Tracking Stocks |
9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2024 | |
Tracking Stocks | |
Tracking Stocks |
(3) Tracking Stocks A tracking stock is a type of common stock that the issuing company intends to reflect or "track" the economic performance of a particular business or "group," rather than the economic performance of the company as a whole. On July 18, 2023, the Company completed the split-off of its wholly owned subsidiary, Atlanta Braves Holdings (the “Atlanta Braves Holdings Split-Off”). The Atlanta Braves Holdings Split-Off was accomplished by a redemption by the Company of each outstanding share of Liberty Braves common stock in exchange for one share of the corresponding series of Atlanta Braves Holdings common stock. Atlanta Braves Holdings is comprised of the businesses, assets and liabilities attributed to the Liberty Braves Group (the “Braves Group”) immediately prior to the Atlanta Braves Holdings Split-Off, except for the intergroup interests in the Braves Group attributed to the Liberty SiriusXM Group and Liberty Formula One Group (the “Formula One Group”), which were settled and extinguished in connection with the Atlanta Braves Holdings Split-Off. On August 3, 2023, the Company reclassified its then-outstanding shares of common stock into three new tracking stocks — Liberty SiriusXM common stock, Liberty Formula One common stock and Liberty Live common stock, and, in connection therewith, provided for the attribution of the businesses, assets and liabilities of the Company’s remaining tracking stock groups among its newly created Liberty SiriusXM Group, Formula One Group and Liberty Live Group (the “Reclassification”). As a result of the Reclassification, each then-outstanding share of Liberty SiriusXM common stock was reclassified into one share of the corresponding series of new Liberty SiriusXM common stock and 0.2500 of a share of the corresponding series of Liberty Live common stock and each outstanding share of Liberty Formula One common stock was reclassified into one share of the corresponding series of new Liberty Formula One common stock and 0.0428 of a share of the corresponding series of Liberty Live common stock. Each of the Atlanta Braves Holdings Split-Off and the Reclassification were intended to be tax-free to stockholders of the Company, except with respect to the receipt of cash in lieu of fractional shares. In July 2024, the IRS completed its review of the Reclassification and notified the Company that it agreed with the nontaxable characterization of the transaction. In September 2024, the IRS completed its review of the Atlanta Braves Holdings Split-Off and notified the Company that it agreed with the nontaxable characterization of the transaction. The Atlanta Braves Holdings Split-Off and the Reclassification are reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements on a prospective basis. While the Formula One Group and the Liberty Live Group have separate collections of businesses, assets and liabilities attributed to them, no group is a separate legal entity and therefore cannot own assets, issue securities or enter into legally binding agreements. Holders of tracking stock have no direct claim to the group's stock or assets and therefore, do not own, by virtue of their ownership of a Liberty tracking stock, any equity or voting interest in a public company, such as Live Nation, in which Liberty holds an interest that is attributed to a Liberty tracking stock group, the Liberty Live Group. Holders of tracking stock are also not represented by separate boards of directors. Instead, holders of tracking stock are stockholders of the parent corporation, with a single board of directors and subject to all of the risks and liabilities of the parent corporation. The Liberty Formula One common stock is intended to track and reflect the separate economic performance of the businesses, assets and liabilities attributed to the Formula One Group, which as of September 30, 2024, include Liberty’s interests in Formula 1 and QuintEvents, cash and Liberty’s 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027. As of September 30, 2024, the Formula One Group had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $2,666 million, which included $1,449 million of subsidiary cash. The Liberty Live common stock is intended to track and reflect the separate economic performance of the businesses, assets and liabilities attributed to the Liberty Live Group. As of September 30, 2024, the Liberty Live Group is comprised of Liberty’s interest in Live Nation, cash, other minority investments, Liberty’s 0.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050, Liberty’s 2.375% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2053 and an undrawn margin loan. Prior to the Liberty Sirius XM Holdings Split-Off, the Liberty SiriusXM common stock was intended to track and reflect the separate economic performance of the businesses, assets and liabilities attributed to the Liberty SiriusXM Group. At the time of the Liberty Sirius XM Holdings Split-Off, the Liberty SiriusXM Group was comprised of Liberty’s interest in Sirius XM Holdings, corporate cash, Liberty’s 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028, Liberty’s 2.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2049 and a margin loan obligation incurred by a wholly-owned special purpose subsidiary of Liberty. As disclosed in note 1, Liberty Sirius XM Holdings is presented as a discontinued operation in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. Prior to the Reclassification, Liberty’s interest in Live Nation, Liberty’s 0.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050 and a margin loan secured by shares of Live Nation (the “Live Nation Margin Loan”) were attributed to the Liberty SiriusXM Group and are presented as continuing operations in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. Prior to the Atlanta Braves Holdings Split-Off, the Liberty Braves common stock was intended to track and reflect the separate economic performance of the businesses, assets and liabilities attributed to the Braves Group. The Braves Group was comprised primarily of Braves Holdings, which indirectly owns the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball Club (“ANLBC”), certain assets and liabilities associated with ANLBC’s stadium (the “Stadium”) and a mixed-use development around the Stadium that features retail, office, hotel and entertainment opportunities and corporate cash. See Exhibit 99.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for unaudited attributed financial information for Liberty's tracking stock groups. |