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, 2019

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 001-37938

 

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

State of Delaware

    

81-1838757

(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: (720) 875-5800

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

LEXEA

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Series B common stock

LEXEB

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 Expedia Holdings, Inc. common stock as of April  15, 2019 was:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series A

 

Series B

 

Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc. Common Stock

 

54,496,831

 

2,830,174

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Part I - Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements  

 

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)  

I-2

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)  

I-3

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) (unaudited)  

I-4

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)  

I-5

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity (unaudited)  

I-6

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)  

I-7

 

 

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

I-25

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk  

I-35

Item 4. Controls and Procedures  

I-36

 

 

Part II - Other Information  

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings  

II-1

Item 1A. Risk Factors  

II-1

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

II-3

Item 6. Exhibits  

II-4

 

 

SIGNATURES  

II-6

 

 

I-1


 

Table of Contents

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

March 31, 

    

December 31, 

 

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

3,765

 

2,512

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

2,621

 

2,154

 

Short-term marketable securities

 

 

508

 

53

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

305

 

262

 

Other current assets

 

 

607

 

323

 

Total current assets

 

 

7,806

 

5,304

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

967

 

1,043

 

Intangible assets not subject to amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

15,076

 

15,112

 

Tradenames

 

 

5,714

 

5,726

 

 

 

 

20,790

 

20,838

 

Intangible assets subject to amortization, net

 

 

3,725

 

3,931

 

Other assets, net

 

 

1,358

 

791

 

Total assets

 

$

34,646

 

31,907

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity

 

 

 

 

   

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable, merchant

 

$

1,736

 

1,699

 

Accounts payable, other

 

 

1,047

 

800

 

Accrued liabilities

 

 

703

 

829

 

Deferred merchant bookings

 

 

6,612

 

4,327

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

536

 

367

 

Current portion of debt (note 6)

 

 

 —

 

 5

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

114

 

51

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

10,748

 

8,078

 

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net, including $392 million and $382 million measured at fair value (note 6)

 

 

4,223

 

4,238

 

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

 

1,533

 

1,540

 

Other liabilities

 

 

837

 

534

 

Total liabilities

 

 

17,341

 

14,390

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 50,000,000 shares; no shares issued

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

Series A common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 160,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 54,496,831 and 54,496,214 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively

 

 

 1

 

 1

 

Series B common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 6,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 2,830,174 and 2,830,174 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

283

 

313

 

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of taxes

 

 

29

 

36

 

Retained earnings

 

 

1,988

 

2,051

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

2,301

 

2,401

 

Noncontrolling interests in equity of subsidiaries

 

 

15,004

 

15,116

 

Total equity

 

 

17,305

 

17,517

 

Commitments and contingencies (note 9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

34,646

 

31,907

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

I-2


 

Table of Contents

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

amounts in millions,

 

 

 

except per share amounts

 

Service revenue

 

$

2,609

 

2,508

 

Product revenue

 

 

52

 

66

 

Total revenue, net (note 10)

 

 

2,661

 

2,574

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling and marketing (1)

 

 

1,529

 

1,513

 

Cost of service revenue (1)  

 

 

490

 

460

 

Technology and content (1)  

 

 

297

 

277

 

General and administrative (1)

 

 

201

 

199

 

Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below)

 

 

39

 

48

 

Other operating expense

 

 

 4

 

 5

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

405

 

479

 

Legal reserves, occupancy tax, restructuring and related reorganization charges and other

 

 

20

 

 4

 

 

 

 

2,985

 

2,985

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

(324)

 

(411)

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

(32)

 

(36)

 

Other, net

 

 

27

 

58

 

 

 

 

(5)

 

22

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

 

(329)

 

(389)

 

Income tax (expense) benefit

 

 

60

 

65

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

 

(269)

 

(324)

 

Less net earnings (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

 

(205)

 

(280)

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc. shareholders

 

$

(64)

 

(44)

 

Basic net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A and Series B Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc. shareholders per common share (note 2)

 

$

(1.12)

 

(0.77)

 

Diluted net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A and Series B Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc. shareholders per common share (note 2)

 

$

(1.12)

 

(0.77)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes stock compensation as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling and marketing

 

$

11

 

11

 

Cost of service revenue

 

 

 3

 

 2

 

Technology and content

 

 

19

 

15

 

General and administrative

 

 

25

 

23

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

I-3


 

Table of Contents

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Earnings (Loss)

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

(269)

 

(324)

 

Other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currency translation adjustments and other

 

 

(42)

 

102

 

Other comprehensive earnings (loss)

 

 

(42)

 

102

 

Comprehensive earnings (loss)

 

 

(311)

 

(222)

 

Less comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest

 

 

(240)

 

(189)

 

Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc. shareholders

 

$

(71)

 

(33)

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

I-4


 

Table of Contents

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

(269)

 

(324)

 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

405

 

479

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

58

 

51

 

Realized (gain) loss on foreign currency forwards

 

 

(7)

 

(8)

 

(Gain) loss on equity securities

 

 

(22)

 

(37)

 

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

(3)

 

44

 

Other noncash charges (credits), net

 

 

(7)

 

(35)

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current and other assets

 

 

(486)

 

(400)

 

Payables and other liabilities

 

 

2,482

 

1,906

 

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

 

 

2,151

 

1,676

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expended for property and equipment and capitalized software

 

 

(275)

 

(194)

 

Purchases of short-term marketable securities and other investments

 

 

(462)

 

(867)

 

Sales of short-term marketable securities

 

 

 7

 

317

 

Other, net

 

 

 6

 

14

 

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

 

 

(724)

 

(730)

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings of debt

 

 

32

 

67

 

Repayments of debt

 

 

(37)

 

(66)

 

Shares issued by subsidiary

 

 

91

 

20

 

Shares repurchased by subsidiary

 

 

(25)

 

(202)

 

Dividends paid by subsidiary

 

 

(40)

 

(39)

 

Taxes paid in lieu of shares issued for stock-based compensation

 

 

 —

 

(2)

 

Other financing activities, net

 

 

 4

 

(6)

 

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

 

25

 

(228)

 

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

(11)

 

17

 

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

 

 

1,441

 

735

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

 

 

2,774

 

3,031

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

 

$

4,215

 

3,766

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

3,765

 

2,512

 

Restricted cash included within other current assets

 

 

447

 

259

 

Restricted cash included within other assets

 

 

3

 

3

 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows

 

$

4,215

 

2,774

 

 

I-5


 

Table of Contents

 

LIBERTY EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Equity

 

(unaudited)

 

Three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred

 

Common stock

 

paid-in

 

comprehensive

 

Retained

 

Noncontrolling

 

 

 

 

    

stock

    

Series A

    

Series B

    

capital

    

earnings (loss)

    

earnings

    

interests

    

Total equity

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Balance at January 1, 2019

 

$

 —

 

 1

 

 —

 

313

 

36

 

2,051

 

15,116

 

17,517

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

(64)

 

(205)

 

(269)

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

(7)

 

 —

 

(35)

 

(42)

 

Stock compensation

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 9

 

 —

 

 —

 

49

 

58

 

Proceeds from exercise of equity instruments in subsidiary

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

(36)

 

 —

 

 —

 

127

 

91

 

Shares repurchased by subsidiary

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

(3)

 

 —

 

 —

 

(22)

 

(25)

 

Dividends paid by subsidiary

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

(40)

 

(40)

 

Adoption of new accounting guidance

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 1

 

 5

 

 6

 

Other  

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 9

 

 9

 

Balance at March 31, 2019

 

$

 —

 

 1

 

 —

 

283

 

29

 

1,988

 

15,004

 

17,305

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred

 

Common stock

 

paid-in

 

comprehensive

 

Retained

 

Noncontrolling

 

 

 

 

    

stock

    

Series A

    

Series B

    

capital

    

earnings (loss)

    

earnings

    

interests

    

Total equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Balance at January 1, 2018

 

$

 —

 

 1

 

 —

 

370

 

59

 

2,179

 

16,493

 

19,102

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

(44)

 

(280)

 

(324)

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

11

 

 —

 

91

 

102

 

Stock compensation

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 8

 

 —

 

 —

 

43

 

51

 

Proceeds from exercise of equity instruments in subsidiary

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

(25)

 

 —

 

 —

 

45

 

20

 

Stock repurchases by subsidiary

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

18

 

 —

 

 —

 

(220)

 

(202)

 

Dividends paid by subsidiary

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

(39)

 

(39)

 

Taxes paid in lieu of shares issued for stock-based compensation

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

(2)

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

(2)

 

Adoption of new accounting guidance

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

(1)

 

 1

 

(10)

 

(10)

 

Other  

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 —

 

 4

 

 4

 

Balance at March 31, 2018

 

$

 —

 

 1

 

 —

 

369

 

69

 

2,136

 

16,127

 

18,702

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

I-6


 

Table of Contents

(1) Basis of Presentation

 

During November 2015, the board of directors of Liberty Interactive Corporation ("Liberty Interactive"), now known as Qurate Retail, Inc. (“Qurate Retail”), authorized management to pursue a plan to distribute to holders of its then-outstanding Liberty Ventures common stock shares of a newly formed entity, Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc. ("Expedia Holdings" or the "Company" as discussed below) ("Expedia Holdings Split-Off"). Following the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, Expedia Holdings is comprised of, among other things, Qurate Retail's former ownership interest in Expedia Group, Inc. (formerly “Expedia, Inc.”) ("Expedia"), as well as Qurate Retail's former wholly-owned subsidiary Vitalize, LLC (which we refer to as “Bodybuilding”).

 

The Expedia Holdings Split-Off occurred on November 4, 2016. Following the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, Expedia Holdings and Qurate Retail operate as separate, publicly traded companies. The Expedia Holdings Split-Off was intended to be tax-free to Qurate Retail and the former stockholders of Liberty Ventures. In February 2017, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) completed its review of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off and informed Qurate Retail that it agreed with the nontaxable characterization of the transactions. Qurate Retail received an Issue Resolution Agreement from the IRS documenting this conclusion.

 

On April 15, 2019, the Company and Expedia entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”). As a result of the Merger Agreement the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Expedia (the “Merger”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each share of the Company’s Series A and Series B common stock, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (except for shares held by Expedia Holdings as treasury stock or directly held by Expedia) will be converted into the right to receive 0.36 of a share of Expedia common stock, plus cash (without interest) in lieu of any fractional shares of Expedia common stock. It is expected that the Merger will close in the third quarter of 2019, subject to the completion of an exchange by Barry Diller of up to 5.7 million shares of Expedia common stock (“EXPE”) for an equal number of shares of Expedia class B common stock and customary closing conditions, including approval by a majority of the aggregate voting power of Expedia Holdings common stock and the receipt of any applicable regulatory approvals. 

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements represent the consolidation of the historical financial information of Bodybuilding and Expedia. These financial statements refer to the consolidation of the aforementioned subsidiaries as "Expedia Holdings," "the Company," "us," "we" and "our" in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements. The Expedia Holdings Split-Off was accounted for at historical cost due to the pro rata nature of the distribution to the former holders of Liberty Ventures common stock. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and (b) the interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") for interim financial information and the instructions on 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 the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.  

