Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method

v3.23.3
Investments In Affiliates Accounted For Using The Equity Method
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Investments in Affiliates Accounted for Using the Equity Method  
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 September 30, 2023 and the carrying amount at December 31, 2022:

September 30, 2023

December 31, 2022

    

Percentage

    

Fair Value

    

Carrying

    

Carrying

 

ownership

(Level 1)

amount

amount

dollar amounts in millions

Liberty SiriusXM Group

Sirius XM Canada

70

%

NA

$

604

 

597

Live Nation (a)

NA

NA

158

Other

NA

101

68

Total Liberty SiriusXM Group

705

823

Formula One Group

Other (a)

 

various

 

NA

 

43

 

34

Total Formula One Group

43

34

Liberty Live Group

Live Nation (a)(b)

30

%

$

5,783

372

NA

Other (a)

NA

25

NA

Total Liberty Live Group

397

NA

Braves Group

Other

various

NA

NA

95

Total Braves Group

NA

95

Consolidated Liberty

$

1,145

 

952

(a) Liberty’s interests in Live Nation and certain other equity affiliates were reattributed to the Liberty Live Group effective August 3, 2023.
(b) See note 7 for details regarding the number and fair value of shares pledged as collateral as of September 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

Nine months ended

September 30,

September 30,

    

2023

    

2022

    

2023

    

2022

 

amounts in millions

Liberty SiriusXM Group

Sirius XM Canada

$

1

 

(2)

 

6

 

4

Live Nation (a)

50

107

127

140

Other

(6)

(1)

(16)

(4)

Total Liberty SiriusXM Group

45

104

117

140

Formula One Group

Other (a)

 

2

 

1

 

(1)

 

Total Formula One Group

2

1

(1)

Liberty Live Group

Live Nation (a)

90

NA

90

NA

Other (a)

NA

NA

Total Liberty Live Group

90

NA

90

NA

Braves Group

Other

1

 

6

12

18

Total Braves Group

1

6

12

18

Consolidated Liberty

$

138

 

111

 

218

 

158

(a) Liberty’s interests in Live Nation and certain other equity affiliates were reattributed to the Liberty Live Group effective August 3, 2023.

Sirius XM Canada

As of September 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 $27 million and $29 million in revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $78 million and $84 million in revenue during the nine months ended September 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 September 30, 2023 and $1 million and less than $1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

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 $14 million and $13 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $39 million and $40 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Sirius XM Holdings also had related party liabilities of $19 million as of both September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 related to this agreement.