Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt

v3.5.0.2
Debt
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Long-term Debt, Unclassified [Abstract]  
Debt

(9) Long-Term Debt

Debt is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

Carrying value

 

 

    

Principal

    

September 30,

    

December 31,

 

 

 

September 30, 2016

 

2016

 

2015

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Liberty SiriusXM Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate level notes and loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margin Loans

 

$

250

 

 

250

 

250

 

Subsidiary notes and loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIRIUS XM 5.875% Senior Notes due 2020

 

 

650

 

 

646

 

645

 

SIRIUS XM 5.75% Senior Notes due 2021

 

 

600

 

 

596

 

596

 

SIRIUS XM 5.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2022

 

 

400

 

 

405

 

406

 

SIRIUS XM 4.25% Senior Notes due 2020

 

 

500

 

 

497

 

496

 

SIRIUS XM 4.625% Senior Notes due 2023

 

 

500

 

 

496

 

496

 

SIRIUS XM 6% Senior Notes due 2024

 

 

1,500

 

 

1,486

 

1,485

 

SIRIUS XM 5.375% Senior Notes due 2025

 

 

1,000

 

 

990

 

989

 

SIRIUS XM 5.375% Senior Notes due 2026

 

 

1,000

 

 

989

 

 —

 

SIRIUS XM Credit Facility

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

340

 

SIRIUS XM leases

 

 

14

 

 

14

 

13

 

Less deferred financing costs

 

 

(7)

 

 

(7)

 

(7)

 

Total Liberty SiriusXM Group

 

 

6,407

 

 

6,362

 

5,709

 

Liberty Braves Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subsidiary notes and loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes and loans

 

 

220

 

 

220

 

147

 

Less deferred financing costs

 

 

(9)

 

 

(9)

 

(8)

 

Total Liberty Braves Group

 

 

211

 

 

211

 

139

 

Liberty Media Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate level notes and loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty 1.375% Cash Convertible Notes due 2023

 

 

1,000

 

 

1,048

 

995

 

2.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046

 

 

445

 

 

462

 

 —

 

Other

 

 

36

 

 

36

 

38

 

Total Liberty Media Group

 

 

1,481

 

 

1,546

 

1,033

 

Total debt

 

$

8,099

 

 

8,119

 

6,881

 

Less debt classified as current

 

 

 

 

 

(609)

 

(255)

 

Total long-term debt

 

 

 

 

$

7,510

 

6,626

 

Liberty 1.375% Cash Convertible Notes due 2023

On October 17, 2013, Liberty issued $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 1.375% Cash Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 ("Convertible Notes").  The Convertible Notes will mature on October 15, 2023 unless earlier repurchased by us or converted.  Interest on the Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year at a rate of 1.375% per annum. All conversion of the Convertible Notes will be settled solely in cash, and not through the delivery of any securities. During the year ended December 31, 2014, in connection with the issuance of Series C Liberty Media Corporation common stock and the Broadband Spin-Off, as discussed in note 1, the initial conversion rate for the Convertible Notes was adjusted to 21.0859 shares of Series A Liberty Media Corporation common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes with an equivalent conversion price of $47.43 per share of Series A Liberty Media Corporation common stock.  

As a result of the Recapitalization, as discussed in note 2, the Convertible Notes are convertible into cash based on the product of the conversion rate specified in the indenture and the basket of tracking stocks into which each outstanding share of Series A Liberty Media Corporation common stock has been reclassified (the “Securities Basket”). The supplemental indenture  entered into on April 15, 2016 in connection with the Recapitalization amends the conversion, adjustment and other provisions of the indenture to give effect to the Recapitalization and provides that the conversion consideration due upon conversion of any Convertible Note shall be determined as if references in the indenture to one share of Series A Liberty Media Corporation common stock were instead a reference to the Securities Basket, initially consisting of 0.10 of a share of Series A Liberty Braves common stock, 1.0 share of Series A Liberty SiriusXM common stock and 0.25 of a share of Series A Liberty Media common stock. The Series A Liberty Braves common stock component of the Securities Basket was adjusted to 0.1087 pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments arising out of the distribution of subscription rights to purchase shares of Series C Liberty Braves common stock made to all holders of Liberty Braves common stock.

