5,535
)
 
(5,535
)
Balance as of September 30, 2018
$
507,819

 
$
200,689

 
$
708,508



14



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


NOTE 4 – LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of the following:

(In thousands)
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
 
Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Senior Notes:
 
 
 
6.5% Series A Senior Notes Due 2022
$
735,750

 
$
735,750

6.5% Series B Senior Notes Due 2022
1,989,250

 
1,989,250

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Senior Subordinated Notes:
 

 
 
7.625% Series A Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2020
275,000

 
275,000

7.625% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2020
1,925,000

 
1,925,000

Receivables Based Credit Facility Due 2023(1)

 

Clear Channel International B.V. Senior Notes Due 2020
375,000

 
375,000

Other debt
4,034

 
2,393

Original issue discount
(611
)
 
(241
)
Long-term debt fees
(28,612
)
 
(35,426
)
Total debt
$
5,274,811

 
$
5,266,726

Less: current portion
321

 
573

Total long-term debt
$
5,274,490

 
$
5,266,153


(1)
On June 1, 2018 (the “Closing Date”), Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc. (“CCO”), a subsidiary of the Company, refinanced the Company's senior revolving credit facility with an asset based credit facility that provided for revolving credit commitments of up to $75.0 million. On June 29, 2018, CCO entered into an amendment providing for a $50.0 million incremental increase of the facility, bringing the aggregate revolving credit commitments to $125.0 million. The facility has a five-year term, maturing in 2023. As of September 30, 2018, the facility had $86.4 million of letters of credit outstanding and a borrowing base of $113.0 million, resulting in $26.6 million of excess availability.
The aggregate market value of the Company’s debt based on market prices for which quotes were available was approximately $5.4 billion and $5.3 billion as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Under the fair value hierarchy established by ASC 820-10-35, the market value of the Company’s debt is classified as Level 1.
Receivables Based Credit Facility Due 2023
On June 1, 2018, CCO, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), as parent borrower, with certain of its subsidiaries named therein, as subsidiary borrowers (the “Subsidiary Borrowers”), Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) and swing line lender, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto. The Credit Agreement governs CCO’s new asset-based revolving credit facility and replaced the Company's prior credit agreement, dated as of August 22, 2013 (the “Prior Credit Agreement”), which was terminated on the Closing Date.
Size and Availability
The Credit Agreement provides for an asset-based revolving credit facility, with amounts available from time to time (including in respect of letters of credit) equal to the lesser of (i) the borrowing base, which equals 85.0% of the eligible accounts receivable of CCO and the subsidiary borrowers, subject to customary eligibility criteria minus any reserves, and (ii) the aggregate revolving credit commitments. As of the Closing Date, the aggregate revolving credit commitments were $75.0 million. On June 29, 2018, CCO entered into an amendment providing for a $50.0 million incremental increase of the facility, bringing the aggregate revolving credit commitments to $125.0 million. On the Closing Date, the revolving credit facility was used to replace and terminate the commitments under the Prior Credit Agreement and to replace the letters of credit outstanding under the Prior Credit Agreement.
As of September 30, 2018, the facility had $86.4 million of letters of credit outstanding and a borrowing base of $113.0 million, resulting in $26.6 million of excess availability.

15



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


Interest Rate and Fees
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Rate plus, at CCO’s option, either (1) a base rate determined by reference to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such date as publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its “prime rate” and (c) the Eurocurrency rate that would be calculated as of such day in respect of a proposed Eurocurrency rate loan with a one-month interest period plus 1.00%, or (2) a Eurocurrency rate that is equal to the LIBOR rate as published by Reuters two business days prior to the commencement of the interest period. The Applicable Rate for borrowings under the Credit Agreement is 1.00% with respect to base rate loans and 2.00% with respect to Eurocurrency loans.
In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the Credit Agreement, CCO is required to pay a commitment fee of 0.375% per annum to the lenders under the Credit Agreement in respect of the unutilized revolving commitments thereunder. CCO must also pay a letter of credit fee for each issued letter of credit equal to 2.00% per annum times the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such letter of credit.
Maturity
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will mature, and lending commitments thereunder will terminate, on the earlier of (a) June 1, 2023 and (b) 90 days prior to the maturity date of any indebtedness of CCOH or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount outstanding in excess of $250,000,000 (other than the 8.75% senior notes due 2020 issued by Clear Channel International, B.V.).
Prepayments
If at any time, the outstanding amount under the revolving credit facility exceeds the lesser of (i) the aggregate amount committed by the revolving credit lenders and (ii) the borrowing base, CCO will be required to prepay first, any protective advances and second, any outstanding revolving loans and swing line loans and/or cash collateralize letters of credit in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, as applicable.
Subject to customary exceptions and restrictions, CCO may voluntarily repay outstanding amounts under the Credit Agreement at any time without premium or penalty. Any voluntary prepayments CCO makes will not reduce commitments under the Credit Agreement.
Guarantees and Security
The facility is guaranteed by the Subsidiary Borrowers. All obligations under the Credit Agreement, and the guarantees of those obligations, are secured by a perfected security interest in all of CCO’s and the Subsidiary Borrowers’ accounts receivable and related assets and proceeds thereof.
Certain Covenants and Events of Default
If borrowing availability is less than the greater of (a) $7.5 million and (b) 10.0% of the lesser of (i) the aggregate commitments at such time and (ii) the borrowing base then in effect at such time (the “Financial Covenant Triggering Event”), CCO will be required to comply with a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.00 for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended prior to the occurrence of the Financial Covenant Triggering Event, and will be required to continue to comply with this minimum fixed charge coverage ratio until borrowing availability exceeds the greater of (x) $7.5 million and (y) 10.0% of the lesser of (i) the aggregate commitments at such time and (ii) the borrowing base then in effect at such time, at which time the Financial Covenant Triggering Event will no longer be deemed to be occurring.
The Credit Agreement also includes negative covenants that, subject to significant exceptions, limit the Borrowers’ ability and the ability of their restricted subsidiaries to, among other things:
 
incur additional indebtedness;
create liens on assets;
engage in mergers, consolidations, liquidations and dissolutions;
sell assets;

16



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


pay dividends and distributions or repurchase capital stock;
make investments, loans, or advances;
prepay certain junior indebtedness;
engage in certain transactions with affiliates or;
change lines of business.
The Credit Agreement includes certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default, including payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to certain indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy, material judgments and a change of control. If an event of default occurs, the lenders under the Credit Agreement will be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of all amounts due under the Credit Agreement and all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor.

Surety Bonds, Letters of Credit and Guarantees
As of September 30, 2018, the Company had $53.4 million, $86.4 million and $41.0 million in surety bonds, letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding, respectively. A portion of the outstanding bank guarantees were supported by $20.5 million of cash collateral. Additionally, as of September 30, 2018, iHeartCommunications had outstanding commercial standby letters of credit and surety bonds of $1.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, held on behalf of the Company.  These surety bonds, letters of credit and bank guarantees relate to various operational matters, including insurance, bid and performance bonds, as well as other items.

NOTE 5 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in certain legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business and, as required, have accrued an estimate of the probable costs for the resolution of those claims for which the occurrence of loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated.  These estimates have been developed in consultation with counsel and are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies.  It is possible, however, that future results of operations for any particular period could be materially affected by changes in the Company’s assumptions or the effectiveness of its strategies related to these proceedings.  Additionally, due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, there can be no assurance that the resolution of any particular claim or proceeding would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. 
Although the Company is involved in a variety of legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, a large portion of the Company’s litigation arises in the following contexts: commercial disputes; misappropriation of likeness and right of publicity claims; employment and benefits related claims; governmental fines; intellectual property claims; and tax disputes.
Stockholder Litigation
On May 9, 2016, a stockholder of the Company filed a derivative lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned GAMCO Asset Management Inc. v. iHeartMedia Inc. et al., C.A. No. 12312-VCS. The complaint named as defendants iHeartCommunications, Inc. (“iHeartCommunications”), the Company’s indirect parent company, iHeartMedia, Inc. (“iHeartMedia”), the parent company of iHeartCommunications, Bain Capital Partners, LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. (together, the “Sponsor Defendants”), iHeartMedia’s private equity sponsors and majority owners, and the members of the Company’s board of directors. The Company also was named as a nominal defendant. The complaint alleged that the Company had been harmed by the intercompany agreements with iHeartCommunications, the Company’s lack of autonomy over its own cash and the actions of the defendants in serving the interests of iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants to the detriment of the Company and its minority stockholders. Specifically, the complaint alleged that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by causing the Company to: (i) continue to loan cash to iHeartCommunications under the intercompany note at below-market rates; (ii) abandon its growth and acquisition strategies in favor of transactions that would provide cash to iHeartMedia and iHeartCommunications; (iii) issue new debt in the CCIBV note offering (the “CCIBV Note Offering”) to provide cash to iHeartMedia and iHeartCommunications through a dividend; and (iv) effect the sales of certain outdoor markets in the U.S. (the “Outdoor Asset Sales”) allegedly to provide cash to iHeartMedia and iHeartCommunications through a dividend. The complaint also alleged that iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants aided and abetted the directors’

17



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


breaches of their fiduciary duties. The complaint further alleged that iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants were unjustly enriched as a result of these transactions and that these transactions constituted a waste of corporate assets for which the defendants are liable to the Company. The plaintiff sought, among other things, a ruling that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties to the Company and that iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants aided and abetted the board of directors’ breaches of fiduciary duty, rescission of payments to iHeartCommunications and its affiliates pursuant to dividends declared in connection with the CCIBV Note Offering and Outdoor Asset Sales, and an order requiring iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants to disgorge all profits they have received as a result of the alleged fiduciary misconduct.
On July 20, 2016, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff's verified stockholder derivative complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. On November 23, 2016, the Court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss all claims brought by the plaintiff.  On December 19, 2016, the plaintiff filed a notice of appeal of the ruling. The oral hearing on the appeal was held on October 11, 2017. On October 12, 2017, the Supreme Court of Delaware affirmed the lower court's ruling, dismissing the case.
On December 29, 2017, another stockholder of the Company filed a derivative lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned Norfolk County Retirement System, v. iHeartMedia, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 2017-0930-JRS. The complaint names as defendants iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications, the Sponsor Defendants, and the members of the Company's board of directors.  The Company is named as a nominal defendant. The complaint alleges that the Company has been harmed by the Company Board’s November 2017 decision to extend the maturity date of the intercompany revolving note (the “Third Amendment”) at what the complaint describes as far-below-market interest rates.  Specifically, the complaint alleges that (i) iHeartMedia and Sponsor defendants breached their fiduciary duties by exploiting their position of control to require the Company to enter the Third Amendment on terms unfair to the Company; (ii) the Company Board breached their duty of loyalty by approving the Third Amendment and elevating the interests of iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants over the interests of the Company and its minority unaffiliated stockholders; and (iii) the terms of the Third Amendment could not have been agreed to in good faith and represent a waste of corporate assets by the Company Board.  The complaint further alleges that iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor defendants were unjustly enriched as a result of the unfairly favorable terms of the Third Amendment.  The plaintiff is seeking, among other things, a ruling that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties to the Company, a modification of the Third Amendment to bear a commercially reasonable rate of interest, and an order requiring disgorgement of all profits, benefits and other compensation obtained by defendants as a result of the alleged breaches of fiduciary duties.
On March 7, 2018, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff's verified derivative complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. On March 16, 2018, iHeartMedia filed a Notice of Suggestion of Pendency of Bankruptcy and Automatic Stay of Proceedings. On May 4, 2018, plaintiff filed its response to the motion to dismiss. On June 26, 2018, the defendants filed a reply brief in further support of their motion to dismiss. Oral argument on the motion to dismiss was held on September 20, 2018. We are awaiting a ruling by the Court.
On August 27, 2018, the same stockholder of the Company that had filed a derivative lawsuit against iHeartMedia and others in 2016 (GAMCO Asset Management Inc.) filed a putative class action lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned GAMCO Asset Management, Inc. v. Hendrix, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0633-JRS. The complaint names as defendants the Sponsor Defendants and the members of the Company’s board of directors. The complaint alleges that minority shareholders in the Company during the period November 8, 2017 to March 14, 2018 were harmed by decisions of the Company's Board and the intercompany note committee of the Board relating to the Intercompany Note. Specifically, the complaint alleges that (i) the members of the intercompany note committee breached their fiduciary duties by not demanding payment under the Intercompany Note and issuing a simultaneous dividend after a threshold tied to iHeartMedia’s liquidity had been reached; (ii) the Company's Board breached their fiduciary duties by approving the Third Amendment rather than allowing the Intercompany Note to expire; (iii) the Company's Board breached their fiduciary duties by not demanding payment under the Intercompany Note and issuing a simultaneous dividend after a threshold tied to iHeartMedia’s liquidity had been reached; (iv) the Sponsor Defendants breached their fiduciary duties by not directing the Company's Board to permit the Intercompany Note to expire and to declare a dividend. The complaint further alleges that the Sponsor Defendants aided and abetted the Board’s alleged breach of fiduciary duties. The plaintiff seeks, among other things, a ruling that the Company's Board, the intercompany note committee, and the Sponsor Defendants breached their fiduciary duties and that the Sponsor Defendants aided and abetted the Board’s breach of fiduciary duty; and an award of damages, together with pre- and post-judgment interests, to the putative class of minority shareholders.

18



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


China Investigation
Several employees of Clear Media Limited, an indirect, non-wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company whose ordinary shares are listed, but are currently suspended from trading on, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, are subject to a police investigation in China for misappropriation of funds. The police investigation is ongoing, and the Company is not aware of any litigation, claim or assessment pending against the Company. Based on information known to date, the Company believes any contingent liabilities arising from potential misconduct that has been or may be identified by the investigations are not material to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
The Company advised both the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the United States Department of Justice of the investigation at Clear Media Limited and is cooperating to provide information in response to inquiries from the agencies. The Clear Media Limited investigation could implicate the books and records, internal controls and anti-bribery provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which statute and regulations provide for potential monetary penalties as well as criminal and civil sanctions. It is possible that monetary penalties and other sanctions could be assessed on the Company in connection with this matter. The nature and amount of any monetary penalty or other sanctions cannot reasonably be estimated at this time.
Italy Investigation
As described in Note 1 to these consolidated financial statements, during the three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company identified misstatements associated with VAT obligations related to its subsidiary in Italy.  Upon identification of these misstatements, the Company undertook certain procedures, including a forensic investigation, which is ongoing.  In addition, the Company voluntarily disclosed the matter and preliminary findings to the Italian tax authorities in order to commence a discussion on the appropriate calculation of the VAT position.  The current expectation is that the Company may have to repay to the Italian tax authority a substantial portion of the VAT previously applied as a credit, amounting to approximately $17 million, including estimated possible penalties and interest.  The discussion with the tax authorities is at an early stage and therefore the ultimate amount that will be paid to the tax authorities in Italy is unknown. The ultimate amount to be paid may differ from the Company’s estimates, and such differences may be material.

NOTE 6 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Due from iHeartCommunications
The Company records net amounts due from iHeartCommunications arising prior to the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, described below, as “Due from iHeartCommunications” on the consolidated balance sheets.  The amounts represent the revolving promissory note issued by the Company to iHeartCommunications and the revolving promissory note issued by iHeartCommunications to the Company in the face amount of $1.0 billion, or if more or less than such amount, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all advances.  The revolving promissory notes were generally payable on demand and were scheduled to mature on May 15, 2019.
 
