Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method

v3.22.1
Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method

(6)   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 of the more significant investments in affiliates at March 31, 2022 and the carrying amount at December 31, 2021:

March 31, 2022

December 31, 2021

    

Percentage

    

Fair Value

    

Carrying

    

Carrying

 

ownership

(Level 1)

amount

amount

dollar amounts in millions

Liberty SiriusXM Group

Live Nation (a)

31

%

$

8,193

$

72

89

Sirius XM Canada

70

%

$

NA

660

 

642

Other

NA

74

74

Total Liberty SiriusXM Group

806

805

Braves Group

Other

various

NA

114

110

Total Braves Group

114

110

Formula One Group

Other

 

various

 

NA

 

27

 

30

Total Formula One Group

27

30

Consolidated Liberty

$

947

 

945

(a) See note 8 for details regarding the number and fair value of shares pledged as collateral as of March 31, 2022 pursuant to Liberty’s margin loan secured by shares of Live Nation (the “Live Nation Margin Loan”).

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

Three months ended

March 31,

    

2022

    

2021

 

amounts in millions

Liberty SiriusXM Group

Live Nation

$

(21)

(111)

Sirius XM Canada

3

 

4

Other

(6)

Total Liberty SiriusXM Group

(18)

(113)

Braves Group

Other

4

 

3

Total Braves Group

4

3

Formula One Group

Other

 

 

15

Total Formula One Group

15

Consolidated Liberty

$

(14)

 

(95)

Sirius XM Canada

As of March 31, 2022, 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.

On March 15, 2022, Sirius XM Holdings and Sirius XM Canada entered into an amended and restated services and distribution agreement which modified the existing Services Agreement and terminated the existing Advisory Agreement, each dated as of May 25, 2017. Sirius XM Canada will continue to be engaged by Sirius XM Holdings as a distributor of the satellite digital audio radio service in Canada.  Pursuant to the amended and restated services and distribution agreement, the fee payable by Sirius XM Canada to Sirius XM Holdings was modified from a fixed percentage of revenue to a variable fee, based on a target operating profit for Sirius XM Canada. Such variable fee is expected to be evaluated annually based on comparable companies. In accordance with the amended and restated services and distribution agreement, the fee is payable on a monthly basis, in arrears, beginning January 1, 2022.  

In May 2017, Sirius XM Holdings extended a loan to Sirius XM Canada in the principal amount of $131 million. In connection with the execution of the amended and restated services and distribution agreement, Sirius XM Holdings forgave $113 million in principal amount of such loan to Sirius XM Canada, leaving an outstanding principal amount of $8 million on such loan as of March 31, 2022.  The principal amount that was forgiven by Sirius XM Holdings was considered satisfied as contributed capital to Sirius XM Canada.

Sirius XM Holdings has approximately $13 million in related party current assets as of March 31, 2022. Sirius XM Holdings recorded approximately $27 million and $25 million in revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, associated with these various agreements. Sirius XM Canada paid gross dividends to Sirius XM Holdings of less than $1 million during both of the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.

SoundCloud

In February 2020, Sirius XM Holdings completed a $75 million investment in Series G Membership Units of SoundCloud Holdings, LLC (“SoundCloud”). 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 ad sales representative in the U.S. and certain European countries. Through this arrangement, Pandora offers advertisers the ability to execute campaigns across the Pandora and SoundCloud listening platforms. Sirius XM Holdings recorded revenue share expense related to this agreement of $13 million during both of the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021. Sirius XM Holdings also had related party liabilities of $20 million as of March 31, 2022 related to this agreement.