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) fair value measurement of non-financial instruments, (ii) accounting for certain merchant revenue, (iii) loyalty program accruals, (iv) valuation of other long-term liabilities, (v) measurement of stock-based compensation and (vi) income taxes to be its most significant estimates .

I-7


 

Table of Contents

Split-Off of Expedia Holdings from Qurate Retail

 

Following the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, Qurate Retail and Expedia Holdings operate as separate, publicly traded companies, and neither has any stock ownership, beneficial or otherwise, in the other. In connection with the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, Expedia Holdings entered into certain agreements with Qurate Retail and/or Liberty Media Corporation (“Liberty Media”) (or certain of their subsidiaries) in order to govern certain of the ongoing relationships between these companies after the Expedia Holdings Split-Off and to provide for an orderly transition. These agreements include a reorganization agreement, a services agreement, a facilities sharing agreement and a tax sharing agreement.

 

The reorganization agreement between Qurate Retail and Expedia Holdings provides for, among other things, the principal corporate transactions (including the internal restructuring) required to effect the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, certain conditions to the Expedia Holdings Split-Off and provisions governing the relationship between Expedia Holdings and Qurate Retail with respect to and resulting from the Expedia Holdings Split-Off. The tax sharing agreement between Qurate Retail and Expedia Holdings provides for the allocation and indemnification of tax liabilities and benefits between Qurate Retail and Expedia Holdings and other agreements related to tax matters. Pursuant to the services agreement, Liberty Media provides Expedia Holdings with general and administrative services including legal, tax, accounting, treasury and investor relations support. Under the facilities sharing agreement among Liberty Media, a subsidiary of Liberty Media and Expedia Holdings, Expedia Holdings shares office space with Qurate Retail and Liberty Media and related amenities at Liberty Media's corporate headquarters. Expedia Holdings will reimburse Liberty Media for direct, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Liberty Media in providing these services and for costs that will be negotiated semi-annually. Under these various agreements, approximately $1 million for both of the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, was reimbursable to Liberty Media.

 

Seasonality

 

Expedia generally experiences seasonal fluctuations in the demand for its travel services. For example, traditional leisure travel bookings are generally the highest in the first three quarters as travelers plan and book their spring, summer and winter holiday travel. The number of bookings typically decreases in the fourth quarter. Because revenue for most of Expedia’s travel services, including merchant and agency hotel, is recognized as the travel takes place rather than when it is booked, revenue typically lags bookings by several weeks for its hotel business and can be several months or more for its alternative accommodations business. Historically, Vrbo (formerly referred to as “Homeaway”), has seen seasonally stronger bookings in the first quarter of the year, with the relevant stays occurring during the peak summer travel months. The seasonal revenue impact is exacerbated with respect to income by the nature of Expedia’s variable cost of revenue and direct sales and marketing costs, which it typically realizes in closer alignment to booking volumes, and the more stable nature of its fixed costs. Furthermore, operating profits for Expedia’s primary advertising business, trivago N.V. (“trivago”), have typically been experienced in the second half of the year, particularly the fourth quarter, as selling and marketing costs offset revenue in the first half of the year as they typically increase marketing during the busy booking period for spring, summer and winter holiday travel. As a result on a consolidated basis, revenue and income are typically the lowest in the first quarter and highest in the third quarter. The continued growth of Expedia’s international operations, advertising business or a change in its product mix, including the growth of Vrbo, may influence the typical trend of the seasonality in the future, and there may also be business or market driven dynamics that result in short-term impacts to revenue or profitability that differ from the typical seasonal trends.  

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the measurement of credit losses for financial assets measured at amortized cost, which includes accounts receivable, and available-for-sale debt securities. The new guidance replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected loss methodology, which will result in more timely recognition of credit losses. This update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual periods. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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Cloud Computing Arrangements. In August 2018, the FASB issued new guidance on the accounting for implementation costs incurred for a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. The update conforms the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract with the accounting guidance that provides for capitalization of costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use-software. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Fair Value Measurements . In August 2018, the FASB issued new guidance related to the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements, which removes, modifies or adds certain disclosures. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on our consolidated financial statements disclosures.

 

(2) Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Expedia Holdings Shareholders per Common Share

 

Basic earnings (loss) per common share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

 

 

number of shares in millions

 

Basic WASO

 

57

 

57

 

Potentially dilutive shares (1)

 

 1

 

 1

 

Diluted WASO

 

58

 

58

 


(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.

 

Excluded from diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, are less than a million potential common shares, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

 

(3) Expedia Ownership

 

Expedia is an online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to efficiently research, plan, book and experience travel. Expedia seeks to grow its business through a dynamic portfolio of travel brands, including its majority owned subsidiaries that feature the world's broadest supply portfolio as well as destination services and activities. Historically, Qurate Retail was (and, following the completion of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, the Company is) a party to the Stockholders Agreement with Mr. Diller, pursuant to which Mr. Diller held an irrevocable proxy (the “Diller Proxy”) over all the shares of EXPE and Expedia class B common stock then owned by Qurate Retail.   Qurate Retail was also subject to a governance agreement (the “Governance Agreement”) with Expedia which provided for the right to nominate 20% of the members of Expedia’s board of directors, which is currently comprised of 15 members (three of which were nominated by Qurate Retail). The Governance Agreement also provided for registration and other rights, and imposed certain restrictions on the ownership of shares of Expedia class B common stock.  In connection with the Expedia Holdings Split-Off (i) the Stockholders Agreement and the Governance agreement were assigned to us and (ii) the Diller Proxy was irrevocably assigned by Mr. Diller to our company (the “Diller Assignment”) for a period of time up to 18 months following completion of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off (the “Outside Date”), subject to certain termination events as described in the Amended and Restated Transaction Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2016, among Mr. Diller, John C. Malone and Leslie Malone (the “Malone Group”), Qurate Retail and the Company (the “Transaction Agreement” and the date on which such termination event occurs, the “Proxy Arrangement Termination Date”).   On March 6, 2018, the Company, Qurate Retail, the Malone Group and Mr. Diller entered into a letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”), which amended the termination provisions of the Transaction Agreement to extend the Outside Date for an additional one year period.  As a result, unless sooner terminated upon the occurrence of certain events or the

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taking of certain actions, in either case, as set forth in the Transaction Agreement, as amended by the Letter Agreement, the Proxy Arrangement Termination Date would occur, and the Transaction Agreement together with certain Subject Instruments (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) would have terminated, on May 4, 2019 (see discussion below).

By virtue of (i) certain governance rights with respect to the Company as set forth in the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation, an amendment to the Stockholders Agreement and the Amended and Restated Transaction Agreement and (ii) the grant by the Malone Group to Mr. Diller of an irrevocable proxy to vote, subject to certain exceptions, shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by the Malone Group upon the completion of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off or thereafter for a period of time ending upon termination of the Diller Assignment (the arrangements described in clauses (i) and (ii), together with the Diller Assignment, the “Proxy Arrangements”), prior to the termination of the Proxy Arrangements as described below, Mr. Diller was able to elect and replace the directors of the Company who determined how the Company would exercise certain rights and vote the shares of EXPE and Expedia class B common stock owned by the Company in the election of Expedia directors, though the Malone Group retained the ability to remove such directors of the Company. The rights under the Governance Agreement and Stockholders Agreement, each as assigned and amended, will be maintained even upon termination of the Proxy Arrangements.

We began consolidating Expedia as of the completion of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off on November 4, 2016, as we then controlled a majority of the voting interest in Expedia for accounting purposes. Additionally, in conjunction with the application of acquisition accounting, we recorded a full step up in basis of Expedia along with a gain between our historical basis and the fair value of our interest in Expedia.  As of March 31, 2019, Expedia Holdings beneficially owned approximately 16.1% of the outstanding Expedia common stock which represented a 52.7% voting interest in Expedia. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company purchased 269,646 additional shares of Expedia common stock for approximately $31 million pursuant to and in accordance with the preemptive rights as detailed by the Governance Agreement as assigned to the Company.  

 

On April 15, 2019, and prior to the Company’s entry into the Merger Agreement (see discussion in note 1), Mr. Diller, the Company, Qurate Retail and the Malone Group entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Transaction Agreement, providing for the immediate termination of the Transaction Agreement, which automatically resulted in the termination of the Proxy Arrangements.  As a result of the termination of the Proxy Arrangements, the Company no longer controls a majority of the voting interest in Expedia. Accordingly, the Company will deconsolidate Expedia as of April 15, 2019. Until the Merger is completed, the Governance Agreement and Stockholders Agreement remain in effect, meaning the Company has significant influence with respect to Expedia and accordingly will account for its investment in Expedia as an equity method affiliate and expects to elect the fair value option of accounting. The Company’s economic ownership percentage in Expedia remains the same.

 

Dividends declared by Expedia

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, Expedia has declared quarterly cash dividends, and has paid in cash an aggregate amount of $47 million to stockholders of which the Company has received $7 million. In addition, in May 2019, Expedia declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share of outstanding common stock payable on June 13, 2019 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 23, 2019.  

 

 

 

(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.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2018

 

 

    

 

 

    

Quoted prices

    

Significant other

    

 

    

Quoted prices

    

Significant other

 

 

 

 

 

 

in active markets

 

observable

 

 

 

in active markets

 

observable

 

 

 

 

 

 

for identical assets

 

inputs

 

 

 

for identical assets

 

inputs

 

Description

 

Total

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

Total

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Cash equivalents

    

$

1,287

    

110

    

1,177

    

725

    

79

    

646

  

Short-term marketable securities

 

$

508

    

20

    

488

 

53

    

11

    

42

 

Equity securities (1)

 

$

143

 

143

 

 —

 

119

 

119

 

 —

 

Debt

 

$

392

 

 —

 

392

 

382

 

 —

 

382

 


(1)

Equity securities are included in the Other assets, net line item in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Cash equivalents are valued using quoted market prices or alternative pricing sources and models utilizing market observable inputs and are accordingly classified within Level 1 or Level 2. As of March 31, 2019, Cash equivalents consisted primarily of prime institutional money market funds with maturities of three months or less, time deposits as well as bank account balances.

Expedia holds time deposit investments with financial institutions. Time deposits with original maturities of less than three months are classified as Cash equivalents and those with remaining maturities of less than one year are classified within Short-term marketable securities.

 During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 we recognized gross unrealized gains of approximately $24 million and $36 million, respectively, related to equity securities within Other, net in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

 

(5) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

Other indefinite-lived intangible assets relate principally to Expedia trademarks and tradenames recognized in acquisition accounting.