Holders of the Convertible Notes may convert their notes at their option at any time prior to the close of business on the second business day immediately preceding the maturity date of the notes under certain circumstances. Liberty has elected to account for this instrument using the fair value option.  Accordingly, changes in the fair value of this instrument are recognized as unrealized gains (losses) in the statement of operations.  As of September 30, 2016, the Convertible Notes are classified as a long term liability in the condensed consolidated balance sheet, as the conversion conditions have not been met.

Additionally, contemporaneously with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, Liberty entered into privately negotiated cash convertible note hedges and purchased call options (the “Bond Hedge Transaction”). The Bond Hedge Transaction is expected to offset potential cash payments Liberty would be required to make in excess of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes, upon conversion of the notes in the event that the volume-weighted average price per share of the Series A Liberty Media Corporation common stock, as measured under the cash convertible note hedge transactions on each trading day of the relevant cash settlement averaging period or other relevant valuation period, is greater than the strike price of Series A Liberty Media Corporation common stock, which corresponds to the conversion price of the Convertible Notes. During the year ended December 31, 2014, in connection with the issuance of Series C Liberty common stock and the Broadband Spin-Off, as discussed in note 1, the number of shares covered by the Bond Hedge Transaction was adjusted to 21,085,900 shares of Series A Liberty Media Corporation common stock and the strike price was adjusted to $47.43 per share of Series A Liberty Media Corporation common stock, which corresponded to the adjusted conversion price of the Convertible Notes. In connection with the Recapitalization and the entry into the supplemental indenture on April 15, 2016, Liberty entered into amendments to the Bond Hedge Transaction with each of the counterparties to reflect the adjustments resulting from the Recapitalization. As of the effective date of the Recapitalization, the Bond Hedge Transaction covered, in the aggregate, 5,271,475 shares of Series A Liberty Media common stock, 21,085,900 shares of Series A Liberty SiriusXM common stock and 2,108,590 shares of Series A Liberty Braves common stock, subject to anti-dilution adjustments pertaining to the Convertible Notes, which was equal to the aggregate number of shares comprising the Securities Basket underlying the Convertible Notes at that time. The aggregate number of shares of Series A Liberty Braves common stock relating to the Bond Hedge Transaction was increased to 2,292,037, pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments arising out of the rights distribution (note 2). As of September 30, 2016, the basket price of the securities underlying the Bond Hedge Transaction was $43.04 per share. The expiration of these instruments is October 15, 2023. The fair value of these instruments is included in Other assets, at cost, net of accumulated amortization as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, with changes in the fair value recorded as unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Concurrently with the Convertible Notes and Bond Hedge Transaction, Liberty also entered into separate privately negotiated warrant transactions under which Liberty sold warrants relating to the same number of shares of common stock as underlie the Bond Hedge Transaction, subject to anti-dilution adjustments (“Warrant Transactions”). The first expiration date of the warrants is January 16, 2024 and expire over a period covering 81 days thereafter. Liberty may elect to settle its delivery obligation under the Warrant Transactions with cash. As of December 31, 2015, there were 21,085,900 warrants outstanding with a strike price of $64.46 per share. In connection with the Recapitalization, Liberty entered into amendments to the Warrant Transactions with each of the option counterparties to reflect the adjustments to the Warrant Transactions resulting from the Recapitalization (“Amended Warrant Transactions”).  As of the effective date of the Recapitalization, the Amended Warrant Transactions covered, in the aggregate, 5,271,475 shares of Series A Liberty Media common stock, 21,085,900 shares of Series A Liberty SiriusXM common stock and 2,108,590 shares of Series A Liberty Braves common stock, subject to anti-dilution adjustments. The aggregate number of shares of Series A Liberty Braves common stock relating to the Amended Warrant Transactions was increased to 2,292,037 pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments arising out of the rights distribution. The strike price of the warrants was adjusted, as a result of the Recapitalization and the rights offering, to $61.16 per share. As of September 30, 2016, the basket price of the securities underlying the Amended Warrant Transactions was $43.04 per share. The Amended Warrant Transactions may have a dilutive effect with respect to the shares comprising the Securities Basket underlying the warrants to the extent that the settlement price exceeds the strike price of the warrants, and the warrants are settled in shares comprising such Securities Basket.

