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Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                to                

Commission File Number 001-36713

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

State of Delaware

47-1211994

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

12300 Liberty Boulevard
Englewood, Colorado

80112

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (720875-5700

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Series A common stock

LBRDA

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Series C common stock

LBRDK

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Series A Cumulative Redeemable preferred stock

LBRDP

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes     No 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes     No 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer 

Accelerated Filer 

Non-accelerated Filer 

Smaller Reporting Company 

Emerging Growth Company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Yes     No 

The number of outstanding shares of Liberty Broadband Corporation’s common stock as of April 30, 2021 was:

Series A

Series B

Series C

Liberty Broadband Corporation common stock

26,495,671

2,549,048

160,240,257

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Part I - Financial Information

f

Page No

Item 1. Financial Statements

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

I-2

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

I-4

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) (unaudited)

I-5

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

I-6

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (unaudited)

I-7

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

I-8

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

I-26

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

I-39

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

I-41

Part II - Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

II-1

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

II-2

Item 6. Exhibits

II-3

SIGNATURES

II-4

I-1

Table of Contents

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(unaudited)

March 31,

December 31,

2021

2020

 

amounts in thousands

 

Assets

    

    

    

    

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,177,161

 

1,417,802

Trade and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $537 and $10, respectively

201,228

349,256

Other current assets

 

82,954

 

79,453

Total current assets

 

1,461,343

 

1,846,511

Investment in Charter, accounted for using the equity method (note 5)

 

15,734,862

 

16,178,939

Property and equipment, net

1,071,969

1,098,512

Intangible assets not subject to amortization

Goodwill

764,686

745,577

Cable certificates

550,000

560,000

Other

36,500

21,500

Intangible assets subject to amortization, net (note 6)

624,956

674,049

Tax sharing receivable

86,260

94,549

Other assets, net

 

160,466

 

151,487

Total assets

$

20,491,042

 

21,371,124

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

I-2

Table of Contents

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Continued)

(unaudited)

March 31,

December 31,

2021

2020

 

amounts in thousands,

 

except share amounts

Liabilities and Equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$

198,045

 

97,933

Deferred revenue

 

22,244

 

24,926

Current portion of debt, including $24,741 and $26,350 measured at fair value, respectively (note 7)

29,425

31,026

Indemnification obligation (note 4)

292,873

344,643

Other current liabilities

133,499

113,234

Total current liabilities

 

676,086

 

611,762

Long-term debt, net, including $1,399,600 and $1,445,775 measured at fair value, respectively (note 7)

4,557,172

4,785,207

Obligations under finance leases and tower obligations, excluding current portion

91,524

92,840

Long-term deferred revenue

38,278

39,649

Deferred income tax liabilities

1,974,045

1,977,643

Preferred stock (note 8)

202,795

202,917

Other liabilities

140,910

146,687

Total liabilities

 

7,680,810

 

7,856,705

Equity

Series A common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 26,495,557 and 26,495,249 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

265

265

Series B common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 18,750,000 shares; issued and outstanding 2,549,162 and 2,549,470 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

25

25

Series C common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 162,652,971 and 167,480,926 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

1,627

1,675

Additional paid-in capital

9,563,275

10,319,754

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes

 

15,597

 

15,436

Retained earnings

 

3,217,724

 

3,165,504

Total stockholders' equity

12,798,513

13,502,659

Non-controlling interests

11,719

11,760

Total equity

 

12,810,232

 

13,514,419

Commitments and contingencies (note 10)

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

$

20,491,042

 

21,371,124

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

Three months ended 

 

March 31,

 

2021

    

2020

 

amounts in thousands, except per share amounts

Revenue

$

246,534

4,104

Operating costs and expenses

Operating, including stock-based compensation (note 9)

69,178

2,468

Selling, general and administrative, including stock-based compensation and transaction costs (note 9)

104,473

8,418

Depreciation and amortization

63,762

493

Litigation settlement

110,000

347,413

11,379

Operating income (loss)

(100,879)

(7,275)

Other income (expense):

Interest expense (including amortization of deferred loan fees)

(33,143)

(5,861)

Share of earnings (losses) of affiliates (note 5)

188,979

61,682

Gain (loss) on dilution of investment in affiliate (note 5)

(82,215)

(59,325)

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net (note 4)

99,348

Other, net

(8,126)

163

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

63,964

(10,616)

Income tax (expense) benefit

(11,785)

2,774

Net earnings (loss)

52,179

(7,842)

Less net earnings (loss) attributable to the non-controlling interests

(41)

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Broadband shareholders

$

52,220

(7,842)

Basic net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, Series B and Series C Liberty Broadband shareholders per common share (note 2)

$

0.27

(0.04)

Diluted net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, Series B and Series C Liberty Broadband shareholders per common share (note 2)

$

0.27

(0.04)

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (Loss)

(unaudited)

Three months ended 

 

March 31,

 

2021

    

2020

 

amounts in thousands

 

Net earnings (loss)

    

$

52,179

(7,842)

Other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of taxes:

Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to debt credit risk adjustments

161

Other

Other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of taxes

161

Comprehensive earnings (loss)

52,340

(7,842)

Less comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to the non-controlling interests

(41)

Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Broadband shareholders

$

52,381

(7,842)

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

Three months ended

March 31,

 

2021

2020

 

amounts in thousands

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

    

    

    

Net earnings (loss)

$

52,179

 

(7,842)

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

 

63,762

 

493

Stock-based compensation

 

9,870

 

1,801

Litigation settlement

110,000

Share of (earnings) losses of affiliate, net

 

(188,979)

 

(61,682)

(Gain) loss on dilution of investment in affiliate

 

82,215

 

59,325

Realized and unrealized (gains) losses on financial instruments, net

 

(99,348)

 

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

 

10,669

 

(2,774)

Other, net

 

(739)

 

436

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Current and other assets

 

164,639

 

(192)

Payables and other liabilities

 

(11,304)

 

(4,066)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

192,964

 

(14,501)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Capital expended for property and equipment

(28,617)

(15)

Exercise of preemptive right to purchase Charter shares

(14,910)

Cash received for Charter shares repurchased by Charter

518,405

Other investing activities, net

141

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

489,929

(14,925)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Repayments of debt, finance leases and tower obligations

(182,571)

Repurchases of Liberty Broadband common stock

(738,411)

Other financing activities, net

 

(2,481)

 

(1,941)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

(923,463)

 

(1,941)

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(240,570)

 

(31,367)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

1,433,292

49,724

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$

1,192,722

18,357

The following table reconciles cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets to the total amount presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of cash flows:

March 31,

December 31,

2021

2020

amounts in thousands

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,177,161

1,417,802

Restricted cash included in other current assets

15,561

15,490

Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

1,192,722

1,433,292

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity

(unaudited)

Accumulated

Noncontrolling

Additional

other

interest in

Common stock

paid-in

comprehensive

Retained

equity of

Series A

  

Series B

  

Series C

  

capital

earnings

earnings

subsidiaries

Total equity

amounts in thousands

Balance at January 1, 2021

    

$

265

25

1,675

10,319,754

    

15,436

    

3,165,504

11,760

    

13,514,419

Net earnings (loss)

 

 

52,220

(41)

 

52,179

Other comprehensive loss

161

161

Stock-based compensation

9,859

9,859

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options

151

151

Withholding taxes on net share settlements of stock-based compensation

(2,631)

(2,631)

Series C Liberty Broadband stock repurchases

(48)

(738,363)

(738,411)

Noncontrolling interest activity at Charter and other

(25,495)

(25,495)

Balance at March 31, 2021

$

265

25

1,627

9,563,275

 

15,597

 

3,217,724

11,719

 

12,810,232

Accumulated

Additional

other

Common stock

paid-in

comprehensive

Retained

Series A

  

Series B

  

Series C

  

capital

earnings

earnings

Total equity

amounts in thousands

Balance at January 1, 2020

$

265

25

1,529

7,890,084

8,158

2,767,885

10,667,946

Net earnings (loss)

(7,842)

(7,842)

Stock-based compensation

1,805

1,805

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options

1

3

4

Withholding taxes on net share settlements of stock-based compensation

(1,944)

(1,944)

Noncontrolling interest activity at Charter

(12,998)

(12,998)

Balance at March 31, 2020

$

265

25

1,530

7,876,950

8,158

2,760,043

10,646,971

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

(1) Basis of Presentation

Liberty Broadband Corporation (“Liberty Broadband”, “the Company,” “us,” “we” and “our”), is primarily comprised of a wholly owned subsidiary, GCI Holdings, LLC (“GCI Holdings”) (as of December 18, 2020) and an equity method investment in Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”).  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”).

On December 18, 2020, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 6, 2020, entered into by GCI Liberty, Inc. (“GCI Liberty”), Liberty Broadband, Grizzly Merger Sub 1, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband (“Merger LLC”), and Grizzly Merger Sub 2, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Merger LLC (“Merger Sub”), Merger Sub merged with and into GCI Liberty (the “First Merger”), with GCI Liberty surviving the First Merger as an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband (the “Surviving Corporation”), and immediately following the First Merger, GCI Liberty (as the Surviving Corporation in the First Merger) merged with and into Merger LLC (the “Upstream Merger”, and together with the First Merger, the “Combination”), with Merger LLC surviving the Upstream Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband.

As a result of the Combination, each holder of a share of Series A common stock and Series B common stock of GCI Liberty received 0.58 of a share of Series C common stock and Series B common stock, respectively, of Liberty Broadband.  Additionally, each holder of a share of Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of GCI Liberty (“GCI Liberty Preferred Stock”) received one share of newly issued Liberty Broadband Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock”), which has substantially identical terms to GCI Liberty’s former Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, including a mandatory redemption date of March 9, 2039. Cash was paid in lieu of issuing fractional shares of Liberty Broadband stock in the Combination. No shares of Liberty Broadband stock were issued with respect to shares of GCI Liberty capital stock held by (i) GCI Liberty as treasury stock, (ii) any of GCI Liberty’s wholly owned subsidiaries or (iii) Liberty Broadband or its wholly owned subsidiaries.

The accompanying (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, 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, 2020. 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 affiliates, (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

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

stay-at-home orders, closing public attractions and restaurants, and mandating social distancing practices, which has caused a significant disruption to most sectors of the economy.

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.  Liberty Broadband holds an investment in Charter that 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.

Spin-Off Arrangements

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., GCI Liberty, 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 18% for the Company but subject to adjustment on an annual basis upon the occurrence of certain events. Following the Combination, GCI Liberty no longer participates in the services agreement arrangement.

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 $3.5 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  Liberty Broadband had a tax sharing receivable with Qurate Retail of $110.0 million and $119.0 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, of which $23.7 million and $24.4 million was in Other current assets as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

(2) Earnings Attributable to Liberty Broadband Stockholders Per Common Share

Basic earnings (loss) per common share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Broadband shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (“WASO”) for the period. Diluted EPS presents the dilutive effect on a per share basis of potential common shares as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented.  Excluded from diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are 893 thousand and zero potential common shares, respectively, because their inclusion would have been antidilutive.