Included in the amounts are the net activities resulting from day-to-day cash management services provided by iHeartCommunications.  As a part of these services, the Company maintains collection bank accounts swept daily into accounts of iHeartCommunications (after satisfying the funding requirements of the Trustee Accounts under the CCWH Senior Notes and the CCWH Subordinated Notes and the Company’s controlled disbursement accounts as checks or electronic payments are presented for payment).  The Company’s claim in relation to cash transferred from its concentration account is on an unsecured basis and is limited to the balance of the “Due from iHeartCommunications” account.
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the asset recorded in “Due from iHeartCommunications” on the consolidated balance sheet was $154.8 million and $212.0 million, respectively.  On March 14, 2018, iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and certain of iHeartMedia's direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries, not including the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Debtors"), filed voluntary petitions for relief (the "iHeart Chapter 11 Cases") under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the "Bankruptcy Court"). As an unsecured creditor of iHeartCommunications, the Company does not expect that the Company will be able to recover all of the amounts owed under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note upon the implementation of any plan of reorganization that is ultimately accepted by the requisite creditors and approved by the Bankruptcy Court. As a result, the Company recognized a loss of $855.6 million on the Due from iHeartCommunications Note during the fourth quarter of 2017 to reflect the estimated recoverable amount of the note as of December 31, 2017, based on management's best estimate of the cash settlement amount. In addition,

19



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


upon the filing of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases on March 14, 2018, the Company ceased recording interest income on the pre-petition balance due from iHeartCommunications as the collectability of the interest was not considered probable. As a result of the $855.6 million allowance on the Due from iHeartCommunications Note recognized during the fourth quarter of 2017 and the $21.3 million reserve recognized in relation to interest incurred during the pre-petition period in the three months ended March 31, 2018, the outstanding principal amount of $1,031.7 million was reduced to $154.8 million as of September 30, 2018. The final settlement amount of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note is expected to be negotiated as part of iHeartCommunications' bankruptcy proceedings. The final settlement amount may differ from the estimated recoverable amount of $154.8 million.
The terms of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note provide that any balance over $1.0 billion accrues at an interest rate equal to the average yield of the nearest dated reference security, capped at 20%. As of September 30, 2018, the balance outstanding on the "Due from iHeartCommunications" exceeded $1.0 billion and therefore the interest rate applied to $1.0 billion of the balance outstanding was 9.3%.  The interest rate applied to the remaining balance was 20.0%. As noted above, no interest income was recorded on the pre-petition Due from iHeartCommunications Note during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. The Company recognized interest income of $17.1 million and $47.3 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.
Pursuant to a final order entered by the Bankruptcy Court, as of March 14, 2018, the actual pre-bankruptcy balance of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note is frozen, and following March 14, 2018, intercompany allocations that would have been reflected in adjustments to the balance of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note are instead reflected in a new intercompany balance that accrues interest at a rate equal to the interest under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note. The $1.5 million owed by the Company to iHeartCommunications as of September 30, 2018 is reflected as "Due to iHeartCommunications, post iHeart Chapter 11 Cases" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet.

If the Company does not realize the expected recovery under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note, or does not otherwise obtain sufficient supplemental liquidity as contemplated by the Disclosure Statement filed by the Debtors in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, the Company could experience a liquidity shortfall. In addition, any repayments that the Company received on the Due from iHeartCommunications Note during the one-year preference period prior to the filing of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases may potentially be avoidable as a preference and subject to recovery by the iHeartCommunications bankruptcy estate, which could further exacerbate any liquidity shortfall.
Other Related Party Transactions
The Company provides advertising space on its billboards for iHeartMedia, Inc. and for radio stations owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded $1.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively, and $5.8 million and $5.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, in revenue for these advertisements. Some of these agreements are leasing transactions as they convey to iHeartMedia, Inc. the right to use the Company's advertising structures for a stated period of time.
Under the Corporate Services Agreement between iHeartCommunications and the Company, iHeartCommunications provides management services to the Company, which include, among other things: (i) treasury, payroll and other financial related services; (ii) certain executive officer services; (iii) human resources and employee benefits services; (iv) legal and related services; (v) information systems, network and related services; (vi) investment services; (vii) procurement and sourcing support services; (viii) licensing of intellectual property, copyrights, trademarks and other intangible assets and (ix) other general corporate services.  These services are charged to the Company based on actual direct costs incurred or allocated by iHeartCommunications based on headcount, revenue or other factors on a pro rata basis. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded $16.0 million and $16.7 million, respectively, and $50.1 million and $50.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, as a component of corporate expenses for these services. The iHeart Chapter 11 Cases could materially impact iHeartCommunications' ability to provide these services to us, which could cause significant uncertainties for us and disrupt our operations and/or adversely affect our rights under the Corporate Services Agreement and the other intercompany agreements.
Pursuant to the Tax Matters Agreement between iHeartCommunications and the Company, the operations of the Company are included in a consolidated federal income tax return filed by iHeartCommunications.  The Company’s provision for income taxes has been computed on the basis that the Company files separate consolidated federal income tax returns with its subsidiaries.  Tax payments are made to iHeartCommunications on the basis of the Company’s separate taxable income.  Tax benefits recognized on the Company’s employee stock option exercises are retained by the Company.
 

20



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


The Company computes its deferred income tax provision using the liability method in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740-10, as if the Company was a separate taxpayer.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in which the deferred tax asset or liability is expected to be realized or settled.  Deferred tax assets are reduced by valuation allowances if the Company believes it is more likely than not some portion or all of the asset will not be realized.
 
Pursuant to the Employee Matters Agreement, the Company’s employees participate in iHeartCommunications’ employee benefit plans, including employee medical insurance and a 401(k) retirement benefit plan.  For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded $2.3 million and $2.3 million, respectively, and $6.9 million and $7.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses for these services.

NOTE 7 – INCOME TAXES

Income Tax Benefit (Expense)

The Company’s income tax benefit (expense) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 consisted of the following components:
(In thousands)
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Current tax expense
$
(12,508
)
 
$
(20,921
)
 
$
(16,127
)
 
$
(40,215
)
Deferred tax benefit (expense)
5,612

 
4,574

 
(40,889
)
 
27,315

Income tax expense
$
(6,896
)
 
$
(16,347
)
 
$
(57,016
)
 
$
(12,900
)
 
The effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were (13.4)% and (32.2)%. The effective rate was primarily impacted by the valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets resulting from current year net operating losses in U.S. federal, state and certain foreign jurisdictions due to uncertainty regarding the Company's ability to realize those assets in future periods.

The effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were (39.2)% and (16.3)%. The effective rates were primarily impacted by the mix of earnings within the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates and the benefits and charges from tax amounts associated with its foreign earnings that are taxed at rates different from the federal statutory rate.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive income tax legislation, referred to as The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act) which reduced the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. During the three months ended September 30, 2018, adjustments to the provisional income tax benefit recorded in December 2017 from the enactment of the Tax Act were not material.  At September 30, 2018, we have not yet completed our accounting for the income tax effects of the Tax Act, but have made reasonable estimates of those effects on our existing deferred income tax balances.  The final financial statement impact of the Tax Act may differ from our previously recorded estimates, possibly materially, due to, among other things, changes in interpretations of the Tax Act, any legislative action to address questions that arise because of the Tax Act, and changes in accounting standards for income taxes or related interpretations in response to the Tax Act, or any updates to estimates the company has utilized to calculate the provisional impacts. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued rules that allow for a measurement period of up to one year after the enactment date of the Tax Act to finalize the recording of the related income tax impacts.


21



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


NOTE 8 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
 
The Company reports its noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries as a component of equity separate from the Company’s equity. The following table shows the changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) attributable to the Company and the noncontrolling interests of subsidiaries in which the Company has a majority, but not total, ownership interest:

(In thousands)
The Company
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Consolidated
Balances as of January 1, 2018
$
(2,015,334
)
 
$
157,040

 
$
(1,858,294
)
Net income (loss)
(243,893
)
 
9,716

 
(234,177
)
Dividends paid
(29,995
)
 

 
(29,995
)
Payments to noncontrolling interests

 
(6,148
)
 
(6,148
)
Share-based compensation
6,286

 
471

 
6,757

Foreign currency translation adjustments
(11,083
)
 
(7,844
)
 
(18,927
)
Reclassification adjustments
1,425

 

 
1,425

Other, net
(653
)
 

 
(653
)
Balances as of September 30, 2018
$
(2,293,247
)
 
$
153,235

 
$
(2,140,012
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balances as of January 1, 2017
$
(1,091,486
)
 
$
144,174

 
$
(947,312
)
Net income (loss)
(102,497
)
 
10,546

 
(91,951
)
Dividends declared
(307,492
)
 

 
(307,492
)
Payments to noncontrolling interests

 
(12,027
)
 
(12,027
)
Share-based compensation
6,529

 
624

 
7,153

Disposal of noncontrolling interest

 
(2,438
)
 
(2,438
)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
36,619

 
5,734

 
42,353

Unrealized holding loss on marketable securities
(218
)
 

 
(218
)
Reclassification adjustments
4,563

 

 
4,563

Other, net
(1,613
)
 
(575
)
 
(2,188
)
Balances as of September 30, 2017
$
(1,455,595
)
 
$
146,038

 
$
(1,309,557
)

The Company has granted restricted stock, restricted stock units and options to purchase shares of its Class A common stock to certain key individuals.
On February 23, 2017, the Company paid a special cash dividend to our stockholders of $282.5 million, using proceeds from the sales of certain non-strategic U.S. markets and of our business in Australia. iHeartCommunications received 89.9%, or approximately $254.0 million, with the remaining 10.1%, or approximately $28.5 million, paid to our public stockholders. The payment of these special dividends reduces the amount of cash available to us for future working capital, capital expenditure, debt service and other funding requirements.
On September 14, 2017, the board of directors of the Company declared a special cash dividend paid on October 5, 2017 to Class A and Class B stockholders of record at the closing of business on October 2, 2017, in an aggregate amount equal to $25.0 million.
On January 5, 2018, the board of directors of the Company declared a special cash dividend paid on January 24, 2018 to Class A and Class B stockholders of record at the closing of business on January 19, 2018, in an aggregate amount equal to $30.0 million. iHeartCommunications received approximately 89.5%, or approximately $26.8 million, of the proceeds of the dividend through its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The remaining approximately 10.5% of the proceeds of the dividend, or approximately $3.2 million, was paid to the Company's public stockholders.


22



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


COMPUTATION OF LOSS PER SHARE
(In thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
NUMERATOR:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss attributable to the Company – common shares
$
(65,088
)
 
$
(64,208
)
 
$
(243,893
)
 
$
(102,497
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DENOMINATOR:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
361,815

 
361,302

 
361,680

 
361,064

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted(1)
361,815

 
361,302

 
361,680

 
361,064

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss attributable to the Company per common share:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(0.28
)
Diluted
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(0.28
)

(1) 
Outstanding equity awards of 7.0 million and 8.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and 7.4 million and 8.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because to do so would have been antidilutive.

NOTE 9 — OTHER INFORMATION
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The total decrease in other comprehensive income (loss) related to the impact of pensions on deferred income tax liabilities was $0.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. There was no change in deferred income tax liabilities resulting from adjustments to comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.

NOTE 10 – SEGMENT DATA
The Company has two reportable segments, which it believes best reflect how the Company is currently managed – Americas and International.  The Americas segment consists of operations primarily in the United States and the International segment primarily includes operations in Europe, Asia and Latin America.  The Americas and International display inventory consists primarily of billboards, street furniture displays and transit displays.  Corporate includes infrastructure and support including information technology, human resources, legal, finance and administrative functions of each of the Company’s reportable segments, as well as overall executive, administrative and support functions.  Share-based payments are recorded in corporate expenses.


23



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


The Company re-evaluated its segment reporting and determined that its Latin American operations should be managed by its International leadership team. As a result, beginning on January 1, 2018, the operations of Latin America are no longer reflected within the Company’s Americas segment and are included in the results of its International segment. Accordingly, the Company has recast the corresponding segment disclosures for prior periods to include Latin America within the International segment. The following table presents the Company's reportable segment results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
(In thousands)
Americas
 
International
 
Corporate and other reconciling items
 
Consolidated
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
303,421

 
$
360,318

 
$

 
$
663,739

Direct operating expenses
131,241

 
230,440

 

 
361,681

Selling, general and administrative expenses
49,247

 
79,550

 

 
128,797

Corporate expenses

 

 
37,729

 
37,729

Depreciation and amortization
39,783

 
36,627

 
995

 
77,405

Impairment charges

 

 
7,772

 
7,772

Other operating income, net

 

 
825

 
825

Operating income (loss)
$
83,150

 
$
13,701

 
$
(45,671
)
 
$
51,180

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
$
25,826

 
$
21,921

 
$
1,059

 
$
48,806

Share-based compensation expense
$

 
$

 
$
3,132

 
$
3,132

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
293,807

 
$
350,623

 
$

 
$
644,430

Direct operating expenses
130,269

 
227,677

 

 
357,946

Selling, general and administrative expenses
49,007

 
79,532

 

 
128,539

Corporate expenses

 

 
35,333

 
35,333

Depreciation and amortization
44,457

 
35,464

 
1,175

 
81,096

Impairment charges

 

 
1,591

 
1,591

Other operating income, net

 

 
(11,783
)
 
(11,783
)
Operating income (loss)
$
70,074

 
$
7,950

 
$
(49,882
)
 
$
28,142

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
$
4,397

 
$
26,932

 
$
460

 
$
31,789

Share-based compensation expense
$

 
$

 
$
2,894

 
$
2,894




24



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


(In thousands)
Americas
 
International
 
Corporate and other reconciling items
 
Consolidated
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
859,190

 
$
1,114,927

 
$

 
$
1,974,117

Direct operating expenses
386,427

 
709,479

 

 
1,095,906

Selling, general and administrative expenses
146,021

 
235,473

 

 
381,494

Corporate expenses

 

 
111,092

 
111,092

Depreciation and amortization
127,410

 
113,875

 
2,947

 
244,232

Impairment Charges

 

 
7,772

 
7,772

Other operating income, net

 

 
1,700

 
1,700

Operating income (loss)
$
199,332

 
$
56,100

 
$
(120,111
)
 
$
135,321

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
$
50,214

 
$
57,487

 
$
2,420

 
$
110,121

Share-based compensation expense
$

 
$

 
$
6,757

 
$
6,757

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
854,344

 
$
1,005,954

 
$

 
$
1,860,298

Direct operating expenses
393,953

 
645,222

 

 
1,039,175

Selling, general and administrative expenses
148,824

 
221,773

 

 
370,597

Corporate expenses

 

 
105,213

 
105,213

Depreciation and amortization
130,127

 
102,711

 
4,042

 
236,880

Impairment charges

 

 
1,591

 
1,591

Other operating income, net

 

 
28,657

 
28,657

Operating income (loss)
$
181,440

 
$
36,248

 
$
(82,189
)
 
$
135,499

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
$
46,394

 
$
86,206

 
$
2,268

 
$
134,868

Share-based compensation expense
$

 
$

 
$
7,153

 
$
7,153



25



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


NOTE 11 – GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES

The Company and certain of the Company’s direct and indirect wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries (the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”) fully and unconditionally guarantee on a joint and several basis certain of the outstanding indebtedness of Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc. ("CCWH" or the “Subsidiary Issuer”).  The following consolidating schedules present financial information on a combined basis in conformity with the SEC’s Regulation S-X Rule 3-10(d):
(In thousands)
September 30, 2018
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary
 
Guarantor
 
Non-Guarantor
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiaries
 
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,600

 
$

 
$
13,979

 
$
175,538

 
$

 
$
191,117

Accounts receivable, net of allowance

 

 
190,526

 
463,512

 

 
654,038

Intercompany receivables

 
766,190

 
2,822,946

 
68,652

 
(3,657,788
)
 

Prepaid expenses
659

 
1,211

 
59,971

 
63,751

 

 
125,592

Other current assets

 

 
1,653

 
31,072

 

 
32,725

Total Current Assets
2,259

 
767,401

 
3,089,075

 
802,525

 
(3,657,788
)
 
1,003,472

Structures, net

 

 
606,604

 
432,231

 

 
1,038,835

Other property, plant and equipment, net

 

 
123,838

 
93,317

 

 
217,155

Indefinite-lived intangibles

 

 
971,163

 

 

 
971,163

Other intangibles, net

 

 
238,247

 
19,236

 

 
257,483

Goodwill

 

 
507,819

 
200,689

 

 
708,508

Due from iHeartCommunications
154,758

 

 

 

 

 
154,758

Intercompany notes receivable
182,026

 
5,116,629

 
4,691

 
16,275

 
(5,319,621
)
 

Other assets
211,707

 
26,194

 
1,269,795

 
74,151

 
(1,453,859
)
 
127,988

Total Assets
$
550,750

 
$
5,910,224

 
$
6,811,232

 
$
1,638,424

 
$
(10,431,268
)
 
$
4,479,362

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$

 
$

 
$
30,342

 
$
68,962

 
$

 
$
99,304

Intercompany payable
2,822,946

 

 
834,842

 

 
(3,657,788
)
 

Accrued expenses
9,677

 
(1,955
)
 
85,325

 
440,366

 

 
533,413

Deferred income

 

 
37,488

 
48,244

 

 
85,732

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 
221

 
100

 

 
321

Total Current Liabilities
2,832,623

 
(1,955
)
 
988,218

 
557,672

 
(3,657,788
)
 
718,770

Long-term debt

 
4,900,229

 
3,714

 
370,547

 

 
5,274,490

Intercompany notes payable

 
16,273

 
5,039,419

 
263,929

 
(5,319,621
)
 

Due to iHeartCommunications, post iHeart Chapter 11 Cases
1,495

 

 

 

 

 
1,495

Deferred tax liability
(26,967
)
 
853

 
435,665

 
(49,122
)
 

 
360,429

Other long-term liabilities
547

 

 
141,421

 
122,222

 

 
264,190

Total stockholders' equity (deficit)
(2,256,948
)
 
994,824

 
202,795

 
373,176

 
(1,453,859
)
 
(2,140,012
)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
$
550,750

 
$
5,910,224

 
$
6,811,232

 
$
1,638,424

 
$
(10,431,268
)
 