 

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expedia

 

Corporate and other

 

Total

 

Balance as of January 1, 2019

 

$

15,112

 

 —

 

15,112

 

Foreign exchange translation and other

 

 

(36)

 

 —

 

(36)

 

Balance as of March 31, 2019

 

$

15,076

 

 —

 

15,076

 

 

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Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization

 

Amortization expense for intangible assets with finite useful lives was $358 million and $416 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Based on its amortizable intangible assets as of March 31, 2019, the Company expects that amortization expense will be as follows for the next five years (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remainder of 2019

    

$

1,033

 

2020

 

 

893

 

2021

 

 

619

 

2022

 

 

381

 

2023

 

 

260

 

 

 

(6) Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations

 

Outstanding debt and capital leases at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

Carrying value

 

 

    

Principal

    

March 31, 

    

December 31, 

 

 

 

March 31, 2019

 

2019

 

2018

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Expedia Holdings 1% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2047

 

 

400

 

 

392

 

382

 

Expedia 5.95% senior notes due 2020

 

 

750

 

 

784

 

790

 

Expedia 2.5% (€650 million) senior notes due 2022

 

 

729

 

 

760

 

777

 

Expedia 4.5% senior notes due 2024

 

 

500

 

 

517

 

518

 

Expedia 5.0% senior notes due 2026

 

 

750

 

 

779

 

780

 

Expedia 3.8% senior notes due 2028

 

 

1,000

 

 

991

 

991

 

Bodybuilding revolving line of credit due 2020

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 5

 

Total debt and capital lease obligations

 

$

4,129

 

 

4,223

 

4,243

 

Less portion classified as current

 

 

 

 

 

 —

 

(5)

 

Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations

 

 

 

 

$

4,223

 

4,238

 

 

1.0% Exchangeable Senior Debentures

 

On June 13, 2017, the Company closed a private offering of $400 million of 1.0% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2047 (the “debentures”).  Upon exchange of the debentures, the Company, at its option, may deliver registered EXPE shares, cash or a combination of EXPE and cash. Initially, 5.1566 shares of EXPE (the “EXPE Reference Shares”) are attributable to each $1,000 original principal amount of the debentures, representing an initial exchange price of approximately $193.93 for each share of EXPE. A total of approximately 2.1 million shares of Expedia common stock are attributable to the debentures. Interest is payable quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, and commenced on September 30, 2017. The debentures may be redeemed by the Company, in whole or in part, on or after July 5, 2022. Holders of the debentures also have the right to require the Company to purchase their debentures on July 5, 2022.  The redemption and purchase price will generally equal 100% of the adjusted principal amount of the debentures plus accrued and unpaid interest, plus any final period distribution. The Company has elected to account for the debentures using the fair value option.  The Company estimates the fair value of its debt based on the quoted market price for the same or similar issues or on the current rate offered to it for debt of the same remaining maturities not considered to be trading on active markets (level 2). Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these instruments of $5 million and $11 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are recorded as unrealized losses and unrealized gains, respectively, in the Other, net line item in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company will make an additional distribution on the debentures if Expedia makes a distribution of cash on the EXPE Reference Shares in excess of $0.28 (an “Excess Regular Cash Dividend”). Expedia began paying Excess Regular Cash Dividends during the third quarter of 2017. The Company will make additional distributions on the debentures under certain circumstances.

 

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Expedia Outstanding Debt

 

Expedia 5.95% senior notes due 2020

Expedia has $750 million in registered senior unsecured notes outstanding at March 31, 2019 that are due in August 2020 and bear interest at 5.95% (the “Expedia 5.95% Notes”). The Expedia 5.95% Notes were issued at 99.893% of par. Interest is payable semi-annually in February and August of each year. Expedia may redeem the Expedia 5.95% Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price of 100% of the principal plus accrued interest, plus a “make-whole” premium. The premium associated with the Expedia 5.95% Notes was recorded in acquisition accounting as the difference between fair value and the outstanding principal amount at the date of acquisition. This premium is being amortized over the remaining period to maturity through interest expense using the effective interest rate method.

 

Expedia 2.5% senior notes due 2022

Expedia has €650 million of registered senior unsecured notes outstanding at March 31, 2019 that are due in June 2022 and bear interest at 2.5% (the “Expedia 2.5% Notes”). The Expedia 2.5% Notes were issued at 99.525% of par. Interest is payable annually in arrears in June of each year. Expedia may redeem the Expedia 2.5% Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time. If Expedia elects to redeem the Expedia 2.5% Notes prior to March 3, 2022, it may redeem them at a specified “make-whole” premium. If Expedia elects to redeem the Expedia 2.5% Notes on or after March 3, 2022, it may redeem them at a redemption price of 100% of the principal plus accrued and unpaid interest. Subject to certain limited exceptions, all payments of interest and principal for the Expedia 2.5% Notes will be made in Euros. The premium associated with the Expedia 2.5% Notes was recorded in acquisition accounting as the difference between fair value and the outstanding principal amount at the date of acquisition. This premium is being amortized over the remaining period to maturity through interest expense using the effective interest rate method.

 

Expedia 4.5% senior notes due 2024

Expedia has $500 million in registered senior unsecured notes outstanding at March 31, 2019 that are due in August 2024 and bear interest at 4.5% (the “Expedia 4.5% Notes”). The Expedia 4.5% Notes were issued at 99.444% of par. Interest is payable semi-annually in February and August of each year. Expedia may redeem the Expedia 4.5% Notes at its option at any time in whole or from time to time in part. If Expedia elects to redeem the Expedia 4.5% Notes prior to May 15, 2024, it may redeem them at a redemption price of 100% of the principal plus accrued interest, plus a “make-whole” premium. If Expedia elects to redeem the Expedia 4.5% Notes on or after May 15, 2024, it may redeem them at a redemption price of 100% of the principal plus accrued interest. The premium associated with the Expedia 4.5% Notes was recorded in acquisition accounting as the difference between fair value and the outstanding principal amount at the date of acquisition. This premium is being amortized over the remaining period to maturity through interest expense using the effective interest rate method.

Expedia 5.0% senior notes due 2026

Expedia has $750 million in registered senior unsecured notes outstanding at March 31, 2019 that are due in February 2026 and bear interest at 5.0% (the "Expedia 5.0% Notes"). The Expedia 5.0% Notes were issued at 99.535% of par. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears in February and August of each year. Expedia may redeem the Expedia 5.0% Notes at its option at any time in whole or from time to time in part. If Expedia elects to redeem the Expedia 5.0% Notes prior to November 12, 2025, it may redeem them at a redemption price of 100% of the principal plus accrued interest, plus a “make-whole” premium. If Expedia elects to redeem the Expedia 5.0% Notes on or after November 12, 2025, it may redeem them at a redemption price of 100% of the principal plus accrued interest. The premium associated with the Expedia 5.0% Notes was recorded in acquisition accounting as the difference between fair value and the outstanding principal amount at the date of acquisition. This premium is being amortized over the remaining period to maturity through interest expense using the effective interest rate method.

Expedia 3.8% senior notes due 2028

Expedia has $1 billion in senior unsecured notes outstanding at March 31, 2019 that are due in February 2028 and bear interest at 3.8% (the "Expedia 3.8% Notes"). The Expedia 3.8% Notes were issued at 99.747% of par resulting in a

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discount, which is being amortized over their life. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears in February and August of each year, beginning February 15, 2018. Expedia may redeem the Expedia 3.8% Notes at its option at any time in whole or from time to time in part. If Expedia elects to redeem the Expedia 3.8% Notes prior to November 15, 2027, it may redeem them at a redemption price of 100% of the principal plus accrued interest, plus a “make-whole” premium. If Expedia elects to redeem the Expedia 3.8% Notes on or after November 15, 2027, it may redeem them at a redemption price of 100% of the principal plus accrued interest.

The Expedia 5.95%, 2.5%, 4.5%, 5.0% and 3.8% Notes (collectively the “Notes”) are senior unsecured obligations issued by Expedia and guaranteed by certain domestic Expedia subsidiaries. The Notes rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Expedia and the guarantor subsidiaries. In addition, the Notes include covenants that limit Expedia’s ability to (i) create certain liens, (ii) enter into sale/leaseback transactions and (iii) merge or consolidate with or into another entity or transfer substantially all of its assets. The Expedia 5.95%, 2.5%, 4.5%, 3.8% and 5.0% Notes are redeemable in whole or in part, at the option of the holders thereof, upon the occurrence of certain change of control triggering events at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Expedia Credit Facility

Expedia maintains a $2 billion unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of lenders, which is unconditionally guaranteed by certain domestic Expedia subsidiaries that are the same as under the Notes, and expires in May 2023. As of December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2019, Expedia did not have any revolving credit facility borrowings outstanding. The facility bears interest based on Expedia’s credit ratings, with drawn amounts bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.25% and the commitment fee on undrawn amounts at 0.175% as of March 31, 2019. The facility contains covenants including maximum leverage and minimum interest coverage ratios. The amount of stand-by letters of credit (“LOCs”) issued under the facility reduces the credit amount available. As of March 31, 2019, there were $15 million of outstanding stand-by LOCs issued under the facility.

In addition, one of Expedia’s international subsidiaries maintains a €50 million uncommitted credit facility, which is guaranteed by Expedia and may be terminated at any time by the lender. As of March 31, 2019, there were no borrowings outstanding under this facility.

Bodybuilding Revolving Line of Credit

 

As of March 31, 2019,  Bodybuilding has a revolving line of credit (the "Revolver") which is secured by substantially all of Bodybuilding’s assets. The maximum amount allowed under the Revolver is $25 million. Bodybuilding periodically borrows and repays amounts outstanding under the Revolver depending on its cash needs. The Revolver matures on January 20, 2020. The outstanding balance accrued interest at the CB Floating Rate less 1.0%, with a rate option balance that accrued interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%. As of March 31, 2019, there was no outstanding balance on the Revolver.  Bodybuilding was not in compliance with the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant as of March 31, 2019.  Although the original maturity date was January 20, 2020, Bodybuilding entered into an agreement with the lender to terminate the Revolver on April 15, 2019. Future potential operating losses of Bodybuilding will be funded by corporate level available cash.

 

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Fair Value of Debt

 

The fair value, based on quoted market prices in less active markets (Level 2), of Expedia’s publicly traded debt securities is as follows (amounts in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

March 31, 

 

 

 

2019

 

Expedia 5.95% senior notes due 2020

 

$

780

 

Expedia 2.5% (€650 million) senior notes due 2022 (1)

 

$

767

 

Expedia 4.5% senior notes due 2024

 

$

521

 

Expedia 5.0% senior notes due 2026

 

$

797

 

Expedia 3.8% senior notes due 2028

 

$

968

 


(1)

Approximately 683 million Euro as of March 31, 2019.

 

The Company believes that the carrying value of its Revolver and secured notes approximated fair value at March 31,  2019 and December 31, 2018.

 

Covenant Compliance

 

Expedia Holdings and Expedia were in compliance with their debt covenants which consist of both financial and non-financial covenants as of March 31, 2019. See discussion above related to Bodybuilding debt covenant compliance.