Liberty Broadband Common Stock

Three months

Three months

 

ended

ended

    

March 31, 2021

    

March 31, 2020

 

(numbers of shares in thousands)

Basic WASO

 

194,433

 

181,902

Potentially dilutive shares (1)

 

1,681

 

906

Diluted WASO

 

196,114

 

182,808

(1)   Potentially dilutive shares are excluded from the computation of diluted EPS during periods in which losses are reported since the result would be antidilutive.

(3) Acquisition

On December 18, 2020, the Company completed the Combination with GCI Liberty.  The Company accounted for the Combination using the acquisition method of accounting.  

The following details the acquisition consideration as of December 18, 2020 (amounts in thousands), which is primarily based on level 1 inputs:

Fair value of newly issued Liberty Broadband Series C and B common stock 1

$

9,695,184

Fair value of newly issued Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock 2

202,944

Fair value of share-based payment replacement awards 3

104,683

Total fair value of consideration

10,002,811

Less: Fair value of Liberty Broadband shares attributable to share repurchase 4

(6,738,609)

Total fair value of consideration attributable to business combination

3,264,202

Less: Fair value of newly issued Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock2

(202,944)

Less: Fair value of share-based payment replacement awards accounted for as liability awards

(1,309)

Total fair value of acquisition consideration to be allocated

$

3,059,949

(1)The fair value of newly issued Series C and B Liberty Broadband common stock was calculated by multiplying (i) the outstanding shares of GCI Liberty Series A and B common stock as of December 18, 2020 (ii) the exchange ratio of 0.580, and (iii) the closing share price of Liberty Broadband Series C and B common stock on December 18, 2020. Liberty Broadband issued 61.3 million shares of Series C common stock and 98 thousand shares of Series B common stock.

(2)The fair value of the newly issued Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock was calculated by multiplying (i) the outstanding shares of GCI Liberty Preferred Stock as of December 18, 2020, and (ii) the closing share price of GCI

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

Liberty Preferred Stock on December 18, 2020.  The GCI Liberty Preferred Stock was converted on a one to one ratio into Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock.  

(3)This amount represents the fair value of share-based payment replacement awards.

(4)GCI Liberty owned approximately 42.7 million shares of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock.  The acquisition of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock is accounted for as a share repurchase by Liberty Broadband.  This amount was calculated by multiplying (i) the number of shares of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock owned by GCI Liberty as of December 18, 2020 and (ii) the closing share price of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock on December 18, 2020.

The application of the acquisition method resulted in the assignment of purchase price to the GCI Liberty assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on preliminary estimates of their acquisition date fair values (primarily level 3). The determination of the fair values of the acquired assets and liabilities (and the determination of estimated lives of depreciable tangible and identifiable intangible assets) requires significant judgment.

The preliminary acquisition purchase price allocation for GCI Liberty is as follows (amounts in thousands):

Cash and cash equivalents including restricted cash

    

$

592,240

Receivables

 

339,061

Property and equipment

 

1,108,588

Goodwill

 

758,189

Investment in Charter

3,493,677

Intangible assets not subject to amortization

 

586,500

Intangible assets subject to amortization

 

638,855

Other assets

 

302,570

Deferred revenue

 

(60,292)

Debt, including obligations under tower and finance leases

 

(2,772,147)

Indemnification liability

(336,141)

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

(1,018,993)

Preferred stock

 

(202,944)

Non-controlling interest

 

(11,771)

Other liabilities

 

(357,443)

$

3,059,949

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the identifiable net assets acquired and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce, value associated with future customers, continued innovation and non-contractual relationships. Amortizable intangible assets of $638.9 million were acquired and are comprised of customer relationships with a weighted average useful life of approximately 14 years and right-to-use assets with a weighted average useful life of approximately 12 years. Approximately $134.3 million of the acquired goodwill will be deductible for income tax purposes. As of March 31, 2021, the valuation related to the acquisition of GCI Liberty is not final, and the acquisition price allocation is preliminary and subject to revision.  The primary areas of our acquisition price allocation that changed from the initial allocation relate to an increase to property and equipment of $3.5 million, an increase to goodwill of $19.1 million, an increase to intangible assets not subject to amortization of $5.0 million, a decrease to intangible assets subject to amortization of $35.0 million and an increase to deferred income tax liabilities of $7.4 million. The primary areas of the acquisition price allocation that are not yet finalized are related to property and equipment, intangible assets, liabilities, deferred income tax liabilities, and discount rates used to determine the fair value of intangible assets.  

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

The unaudited pro forma revenue, net earnings and basic and diluted net earnings per common share of Liberty Broadband, prepared utilizing the historical financial statements of Liberty Broadband, giving effect to acquisition accounting related adjustments made at the time of acquisition, as if the acquisition discussed above occurred on January 1, 2019, are as follows:

Three months ended 

March 31, 2020

amounts in thousands,

except per share amounts

Revenue

$

238,383

Net earnings (loss)

$

12,318

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Broadband shareholders

$

12,343

Basic net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, Series B and Series C Liberty Broadband shareholders per common share

$

0.07

Diluted net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, Series B and Series C Liberty Broadband shareholders per common share

$

0.07

The pro forma results include adjustments directly attributable to the business combination including adjustments related to the amortization of acquired tangible and intangible assets, revenue, interest expense, stock-based compensation, and the exclusion of transaction related costs. The pro forma information is not representative of the Company’s future results of operations nor does it reflect what the Company’s results of operations would have been if the acquisition had occurred previously and the Company consolidated the results of GCI Liberty during the period presented.

(4) Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

For assets and liabilities required to be reported at fair value, GAAP provides a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs, other than quoted market prices included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. The Company does not have any recurring assets or liabilities measured at fair value that would be considered Level 3.

The Company’s assets and (liabilities) measured at fair value are as follows:

March 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

 

Quoted prices

Significant

Quoted prices

Significant

 

in active

other

in active

other

 

markets for

observable

markets for

observable

 

identical assets

inputs

identical assets

inputs

 

Description

Total

(Level 1)

(Level 2)

Total

(Level 1)

(Level 2)

 

amounts in thousands

 

Cash equivalents

$

1,108,784

1,108,784

1,368,176

1,368,176

Indemnification obligation

$

292,873

292,873

344,643

344,643

Exchangeable senior debentures

$

1,424,341

1,424,341

1,472,125

1,472,125

Pursuant to an indemnification agreement initially entered into by GCI Liberty and assumed by Liberty Broadband in connection with the Combination,  Liberty Broadband has agreed to indemnify Liberty Interactive LLC (“LI LLC”), a subsidiary of Qurate Retail, for certain payments made to holders of LI LLC’s 1.75% exchangeable debentures due 2046 (the

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Table of Contents

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

"LI LLC 1.75% Exchangeable Debentures"). An indemnity obligation in the amount of $336.1 million was recorded upon completion of the Combination. The indemnification liability due to LI LLC pertains to the holders’ ability to exercise their exchange right according to the terms of the LI LLC 1.75% Exchangeable Debentures on or before October 5, 2023. Such amount will equal the difference between the exchange value and par value of the LI LLC 1.75% Exchangeable Debentures at the time the exchange occurs. The indemnification obligation recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2021 represents the fair value of the estimated exchange feature included in the LI LLC 1.75% Exchangeable Debentures primarily based on observable market data as significant inputs (Level 2). As of March 31, 2021, a holder of the LI LLC 1.75% Exchangeable Debentures has the ability to exchange and, accordingly, such indemnification obligation is included as a current liability in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Company’s exchangeable senior debentures are debt instruments with quoted market value prices that are not considered to be traded on “active markets”, as defined in GAAP, and are reported in the foregoing table as Level 2 fair value.

Other Financial Instruments

Other financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis include trade receivables, trade payables, accrued and other current liabilities, current portion of debt (with the exception of the 1.75% Debentures (defined in note 7)) and long-term debt (with the exception of the 1.25% Debentures and the 2.75% Debentures (defined in note 7)). With the exception of long-term debt, the carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments as reported on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The carrying value of our long-term debt bears interest at a variable rate and therefore is also considered to approximate fair value.

Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Financial Instruments

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments are comprised of changes in the fair value of the following:

Three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2021

2020

 

amounts in thousands

 

Indemnification obligation

$

51,770

Exchangeable senior debentures (1)

47,578

$

99,348

(1)The Company has elected to account for its exchangeable senior debentures using the fair value option.  Changes in the fair value of the exchangeable senior debentures recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations are primarily due to market factors driven by changes in the fair value of the underlying shares into which debt is exchangeable. The Company isolates the portion of the unrealized gain (loss) attributable to the change in the instrument specific credit risk and recognizes such amount in other comprehensive income. The change in the fair value of the exchangeable senior debentures attributable to changes in the instrument specific credit risk before tax was a gain of $205 thousand and zero for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  The cumulative change was a gain of $8.8 million as of March 31, 2021.

(5) Investment in Charter Accounted for Using the Equity Method

Through a number of prior years’ transactions and the Combination, Liberty Broadband has acquired an interest in Charter. The investment in Charter is accounted for as an equity method affiliate based on our voting and ownership interest and the board seats held by individuals appointed by Liberty Broadband. As of March 31, 2021, the carrying and market value of Liberty Broadband’s ownership in Charter was approximately $15,735 million and $36,177 million, respectively.  

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

We own an approximate 31.1% economic ownership interest in Charter, based on shares of Charter’s Class A common stock issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021.  

Upon the closing of the Time Warner Cable merger, the Second Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2015, by and among Charter, Liberty Broadband and Advance/Newhouse Partnership ("A/N"), as amended (the “Stockholders Agreement”), became fully effective. Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, Liberty Broadband’s equity ownership in Charter (on a fully diluted basis) is capped at the greater of 26% or the voting cap (“Equity Cap”).  As of March 31, 2021, due to Liberty Broadband’s voting interest exceeding the current voting cap of 25.01%, our voting control of the aggregate voting power of Charter is 25.01%. Under the Stockholders Agreement, Liberty Broadband has agreed to vote (subject to certain exceptions) all voting securities beneficially owned by it, or over which it has voting discretion or control that are in excess of the voting cap in the same proportion as all other votes cast by public stockholders of Charter with respect to the applicable matter.

In February 2021, Liberty Broadband was notified that its ownership interest, on a fully diluted basis, had exceeded the Equity Cap set forth in the Stockholders Agreement.  On February 23, 2021, Charter and Liberty Broadband entered into a letter agreement in order to implement, facilitate and satisfy the terms of the Stockholders Agreement with respect to the Equity Cap. Pursuant to this letter agreement, following any month during which Charter purchases, redeems or buys back shares of its Class A common stock, and prior to certain meetings of Charter’s stockholders, Liberty Broadband will be obligated to sell to Charter, and Charter will be obligated to purchase, such number of shares of Class A common stock as is necessary (if any) to reduce Liberty Broadband’s percentage equity interest, on a fully diluted basis, to the Equity Cap (such transaction, a “Charter Repurchase”). The per share sale price for each share of Charter will be equal to the volume weighted average price paid by Charter in its repurchases, redemptions and buybacks of its common stock (subject to certain exceptions) during the month prior to the Charter Repurchase (or, if applicable, during the relevant period prior to the relevant meeting of Charter stockholders). Under the terms of the letter agreement, Liberty Broadband sold 834,576 shares of Charter Class A common stock to Charter for $518.4 million in March 2021 to maintain our fully diluted ownership percentage at 26%.  Subsequent to March 31, 2021, Liberty Broadband sold 735,209 shares of Charter Class A common stock to Charter for $459.7 million in April 2021.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, Liberty Broadband exercised its preemptive right to purchase an aggregate of approximately 35 thousand shares of Charter’s Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $14.9 million.