$
4,479,362


 

26



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


(In thousands)
December 31, 2017
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary
 
Guarantor
 
Non-Guarantor
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiaries
 
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2,212

 
$

 
$
22,841

 
$
119,066

 
$

 
$
144,119

Accounts receivable, net of allowance

 

 
192,493

 
466,970

 

 
659,463

Intercompany receivables

 
785,075

 
2,924,888

 
88,053

 
(3,798,016
)
 

Prepaid expenses
291

 
3,433

 
50,028

 
58,124

 

 
111,876

Other current assets
25,441

 

 
2,552

 
30,721

 

 
58,714

Total Current Assets
27,944

 
788,508

 
3,192,802

 
762,934

 
(3,798,016
)
 
974,172

Structures, net

 

 
675,443

 
505,439

 

 
1,180,882

Other property, plant and equipment, net

 

 
119,856

 
94,291

 

 
214,147

Indefinite-lived intangibles

 

 
977,152

 

 

 
977,152

Other intangibles, net

 

 
248,674

 
25,188

 

 
273,862

Goodwill

 

 
507,820

 
206,223

 

 
714,043

Due from iHeartCommunications
211,990

 

 

 

 

 
211,990

Intercompany notes receivable
182,026

 
5,087,742

 
12,437

 
16,273

 
(5,298,478
)
 

Other assets
431,671

 
94,543

 
1,343,032

 
67,562

 
(1,815,609
)
 
121,199

Total Assets
$
853,631

 
$
5,970,793

 
$
7,077,216

 
$
1,677,910

 
$
(10,912,103
)
 
$
4,667,447

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$

 
$

 
$
7,592

 
$
80,368

 
$

 
$
87,960

Intercompany payable
2,924,888

 

 
873,128

 

 
(3,798,016
)
 

Accrued expenses
1,167

 
(1,315
)
 
91,325

 
418,624

 

 
509,801

Deferred income

 

 
25,278

 
33,900

 

 
59,178

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 
115

 
458

 

 
573

Total Current Liabilities
2,926,055

 
(1,315
)
 
997,438

 
533,350

 
(3,798,016
)
 
657,512

Long-term debt

 
4,895,104

 
1,820

 
369,229

 

 
5,266,153

Intercompany notes payable

 
16,273

 
5,046,119

 
236,086

 
(5,298,478
)
 

Deferred tax liability
(93,111
)
 
853

 
466,827

 
(56,462
)
 

 
318,107

Other long-term liabilities
1,157

 

 
140,272

 
142,540

 

 
283,969

Total stockholders' equity (deficit)
(1,980,470
)
 
1,059,878

 
424,740

 
453,167

 
(1,815,609
)
 
(1,858,294
)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
$
853,631

 
$
5,970,793

 
$
7,077,216

 
$
1,677,910

 
$
(10,912,103
)
 
$
4,667,447


 

 






27



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


(In thousands)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary
 
Guarantor
 
Non-Guarantor
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiaries
 
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Revenue
$

 
$

 
$
301,218

 
$
362,521

 
$

 
$
663,739

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Direct operating expenses

 

 
129,683

 
231,998

 

 
361,681

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 
49,041

 
79,756

 

 
128,797

Corporate expenses
1,203

 

 
25,440

 
11,086

 

 
37,729

Depreciation and amortization

 

 
40,537

 
36,868

 

 
77,405

Impairment charges

 

 
7,772

 

 

 
7,772

Other operating income (expense), net
(178
)
 

 
143

 
860

 

 
825

Operating income (loss)
(1,381
)
 

 
48,888

 
3,673

 

 
51,180

Interest (income) expense, net
(5
)
 
88,093

 
524

 
8,546

 

 
97,158

Interest income on Due from iHeartCommunications
363

 

 

 

 

 
363

Intercompany interest income
3,737

 
90,300

 
5,705

 

 
(99,742
)
 

Intercompany interest expense
363

 
246

 
94,037

 
5,096

 
(99,742
)
 

Equity in earnings (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliates
(51,366
)
 
(31,573
)
 
(27,883
)
 
(93
)
 
111,117

 
202

Other expense, net

 

 
(50
)
 
(6,037
)
 

 
(6,087
)
Loss before income taxes
(49,005
)
 
(29,612
)
 
(67,901
)
 
(16,099
)
 
111,117

 
(51,500
)
Income tax benefit (expense)
(16,083
)
 
2,959

 
16,535

 
(10,307
)
 

 
(6,896
)
Consolidated net loss
(65,088
)
 
(26,653
)
 
(51,366
)
 
(26,406
)
 
111,117

 
(58,396
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 
6,692

 

 
6,692

Net loss attributable to the Company
$
(65,088
)
 
$
(26,653
)
 
$
(51,366
)
 
$
(33,098
)
 
$
111,117

 
$
(65,088
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 
(280
)
 
(6,809
)
 

 
(7,089
)
Reclassification adjustments

 

 

 
1,425

 

 
1,425

Equity in subsidiary comprehensive loss
(503
)
 
(1,056
)
 
(223
)
 

 
1,782

 

Comprehensive loss
(65,591
)
 
(27,709
)
 
(51,869
)
 
(38,482
)
 
112,899

 
(70,752
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 
(5,161
)
 

 
(5,161
)
Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company
$
(65,591
)
 
$
(27,709
)
 
$
(51,869
)
 
$
(33,321
)
 
$
112,899

 
$
(65,591
)

28



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


(In thousands)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary
 
Guarantor
 
Non-Guarantor
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiaries
 
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Revenue
$

 
$

 
$
288,433

 
$
355,997

 
$

 
$
644,430

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Direct operating expenses

 

 
126,536

 
231,410

 

 
357,946

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 
47,994

 
80,545

 

 
128,539

Corporate expenses
3,602

 

 
22,658

 
9,073

 

 
35,333

Depreciation and amortization

 

 
45,180

 
35,916

 

 
81,096

Impairment charges

 

 

 
1,591

 

 
1,591

Other operating income (expense), net
(102
)
 

 
1,876

 
(13,557
)
 

 
(11,783
)
Operating income (loss)
(3,704
)
 

 
47,941

 
(16,095
)
 

 
28,142

Interest (income) expense , net
(20
)
 
88,232

 
126

 
7,129

 

 
95,467

Interest income on Due from iHeartCommunications
17,087

 

 

 

 

 
17,087

Intercompany interest income
4,090

 
85,067

 
17,316

 
43

 
(106,516
)
 

Intercompany interest expense
17,087

 
203

 
89,200

 
26

 
(106,516
)
 

Equity in loss of nonconsolidated affiliates
(59,895
)
 
(18,289
)
 
(35,415
)
 
(838
)
 
113,809

 
(628
)
Other income (expense), net
(7,517
)
 

 
9,958

 
6,723

 

 
9,164

Loss before income taxes
(67,006
)
 
(21,657
)
 
(49,526
)
 
(17,322
)
 
113,809

 
(41,702
)
Income tax benefit (expense)
2,798

 
(1,711
)
 
(10,369
)
 
(7,065
)
 

 
(16,347
)
Consolidated net loss
(64,208
)
 
(23,368
)
 
(59,895
)
 
(24,387
)
 
113,809

 
(58,049
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 
6,159

 

 
6,159

Net loss attributable to the Company
$
(64,208
)
 
$
(23,368
)
 
$
(59,895
)
 
$
(30,546
)
 
$
113,809

 
$
(64,208
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 
712

 
11,636

 

 
12,348

Unrealized holding loss on marketable securities

 

 

 
(320
)
 

 
(320
)
Reclassification adjustments

 

 

 
6,207

 

 
6,207

Equity in subsidiary comprehensive income
15,687

 
7,479

 
14,975

 

 
(38,141
)
 

Comprehensive loss
(48,521
)
 
(15,889
)
 
(44,208
)
 
(13,023
)
 
75,668

 
(45,973
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 
2,548

 

 
2,548

Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company
$
(48,521
)
 
$
(15,889
)
 
$
(44,208
)
 
$
(15,571
)
 
$
75,668

 
$
(48,521
)


29



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary
 
Guarantor
 
Non-Guarantor
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiaries
 
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Revenue
$

 
$

 
$
852,747

 
$
1,121,370

 
$

 
$
1,974,117

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Direct operating expenses

 

 
381,908

 
713,998

 

 
1,095,906

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 
145,317

 
236,177

 

 
381,494

Corporate expenses
3,459

 

 
77,184

 
30,449

 

 
111,092

Depreciation and amortization

 

 
129,596

 
114,636

 

 
244,232

Impairment charges

 

 
7,772

 

 

 
7,772

Other operating income (expense), net
(273
)
 

 
480

 
1,493

 

 
1,700

Operating income (loss)
(3,732
)
 

 
111,450

 
27,603

 

 
135,321

Interest (income) expense, net
(15
)
 
264,405

 
1,342

 
25,677

 

 
291,409

Interest income on Due from iHeartCommunications
573

 

 

 

 

 
573

Intercompany interest income
12,123

 
270,774

 
16,492

 

 
(299,389
)
 

Intercompany interest expense
573

 
705

 
282,897

 
15,214

 
(299,389
)
 

Equity in earnings (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliates
(213,722
)
 
(65,430
)
 
(62,761
)
 
(483
)
 
342,780

 
384

Other income (expense), net

 

 
1,799

 
(23,829
)
 

 
(22,030
)
Loss before income taxes
(205,316
)
 
(59,766
)
 
(217,259
)
 
(37,600
)
 
342,780

 
(177,161
)
Income tax benefit (expense)
(38,577
)
 
(2,369
)
 
3,537

 
(19,607
)
 

 
(57,016
)
Consolidated net loss
(243,893
)
 
(62,135
)
 
(213,722
)
 
(57,207
)
 
342,780

 
(234,177
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 
9,716

 

 
9,716

Net loss attributable to the Company
$
(243,893
)
 
$
(62,135
)
 
$
(213,722
)
 
$
(66,923
)
 
$
342,780

 
$
(243,893
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 
(1,506
)
 
(17,421
)
 

 
(18,927
)
Reclassification adjustments

 

 

 
1,425

 

 
1,425

Equity in subsidiary comprehensive income
(9,658
)
 
(4,354
)
 
(8,152
)
 

 
22,164

 

Comprehensive loss
(253,551
)
 
(66,489
)
 
(223,380
)
 
(82,919
)
 
364,944

 
(261,395
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 
(7,844
)
 

 
(7,844
)
Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company
$
(253,551
)
 
$
(66,489
)
 
$
(223,380
)
 
$
(75,075
)
 
$
364,944

 
$
(253,551
)

30



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary
 
Guarantor
 
Non-Guarantor
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiaries
 
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Revenue
$

 
$

 
$
832,419

 
$
1,027,879

 
$

 
$
1,860,298

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Direct operating expenses

 

 
378,078

 
661,097

 

 
1,039,175

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 
144,183

 
226,414

 

 
370,597

Corporate expenses
10,972

 

 
68,592

 
25,649

 

 
105,213

Depreciation and amortization

 

 
132,160

 
104,720

 

 
236,880

Impairment charges

 

 

 
1,591

 

 
1,591

Other operating income (expense), net
(308
)
 

 
35,526

 
(6,561
)
 

 
28,657

Operating income (loss)
(11,280
)
 

 
144,932

 
1,847

 

 
135,499

Interest (income) expense , net
(412
)
 
264,866

 
(545
)
 
18,893

 

 
282,802

Interest income on Due from iHeartCommunications
47,277

 

 

 

 

 
47,277

Intercompany interest income
12,236

 
255,351

 
48,104

 
140

 
(315,831
)
 

Intercompany interest expense
47,277

 
321

 
267,727

 
506

 
(315,831
)
 

Equity in loss of nonconsolidated affiliates
(105,062
)
 
(23,726
)
 
(46,638
)
 
(1,643
)
 
176,240

 
(829
)
Other income, net
2,716

 

 
8,425

 
10,663

 

 
21,804

Loss before income taxes
(100,978
)
 
(33,562
)
 
(112,359
)
 
(8,392
)
 
176,240

 
(79,051
)
Income tax benefit (expense)
(1,519
)
 
576

 
7,297

 
(19,254
)
 

 
(12,900
)
Consolidated net loss
(102,497
)
 
(32,986
)
 
(105,062
)
 
(27,646
)
 
176,240

 
(91,951
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 
10,546

 

 
10,546

Net loss attributable to the Company
$
(102,497
)
 
$
(32,986
)
 
$
(105,062
)
 
$
(38,192
)
 
$
176,240

 
$
(102,497
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 
806

 
41,547

 

 
42,353

Unrealized holding loss on marketable securities

 

 

 
(218
)
 

 
(218
)
Reclassification adjustments

 

 

 
4,563

 

 
4,563

Equity in subsidiary comprehensive income
40,964

 
28,647

 
40,158

 

 
(109,769
)
 

Comprehensive income (loss)
(61,533
)
 
(4,339
)
 
(64,098
)
 
7,700

 
66,471

 
(55,799
)
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 
5,734

 

 
5,734

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company
$
(61,533
)
 
$
(4,339
)
 
$
(64,098
)
 
$
1,966

 
$
66,471

 
$
(61,533
)



31



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary
 
Guarantor
 
Non-Guarantor
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiaries
 
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net loss
$
(243,893
)
 
$
(62,135
)
 
$
(213,722
)
 
$
(57,207
)
 
$
342,780

 
$
(234,177
)
Reconciling items:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impairment charges

 

 
7,772

 

 

 
7,772

Depreciation and amortization

 

 
129,596

 
114,636

 

 
244,232

Deferred taxes
66,144

 

 
(31,162
)
 
5,907

 

 
40,889

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

 
2,710

 
2,398

 

 
5,108

Amortization of deferred financing charges and note discounts, net

 
6,682

 

 
1,318

 

 
8,000

Share-based compensation

 

 
3,838

 
2,919

 

 
6,757

Gain on disposal of operating assets, net

 

 
(510
)
 
(1,797
)
 

 
(2,307
)
Equity in (earnings) loss of nonconsolidated affiliates
213,722

 
65,430

 
62,761

 
483

 
(342,780
)
 
(384
)
Foreign exchange transaction (gain) loss

 

 
(444
)
 
21,823

 

 
21,379

Other reconciling items, net

 

 
(373
)
 
(1,624
)
 

 
(1,997
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net
   of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Increase in accounts receivable

 

 
(744
)
 
(14,549
)
 

 
(15,293
)
(Increase) decrease in prepaids and other current assets
(367
)
 
2,222

 
(12,369
)
 
(9,092
)
 

 
(19,606
)
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses
8,621

 
(1,644
)
 
(6,448
)
 
11,182

 

 
11,711

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

 

 
22,750

 
(9,123
)
 

 
13,627

Increase in accrued interest

 
1,004

 
424

 
8,604

 

 
10,032

Increase in deferred income

 

 
11,692

 
17,430

 

 
29,122

Changes in other operating assets and liabilities
(1,981
)
 

 
5,117

 
(7,574
)
 

 
(4,438
)
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities
$
42,246

 
$
11,559

 
$
(19,112
)
 
$
85,734

 
$

 
$
120,427

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

 
(52,333
)
 
(57,788
)
 

 
(110,121
)
Proceeds from disposal of assets

 

 
4,444

 
2,119

 

 
6,563

Purchases of other operating assets

 

 
(1,783
)
 
(45
)
 

 
(1,828
)
Increase in intercompany notes receivable, net

 
(28,887
)
 

 

 
28,887

 

Dividends from subsidiaries

 

 
1,111

 

 
(1,111
)
 

Change in other, net

 

 
(2
)
 
58

 

 
56

Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
$

 
$
(28,887
)
 
$
(48,563
)
 
$
(55,656
)
 
$
27,776

 
$
(105,330
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Payments on long-term debt

 

 
(136
)
 
(346
)
 

 
(482
)
Net transfers from iHeartCommunications
58,726

 

 

 

 

 
58,726

Dividends and other payments to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 
(6,144
)
 

 
(6,144
)
Dividends paid
(30,660
)
 

 

 
(1,111
)
 
1,111

 
(30,660
)
Increase in intercompany notes payable, net

 

 

 
28,887

 
(28,887
)
 

Intercompany funding
(95,656
)
 
18,884

 
58,949

 
17,823

 

 

Change in other, net
(709
)
 
(1,556
)
 

 

 

 
(2,265
)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
(68,299
)
 
17,328

 
58,813

 
39,109

 
(27,776
)
 
19,175

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 

 

 

 
(7,951
)
 

 
(7,951
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(26,053
)
 

 
(8,862
)
 
61,236

 

 
26,321

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year
27,653

 

 
22,841

 
137,816

 

 
188,310

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of  year
$
1,600

 
$

 
$
13,979

 
$
199,052

 
$

 
$
214,631


32



CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Parent
 
Subsidiary
 
Guarantor
 
Non-Guarantor
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Issuer
 
Subsidiaries
 
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net loss
$
(102,497
)
 