 

(7) Leases

 

Leases. In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which revises the accounting for leases. Under the new guidance, lessees are required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset for all leases. The new guidance also simplifies the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2019. Additionally, the Company elected the optional transition method that allows for a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption and did not restate prior periods.  The Company elected certain of the available transition practical expedients, including those that permit us to not reassess 1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, 2) the lease classification for any expired or exiting leases, and 3) any initial direct costs for any existing leases as of the effective date. The Company did not elect the hindsight practical expedient, which permits entities to use hindsight in determining the lease term and assessing impairment. The standard had a material impact on the consolidated balance sheets, but did not have a material impact on the consolidated statements of operations or statements of cash flows. The most significant impact was the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities for operating leases. Additionally, the Company removed the assets and liabilities previously recorded pursuant to build-to-suit lease guidance resulting in an increase to retained earnings of approximately $1 million, and of approximately $5 million to non-controlling interest in equity of subsidiaries.

 

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are primarily for office space and data centers and are included in operating lease ROU assets, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and operating lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets represent a right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent an obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

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For operating leases with a term of one year or less, the Company  has elected to not recognize a lease liability or ROU asset on its consolidated balance sheet. Instead, it recognizes the lease payments as expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Short-term lease costs are immaterial to the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows.

 

The Company has office space and data center lease agreements with insignificant non-lease components and has elected the practical expedient to combine and account for lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.

 

The Company has operating leases for office space, data centers and distribution centers, and its leases have remaining lease terms of one year to 19 years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to 10 years, and some of which include options to terminate the leases within one year.

 

Operating lease costs were $38 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.  Total rental expense was $47 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

March 31, 2019

 

 

in millions

 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

 

 

 

Operating cash flows from operating leases

$

39

 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:

 

 

 

Operating leases

$

 6

 

Supplemental consolidated balance sheet information related to leases were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

2019

 

 

in millions

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets (1)

$

542

 

 

 

 

 

Current operating lease liabilities (2)

$

114

 

Operating lease liabilities (3)

 

476

 

Total operating lease liabilities

$

590

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)

 

8.8

 

Weighted average discount rate

 

4.0%

 


(1)

Operating lease right-of-use assets are included within the Other assets, net line item in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

(2)

Current operating lease liabilities are included within the Other current liabilities line item in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

(3)

Operating lease   liabilities are included within the Other liabilities line item in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

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Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Leases

 

 

in millions

 

Remainder of 2019

$

104

 

2020

 

107

 

2021

 

90

 

2022

 

73

 

2023

 

53

 

2024 and thereafter

 

278

 

Total lease payments

$

705

 

Less: implied interest

 

115

 

Present value of lease liabilities

$

590

 

 

As of March 31, 2019, the Company has additional operating leases, primarily for corporate offices, that have not yet commenced of $210 million. These operating leases will commence between 2019 and 2021 with lease terms of 2 years to 11 years.

 

(8) Stock-Based Compensation

 

Expedia Holdings Incentive Plan

   

The Company has granted to certain of its directors and employees restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and options to purchase shares of Expedia Holdings common stock (“Awards”). The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an equity classified Award 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 has calculated the GDFV for all of its equity classified Awards using the Black-Scholes-Merton 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 Expedia Holdings common stock and the implied volatility of publicly traded Expedia Holdings options. 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.

 

There were no options to purchase shares of Series A or Series B common stock granted and no exercise, forfeiture or cancellation activity for Series B common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

 

Expedia Holdings – Outstanding Awards

 

The following table presents the number and weighted average exercise price (“WAEP”) of Awards to purchase Expedia Holdings 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

 

Aggregate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

remaining

 

intrinsic

 

 

 

Series A

 

WAEP

 

contractual life

 

value

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

Outstanding at January 1, 2019

 

957

 

$

26.28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(1)

 

$

27.21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited/Cancelled

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2019

 

956

 

$

26.28

 

1.8

years

 

$

16

 

Exercisable at March 31, 2019

 

739

 

$

21.90

 

1.1

years

 

$

15

 

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As of March 31, 2019, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested Expedia Holdings options.

 

As of March 31, 2019, the Company reserved 1.6 million shares of Series A and Series B common stock for issuance under exercise privileges of outstanding stock Awards.

 

Expedia – Stock-based Compensation

   

Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Expedia, Inc. 2005 Stock and Annual Incentive Plan, Expedia may grant restricted stock, RSUs, stock options and other stock-based awards to its directors, officers, employees and consultants. Expedia issues new shares to satisfy the exercise or release of stock-based awards.

 

Expedia’s annual employee stock-based award grants typically occur during the first quarter of each year and generally vest over four years. During 2019, Expedia started issuing RSUs as its primary form of stock-based compensation, which vest 25% after one year and will then vest quarterly over the following three years. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, Expedia granted approximately 3 million RSUs. As of March 31, 2019, Expedia had stock-based awards outstanding representing approximately 21 million shares of its common stock, consisting of options to purchase approximately 16 million shares of its common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $101.79 and weighted average remaining life of 4.2 years and approximately 5 million RSUs.

 

The stock-based compensation recognized by Expedia Holdings related to Expedia stock options and restricted stock awards was $58 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

 

 

(9) Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation

 

The Company is subject to legal 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.

Litigation Relating to Occupancy Taxes.   One hundred one lawsuits have been filed by or against cities, counties and states involving hotel occupancy and other taxes. Fourteen lawsuits are currently active. These lawsuits are in various stages and Expedia continues to defend against the claims made in them vigorously. With respect to the principal claims in these matters, Expedia believes that the statutes or ordinances at issue do not apply to Expedia or the services it provides and, therefore, that Expedia does not owe the taxes that are claimed to be owed. Expedia believes that the statutes or ordinances at issue generally impose occupancy and other taxes on entities that own, operate or control hotels (or similar businesses) or furnish or provide hotel rooms or similar accommodations. To date, forty-six of these lawsuits have been dismissed. Some of these dismissals have been without prejudice and, generally, allow the governmental entity or entities to seek administrative remedies prior to pursuing further litigation. Thirty-two dismissals were based on a finding that Expedia and the other defendants were not subject to the local tax ordinance or that the local government lacked standing to pursue its claims. As a result of this litigation and other attempts by certain jurisdictions to levy such taxes, Expedia has established a reserve for the potential settlement of issues related to hotel occupancy and other taxes, consistent with applicable accounting principles and in light of all current facts and circumstances, in the amount of $54 million as of March 31, 2019. Expedia’s settlement reserve is based on its best estimate of probable losses, and the ultimate resolution of these contingencies may be greater or less than the liabilities recorded. An estimate for a reasonably possible loss or range of loss in excess of the amount reserved cannot be made. Changes to the settlement reserve are included within Legal reserves, occupancy tax, and other in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Pay-to-Play. Certain jurisdictions may assert that Expedia is required to pay any assessed taxes prior to being allowed to contest or litigate the applicability of the ordinances. This prepayment of contested taxes is referred to as “pay-to-play.” Payment of these amounts is not an admission that Expedia believes it is subject to such taxes and, even when such

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payments are made, Expedia continues to defend its position vigorously. If Expedia prevails in the litigation, for which a pay-to-play payment was made, the jurisdiction collecting the payment will be required to repay such amounts and also may be required to pay interest.

 

Hawaii (General Excise Tax). During 2013, the Expedia companies were required to “pay-to-play” and paid a total of $171 million in advance of litigation relating to general excise taxes for merchant model hotel reservations in the State of Hawaii.  In September 2015, following a ruling by the Hawaii Supreme Court, the State of Hawaii refunded the Expedia companies $132 million of the original “pay-to-play” amount. Orbitz also received a similar refund of $22 million from the State of Hawaii in September 2015. The amount paid, net of refunds, by the Expedia companies and Orbitz to the State of Hawaii in satisfaction of past general excise taxes on their services for merchant model hotel reservations was $44 million. The parties reached a settlement relating to Orbitz merchant model hotel tax liabilities, and on October 5, 2016, the Expedia companies paid the State of Hawaii for the tax years 2012 through 2015. The Expedia companies and Orbitz have now resolved all assessments by the State of Hawaii for merchant model hotel taxes through 2015. 

 

The Department of Taxation also issued final assessments for general excise taxes against the Expedia companies, including Orbitz, dated December 23, 2015 for the time period 2000 to 2014 for hotel and car rental revenue for “agency model” transactions.  Those assessments are currently under review in the Hawaii tax court, which has stayed proceedings in the agency hotel and car rental case pending the decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court in the merchant model car rental case addressed below.

 

Final assessments by the Hawaii Department of Taxation for general excise taxes against certain Expedia companies, including Orbitz, relating to merchant car rental transactions during the years 2000 to 2014 are also under review. With respect to merchant model car rental transactions at issue for the tax years 2000 through 2013, the Hawaii tax court held on August 5, 2016 that general excise tax is due on the online travel companies’ services to facilitate car rentals. The court further ruled that for merchant model car rentals in Hawaii, the online travel companies are required to pay general excise tax on the total amount paid by consumers, with no credit for tax amounts already remitted by car rental companies to the State of Hawaii for tax years 2000 through 2013, thus resulting in a double tax on the amount paid by consumers to car rental companies for the rental of the vehicle. The court, however, ruled that when car rentals are paid for as part of a vacation package, tax is only due once on the amount paid by consumers to the car rental company for the rental of the vehicle. In addition, the court ruled that the online travel companies are required to pay interest and certain penalties on the amounts due. On April 25, 2017, the court entered a stipulated order and final judgment. On May 15, 2017, the Expedia companies paid under protest the full amount claimed due, or approximately $16.7 million, as a condition of appeal. The parties filed notices of cross-appeal from the order. On March 4, 2019, the Hawaii Supreme Court affirmed the tax court in part and reversed in part, finding that the defendant online travel companies are not obligated to pay tax on the amount paid by consumers to the car rental company for the rental of the vehicle; instead, for both package and standalone merchant model car rentals, they need only pay the tax on the amounts they charge for their services.

 

Other Jurisdictions. Expedia is also in various stages of inquiry or audit with domestic and foreign tax authorities, some of which, including in the City of Los Angeles regarding hotel occupancy taxes and in the United Kingdom, regarding the application of value added tax (“VAT”) to its European Union related transactions as discussed below, may impose a pay-to-play requirement to challenge an adverse inquiry or audit result in court.

The ultimate resolution of these contingencies may be greater or less than the pay-to-play payments made and Expedia’s estimates of additional assessments mentioned above.

 

Matters Relating to International VAT . Expedia is in various stages of inquiry or audit in multiple European Union jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, regarding the application of VAT to its European Union related transactions. While Expedia believes it complies with applicable VAT laws, rules and regulations in the relevant jurisdictions, the tax authorities may determine that Expedia owes additional taxes. In certain jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Expedia may be required to “pay-to-play” any VAT assessment prior to contesting its validity. While Expedia believes that it will be successful based on the merits of its positions with regard to the United Kingdom and other VAT audits in pay-to-play jurisdictions, it is nevertheless reasonably possible that Expedia could be required to pay any assessed amounts in order to contest or litigate the applicability of any assessments and an estimate for a reasonably possible amount of any such payments cannot be made.

