Related Party Transactions with Officers and Directors |
12 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2025 | |
| Related Party Transactions with Officers and Directors | |
| Related Party Transactions with Officers and Directors |
(11) Related Party Transactions with Officers and Directors Chief Executive Officer Compensation Arrangements In December 2019, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of Liberty approved a compensation arrangement (the “former CEO Arrangement”) for our former CEO. Also in December 2019, each of the Service Companies executed an amendment to each Service Company’s services agreement with Liberty, pursuant to which components of the former CEO’s compensation described below were either paid directly to the former CEO by each Service Company or reimbursed to Liberty, in each case based on allocations among Liberty and each of the Service Companies set forth in the service agreement amendments. This allocation percentage was determined based on a combination of (1) relative market capitalizations, weighted 50%, and (2) a blended average of historical time allocation on a Liberty-wide and former CEO basis, weighted 50%, in each case, absent agreement to the contrary by Liberty and the Service Companies in consultation with the former CEO. The allocation percentage was adjusted annually and following certain events. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the allocation percentage for Liberty was 54% and 54%, respectively. The former CEO Arrangement provided for a five year employment term which began on January 1, 2020 and ended December 31, 2024, with the following compensation components: (1) annual base salary of $3 million (with no contracted increase), (2) one-time cash commitment bonus of $5 million (paid in December 2019), (3) annual target cash performance bonus of $17 million (with payment subject to the achievement of one or more performance metrics as determined by the applicable company’s Compensation Committee), (4) upfront equity awards with an aggregate grant date fair value (“GDFV”) of $90 million (granted in two equal tranches in December 2019 and December 2020) and (5) annual equity awards with an annual aggregate GDFV of $17.5 million, consisting of time-vested options and/or performance-based restricted stock units (“PRSUs”). On January 6, 2025, the Liberty board of directors approved an offer of employment for Derek Chang, Liberty’s President and Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”). The CEO began employment on February 1, 2025, and receives the following compensation: (1) annual base salary of $2.5 million, (2) one-time signing bonus of $150,000, (3) upfront signing award of Series C RSUs of Liberty Formula One common stock with a GDFV of $5 million, (4) upfront award of Series C RSUs of Liberty Formula One common stock with a GDFV of $15 million and (5) annual option to purchase shares of Series C Formula One common stock with a GDFV of $3 million. See note 12 for grants made to the CEO during the year ended December 31, 2025. Exchange Agreement with John C. Malone On July 28, 2021, the Company entered into an exchange agreement, among the Company, John C. Malone (the then Chairman of the Board of the Company), and a revocable trust of which Mr. Malone is the sole trustee and beneficiary (the “JM Trust”) (the “Exchange Agreement”), whereby, among other things, Mr. Malone agreed to an arrangement under which his aggregate voting power in the Company would not exceed 49% (the “Target Voting Power”) plus 0.5% (under certain circumstances). The Exchange Agreement provides for exchanges by the Company and Mr. Malone or the JM Trust of shares of Series B Liberty Formula One common stock for shares of Series C Liberty Formula One common stock in connection with certain events, including (i) any event that would result in a reduction in the outstanding votes of the Company’s common stock or an increase of Mr. Malone’s beneficially-owned voting power (other than a Voting Power Exchange (as defined below)) (an “Accretive Event”), in each case, such that Mr. Malone’s voting power would exceed the Target Voting Power plus 0.5%, (ii) from and after the occurrence of any Accretive Event, any event that would result in an increase in the outstanding votes or a decrease of Mr. Malone’s beneficially-owned voting power (a “Dilutive Event”), in each case, such that Mr. Malone’s voting power falls below the Target Voting Power less 0.5%, or (iii) on a quarterly basis or in connection with any annual or special meeting of stockholders, upon request by Mr. Malone or the JM Trust, if Mr. Malone’s aggregate voting power in the Company is less than the Target Voting Power and would continue to be less than the Target Voting Power upon completion of such exchange (a “Voting Power Exchange”). Additionally, the Exchange Agreement contains certain provisions with respect to fundamental events at the Company, meaning any combination, consolidation, merger, exchange offer, split-off, spin-off, rights offering or dividend, in each case, as a result of which holders of Series B common stock are entitled to receive securities of the Company, securities of another person, property or cash, or a combination thereof. In connection with an Accretive Event, Mr. Malone or the JM Trust will be required to exchange with the Company shares of Series B Liberty Formula One common stock (“Exchanged Series B Shares”) for an equal number of shares of Series C Liberty Formula One common stock so as to maintain Mr. Malone’s voting power as close as possible to, without exceeding, the Target Voting Power, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Agreement. In connection with a Dilutive Event, Mr. Malone and the JM Trust may exchange with the Company shares of Series C Liberty Formula One common stock for an equal number of shares of Series B Liberty Formula One common stock equal to the lesser of (i) the number of shares of Series B Liberty Formula One common stock which would maintain Mr. Malone’s voting power as close as possible to, without exceeding, the Target Voting Power and (ii) the number of Exchanged Series B Shares at such time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Agreement. In a Voting Power Exchange, the Company will be required to exchange with Mr. Malone and the JM Trust shares of Series B Liberty Formula One common stock on a one-for-one basis for shares of Liberty Formula One common stock, with the maximum number of shares of Series B Liberty Formula One common stock to be delivered to Mr. Malone or the JM Trust equal to the number of Exchanged Series B Shares at such time that may be delivered without resulting in Mr. Malone’s aggregate voting power in the Company exceeding the Target Voting Power, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Agreement. On December 8, 2025, pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, Mr. Malone exchanged with the Company 47,297 shares of Series B Liberty Formula One common stock for an equivalent number of shares of Series C Liberty Formula One common stock. However, at this time, and as a result of his resignation from the board of the Company, no further exchanges to maintain the Target Voting Power are expected to be completed under the Exchange Agreement. John C. Malone’s Employment Agreement On December 12, 2008, the Committee determined to modify its employment arrangements with Mr. Malone, to permit Mr. Malone to begin receiving payments in 2009 while he remains employed by the Company (instead of following his termination) in satisfaction of Liberty’s obligations to him under two deferred compensation plans and a salary continuation plan. Under one of the deferred compensation plans (the “8% Plan”), compensation has been deferred by Mr. Malone since January 1, 1993 and accrues interest at the rate of 8% per annum compounded annually from the applicable date of deferral. Under the second plan (the “13% Plan”), compensation was deferred by Mr. Malone from 1982 until December 31, 1992 and accrues interest at the rate of 13% per annum compounded annually from the applicable date of deferral. The amounts owed to Mr. Malone under the 8% Plan and 13% Plan aggregated approximately $2.4 million and $20 million, respectively, at December 31, 2008. The amount owed to Mr. Malone under his salary continuation plan aggregated approximately $39 million at December 31, 2008. Mr. Malone will receive equal monthly installments as follows, which began on February 1, 2009: (1) approximately $20,000 under the 8% Plan; (2) approximately $237,000 under the 13% Plan; and (3) approximately $164,000 under the salary continuation plan. Interest ceased to accrue under his salary continuation plan once the payment began. Effective January 1, 2026, Mr. Malone became Liberty’s Chairman Emeritus. Mr. Malone remains an employee of the Company and therefore the terms of Mr. Malone’s employment agreement as our former Chairman apply to his role as our Chairman Emeritus. New Chairman of the Board Effective January 1, 2026, Robert R. Bennett was appointed as Chairman of the Board of the Company (the “New Chairman”). See note 12 for the grant made to the New Chairman during the year ended December 31, 2025. |