$
(32,986
)
 
$
(105,062
)
 
$
(27,646
)
 
$
176,240

 
$
(91,951
)
Reconciling items:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impairment charges

 

 

 
1,591

 

 
1,591

Depreciation and amortization

 

 
132,160

 
104,720

 

 
236,880

Deferred taxes

 

 
(23,464
)
 
(3,851
)
 

 
(27,315
)
Provision for doubtful accounts

 

 
1,508

 
4,820

 

 
6,328

Amortization of deferred financing
   charges and note discounts, net

 
6,585

 

 
1,411

 

 
7,996

Share-based compensation

 

 
4,859

 
2,294

 

 
7,153

(Gain) loss on sale of operating and fixed assets

 

 
(35,601
)
 
5,306

 

 
(30,295
)
Equity in loss of nonconsolidated affiliates
105,062

 
23,726

 
46,638

 
1,643

 
(176,240
)
 
829

Foreign exchange transaction (gain) loss

 

 
5

 
(22,271
)
 

 
(22,266
)
Other reconciling items, net

 

 
(4,397
)
 
(533
)
 

 
(4,930
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable

 

 
2,749

 
(20,575
)
 

 
(17,826
)
(Increase) decrease in prepaids and other current assets
1,045

 

 
(9,626
)
 
(7,528
)
 

 
(16,109
)
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses
(3,524
)
 
(56,942
)
 
60,128

 
(8,472
)
 

 
(8,810
)
Decrease in accounts payable

 

 
(1,086
)
 
(2,937
)
 

 
(4,023
)
Increase (decrease) in accrued interest

 

 
(93
)
 
6,124

 

 
6,031

Increase in deferred income

 

 
6,352

 
12,366

 

 
18,718

Changes in other operating assets and liabilities

 

 
477

 
10,629

 

 
11,106

Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities
$
86

 
$
(59,617
)
 
$
75,547

 
$
57,091

 
$

 
$
73,107

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

 
(48,185
)
 
(86,683
)
 

 
(134,868
)
Proceeds from disposal of assets

 

 
54,534

 
16,500

 

 
71,034

Purchases of other operating assets

 

 
(758
)
 
(2,226
)
 

 
(2,984
)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany notes receivable, net

 
29,962

 
(6,146
)
 
(74,107
)
 
50,291

 

Dividends from subsidiaries

 

 
22,995

 

 
(22,995
)
 

Change in other, net

 

 
(4
)
 
(1,054
)
 

 
(1,058
)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities
$

 
$
29,962

 
$
22,436

 
$
(147,570
)
 
$
27,296

 
$
(67,876
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Payments on credit facilities

 

 

 
(909
)
 

 
(909
)
Proceeds from long-term debt

 

 

 
156,000

 

 
156,000

Payments on long-term debt

 

 
(73
)
 
(531
)
 

 
(604
)
Net transfers to iHeartCommunications
(165,650
)
 

 

 

 

 
(165,650
)
Dividends and other payments to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 
(12,027
)
 

 
(12,027
)
Dividends paid
(282,658
)
 

 

 
(22,995
)
 
22,995

 
(282,658
)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany notes payable, net

 
69,107

 

 
(18,816
)
 
(50,291
)
 

Intercompany funding
175,186

 
(39,452
)
 
(145,622
)
 
9,888

 

 

Change in other, net
(1,426
)
 

 

 
(4,808
)
 

 
(6,234
)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
(274,548
)
 
29,655

 
(145,695
)
 
105,802

 
(27,296
)
 
(312,082
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

 

 
7,037

 

 
7,037

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(274,462
)
 

 
(47,712
)
 
22,360

 

 
(299,814
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year
300,285

 

 
61,542

 
190,864

 

 
552,691

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of  year
$
25,823

 
$

 
$
13,830

 
$
213,224

 
$

 
$
252,877


33


ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Format of Presentation
Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes contained in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  Our discussion is presented on both a consolidated and segment basis.  All references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.  Our reportable segments are Americas outdoor advertising (“Americas”) and International outdoor advertising (“International”).  Our Americas and International segments provide outdoor advertising services in their respective geographic regions using various digital and traditional display types. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation.
 
We manage our operating segments by focusing primarily on their operating income, while Corporate expenses, Other operating income (expense), net, Interest expense, Interest income on the Revolving Promissory Note issued by iHeartCommunications to the Company (the “Due from iHeartCommunications Note”), Equity in earnings (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliates, Other income, net and Income tax benefit (expense) are managed on a total company basis and are, therefore, included only in our discussion of consolidated results.
 
Management typically monitors our businesses by reviewing the average rates, average revenue per display, occupancy and inventory levels of each of our display types by market.  Our advertising revenue is derived from selling advertising space on the displays we own or operate in key markets worldwide, consisting primarily of billboards, street furniture and transit displays.  Part of our long-term strategy is to pursue the technology of digital displays, including flat screens, LCDs and LEDs, as additions to traditional methods of displaying our clients’ advertisements.  We are currently installing these technologies in certain markets, both domestically and internationally.
 
Advertising revenue for our segments is highly correlated to changes in gross domestic product (“GDP”) as advertising spending has historically trended in line with GDP, both domestically and internationally.  Internationally, our results are impacted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates as well as economic conditions in the foreign markets in which we have operations.

We re-evaluated our segment reporting and determined that our Latin American operations should be managed by our International leadership team. As such, beginning January 1, 2018, our Latin American operations are included in our International segment. Accordingly, we recast the corresponding segment disclosures for prior periods to include Latin America within the International segment.

Corrections to Prior Periods
During the second quarter of 2018, we identified corrections associated with VAT obligations in our International business that impacted prior periods. Accordingly, we have revised the prior period financial statements presented herein to reflect these corrections. “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Form 10-Q is based on the revised financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. For further details, refer to Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Executive Summary
The key developments that impacted our business during the three months ended September 30, 2018 are summarized below:
Consolidated revenue increased $19.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding a $9.4 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, consolidated revenue increased $28.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017, due to revenue growth from both our International business, driven by growth across several countries, and our Americas business.

Revenues and expenses “excluding the impact of foreign exchange movements” in this MD&A are presented because management believes that viewing certain financial results without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency rates facilitates period to period comparisons of business performance and provides useful information to investors.  Revenues and expenses “excluding the impact of foreign exchange movements” are calculated by converting the current period’s revenues and expenses in local currency to U.S. dollars using average foreign exchange rates for the prior period. 


34


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Consolidated Results of Operations

The comparison of our historical results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 is as follows:
(In thousands)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
%
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
%
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Revenue
$
663,739

 
$
644,430

 
3.0%
 
$
1,974,117

 
$
1,860,298

 
6.1%
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct operating expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization)
361,681

 
357,946

 
1.0%
 
1,095,906

 
1,039,175

 
5.5%
Selling, general and administrative expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization)
128,797

 
128,539

 
0.2%
 
381,494

 
370,597

 
2.9%
Corporate expenses (excludes depreciation and amortization)
37,729

 
35,333

 
6.8%
 
111,092

 
105,213

 
5.6%
Depreciation and amortization
77,405

 
81,096

 
(4.6)%
 
244,232

 
236,880

 
3.1%
Impairment charges
7,772

 
1,591

 
388.5%
 
7,772

 
1,591

 
388.5%
Other operating income, net
825

 
(11,783
)
 
 
 
1,700

 
28,657

 
 
Operating income
51,180

 
28,142

 
81.9%
 
135,321

 
135,499

 
(0.1)%
Interest expense
97,158

 
95,467

 
 
 
291,409

 
282,802

 
 
Interest income on Due to/from iHeartCommunications, net
363

 
17,087

 
 
 
573

 
47,277

 
 
Equity in income (loss) of nonconsolidated affiliates
202

 
(628
)
 
 
 
384

 
(829
)
 
 
Other income (expense), net
(6,087
)
 
9,164

 
 
 
(22,030
)
 
21,804

 
 
Loss before income taxes
(51,500
)
 
(41,702
)
 
 
 
(177,161
)
 
(79,051
)
 
 
Income tax expense
(6,896
)
 
(16,347
)
 
 
 
(57,016
)
 
(12,900
)
 
 
Consolidated net loss
(58,396
)
 
(58,049
)
 
 
 
(234,177
)
 
(91,951
)
 
 
Less amount attributable to noncontrolling interest
6,692

 
6,159

 
 
 
9,716

 
10,546

 
 
Net loss attributable to the Company
$
(65,088
)
 
$
(64,208
)
 
 
 
$
(243,893
)
 
$
(102,497
)
 
 
 
Consolidated Revenue
Consolidated revenue increased $19.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $9.4 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, consolidated revenue increased $28.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The increase in consolidated revenue is due to revenue growth from both our International business, driven by growth across several countries, and our Americas business.
Consolidated revenue increased $113.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $47.9 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, consolidated revenue increased $65.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The increase in consolidated revenue is due to revenue growth from both our International business, driven by growth in several countries, and our Americas business.
Consolidated Direct Operating Expenses
Consolidated direct operating expenses increased $3.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $5.7 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, consolidated direct operating expenses increased $9.4 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Direct operating expenses is higher in both our International business and our Americas business, primarily due to higher variable expenses driven by increased revenue.

35


Consolidated direct operating expenses increased $56.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $32.7 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, consolidated direct operating expenses increased $24.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Higher direct operating expenses in our International business was partially offset by lower direct operating expenses in our Americas business, primarily as a result of the sale of our business in Canada in 2017.
Consolidated Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) Expenses
Consolidated SG&A expenses increased $0.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $2.0 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, consolidated SG&A expenses increased $2.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. SG&A expenses were higher primarily due to non-cash pension settlement expenses in the United Kingdom.
Consolidated SG&A expenses increased $10.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $10.4 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, consolidated SG&A expenses increased $0.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017.
Corporate Expenses
Corporate expenses increased $2.4 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017.
Corporate expenses increased $5.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $1.4 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, corporate expenses increased $4.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017 primarily due to consultant costs related to the investigations in China and Italy, partially offset by a decrease in management fees.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization decreased $3.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, primarily due to assets becoming fully depreciated or fully amortized.
Depreciation and amortization increased $7.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, primarily due to capital expenditures and the impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, partially offset by assets becoming fully depreciated or fully amortized.
Impairment Charges
The Company performs its annual impairment test as of July 1 of each year. In addition, we test for impairment of property, plant and equipment whenever events and circumstances indicate that depreciable assets might be impaired. As a result of these impairment tests, we recorded an impairment charge of $7.8 million related to permits in one market in our Americas segment during the three months ended September 30, 2018. During the three months ended September 30, 2017, we recognized impairment charges of $1.6 million related to one of our International outdoor businesses. Please see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements located in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a further description of the impairment charges.
Other Operating Income (Expense), Net
Other operating income, net was $0.8 million and $1.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. 
Other operating expense net was $11.8 million and other operating income, net was $28.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, primarily due to the sale in the first quarter of 2017 of the Americas outdoor Indianapolis market exchanged for certain assets in Atlanta, Georgia, plus $43.1 million in cash, net of closing costs, resulting in a net gain of $28.9 million and a gain of $6.8 million recognized on the sale of our ownership interest in a joint venture in Belgium in the second quarter of 2017, offset by the loss of $12.1 million recognized on the sale of our ownership interest in a joint venture in Canada.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $1.7 million and $8.6 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2017, primarily due to the issuance by Clear Channel International B.V. ("CCIBV"), our indirect subsidiary, of $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.75% Senior Notes due 2020 as additional notes under the indenture governing CCIBV's existing 8.75% Senior Notes due 2020 during the third quarter of 2017.

36


Interest Income on Due to/from iHeartCommunications, Net
Interest income on Due to/from iHeartCommunications, net decreased $16.7 million and $46.7 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2017 as we ceased recording interest income on the pre-petition balance due from iHeartCommunications as the collectability of the interest was not considered probable. See Note 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements located in Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
 
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other expense, net of $6.1 million and $22.0 million recognized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 related primarily to net foreign exchange losses recognized in connection with intercompany notes denominated in foreign currencies.

Other income, net of $9.2 million and $21.8 million recognized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 related primarily to net foreign exchange gains recognized in connection with intercompany notes denominated in foreign currencies.
 
Income Tax Expense
Our operations are included in a consolidated income tax return filed by iHeartMedia.  However, for our financial statements, our provision for income taxes was computed as if we file separate consolidated federal income tax returns with our subsidiaries.
 
The effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were (13.4)% and (32.2)%, respectively. The effective rate was primarily impacted by the valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets resulting from current period net operating losses in U.S. federal, state and certain foreign jurisdictions due to uncertainty regarding the Company's ability to realize those assets in future periods.
 
The effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were (39.2)% and (16.3)%, respectively. The effective rates were primarily impacted by the mix of earnings within the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates and the benefits and charges from tax amounts associated with its foreign earnings that are taxed at rates different from the federal statutory rate. In addition, we were unable to record benefits on losses in certain foreign jurisdictions due to the uncertainty of the ability to utilize those losses in future periods.
  
Americas Outdoor Advertising Results of Operations
 
Our Americas outdoor operating results were as follows:

(In thousands)
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
%
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
%
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Revenue
$
303,421

 
$
293,807

 
3.3%
 
$
859,190

 
$
854,344

 
0.6%
Direct operating expenses
131,241

 
130,269

 
0.7%
 
386,427

 
393,953

 
(1.9)%
SG&A expenses
49,247

 
49,007

 
0.5%
 
146,021

 
148,824

 
(1.9)%
Depreciation and amortization
39,783

 
44,457

 
(10.5)%
 
127,410

 
130,127

 
(2.1)%
Operating income
$
83,150

 
$
70,074

 
18.7%
 
$
199,332

 
$
181,440

 
9.9%
 
Three Months
Americas revenue increased $9.6 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The increase in revenue was due to an increase in digital, airport and print revenue, partially offset by a $2.6 million decrease in revenue resulting from the sale of our Canadian business during the third quarter of 2017.
 
Americas direct operating expenses increased $1.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The increase was driven by higher site lease expenses, primarily related to increased revenue, partially offset by a $1.9 million decrease in direct operating expenses resulting from the sale of our Canadian market. Americas SG&A expenses increased $0.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017.
 

37


Nine Months
Americas revenue increased $4.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The increase in revenue was due to an increase in digital and print revenue, partially offset by a $13.7 million decrease in revenue resulting from the sale of our Canadian outdoor business during the third quarter of 2017 and a decrease in airport revenue.
Americas direct operating expenses decreased $7.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The decrease was driven by a $10.3 million decrease in direct operating expenses resulting from the sale of our Canadian market, partially offset by higher site lease expenses. Americas SG&A expenses decreased $2.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017 primarily due to a $3.3 million decrease in SG&A expenses resulting from the sale of our Canadian market.
International Outdoor Advertising Results of Operations

Our International operating results were as follows:

(In thousands)
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
%
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
%
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Revenue
$
360,318

 
$
350,623

 
2.8%
 
$
1,114,927

 
$
1,005,954

 
10.8%
Direct operating expenses
230,440

 
227,677

 
1.2%
 
709,479

 
645,222

 
10.0%
SG&A expenses
79,550

 
79,532

 
—%
 
235,473

 
221,773

 
6.2%
Depreciation and amortization
36,627

 
35,464

 
3.3%
 
113,875

 
102,711

 
10.9%
Operating income
$
13,701

 
$
7,950

 
72.3%
 
$
56,100

 
$
36,248

 
54.8%

Three Months
International revenue increased $9.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $9.4 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, International revenue increased $19.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The increase in revenue is due to growth in multiple countries, including China and the Nordic countries, as well as the United Kingdom and Italy, primarily from new deployments and digital expansion.
 
International direct operating expenses increased $2.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $5.7 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, International direct operating expenses increased $8.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The increase was primarily due to higher site lease expenses related to new contracts in countries experiencing revenue growth. International SG&A expenses was flat during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $2.0 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, International SG&A expenses increased $2.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The increase in SG&A expenses was primarily due to non-cash pension settlement expenses in the United Kingdom.
Nine Months
International revenue increased $109.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $47.9 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, International revenue increased $61.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The increase in revenue is due to growth in multiple countries, including China, the Nordic countries, Spain, Switzerland and Ireland, primarily from new deployments and digital expansion.
International direct operating expenses increased $64.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $32.7 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, International direct operating expenses increased $31.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The increase was driven by higher site lease expenses related to new contracts in countries experiencing revenue growth. International SG&A expenses increased $13.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Excluding the $10.4 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates, International SG&A expenses

38


increased $3.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. The increase in SG&A expenses primarily related to non-cash pension settlement expense in the United Kingdom.
Reconciliation of Segment Operating Income to Consolidated Operating Income
(In thousands)
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Americas advertising
$
83,150

 
$
70,074

 
$
199,332

 
181,440

International advertising
13,701

 
7,950

 
56,100

 
36,248

Other operating income, net
825

 
(11,783
)
 
1,700

 
28,657

Impairment charges
(7,772
)
 
(1,591
)
 
(7,772
)
 
(1,591
)
Corporate and other (1)
(38,724
)
 
(36,508
)
 
(114,039
)
 
(109,255
)
Consolidated operating income
$
51,180

 
$
28,142

 
$
135,321

 
$
135,499


(1)
Corporate and other includes expenses related to Americas and International as well as overall executive, administrative and support functions.