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Competition and Consumer Matters. Over the last several years, the online travel industry has become the subject of investigations by various national competition authorities ("NCAs"), particularly in Europe. Expedia is or has been involved in investigations predominately related to whether certain parity clauses in contracts between Expedia entities and accommodation providers, sometimes also referred to as "most favored nation" provisions, are anti-competitive.

 

In Europe, investigations or inquiries into contractual parity provisions between hotels and online travel companies, including Expedia, were initiated in 2012, 2013 and 2014 by NCAs in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland.  While the ultimate outcome of some of these investigations or inquiries remains uncertain, and Expedia’s circumstances are distinguishable from other online travel companies subject to similar investigations and inquiries, Expedia notes in this context, that on April 21, 2015, the French, Italian and Swedish NCAs, working in close cooperation with the European Commission, announced that they accepted formal commitments offered by Booking.com to resolve and close the investigations against Booking.com in France, Italy and Sweden by Booking.com removing and/or modifying certain rate, conditions and availability parity provisions in its contracts with accommodation providers in France, Italy and Sweden as of July 1, 2015, among other commitments. Booking.com voluntarily extended the geographic scope of these commitments to accommodation providers throughout Europe as of the same date.

 

With effect from August 1, 2015, Expedia waived certain rate, conditions and availability parity clauses in agreements with European hotel partners for a period of five years. While Expedia maintains that its parity clauses have always been lawful and in compliance with competition law, these waivers were nevertheless implemented as a positive step towards facilitating the closure of the open investigations into such clauses on a harmonized pan-European basis.  Following the implementation of Expedia’s waivers, nearly all NCAs in Europe have announced either the closure of their investigation or inquiries involving Expedia or a decision not to open an investigation or inquiry involving Expedia.  Below are descriptions of additional rate parity-related matters of note in Europe.

 

The German Federal Cartel Office ("FCO") has required another online travel company, Hotel Reservation Service ("HRS"), to remove certain clauses from its contracts with hotels. HRS’ appeal of this decision was rejected by the Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf on January 9, 2015. On December 23, 2015, the FCO announced that it had also required Booking.com by way of an infringement decision to remove certain clauses from its contracts with German hotels. Booking.com has appealed the decision and the appeal was heard by the Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf on February 8, 2017. Those proceedings remain ongoing.

 

The Italian competition authority's case closure decision against Booking.com and Expedia has subsequently been appealed by two Italian hotel trade associations, i.e. Federalberghi and AICA. These appeals remain at an early stage and no hearing date has been fixed.

 

On November 6, 2015, the Swiss competition authority announced that it had issued a final decision finding certain parity terms existing in previous versions of agreements between Swiss hotels and each of Expedia, Booking.com and HRS to be prohibited under Swiss law. The decision explicitly notes that Expedia's current contract terms with Swiss hotels are not subject to this prohibition. The Swiss competition authority imposed no fines or other sanctions against Expedia and did not find an abuse of a dominant market position by Expedia. The FCO’s case against Expedia’s contractual parity provisions with accommodation providers in Germany remains open but is still at a preliminary stage with no formal allegations of wrong-doing having been communicated to Expedia to date.

 

The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Repression of Fraud (the “DGCCRF”), a directorate of the French Ministry of Economy and Finance with authority over unfair trading practices, brought a lawsuit in France against Expedia entities objecting to certain parity clauses in contracts between Expedia and French hotels. In May 2015, the French court ruled that certain of the parity provisions in certain contracts that were the subject of the lawsuit were not in compliance with French commercial law, but imposed no fine and no injunction. The DGCCRF appealed the decision and, on June 21, 2017, the Paris Court of Appeal published a judgment overturning the decision.  The court annulled parity clauses contained in the agreements at issue, ordered Expedia to amend its contracts, and imposed a fine. Expedia has appealed the decision. The appeal will not stay payment of the fine .

 

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Hotelverband Deutschland (“IHA”) e.V. (a German hotel association) brought proceedings before the Cologne regional court against Expedia, Expedia.com GmbH and Expedia Lodging Partner Services Sàrl. IHA applied for a ‘cease and desist’ order against these companies in relation to the enforcement of certain rate and availability parity clauses contained in contracts with hotels in Germany. On or around February 16, 2017, the court dismissed IHA’s action and declared the claimant liable for the Expedia defendants’ statutory costs.  IHA appealed the decision and, on December 4, 2017, the Court of Appeals rejected IHA’s appeal. The Court of Appeals expressly confirmed that Expedia’s MFNs are in compliance both with European and German competition law. While IHA had indicated an intention to appeal the decision to the Federal Supreme Court, it has not lodged an appeal within the applicable deadline, with the consequence that the Court of Appeals judgment has now become final.

 

A working group of 10 European NCAs (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom) and the European Commission has been established by the European Competition Network (“ECN”) at the end of 2015 to monitor the functioning of the online hotel booking sector, following amendments made by a number of online travel companies (including Booking.com and Expedia) in relation to certain parity provisions in their contracts with hotels. The working group issued questionnaires to online travel agencies including Expedia, metasearch sites and hotels in 2016 . The underlying results of the ECN monitoring exercise were published on April 6, 2017.

 

Legislative bodies in France (July 2015), Austria (December 2016), Italy (August 2017), and Belgium (August 2018) have also adopted new domestic anti-parity clause legislation.  Expedia believes each of these pieces of legislation violates both EU and national legal principles and therefore, Expedia has challenged these laws at the European Commission.

 

A motion requesting the Swiss government to take action on narrow price parity has been adopted in the Swiss parliament. The Swiss government is now required to draft legislation implementing the motion. Expedia is unable to predict whether and with what content legislation will ultimately be adopted and, if so, when this might be the case.  It is not yet clear how any adopted domestic anti-parity clause legislations and/or any possible future legislation in this area may affect Expedia’s business.

 

Outside of Europe, a number of NCAs have also opened investigations or inquired about contractual parity provisions in contracts between hotels and online travel companies in their respective territories, including Expedia. A Brazilian hotel sector association Forum de Operadores Hoteleiros do Brasil filed a complaint with the Brazilian Administrative Council for Economic Defence (“CADE”) against a number of online travel companies, including Booking.com, Decolar.com and Expedia, on July 27, 2016 with respect to parity provisions in contracts between hotels and online travel companies. On September 13, 2016, Expedia submitted its response to the complaint to CADE. On March 27, 2018, Expedia resolved CADE’s concerns based on a settlement implementing waivers substantially similar to those provided to accommodation providers in Europe. In late 2016, Expedia resolved the concerns of the Australia and New Zealand NCAs based on implementation of the waivers substantially similar to those provided to accommodation providers in Europe (on September 1, 2016 in Australia and on October 28, 2016 in New Zealand). More recently however, the Australian NCA has reopened its investigation. On and with effect from March 22, 2019,   Expedia voluntarily and unilaterally waived certain additional rate parity provisions in agreements with Australian hotel partners. Expedia is in ongoing discussions with a limited number of NCAs in other countries in relation to its contracts with hotels. In April 2019, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (“JFTC”) launched an investigation into certain practices of a number of online travel companies, including Expedia. Expedia is cooperating with the JFTC in this investigation. Expedia is currently unable to predict the impact the implementation of the waivers both in Europe and elsewhere will have on Expedia's business, on investigations or inquiries by NCAs in other countries, or on industry practice more generally.

 

In addition, regulatory authorities in Europe (including the UK Competition and Markets Authority, or “CMA”), Australia, and elsewhere have initiated legal proceedings and/or market studies, inquiries or investigations relating to online marketplaces and how information is presented to consumers using those marketplaces, including practices such as search results rankings and algorithms, discount claims, disclosure of charges, and availability and similar messaging. 

 

On June 28, 2018, the CMA announced that it will be requiring hotel booking websites to take action to address concerns identified in the course of its ongoing investigation .   After consulting with the CMA, on January 31, 2019, Expedia agreed to offer certain voluntary undertakings with respect to the presentation of information on certain of its UK

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consumer-facing websites in order to address the CMA’s concerns. On February 4, 2019, the CMA confirmed that, as a result of the undertakings offered, it has closed its investigation without any admission or finding of liability. The undertakings become effective on September 1, 2019. On August 23, 2018, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, or “ACCC,” instituted proceedings in the Australian Federal Court against trivago. The ACCC alleged breaches of Australian consumer law relating to trivago’s advertisements in Australia concerning the hotel prices available on trivago’s Australian site and trivago’s strike-through pricing practice.  A trial date is set for September 9, 2019 and an appropriate reserve has been accrued in respect to this matter.

 

Expedia is cooperating with regulators in the investigations described above where applicable, but is unable to predict what, if any, effect such actions will have on its business, industry practices or online commerce more generally. Other than described above, the Company has not accrued a reserve in connection with the market studies, investigations, inquiries or legal proceedings described above either because the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome is not probable or the amount of any loss is not estimable.

 

Certain Risks and Concentrations

 

Expedia is subject to certain risks and concentrations including dependence on relationships with travel suppliers, primarily airlines and hotels, dependence on third-party technology providers, exposure to risks associated with online commerce security and payment related fraud. Expedia also relies on global distribution system partners and third-party service providers for certain fulfillment services.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Expedia Holdings did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

(10) Segment Information

 

Expedia Holdings 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 Expedia Holdings’ annual pre-tax earnings (losses).

 

Expedia Holdings evaluates performance and makes decisions about allocating resources to its operating segments based on financial measures such as revenue and Adjusted OIBDA. In addition, Expedia Holdings reviews nonfinancial measures such as unique visitors, customer acquisition and conversion rates.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, Expedia Holdings has identified Expedia as its reportable segment. Expedia is a consolidated subsidiary of the Company that provides travel and services to leisure and corporate travelers in the United States and abroad as well as various media and advertising offerings to travel and non-travel advertisers. Expedia's revenue primarily consists of sales of travel services. Prior to obtaining a controlling interest in Expedia in connection with the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, the Company identified Expedia as a reportable segment, even though it was previously accounted for as an equity method investment.

 

The results of Bodybuilding are included in the Corporate and other segment for all periods presented. 

 

Expedia Holdings' 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. The accounting policies of the segments that are also consolidated companies are the same as those described in the Company's Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

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Performance Measures

Revenue Recognition

The following table disaggregates revenue by reportable segment, business model and product and service type:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2019

 

March 31, 2018

 

 

(in millions)

 

Business Model:

 

 

 

 

Expedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merchant

 

$

1,392

 

1,334

 

Agency

 

 

686

 

658

 

Advertising and media

 

 

264

 

282

 

Vrbo

 

 

267

 

234

 

Corporate and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail

 

 

52

 

66

 

Total revenue

 

$

2,661

 

2,574

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product and Service Type:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lodging

 

 

1,725

 

1,612

 

Air

 

 

248

 

242

 

Advertising and media

 

 

264

 

282

 

Other

 

 

372

 

372

 

Corporate and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail

 

 

52

 

66

 

Total revenue

 

$

2,661

 

2,574

 

 

Deferred Merchant Bookings. At December 31, 2018,  $3.6 billion of cash advance cash payments was reported within deferred merchant bookings, of which $2.4 billion was recognized, resulting in $343 million of revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2019. At March 31, 2019, the related balance was $5.9 billion.