Investment in Charter

The excess basis in our investment in Charter of $9,210 million as of March 31, 2021 is allocated within memo accounts used for equity method accounting purposes as follows (amounts in millions):

March 31,

December 31,

2021

2020

Property and equipment

    

$

766

733

Customer relationships

 

2,769

2,726

Franchise fees

 

3,849

3,693

Trademarks

 

29

29

Goodwill

 

4,116

3,934

Debt

 

(626)

(602)

Deferred income tax liability

 

(1,693)

(1,641)

$

9,210

8,872

Property and equipment and customer relationships have weighted average remaining useful lives of approximately 6 years and 10 years, respectively, and franchise fees, trademarks and goodwill have indefinite lives. The excess basis of

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

outstanding debt is amortized over the contractual period using the straight-line method. The increase in excess basis for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily due to Charter’s share buyback program, partially offset by Liberty Broadband’s participation in Charter’s share buyback program. The Company’s share of earnings (losses) of affiliates line item in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations includes expenses of $57.9 million and $40.1 million, net of related taxes, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, due to the amortization of the excess basis related to assets with identifiable useful lives and debt.  

The Company had a dilution loss of $82.2 million and $59.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The dilution losses for the periods presented were attributable to stock option exercises by employees and other third parties at prices below Liberty Broadband’s book basis per share, slightly offset by a gain on dilution related to Charter’s repurchase of Liberty Broadband’s Charter shares during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Summarized unaudited financial information for Charter is as follows (amounts in millions):

Charter condensed consolidated balance sheets

    

March 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

 

Current assets

$

3,663

3,909

Property and equipment, net

 

34,184

34,357

Goodwill

 

29,554

29,554

Intangible assets, net

 

72,507

72,937

Other assets

 

3,531

3,449

Total assets

$

143,439

144,206

Current liabilities

$

9,916

9,875

Deferred income taxes

 

18,227

18,108

Long-term debt

 

83,882

81,744

Other liabilities

 

4,233

4,198

Equity

 

27,181

30,281

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

143,439

144,206

Charter condensed consolidated statements of operations

Three months ended

March 31,

2021

2020

Revenue

$

12,522

11,738

Cost and expenses:

Operating costs and expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)

 

7,711

7,432

Depreciation and amortization

 

2,441

2,497

Other operating expenses, net

 

302

7

10,454

9,936

Operating income

2,068

1,802

Interest expense, net

 

(983)

(980)

Other income (expense), net

52

(326)

Income tax (expense) benefit

 

(216)

(29)

Net income (loss)

921

467

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

(114)

(71)

Net income (loss) attributable to Charter shareholders

$

807

396

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

(6) Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization, net

    

March 31, 2021

    

December 31, 2020

Gross

Net

Gross

Net

carrying

Accumulated

carrying

carrying

Accumulated

carrying

    

amount

    

amortization

    

amount

    

amount

    

amortization

    

amount

amounts in thousands

Customer relationships

$

515,000

(14,975)

500,025

560,212

(13,687)

546,525

Other amortizable intangibles

 

133,840

(8,909)

124,931

 

137,315

(9,791)

127,524

Total

$

648,840

(23,884)

624,956

697,527

(23,478)

674,049

Amortization expense for intangible assets with finite useful lives was $18.6 million and $437.0 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is estimated to be (amounts in thousands):

Remainder of 2021

$

55,172

2022

$

63,880

2023

$

57,570

2024

$

51,698

2025

$

50,246

(7) Debt

Debt is summarized as follows:

    

Outstanding

    

    

    

    

 

principal

Carrying value

 

March 31,

March 31,

December 31,

 

        

2021

    

2021

        

2020

 

 

amounts in thousands

Margin Loan Facility

$

2,000,000

 

2,000,000

 

2,000,000

2.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050

 

575,000

 

588,064

 

608,804

1.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050

825,000

811,536

836,971

1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046

14,536

24,741

26,350

Senior notes

 

600,000

 

634,697

 

635,683

Senior credit facility

 

523,000

 

523,000

 

704,000

Wells Fargo note payable

 

6,273

 

6,273

 

6,442

Deferred financing costs

 

 

(1,714)

 

(2,017)

Total debt

$

4,543,809

 

4,586,597

 

4,816,233

Debt classified as current

 

 

(29,425)

 

(31,026)

Total long-term debt

$

4,557,172

 

4,785,207

Margin Loan Facility

On August 12, 2020, a bankruptcy remote wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“SPV”), entered into Amendment No. 3 to its multi-draw margin loan credit facility and Amendment No. 2 to its Collateral Account Control Agreement (the “Third Amendment”), which amends SPV’s margin loan agreement, dated as of August 31, 2017 (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Margin Loan Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2018, and as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to Margin Loan Agreement and Amendment No. 1 to Collateral Account Control Agreement, dated August 19, 2019, the

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

“Existing Margin Loan Agreement”; the Existing Margin Loan Agreement, as amended by the Third Amendment, the “Margin Loan Agreement”), with Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the administrative agent, BNP Paribas, as the calculation agent, and the lenders party thereto.  The Margin Loan Agreement provides for, among other things, a multi-draw term loan credit facility (the “Margin Loan Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of up to $2.3 billion, including the Incremental Facility (as defined below).  SPV’s obligations under the Margin Loan Facility are secured by first priority liens on the shares of Charter owned by SPV.

SPV drew down an additional $25 million on July 31, 2020 and an additional $100 million on August 20, 2020 on the Margin Loan Facility.  Upon the completion of the Combination on December 18, 2020, SPV borrowed an additional $1.3 billion on the Margin Loan Facility in order to repay an existing margin loan at GCI Liberty (the “Incremental Facility”).  Outstanding borrowings under the Margin Loan Facility were $2.0 billion at both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2021, SPV was permitted to borrow an additional $300.0 million, subject to certain funding conditions, which may be drawn through August 12, 2021. The maturity date of the loans under the Margin Loan Agreement is August 24, 2022 (except for any additional loans incurred thereunder to the extent SPV and the incremental lenders agree to a later maturity date). Prior to the completion of the Combination, borrowings under the Margin Loan Agreement bore interest at the three-month LIBOR rate plus a per annum spread of 1.5%, which increased to a per annum spread of 1.85% from and after the completion of the Combination. The Margin Loan Agreement also provides for customary LIBOR replacement provisions.

The Margin Loan Agreement contains various affirmative and negative covenants that restrict the activities of the SPV (and, in some cases, the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to shares of Charter owned by the Company and its subsidiaries). The Margin Loan Agreement does not include any financial covenants.  The Margin Loan Agreement also contains restrictions related to additional indebtedness and events of default customary for margin loans of this type.

SPV’s obligations under the Margin Loan Agreement are secured by first priority liens on a portion of the Company’s ownership interest in Charter, sufficient for SPV to meet the loan to value requirements under the Margin Loan Agreement. The Margin Loan Agreement indicates that no lender party shall have any voting rights with respect to the shares transferred, except to the extent that a lender party buys any shares in a sale or other disposition made pursuant to the terms of the loan agreements. As of March 31, 2021, 12.3 million shares of Charter with a value of $7.6 billion were pledged as collateral pursuant to the Margin Loan Agreement.

Exchangeable Senior Debentures

The Company has elected to account for all of its exchangeable senior debentures at fair value in its condensed consolidated financial statements.  Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these instruments are recognized in unrealized gains (losses) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.  See note 4 for information related to unrealized gains (losses) on debt measured at fair value.  As of March 31, 2021, a holder of the Company’s 2.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050 (the “2.75% Debentures”) or a holder of the Company’s 1.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050 (the “1.25% Debentures) does not have the ability to exchange and, accordingly, the 2.75% Debentures and 1.25% Debentures are classified as long-term debt in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  As of March 31, 2021, the holders of the 1.75% exchangeable senior debentures due 2046 (the “1.75% Debentures), which were issued by GCI Liberty and assumed in connection with the closing of the Combination, will have the ability to exchange their debentures for the period from April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 given that the trading value of the reference shares exceeded 130% of the par value for twenty of the last thirty trading days in the fourth quarter of 2020.  Given the holders’ ability to exchange the debentures within a one-year period from the balance sheet date and the Company’s option to settle any exchange in cash, shares of Charter Class A common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of Charter Class A common stock, the 1.75% Debentures have been classified as current within the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2021. The Company reviews the terms of all the debentures on a quarterly basis to determine whether an event has occurred to require current classification on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

Senior Notes

In connection with the closing of the Combination on December 18, 2020, GCI, LLC became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.  GCI, LLC is the issuer of $600.0 million 4.75% senior notes due 2028 (the “Senior Notes”).  The Senior Notes were issued by GCI, LLC on October 7, 2020 and are unsecured.  Interest on the Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. The Senior Notes are redeemable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at a redemption price defined in the respective indentures, and accrued and unpaid interest (if any) to the date of redemption. The Senior Notes are stated net of an aggregate unamortized premium of $34.7 million at March 31, 2021. Such premium is being amortized to interest expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Senior Credit Facility

In connection with the closing of the Combination on December 18, 2020, GCI, LLC became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.  GCI, LLC is the borrower under the Senior Credit Facility (as defined below).

On October 15, 2020, GCI, LLC entered into a Seventh Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Senior Credit Facility”), which includes a $550.0 million revolving credit facility, with a $25 million sub-limit for standby letters of credit, and a $400.0 million Term Loan B. The borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility bear interest at either the alternate base rate or LIBOR (based on an interest period selected by GCI, LLC of one month, two months, three months or six months) at the election of GCI, LLC in each case plus a margin. The revolving credit facility borrowings that are alternate base rate loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the alternate base rate plus a margin that varies between 0.50% and 1.75% depending on GCI, LLC’s total leverage ratio. The revolving credit facility borrowings that are LIBOR loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR plus a margin that varies between 1.50% and 2.75% depending on GCI, LLC’s total leverage ratio. Term Loan B borrowings that are alternate base rate loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the alternate base rate plus a margin of 1.75%. Term Loan B borrowings that are LIBOR loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75% with a LIBOR floor of 0.75%.

The borrowings under the revolving credit facility and the Term Loan B are scheduled to mature on October 15, 2025; provided that, if the Term Loan B is not refinanced or repaid in full prior to April 15, 2025, then the borrowings under the revolving credit facility will mature on April 15, 2025. Principal payments are due quarterly on the Term Loan B equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount. The loans are subject to customary mandatory prepayment provisions. Each loan may be prepaid at any time and from time to time without penalty other than customary breakage costs and, in the case of the Term Loan B, subject to a customary six month “soft call.” Any amounts prepaid on the revolving credit facility may be reborrowed.

GCI, LLC’s Senior Credit Facility Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility) may not exceed 6.50 to 1.00, the Secured Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility) may not exceed 4.50 to 1.00 and the First Lien Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility) may not exceed 4.00 to 1.00.