Share-Based Compensation Expense
We have granted restricted stock, restricted stock units and options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock to certain key individuals under our equity incentive plans. Certain employees receive equity awards pursuant to our equity incentive plans.  As of September 30, 2018, there was $17.3 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements that will vest based on service conditions.  This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 3.0 years. 
 
Share-based compensation expenses are recorded in corporate expenses and were $3.1 million and $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $6.8 million and $7.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash Flows

The following discussion highlights cash flow activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
 (In thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Cash provided by (used for):
 
 
 
Operating activities
$
120,427

 
$
73,107

Investing activities
$
(105,330
)
 
$
(67,876
)
Financing activities
$
19,175

 
$
(312,082
)
 
Operating Activities
Cash provided by operating activities was $120.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $73.1 million of cash provided by operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.  The increase in cash provided by operating activities is primarily attributed to changes in working capital balances, particularly accounts payable and accrued expenses, which were affected by the timing of payments. Cash paid for interest for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 was $272.4 million and $270.1 million, respectively.
Investing Activities
Cash used for investing activities of $105.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 primarily reflected our capital expenditures of $110.1 million. We spent $50.2 million in our Americas segment primarily related to the construction of new advertising structures, such as digital boards, $57.5 million in our International segment primarily related to street furniture

39


and transit advertising structures, including digital displays, and $2.4 million in Corporate primarily related to equipment and software purchases.
Cash used for investing activities of $67.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily reflected our capital expenditures of $134.9 million, partially offset by net cash proceeds from the disposal of assets including proceeds of $43.1 million from the sale of our outdoor Indianapolis market. We spent $46.4 million in our Americas segment primarily related to the construction of new advertising structures such as digital displays, $86.2 million in our International segment primarily related to street furniture and transit advertising structures and $2.3 million in Corporate primarily related to equipment and software purchases.
Financing Activities
Cash provided by financing activities of $19.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 primarily reflected net transfers of $58.7 million in cash from iHeartCommunications, which represents the activity in the “Due from iHeartCommunications” account, partially offset by cash dividends paid of $30.7 million.
Cash used for financing activities of $312.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily reflected cash dividends paid of $282.7 million and net transfers of $165.7 million in cash to iHeartCommunications, which represents the activity in the "Due from iHeartCommunications" account, partially offset by proceeds from the issuance by CCIBV of $150.0 million of 8.75% Senior Notes due 2020, which were issued at a premium, resulting in $156.0 million in proceeds.  
iHeart Chapter 11 Cases
On March 14, 2018, iHeartMedia, the indirect parent of the Company which owns approximately 89.5% of the Company's outstanding common stock, and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”), filed voluntary petitions for reorganization (the “iHeart Chapter 11 Cases”) under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the “Bankruptcy Court”). CCOH and its direct and indirect subsidiaries did not file voluntary petitions for reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code and are not Debtors in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases.
On March 16, 2018, iHeartMedia and the other Debtors entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (the “iHeart RSA”) with certain creditors and equityholders. The iHeart RSA contemplates that our business will be separated from iHeartCommunications upon consummation of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases (the "Separation") and that the Due from iHeartCommunications Note will receive treatment in a form and substance acceptable to the Debtors, to the Company and to certain consenting senior creditors of iHeartCommunications, which treatment will be set forth in a plan of reorganization and approved by the Bankruptcy Court. On September 20, 2018, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order approving the Debtors’ Disclosure Statement (the “Disclosure Statement”). On October 10, 2018, the Debtors filed a fifth amended Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan of Reorganization”) and a supplement to the Disclosure Statement (the "Disclosure Statement Supplement"). On October 18, 2018, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order approving the Disclosure Statement Supplement, and the Debtors filed solicitation versions of the Plan of Reorganization and Disclosure Statement Supplement. The Plan of Reorganization currently contemplates, among other things, (i) a recovery equal to 14.44% of the allowed amount of the Company’s claim arising under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note, and (ii) the issuance of preferred stock in connection with the Separation, the proceeds of which may be used to as a source of liquidity for the Company (or its successor upon completion of the Separation). On November 2, 2018, the Debtors filed a plan supplement (the “Plan Supplement”) with the Bankruptcy Court. The Plan Supplement contemplates that the proposed Separation would be effected through a taxable separation and sets forth a list of transaction steps. The transaction steps contemplate that prior to the Separation, Clear Channel Holdings, Inc. (“CCH”), the parent company of the Company and a subsidiary of iHeartCommunications, will distribute all of its subsidiaries other than the Company to a subsidiary of iHeartCommunications (the “Radio Distribution”), and the Company will merge with and into CCH, with CCH as the surviving company, which will be renamed “Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.” Immediately following the merger, the public stockholders of the Company will own the same percentage of the surviving corporation as they did in the Company prior to the merger, and iHeartCommunications will distribute the shares of the surviving company that it holds to certain holders of claims in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases. As described in the Disclosure Statement, the Debtors and the Company are continuing to work on the terms of the Separation, and the Company may seek to obtain supplemental liquidity, from iHeartCommunications or from third party sources, in addition to its recoveries on account of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note and the proceeds of the preferred stock issuance.
Our board of directors has established a special committee consisting of our independent directors to consider, review and negotiate certain transactions between the Debtors and the Company in connection with the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, and discussions regarding the terms of separation of the Company from the Debtors remain ongoing.

40


Although the Disclosure Statement has been approved by the Bankruptcy Court, the Debtors must obtain the requisite votes of holders of claims and interests entitled to vote, and the Plan of Reorganization must be confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court. If confirmed, the consummation of the Plan of Reorganization will be subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth therein. In addition, the Debtors and the Company must take all steps necessary to enable the parties to carry out the separation as contemplated under the Plan of Reorganization. We cannot predict at this time the outcome of iHeartCommunications’ efforts to restructure its indebtedness in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, and there can be no assurance that the separation will be consummated on the terms described in the Plan of Reorganization and Disclosure Statement, or at all.
Anticipated Cash Requirements
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, cash flow from operations, the cash from the intercompany arrangement with iHeartCommunications described below and borrowing capacity under our receivables based credit facility. As of September 30, 2018, we had $191.1 million of cash on our balance sheet, including $175.5 million of cash held outside the U.S. by our subsidiaries, a portion of which is held by non-wholly owned subsidiaries or is otherwise subject to certain restrictions and not readily accessible to us. We have the ability and intent to indefinitely reinvest the undistributed earnings of consolidated subsidiaries based outside of the United States, except that excess cash from our foreign operations may be transferred to our operations in the United States if needed to fund operations in the United States, subject to the foreseeable cash needs of our foreign operations and the mutual agreement of us and iHeartCommunications. If any excess cash held by our foreign subsidiaries is needed to fund operations in the United States, we could presently repatriate available funds without a requirement to accrue or pay U.S. taxes. This is a result of significant deficits, as calculated for tax law purposes, in our foreign earnings and profits, which gives us flexibility to make future cash distributions as non-taxable returns of capital.
Our primary uses of liquidity are for our working capital, capital expenditure, debt service and other funding requirements.  At September 30, 2018, we had debt maturities totaling $0.1 million, $0.3 million and $2,575.3 million in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. A substantial amount of our cash requirements are for debt service obligations.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we spent $272.4 million of cash on interest on our debt. We anticipate having approximately $375.1 million of cash interest payment obligations in 2018.  Our significant interest payment obligations reduce our financial flexibility, make us more vulnerable to changes in operating performance and economic downturns generally, reduce our liquidity over time and could negatively affect our ability to obtain additional financing in the future.
Based on our current and anticipated levels of operations and conditions in our markets, we believe that cash on hand, cash flows from operations, cash from the intercompany arrangement with iHeartCommunications described below, borrowing capacity under our receivables based credit facility[, together with supplemental liquidity support from iHeartCommunications or third party sources, if any,] will enable us to meet our working capital, capital expenditure, debt service and other funding requirements, including the debt service on the CCWH Senior Notes, the CCWH Subordinated Notes and the CCIBV Senior Notes, for at least the next 12 months.  We are currently exploring alternatives to obtain additional liquidity from iHeartCommunications, or from third party sources, in connection with iHeartMedia’s emergence from the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases. Such alternatives may include a short term unsecured line of credit provided by iHeartCommunications or one of its subsidiaries, an increase in the preferred stock to be issued in connection with the separation, new capital provided by third parties or a combination of these alternatives. We believe our long-term plans, which include promoting outdoor media spending, capitalizing on our diverse geographic and product opportunities and the continued deployment of digital displays, will enable us to continue generating cash flows from operations sufficient to meet our liquidity and funding requirements in the long term. However, our anticipated results are subject to significant uncertainty. Our ability to fund our working capital, capital expenditures, debt service and other obligations depends on our future operating performance, cash from operations and our ability to obtain supplemental liquidity, if necessary, and manage our liquidity if our business is separated from iHeartCommunications as contemplated by the iHeart RSA and the Plan of Reorganization.
Historically, our cash management arrangement with iHeartCommunications has been our only committed external source of liquidity. If our business is separated from iHeartCommunications, we will no longer have iHeartCommunications available to support our cash management function and our liquidity, and we will be dependent upon our ability to generate cash or obtain additional financing to meet our liquidity needs. Even if we are able to obtain our expected recoveries under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note and the anticipated proceeds of preferred stock to be issued upon consummation of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, we will likely need to obtain additional financing, from iHeartCommunications or its subsidiaries, or from banks or other lenders, or through public offerings or private placements of debt or equity, strategic relationships or other arrangements, or from a combination of these sources, in the future.  There can be no assurance that financing alternatives will be available in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us in the future due to market conditions, our financial condition, our liquidity constraints, our lack of history operating as a company independent from iHeartCommunications or other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Even if financing alternatives are available to us, we may not find them suitable or at comparable interest rates to the indebtedness being refinanced, and our annual cash interest payment obligations could increase further. In addition,

41


the terms of our existing or future debt agreements may restrict us from securing financing on terms that are available to us at that time. In addition to the need to refinance our various indebtedness at or before maturity, if we are unable to generate sufficient cash through our operations or obtain sources of supplemental liquidity if our business is separated from iHeartCommunications, we could face substantial liquidity problems, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and on our ability to meet our obligations.
iHeartCommunications provides the day-to-day cash management services for our cash activities and balances in the U.S. We do not have any material committed external sources of capital other than iHeartCommunications, and iHeartCommunications is not required to provide us with funds to finance our working capital or other cash requirements. We have no access to the cash transferred from us to iHeartCommunications under the cash management arrangement. Before the filing of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, the net amount due to us from iHeartCommunications under this cash management arrangement was represented by the Due from iHeartCommunications Note. Pursuant to an order entered by the Bankruptcy Court in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, as of March 14, 2018, the balance of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note immediately prior to the commencement of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases was frozen, and following March 14, 2018, intercompany allocations that would have been reflected in adjustments to the balance of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note are instead reflected in a new intercompany balance that accrues interest at a rate equal to the interest under the Due from iHeart Communications Note. The Bankruptcy Court entered an order to allow iHeartCommunications to continue to provide the day-to-day cash management services for us during the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases and we expect it to continue to do so until such arrangements are addressed through the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases. As of September 30, 2018, we owed $1.5 million to iHeartCommunications under this intercompany arrangement with iHeartCommunications.
We are an unsecured creditor of iHeartCommunications with respect to amounts owed under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note. We do not expect to recover the full balance of the now-frozen Due from iHeartCommunications Note upon the implementation of the Plan of Reorganization or any other plan of reorganization that is ultimately accepted by the requisite vote of creditors and approved by the Bankruptcy Court. See “--Promissory Notes with iHeartCommunications” below for a discussion of the current balance of and expected recovery under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note. If we do not recognize the expected recovery under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note, or if we do not otherwise obtain sufficient supplemental liquidity as contemplated by the Disclosure Statement, we could experience a liquidity shortfall. In addition, any repayments that we received on the Due from iHeartCommunications Note during the one-year preference period prior to the filing of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases may potentially be avoidable as a preference and subject to recovery by the iHeartCommunications bankruptcy estate, which could further exacerbate any liquidity shortfall.
On January 24, 2018, we made a demand for repayment of $30.0 million outstanding under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note and simultaneously paid a special cash dividend of $30.0 million. iHeartCommunications received approximately 89.5%, or approximately $26.8 million, of the proceeds of the dividend through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, with the remaining approximately 10.5%, or approximately $3.2 million, of the proceeds of the dividend paid to our public stockholders.
We were in compliance with the covenants contained in our material financing agreements as of September 30, 2018.
We frequently evaluate strategic opportunities both within and outside our existing lines of business.  We expect from time to time to dispose of certain businesses and may pursue acquisitions.  These dispositions or acquisitions could be material.

42


Sources of Capital
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had the following debt outstanding, cash and cash equivalents, amounts due (to)/from iHeartCommunications:
(In millions)
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Senior Notes due 2022
$
2,725.0

 
$
2,725.0

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Senior Subordinated Notes due 2020
2,200.0

 
2,200.0

Receivables Based Credit Facility due 2023(1)

 

Clear Channel International B.V. Senior Notes due 2020
375.0

 
375.0

Other debt
4.0

 
2.4

Original issue discount
(0.6
)
 
(0.2
)
Long-term debt fees
(28.6
)
 
(35.5
)
Total debt
5,274.8

 
5,266.7

Less:  Cash and cash equivalents
191.1

 
144.1

Less:  Due from iHeartCommunications
154.8

 
212.0

Less: Due to iHeartCommunications, post iHeart Chapter 11 Cases
(1.5
)
 

 
$
4,930.4

 
$
4,910.6

 (1) On June 1, 2018, CCO, a subsidiary of ours, refinanced our senior revolving credit facility with an asset based credit facility that provided for revolving credit commitments of up to $75.0 million. On June 29, 2018, CCO entered into an amendment providing for a $50.0 million incremental increase of the facility, bringing the aggregate revolving credit commitments to $125.0 million. The facility has a five-year term, maturing in 2023. As of September 30, 2018, the facility had $86.4 million of letters of credit outstanding and a borrowing base of $113.0 million, resulting in $26.6 million of excess availability.
We may from time to time repay our outstanding debt or seek to purchase our outstanding equity securities.  Such transactions, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors.
Promissory Notes with iHeartCommunications
We maintain accounts that represent net amounts due to or from iHeartCommunications, which are recorded as “Due from iHeartCommunications” on our consolidated balance sheets.  Before the filing of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, the accounts were represented by the revolving promissory note issued by us to iHeartCommunications (the Due to iHeartCommunications Note) and the revolving promissory note issued by iHeartCommunications to us (the Due from iHeartCommunications Note), in each case in the face amount of $1.0 billion, or if more or less than such amount, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all advances.  The revolving promissory notes were generally payable on demand and were scheduled to mature on May 15, 2019.  Included in the accounts are the net activities resulting from day-to-day cash management services provided by iHeartCommunications.  Such day-to-day cash management services relate only to our cash activities and balances in the U.S. and exclude any cash activities and balances of our non-U.S. subsidiaries. 
Pursuant to an order entered by the Bankruptcy Court, as of March 14, 2018, the balance of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note was frozen, and following March 14, 2018, intercompany allocations that would have been reflected in adjustments to the balance of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note are instead reflected in an intercompany balance that accrues interest at a rate equal to the interest under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note.
As of September 30, 2018, the principal amount outstanding under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note was $1,031.7 million. We do not expect that we will be able to recover all of the amounts owed to us under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note upon the implementation of the Plan of Reorganization or any other plan of reorganization that is ultimately accepted by the requisite vote of creditors and approved by the Bankruptcy Court. As a result, we recognized a loss of $855.6 million on the Due from iHeartCommunications Note during the fourth quarter of 2017 to reflect an estimated recoverable amount of the note, based on management's best estimate of the cash settlement amount. In addition, upon the filing of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases on March 14, 2018, we ceased recording interest income on the Due from iHeartCommunications Note, which amounted to $21.3 million for the period from January 1, 2018 to March 14, 2018, as the collectability of the interest was not considered probable. As a result of the $855.6 million allowance on the Due from iHeartCommunications Note recognized during