The Convertible Notes, Bond Hedge Transaction and warrant transactions were attributed to the Liberty Media Group in the Recapitalization.

2.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046

On August 17, 2016, Liberty closed a private offering of approximately $445 million aggregate principal amount of its 2.25% exchangeable senior debentures due 2046 (the “2.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046”). Upon an exchange of debentures, Liberty, at its option, may deliver Time Warner, Inc. common stock, cash or a combination of Time Warner common stock and cash. The number of shares of Time Warner common stock attributable to a debenture represents an initial exchange price of approximately $104.55 per share. A total of approximately 4.25 million shares of Time Warner common stock are attributable to the debentures. Interest is payable quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 2016. The debentures may be redeemed by Liberty, in whole or in part, on or after October 5, 2021. Holders of the debentures also have the right to require Liberty to purchase their debentures on October 5, 2021. The redemption and purchase price will generally equal 100% of the adjusted principal amount of the debentures plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The debentures, as well as the associated cash proceeds, were attributed to the Liberty Media Group. Liberty used the net proceeds of the offering for the acquisition of an investment in Formula 1 during September 2016, as further described in note 6. Liberty has elected to account for the debentures using the fair value option. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these instruments are recognized as unrealized gains (losses) in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The debentures have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The debentures were offered by means of an offering memorandum solely to "Qualified Institutional Buyers" pursuant to, and as that term is defined in, Rule 144A of the Securities Act.

On October 22, 2016, AT&T Inc. (“AT&T”) and Time Warner announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which AT&T will acquire Time Warner in a stock-and-cash transaction. The transaction is expected to close before year-end 2017, subject to approval by Time Warner shareholders and review by the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as potential review by the FCC. If the acquisition is consummated, in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing the 2.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046, the cash portion of the acquisition consideration will be paid as an extraordinary additional distribution to holders of debentures, and the stock portion of the acquisition consideration will become reference shares attributable to the debentures. Additionally, if the acquisition is consummated, any amount of excess regular quarterly cash dividends paid on the AT&T reference shares will be distributed by the Company to holders of the debentures as an additional distribution.

Margin Loans

During October 2015, Liberty refinanced a margin loan arrangement for a similar financial instrument with a term loan of $250 million and a $1 billion undrawn line of credit, which was scheduled to mature during October 2016. This margin loan arrangement was refinanced during October 2016, as discussed below. Shares of SIRIUS XM and Live Nation common stock were pledged as collateral pursuant to this agreement.  The term loan and any drawn portion of the revolver carried an interest rate of LIBOR plus an applicable spread between 1.75% and 2.25% (based on the value of collateral) with the undrawn portion carrying a fee of 0.75%. Borrowings outstanding under this margin loan bore interest at a rate of 2.27% per annum at September 30, 2016. Other terms of the agreement were substantially similar to the previous arrangement. As of September 30, 2016, availability under the revolving line of credit was $1 billion.

During October 2016, Liberty refinanced this margin loan arrangement for a similar financial instrument with a term loan of $250 million and a $500 million undrawn line of credit, which is scheduled to mature during October 2018. Shares of SIRIUS XM common stock are pledged as collateral pursuant to this agreement, and shares of Live Nation common stock are no longer pledged as collateral.  The new term loan and any drawn portion of the revolver carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.75% with the undrawn portion carrying a fee of 0.75%. Other terms of the agreement were substantially similar to the previous arrangement.