The terms of the Senior Credit Facility include customary representations and warranties, customary affirmative and negative covenants and customary events of default. At any time after the occurrence of an event of default under the Senior Credit Facility, the lenders may, among other options, declare any amounts outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility immediately due and payable and terminate any commitment to make further loans under the Senior Credit Facility. The obligations under the Senior Credit Facility are secured by a security interest on substantially all of the assets of GCI Holdings and the subsidiary guarantors, as defined in the Senior Credit Facility, and on the stock of GCI Holdings.

As of March 31, 2021, there was $398.0 million outstanding under the Term Loan B, $125.0 million outstanding under the revolving portion of the Senior Credit Facility and $3.2 million in letters of credit under the Senior Credit Facility, leaving $421.8 million available for borrowing.

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, GCI, LLC repaid $180 million on its revolving credit facility and completed an internal restructuring whereby GCI, LLC transferred the subsidiary that holds the Charter shares formerly beneficially owned by GCI Liberty to Liberty Broadband parent.

Wells Fargo Note Payable

In connection with the closing of the Combination on December 18, 2020, the Company assumed GCI Holdings’ outstanding $6.4 million under its Wells Fargo Note Payable (as defined below).

GCI Holdings issued a note to Wells Fargo that matures on July 15, 2029 and is payable in monthly installments of principal and interest (the "Wells Fargo Note Payable"). The interest rate is variable at one month LIBOR plus 2.25%.

The note is subject to similar affirmative and negative covenants as the Senior Credit Facility. The obligations under the note are secured by a security interest and lien on the building purchased with the note.

Debt Covenants

GCI, LLC is subject to covenants and restrictions under its Senior Notes and Senior Credit Facility. The Company and GCI, LLC are in compliance with all debt maintenance covenants as of March 31, 2021.

Fair Value of Debt

The fair value of the Senior Notes was $531.1 million at March 31, 2021.

Due to the variable rate nature of the Margin Loan, Senior Credit Facility and Wells Fargo Note Payable, the Company believes that the carrying amount approximates fair value at March 31, 2021.

(8) Preferred Stock

Liberty Broadband's preferred stock is issuable, from time to time, with such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in a resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such preferred stock adopted by Liberty Broadband's board of directors.  

Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock was issued as a result of the Combination on December 18, 2020. Each share of GCI Liberty Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Combination was converted into one share of newly issued Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock. The Company is required to redeem all outstanding shares of Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock out of funds legally available, at the liquidation price plus all unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) accrued from the most recent dividend payment date through the redemption date, on the first business day following March 8, 2039. There were 7,300,000 shares of Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock authorized and 7,192,369 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2021.  An additional 42,700,000 shares of preferred stock of the Company are authorized and are undesignated as to series. The Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock is accounted for as a liability on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets because it is mandatorily redeemable. As a result, all dividends paid on the Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock are recorded as interest expense in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The liquidation price is measured per share and shall mean the sum of (i) $25, plus (ii) an amount equal to all unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) accrued with respect to such share have been added to and then remain part of the liquidation price as of such date.

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

The holders of shares of Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Liberty Broadband Board of Directors, out of legally available funds, preferential dividends that accrue and cumulate as provided in the certificate of designations for the Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock.

Dividends on each share of Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock accrue on a daily basis at a rate of 7.00% per annum of the liquidation price.

Accrued dividends are payable quarterly on each dividend payment date, which is January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year, commencing January 15, 2021. If Liberty Broadband fails to pay cash dividends on the Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock in full for any four consecutive or non-consecutive dividend periods then the dividend rate shall increase by 2.00% per annum of the liquidation price until cured. On March 15, 2021, the Company announced that its board of directors had declared a quarterly cash dividend of approximately $0.44 per share of Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock which was paid on April 15, 2021 to shareholders of record of the Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock at the close of business on March 31, 2021.

(9) Stock-Based Compensation

Liberty Broadband grants, to certain of its directors, employees and employees of its subsidiaries, restricted stock units and stock options to purchase shares of its common stock (collectively, "Awards"). The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an equity classified Award (such as stock options and restricted stock) based on the grant-date fair value (“GDFV”) of the Award, and recognizes that cost over the period during which the employee is required to provide service (usually the vesting period of the Award). The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for a liability classified Award based on the current fair value of the Award, and remeasures the fair value of the Award at each reporting date.

Included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations are the following amounts of stock-based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (amounts in thousands):

Three months

 

ended

 

March 31,

 

2021

2020

 

Operating expense

    

$

3

    

1

Selling, general and administrative

 

9,867

1,800

$

9,870

1,801

Liberty Broadband – Grants of Awards

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, Liberty Broadband granted 167 thousand options to purchase shares of Series C Liberty Broadband common stock to our CEO in connection with his employment agreement. Such options had a GDFV of $40.05 per share and vest on December 31, 2021.

There were no options to purchase shares of Series A or Series B common stock granted during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

The Company has calculated the GDFV for all of its equity classified awards and any subsequent remeasurement of its liability classified awards using the Black-Scholes Model. The Company estimates the expected term of the Awards based on historical exercise and forfeiture data. The volatility used in the calculation for Awards is based on the historical volatility of Liberty Broadband common stock. The Company uses a zero dividend rate and the risk-free rate for Treasury Bonds with a term similar to that of the subject options.

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

Liberty Broadband – Outstanding Awards

The following table presents the number and weighted average exercise price (“WAEP”) of Awards to purchase Liberty Broadband common stock granted to certain officers, employees and directors of the Company, as well as the weighted average remaining life and aggregate intrinsic value of the Awards.

    

    

    

    

    

Weighted

    

    

average

remaining

Aggregate

contractual

intrinsic

Series C

WAEP

life

value

(in thousands)

(in years)

(in millions)

Outstanding at January 1, 2021

 

3,327

$

92.35

Granted

 

199

$

152.25

Exercised

 

(3)

$

73.85

Forfeited/cancelled

$

Outstanding at March 31, 2021

 

3,523

$

95.74

 

4.9

$

202

Exercisable at March 31, 2021

 

2,052

$

59.39

 

3.8

$

186

As of March 31, 2021, Liberty Broadband also had 1 thousand Series A options and 722 thousand Series B options outstanding and exercisable at a WAEP of $35.81 and $96.79, respectively, and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1.7 years and 1.8 years, respectively.

As of March 31, 2021, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested Awards was approximately $68.9 million. Such amount will be recognized in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations over a weighted average period of approximately 1.9 years.  

As of March 31, 2021, Liberty Broadband reserved 4.2 million shares of Series A, Series B and Series C common stock for issuance under exercise privileges of outstanding stock Awards.

(10) Commitments and Contingencies

General Litigation

The Company has contingent liabilities related to legal and tax proceedings and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Although it is reasonably possible the Company may incur losses upon conclusion of such matters, an estimate of any loss or range of loss cannot be made. In the opinion of management, it is expected that amounts, if any, which may be required to satisfy such contingencies will not be material in relation to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

Hollywood Firefighters’ Pension Fund, et al. v. GCI Liberty, Inc., et al. On October 9, 2020, a putative class action complaint was filed by two purported GCI Liberty stockholders in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware under the caption Hollywood Firefighters’ Pension Fund, et al. v. GCI Liberty, Inc., et al., Case No. 2020-0880. A new version of the complaint was filed on October 11, 2020. The complaint named as defendants GCI Liberty, as well as the members of the GCI Liberty board of directors. The complaint alleged, among other things, that Mr. Gregory B. Maffei, a director and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Broadband and, prior to the Combination, GCI Liberty, and Mr. John C. Malone, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Liberty Broadband and, prior to the Combination, GCI Liberty, in their purported capacities as controlling stockholders and directors of GCI Liberty, and the other directors of GCI Liberty, breached their fiduciary duties by approving the Combination. The complaint also alleged that various prior and current relationships

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

among members of the GCI Liberty special committee, Mr. Malone and Mr. Maffei rendered the members of the GCI Liberty special committee not independent.

The complaint sought certification of a class action, declarations that Messrs. Maffei and Malone and the other directors of GCI Liberty breached their fiduciary duties and the recovery of damages and other relief.

On December 23, 2020, the plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint, which, among other things, included a new count of breach of fiduciary duty against Mr. Maffei and Mr. Gregg Engles, the other former member of the GCI Liberty special committee, and new allegations that the price of GCI Liberty was depressed as a result of statements and omissions by Mr. Maffei in November of 2019.  During the first quarter for 2021, the parties were conducting discovery with the trial scheduled for November 2021.  We believed the lawsuit was without merit.  

During March 2021 and in advance of the expenditure of significant time and costs to conduct the depositions proposed to have been taken in this action, the parties began negotiations for a potential settlement of this action. On May 5, 2021, the plaintiffs (on behalf of themselves and other members of a proposed settlement class) and defendants entered into an agreement in principle to settle the litigation pursuant to which the parties agreed that the plaintiffs will dismiss their claims with prejudice, with customary releases, in return for a settlement payment of $110 million, which has been accrued as a current liability in the condensed consolidated balance sheet and recorded as a litigation settlement expense within operating income in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. This agreement will be further codified in a final Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement, which will be subject to approval by the Court.

(11) Segment Information

Liberty Broadband identifies its reportable segments as (A) those consolidated companies that represent 10% or more of its consolidated annual revenue, annual Adjusted OIBDA or total assets and (B) those equity method affiliates whose share of earnings or losses represent 10% or more of Liberty Broadband’s annual pre-tax earnings (losses).

During the first quarter of 2021, as a result of the closing of the Combination on December 18, 2020, Skyhook Holding, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is no longer significant to the Company and has been included in Corporate and other for presentation purposes. The revised segment reporting structure includes the following reportable segments: (1) GCI Holdings and (2) Charter.  All prior period segment disclosure information has been reclassified to conform to the current reporting structure.  These reclassifications had no effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements in any period.

Liberty Broadband evaluates performance and makes decisions about allocating resources to its operating segments based on financial measures such as revenue and Adjusted OIBDA. In addition, Liberty Broadband reviews nonfinancial measures such as subscriber growth.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, Liberty Broadband has identified the following consolidated company and equity method investment as its reportable segments:

GCI Holdings – a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company that provides a full range of wireless, data, video, voice, and managed services to residential, businesses, governmental entities, and educational and medical institutions primarily in Alaska.
Charter—an equity method investment that is one of the largest providers of cable services in the United States, offering a variety of entertainment, information and communications solutions to residential and commercial customers.

Liberty Broadband’s operating segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services. They are managed separately because each segment requires different technologies, distribution channels and marketing strategies.

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

The accounting policies of the segment that is also a consolidated company are the same as those described in the Company’s summary of significant accounting policies in the Company’s annual financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. We have included amounts attributable to Charter in the tables below. Although Liberty Broadband owns less than 100% of the outstanding shares of Charter, 100% of the Charter amounts are included in the tables below and subsequently eliminated in order to reconcile the account totals to the Liberty Broadband condensed consolidated financial statements.