43


the fourth quarter of 2017 and the $21.3 million reserve recognized in relation to interest incurred during the pre-petition period in the three months ended March 31, 2018, the outstanding principal amount of $1,031.7 million was reduced to $154.8 million as of September 30, 2018 on our consolidated balance sheet. The final settlement amount of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note is expected to be negotiated as part of iHeartCommunications’ bankruptcy proceedings and may differ from the estimated recoverable amount of $154.8 million as of September 30, 2018. As of September 30, 2018, we had no borrowings under the Due to iHeartCommunications Note, and we owed $1.5 million to iHeartCommunications under the intercompany arrangement with iHeartCommunications approved by the Bankruptcy Court in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases.
In accordance with the terms of the settlement for the derivative litigation filed by our stockholders regarding the Due from iHeartCommunications Note, as previously disclosed, we established a committee of our board of directors, consisting of our independent and disinterested directors, for the specific purpose of monitoring the Due from iHeartCommunications Note.  This committee has the non-exclusive authority to demand payments under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note under certain specified circumstances tied to iHeartCommunications’ liquidity or the amount outstanding under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note, as long as our board of directors declares a simultaneous dividend equal to the amount so demanded.  The committee last made a demand under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note on August 11, 2014.  As of November 8, 2018, the committee has the right, pursuant to the terms of the settlement of the derivative litigation, but not the obligation, to make a demand on the Due from iHeartCommunications Note. However, on account of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, the balance of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note is currently frozen and any payment pursuant to such demand would be subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court.
If we are unable to obtain financing from iHeartCommunications under the intercompany arrangement approved by the Bankruptcy Court during the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, we will likely need to obtain additional financing from third party sources. Even if we are able to obtain our expected recoveries under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note and the anticipated proceeds of preferred stock to be issued upon consummation of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, we will likely need to obtain additional financing, from iHeartCommunications or its subsidiaries, or from banks or other lenders, or through public offerings or private placements of debt or equity, strategic relationships or other arrangements, or from a combination of these sources, in the future.  We may be unable to successfully obtain additional debt or equity financing on satisfactory terms or at all.
As long as the Master Agreement continues to govern the relationship between iHeartCommunications and us, iHeartCommunications will have the option to limit our ability to incur debt or issue equity securities, among other limitations, which could adversely affect our ability to meet our liquidity needs.  Under the Master Agreement with iHeartCommunications, we are limited in our borrowings from third parties to no more than $400.0 million at any one time outstanding, without the prior written consent of iHeartCommunications.
 Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Senior Notes
As of September 30, 2018, the CCWH senior notes represented $2.7 billion aggregate principal amount of indebtedness outstanding, which consisted of $735.75 million aggregate principal amount of 6.5% Series A Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Series A CCWH Senior Notes”) and $1,989.25 million aggregate principal amount of 6.5% Series B CCWH Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Series B CCWH Senior Notes” and, together with the Series A CCWH Senior Notes, the “CCWH Senior Notes”). The CCWH Senior Notes are guaranteed by us, CCO and certain of our direct and indirect subsidiaries.
 The Series A CCWH Senior Notes indenture and the Series B CCWH Senior Notes indenture restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness but permit us to incur additional indebtedness based on an incurrence test. Under this test, in order to incur additional indebtedness, our debt to adjusted EBITDA ratios (as defined by the indentures) must be lower than 7.0:1 and 5.0:1 for total debt and senior debt, respectively, and in order to incur additional indebtedness that is subordinated to the CCWH Senior Notes, our debt to adjusted EBITDA ratios (as defined by the indentures) must be lower than 7.0:1. The indentures contain certain other exceptions that allow us to incur additional indebtedness. The Series B CCWH Senior Notes indenture also restricts our ability to pay dividends, but permits us to pay dividends from the proceeds of indebtedness or the proceeds from asset sales if our debt to adjusted EBITDA ratios (as defined by the indenture) are lower than 7.0:1 and 5.0:1 for total debt and senior debt, respectively. The Series B CCWH Senior Notes indenture also contains certain other exceptions that allow us to pay dividends, including (i) $525.0 million of dividends made pursuant to general restricted payment baskets and (ii) dividends made using proceeds received upon a demand by us of amounts outstanding under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note. We have used substantially all of the $525.0 million general restricted payment baskets in the Series B CCWH Senior Notes indenture. The Series A CCWH Senior Notes indenture does not limit our ability to pay dividends. 
Our consolidated leverage ratio, defined as total debt divided by EBITDA (as defined by the CCWH Senior Notes indentures) for the preceding four quarters was 8.6:1 as of September 30, 2018, and senior leverage ratio, defined as senior debt divided by EBITDA (as defined by the CCWH Senior Notes indentures) for the preceding four quarters was 4.4:1 as of September 30, 2018. As required by the definition of EBITDA in the CCWH Senior Notes indentures, our EBITDA for the preceding four quarters

44


of $620.5 million is calculated as operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization, impairment charges and gains and losses on acquisitions and divestitures plus share-based compensation and is further adjusted for the following: (i) costs incurred in connection with severance, the closure and/or consolidation of facilities, retention charges, consulting fees and other permitted activities; (ii) extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses or expenses; (iii) non-cash charges; and (iv) various other items. Because our consolidated leverage ratio exceeded the limit in the incurrence tests described above, we are not currently permitted to incur additional indebtedness using the incurrence test in the Series A CCWH Senior Notes indenture and the Series B CCWH Senior Notes indenture, and we are not currently permitted to pay dividends from the proceeds of indebtedness or the excess proceeds from asset sales under the Series B CCWH Senior Notes indenture. There are other exceptions in these indentures that allow us to incur additional indebtedness and pay dividends.
The following table reflects a reconciliation of EBITDA (as defined by the CCWH Senior Notes indentures) to operating income and net cash provided by operating activities for the four quarters ended September 30, 2018:
 
Four Quarters Ended
(In millions) 
September 30, 2018
EBITDA (as defined by the CCWH Senior Notes indentures)
$
620.5

Less adjustments to EBITDA (as defined by the CCWH Senior Notes indentures):
 
Costs incurred in connection with severance, the closure and/or consolidation of facilities, retention charges, consulting fees and other permitted activities
(9.2
)
Extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses or expenses (as referenced in the definition of EBITDA in the CCWH Senior Notes indentures)
(14.7
)
Non-cash charges
(9.7
)
Other items
(1.7
)
Less: Depreciation and amortization, Impairment charges, Gains and losses on acquisitions and divestitures and Share-based compensation expense
(353.1
)
Operating income
232.1

Plus: Depreciation and amortization, Impairment charges, Gain (loss) on disposal of operating and fixed assets and Share-based compensation expense
351.5

Less: Interest expense
(388.3
)
Plus: Interest income on Due from iHeartCommunications
22.2

Less: Current income tax expense
(6.8
)
Plus: Other income, net
(14.5
)
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net loss to net cash provided by operating activities (including Provision for doubtful accounts, Amortization of deferred financing charges and note discounts, net and Other reconciling items, net)
28.8

Change in assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed
(17.6
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
207.4

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Senior Subordinated Notes
As of September 30, 2018, the CCWH Subordinated Notes represented $2.2 billion aggregate principal amount of indebtedness outstanding, which consisted of $275.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625% Series A Senior Subordinated Notes due 2020 (the “Series A CCWH Subordinated Notes”) and $1,925.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2020 (the “Series B CCWH Subordinated Notes”).
 The Series A CCWH Subordinated Notes indenture and the Series B CCWH Subordinated Notes indenture restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness but permit us to incur additional indebtedness based on an incurrence test. In order to incur additional indebtedness under this test, our debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio (as defined by the indentures) must be lower than 7.0:1. The indentures contain certain other exceptions that allow us to incur additional indebtedness. The Series B CCWH Subordinated Notes indenture also permits us to pay dividends from the proceeds of indebtedness or the proceeds from asset sales if our debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio (as defined by the indenture) is lower than 7.0:1. Because our debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio exceeded the thresholds in the indentures as of September 30, 2018, we are not currently permitted to incur additional indebtedness using the incurrence test in the Series A CCWH Subordinated Notes Indenture and the Series B CCWH Subordinated Notes indenture, and we are not currently permitted to pay dividends from the proceeds of indebtedness or the excess proceeds from asset sales under the Series B CCWH Subordinated Notes indenture. The Series B CCWH Subordinated Notes indenture contains certain

45


other exceptions that allow us to incur indebtedness and pay dividends, including (i) $525.0 million of dividends made pursuant to general restricted payment baskets and (ii) dividends made using proceeds received upon a demand by us of amounts outstanding under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note. We have used substantially all of the $525.0 million general restricted payment baskets in the Series B CCWH Senior Notes indenture. The Series A CCWH Subordinated Notes indenture does not limit our ability to pay dividends.
Receivables Based Credit Facility Due 2023
On June 1, 2018, CCO, a subsidiary of ours, entered into a Credit Agreement, as parent borrower, with certain of its subsidiaries named therein, as subsidiary borrowers, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent and swing line lender, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto. The Credit Agreement governs CCO’s new asset-based revolving credit facility and replaced our prior credit agreement, dated as of August 22, 2013, which was terminated on the Closing Date.
Size and Availability
The Credit Agreement provides for an asset-based revolving credit facility, with amounts available from time to time (including in respect of letters of credit) equal to the lesser of (i) the borrowing base, which equals 85.0% of the eligible accounts receivable of CCO and the subsidiary borrowers, subject to customary eligibility criteria minus any reserves, and (ii) the aggregate revolving credit commitments. As of the Closing Date, the aggregate revolving credit commitments were $75.0 million. On June 29, 2018, CCO entered into an amendment providing for a $50.0 million incremental increase of the facility, bringing the aggregate revolving credit commitments to $125.0 million. On the Closing Date, the revolving credit facility was used to replace and terminate the commitments under the Prior Credit Agreement and to replace the letters of credit outstanding under the Prior Credit Agreement.
As of September 30, 2018, the facility had $86.4 million of letters of credit outstanding and a borrowing base of $113.0 million, resulting in $26.6 million of excess availability.
Interest Rate and Fees
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Rate plus, at CCO’s option, either (1) a base rate determined by reference to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such date as publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its “prime rate” and (c) the Eurocurrency rate that would be calculated as of such day in respect of a proposed Eurocurrency rate loan with a one-month interest period plus 1.00%, or (2) a Eurocurrency rate that is equal to the LIBOR rate as published by Reuters two business days prior to the commencement of the interest period. The Applicable Rate for borrowings under the Credit Agreement is 1.00% with respect to base rate loans and 2.00% with respect to Eurocurrency loans.
In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the Credit Agreement, CCO is required to pay a commitment fee of 0.375% per annum to the lenders under the Credit Agreement in respect of the unutilized revolving commitments thereunder. CCO must also pay a letter of credit fee for each issued letter of credit equal to 2.00% per annum times the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such letter of credit.
Maturity
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will mature, and lending commitments thereunder will terminate, on the earlier of (a) June 1, 2023 and (b) 90 days prior to the maturity date of any indebtedness of CCOH or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount outstanding in excess of $250,000,000 (other than the 8.75% senior notes due 2020 issued by Clear Channel International, B.V.).
Prepayments
If at any time, the outstanding amount under the revolving credit facility exceeds the lesser of (i) the aggregate amount committed by the revolving credit lenders and (ii) the borrowing base, CCO will be required to prepay first, any protective advances and second, any outstanding revolving loans and swing line loans and/or cash collateralize letters of credit in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, as applicable.
Subject to customary exceptions and restrictions, CCO may voluntarily repay outstanding amounts under the Credit Agreement at any time without premium or penalty. Any voluntary prepayments CCO makes will not reduce commitments under the Credit Agreement. 

46


Guarantees and Security
The facility is guaranteed by the Subsidiary Borrowers. All obligations under the Credit Agreement, and the guarantees of those obligations, are secured by a perfected security interest in all of CCO’s and the Subsidiary Borrowers’ accounts receivable and related assets and proceeds thereof.
Certain Covenants and Events of Default
If borrowing availability is less than the greater of (a) $7.5 million and (b) 10.0% of the lesser of (i) the aggregate commitments at such time and (ii) the borrowing base then in effect at such time, CCO will be required to comply with a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.00 for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended prior to the occurrence of the Financial Covenant Triggering Event, and will be required to continue to comply with this minimum fixed charge coverage ratio until borrowing availability exceeds the greater of (x) $7.5 million and (y) 10.0% of the lesser of (i) the aggregate commitments at such time and (ii) the borrowing base then in effect at such time, at which time the Financial Covenant Triggering Event will no longer be deemed to be occurring.
The Credit Agreement also includes negative covenants that, subject to significant exceptions, limit the Borrowers’ ability and the ability of their restricted subsidiaries to, among other things:
 
incur additional indebtedness;
create liens on assets;
engage in mergers, consolidations, liquidations and dissolutions;
sell assets;
pay dividends and distributions or repurchase capital stock;
make investments, loans, or advances;
prepay certain junior indebtedness;
engage in certain transactions with affiliates or;
change lines of business.
The Credit Agreement includes certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default, including payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to certain indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy, material judgments and a change of control. If an event of default occurs, the lenders under the Credit Agreement will be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of all amounts due under the Credit Agreement and all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor.

CCIBV Senior Notes
During the fourth quarter of 2015, CCIBV, an international subsidiary of ours, issued $225.0 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 8.75% Senior Notes due 2020 (“CCIBV Senior Notes”). During the third quarter of 2017, CCIBV issued $150.0 million in additional aggregate principal amount of 8.75% Senior Notes due 2020, bringing the total amount outstanding under the CCIBV Senior Notes as of September 30, 2018 to $375.0 million.
The indenture governing the CCIBV Senior Notes contains covenants that limit CCIBV’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: (i) pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions or investments; (ii) incur additional debt or issue certain preferred stock; (iii) transfer or sell assets; (iv) create liens on assets; (v) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; (vi) create restrictions on dividends or other payments by the restricted subsidiaries; and (vii) merge, consolidate or sell substantially all of CCIBV’s assets.
Other Debt
Other debt consists primarily of capital leases and loans with international banks.  As of September 30, 2018, approximately $4.0 million was outstanding as other debt.
iHeartCommunications’ Debt Covenants

47


On March 14, 2018, iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and certain of iHeartMedia's direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries, not including the Company or any of its subsidiaries, filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. The filing of the voluntary petitions triggered an event of default under the iHeartCommunications' senior credit facility and other debt agreements. The ability of iHeartCommunications' creditors to seek remedies to enforce their rights under such debt agreements is automatically stayed as a result of the filing of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, and the creditors' rights of enforcement are subject to the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code.
Uses of Capital
Special Dividends
On January 24, 2018, we made a demand for repayment of $30.0 million outstanding under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note and simultaneously paid a special cash dividend of $30.0 million. iHeartCommunications received approximately 89.5%, or approximately $26.8 million, of the proceeds of the dividend through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, with the remaining approximately 10.5%, or approximately $3.2 million, of the proceeds of the dividend paid to our public stockholders. The payment of these special dividends reduces the amount of cash available to us for future working capital, capital expenditure, debt service and other funding requirements. Future special cash dividends will be dependent upon, among other things, our having sufficient available cash.
Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees
We are currently involved in certain legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business and, as required, have accrued our estimate of the probable costs for resolution of those claims for which the occurrence of loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated.  These estimates have been developed in consultation with counsel and are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies.  It is possible, however, that future results of operations for any particular period could be materially affected by changes in our assumptions or the effectiveness of our strategies related to these proceedings.  Please refer to “Legal Proceedings” in Part II, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
SEASONALITY
Typically, both our Americas and International segments experience their lowest financial performance in the first quarter of the calendar year, with International historically experiencing a loss from operations in that period.  Our International segment typically experiences its strongest performance in the second and fourth quarters of the calendar year.  We expect this trend to continue in the future.  Due to this seasonality and certain other factors, the results for the interim periods may not be indicative of results for the full year.

MARKET RISK
We are exposed to market risks arising from changes in market rates and prices, including movements in equity security prices and foreign currency exchange rates.
On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom (the "U.K.") held a referendum in which voters approved an exit of the U.K. from the European Union (the "E.U."), commonly referred to as "Brexit," and on March 29, 2017, the U.K. delivered formal notification of its intention to withdraw from the E.U. Our International segment is currently headquartered in the U.K. and transacts business in many key European markets including the U.K.  The announcement of Brexit caused the British pound currency rate to weaken against the U.S. dollar.  Further, Brexit may cause our U.K. customers to closely monitor their costs and reduce the amount they spend on advertising.  Any of these or similar effects of Brexit could adversely impact our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition.


