Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Long-Term Debt

v2.4.0.8
Long-Term Debt
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Long-term Debt, Unclassified [Abstract]  
Long-Term Debt
Long-Term Debt
Debt is summarized as follows:
 
 
Outstanding principal at September 30, 2013
 
Carrying value
 
 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
 
amounts in millions
Interactive Group
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.7% Senior Notes due May 2013
$

 

 
240

 
8.5% Senior Debentures due 2029
287

 
285

 
285

 
8.25% Senior Debentures due 2030
505

 
501

 
501

 
1% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043
400

 
413

 

 
QVC 7.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2017

 

 
500

 
QVC 7.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2019
769

 
760

 
988

 
QVC 7.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2020
500

 
500

 
500

 
QVC 5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2022
500

 
500

 
500

 
QVC 4.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2023
750

 
750

 

 
QVC 5.95% Senior Secured Notes due 2043
300

 
300

 

 
QVC Bank Credit Facilities
673

 
673

 
903

 
Other subsidiary debt
153

 
153

 
125

     Total Interactive Group
4,837

 
4,835

 
4,542

Ventures Group
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2023

 

 
1,639

 
4% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2029
439

 
277

 
311

 
3.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2030
439

 
276

 
297

 
3.5% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2031
363

 
308

 
292

 
3.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2031

 

 
391

 
0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043
850

 
962

 

 
TripAdvisor Debt Facilities
376

 
376

 
412

     Total Ventures Group debt
2,467

 
2,199

 
3,342

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total consolidated Liberty debt
$
7,304

 
7,034

 
7,884

 
Less current classification
 

 
(1,366
)
 
(1,638
)
 
