Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is involved in various claims, lawsuits or proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. While there are uncertainties inherent in the ultimate outcome of such matters and it is impossible to presently determine the ultimate costs or losses that may be incurred, if any, management believes the resolution of such uncertainties and the incurrence of such costs should not have a material adverse effect on the Company's condensed consolidated financial position or results of operations. Additionally, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries are contingently liable for commitments or performance guarantees arising in the ordinary course of business, including certain letters of credit or surety bonds. In addition, see note 1 for a discussion of the Company's option to purchase approximately 53% of its towers at the end of their respective lease terms. The Company has no obligation to exercise such purchase options.

SEC Investigation

In September 2019, the Company received a subpoena from the SEC requesting certain documents from 2015 through the present, primarily related to the Company's long-standing capitalization and expense policies for tenant upgrades and installations in its services business. Prior to receiving this subpoena, the Company previously provided information to the SEC related to certain services-related transactions. The Company is cooperating fully with the SEC's investigation and cannot predict the ultimate timing, scope or outcome of this matter.

Shareholder Litigation

In February and March 2020, putative securities class action suits were filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against the Company and certain of its current officers. The lawsuits were filed on behalf of investors that purchased or otherwise acquired stock of the Company between February 26, 2018 and February 26, 2020. The allegations relate to allegedly false or misleading statements or other failures to disclose information about the Company's business, operations and prospects. The complaints seek unspecified money damages and the award of plaintiffs' costs and expenses incurred in the respective class action. The Company is currently unable to determine the likelihood of an outcome or estimate a range of reasonably possible losses, if any, with respect to these lawsuits. The Company believes these lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend itself vigorously.

In April 2020, a stockholder derivative lawsuit was filed by Melvyn Klein in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, against the Company, as a nominal defendant, and its current directors and certain of its current officers. The complaint alleges, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duties, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, and false or misleading statements, between February 27, 2018 through the present. The complaint seeks, among other things, unspecified money damages, costs and expenses, restitution from the defendants, and an order requiring the Company to implement certain corporate governance reforms. As a nominal defendant, no monetary relief is sought against the Company itself.