 

At December 31, 2018,  $700 million of deferred loyalty rewards was reported within deferred merchant bookings, $167 million of which was recognized as revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2019. At March 31, 2019, the related balance was $716 million.

 

Deferred Revenue. At December 31, 2018,  $364 million was recorded as deferred revenue, $172 million of which was recognized as revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2019. At March 31, 2019, the related balance was $533 million.

 

Expedia Holdings defines Adjusted OIBDA as revenue less cost of sales, operating expenses, and selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding stock-based compensation). Expedia Holdings believes this measure is an important indicator of the operational strength and performance of its businesses, including each business's ability to service debt and fund capital expenditures. In addition, this measure allows management to view operating results and perform analytical comparisons and benchmarking between businesses and identify strategies to improve performance. This measure of performance excludes depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, 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 (loss), net earnings (loss), cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of financial performance prepared

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in accordance with GAAP. Expedia Holdings 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, 

 

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Expedia

 

$

173

 

127

 

Corporate and other

 

 

(14)

 

(4)

 

 

 

$

159

 

123

 

 

Other Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2019

 

 

    

Total

    

Capital

 

 

 

assets

 

expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Expedia

 

$

34,474

 

274

 

Corporate and other

 

 

172

 

 1

 

 

 

$

34,646

 

275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Consolidated segment Adjusted OIBDA

 

$

159

 

123

 

Legal reserves, occupancy tax, restructuring and related reorganization charges and other

 

 

(20)

 

(4)

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

(58)

 

(51)

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

(405)

 

(479)

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

(324)

 

(411)

 

Interest expense

 

 

(32)

 

(36)

 

Other, net

 

 

27

 

58

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

$

(329)

 

(389)

 

 

 

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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 our businesses , the Merger (as defined below) and the expected timing for its completion, the recoverability of our goodwill and other long-lived assets; our projected sources and uses of cash; and the anticipated impact of certain contingent liabilities related to legal and tax proceedings and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. 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 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 (as they relate to our consolidated subsidiaries) that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated:

 

·

customer demand for our products and services and our ability to adapt to changes in demand;

·

competitor responses to our products and services;

·

the levels of online traffic to our businesses' websites and our ability to convert visitors into customers or contributors;

·

uncertainties inherent in the development and integration of new business lines and business strategies;

·

our future financial performance, including availability, terms and deployment of capital;

·

the ability to successfully integrate and recognize anticipated efficiencies and benefits from the businesses we or Expedia acquire;

·

the ability of suppliers and vendors to deliver products, equipment, software and services;

·

the outcome of any pending or threatened litigation, including potential litigation related to the Merger;

·

availability of qualified personnel;

·

changes in the nature of key strategic relationships with partners, distributors, suppliers and vendors;

·

domestic and international economic and business conditions and industry trends, including the impact of the United Kingdom’s referendum in which British citizens approved an exit from the European Union;

·

consumer spending levels, including the availability and amount of individual consumer debt;

·

rapid technological changes;

·

failure to protect the security of personal information, subjecting us to potentially costly government enforcement actions and/or private litigation and reputational damage;

·

the regulatory and competitive environment of the industries in which we and Expedia operate;

·

threatened terrorist attacks, political and economic unrest in international markets and ongoing military action around the world;

·

fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

·

failure to satisfy the conditions to consummate the Merger;

·

the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement (as defined below), including under circumstances that might require the Company to pay a termination fee of $72 million to Expedia;

·

the failure to consummate the Merger in a timely manner or at all for any other reason;

·

the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the Merger cannot be realized in full or at all or may take longer to realize than expected;

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·

effects of the pendency of the Merger on relationships with employees, suppliers, customers and other business partners;

·

negative effects of the announcement or the completion of the Merger on the market price of Expedia’s and/or the Company’s common stock and/or on their respective financial performance; and

·

the risks related to the Company and Expedia being restricted in their operation of the business while the merger agreement is in effect.

For additional risk factors, please see Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as well as Part II, Item 1A. of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. 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 audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. See note 1 and note 7 in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for an overview of new accounting standards that we have adopted or that we plan to adopt that have had or may have an impact on our financial statements.

 

Explanatory Note

 

During November 2015, the board of directors of Liberty Interactive Corporation ("Liberty Interactive"), now known as Qurate Retail, Inc. (“Qurate Retail”), authorized management to pursue a plan to distribute to holders of its then-outstanding Liberty Ventures common stock shares of a newly formed entity, Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc. ("Expedia Holdings" or the "Company" as discussed below) ("Expedia Holdings Split-Off"). Following the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, Expedia Holdings is comprised of, among other things, Qurate Retail's former ownership interest in Expedia Group, Inc. (formerly “Expedia, Inc.”) ("Expedia"), as well as Qurate Retail's former wholly-owned subsidiary Vitalize, LLC (which we refer to as “Bodybuilding”).

 

The Expedia Holdings Split-Off occurred on November 4, 2016 .   Following the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, Expedia Holdings and Qurate Retail operate as separate, publicly traded companies.  The Expedia Holdings Split-Off was intended to be tax-free to Qurate Retail and the former stockholders of Liberty Ventures. In February 2017, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) completed its review of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off and informed Qurate Retail that it agreed with the nontaxable characterization of the transactions. Qurate Retail received an Issue Resolution Agreement from the IRS documenting this conclusion.

Overview

 

Expedia Holdings began consolidating Expedia as of the completion of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, as Expedia Holdings then controlled a majority of the voting interest in Expedia. We owned an approximate 16.1% equity interest and 52.7% voting interest in Expedia as of March 31, 2019.  

 

The financial information herein refers to the consolidation of Bodybuilding and Expedia as "Expedia Holdings," "Consolidated Expedia Holdings," "the Company," "us," "we" and "our" here and in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Expedia is an online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to efficiently research, plan, book and experience travel. Expedia has created a global travel marketplace used by a broad range of leisure and corporate travelers, offline retail travel agents and travel service providers. Expedia makes available, on a stand-alone and package basis, travel products and services provided by numerous lodging properties, airlines, car rental companies, destination service providers, cruise lines, vacation rental property owners and managers, and other travel product and service companies. Expedia also offers travel and non-travel advertisers access to a potential

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source of incremental traffic and transactions through its various media and advertising offerings on its transaction-based websites.

 

Bodybuilding is primarily an Internet retailer of dietary supplements, sports nutrition products, and other health and wellness products. It is also a large publisher of online health and fitness content, offering fitness content, workout programs, video databases, articles, recipes, health advice and motivational stories, as well as a paid subscription model for structured online fitness trainers and nutrition education.

 

On April 15, 2019, the Company and Expedia entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”). As a result of the Merger Agreement the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Expedia (the “Merger”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each share of the Company’s Series A and Series B common stock, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (except for shares held by Expedia Holdings as treasury stock or directly held by Expedia) will be converted into the right to receive 0.36 of a share of Expedia common stock, plus cash (without interest) in lieu of any fractional shares of Expedia common stock. It is expected that the Merger will close in the third quarter of 2019, subject to the completion of an exchange by Barry Diller of up to 5.7 million shares of Expedia common stock (“EXPE”) for an equal number of shares of Expedia class B common stock and customary closing conditions, including approval by a majority of the aggregate voting power of Expedia Holdings common stock and the receipt of any applicable regulatory approvals. 

 

Results of Operations—Consolidated

 

Consolidated Operating Results

 

General.   We provide in the tables below information regarding our consolidated operating results and other income and expense, as well as information regarding the contribution to those items from our reportable segments. The “Corporate and other” category consists of those assets or businesses which do not qualify as a separate reportable segment. For a more detailed discussion and analysis of the financial results of our principal reportable segment see “Results of Operations – Expedia” below.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amounts in millions

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expedia

 

$

2,609

 

2,508

 

Corporate and other

 

 

52

 

66

 

Consolidated Expedia Holdings

 

$

2,661

 

2,574

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expedia

 

 

(308)

 

(404)

 

Corporate and other

 

 

(16)

 

(7)

 

Consolidated Expedia Holdings

 

$

(324)

 

(411)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted OIBDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expedia

 

 

173

 

127

 

Corporate and other

 

 

(14)

 

(4)

 

Consolidated Expedia Holdings

 

$

159

 

123

 

 

Revenue

 

Consolidated Expedia Holdings revenue increased $87 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.

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The increase in revenue during 2019 was primarily due to a $101 million increase in revenue from Expedia during the three months ended March 31, 2019. See “ Results of Operations – Expedia ” below for a more detailed discussion of Expedia’s standalone results.

 

The increase in revenue at Expedia during the three months ended March 31, 2019, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, was partially offset by a decrease in Corporate and other revenue of $14 million or 21% during the same respective period due to a decrease in Bodybuilding revenue. The decrease in Bodybuilding revenue during the current year was primarily driven by a  32% decrease in store visits, offset slightly by an increase in conversion, which lead to an overall decrease in order volumes from the prior year by approximately 24%. Additionally, the revenue decrease was slightly offset by an increase in average order value due to a shipping promotion which prompted the customer to keep the cart above a certain threshold. The site visit declines to the retail website are the result of a decrease in traffic from search engine optimization marketing channel due to algorithmic and ranking changes, combined with a decrease in direct navigation to the retail website as a result of distributed content now available on many social media feeds and increased product discovery on competitor channels. The overall decreases were further offset by a  small increase in content revenue.

 

Operating Income (Loss)

 

Consolidated  Expedia Holdings operating loss decreased $87 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.

 

Expedia operating loss decreased $96 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019, when compared to the same period in 2018.  Expedia’s operating income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 includes acquisition accounting adjustments. See “ Results of Operations – Expedia ” below for a more detailed discussion of Expedia’s standalone results.

 

Corporate and other operating loss increased $9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019, when compared to the same period in 2018, due to increased operating loss at Bodybuilding and increased legal expenses at the corporate level due to the transaction between Expedia and the Company (discussed above).   Bodybuilding’s operating loss increased for the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, primarily as a result of a $14 million decline in revenue, as discussed above, partially offset by an $7 million decrease in operating expenses, primarily due to reduced cost of goods sold as a result of a decrease in product sales.

 

Adjusted OIBDA

 

We define Adjusted OIBDA as revenue less cost of sales, operating expenses and selling, general and administrative expense (excluding stock compensation). 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, including each business's ability to service debt and fund capital expenditures. In addition, this measure allows us to view operating results, perform analytical comparisons and benchmarking between businesses and identify strategies to improve performance. This measure of performance excludes such costs as depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, separately reported litigation settlements and restructuring and impairment charges that are included in the measurement of operating income pursuant to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Accordingly, Adjusted OIBDA should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for operating income (loss), net earnings (loss), cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See note 10 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for a reconciliation of Adjusted OIBDA to Earnings (loss) before income taxes.

 

Consolidated Expedia Holdings Adjusted OIBDA increased $36 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.