Total long-term debt
 
 
$
5,668

 
6,246


QVC Bank Credit Facilities
On March 1, 2013, QVC entered into an amended and restated syndicated senior secured credit agreement which served to refinance QVC's existing bank credit facility (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is a multi-currency facility providing for a $2 billion revolving credit facility, with a $250 million sub-limit for standby letters of credit and $1 billion of uncommitted incremental revolving loan commitments or incremental term loans. The loans are scheduled to mature on March 1, 2018. The covenants contained in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are substantially similar to those contained in QVC's previously existing bank credit facility. Borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement bear interest at either the alternate base rate or LIBOR (based on an interest period selected by QVC of one week, one month, two months, three months or six months, or to the extent available from all lenders, nine months or twelve months) at QVC's election in each case plus a margin. Borrowings that are alternate base rate loans will bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the base rate plus a margin that varies between 0.25% and 1.00% depending on QVC's ratio of consolidated total debt to consolidated Adjusted OIBDA (the “consolidated leverage ratio”). Borrowings that are LIBOR loans will bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR plus a margin that varies between 1.25% and 2.00% depending on QVC's consolidated leverage ratio. Each loan may be prepaid at any time and from time to time without penalty other than customary breakage costs. Any amounts prepaid on the revolving facility may be reborrowed. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is secured by the stock of QVC. Availability under the QVC Amended and Restated Credit Agreement at September 30, 2013 was $1,327 million. QVC was in compliance with all debt covenants related to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement at September 30, 2013.
QVC Senior Secured Notes
On March 4, 2013, QVC announced the commencement of cash tender offers (the “Offers”) for any and all of its outstanding $500 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.125% senior secured notes due 2017 (the “7.125% Senior Notes”) and up to $250 million in aggregate principal amount of its 7.5% senior secured notes due 2019 (the “7.5% Senior Notes”). The Offer for the 7.125% Senior Notes expired on March 15, 2013, and the Offer for the 7.5% Senior Notes expired on April 1, 2013. Approximately $124 million of the 7.125% Senior Notes were tendered pursuant to the Offers, whereby holders of the 7.125% Senior Notes received consideration of $1,039.40 for each $1,000 principal amount of tendered 7.125% Senior Notes purchased pursuant to the Offers. QVC called the remaining $376 million principal of its 7.125% Senior Notes at $1,035.63 for each $1,000 principal amount of 7.125% Senior Notes on April 17, 2013. Approximately $231 million of the 7.5% Senior Notes were tendered pursuant to the Offers. The total consideration for the 7.5% Senior Notes was $1,120 for each $1,000 principal amount of tendered 7.5% Senior Notes.
On March 18, 2013, QVC completed the offering of $750 million principal amount of new 4.375% senior secured notes due 2023 and $300 million principal amount of new 5.95% senior secured notes due 2043 (collectively, the “Notes”). The Notes are secured by a first-priority lien on QVC's capital stock, pari passu with the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and QVC's existing notes. The net proceeds from the offering of the Notes were used to fund the Offers, repay outstanding amounts on QVC's existing bank credit facility and, via dividend from QVC, retire Liberty's 5.7% Senior Notes due May 2013, and for general corporate purposes.
As a result of these refinancing transactions, QVC recorded extinguishment losses of $57 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, which is recorded in other, net in the Company's statements of operations.
QVC was in compliance with all of its debt covenants related to its outstanding senior notes at September 30, 2013.
QVC Interest Rate Swap Arrangements
In March 2013, QVC's notional interest rate swaps of $3.1 billion expired. These swap arrangements did not qualify as cash flow hedges under GAAP. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of the swaps were reflected in realized and unrealized gains or losses on financial instruments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Interactive Exchangeable Senior Debentures
On September 9, 2013, Liberty LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty, issued $400 million aggregate original principal amount of the 1% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043 (the "HSNi Exchangeables"). The HSNi Exchangeables mature on September 30, 2043 and interest on the HSNi Exchangeables accrues at an annual rate of 1% of the original principal amount of $1,000 per debenture, payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing December 31, 2013. Each $1,000 original principal amount of HSNi Exchangeables is initially exchangeable for 13.4580 shares of common stock of HSNi (the "HSNi Reference Shares").
Each of the HSNi Exchangeables is exchangeable at the option of the holder after the calendar quarter ending March 31, 2014, upon achieving certain trading prices of the underlying HSNi Reference Shares. Upon exchange, holders of HSNi Exchangeables will be entitled to receive the HSNi Reference Shares attributable to such HSNi Exchangeables or, at the election of Liberty LLC, cash or a combination of HSNi Reference Shares and cash having a value equal to such HSNi Reference Shares. For purposes of the HSNi Exchangeables, Liberty LLC is treated as an affiliate of HSNi under the Securities Act. Therefore, for as long as Liberty LLC is treated as an affiliate of HSNi for purposes of the HSNi Exchangeables, any reference shares consisting of HSNi common stock (or common stock of any other reference company of which Liberty LLC is treated as an affiliate for purposes of the HSNi Exchangeables) delivered by Liberty LLC upon exchange or purchase of a HSNi Exchangeables will be "restricted securities" under the Securities Act and subject to restrictions on transfer. Liberty LLC may deliver HSNi Reference Shares upon exchange or purchase of the HSNi Exchangeables only if (1) permitted under certain contractual arrangements between the Company and HSNi and (2) such Reference Shares would be freely transferable by the holders of the HSNi Reference Shares (other than by affiliates of HSNi) under the Securities Act, or if not freely transferable, there is at that time an effective registration statement under a registration rights agreement that Liberty LLC has with HSNi (or such other Reference Company) pursuant to which the recipients of such HSNi Reference Shares may sell those shares in a registered transaction under the Securities Act.