As of September 30, 2016, the value of shares pledged as collateral pursuant to the original $1.25 billion margin loan due 2016 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Number of Shares Pledged

    

 

 

 

 

 

as Collateral as of

 

Share value as of

 

Investment

 

September 30, 2016

 

September 30, 2016

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

SIRIUS XM

 

145.4

 

$

606

 

Live Nation

 

4.2

 

$

116

 

The outstanding margin loan contains various affirmative and negative covenants that restrict the activities of the borrower. The loan agreement does not include any financial covenants.

SIRIUS XM 5.375% Senior Notes due 2026

 

In May 2016, SIRIUS XM issued $1.0 billion principal amount of new senior notes due July 2026 which bear interest at an annual rate 5.375% (“SIRIUS XM 5.375% Senior Notes due 2026”) with an original issuance discount of $11 million. The SIRIUS XM 5.375% Senior Notes due 2026 are recorded net of the remaining unamortized discount.

 

SIRIUS XM 5.875% Senior Notes due 2020

During October 2016, SIRIUS XM redeemed $650 million principal amount of its 5.875% Senior Notes due 2020 for an approximate purchase price of $669 million, including premium, which will result in the recognition of a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $24 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. This redemption was funded with $359 million of cash and cash equivalents and $310 million of borrowings under the Credit Facility (discussed below). As a result, the portion of the redemption funded in cash was reclassified to current debt as of September 30, 2016.

SIRIUS XM Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility

SIRIUS XM has entered into a Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility (the "Credit Facility") with a syndicate of financial institutions with a total borrowing capacity of $1,750 million which matures in June 2020. The Credit Facility is guaranteed by certain of SIRIUS XM’s material domestic subsidiaries and is secured by a lien on substantially all of SIRIUS XM's assets and the assets of its material domestic subsidiaries. Interest on borrowings is payable on a monthly basis and accrues at a rate based on LIBOR plus an applicable rate. SIRIUS XM is also required to pay a variable fee on the average daily unused portion of the Credit Facility which as of September 30, 2016 was 0.25% per annum and is payable on a quarterly basis.

As of September 30, 2016, availability under the Credit Facility was $1,750 million.  

Braves Holdings Notes

In 2014, Braves Holdings, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, purchased 82 acres of land for the purpose of constructing a Major League Baseball facility and development of a mixed-use complex adjacent to the ballpark.  The new facility is expected to cost approximately $672 million and Braves Holdings expects to spend approximately $50 million in other costs and equipment related to the new ballpark.  Funding for the ballpark will be split between Braves Holdings, Cobb County and Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority. Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority and Cobb County (collectively the “Authority”) will be responsible for funding $392 million of ballpark related construction and Braves Holdings will be responsible for remainder of cost, including cost overruns.  Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority issued $368 million in bonds during September 2015. Braves Holdings received $103 million of the bond proceeds during September 2015 as reimbursement for project costs paid for by Braves Holdings prior to the funding of the bonds. Funding for ballpark initiatives by Braves Holdings has come from cash reserves and utilization of two credit facilities.

During September 2015, Braves Holdings entered into a $345 million term loan (the “Braves Term Loan”). The Braves Term Loan initially bore interest at LIBOR plus an applicable spread between 1.50% and 1.75% (based on the debt service coverage ratio) per annum and an unused commitment fee of 0.35% per annum based on the average daily unused portion of the Braves Term Loan, payable quarterly in arrears. In connection with entering into the Braves Senior Secured Note during August 2016 (discussed below), Braves Holdings partially repaid and reduced the capacity on the Braves Term loan from $345 million to $130 million and amended the interest rate on the Braves Term Loan to LIBOR plus 1.75%. As of September 30, 2016, the interest rate on the Braves Term Loan was 2.27%. The Braves Term Loan is scheduled to mature during August 2021. In connection with entering into the Braves Term Loan, Braves Holdings partially repaid and reduced the capacity on one of the credit facilities from $250 million to $85 million for a total capacity under the credit facilities of $185 million. As of September 30, 2016, the weighted average interest rate on the credit facilities was 2.05%. As of September 30, 2016, Braves Holdings has borrowed approximately $186 million under the Braves Term Loan and two facilities.