 

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Expedia Adjusted OIBDA increased $46 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019, when compared to the corresponding period in 2018.   See “ Results of Operations – Expedia ” below for a more detailed discussion of Expedia’s standalone results.

 

Additionally, corporate and other Adjusted OIBDA decreased $10 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. The change was primarily due to changes in Bodybuilding Adjusted OIBDA , primarily as a result of the revenue and operating expense fluctuations discussed above, as well as increased legal expenses at the corporate level due to the transaction between Expedia and the Company (discussed above).  

 

Other Income and Expense

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expedia

 

$

(30)

 

(34)

 

Corporate and other

 

 

(2)

 

(2)

 

Consolidated Expedia Holdings

 

$

(32)

 

(36)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expedia

 

$

31

 

47

 

Corporate and other

 

 

(4)

 

11

 

Consolidated Expedia Holdings

 

$

27

 

58

 

 

Interest expense

 

Consolidated Expedia Holdings interest expense decreased $4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. The decrease in 2019 was primarily as a result of the August 2018 maturity of Expedia’s 7.456% senior notes.

 

Other, net

Other expense decreased $31 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.  Expedia Other expense decreased by $16 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to foreign exchange losses.  Corporate and other Other expense decreased $15 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, primarily due to  a $16 million change in the fair value of the Expedia Holdings 1% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2047. 

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

We had an income tax benefit of $60 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the effective tax rate is less than the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21% due to changes in the valuation allowance and a change in the effective tax rate, partially offset by the effect of state income taxes. We had an income tax benefit of $65 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, the effective tax rate is less than the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21% due to income tax benefits from earnings in foreign jurisdictions taxed at rates lower than the 21% U.S. federal tax rate, partially offset by changes in unrecognized tax benefits.

 

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Net earnings (losses)

 

We had net losses of $269 million and $324 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The change in net losses were the result of the above described fluctuations in our revenue, expenses and other income (expense) items discussed above.

 

Material Changes in Financial Condition

 

As of March 31, 2019, substantially all of our cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand in global financial institutions, money market funds and marketable securities with maturities of 90 days or less at the date purchased.

 

The following are potential sources of liquidity: available cash balances, cash generated by Bodybuilding’s operating activities (to the extent such cash exceeds the working capital needs of the subsidiary and is not otherwise restricted), proceeds from asset sales, outstanding debt facilities, debt and equity issuances and dividend and interest receipts.

 

Under Expedia’s merchant model, Expedia receives cash from travelers at the time of booking, which are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets as deferred merchant bookings. Expedia pays its airline suppliers related to these merchant model bookings generally within a few weeks after completing the transaction, but Expedia is liable for the full value of such transactions until the flights are completed. For most other merchant bookings, primarily Expedia’s merchant hotel business, Expedia generally pays after the travelers’ use and, in some cases, subsequent to the billing from the hotel suppliers. Therefore, Expedia generally receives cash from the traveler prior to paying its supplier, and this operating cycle represents a working capital source of cash. Additionally, seasonal fluctuations in Expedia’s merchant hotel bookings affect the timing of its annual cash flows. During the first half of the year, hotel bookings have traditionally exceeded stays, resulting in much higher cash flow related to working capital. During the second half of the year, this pattern reverses and cash flows are typically negative.

 

As of March 31, 2019 the Company had a cash balance of $3,765 million. Approximately $3,708 million of the cash balance is held by Expedia. Although we had an approximate 52.7% voting interest in Expedia as of March 31, 2019, Expedia is a separate public company with a significant noncontrolling interest, as we only had a 16.1% economic interest in Expedia as of March 31, 2019. Accordingly, decision making with respect to using Expedia's cash balances must consider Expedia's other holders. Even prior to the Deconsolidation (as defined below), we did not have ready access to Expedia’s cash due to the significant minority interest. Any potential distributions of cash from Expedia to us would generally be on a pro rata basis based on economic ownership interests. Expedia has historically paid quarterly cash dividends to its shareholders, of which Expedia Holdings has received cash distributions from Expedia based on our economic ownership interest. 

 

As of March 31, 2019,   the total cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments held outside the United States was $856 million ($623 million in wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries and $233 million in majority-owned subsidiaries of Expedia).

 

As of March 31, 2019, Expedia has $2.0 billion available for borrowing under its revolving credit facility. As of March 31, 2019, the Company has a corporate cash balance of approximately $55 million.

 

Expedia Holdings does not have a debt rating.

 

Bodybuilding was not in compliance with the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant on its revolving line of credit (the “Revolver”) as of March 31, 2019, however Bodybuilding entered into an agreement with the lender to terminate the Revolver on April 15, 2019. Future potential operating losses of Bodybuilding will be funded by corporate level available cash.

 

Expedia Holdings and Expedia were in compliance with their debt covenants as of March 31, 2019.

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Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Cash flow information

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expedia net cash provided (used) by operating activities

 

$

2,149

 

1,676

 

Corporate and other net cash provided (used) by operating activities

 

 

 2

 

 —

 

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

 

$

2,151

 

1,676

 

Expedia net cash provided (used) by investing activities

 

$

(706)

 

(728)

 

Corporate and other net cash provided (used) by investing activities

 

 

(18)

 

(2)

 

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

 

$

(724)

 

(730)

 

Expedia net cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

$

21

 

(236)

 

Corporate and other net cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

 

 4

 

 8

 

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

 

$

25

 

(228)

 

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

$

(11)

 

17

 

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, our Corporate and other primary sources of cash were dividends received from Expedia of approximately $7 million and sales of marketable securities of $7 million. Our Corporate and other primary uses of cash were purchases of marketable securities of $24 million and net debt repayments of $5 million. This use of cash was funded by cash on hand and cash provided by operating activities.

 

The projected use of our cash will be continued investment in the Bodybuilding business and potential additional investments in new or existing businesses.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, Expedia’s primary uses of cash included $274 million in capital expenditures, $438 million in purchase of investments, and $47 million of cash dividends paid (including $7 million paid to Expedia Holdings). These uses of cash were funded by cash on hand, cash provided by operating activities, cash provided by the exercise of options and employee stock purchase plans.

 

The $11 million effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents during the three months ended March 31, 2019 reflects appreciations of foreign currencies during the period.

 

Expedia’s ongoing investments include but are not limited to improvements in infrastructure, which include its servers, networking equipment and software, release improvements to its software code, platform migrations and consolidation and search engine marketing and optimization efforts. In addition, in 2016, Expedia began its expansion into the cloud computing environment. While cloud computing expenses are expected to increase significantly over the next few years, they are expected to result in lower overall capital expenditures related to Expedia’s data centers over time. Expedia’s future capital requirements may include capital needs for acquisitions (including purchases of non-controlling interest), share repurchases, dividend payments or expenditures in support of its business strategy. For the new headquarters Expedia expects to spend approximately $900 million. Of the total, approximately $290 million was spent between 2016 and 2018 and $79 million was spent in the first quarter of 2019. During full year 2019 and 2020, Expedia expects to spend $425 to $475 million and $135 to $185 million, respectively. However, the timing of spend could shift as Expedia progresses toward completion of the project.

 

We believe that the available sources of liquidity are sufficient to cover our projected future uses of cash.

 

Results of Operations – Expedia

Expedia. Expedia is an online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to efficiently research, plan, book and experience travel. Expedia has created a global travel marketplace used by a broad range of leisure and corporate travelers, offline retail travel agents and travel service providers. Expedia makes available, on a stand-alone and package basis, travel products and services provided by numerous airlines, lodging properties, car rental companies, destination service providers, cruise lines, vacation rental property owners and managers, and other travel product and service companies. Expedia also offers travel and non-travel advertisers access to

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a potential source of incremental traffic and transactions through its various media and advertising offerings on its transaction-based websites.

As of March 31, 2019, we owned an approximate 16.1% equity interest and 52.7% voting interest in Expedia. Historically, Qurate Retail was (and, following the completion of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, the Company is) a party to the Stockholders Agreement with Mr. Diller, pursuant to which Mr. Diller held an irrevocable proxy (the “Diller Proxy”) over all the shares of EXPE and Expedia class B common stock owned by Qurate Retail. In connection with the Expedia Holdings Split-Off and the proxy arrangements, the Stockholders Agreement was assigned to us and amended to permit the assignment of the Diller Proxy to our company for a period of time up to 18 months following completion of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off (May 4, 2018, the “Outside Date”), subject to certain termination events as described in the Amended and Restated Transaction Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2016, among Mr. Diller, John C. Malone and Leslie Malone (the “Malone Group”), Qurate Retail and the Company (the “Transaction Agreement”).   On March 6, 2018, the Company, Qurate Retail, the Malone Group and Mr. Diller entered into a letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”), which amended the termination provisions of the Transaction Agreement to extend the Outside Date for an additional one year period.  As a result, unless sooner terminated upon the occurrence of certain events or the taking of certain actions, in either case, as listed in the Transaction Agreement, as amended by the Letter Agreement, the Proxy Arrangement Termination Date would occur, and the Transaction Agreement together with certain Subject Instruments (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) would have terminated, on May 4, 2019.

As a result, we began consolidating Expedia as of the completion of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off, as we then controlled a majority of the voting interest in Expedia for accounting purposes. Additionally, in conjunction with the application of acquisition accounting, we recorded a full step up in basis of Expedia along with a gain between our historical basis and the fair value of our interest in Expedia.   On April 15, 2019, and prior to the Company’s entry into the Merger Agreement, Mr. Diller, the Company, Qurate Retail and the Malone Group entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Transaction Agreement, providing for the immediate termination of the Transaction Agreement, which automatically resulted in the termination of the Proxy Arrangements (as discussed in note 3 in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements).  As a result of the termination of the Proxy Arrangements, the Company no longer controls a majority of the voting interest in Expedia. Accordingly, the Company will deconsolidate Expedia as of April 15, 2019 (the “Deconsolidation”).  Until the Merger is completed, the Governance Agreement and Stockholders Agreement (as discussed in note 3 in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements) remain in effect, meaning the Company has significant influence with respect to Expedia and accordingly will account for its investment in Expedia as an equity method affiliate and expects to elect the fair value option of accounting. The Company’s economic ownership percentage in Expedia remains the same.

The following is a discussion of Expedia's stand-alone results of operations. In order to provide a better understanding of Expedia's operations, we have included a summarized presentation of Expedia's results of operations. Expedia is a separate publicly traded company and additional information about Expedia can be obtained through its website and public filings. The amounts included in the table below represent Expedia's stand-alone results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Revenue

 

$

2,609

 

2,508

 

Operating expenses, excluding stock-based compensation

 

 

(2,436)

 

(2,381)

 

Adjusted OIBDA

 

 

173

 

127

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

(228)

 

(239)

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

(56)

 

(50)

 

Legal reserves, occupancy tax and other

 

 

(10)

 

(3)

 

Restructuring and related reorganization charges

 

 

(10)

 

 —

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

(131)

 

(165)

 

 

Expedia's revenue increased $101 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. The increase in 2019 was primarily driven by growth in the Expedia’s Core Online

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Travel Companies (“Core OTA”), including growth at Expedia Partner Solutions (“EPS”) and Brand Expedia, as well as growth at Vrbo, partially offset by declines at trivago.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Revenue by Service Type

 

 

 

 

Lodging

 

$

1,725

 

1,612

 

Air

 

 

248

 

242

 

Advertising and media (1)

 

 

264

 

282

 

Other

 

 

372

 

372

 

Total revenue

 

$

2,609

 

2,508

 


(1)

Includes third-party revenue from trivago as well as Expedia’s transaction-based websites.