Liberty LLC will make an additional distribution on the HSNi Exchangeables if HSNi makes a distribution of cash (an “Excess Regular Cash Dividend”) in excess of the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.18, currently paid by the HSNi, securities (other than publicly traded common equity securities) or other property with respect to the HSNi Reference Shares. The principal amount of the HSNi Exchangeables will not be reduced by any amount we pay that corresponds to any Excess Regular Cash Dividends on the HSNi Reference Shares.
On October 5, 2016, Liberty LLC may, at its option, redeem the HSNi Exchangeables, in whole or in part, in each case at a redemption price, in cash, equal to the adjusted principal amount of the HSNi Exchangeables plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption plus any final period distribution. Additionally, as of such date, holders may tender HSNi Exchangeables for purchase by Liberty LLC, at a purchase price equal to the adjusted principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the purchase date plus any final period distribution. Liberty LLC may pay the purchase price, at its election, in cash or through delivery of HSNi Reference Shares (subject to the restrictions discussed previously ) having a value equal to the purchase price or a combination of HSNi Reference Shares and cash. If Liberty LLC makes a partial redemption, HSNi Exchangeables in an aggregate original principal amount of at least $100 million must remain outstanding.
Due to the restrictions on the delivery of HSNi shares and exchangeability of the debentures at the option of the holder beyond March 31, 2014, Liberty has classified the HSNi Exchangeables as a current liability in the Balance Sheet. Liberty has elected to account for the HSNi Exchangeables using the fair value option. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of this instrument are recognized as unrealized gains (losses) in the statements of operations.
Ventures Exchangeable Senior Debentures
During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, Liberty retired all outstanding 3.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2031. Liberty paid approximately $414 million to retire the outstanding principal balance.     
On April 9, 2013, Liberty's wholly owned subsidiary, Liberty Interactive LLC, called for the redemption of all the outstanding 3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2023 ("3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures") on May 9, 2013 (the "redemption date"). In accordance with the redemption provisions of the 3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures and the related indenture, the 3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures were redeemed at a redemption price of approximately $1,667 for each $1,000 principal amount outstanding, which was equal to the sum of (i) the adjusted principal amount of such debenture in effect on the redemption date, (ii) any accrued and unpaid interest on such debenture to the redemption date and (iii) subject to certain conditions, any final period distribution on such debenture. Interest on the debentures ceased accruing on and after the redemption date. Liberty had the option to satisfy the value of the exchange in cash, Time Warner Inc., Time Warner Cable Inc. and AOL, Inc. common stock, or a combination thereof. All of the outstanding 3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures were redeemed prior to June 30, 2013, using cash provided by the Debentures (defined below) and cash provided by the sale of shares of Time Warner Inc. and AOL, Inc. common stock.
Also on April 9, 2013, Liberty Interactive LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary Liberty, completed the offer and sale of $850 million aggregate original principal amount of Liberty Interactive LLC's 0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2043 (the “Debentures”) in a private placement transaction. The Debentures mature on March 30, 2043. Interest on the Debentures will accrue from April 9, 2013 at an annual rate of 0.75% of the original principal amount of $1,000 per Debenture, payable quarterly in arrears on March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30 of each year, commencing June 30, 2013. Each $1,000 original principal amount of Debentures is initially exchangeable for a basket of 6.3040 shares of common stock of Time Warner Cable Inc. and 5.1635 shares of common stock of Time Warner Inc., which may change over time to include other publicly traded common equity securities that may be distributed on or in respect of those shares of Time Warner Cable Inc. and Time Warner Inc. (or into which any of those securities may be converted or exchanged). This basket of shares for which each Debenture in the original principal amount of $1,000 may be exchanged is referred to as the Reference Shares attributable to such Debenture, and to each issuer of Reference Shares as a Reference Company. Each Debenture is exchangeable at the option of the holder at any time, upon which they will be entitled to receive the Reference Shares attributable to such Debenture or, at the election of Liberty Interactive LLC, cash or a combination of Reference Shares and cash having a value equal to such Reference Shares. Upon exchange, holders will not be entitled to any cash payment representing accrued interest or outstanding additional distributions. Liberty has elected to account for this instrument using the fair value option. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of this instrument are recognized as unrealized gains (losses) in the statements of operations.
Other Subsidiary Debt
Other subsidiary debt at September 30, 2013 is comprised of capitalized satellite transponder lease obligations and bank debt of certain subsidiaries.
Fair Value of Debt
Liberty estimates the fair value of its debt based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rate offered to Liberty for debt of the same remaining maturities (Level 2). The fair value of Liberty's publicly traded debt securities that are not reported at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2013 are as follows (amounts in millions):
Senior debentures
$
837

QVC senior secured notes
$
2,828


Due to the variable rate nature, Liberty believes that the carrying amount of its other debt, not discussed above, approximated fair value at September 30, 2013.