Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation

v3.22.2
Basis of Presentation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
Basis of Presentation  
Basis of Presentation

(1) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Liberty Broadband Corporation and its controlled subsidiaries (collectively, "Liberty Broadband," the "Company," “us,” “we,” or “our” unless the context otherwise requires). Liberty Broadband Corporation is primarily comprised of GCI Holdings, LLC (“GCI Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary, and an equity method investment in Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”).

On December 18, 2020, GCI Liberty, Inc. (“GCI Liberty”) was merged with Liberty Broadband (the “Combination”) and Liberty Broadband acquired GCI Holdings, as further described in Liberty Broadband's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

The accompanying (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and (b) interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such periods have been included. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. Additionally, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified for comparability with current period presentation. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in Liberty Broadband's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company considers (i) the application of the equity method of accounting for its affiliate, (ii) non-recurring fair value measurements of non-financial instruments and (iii) accounting for income taxes to be its most significant estimates.

In December 2019, Chinese officials reported a novel coronavirus outbreak (“COVID-19”). COVID-19 has since spread through China and internationally. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization assessed COVID-19 as a global pandemic, causing many countries throughout the world to take aggressive actions, including imposing travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders, closing public attractions and restaurants, and mandating social distancing practices, which caused a significant disruption to most sectors of the economy at varying levels during the periods covered by the financial statements.

We are not presently aware of any events or circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic that would require us to update our estimates or judgments or revise the carrying value of our assets or liabilities. Our estimates may change, however, as new events occur and additional information is obtained, and any such changes will be recognized in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from estimates, and any such differences may be material to our financial statements.

Through a number of prior years’ transactions, including the Combination, Liberty Broadband has acquired an interest in Charter. The investment in Charter is accounted for using the equity method. Liberty Broadband does not control the decision making process or business management practices of this affiliate. Accordingly, Liberty Broadband relies on the management of this affiliate to provide it with accurate financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP that the Company uses in the application of the equity method. In addition, Liberty Broadband relies on audit reports that are provided by the affiliate's independent auditor on the financial statements of such affiliate. The Company is not aware, however, of any errors in or possible misstatements of the financial information provided by its equity affiliate that would have a material effect on Liberty Broadband's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Skyhook Holdings, Inc. (“Skyhook”) was a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband until its sale on May 2, 2022 for aggregate consideration of approximately $194 million, including amounts held in escrow of approximately $23 million. Liberty Broadband recognized a gain on the sale of $179 million, net of fees contingent upon closing, in the second quarter of 2022, which is recorded in Gain (loss) on dispositions, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations. Skyhook is included in Corporate and other through April 30, 2022 and is not presented as a discontinued operation as the sale did not represent a strategic shift that had a major effect on Liberty Broadband’s operations and financial results. Included in Revenue in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations is $1 million and $5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $6 million and $9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to Skyhook. Included in Net earnings (loss) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations are earnings of $1 million and losses of $1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and earnings of $4 million and losses of $1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to Skyhook. Included in Total assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 is $18 million related to Skyhook.

As described in note 4, we are currently participating in Charter’s share buyback program in order to maintain our fully diluted ownership percentage of 26%. The primary use of those proceeds has been to repurchase Liberty Broadband Series A and Series C common stock pursuant to our authorized share repurchase programs. On February 23, 2021, a duly authorized committee of the board of directors authorized the repurchase of $2.23 billion of Liberty Broadband common stock. Additionally, on August 5, 2021, a duly authorized committee of the board of directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $2.105 billion of Liberty Broadband common stock. Further, on January 26, 2022, a duly authorized committee of the board of directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $2.215 billion of Liberty Broadband common stock.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, we repurchased 14.4 million shares of Liberty Broadband Series A and Series C common stock for a total purchase price of $1,890 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2021, we repurchased 12.5 million shares of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock for a total purchase price of $1,957 million. As of June 30, 2022, the amount authorized remaining under the authorized repurchase program is approximately $994 million.

Exchange Agreement with Chairman

On June 13, 2022, Liberty Broadband entered into an Exchange Agreement with its Chairman of the board of directors, John C. Malone, and a revocable trust of which Mr. Malone is the sole trustee and beneficiary (the “JM Trust”) (the “Exchange Agreement”), whereby, among other things, Mr. Malone agreed to an arrangement under which his aggregate voting power in the Company would not exceed 49% (the “Target Voting Power”) plus 0.5% (under certain circumstances).