48



Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We have operations in countries throughout the world.  Foreign operations are measured in their local currencies.  As a result, our financial results could be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in the foreign markets in which we have operations.  We believe we mitigate a small portion of our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations with a natural hedge through borrowings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.  Our foreign operations reported net losses of $27.1 million and $56.1million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.  We estimate a 10% increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies would have decreased our net losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 by $2.7 million and $5.6 million, respectively.  A 10% decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 would have increased our net losses for the same periods by corresponding amounts.
This analysis does not consider the implications that such currency fluctuations could have on the overall economic activity that could exist in such an environment in the U.S. or the foreign countries or on the results of operations of these foreign entities. 
Inflation
Inflation is a factor in the economies in which we do business and we continue to seek ways to mitigate its effect.  Inflation has affected our performance in terms of higher costs for wages, salaries and equipment.  Although the exact impact of inflation is indeterminable, we believe we have offset these higher costs by increasing the effective advertising rates of most of our outdoor display faces.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates that are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The result of these evaluations forms the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the reported amount of expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our assumptions and estimates, and such difference could be material. Our significant accounting policies are discussed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management believes that the following accounting estimates are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results, and they require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, resulting from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. The following narrative describes these critical accounting estimates, the judgments and assumptions and the effect if actual results differ from these assumptions.
The Company performs its annual impairment test on indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill as of July 1 of each year.
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets
Indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as our billboard permits, are reviewed annually for possible impairment using the direct valuation method as prescribed in ASC 805-20-S99. Under the direct valuation method, the estimated fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets was calculated at the market level as prescribed by ASC 350-30-35. Under the direct valuation method, it is assumed that rather than acquiring indefinite-lived intangible assets as a part of a going concern business, the buyer hypothetically obtains indefinite-lived intangible assets and builds a new operation with similar attributes from scratch. Thus, the buyer incurs start-up costs during the build-up phase which are normally associated with going concern value. Initial capital costs are deducted from the discounted cash flows model which results in value that is directly attributable to the indefinite-lived intangible assets.
Our key assumptions using the direct valuation method are market revenue growth rates, market share, profit margin, duration and profile of the build-up period, estimated start-up capital costs and losses incurred during the build-up period, the risk-adjusted discount rate and terminal values. This data is populated using industry normalized information representing an average asset within a market.
On July 1, 2018, we performed our annual impairment test in accordance with ASC 350-30-35, resulting in an impairment charge of $7.8 million related to permits in one market in our Americas Segment.
In determining the fair value of our billboard permits, the following key assumptions were used:
Industry revenue growth forecasts between 1.9% and 4.0% were used for the initial four-year period;
3.0% revenue growth was assumed beyond the initial four-year period;
Revenue was grown over a build-up period, reaching maturity by year 2;
Operating margins gradually climb to the industry average margin of up to 54.7%, depending on market size, by year 3; and
Assumed discount rate of 8.0%.


49



While we believe we have made reasonable estimates and utilized appropriate assumptions to calculate the fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible assets, it is possible a material change could occur. If future results are not consistent with our assumptions and estimates, we may be exposed to impairment charges in the future. The following table shows the decline in the fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible assets that would result from a 100 basis point decline in our discrete and terminal period revenue growth rate and profit margin assumptions and a 100 basis point increase in our discount rate assumption:
(In thousands)
 
Revenue
 
Profit
 
Discount
Description
 
Growth Rate
 
Margin
 
Rates
Billboard permits
 
$
1,077,700

 
 
$
166,000

 
 
$
1,059,700

 

The estimated fair value of our billboard permits at July 1, 2018 was $3.9 billion while the carrying value was $1.0 billion. The estimated fair value of our billboard permits at July 1, 2017 was $3.7 billion while the carrying value was $1.0 billion.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in business combinations. We test goodwill at interim dates if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. The fair value of our reporting units is used to apply value to the net assets of each reporting unit. To the extent that the carrying amount of net assets would exceed the fair value, an impairment charge may be required to be recorded.
The discounted cash flow approach we use for valuing goodwill as part of the two-step impairment testing approach involves estimating future cash flows expected to be generated from the related assets, discounted to their present value using a risk-adjusted discount rate. Terminal values are also estimated and discounted to their present value.
On July 1, 2018, we performed our annual impairment test in accordance with ASC 350-30-35, resulting in no impairment of goodwill. In determining the fair value of our reporting units, we used the following assumptions:
Expected cash flows underlying our business plans for the periods 2018 through 2022. Our cash flow assumptions are based on detailed, multi-year forecasts performed by each of our operating segments, and reflect the advertising outlook across our businesses.
Cash flows beyond 2022 are projected to grow at a perpetual growth rate, which we estimated at 3.0%.
In order to risk adjust the cash flow projections in determining fair value; we utilized a discount rate of approximately 8.0% to 11.0% for each of our reporting units.

Based on our annual assessment using the assumptions described above, a hypothetical 5% reduction in the estimated fair value in each of our reporting units would not result in a material impairment condition.
While we believe we have made reasonable estimates and utilized appropriate assumptions to calculate the estimated fair value of our reporting units, it is possible a material change could occur. If future results are not consistent with our assumptions and estimates, we may be exposed to impairment charges in the future. The following table shows the decline in the fair value of each of our reportable segments that would result from a 100 basis point decline in our discrete and terminal period revenue growth rate and profit margin assumptions and a 100 basis point increase in our discount rate assumption:
(In thousands)
 
Revenue
 
Profit
 
Discount
Description
 
Growth Rate
 
Margin
 
Rates
Americas Outdoor
 
$
770,000

 
 
$
170,000

 
 
$
720,000

 
International Outdoor
 
$
340,000

 
 
$
230,000

 
 
$
300,000

 


50



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf.  Except for the historical information, this report contains various forward-looking statements which represent our expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including, without limitation, our future operating and financial performance, our ability to comply with the covenants in the agreements governing our indebtedness and the availability of capital and the terms thereof.  Statements expressing expectations and projections with respect to future matters are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  We caution that these forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to many variables which could impact our future performance.  These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions, as of the time the statements are made, regarding future events and performance.  There can be no assurance, however, that management’s expectations will necessarily come to pass.  Actual future events and performance may differ materially from the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements.  We do not intend, nor do we undertake any duty, to update any forward-looking statements.
A wide range of factors could materially affect future developments and performance, including but not limited to:
risks associated with weak or uncertain global economic conditions and their impact on the level of expenditures on advertising, including the effects of Brexit;
our ability to service our debt obligations and to fund our operations and capital expenditures;
industry conditions, including competition;
our dependence on our management team and other key individuals;
our ability to obtain key municipal concessions for our street furniture and transit products;
fluctuations in operating costs;
technological changes and innovations;
shifts in population and other demographics;
other general economic and political conditions in the United States and in other countries in which we currently do business, including those resulting from recessions, political events and acts or threats of terrorism or military conflicts;
changes in labor conditions and management;
the impact of future dispositions, acquisitions and other strategic transactions;
legislative or regulatory requirements;
regulations and consumer concerns regarding privacy and data protection, and breaches of information security measures;
restrictions on outdoor advertising of certain products;
capital expenditure requirements;
fluctuations in exchange rates and currency values;
risks of doing business in foreign countries;
the identification of a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting;
our relationship with iHeartCommunications, including its ability to elect all of the members of our board of directors and its ability as our controlling stockholder to determine the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders and certain additional matters governed by intercompany agreements between us;
the risks and uncertainties associated with the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases on us and iHeartCommunications, our primary direct or indirect external source of capital, which is operating as a “debtor-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court;
the obligations and restrictions imposed on us by our agreements with iHeartCommunications;
the risk that we may be more susceptible to adverse events if the proposed Separation occurs;

51



the risk that we may be unable to replace the services iHeartCommunications provides us in a timely manner or on comparable terms;
the risk that the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases and the proposed Separation may result in unfavorable tax consequences for us and impair our ability to utilize our federal income tax net operating loss carryforwards in future years;
the risk that the iHeartMedia Plan of Reorganization is not consummated and the proposed Separation does not occur;
the impact of our substantial indebtedness, including the effect of our leverage on our financial position and earnings;
the ability of our subsidiaries to dividend or distribute funds to us in order for us to repay our debts;
the restrictions contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness limiting our flexibility in operating our business;
the effect of credit ratings downgrades; and
certain other factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC.

This list of factors that may affect future performance and the accuracy of forward-looking statements is illustrative and is not intended to be exhaustive.  Accordingly, all forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty.
ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Required information is presented under “Market Risk” within Item 2 of this Part I.
 
ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we have carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC.  Based on that evaluation, although the Company continues to work to remediate the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2018 at the reasonable assurance level. 
We previously reported that there was a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting with respect to Clear Media Limited, our outdoor business in China, that existed as of December 31, 2017, for which we are in the process of remediating as of September 30, 2018.  We have implemented additional monitoring controls and revised our cash and cash equivalent review process.  In addition, we have strengthened controls around access and use of banking authorization tokens and chops and formalized review and approval processes around related party transactions.  Although we have implemented these enhanced controls, we have not completed our testing of their effectiveness. We will need to successfully test these enhanced controls before we can conclude that the material weakness has been remediated. There can be no assurance that the effectiveness of these controls will be successfully tested in a timely manner, and we may not prevent future material weaknesses from occurring.
Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
Under applicable SEC rules (Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(c) and 15d-15(c)), management is required to evaluate any change in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during each fiscal quarter that had materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
As explained in greater detail under Item 9A, Controls and Procedures, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, we undertook a broad range of remedial procedures prior to November 8, 2018, the filing date of this report, to address the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting identified as of December 31, 2017. As described above, our efforts to improve our internal controls are ongoing and are focused on implementing additional controls to strengthen the cash management and reporting process at Clear Media Limited, our outdoor business in China. Therefore, while

52



we determined, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, that, other than as described above, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting in the three months ended September 30, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, we continue to monitor the operation of these remedial measures through the date of this report.
For a more comprehensive discussion of the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting identified by management as of December 31, 2017, and the remedial measures undertaken to address these material weaknesses, investors are encouraged to review Item 9A, Controls and Procedures, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

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PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We currently are involved in certain legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business and, as required, have accrued an estimate of the probable costs for the resolution of those claims for which the occurrence of loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated.  These estimates have been developed in consultation with counsel and are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies.  It is possible, however, that future results of operations for any particular period could be materially affected by changes in our assumptions or the effectiveness of our strategies related to these proceedings.  Additionally, due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, there can be no assurance that the resolution of any particular claim or proceeding would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. 
Although we are involved in a variety of legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, a large portion of our litigation arises in the following contexts: commercial disputes; misappropriation of likeness and right of publicity claims; employment and benefits related claims; governmental fines; intellectual property claims; and tax disputes.
Stockholder Litigation

On May 9, 2016, a stockholder of the Company filed a derivative lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned GAMCO Asset Management Inc. v. iHeartMedia Inc. et al., C.A. No. 12312-VCS. The complaint named as defendants iHeartCommunications, Inc. (“iHeartCommunications”), the Company’s indirect parent company, iHeartMedia, Inc. (“iHeartMedia”), the parent company of iHeartCommunications, Bain Capital Partners, LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. (together, the “Sponsor Defendants”), iHeartMedia’s private equity sponsors and majority owners, and the members of the Company’s board of directors. The Company also was named as a nominal defendant. The complaint alleged that the Company had been harmed by the intercompany agreements with iHeartCommunications, the Company’s lack of autonomy over its own cash and the actions of the defendants in serving the interests of iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants to the detriment of the Company and its minority stockholders. Specifically, the complaint alleged that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by causing the Company to: (i) continue to loan cash to iHeartCommunications under the intercompany note at below-market rates; (ii) abandon its growth and acquisition strategies in favor of transactions that would provide cash to iHeartMedia and iHeartCommunications; (iii) issue new debt in the CCIBV note offering (the “CCIBV Note Offering”) to provide cash to iHeartMedia and iHeartCommunications through a dividend; and (iv) effect the sales of certain outdoor markets in the U.S. (the “Outdoor Asset Sales”) allegedly to provide cash to iHeartMedia and iHeartCommunications through a dividend. The complaint also alleged that iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants aided and abetted the directors’ breaches of their fiduciary duties. The complaint further alleged that iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants were unjustly enriched as a result of these transactions and that these transactions constituted a waste of corporate assets for which the defendants are liable to the Company. The plaintiff sought, among other things, a ruling that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties to the Company and that iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants aided and abetted the board of directors’ breaches of fiduciary duty, rescission of payments to iHeartCommunications and its affiliates pursuant to dividends declared in connection with the CCIBV Note Offering and Outdoor Asset Sales, and an order requiring iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants to disgorge all profits they have received as a result of the alleged fiduciary misconduct.
On July 20, 2016, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff's verified stockholder derivative complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. On November 23, 2016, the Court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss all claims brought by the plaintiff.  On December 19, 2016, the plaintiff filed a notice of appeal of the ruling. The oral hearing on the appeal was held on October 11, 2017. On October 12, 2017, the Supreme Court of Delaware affirmed the lower court's ruling, dismissing the case.
On December 29, 2017, another stockholder of the Company filed a derivative lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned Norfolk County Retirement System, v. iHeartMedia, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 2017-0930-JRS. The complaint names as defendants iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications, the Sponsor Defendants, and the members of the Company's board of directors.  The Company is named as a nominal defendant. The complaint alleges that the Company has been harmed by the Company Board’s November 2017 decision to extend the maturity date of the intercompany revolving note (the “Third Amendment”) at what the complaint describes as far-below-market interest rates.  Specifically, the complaint alleges that (i) iHeartMedia and Sponsor defendants breached their fiduciary duties by exploiting their position of control to require the Company to enter the Third Amendment on terms unfair to the Company; (ii) the Company Board breached their duty of loyalty by approving the Third Amendment and elevating the interests of iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor Defendants over the interests of the Company and its minority unaffiliated stockholders; and (iii) the terms of the Third Amendment could not have been agreed to in good faith and represent a waste of corporate assets by the Company Board.  The complaint further alleges that

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iHeartMedia, iHeartCommunications and the Sponsor defendants were unjustly enriched as a result of the unfairly favorable terms of the Third Amendment.  The plaintiff is seeking, among other things, a ruling that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties to the Company, a modification of the Third Amendment to bear a commercially reasonable rate of interest, and an order requiring disgorgement of all profits, benefits and other compensation obtained by defendants as a result of the alleged breaches of fiduciary duties.
On March 7, 2018, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff's verified derivative complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. On March 16, 2018, iHeartMedia filed a Notice of Suggestion of Pendency of Bankruptcy and Automatic Stay of Proceedings. On May 4, 2018, plaintiff filed its response to the motion to dismiss. On June 26, 2018, the defendants filed a reply brief in further support of their motion to dismiss. Oral argument on the motion to dismiss was held on September 20, 2018. We are awaiting a ruling by the Court.
On August 27, 2018, the same stockholder of the Company that had filed a derivative lawsuit against iHeartMedia and others in 2016 (GAMCO Asset Management Inc.) filed a putative class action lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned GAMCO Asset Management, Inc. v. Hendrix, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0633-JRS. The complaint names as defendants the Sponsor Defendants and the members of the Company’s board of directors. The complaint alleges that minority shareholders in the Company during the period November 8, 2017 to March 14, 2018 were harmed by decisions of the Company's Board and the intercompany note committee of the Board relating to the Intercompany Note. Specifically, the complaint alleges that (i) the members of the intercompany note committee breached their fiduciary duties by not demanding payment under the Intercompany Note and issuing a simultaneous dividend after a threshold tied to iHeartMedia’s liquidity had been reached; (ii) the Company's Board breached their fiduciary duties by approving the Third Amendment rather than allowing the Intercompany Note to expire; (iii) the Company's Board breached their fiduciary duties by not demanding payment under the Intercompany Note and issuing a simultaneous dividend after a threshold tied to iHeartMedia’s liquidity had been reached; (iv) the Sponsor Defendants breached their fiduciary duties by not directing the Company's Board to permit the Intercompany Note to expire and to declare a dividend. The complaint further alleges that the Sponsor Defendants aided and abetted the Board’s alleged breach of fiduciary duties. The plaintiff seeks, among other things, a ruling that the Company's Board, the intercompany note committee, and the Sponsor Defendants breached their fiduciary duties and that the Sponsor Defendants aided and abetted the Board’s breach of fiduciary duty; and an award of damages, together with pre- and post-judgment interests, to the putative class of minority shareholders.
China Investigation
Several employees of Clear Media Limited, an indirect, non-wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company whose ordinary shares are listed, but are currently suspended from trading on, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, are subject to a police investigation in China for misappropriation of funds. The police investigation is ongoing, and the Company is not aware of any litigation, claim or assessment pending against the Company. Based on information known to date, the Company believes any contingent liabilities arising from potential misconduct that has been or may be identified by the investigations are not material to the Company's consolidated financial statements.
We advised both the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the United States Department of Justice of the investigation at Clear Media Limited and are cooperating to provide information in response to inquiries from the agencies. The Clear Media Limited investigation could implicate the books and records, internal controls and anti-bribery provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which statute and regulations provide for potential monetary penalties as well as criminal and civil sanctions. It is possible that monetary penalties and other sanctions could be assessed on the Company in connection with this matter. The nature and amount of any monetary penalty or other sanctions cannot reasonably be estimated at this time.
Italy Investigation
As described in Note 1 to these consolidated financial statements, during the three months ended June 30, 2018, we identified misstatements associated with VAT obligations related to our subsidiary in Italy.  Upon identification of these misstatements, we undertook certain procedures, including a forensic investigation, which is ongoing.  In addition, we voluntarily disclosed the matter and preliminary findings to the Italian tax authorities in order to commence a discussion on the appropriate calculation of the VAT position.  The current expectation is that we may have to repay to the Italian tax authority a substantial portion of the VAT previously applied as a credit, amounting to approximately $17 million, including estimated possible penalties and interest.  The discussion with the tax authorities is at an early stage and therefore the ultimate amount that will be paid to the tax authorities in Italy is unknown. The ultimate amount to be paid may differ from our estimates, and such differences may be material.


