10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2015

Liberty Media Corp Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Jun 30, 2015

Filed August 5, 2015For Securities:FWONKFWONAFWONB

Summary

Liberty Media Corporation (FWONK) reported a mixed financial performance for the second quarter of 2015. The company saw revenue growth primarily driven by its significant subsidiary, SIRIUS XM Holdings, Inc. (SIRIUS XM), which experienced increased subscriber and other revenue. However, this growth was partially offset by declines in other segments, notably the Atlanta National League Baseball Club (ANLBC), and the impact of the recent Broadband Spin-Off, which removed certain assets and their associated revenues from consolidated results. Operationally, Adjusted OIBDA showed a significant increase, again largely attributable to SIRIUS XM's performance and the favorable impact of removing TruePosition from consolidated results post-spin-off. While consolidated operating income saw a decrease in the three-month period due to a substantial legal settlement at SIRIUS XM, the six-month period showed improvement. Investors should note the company's ongoing market risk exposure from its public investment portfolio and the significant legal proceedings at SIRIUS XM, particularly the pre-1972 sound recording matters and TCPA suits, which, although mostly unquantifiable in potential loss, carry inherent uncertainties.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$1.22B
SG&A Expenses$199.00M
Operating Expenses$1.05B
Operating Income$171.00M
Interest Expense$83.00M
Net Income$61.00M
EPS (Basic)$0.18
EPS (Diluted)$0.18
Shares Outstanding (Basic)339.00M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)342.00M

Key Highlights

  • 1Consolidated revenue increased by $62 million (three months) and $132 million (six months) year-over-year, driven by SIRIUS XM's performance.
  • 2Adjusted OIBDA increased by $46 million (three months) and $125 million (six months) year-over-year, benefiting from SIRIUS XM's growth and the absence of TruePosition's prior losses.
  • 3SIRIUS XM reported a significant legal settlement of $108 million related to pre-1972 sound recordings, impacting operating income in the short term.
  • 4The Broadband Spin-Off on November 4, 2014, resulted in the exclusion of Charter Communications and other assets from Liberty Media's consolidated results.
  • 5Liberty Media's liquidity position includes $496 million in cash and cash equivalents and $252 million in Fair Value Option Securities at the corporate level, with significant cash generation from SIRIUS XM, though not directly accessible.
  • 6The company repurchased approximately $300 million of its Series A and C common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2015.
  • 7SIRIUS XM is involved in significant legal proceedings, including class action suits related to pre-1972 sound recordings and TCPA violations, with potential financial implications.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary driver of Liberty Media's revenue growth was its principal operating subsidiary, SIRIUS XM Holdings, Inc. (SIRIUS XM), which benefited from increased subscriber revenue and other revenue streams.

The Broadband Spin-Off, completed in November 2014, led to the exclusion of Liberty Media's former interests in Charter Communications, TruePosition, and other related assets from its consolidated financial results from that point forward. This affects year-over-year comparisons.

SIRIUS XM is facing several significant legal challenges, including class action suits concerning the use of pre-1972 sound recordings, for which a settlement of $210 million was agreed upon. Additionally, there are ongoing cases related to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). While most potential losses from these proceedings are not reasonably estimable, they represent considerable uncertainty.

Liberty Media maintains liquidity through available cash balances, cash generated from its subsidiaries (though access to SIRIUS XM's cash is limited), potential asset sales, debt, and equity issuances. As of June 30, 2015, the corporate level held $496 million in cash and cash equivalents.