Basis of Presentation |
9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2019 | |
| Basis of Presentation [Abstract] | |
| Basis of presentation |
Basis of Presentation
QVC, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (unless otherwise indicated or required by the context, the terms "we," "our," "QVC" or the "Company" refer to QVC, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries) is a retailer of a wide range of consumer products, which are marketed and sold primarily by merchandise-focused televised shopping programs, the Internet and mobile applications.
In the United States ("U.S."), QVC's televised shopping programs, including live and recorded content, are broadcast across multiple channels nationally on a full-time basis, including QVC, QVC2, QVC3, HSN and HSN2. During the first quarter of 2019, the Company transitioned its Beauty iQ broadcast channel to QVC 3 and Beauty iQ content was moved to a digital only platform. The Company's U.S. programming is also available on QVC.com and HSN.com, QVC's U.S. websites; mobile applications via streaming video; over-the-air broadcasters; and over-the-top content platforms (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Facebook, etc.).
QVC's digital platforms enable consumers to purchase goods offered on our broadcast programming, along with a wide assortment of products that are available only on QVC.com and HSN.com. QVC.com, HSN.com and our other digital platforms (including our mobile applications, social pages and others) are natural extensions of our business model, allowing customers to engage in our shopping experience wherever they are, with live or on-demand content customized to the device they are using. In addition to offering video content, QVC.com and HSN.com allow shoppers to browse, research, compare and perform targeted searches for products, read customer reviews, control the order-entry process and conveniently access their account.
Internationally, QVC's televised shopping programs, including live and recorded content, are distributed to households outside of the U.S., primarily in Germany, Austria, Japan, the United Kingdom ("U.K."), the Republic of Ireland and Italy. In some of the countries where QVC operates, QVC's televised shopping programs are broadcast across multiple QVC channels: QVC Style and QVC2 in Germany and QVC Beauty, QVC Extra and QVC Style in the U.K. Similar to the U.S., our international businesses also engage customers via websites, mobile applications, and social pages. QVC's international business employs product sourcing teams who select products tailored to the interests of each local market.
The Company's Japanese operations ("QVC-Japan") are conducted through a joint venture with Mitsui & Co., LTD ("Mitsui"). QVC-Japan is owned 60% by the Company and 40% by Mitsui. The Company and Mitsui share in all profits and losses based on their respective ownership interests. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, QVC-Japan paid dividends to Mitsui of $34 million and $23 million, respectively.
The Company also has a joint venture with CNR Media Group, formerly known as China Broadcasting Corporation, a limited liability company owned by China National Radio (''CNR''). The Company owns a 49% interest in a CNR subsidiary, CNR Home Shopping Co., Ltd. (''CNRS''). CNRS operates a retail business in China through a shopping television channel with an associated website. This joint venture is accounted for as an equity method investment recorded as equity in losses of investee in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
The Company is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Qurate Retail, Inc. ("Qurate Retail") (formerly Liberty Interactive Corporation) (Nasdaq: QRTEA and QRTEB), which owns interests in a broad range of digital commerce businesses, including Qurate Retail's other wholly-owned subsidiaries Zulily, LLC ("Zulily"), HSN, Inc. ("HSN") prior to the transfer of ownership of HSN to QVC (described below), Cornerstone Brands, Inc. (former subsidiary of HSN prior to the transfer of ownership of HSN to QVC, "CBI") and other minority investments. QVC is part of the Qurate Retail Group ("QRG"), formerly QVC Group, a portfolio of brands including QVC, HSN, Zulily and CBI. On March 9, 2018, Qurate Retail, GCI Liberty, Inc. ("GCI Liberty") (formerly General Communication, Inc.), an Alaska corporation, and Liberty Interactive LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Qurate Retail, completed the previously announced transactions whereby Qurate Retail acquired GCI Liberty through a reorganization in which certain assets and liabilities attributed to Qurate Retail’s Ventures Group were contributed to GCI Liberty in exchange for a controlling interest in GCI Liberty. Qurate Retail then effected a tax-free separation of its controlling interest in the combined company. Qurate Retail's QVC Group common stock became the only outstanding common stock of Qurate Retail.
