What was the purpose of this 8-K filing?

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing was to announce that American Tower Corporation has successfully completed its offer to exchange its outstanding 4.625% Senior Notes due 2015. These original notes were issued in October 2009 and were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933. The company exchanged them for new, registered notes with the same maturity date and interest rate.

Why would a company need to exchange unregistered notes for registered notes?

Companies often issue unregistered notes in private placements or other transactions that are exempt from SEC registration. However, these unregistered notes have restrictions on resale. By conducting an exchange offer for registered notes, the company makes these securities freely transferable and eligible for trading on public exchanges, thereby providing greater liquidity for investors holding the original notes.

Does this exchange offer impact the financial health or debt structure of American Tower?

The exchange offer itself does not fundamentally change the company's overall debt obligations or financial leverage. The principal amount and the interest rate (4.625%) on the senior notes due 2015 remain the same. The primary impact is on the legal status and marketability of the notes, moving them from restricted to freely tradable securities.

AMT 8-K SEC Disclosure — Jan 29, 2010

Summary

American Tower Corporation (AMT) filed an 8-K report on January 29, 2010, to announce the completion of its offer to exchange its outstanding 4.625% Senior Notes due 2015. These notes were originally issued on October 20, 2009. The exchange involved offering new 4.625% Senior Notes due 2015 that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933. This action is a standard procedure to ensure that previously issued unregistered notes can be freely traded in the public market, providing liquidity and compliance with securities regulations.

Key Highlights

1Completion of the exchange offer for 4.625% Senior Notes due 2015.
2The exchange involved replacing original unregistered notes with newly registered notes.
3The registered notes are also due in 2015 with the same 4.625% coupon rate.
4This filing is a procedural step to ensure compliance with securities laws and facilitate trading.
5The press release detailing this event is included as an exhibit.
6The Chief Financial Officer, Thomas A. Bartlett, signed the report.

AMERICAN TOWER CORP /MA/ 8-K Report, Corporate Update (Jan 29, 2010)

Summary

Key Highlights

Frequently Asked Questions