Performance Measures

Revenue by segment from contracts with customers, classified by customer type and significant service offerings follows:

Three months ended

March 31,

2021

    

2020

amounts in thousands

GCI Holdings

  

 

  

Consumer Revenue

  

 

  

Wireless

$

31,971

Data

 

52,225

Video

 

18,929

Voice

 

3,554

Business Revenue

 

Wireless

 

18,901

Data

 

90,286

Video

 

802

Voice

 

6,148

Lease, grant, and revenue from subsidies

 

19,400

Total GCI Holdings

242,216

Corporate and other

4,318

4,104

Total

$

246,534

 

4,104

Charter revenue totaled $12,522 million and $11,738 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The Company had gross receivables of $206.0 million and deferred revenue of $31.0 million at March 31, 2021 from contracts with customers, which amounts exclude receivables and deferred revenue arising from leases, grants, and subsidies. Our customers generally pay for services in advance of the performance obligation and therefore these prepayments are recorded as deferred revenue. The deferred revenue is recognized as revenue in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations as the services are provided. Changes in the contract liability balance for the Company during the three ended March 31, 2021 were not materially impacted by other factors.

The Company expects to recognize revenue in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) of approximately $177.4 million in the remainder of 2021, $159.3 million in 2022, $63.3 million in 2023, $25.2 million in 2024 and $54.3 million in 2025 and thereafter.

For segment reporting purposes, Liberty Broadband defines Adjusted OIBDA as revenue less operating expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding stock-based compensation and transaction costs). Liberty Broadband believes this measure is an important indicator of the operational strength and performance of its businesses by identifying those items that are not directly a reflection of each business’ performance or indicative of ongoing business trends.  In addition, this measure allows management to view operating results and perform analytical comparisons and

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

benchmarking between businesses and identify strategies to improve performance. This measure of performance excludes depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, transaction costs, separately reported litigation settlements and restructuring and impairment charges that are included in the measurement of operating income pursuant to GAAP. Accordingly, Adjusted OIBDA should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, operating income, net earnings, cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Liberty Broadband generally accounts for intersegment sales and transfers as if the sales or transfers were to third parties, that is, at current prices.

Adjusted OIBDA is summarized as follows:

Three months ended March 31,

2021

2020

amounts in thousands

GCI Holdings

    

$

96,059

    

    

Charter

 

4,643,000

4,389,000

Corporate and other

 

(13,306)

(4,981)

 

4,725,753

4,384,019

Eliminate equity method affiliate

 

(4,643,000)

(4,389,000)

Consolidated Liberty Broadband

$

82,753

(4,981)

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LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

Other Information

March 31, 2021

 

Total

Investments

Capital

 

assets

in affiliates

expenditures

 

amounts in thousands

 

GCI Holdings

    

$

3,507,595

    

391

    

28,605

Charter

 

143,439,000

 

 

1,821,000

Corporate and other

 

16,983,447

 

15,735,280

 

12

 

163,930,042

 

15,735,671

 

1,849,617

Eliminate equity method affiliate

 

(143,439,000)

 

 

(1,821,000)

Consolidated Liberty Broadband

$

20,491,042

 

15,735,671

 

28,617

The following table provides a reconciliation of Adjusted OIBDA to Operating income (loss) and Earnings (loss) before income taxes:

Three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2021

2020

 

amounts in thousands

 

Adjusted OIBDA

    

$

82,753

    

(4,981)

Stock-based compensation

 

(9,870)

(1,801)

Depreciation and amortization

 

(63,762)

(493)

Litigation settlement

(110,000)

Operating income (loss)

(100,879)

(7,275)

Interest expense

(33,143)

(5,861)

Share of earnings (loss) of affiliates, net

 

188,979

61,682

Gain (loss) on dilution of investment in affiliate

 

(82,215)

(59,325)

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net

 

99,348

Other, net

 

(8,126)

163

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

$

63,964

(10,616)

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding business, product and marketing strategies; new service and product offerings; revenue growth; future expenses; anticipated changes to regulations; the recognition of deferred revenue; the performance, results of operations and cash flows of our equity affiliate, Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”); projected sources and uses of cash; the effects of regulatory developments; the impact of COVID-19 (as defined below); the Rural Healthcare Program; indebtedness and the anticipated impact of certain contingent liabilities related to legal and tax proceedings and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Forward-looking statements inherently involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these statements. Where, in any forward-looking statement, we express an expectation or belief as to future results or events, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but such statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. The following include some but not all of the factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated:

our, GCI Holdings, LLC (“GCI Holdings”), GCI, LLC, and Charters’ ability to obtain cash in sufficient amounts to service financial obligations and meet other commitments;
our ability to use net operating loss carryforwards and disallowed business interest carryforwards;
our, GCI Holdings, GCI, LLC and Charters’ ability to obtain additional financing, or refinance existing indebtedness, on acceptable terms;
the impact of our, GCI Holdings, GCI, LLC and Charters’ significant indebtedness and our, GCI Holdings and Charters’ ability to comply with any covenants in our and their respective debt instruments;
general business conditions, unemployment levels and the level of activity in the housing sector and economic uncertainty or downturn, including the impact of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic to GCI Holdings and Charter’s customers and vendors and local, state and federal governmental responses to the pandemic;
competition faced by GCI Holdings and Charter;
the ability of GCI Holdings and Charter to acquire and retain subscribers;
the impact of governmental legislation and regulation including, without limitation, regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC"), on GCI Holdings and Charter, their ability to comply with regulations, and adverse outcomes from regulatory proceedings;
changes in the cost of programming expenses and the ability of GCI Holdings and Charter to pass on related costs to their customers;
changes in the amount of data used on the networks of GCI Holdings and Charter;
the ability of third-party providers to supply equipment, services, software or licenses;
the ability of GCI Holdings and Charter to respond to new technology and meet customer demands for new products and services;
changes in customer demand for the products and services of GCI Holdings and Charter and their ability to adapt to changes in demand;
the ability of GCI Holdings and Charter to license or enforce intellectual property rights;
natural or man-made disasters, terrorist attacks, pandemics; cyberattacks, network disruptions, service interruptions and system failures and the impact of related uninsured liabilities;
the ability to hire and retain key personnel;
risks related to the Investment Company Act of 1940;
the outcome of any pending or threatened litigation; and

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changes to general economic conditions, including economic conditions in Alaska, and their impact on potential customers, vendors and third parties.

For additional risk factors, please see Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. These forward-looking statements and such risks, uncertainties and other factors speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report, and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein, to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto, or any other change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

The following discussion and analysis provides information concerning our results of operations and financial condition. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Overview

Liberty Broadband Corporation (“Liberty Broadband,” “the Company,” “us,” “we,” or “our”) is primarily comprised of a wholly owned subsidiary, GCI Holdings (as of December 18, 2020) and an equity method investment in Charter.

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”).

On December 18, 2020, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 6, 2020, entered into by GCI Liberty, Inc. (“GCI Liberty”), Liberty Broadband, Grizzly Merger Sub 1, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband (“Merger LLC”), and Grizzly Merger Sub 2, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Merger LLC (“Merger Sub”), Merger Sub merged with and into GCI Liberty (the “First Merger”), with GCI Liberty surviving the First Merger as an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband (the “Surviving Corporation”), and immediately following the First Merger, GCI Liberty (as the Surviving Corporation in the First Merger) merged with and into Merger LLC (the “Upstream Merger”, and together with the First Merger, the “Combination”), with Merger LLC surviving the Upstream Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband.

As a result of the Combination, each holder of a share of Series A common stock and Series B common stock of GCI Liberty received 0.58 of a share of Series C common stock and Series B common stock, respectively, of Liberty Broadband.  Additionally, each holder of a share of Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of GCI Liberty (“GCI Liberty Preferred Stock”) received one share of newly issued Liberty Broadband Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (“Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock”), which has substantially identical terms to GCI Liberty’s former Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, including a mandatory redemption date of March 9, 2039. Cash was paid in lieu of issuing fractional shares of Liberty Broadband stock in the Combination. No shares of Liberty Broadband stock were issued with respect to shares of GCI Liberty capital stock held by (i) GCI Liberty as treasury stock, (ii) any of GCI Liberty’s wholly owned subsidiaries or (iii) Liberty Broadband or its wholly owned subsidiaries.  

Through a number of prior years’ transactions, including the Combination, Liberty Broadband has acquired an interest in Charter.

During the first quarter of 2021, as a result of the closing of the Combination on December 18, 2020, Skyhook Holding, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is no longer significant to the Company and has been included in Corporate and other for presentation purposes. The revised segment reporting structure includes the following reportable segments: (1) GCI Holdings and (2) Charter.  All prior period segment disclosure information has been reclassified to conform to the current reporting structure.  These reclassifications had no effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements in any period.

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Update on Economic Conditions

GCI Holdings

GCI Holdings offers wireless and wireline telecommunication services, data services, video services, and managed services to customers primarily throughout Alaska. Because of this geographic concentration, growth of GCI Holdings’ business and operations depends upon economic conditions in Alaska.  In December 2019, Chinese officials reported a novel coronavirus outbreak. 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 has caused a significant disruption to most sectors of the economy.  

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted Alaska, GCI Holdings has continued to deliver services uninterrupted by the pandemic and expects to be able to continue to respond to the increase in network activity. As a major provider of Internet services in Alaska, GCI Holdings believes it plays an instrumental role in enabling social distancing through telecommuting and e-learning across the state and remains focused on its service to customers, as well as the health and safety of its employees and customers.

The majority of GCI Holdings’ workforce has transitioned to working at home full time and it expects to keep those employees working from home through at least August 2021.

GCI Holdings cannot predict the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on its business, including the depth and duration of the economic impact to its customers’ ability to pay for products and services including the impact of extended unemployment benefits and other stimulus packages and what assistance may be provided to its customers. There is a risk that GCI Holdings’ accounts receivable and bad debt expense will increase substantially due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, there is uncertainty regarding the impact of government emergency declarations, the ability of suppliers and vendors to provide products and services to GCI Holdings and the risk of limitations on the deployment and maintenance of its services.

The Alaska economy is dependent upon the oil industry, state government spending, United States military spending, investment earnings and tourism. A decline in oil prices would put significant pressure on the Alaska state government budget. Although Alaska state government has significant reserves that GCI Holdings believes will help fund the state government for the next couple of years, major structural budgetary reforms will be required in order to offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a decline in oil prices. Although GCI Holdings cannot predict the long-term impact COVID-19 will have on these sectors of the Alaska economy, adverse circumstances in these industries may have an adverse impact on the demand for its products and services and on its results of operations and financial condition.

The Alaska economy is in a recession that started in late 2015 and has continued as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued low oil prices. While it is difficult for GCI Holdings to predict the future impact of a continuing recession on its business, these conditions have had an adverse impact on its business and could continue to adversely affect the affordability of and demand for some of its products and services and cause customers to shift to lower priced products and services or to delay or forgo purchases of its products and services. Additionally, GCI Holdings’ customers may not be able to obtain adequate access to credit, which could affect their ability to make timely payments to GCI Holdings. If that were to occur, GCI Holdings could be required to increase its allowance for doubtful accounts, and the number of days outstanding for its accounts receivable could increase. If the recession continues, it could continue to negatively affect GCI Holdings’ business including its financial position, results of operations, or liquidity, as well as its ability to service debt, pay other obligations and enhance shareholder returns.