During August 2016, a subsidiary of Braves Holdings entered into a $200 million senior secured note which was funded during October 2016 (the “Braves Senior Secured Note”). The Braves Senior Secured Note bears interest at 3.77% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears. The Braves Senor Secured Note is scheduled to mature during August 2041. A portion of the proceeds from the Braves Senior Secured Note were used to partially repay the Braves Term Loan, and the remaining funds will be used to finance the stadium construction.

Due to Braves Holdings providing the initial funding of the project and its ownership of the land during the initial construction period, until the initial reimbursement by the Authority during September 2015 at which time the land was conveyed to the Authority, Braves Holdings has been deemed the owner (for accounting purposes) of the stadium during the construction period and costs have been classified as construction in progress (“CIP”), within the Property and equipment, net line item. Future costs of the project will continue to be captured in CIP along with a corresponding liability in other liabilities, for amounts funded by the Authority.  At the end of construction an additional determination will be made regarding whether the transaction will qualify for sale-leaseback accounting treatment. 

In addition, Braves Holdings through affiliated entities and outside development partners are in the process of developing land around the ballpark for a mixed-use complex that is expected to feature retail, residential, office, hotel and entertainment opportunities.  The estimated cost for mixed-use development is $558 million, of which Braves Holdings affiliated entities are expected to fund approximately $490 million through a mix of approximately $200 million in equity and $290 million in new debt. In December 2015, certain subsidiaries of Braves Holdings entered into three separate credit facilities totaling $207 million to fund a portion of the mixed use development costs. The maturity dates of the facilities range between December 2018 and December 2019, and all of the facilities contain two year extension options. Interest rates on the credit facilities bear interest at LIBOR plus an applicable spread between 2.0% and 2.6%, with certain step-downs upon lease of the mixed use facilities at the completion of construction. As of September 30, 2016,  $34 million was drawn on these facilities with a weighted average interest rate of 2.60%. As discussed in note 6, 464 thousand Time Warner shares were pledged as collateral to these facilities. The fair value of the shares pledged as of September 30, 2016 was $37 million. Additionally, in August 2016, a subsidiary of Braves Holdings entered into a credit facility with an availability of $30 million to fund a portion of the entertainment venue as part of the mixed use development. This facility matures during August 2020 and contains one twelve month extension option. The credit facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 3.25%, with a step-down upon completion of construction. This facility was undrawn as of September 30, 2016. 

As of September 30, 2016, approximately $496 million has been spent to-date on the baseball facility, of which approximately $373 million of funding has been provided by the Authority, and $238 million has been spent to date on the mixed-use development.

Debt Covenants

The SIRIUS XM Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants related to SIRIUS XM’s leverage ratio. The Braves Term Loan contains certain financial covenants related to Braves Holdings’ debt service coverage ratio and capital expenditures.  Additionally, SIRIUS XM’s Credit Facility, the Braves Term Loan and other borrowings contain certain non-financial covenants.  The Company, SIRIUS XM and Braves Holdings are in compliance with all debt covenants as of September 30, 2016.

Fair Value of Debt

The fair value, based on quoted market prices of the same instruments but not considered to be active markets (Level 2), of SIRIUS XM's publicly traded debt securities, not reported at fair value, are as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

September 30, 2016

 

SIRIUS XM 5.875% Senior Notes due 2020

 

$

669

 

SIRIUS XM 5.75% Senior Notes due 2021

 

$

629

 

SIRIUS XM 5.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2022

 

$

422

 

SIRIUS XM 4.25% Senior Notes due 2020

 

$

512

 

SIRIUS XM 4.625% Senior Notes due 2023

 

$

503

 

SIRIUS XM 6% Senior Notes due 2024

 

$

1,606

 

SIRIUS XM 5.375% Senior Notes due 2025

 

$

1,038

 

SIRIUS XM 5.375% Senior Notes due 2026

 

$

1,030

 

Due to the variable rate nature of the Credit Facility, margin loans and other debt the Company believes that the carrying amount approximates fair value at September 30, 2016.