Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method

v3.23.2
Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2023
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 June 30, 2023 and the carrying amount at December 31, 2022:

June 30, 2023

December 31, 2022

    

Percentage

    

Fair Value

    

Carrying

    

Carrying

 

ownership

(Level 1)

amount

amount

dollar amounts in millions

Liberty SiriusXM Group

Live Nation (a)

30

%

$

6,345

$

243

158

Sirius XM Canada

70

%

$

NA

615

 

597

Other

NA

102

68

Total Liberty SiriusXM Group

960

823

Braves Group

Other

various

NA

99

95

Total Braves Group

99

95

Formula One Group

Other

 

various

 

NA

 

67

 

34

Total Formula One Group

67

34

Consolidated Liberty

$

1,126

 

952

(a) See note 7 for details regarding the number and fair value of shares pledged as collateral as of June 30, 2023 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

Six months ended

June 30,

June 30,

    

2023

    

2022

    

2023

    

2022

 

amounts in millions

Liberty SiriusXM Group

Live Nation

$

83

54

77

33

Sirius XM Canada

1

 

3

 

5

 

6

Other

(5)

(3)

(10)

(3)

Total Liberty SiriusXM Group

79

54

72

36

Braves Group

Other

12

 

8

11

12

Total Braves Group

12

8

11

12

Formula One Group

Other

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

(3)

 

(1)

Total Formula One Group

(1)

(1)

(3)

(1)

Consolidated Liberty

$

90

 

61

 

80

 

47

Sirius XM Canada

As of June 30, 2023, 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. 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.  

Sirius XM Holdings recorded approximately $25 million and $28 million in revenue during the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $51 million and $55 million in revenue during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, associated with these various agreements. Sirius XM Canada paid gross dividends to Sirius XM Holdings of less than $1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2023 and less than $1 million during each of the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.

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 platforms. Sirius XM Holdings recorded revenue share expense related to this agreement of $13 million and $14 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $25 million and $27 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Sirius XM Holdings also had related party liabilities of $18 million and $19 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, related to this agreement.