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Rural Health Care (“RHC”) Program

GCI Holdings receives support from various Universal Service Fund ("USF") programs including the RHC Program. The USF programs are subject to change by regulatory actions taken by the FCC, interpretations of or compliance with USF program rules, or legislative actions. Changes to any of the USF programs that GCI Holdings participates in could result in a material decrease in revenue and accounts receivable, which could have an adverse effect on GCI Holdings’ business and the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity. The following paragraphs describe certain separate matters related to the RHC Program that impact or could impact the revenue earned by the Company. As of March 31, 2021, the Company had net accounts receivable from the RHC Program of approximately $100 million, which is included within Trade and other receivables in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Company disclosed, in additional detail, the following items related to GCI Holdings’ involvement in the RHC Program in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020:

The FCC reduced the rates charged to RHC customers by approximately 26% for the funding year that ended June 30, 2018.  An Application for Review is currently with the FCC.  
The FCC approved the cost-based rural rates GCI Holdings historically applied for the funding years that ended on June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2020.  GCI Holdings collected $174.6 million in accounts receivable relating to these two funding years during the first quarter of 2021.
GCI Holdings submitted cost studies for the funding year ending June 30, 2021, which require approval by the FCC.  Those studies remain pending before the FCC and we cannot predict when the FCC will act upon them.  
The RHC Program has a funding cap for each individual funding year that is annually adjusted for inflation, and which the FCC can increase by carrying forward unused funds from prior funding years. In recent years, including the current year, this funding cap has not limited the amount of funding received by participants; however, management continues to monitor the funding cap and its potential impact on funding in future years.  
GCI Holdings received a letter of inquiry and request for information from the Enforcement Bureau of the FCC (the “Enforcement Bureau”) in March 2018 relating to the period beginning January 1, 2015 and including all future periods.  GCI Holdings has also received other related inquiries to which it is in the process of responding.  
GCI Holdings became aware of potential RHC Program compliance issues related to certain of its currently active and expired contracts with certain of its RHC customers.
The FCC released an order adopting changes to the RHC Program that will revise the manner in which support issued under the RHC Program will be calculated and approved.  On January 19, 2021, the Wireline Competition Bureau of the FCC issued an Order that waives the requirement to use the database for health care providers in Alaska for the two funding years ending June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023. The Order requires GCI Holdings to determine its rural rates based on previously approved rates or under reinstitution of the rules currently in effect through the funding year ending on June 30, 2021.  

The Company does not have any significant updates regarding the items noted above except as discussed in the remainder of this paragraph.  On April 8, 2021, the Wireline Competition Bureau issued an Order further extending the January 19, 2021 waiver to carriers nationwide and eliminating the ability or requirement to use the database to establish the healthcare provider payments for services subsidized by the RHC Telecom Program.  On April 21, 2021, representatives of the Department of Justice informed GCI Holdings that a qui tam action has been filed in the Western District of Washington arising from the subject matter under review by the Enforcement Bureau.  Given the confidentiality of the qui tam process, the Company is unable to assess the ultimate outcome of this action and whether any type of fine or penalty would ultimately be assessed as is permitted under the applicable law. 

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Charter

In the first quarters of both 2021 and 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted how Charter’s customers use its products and services, how they interact with Charter, and how Charter’s employees work and provide services to customers.  During the first quarter of 2021, customer activity levels remained below normal which contributed to lower operating expense from reduced service transactions and significantly lower bad debt, however, Charter expects those trends to slowly return to pre-COVID-19 levels throughout 2021 as the economy reopens and normal activities resume.

Although the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be predicted, Charter remains focused on driving customer relationship growth by deploying superior products and services packaged with attractive pricing.  Further, Charter expects to continue to drive customer relationship growth through sales of bundled services and improving customer retention despite the expectation for continued losses of video and wireline voice customers.  

Results of Operations—Consolidated—March 31, 2021 and 2020

General.     We provide information regarding our consolidated operating results and other income and expenses, as well as information regarding the contribution to those items from our reportable segments in the tables below. The "Corporate and other" category consists of those assets or businesses which do not qualify as a separate reportable segment. See note 11 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for more discussion regarding our reportable segments. GCI Holdings’ results are only included in the Company’s consolidated results beginning on December 18, 2020.  For a more detailed discussion and analysis of GCI Holding’s results, see "Results of Operations-GCI Holdings" below.

Consolidated operating results:

Three months ended

March 31,

    

2021

2020

amounts in thousands

Revenue

 

  

 

  

GCI Holdings

$

242,216

Corporate and other

 

4,318

4,104

Consolidated

$

246,534

 

4,104

Operating Income (Loss)

 

  

 

  

GCI Holdings

$

28,748

Corporate and other

 

(129,627)

(7,275)

Consolidated

$

(100,879)

 

(7,275)

Adjusted OIBDA

 

  

 

  

GCI Holdings

$

96,059

Corporate and other

 

(13,306)

(4,981)

Consolidated

$

82,753

 

(4,981)

Revenue

Revenue increased $242.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The increase in revenue was primarily due to revenue from GCI Holdings as a result of the Combination on December 18, 2020. See “Results of Operations – GCI Holdings, LLC” below for a more complete discussion of the results of operations of GCI Holdings.

Revenue for Corporate and other increased slightly due to increased revenue from both existing and new customers.

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Operating Income (Loss)

Consolidated operating loss decreased $93.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period.  Operating losses for Corporate and other increased $122.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, primarily due to a litigation settlement of $110.0 million, as well as an increase in professional service fees and, to a lesser extent, corporate compensation expense.

Operating income increased at GCI Holdings as a result of the Combination on December 18, 2020.  See “Results of Operations – GCI Holdings, LLC” below for a more complete discussion of the results of operations of GCI Holdings.

Stock-based compensation

Stock-based compensation expense increased $8.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The increase in stock-based compensation expense was primarily due to upfront grants per our CEO’s employment agreement, along with the impact of the Combination.

Adjusted OIBDA

To provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, we also disclose Adjusted OIBDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. We define Adjusted OIBDA as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, transaction costs, separately reported litigation settlements, restructuring, and impairment charges. Our chief operating decision maker and management team use this measure of performance in conjunction with other measures to evaluate our businesses and make decisions about allocating resources among our businesses. We believe this is an important indicator of the operational strength and performance of our businesses by identifying those items that are not directly a reflection of each business’ performance or indicative of ongoing business trends.  In addition, this measure allows us to view operating results, perform analytical comparisons and benchmarking between businesses and identify strategies to improve performance. Accordingly, Adjusted OIBDA should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, operating income, net income, cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The following table provides a reconciliation of Operating income (loss) to Adjusted OIBDA.

Three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2021

2020

 

amounts in thousands

 

Operating income (loss)

    

$

(100,879)

    

(7,275)

Depreciation and amortization

 

63,762

493

Stock-based compensation

 

9,870

1,801

Litigation settlement

110,000

Adjusted OIBDA

$

82,753

(4,981)

Adjusted OIBDA improved $87.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The increase in Adjusted OIBDA was due to the results of operations of GCI Holdings as a result of the Combination, as discussed above, partially offset by increases in corporate professional service fees and compensation expense.  

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Other Income and Expense

Components of Other income (expense) are presented in the table below.

Three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2021

2020

 

amounts in thousands

 

Other income (expense):

    

    

    

Interest expense

$

(33,143)

(5,861)

Share of earnings (losses) of affiliates

 

188,979

61,682

Gain (loss) on dilution of investment in affiliate

 

(82,215)

(59,325)

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net

 

99,348

Other, net

 

(8,126)

163

$

164,843

(3,341)

Interest expense

Interest expense increased $27.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.  The increases were driven by additional amounts outstanding on the Margin Loan Facility (as defined in note 7 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements), the 2.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050 that were issued in August 2020 and the 1.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050 that were issued in November 2020, as well as interest associated with all the debt instruments assumed by the Company as a result of the Combination.

Share of earnings (losses) of affiliates

Share of earnings of affiliates increased $127.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. The Company’s Share of earnings (losses) of affiliates line item in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations includes expenses of $57.9 million and $40.1 million, net of related taxes, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, due to the increase in amortization of the excess basis of assets with identifiable useful lives and debt, which was primarily due to the acquisition of GCI Liberty’s Charter shares in the Combination, as well as Charter’s share buyback program. The change in the share of earnings of affiliates in the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, was the result of the corresponding change in net income at Charter.

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The following is a discussion of Charter’s results of operations. In order to provide a better understanding of Charter’s operations, we have included a summarized presentation of Charter’s results from operations.

Three months ended

March 31,

2021

2020

amounts in millions

Revenue

    

$

12,522

    

11,738

Operating expenses, excluding stock-based compensation

 

(7,879)

(7,349)

Adjusted OIBDA

 

4,643

4,389

Depreciation and amortization

 

(2,441)

(2,497)

Stock-based compensation

 

(134)

(90)

Operating income

 

2,068

1,802

Other expenses, net

 

(931)

(1,306)

Net earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

1,137

496

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

(216)

(29)

Net earnings (loss)

$

921

467

Charter net earnings increased $454 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.

Charter’s revenue increased $784 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, primarily due to increases in the number of residential Internet and mobile customers and price adjustments.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, operating expenses, excluding stock-based compensation, increased $530 million as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. Operating costs increased primarily due to increased mobile device costs and mobile service, customer acquisition and operating costs due to increased mobile lines, as well as increased programming costs.  Operating costs also increased due to increased litigation settlements, including the tentative settlement with Sprint Communications Company L.P. (“Sprint”) and T-Mobile USA, Inc. ("T-Mobile") for $220 million.

Programming costs increased as a result of contractual rate adjustments, including renewals and increases in amounts paid for retransmission consent offset by a higher mix of lower cost video packages within Charter’s video customer base.  Charter expects programming rates per customer will continue to increase due to a variety of factors, including annual increases imposed by programmers with additional selling power as a result of media and broadcast station groups consolidation, increased demands by owners of broadcast stations for payment for retransmission consent or linking carriage of other services to retransmission consent, and additional programming. Charter has been unable to fully pass these increases on to its customers and does not expect to be able to do so in the future without a potential loss of customers.

Charter’s Adjusted OIBDA for the three months ended March 31, 2021 increased for the reasons described above.

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $56 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year primarily due to a decrease in depreciation and amortization as certain assets acquired in acquisitions become fully depreciated offset by an increase in depreciation as a result of more recent capital expenditures.

Charter’s results were also impacted by other expenses, net which decreased $375 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. The decrease in other expenses, net was primarily due to increased gains on financial instruments.

Income tax expense increased $187 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. Income tax expense increased during the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, primarily as a result of higher pretax income.

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Gain (loss) on dilution of investment in affiliate

The loss on dilution of investment in affiliate increased by $22.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, primarily due to an increase in issuance of Charter common stock from the exercise of stock options held by employees and other third parties, at prices below Liberty Broadband’s book basis per share, slightly offset by a gain on dilution related to Charter’s repurchase of Liberty Broadband’s Charter shares during the three months ended March 31, 2021. As Liberty Broadband’s ownership in Charter changes due to exercises of Charter stock options, a loss is recorded with the effective sale of common stock, because the exercise price of Charter stock options is typically lower than the book value of the Charter shares held by Liberty Broadband.  

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net are comprised of changes in the fair value of the following:

Three months ended

 

March 31,

 

2021

2020

 

amounts in thousands

 

Indemnification obligation

$

51,770

Exchangeable senior debentures

47,578

$

99,348

The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily related to the assumption of the indemnification obligation by the Company as a result of the Combination (see note 4 in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for additional discussion).  The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was additionally impacted by the changes in fair value of the 2.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050, the 1.25% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2050 and the 1.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2046 related to changes in market price of underlying Charter stock (see notes 4 and 7 in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for additional discussion).