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ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS
For information regarding our risk factors, please refer to Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (the “Annual Report”). The following risk factors in the Annual Report are updated and superseded by the risk factors set forth below: “-iHeartCommunications has filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which could cause significant uncertainties and risks for our operations and our liquidity”; “-The iHeart Chapter 11 Cases may give rise to unfavorable tax consequences for us”; and “-Transfers of our equity, issuances of equity in connection with the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, and cancellation of indebtedness income realized by the Debtors in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases may impair our ability to utilize our federal income tax net operating loss carryforwards in future years.” We have also included additional risk factors arising from the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases and the proposed Separation of our business from iHeartMedia as described in the Plan Supplement, as set forth below.
iHeartMedia and certain of its subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which could cause significant uncertainties and risks for our operations and our liquidity.
We are obligated to use various corporate services provided by iHeartCommunications and its affiliates, including treasury, payroll and other financial services, certain executive officer services, human resources and employee benefit services, legal services, information systems and network services and procurement and sourcing support, pursuant to a Corporate Services Agreement. Even though we are not Debtors in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, the iHeart bankruptcy proceedings could cause significant uncertainties and disrupt our operations and/or adversely affect our rights under the Corporate Services Agreement and the other intercompany agreements.
Pursuant to the Corporate Services Agreement, substantially all of the cash generated from our domestic Americas operations is transferred daily into accounts of iHeartCommunications (after satisfying our controlled disbursement accounts and the funding requirements of the trustee accounts under the Senior Notes and the notes offered hereby), where funds of ours and of iHeartCommunications are commingled. Prior to March 14, 2018, net amounts owed between us and iHeartCommunications were evidenced by revolving promissory notes.
Pursuant to an order entered by the Bankruptcy Court, as of March 14, 2018, the balance of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note was frozen, and following March 14, 2018, intercompany allocations that would have been reflected in adjustments to the balance of the Due from iHeartCommunications Note are instead reflected in an intercompany balance that accrues interest at a rate equal to the interest under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note. The Bankruptcy Court entered an order to allow iHeartCommunications to continue to provide the day-to-day cash management services for us during the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases and we expect it to continue to do so until such arrangements are addressed through the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases. As of September 30, 2018, we owed $1.5 million to iHeartCommunications under this intercompany arrangement with iHeartCommunications.
We are an unsecured creditor of iHeartCommunications with respect to amounts owed under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note. We do not expect to recover the full balance of the now-frozen Due from iHeartCommunications Note upon the implementation of the Plan of Reorganization or any other plan of reorganization that is ultimately accepted by the requisite vote of creditors and approved by the Bankruptcy Court. The Plan of Reorganization currently contemplates, among other things, a recovery equal to 14.44% of the allowed amount of the Company’s claim arising under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note. If we do not recognize the expected recovery under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note, or if we do not otherwise obtain sufficient supplemental liquidity as contemplated by the Disclosure Statement, we could experience a liquidity shortfall. In addition, any repayments that we received on the Due from iHeartCommunications Note during the one-year preference period prior to the filing of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases may potentially be avoidable as a preference and subject to recovery by the iHeartCommunications bankruptcy estate, which could further exacerbate any liquidity shortfall.
At September 30, 2018, the principal amount outstanding under the Due from iHeartCommunications Note was $1,031.7 million, and, as a result of the loss we recognized during the fourth quarter of 2017, the asset recorded in “Due from iHeartCommunications” on our consolidated balance sheet was $154.8 million.
While the iHeartMedia Chapter 11 Cases and the proposed Separation are pending, we are subject to business uncertainties that could disrupt our business.
Although the Company and its subsidiaries are not Debtors in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, we have experienced and, whether or not the Separation is completed, we may continue to experience, disruption of its current plans and operations due to the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases and the proposed Separation. Employees and other key personnel may have uncertainties about the effect of the proposed Separation, and those uncertainties may impact the ability to retain, recruit and hire key personnel to manage and run the business while the Separation is pending or if it is not completed. To date, we have incurred, and will continue to incur,

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significant costs, expenses and fees for professional services and other transaction costs in connection with the Separation, and certain of these fees and costs are payable by us whether or not the Separation is completed. Furthermore, some of our customers and vendors may be hesitant to transact with the business of us following the Separation in light of uncertainties about the ability of our business to perform following the Separation. If we are unable to reassure customers and vendors to continue transacting with us following the Separation, our financial results may be adversely affected.
The proposed Separation may also prevent us from pursuing otherwise attractive business opportunities, result in our inability to respond effectively to competitive pressures, industry developments and future opportunities and may otherwise harm our business, financial results and operations.
The iHeart Chapter 11 Cases may give rise to unfavorable tax consequences for us.
Although the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries did not file Chapter 11 cases as part of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, the consummation of the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases may have an adverse impact on the Company and its subsidiaries. The Plan of Reorganization contemplates the separation of our business from iHeartCommunications, with certain senior creditors of iHeartCommunications receiving the approximately 89.5% of our outstanding shares of common stock that are currently owned indirectly by iHeartCommunications. The Plan Supplement contemplates that the Radio Distribution and the Separation are intended to be taxable transactions and the merger of the Company with and into CCH is expected to, but may not, qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.  There is a risk that the Radio Distribution and Separation will give rise to a U.S. federal income tax liability to one or more of iHeartMedia or its subsidiaries after the Separation (collectively, the “iHeartMedia Group”). If such liability were to arise, we, iHeartCommunications, iHeartMedia, and various other entities would be jointly liable for such tax liability under federal law and, while we would not anticipate that any such tax liability would be asserted against us in the first instance, we may ultimately be liable for such liability if iHeartCommunications and its subsidiaries fail to satisfy such liability. Similar principles may apply for foreign, state and local income tax purposes where the Company filed combined, consolidated or unitary returns with iHeartCommunications or its subsidiaries for federal, foreign, state and local income tax purposes.  In addition, the iHeartMedia Group and we may be required to reduce certain tax attributes, including NOLs, as a result of any cancellation of indebtedness income realized by the Debtors in connection with the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases.
The proposed Separation could result in significant tax liability to us.
The Radio Distribution by CCH and the Separation are intended to be taxable transactions. The gain or loss recognized with respect to these transactions will depend on, among other things, (a) the value and tax basis of the assets transferred in the Radio Distribution and the value and tax basis of our common stock on the effective date of the iHeartMedia Plan of Reorganization (the “Effective Date”) (such values will be determined by reference to, among other things, the trading value of the iHeartMedia equity and our common stock following the Effective Date); (b) complex modeling considerations under certain U.S. Department of Treasury regulations; (c) the amount of cancellation of indebtedness income realized in connection with the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases; and (d) the extent to which any so-called “excess loss accounts” (“ELAs”) are taken into account. The extent to which any related taxable gain or loss will result in any cash tax liabilities will depend on whether the tax attributes of the iHeartMedia Group, including the net operating losses (“NOLs”) of the iHeartMedia Group (including the Company and its subsidiaries), are sufficient to offset any net taxable gain attributable to the transactions.
Because certain of the factors that will determine whether these transactions will give rise to any cash tax liability cannot be known until the Effective Date, we cannot say with certainty whether any such cash tax liability will be owed. To the extent these transactions do give rise to any cash tax liability, us, iHeartCommunications, iHeartMedia, and various other entities would be jointly and severally liable for any such amounts. The parties intend that the allocation of such liabilities among the various members of the iHeartMedia Group and us will be addressed by a new tax matters agreement.
Transfers of our equity, issuances of equity in connection with the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, and cancellation of indebtedness income realized by the Debtors in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases may impair our ability to utilize our federal income tax net operating loss carryforwards in future years.
Under federal income tax law, a corporation is generally permitted to deduct from taxable income net operating losses carried forward from prior years. We are attributed a portion of the U.S. federal net operating loss carryforward of the iHeartMedia consolidated group. Our ability to utilize these net operating loss carryforwards to offset future taxable income and to reduce federal income tax liability is subject to certain requirements and restrictions. If we experience an “ownership change,” as defined in section 382 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, then our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards may be substantially limited, which could have a negative impact on our financial position and results of operations. Generally, there is an “ownership change” if one or more shareholders owning 5% or more of a corporation’s common stock have aggregate increases in their ownership of such stock of more than 50 percentage points over the prior three-year period. Following the implementation of a plan of reorganization in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases, it is expected that we will experience an “ownership change.” Under section

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382 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, absent an application exception, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” the amount of its net operating losses that may be utilized to offset future taxable income generally is subject to an annual limitation on the amount of federal income tax net operating loss carry-forwards existing prior to the change that it could utilize to offset its taxable income in any future taxable year to an amount generally equal to the value of its stock immediately prior to the ownership change multiplied by the long-term tax-exempt rate, subject to adjustments to reflect the differences between the fair market value of the corporation’s assets and the tax basis in such assets. Because the value of our stock can fluctuate materially, it is possible an ownership change would materially limit our ability to utilize our substantial federal income tax net operating loss carry-forwards in the future. In addition, our net operating losses may be subject to reduction as a result of any cancellation of indebtedness income realized by the Debtors in connection with the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will be able to utilize our federal income tax net operating loss carry-forwards to offset future taxable income.
We may be more susceptible to adverse events if the Separation occurs.
We may be unable to achieve some or all of the benefits that we expect to achieve as an independent company in the time we expect, if at all. By separating from iHeartMedia, we may be more susceptible to market fluctuations and have less leverage with suppliers, and we may experience other adverse events. The completion of the Separation will also require significant amounts of our management’s time and effort, which may divert management’s attention from operating and growing our business.
We may be unable to make, on a timely or cost-effective basis, the changes necessary to operate as an independent publicly-traded company, and we may experience increased costs after the proposed Separation.
iHeartMedia currently provides the Company with various corporate services. We are currently in discussions with iHeartMedia about the terms of a transition services agreement (the “Transition Services Agreement”) that we intend to enter into in connection with the proposed Separation.  The Transition Services Agreement is expected to provide that an affiliate of iHeartMedia will provide us with certain administrative and support services and other assistance, which we will utilize in the conduct of our business as such business was conducted prior to the Separation for a period of time following the Separation. Following the expiration of the Transition Services Agreement, we will need to provide internally or obtain from unaffiliated third parties the services the Company currently receives from iHeartMedia. We may be unable to replace these services in a timely manner or on terms and conditions as favorable as those the Company currently receives from iHeartMedia. We may be unable to successfully establish the infrastructure or implement the changes necessary to operate independently or may incur additional costs. If we fail to obtain the services necessary to operate effectively or if we incur greater costs in obtaining these services, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
The proposed Separation may result in changes in our management team and the loss of other key employees.
Our business is dependent upon the performance of its management team and other key individuals. Five of our executive officers currently serve as executive officers of iHeartMedia, including our CEO and CFO who serve as the CEO and CFO, respectively. These executive officers have historically provided services to the Company pursuant to the Corporate Services Agreement, which will be terminated upon consummation of the proposed Separation. In connection with the Separation, we will need to identify replacements for these individuals or transition their responsibilities to others. Competition for these key individuals is intense. In addition, many of our key employees are at-will employees who are under no obligation to remain with us, and may decide to leave as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the Separation or for a variety of personal or other reasons beyond our control. If members of our management or key individuals decide to leave in the future, if we decide to make further changes to the composition of, or the roles and responsibilities of, these individuals, or if we are not successful in attracting, motivating and retaining other key employees, our business could be adversely affected.
Upon completion of the proposed Separation, the composition of our board of directors will be different than the current composition of our board of directors.
The iHeartMedia Plan of Reorganization provides that a committee, consisting of certain holders of interests and creditors in the iHeart Chapter 11 Cases (the “Board Selection Committee”) will interview and select individuals to be nominated and elected to serve on our board of directors following the proposed Separation. Our new board of directors may pursue different business plans and growth strategies that differ from our existing business plans and growth strategies. Any new business plans or growth strategies implemented by the new board of directors or any divergences from or alternations to existing business plans and strategies, if unsuccessful, may lead to material unanticipated problems, expenses, liabilities, competitive responses, loss of customer and other business relationships, and an adverse impact on operations and financial results.

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Our historical financial information is not necessarily representative of the results we would have achieved as an independent public company and may not be a reliable indicator of our future results.
The historical financial information included or incorporated by reference in this offering circular does not necessarily reflect the results of operations and financial position we would have achieved as an independent public company not controlled by iHeartMedia during the periods presented, or those that we will achieve in the future.
Currently, the Company operates as part of iHeartMedia’s broader corporate organization, and subsidiaries of iHeartMedia perform various corporate functions for the Company. Our historical financial information reflects allocations of corporate expenses from iHeartMedia for these and similar functions. These allocations may not reflect the costs we will incur for similar services in the future as an independent publicly-traded company.
Our historical financial information does not reflect changes that we expect to experience in the future as a result of the proposed Separation from iHeartMedia, including changes in our capital structure, tax structure and new personnel needs. As part of iHeartMedia, we enjoyed certain benefits from iHeartMedia’s operating diversity, size and purchasing power and we will lose these benefits after the Separation. As an independent entity, we may be unable to purchase goods or services and technologies, such as insurance and health care benefits and computer software licenses, on terms as favorable to us as those we obtained as part of iHeartMedia prior to the Separation.
Following the proposed Separation, we will also be responsible for the additional costs associated with being an independent publicly-traded company, including costs related to corporate governance, investor and public relations and public reporting. In addition, certain costs incurred by subsidiaries of iHeartMedia, including executive oversight, accounting, treasury, tax, legal, human resources, occupancy, procurement, information technology and other shared services, have historically been allocated to the Company by iHeartMedia; but these allocations may not reflect the future level of these costs to us as we begin to provide these services ourselves. Therefore, our historical financial statements may not be indicative of our future performance as an independent publicly-traded company. We cannot assure you that our operating results will continue at a similar level when we are an independent publicly-traded company.
Some of our contracts contain provisions requiring the consent of third parties in connection with the proposed merger with CCH or the proposed Separation. If these consents are not obtained, we may be unable to enjoy the benefit of these contracts in the future.
Some of our contracts contain provisions that require the consent of certain third parties to the proposed merger with CCH or the Separation. Failure to obtain such consents on commercially reasonable and satisfactory terms may impair our entitlement to the benefit of these contracts in the future.
In the event the Separation is not completed, the trading price of our common stock and its future business and financial results may be negatively impacted.
The conditions to the completion of the Separation may not be satisfied, and the Separation may not be completed. If the Separation is not completed for any reason, we may be subject to a number of risks, including:
the failure to consummate the iHeartMedia Plan of Reorganization, which failure will lead to continued uncertainty for us;
the focus of iHeartMedia’s and the Company’s management having been diverted from seeking other potential opportunities without realizing any benefits of the Separation;
negative reactions from their respective customers, suppliers, regulators and employees; and
the price of our Class A common stock declining significantly from current market prices, to the extent that current market prices may reflect a market assumption that the Separation will be completed.
If the Separation is not completed, the risks described above may materialize and adversely affect our businesses, financial condition, financial results and stock price.

ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table sets forth our purchases of shares of our Class A common stock made during the quarter ended September 30, 2018:
Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased(1)
 
Average Price Paid per Share(1)
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
 
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1 through July 31

 
$

 

 
$

August 1 through August 31
610

 
4.55

 

 

September 1 through September 30
3,530

 
5.95

 

 

Total
4,140

 
$
5.74

 

 
$

 
(1)
The shares indicated consist of shares of our Class A common stock tendered by employees to us during the three months ended September 30, 2018 to satisfy the employees’ tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting and release of restricted shares, which are repurchased by us based on their fair market value on the date the relevant transaction occurs.

ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
 
ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION
None.

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
31.1*
 

31.2*
 

32.1**
 

32.2**
 

101*
 
Interactive Data Files.
__________________
*              Filed herewith.
**           Furnished herewith.

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Signatures
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR HOLDINGS, INC.
 
 
 
November 8, 2018
 
 /s/ SCOTT D. HAMILTON                   
 
 
Scott D. Hamilton
 
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and
 
 
Assistant Secretary
 
 


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