Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis Of Presentation

v2.4.0.8
Basis Of Presentation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation

(1)   Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Liberty Interactive Corporation and its controlled subsidiaries (collectively, "Liberty" or the "Company" unless the context otherwise requires). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Liberty, through its ownership of interests in subsidiaries and other companies, is primarily engaged in the video and on-line commerce industries in North America, Europe and Asia.

The accompanying (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and (b) the interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("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. 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's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

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. Liberty considers (i) fair value measurement, (ii) accounting for income taxes, (iii) assessments of other-than-temporary declines in fair value of its investments and (iv) estimates of retail-related adjustments and allowances to be its most significant estimates.

In May 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on revenue from contracts with customers.  The new guidance requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The updated guidance will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016.  The Company has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have its financial statements and related disclosures.

Liberty holds investments that are accounted for using the equity method. Liberty does not control the decision making process or business management practices of these affiliates. Accordingly, Liberty relies on management of these affiliates to provide it with accurate financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP that Liberty uses in the application of the equity method. In addition, Liberty relies on audit reports that are provided by the affiliates' independent auditors on the financial statements of such affiliates. The Company is not aware, however, of any errors in or possible misstatements of the financial information provided by its equity affiliates that would have a material effect on Liberty's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Liberty has entered into certain agreements with Liberty Media Corporation ("LMC"), a separate publicly traded company, neither of which has any stock ownership, beneficial or otherwise, in the other, in order to govern relationships between the companies. These agreements include a Reorganization Agreement, Services Agreement, Facilities Sharing Agreement and Tax Sharing Agreement.

The Reorganization Agreement provides for, among other things, provisions governing the relationship between Liberty and LMC, including certain cross-indemnities. Pursuant to the Services Agreement, LMC provides Liberty with certain general and administrative services including legal, tax, accounting, treasury and investor relations support. Liberty reimburses LMC for direct, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by LMC in providing these services and for Liberty's allocable portion of costs associated with any shared services or personnel based on an estimated percentage of time spent providing services to Liberty. Under the Facilities Sharing Agreement, LMC shares office space and related amenities at its corporate headquarters with Liberty. Under these various agreements,  approximately $4 million and $4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $9 million and $12 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, were reimbursable to LMC.  The Tax Sharing Agreement provides for the allocation and indemnification of tax liabilities and benefits between Liberty, LMC and Starz (former parent of LMC) and other agreements related to tax matters.

On July 30, 2014, Liberty announced the execution of a definitive agreement under which FTD Companies, Inc. ("FTD") will acquire Provide Commerce, Inc. (“Provide”), which is one of Liberty’s Digital Commerce businesses (as defined in note 2). Under the terms of the $430 million transaction, Liberty will receive 10.2 million shares of FTD common stock representing approximately 35% of the combined company and $121 million in cash. FTD and Liberty expect to complete the transaction by the end of 2014.  Upon completion of the transaction, Liberty expects to account for FTD as an equity-method affiliate based on the ownership level and board representation. Given our significant continuing involvement with FTD, Liberty will not present Provide as a discontinued operation upon completion of the transaction. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the assets and liabilities subject to the sale are comprised of the following (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Current assets

 

$

45 

 

87 

 

Property & Equipment, net

 

$

34 

 

32 

 

Goodwill

 

$

336 

 

338 

 

Trademarks

 

$

22 

 

22 

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

$

27 

 

31 

 

Other assets

 

$

14 

 

13 

 

Current liabilities

 

$

56 

 

91 

 

Net deferred tax liability

 

$

 

 

Other liabilities

 

$

16 

 

 

 

These net assets are not deemed material for isolated presentation as assets and liabilities held for sale in our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013. Accordingly, these net assets are included in the above captions in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.