Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method

v3.22.4
Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
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, 2022, and the carrying amount at December 31, 2021:

December 31, 2022

December 31, 2021

 

    

Percentage

    

Fair Value

    

Carrying

    

Carrying

 

ownership

(Level 1)

amount

amount

 

dollar amounts in millions

 

Liberty SiriusXM Group

Live Nation

31%

$

4,857

 

$

158

89

Sirius XM Canada

70%

NA

 

597

 

642

Other

68

74

Total Liberty SiriusXM Group

823

805

Braves Group

Other

various

NA

95

110

Total Braves Group

95

110

Formula One Group

Other

 

various

 

NA

 

34

 

30

Total Formula One Group

34

 

30

Consolidated Liberty

$

952

945

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

Years ended December 31,

 

    

2022

    

2021

    

2020

 

amounts in millions

 

Liberty SiriusXM Group

Live Nation

$

72

(235)

(465)

Sirius XM Canada

 

4

 

5

Other

(5)

(22)

(24)

Total Liberty SiriusXM Group

67

(253)

(484)

Braves Group

Other

32

30

6

Total Braves Group

32

30

6

Formula One Group

Live Nation

 

NA

 

NA

 

(112)

Other

 

 

23

 

4

Total Formula One Group

23

(108)

Consolidated Liberty

$

99

 

(200)

 

(586)

Live Nation

Live Nation is considered the world’s leading live entertainment company and seeks to innovate and enhance the live entertainment experience for artists and fans before, during and after the show. Liberty’s interest in Live Nation was reattributed from the Formula One Group to the Liberty SiriusXM Group effective April 22, 2020.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, Live Nation recorded significant losses during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. In September 2021, Live Nation completed an offering of approximately 5.2 million shares of its common stock, resulting in a gain on dilution of our investment in Live Nation. See note 9 for details regarding the number and fair value of Live Nation common stock pledged as collateral pursuant to the Live Nation Margin Loan as of December 31, 2022.

Summarized financial information for Live Nation is as follows:

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31,

    

2022

    

2021

    

amounts in millions

Current assets

$

8,160

 

6,684

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

1,488

 

1,092

 

Intangible assets

1,419

1,395

Goodwill

 

2,529

 

2,591

 

Other assets

2,865

2,640

Total assets

$

16,461

 

14,402

 

Current liabilities

$

8,303

6,856

Long-term debt, net

5,283

5,145

Other liabilities

2,111

2,037

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

670

552

Equity

94

(188)

Total liabilities and equity

$

16,461

14,402

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Years ended December 31,

2022

    

2021

    

2020

amounts in millions

Revenue

$

16,681

 

6,268

 

1,861

Operating expenses:

 

Direct operating expenses

12,337

4,356

1,402

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

2,956

 

1,755

 

1,524

Depreciation and amortization

450

416

485

Other operating expenses

206

159

103

15,949

 

6,686

 

3,514

Operating income (loss)

732

(418)

(1,653)

Interest expense

(278)

(282)

(227)

Other income (expense), net

51

89

23

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

505

(611)

(1,857)

Income tax (expense) benefit

(96)

2

29

Net earnings (loss)

409

(609)

(1,828)

Less net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

113

42

(103)

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Live Nation stockholders

$

296

(651)

(1,725)

Sirius XM Canada

As of December 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. 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. Prior to the March 2022 amendment, cumulative note repayments by Sirius XM Canada were $10 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 December 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 had approximately $42 million and $21 million in related party current assets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. At December 31, 2021, Sirius XM Holdings had approximately $5 million in related party liabilities. Sirius XM Holdings recorded approximately $111 million, $101 million and $97 million in revenue for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, associated with these various agreements. Sirius XM Canada paid dividends to Sirius XM Holdings of $9 million, $2 million and $2 million during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

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 ad sales representative in the U.S. and certain European countries. Through this arrangement, Pandora offers advertisers the ability to execute campaigns in the U.S. across the Pandora and SoundCloud platforms. Sirius XM Holdings recorded revenue share expense related to this agreement of $55 million, $60 million and $55 million during years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  Sirius XM Holdings also had related party liabilities of $19 million and $24 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to this agreement.