The Exchange Agreement provides for exchanges by the Company and Mr. Malone or the JM Trust of shares of Liberty Broadband Series B common stock for shares of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock in connection with certain events, including (i) any event that would result in a reduction in the outstanding votes that may be cast by holders of the Company’s voting securities or an increase of Mr. Malone’s beneficially-owned voting power in the Company (an “Accretive Event”), in each case, such that Mr. Malone’s voting power in the Company would exceed the Target Voting Power plus 0.5%; or (ii) from and after the occurrence of any Accretive Event, in connection with any event that would result in an increase in the outstanding votes that may be cast by holders of the Company’s voting securities or a decrease of Mr. Malone’s beneficially-owned voting power in the Company (a “Dilutive Event”), in each case, such that Mr. Malone’s voting power in the Company falls below the Target Voting Power less 0.5%. Additionally, the Exchange Agreement contains certain provisions with respect to fundamental events at the Company, meaning any combination, consolidation, merger, exchange offer, split-off, spin-off, rights offering or dividend, in each case, as a result of which holders of Liberty Broadband Series B common stock are entitled to receive securities of the Company, securities of another person, property or cash, or a combination thereof.

In connection with an Accretive Event, Mr. Malone or the JM Trust will be required to exchange with the Company shares of Liberty Broadband Series B common stock (as exchanged, the “Exchanged Series B Shares”) for an equal number

of shares of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock (as exchanged, the “Exchanged Series C Shares”) so as to maintain Mr. Malone’s voting power as close as possible to, without exceeding, the Target Voting Power, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Agreement.

In connection with a Dilutive Event, Mr. Malone and the JM Trust may exchange the Exchanged Series C Shares with the Company for an equal number of shares of Liberty Broadband Series B common stock equal to the lesser of (i) the number of shares of Liberty Broadband Series B common stock which would maintain Mr. Malone’s voting power as close as possible to, without exceeding, the Target Voting Power and (ii) the number of Exchanged Series B Shares at such time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Agreement.

Under the Exchange Agreement, the JM trust exchanged 215,647 shares of Liberty Broadband Series B common stock for the same number of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock on June 13, 2022, and exchanged 211,255 shares of Liberty Broadband Series B common stock for the same number of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock on July 19, 2022.

Spin-Off Arrangements

During May 2014, the board of directors of Liberty Media Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Liberty”) authorized management to pursue a plan to spin-off to its stockholders common stock of a wholly owned subsidiary, Liberty Broadband, and to distribute subscription rights to acquire shares of Liberty Broadband’s common stock (the “Broadband Spin-Off”). In connection with the Broadband Spin-Off, Liberty (for accounting purposes a related party of the Company) and Liberty Broadband entered into certain agreements in order to govern certain of the ongoing relationships between the two companies and to provide for an orderly transition, including a services agreement and a facilities sharing agreement. Under the facilities sharing agreement, Liberty Broadband shares office space with Liberty and related amenities at Liberty’s corporate headquarters. Liberty Broadband will reimburse Liberty for direct, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Liberty in providing these services which will be negotiated semi-annually.

Pursuant to the services agreement, Liberty provides Liberty Broadband with general and administrative services including legal, tax, accounting, treasury and investor relations support. In December 2019, the Company entered into an amendment to the services agreement with Liberty in connection with Liberty’s entry into a new employment arrangement with Gregory B. Maffei, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Under the amended services agreement, components of his compensation would either be paid directly to him by each of the Company, Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. and Qurate Retail, Inc. (“Qurate Retail”) (collectively, the “Service Companies”) or reimbursed to Liberty, in each case, based on allocations among Liberty and the Service Companies set forth in the amended services agreement, currently set at 33% for the Company but subject to adjustment on an annual basis upon the occurrence of certain events.

Additionally, in connection with a prior transaction, GCI Liberty and Qurate Retail (for accounting purposes a related party of the Company) entered into a tax sharing agreement, which was assumed by Liberty Broadband as a result of the Combination. The tax sharing agreement provides for the allocation and indemnification of tax liabilities and benefits between Qurate Retail and Liberty Broadband and other agreements related to tax matters.

Under these various agreements, amounts reimbursable to Liberty were approximately $2 million and $3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $5 million and $7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Liberty Broadband had a tax sharing receivable with Qurate Retail of $44 million and $86 million as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

Recently Announced Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new accounting guidance which will require annual disclosures about certain government transactions that are accounted for by applying a grant or contribution accounting

model by analogy, including information about the nature of the transactions, the related policy used to account for the transactions, the amounts applicable to each financial statement line item and any significant terms and conditions of the transactions, including commitments and contingencies. This guidance is effective for annual financial statements issued for periods beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect a significant impact from the adoption of the standard but is currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on its financial disclosures.