Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Disposals

v3.8.0.1
Disposals
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Disposals [Abstract]  
Disposals

(6)  Disposals

Disposals - Presented as Discontinued Operations

On November 4, 2016, Liberty completed the Expedia Holdings Split-Off. Expedia Holdings is comprised of, among other things, Liberty’s former interest in Expedia, Inc. and Liberty’s former wholly-owned subsidiary Bodybuilding. Liberty views Expedia and Bodybuilding as separate components and evaluated them separately for discontinued operations presentation. Based on a quantitative analysis, the split-off of Liberty’s interest in Expedia represents a strategic shift that has a major effect on Liberty’s operations, primarily due to prior year one-time gains on transactions recognized by Expedia.  Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements of Liberty have been prepared to reflect Liberty’s interest in Expedia as a discontinued operation. The disposition of Bodybuilding as part of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off does not have a major effect on Liberty’s historical results nor is it expected to have a major effect on Liberty’s future operations. The disposition of Bodybuilding does not represent a strategic shift in Liberty’s operations. Accordingly, Bodybuilding is not presented as a discontinued operation in the consolidated financial statements of Liberty. See “Disposals – Not Presented as Discontinued Operations” below for additional information regarding Bodybuilding.

Prior to the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, Liberty accounted for the investment in Expedia as an equity method affiliate and recorded our share of Expedia’s earnings (losses) in our consolidated statements of operations. Accordingly, Expedia’s assets, liabilities and results of operations were not included in Liberty’s consolidated financial statements. Certain financial information for Expedia for the periods prior to the Expedia Holdings Split-Off is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Current assets

 

$

2,976

 

Total assets

 

$

15,486

 

Current liabilities

 

$

5,926

 

Total liabilities 

 

$

10,556

 

Equity

 

$

4,930

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

    

 

2015

    

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Operating income

 

$

414

 

 

Gain on sale of business

 

$

509

 

 

Income tax (expense) benefit

 

$

(203)

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Expedia shareholders

 

$

764

 

 

 

Certain financial information for Liberty’s investment in Expedia, which is included in the discontinued operations line items of the consolidated Liberty balance sheets as of December 31, 2015, is as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method

 

$

927

 

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

$

285

 

 

Certain financial information for Liberty’s investment in Expedia, which is included in earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, is as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

$

24

 

437

 

Income tax (expense) benefit

 

$

(4)

 

(157)

 

 

 

The combined impact from discontinued operations, discussed above, is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

2016

 

2015

 

Basic earnings (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Liberty shareholders per common share (note 3):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series A and Series B QVC Group common stock

 

$

NA

 

NA

 

Series A and Series B Liberty Ventures common stock

 

$

0.15

 

1.97

 

Diluted earnings (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Liberty shareholders per common share (note 3):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series A and Series B QVC Group common stock

 

$

NA

 

NA

 

Series A and Series B Liberty Ventures common stock

 

$

0.15

 

1.96

 

 

 

Disposals – Not Presented as Discontinued Operations

 

On June 30, 2015, Liberty sold Backcountry for aggregate consideration, including assumption of debt, amounts held in escrow, and a noncontrolling interest, of approximately $350 million. The sale resulted in a $105 million gain, which is included in Gains (losses) on transactions, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Backcountry is not presented as a discontinued operation as the sale did not represent a strategic shift that has a major effect on Liberty’s operations and financial results. Included in Total revenue, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations is $227 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, related to Backcountry. Included in Net earnings (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations are losses of $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, related to Backcountry.

 

On July 22, 2016, Liberty completed the CommerceHub Spin-Off.  CommerceHub is included in the Corporate and other segment through July 22, 2016 and is not presented as a discontinued operation as the CommerceHub Spin-Off did not represent a strategic shift that had a major effect on Liberty’s operations and financial results. Included in Total revenue, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations is $51 million and $89 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to CommerceHub.  Included in Net earnings (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations are earnings of $5 million and losses of $10 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to CommerceHub.  Included in Total assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015 is $115 million related to CommerceHub.

As discussed above, on November 4, 2016, Liberty completed the Expedia Holdings Split-Off. Although Liberty’s interest in Expedia has been presented as a discontinued operation, Bodybuilding is not presented as a discontinued operation in the consolidated financial statements of Liberty. Bodybuilding is included in the Corporate and other segment through November 4, 2016. Included in Total revenue, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations is $355 million and $464 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to Bodybuilding. Included in Net earnings (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations are earnings of $6 million and $3 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to Bodybuilding. Included in Total assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015 is $198 million related to Bodybuilding.