Other, net

Other, net decreased $8.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.  The decrease in 2021 was primarily due to a tax sharing receivable with Qurate Retail that resulted in losses of $9.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, partially offset by other income. See more discussion about the tax sharing agreement with Qurate Retail in note 1 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

Income taxes

Earnings (losses) before income taxes and income tax (expense) benefit are as follows:

Three months ended

March 31,

2021

    

2020

amounts in thousands

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

$

63,964

 

(10,616)

Income tax (expense) benefit

 

(11,785)

 

2,774

Effective income tax rate

 

18.4%

26.1%

The difference between the effective income tax rate of 18.4% and the U.S. Federal income tax rate of 21% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily due to tax benefits from a change in effective tax rate used to measure deferred taxes on certain Charter shares and from the accrual of non-taxable equity contributions related to the indemnification

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agreement between Liberty Broadband and Qurate Retail, partially offset by a non-deductible litigation settlement.  The difference between the effective income tax rate of 26.1% and the U.S. Federal income tax rate of 21% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was primarily due to the effect of state income taxes.

Net earnings (loss)

The Company had net earnings of $52.2 million and net losses of $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  The change in net earnings (loss) was the result of the above-described fluctuations in our revenue, expenses and other income and expenses.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2021, substantially all of our cash and cash equivalents are invested in U.S. Treasury securities, other government securities or government guaranteed funds, AAA rated money market funds and other highly rated financial and corporate debt instruments.

The following are potential sources of liquidity: available cash balances, cash generated by the operating activities of our privately-owned subsidiaries (to the extent such cash exceeds the working capital needs of the subsidiaries and is not otherwise restricted), monetization of our investments (including Charter Repurchases (discussed below)), outstanding or anticipated debt facilities, including $300.0 million available to be drawn under the Margin Loan Facility (as defined in note 7 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements) until August 12, 2021, debt and equity issuances, and dividend and interest receipts.

As of March 31, 2021, Liberty Broadband had a cash balance of $1,177 million.

Three months ended March 31,

 

2021

2020

 

amounts in thousands

 

Cash flow information

    

    

    

    

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

$

192,964

 

(14,501)

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

$

489,929

 

(14,925)

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

$

(923,463)

 

(1,941)

The increase in cash provided by operating activities in the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, was primarily driven by increased activity in working capital accounts due to the Combination.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, net cash flows provided by investing activities were primarily related to the sale of 834,576 shares of Charter Class A common stock to Charter for $518.4 million in March 2021 to maintain our fully diluted ownership percentage at 26%.  In February 2021, Liberty Broadband entered into a letter agreement in order to implement, facilitate and satisfy the terms of the Stockholders Agreement with respect to the Equity Cap (see more information in note 5 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements). The Company expects the Charter Repurchases to be a significant source of liquidity in future periods.  

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, net cash flows used in financing activities were primarily repurchases of Series C Liberty Broadband common stock of $738.4 million, as well as repayment by GCI, LLC of approximately $180 million on its revolving credit facility.

The projected uses of our cash for the remainder of 2021 are the potential buyback of common stock under the approved share buyback program, capital expenditures of approximately $100 million, approximately $95 million for interest payments on outstanding debt, approximately $10 million for preferred stock dividends, funding of any operational needs of our subsidiaries, to reimburse Liberty for amounts due under various agreements, to fund potential investment opportunities, and to refinance Liberty Broadband’s margin loan, under its Margin Loan Facility, maturing in 2022. We expect corporate cash and other available sources of liquidity to cover corporate expenses for the foreseeable future.  

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Results of Operations—GCI Holdings, LLC

As described in notes 1 and 3 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, Liberty Broadband acquired GCI Holdings in the Combination on December 18, 2020.  As GCI Holdings’ results are only included in the Company’s results since December 18, 2020, we believe a discussion of GCI Holdings’ results for a comparative two year period promotes a better understanding of GCI Holdings’ operations.  For comparison and discussion purposes the Company is presenting (a) the results of GCI Holdings for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as included in the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and (b) the actual historical results of GCI Holdings for 2020, exclusive of the effects of acquisition accounting since the period is prior to the Combination. The most significant effect of acquisition accounting is an increase to depreciation and amortization as compared to prior periods as a result of an increase in fair values of depreciable and amortizable assets. This historical financial information of GCI Holdings can be found in historical filings of GCI Liberty, Inc. The financial information below is presented voluntarily and does not purport to represent what the results of operations of GCI Holdings would have been if it were a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband for the periods presented or to project the results of operations of GCI Holdings for any future periods.

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GCI Holdings provides a full range of wireless, data, video, voice, and managed services to residential, businesses, governmental entities, and educational and medical institutions primarily in Alaska. The following table highlights selected key performance indicators used in evaluating GCI Holdings.

March 31,

2021

    

2020

Consumer

  

 

  

Wireless:

  

 

  

Revenue generating wireless lines in service1

181,000

 

175,000

Non-revenue generating wireless lines in service2

1,800

 

4,500

Wireless lines in service

182,800

 

179,500

Data:

  

 

  

Revenue generating cable modem subscribers3

143,900

128,400

Non-revenue generating cable modem subscribers4

3,600

Cable modem subscribers

143,900

 

132,000

Video:

  

 

  

Basic subscribers5

71,000

 

79,200

Homes passed6

253,400

 

253,400

Voice:

  

 

  

Total local access lines in service7

37,900

 

38,900

Business

  

 

  

Wireless:

  

 

  

Revenue generating wireless lines in service1

21,400

 

23,700

Data:

 

  

Revenue generating cable modem subscribers4

12,900

 

8,800

Voice:

  

 

  

Total local access lines in service7

30,400

 

34,000

1 A revenue generating wireless line in service is defined as a wireless device with a monthly fee for services.

2 A non-revenue generating wireless line in service is defined as a data-only line with no monthly fee for services.

3  A revenue generating cable modem subscriber is defined by the purchase of cable modem service regardless of the level of service purchased. If one entity purchases multiple cable modem service access points, each access point is counted as a subscriber.

4  A non-revenue generating cable modem subscriber is defined by the provision of basic cable modem service as a promotion to aid those impacted by COVID-19.

5 A basic subscriber is defined by the purchase of basic video service.

6 A home passed is defined as a dwelling unit that can be connected to GCI Holdings’ network without the need of otherwise extending its network.

7 A local access line in service is defined as a revenue generating circuit or channel connecting a customer to the public switched telephone network.

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GCI Holdings’ operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:

March 31,

    

2021

    

2020

    

amounts in thousands

Revenue

$

242,216

 

231,561

 

Operating expenses (excluding stock-based compensation included below):

 

  

 

  

 

Operating expense

 

(66,753)

 

(64,951)

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(79,404)

 

(80,215)

 

Adjusted OIBDA

 

96,059

 

86,395

 

Stock-based compensation

 

(3,599)

 

(848)

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

(63,712)

 

(62,361)

 

Operating income (loss)

$

28,748

 

23,186

 

Revenue

The components of revenue are as follows:

March 31,

    

2021

    

2020

    

amounts in thousands

Consumer

 

  

 

  

 

Wireless

$

44,388

 

40,773

 

Data

 

52,225

 

44,294

 

Video

 

18,933

 

20,762

 

Voice

 

3,683

 

4,005

 

Business

 

  

 

  

 

Wireless

 

20,387

 

22,489

 

Data

 

91,130

 

84,214

 

Video

 

802

 

4,022

 

Voice

 

10,668

 

11,002

 

Total revenue

$

242,216

 

231,561

 

Consumer wireless revenue increased $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The increase in revenue in 2021 was primarily due to increased plan service fee revenue of $1.6 million, driven by an increase in the number of subscribers and subscribers’ selection of plans with higher recurring monthly charges that offer higher usage limits and increased equipment sales revenue of $1.5 million driven by an increase in the number of handsets sold in 2021.

Consumer data revenue increased $7.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The increase in 2021 was driven by an increase in the number of subscribers and the subscribers' selection of plans with higher recurring monthly charges that offer higher speeds and higher usage limits.

Consumer video revenue decreased $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The decrease in 2021 was due to a $2.7 million decrease in plan service fee revenue driven by a decrease in the number of subscribers. The decrease was partially offset by a $1.3 million increase in advertising revenue driven by a reorganization effective August 1, 2020. The Company transitioned its advertising sales to Consumer video following the sale of the Company’s broadcast television station.

Consumer voice revenue decreased $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year periods. The decrease in 2021 was primarily due to a reduction in the number of customers.

Business wireless revenue decreased $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The decrease in 2021 was primarily due to a decrease in grant revenue.

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Business data revenue increased $6.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The increase in 2021 was due to a $16.2 million increase in data and transport revenue driven by increased sales to school and medical customers for service upgrades. The increases were partially offset by the absence of $9 million recorded in the first quarter of 2020 for a RHC customer whose funding was initially denied and a $3.9 million decrease in professional services revenue driven by a reduction in time and materials project work.

Business video revenue decreased $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The decrease in 2021 was primarily due to the sale of the Company’s broadcast television station in the third quarter of 2020.

Business voice revenue decreased $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The decrease in 2021 was driven by a decrease in local service lines.

Operating expenses increased $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The increase in 2021 was primarily due to a $5.2 million increase in costs to operate our network driven by the increase in demand from school and medical customers and a $2.3 million increase in wireless equipment costs driven by an increase in the number of handsets sold. The increase is partially offset by decreases of $2.7 million in professional services costs driven by a reduction in time and materials project work and $2.9 million in video costs driven by the sale of the Company’s broadcast television station in the third quarter of 2020 and a decrease in costs paid to content producers driven by a decrease in video subscribers.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The decrease in 2021 was primarily due to a $2.3 million decrease in bad debt expense and $0.7 million decrease in legal and compliance costs. The decrease was partially offset by a $2.1 million increase in labor costs.

Stock-based compensation increased $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period.  Stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 included the reversal of expense for performance-based awards that did not vest due to a shortfall in certain financial metrics and qualitative criteria.  Stock-based compensation also increased due to the fair value assigned to converted Awards as part of the modification as a result of the Combination.

Depreciation and amortization increased $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. The increase in 2021 was primarily due to an increase in assets placed in service since January 1, 2020 and higher amortization expense because of an accelerated recognition pattern for amortizing intangibles as a result of the Combination.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of business due to our ongoing investing and financial activities. Market risk refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in stock prices and interest rates. The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows and future earnings. We have established policies, procedures and internal processes governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage our exposure to such risks.

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We are exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of our borrowing and investment activities, which could include investments in fixed and floating rate debt instruments and borrowings used to maintain liquidity and to fund business operations. The nature and amount of our long-term and short-term debt are expected to vary as a result of future requirements, market conditions and other factors. We manage our exposure to interest rates by maintaining what we believe is an appropriate mix of fixed and variable rate debt. We believe this best protects us from interest rate risk. We could achieve this mix by (i) issuing fixed rate debt that we believe has a low stated interest rate and significant term to maturity, (ii) issuing variable rate debt with appropriate maturities and interest rates and (iii) entering into interest rate swap arrangements when we deem appropriate.

