Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method

v3.20.4
Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method

(7)  Investments in Affiliates Accounted for Using the Equity Method

Liberty has various investments accounted for using the equity method. The following table includes the Company’s carrying amount and percentage ownership and market value (Level 1) of the more significant investments in affiliates at December 31, 2020, and the carrying amount at December 31, 2019:

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

 

    

Percentage

    

Fair Value

    

Carrying

    

Carrying

 

ownership

(Level 1)

amount

amount

 

dollar amounts in millions

 

Liberty SiriusXM Group

Live Nation (a)

33%

$

5,118

 

$

163

NA

Sirius XM Canada

70%

$

NA

 

643

 

636

Other

80

8

Total Liberty SiriusXM Group

886

644

Braves Group

Other

NA

NA

94

99

Total Braves Group

94

99

Formula One Group

Live Nation (a)

NA

 

746

Other

 

various

 

NA

 

38

 

136

Total Formula One Group

38

 

882

Consolidated Liberty

$

1,018

1,625

(a) Liberty’s interest in Live Nation was reattributed from the Formula One Group to the Liberty SiriusXM Group effective April 22, 2020. See note 9 for details regarding the number and fair value of shares pledged as collateral pursuant to the Live Nation Margin Loan as of December 31, 2020.

The following table presents the Company’s share of earnings (losses) of affiliates:

Years ended December 31,

 

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

 

amounts in millions

 

Liberty SiriusXM Group

Live Nation (a)

$

(465)

NA

NA

Sirius XM Canada

5

 

(3)

 

(1)

Other

(24)

(21)

(10)

Total Liberty SiriusXM Group

(484)

(24)

(11)

Braves Group

Other

6

18

12

Total Braves Group

6

18

12

Formula One Group

Live Nation (a)

 

(112)

 

4

 

3

Other

 

4

 

8

 

14

Total Formula One Group

(108)

12

17

Consolidated Liberty

$

(586)

 

6

 

18

(a) Liberty’s interest in Live Nation was reattributed from the Formula One Group to the Liberty SiriusXM Group effective April 22, 2020.

Sirius XM Canada

As of December 31, 2020, Sirius XM Holdings holds a 70% equity interest and 33% voting interest in Sirius XM Canada Holdings, Inc. (“Sirius XM Canada”). Sirius XM Canada is accounted for as an equity method investment as Sirius XM Holdings does not have the ability to direct the most significant activities that impact Sirius XM Canada’s economic performance.

Sirius XM Holdings has a loan to Sirius XM Canada in the aggregate amount of $123 million as of December 31, 2020. The loan is denominated in Canadian dollars and is considered a long-term investment with any unrealized gains or losses reported within Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. Such loan has a term of fifteen years, bears interest at a rate of 7.62% per annum and includes customary covenants and events of default, including an event of default relating to Sirius XM Canada’s failure to maintain specified leverage ratios.

Sirius XM Holdings also entered into a Services Agreement and an Advisory Services Agreement with Sirius XM Canada. Each agreement has a thirty year term. Pursuant to the Services Agreement, Sirius XM Canada currently pays Sirius XM Holdings 25% of its gross revenue on a monthly basis and pursuant to the Advisory Services Agreement, Sirius XM Canada pays Sirius XM Holdings 5% of its gross revenue on a monthly basis.

Sirius XM Holdings had approximately $20 million and $22 million in related party current assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. At December 31, 2019, Sirius XM Holdings had approximately $4 million in related party liabilities, which are recorded in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. Sirius XM Holdings recorded approximately $97 million, $98 million and $97 million in revenue for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, associated with these various agreements. Sirius XM Canada paid dividends to Sirius XM Holdings of $2 million during each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

SoundCloud

In February 2020, Sirius XM Holdings completed a $75 million investment in Series G Membership Units of SoundCloud Holdings, LLC (“SoundCloud”). The Series G Units are convertible at the option of the holders at any time into shares of ordinary membership units of SoundCloud at a ratio of one ordinary membership unit for each Series G Unit. The investment in SoundCloud is accounted for as an equity method investment as Sirius XM Holdings does not have the ability to direct the most significant activities that impact SoundCloud's economic performance.

In addition to Sirius XM Holdings’ investment in SoundCloud, Pandora has an agreement with SoundCloud to be its exclusive U.S. ad sales representative. Through this arrangement, Pandora offers advertisers the ability to execute campaigns in the U.S. across the Pandora and SoundCloud listening platforms. Sirius XM Holdings recorded revenue share expense related to this agreement of $55 million and $40 million during years ended December 31, 2020, and 2019, respectively.  Sirius XM Holdings also had related party liabilities of $24 million as of December 31, 2020 related to this agreement.