On October 1, 2015, Qurate Retail acquired all of the outstanding shares of Zulily, an online retailer offering customers a fun and entertaining shopping experience with a fresh selection of new product styles launched each day for a limited time period. Zulily is not part of the results of operations or financial position of QVC presented in these condensed consolidated financial statements. During each of the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, QVC and Zulily engaged in multiple transactions relating to sales, sourcing of merchandise, marketing initiatives and business advisory services. QVC allocated expenses of $5 million and $4 million to Zulily for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Zulily allocated expenses of $7 million and $4 million to QVC for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
On December 31, 2018, QVC amended and restated its senior secured credit facility (the "Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement") increasing the revolving credit facility from $2.65 billion to $3.65 billion as explained further in note 6. The Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement includes a $400 million tranche that may be borrowed by QVC or Zulily. Under the terms of the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, QVC and Zulily are jointly and severally liable for all amounts borrowed on the $400 million tranche. In accordance with the accounting guidance for obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements, QVC will record a liability for amounts it has borrowed under the credit facility plus any additional amount it expects to repay on behalf of Zulily. As of September 30, 2019, there was $162 million borrowed by Zulily on the $400 million tranche of the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, none of which the Company expects to repay on behalf of Zulily.
On December 29, 2017, Qurate Retail completed the acquisition of the remaining 62% ownership interest of HSN that it did not already own in an all-stock transaction. On December 31, 2018, Qurate Retail transferred its 100% ownership interest in HSN to QVC through a transaction among entities under common control. As a result of the transaction, the assets and liabilities of HSN (excluding its ownership interest in CBI) were transferred from Qurate Retail at Qurate Retail's historical cost to QVC through an equity contribution. CBI remained a subsidiary of Qurate Retail outside of the QVC legal structure. Beginning January 1, 2019, the Company's U.S. operations and HSN were combined to form the "QxH" reportable operating segment (see note 12). As a result of the common control transaction with Qurate Retail, the Company retrospectively adjusted certain balances within the consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, in order to combine the financial results of the Company and HSN since Qurate Retail's acquisition of HSN on December 29, 2017. All periods presented are prepared on a combined basis and are referred to as the condensed consolidated financial statements herein. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
QVC engages with CBI, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qurate Retail and prior to the common control transaction between QVC and Qurate Retail, included as part of HSN. CBI is not part of the results of operations or financial position of QVC presented in these consolidated financial statements. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, QVC and CBI engaged in multiple transactions relating to sourcing of merchandise, personnel and business advisory services. QVC allocated expenses of $20 million and $38 million to CBI for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. CBI allocated expenses of $1 million and $4 million to QVC for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In the third quarter of 2018, CBI forgave $9 million in intercompany interest payable from HSN, which HSN had previously recorded as interest expense, net during the six months ending June 30, 2018. CBI also repaid a $29 million note receivable to QVC during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
On October 2018, QRG announced a series of initiatives designed to better position its QxH businesses (“QRG Initiatives”). As part of the QRG Initiatives, QVC will close its fulfillment centers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Roanoke, Virginia and has entered into an agreement to lease a new fulfillment center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (see note 7).
In the fourth quarter of 2018, QVC announced the potential closure of its operations in France. The formal announcement to execute the closure was made in March 2019 and broadcasting for QVC in France was subsequently terminated on March 13, 2019.
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of QVC, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions were eliminated in consolidation.
The accompanying (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018, 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 ("U.S. 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 U.S. 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. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in QVC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent 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. Estimates include, but are not limited to, sales returns, uncollectible receivables, inventory obsolescence, internally-developed software, valuation of acquired intangible assets and goodwill and income taxes.
Adoption of new accounting pronouncements
In February 2016 and subsequently, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new guidance which revises the accounting related to lessee accounting as part of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 842. Under the new guidance, lessees are required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for most operating leases. The new lease guidance also simplifies the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions primarily because lessees must recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. The Company adopted ASC 842 on January 1, 2019 utilizing the modified retrospective transition approach and did not restate comparative periods. The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which allows it to carry forward its historical lease classification, its determination regarding whether a contract contains a lease and any initial indirect costs that had existed prior to the adoption of this new standard. The Company also elected to combine both lease and non-lease components and elected for all short leases with a term of less than 12 months to not record a related operating lease right-of-use asset and operating lease liability on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company recognized $92 million of operating lease right-of-use assets, $18 million in short-term operating lease liabilities and $87 million of long-term operating lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet upon adoption of the new standard. The operating lease liabilities were determined based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments and the operating lease right-of-use asset was determined based on the value of the lease liabilities, adjusted for deferred rent balances of $13 million, which were previously included in accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities.
Accounting pronouncements issued but not adopted
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), which addresses the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate tax rate due to the enactment of the December 22, 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on items within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Company has elected not to adopt this guidance as there would have been no significant effect of the standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles- Goodwill and Other- Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The guidance will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
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