Liberty Broadband’s borrowings under the Margin Loan Agreement (as defined in note 7 of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements) and the Senior Credit Facility (as defined in note 7 of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements) carry a variable interest rate based on LIBOR as a benchmark for establishing the rate of interest. LIBOR is the subject of national, international and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform. In 2017, the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR. On November 30, 2020, ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, with the support of the United States Federal Reserve and the FCA, announced plans to consult on ceasing publication of LIBOR on December 31, 2021 for only the one week and two month LIBOR tenors, and on June 30, 2023 for all other LIBOR tenors. On March 5, 2021, the FCA confirmed that all LIBOR settings will either cease to be provided by any administrator or no longer be representative: (a) immediately after December 31, 2021, in the case of the one week and two month U.S. dollar settings; and (b) immediately after June 30, 2023, in the case of the remaining U.S. dollar settings.  The Alternative Reference Rate Committee, a committee convened by the Federal Reserve that includes major market participants, has proposed an alternative rate to replace U.S. Dollar LIBOR: the Secured Overnight Financing Rate.  The outcome of these reforms is uncertain and any changes in the methods by which LIBOR is determined or regulatory activity related to LIBOR’s phaseout could cause LIBOR to perform differently than in the past or cease to exist.  The consequences of these developments cannot be entirely predicted, but could include an increase in the cost of borrowings under the aforementioned debt instruments.  In preparation for the expected phase out of LIBOR, and to the extent alternate reference rates were not included in existing debt agreements, Liberty Broadband has incorporated alternative reference rates when amending these facilities, as applicable.

As of March 31, 2021, our debt is comprised of the following amounts:

Variable rate debt

Fixed rate debt

 

Principal

    

Weighted avg

    

Principal

    

Weighted avg

 

amount

interest rate

amount

interest rate

 

dollar amounts in millions

 

GCI Holdings

$

529,273

3.1

%

$

600,000

4.8

%

Corporate and other

$

2,000,000

2.1

%

$

1,414,536

1.9

%

Our investment in Charter (our equity method affiliate) is publicly traded and not reflected at fair value in our balance sheet. Our investment in Charter is also subject to market risk that is not directly reflected in our financial statements.

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

In accordance with Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its chief executive officer and its principal accounting and financial officer (the "Executives"), of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Executives concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of March 31, 2021 because of the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting at our wholly owned subsidiary, GCI Holdings, as discussed in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “2020 Form 10-K”). Management is monitoring the implementation of the remediation plan described in the 2020 Form 10-K, as described below.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the first quarter of 2021, we continued to review the design of our controls, made adjustments and continued implementing controls to alleviate the noted control deficiencies at GCI Holdings. Other than these items, there has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

Remediation Plan for Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

In response to the material weakness as set forth in Part II, Item 9A in the 2020 Form 10-K, the Company developed a plan to remediate the material weakness at GCI Holdings. Remediation activities include:

Continue to hire, train and retain individuals with appropriate skills and experience related to designing, operating and documenting internal control over financial reporting.
Enhance the comprehensive and continuous risk assessment process to identify and assess financial statement risks and ensure that the financial reporting process and related internal controls are in place to respond to those risks.
Enhance the design of and implement additional process-level control activities and ensure they are properly evidenced and operating effectively.
Communicate expectations, monitor for compliance with expectations, and hold individuals accountable for their roles related to internal control over financial reporting.

The Company believes the foregoing efforts will effectively remediate the material weakness described in Part II, Item 9A in the 2020 Form 10-K. Because the reliability of the internal control process requires repeatable execution, the successful on-going remediation of the material weakness will require on-going review and evidence of effectiveness prior to concluding that the controls are effective. The Company's remediation efforts are underway; however, there is no assurance that the remediation efforts will be effective in the future or that additional material weaknesses will not develop or be identified.

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes "Legal Proceedings" under Item 3 of Part I. There have been no material changes from the legal proceedings described in the Forms 10-K, except as described below.

Hollywood Firefighters’ Pension Fund, et al. v. GCI Liberty, Inc., et al.

On October 9, 2020, a putative class action complaint was filed by two purported GCI Liberty stockholders in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware under the caption Hollywood Firefighters’ Pension Fund, et al. v. GCI Liberty, Inc., et al., Case No. 2020-0880. A new version of the complaint was filed on October 11, 2020. The complaint named as defendants GCI Liberty, as well as the members of the GCI Liberty board of directors. The complaint alleged, among other things, that Mr. Gregory B. Maffei, a director and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Broadband and, prior to the Combination, GCI Liberty, and Mr. John C. Malone, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Liberty Broadband and, prior to the Combination, GCI Liberty, in their purported capacities as controlling stockholders and directors of GCI Liberty, and the other directors of GCI Liberty, breached their fiduciary duties by approving the Combination. The complaint also alleged that various prior and current relationships among members of the GCI Liberty special committee, Mr. Malone and Mr. Maffei rendered the members of the GCI Liberty special committee not independent.

The complaint sought certification of a class action, declarations that Messrs. Maffei and Malone and the other directors of GCI Liberty breached their fiduciary duties and the recovery of damages and other relief.

On December 23, 2020, the plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint, which, among other things, included a new count of breach of fiduciary duty against Mr. Maffei and Mr. Gregg Engles, the other former member of the GCI Liberty special committee, and new allegations that the price of GCI Liberty was depressed as a result of statements and omissions by Mr. Maffei in November of 2019.  During the first quarter for 2021, the parties were conducting discovery with the trial scheduled for November 2021.  We believed the lawsuit was without merit.  

During March 2021 and in advance of the expenditure of significant time and costs to conduct the depositions proposed to have been taken in this action, the parties began negotiations with the class of plaintiffs for a potential settlement of this action. On May 5, 2021, the plaintiffs (on behalf of themselves and other members of a proposed settlement class) and defendants entered into an agreement in principle to settle the litigation pursuant to which the parties agreed that the plaintiffs will dismiss their claims with prejudice, with customary releases, in return for a settlement payment of $110 million to be paid by Merger LLC (as successor-by-merger to GCI Liberty, Inc.) and/or insurers for the defendants and for GCI Liberty.  This agreement will be further codified in a final Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement, which will be subject to approval by the Court.

Other Charter Proceedings

The California Attorney General and the Alameda County, California District Attorney are investigating whether certain of Charter’s waste disposal policies, procedures and practices are in violation of the California Business and Professions Code and the California Health and Safety Code. That investigation was commenced in January 2014. A similar investigation involving TWC was initiated in February 2012. Charter is cooperating with these investigations. While Charter is unable to predict the outcome of these investigations, it does not expect that the outcome will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

Sprint filed a patent suit against Charter and Bright House on December 2, 2017 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.  This suit alleges infringement of 9 patents related to the Company's provision of Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) services.  Sprint previously sued TWC with respect to eight of these patents and obtained a final judgment of $151 million inclusive of interest and costs, which Charter paid in November 2019.  Charter has also brought a patent suit against Sprint (TC Tech, LLC v. Sprint) in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware implicating

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Sprint's LTE technology and a similar suit against T-Mobile in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.  

Sprint filed a subsequent patent suit against Charter on May 17, 2018 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.  This suit alleges infringement of two patents related to Charter's video on demand services.  The court transferred this case to the United States District Court for the District of Delaware on December 20, 2018 pursuant to an agreement between the parties.  

On February 18, 2020, Sprint filed a lawsuit against Charter, Bright House and TWC.  Sprint alleges that Charter misappropriated trade secrets from Sprint years ago through employees hired by Bright House.  Sprint asserts that the alleged trade secrets relate to the VoIP business of Charter, TWC and Bright House. The case is now pending in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.

Charter, T-Mobile and Sprint have tentatively reached a settlement of all of the foregoing suits that would result in a payment of $220 million by Charter to T-Mobile.  Charter can give no assurance that this tentative settlement will be finalized.  Pending finalization of the settlement and in the event the settlement is not finalized, Charter will vigorously defend these Sprint suits and prosecute the suits it has brought against T-Mobile and Sprint.  While Charter is unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits, it does not expect that the litigation will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

In addition to the Sprint litigation described above, Charter is a defendant or co-defendant in several additional lawsuits involving alleged infringement of various intellectual property relating to various aspects of its businesses. Other industry participants are also defendants in certain of these cases or related cases. In the event that a court ultimately determines that Charter infringes on any intellectual property, Charter may be subject to substantial damages and/or an injunction that could require Charter or its vendors to modify certain products and services it offers to its subscribers, as well as negotiate royalty or license agreements with respect to the intellectual property at issue. While Charter believes the lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend the actions vigorously, no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to Charter’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. Charter cannot predict the outcome of any such claims nor can it reasonably estimate a range of possible loss.

Charter is party to other lawsuits, claims and regulatory inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of conducting its business. The ultimate outcome of these other legal matters pending against Charter or its subsidiaries cannot be predicted, and although such lawsuits and claims are not expected individually to have a material adverse effect on our or Charters’ consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity, such lawsuits could have in the aggregate a material adverse effect on ours or Charter’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. Whether or not Charter ultimately prevails in any particular lawsuit or claim, litigation can be time consuming and costly and injure its reputation.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Share Repurchase Programs

In December 2016, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $250 million of Liberty Broadband Series A and Series C common stock.  In August 2020, the Board of Directors increased its repurchase authorization by $1.0 billion, with an aggregate repurchase amount not to exceed $1.3 billion.  On February 23, 2021, the Board of Directors authorized an additional $2.23 billion under the Company’s share repurchase program.

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A summary of the repurchase activity for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is as follows:

Series C Common Stock

 

    

    

    

(c) Total Number

    

(d) Maximum Number

 

of Shares

(or Approximate Dollar

 

Purchased as

Value) of Shares that

 

(a) Total Number

(b) Average

Part of Publicly

May Yet Be Purchased

 

of Shares

Price Paid per

Announced Plans or

Under the Plans or

 

Period

Purchased

Share

Programs

Programs

 

January 1 - 31, 2021

1,204,926

$

152.89

1,204,926

$421

million

February 1 - 28, 2021

 

1,202,145

$

149.22

1,202,145

$2,472

million

March 1 - 31, 2021

 

2,448,831

$

153.06

2,448,831

$2,097

million

Total

 

4,855,902

$

152.06

 

4,855,902

There were no repurchases of Liberty Broadband Series A or Series B common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, zero shares of Liberty Broadband Series A common stock, zero shares of Liberty Broadband Series B common stock, 1,948 shares of Series C common stock and 1,062 shares of Liberty Broadband Preferred Stock were surrendered by our officers and employees to pay withholding taxes and other deductions in connection with the vesting of their restricted stock, restricted stock units and options.

Item 6. Exhibits

(a)Exhibits

Listed below are the exhibits which are filed as a part of this Report (according to the number assigned to them in Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

10.1

31.1

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification*

31.2

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification*

32

Section 1350 Certification**

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document* - The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document.

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document*

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document*

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document*

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Definition Document*

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)*

*     Filed herewith

**   Furnished herewith

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

    

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

Date: May 7, 2021

By:

/s/ GREGORY B. MAFFEI

Gregory B. Maffei

President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 7, 2021

By:

/s/ BRIAN J. WENDLING

Brian J. Wendling

Chief Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer

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