 

Lodging revenue increased 7% for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, on a 9% increase in room nights stayed driven by growth at Expedia Partner Solutions, Hotels.com and Brand Expedia, partially offset by a 2% decrease in revenue per room night, due to the negative impact of foreign exchange. 

 

Worldwide air revenue increased 3% for the three months ended March 31, 2019,  compared to the same period in 2018, on a 11% increase in air tickets sold driven by growth at Expedia Partner Solutions and Brand Expedia, partially offset by a 7% decrease in revenue per ticket, which was driven by a shift in product mix and reclassification of certain partner fees to other revenue as well as a negative impact from foreign exchange.  

 

Advertising and media revenue decreased 6% for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, due to declines at trivago, partially offset by continued growth at Expedia Group Media Solutions. All other revenue, which includes car rental, insurance, destination services and fee revenue related to Expedia’s corporate travel business was essentially flat for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018.

In addition to the above service category revenue discussion, Expedia’s revenue by business model is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Revenue by Business Model

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merchant

 

$

1,392

 

1,334

 

Agency

 

 

686

 

658

 

Advertising and media

 

 

264

 

282

 

Vrbo

 

 

267

 

234

 

Total revenue

 

$

2,609

 

2,508

 

 

Merchant revenue increased for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, primarily due to the increase in merchant hotel revenue driven by an increase in room nights stayed. Agency revenue increased for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, primarily due to the growth in agency air and hotel. Vrbo revenue increased for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, primarily due to growth in transactional revenue of approximately 25%, driven by a benefit from the traveler service fee, partially offset by subscription revenue decreasing 10%.

 

The increase in operating expenses during 2018 was primarily due to a $19 million increase in selling and marketing expense during the three months ended March 31,  2019, as compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was primarily due to higher indirect costs of $22 million as a result of increases at Vrbo, Expedia Partner Solutions and Brand Expedia, which were partially offset by a decrease at trivago. Additionally,

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technology and content expenses increased $33 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, due to higher depreciation and amortization of technology assets of $13 million as well as higher licensing and maintenance expenses.   Additionally, the increase in cost of revenue during 2019 was driven by $16 million of higher customer operations expenses at Expedia Partner Solutions and Egencia, as well as $9 million of higher data center, cloud and other costs during the three months ended March 31, 2019, as compared to the same period in the prior year.  

 

The decrease in depreciation and amortization during 2018 was primarily due to the completion of amortization related to certain intangible assets.  

 

Stock-based compensation increased during the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, primarily as a result of increased stock compensation related to technology and content.

 

Legal reserves, occupancy tax and other consists of changes in Expedia’s reserves for court decisions and the potential and final settlement of issues related to hotel occupancy taxes, expenses recognized related to monies paid in advance of occupancy and other tax proceedings (“pay-to-play”) as well as certain other legal reserves.  

 

Expedia recognized $10 million of restructuring and related charges in the three months ended March 31, 2019, and no restructuring charges during the same periods in 2018.  The expenses in 2019 related to the migration and centralization of certain technology platforms, primarily related to severance and benefits .  

 

The following is a reconciliation of the results reported by Expedia, used for comparison purposes above to understand their operations, to the results reported by Expedia Holdings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2019

 

 

 

As Reported by Expedia

 

Acquisition Accounting and Other Adjustments

 

As reported by Expedia Holdings

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Service revenue

 

$

2,609

 

 —

 

2,609

 

Operating expenses, excluding stock-based compensation

 

 

(2,436)

 

 —

 

(2,436)

 

Adjusted OIBDA

 

 

173

 

 —

 

173

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

(228)

 

(175)

 

(403)

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

(56)

 

(2)

 

(58)

 

Other operating income (expenses)

 

 

(20)

 

 —

 

(20)

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

(131)

 

(177)

 

(308)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2018

 

 

 

As Reported by Expedia

 

Acquisition Accounting Adjustments

 

As reported by Expedia Holdings

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Service revenue

 

$

2,508

 

 —

 

2,508

 

Operating expenses, excluding stock-based compensation

 

 

(2,381)

 

 —

 

(2,381)

 

Adjusted OIBDA

 

 

127

 

 —

 

127

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

(239)

 

(237)

 

(476)

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

(50)

 

(2)

 

(52)

 

Other operating income (expenses)

 

 

(3)

 

 —

 

(3)

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

(165)

 

(239)

 

(404)

 

 

 

 

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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, interest rates and foreign exchange rates. We are exposed to market risk through the Company’s long-term debt, revolving credit facility, derivative instruments, cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, intercompany receivables, investments, merchant accounts payable and deferred merchant bookings denominated in foreign currencies. 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.

Interest Rate Risk

 

We are exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of our borrowing activities, which include 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 have achieved 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.

 

As of March 31, 2019, 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

 

 

Expedia

 

$

 —

 

 —

%  

$

3,729

 

4.31

%

 

Corporate and Other

 

$

 —

 

 —

%  

$

400

 

1.00

%

 

Foreign Exchange Risk

 

Expedia conducts business in certain international markets, primarily in Australia, Canada, China and the European Union. Because it operates in international markets, it has exposure to different economic climates, political arenas, tax systems and regulations that could affect foreign exchange rates. Expedia’s primary exposure to foreign currency risk relates to transacting in foreign currency and recording the activity in U.S. Dollars. Changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and these other currencies will result in transaction gains or losses, which are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

To the extent practicable, Expedia minimizes its foreign currency exposures by maintaining natural hedges between its current assets and current liabilities in similarly denominated foreign currencies. Additionally, Expedia uses foreign currency forward contracts to economically hedge certain merchant revenue exposures, foreign denominated liabilities related to certain of Expedia’s loyalty programs and other foreign currency-denominated operating liabilities. These instruments are typically short-term and are recorded at fair value with gains and losses recorded in Other, net. As of March 31, 2019, Expedia had a net forward asset of $9 million included in Other current assets.  Expedia may enter into additional foreign exchange derivative contracts or other economic hedges in the future. Expedia’s goal in managing its foreign exchange risk is to reduce to the extent practicable its potential exposure to the changes that exchange rates might have on its earnings, cash flows and financial position. Expedia makes a number of estimates in conducting hedging activities including in some cases the level of future bookings, cancellations, refunds, customer stay patterns and payments in foreign currencies. In the event those estimates differ significantly from actual results, Expedia could experience greater volatility as a result of its hedges.

 

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In June 2015, Expedia issued 650 million Euro of Expedia 2.5% Notes. The aggregate principal value of the Expedia 2.5% Notes is designated as a hedge of Expedia’s net investment in certain Euro functional currency subsidiaries. The notes are measured at Euro to U.S. Dollar exchange rates at each balance sheet date and transaction gains or losses due to changes in rates are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Euro-denominated net assets of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. Dollars at each balance sheet date, with effects of foreign currency changes also reported in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Since the notional amount of the recorded Euro-denominated debt is less than the notional amount of Expedia’s net investment, Expedia does not expect to incur any ineffectiveness on this hedge.

 

Future net transaction gains and losses are inherently difficult to predict as they are reliant on how the multiple currencies in which Expedia transacts fluctuate in relation to the U.S. Dollar, the relative composition and denomination of current assets and liabilities each period, and Expedia’s effectiveness at forecasting and managing, through balance sheet netting or the use of derivative contracts, such exposures.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, Expedia recorded net foreign exchange rate losses of $14 million and $2 million, respectively. As Expedia increases its operations in international markets, its exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates increases. The economic impact to Expedia of foreign currency exchange rate movements is linked to variability in real growth, inflation, interest rates, governmental actions and other factors. These changes, if material, could cause Expedia to adjust its financing and operating strategies.

 

Item 4.    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 principal accounting and principal financial officer (the "Executives"), of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. Based on that evaluation, the Executives concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2019 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in its reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.

 

There has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2019 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings  

 

In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, each of Expedia and its subsidiaries and Bodybuilding are party to legal proceedings and claims involving property, occupancy taxes, personal injury, contract, alleged infringement of third-party intellectual property rights and other claims. The amounts that may be recovered in such matters may be subject to insurance coverage. There are no material pending legal proceedings or claims to which we or our subsidiaries are party or of which any of our property is the subject. However, Expedia has disclosed a number of pending legal proceedings in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 that, while not material to Expedia, may be of interest to its stockholders. There may be claims or actions pending or threatened against us or our subsidiaries of which we are currently not aware and the ultimate disposition of which would have a material adverse effect on us.

 

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

Except as discussed below, there have been no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.  

 

The Merger is subject to conditions, some or all of which may not be satisfied, or completed on a timely basis, if at all.  Failure to complete the Merger could have material adverse effects on the Company.

The completion of the Merger is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other things, approval by holders of at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding shares of Expedia Holdings common stock, voting together as a single class.  The failure to satisfy all of the required conditions could delay the completion of the Merger for a significant period of time or prevent it from occurring at all.  Any delay in completing the Merger could cause Expedia not to realize some or all of the benefits, or realize them on a different timeline than expected, that Expedia expects to achieve if the Merger is successfully completed within the expected timeframe.  There can be no assurance that the conditions to the closing of the mergers will be satisfied or (to the extent permitted by law) waived or that the mergers will be completed.  Also, subject to limited exceptions, either Expedia or the Company may terminate the Merger Agreement if the mergers have not been completed by on or before October 15, 2019, subject to possible extension as set forth in the Merger Agreement. 

 

If the Merger is not completed, the Company may be materially adversely affected and, without realizing any of the benefits of having completed the Merger, the Company will be subject to a number of risks, including the following: 

·

the market price of our Series A and Series B common stock could decline;

·

the Company could owe a substantial termination fee to Expedia under certain circumstances;

·

if the Merger Agreement is terminated and our board of directors seeks another business combination, our stockholders cannot be certain that we will be able to find a party willing to enter into a transaction on terms equivalent to or more attractive than the terms that Expedia has agreed to in the Merger Agreement;

·

time and resources, financial and other, committed by the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ management to matters relating to the Merger could otherwise have been devoted to pursuing other beneficial opportunities for the Company and its subsidiaries;

·

the Company and its subsidiaries may experience negative reactions from the financial markets or from its customers, suppliers or employees; 

·

the Company will be required to pay its costs relating to the Merger, such as legal, accounting, financial advisory and printing fees, whether or not the Merger is completed; and

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·

after giving effect to any applicable grace period and unless it qualifies for an exemption, the Company may be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which we refer to as the 40 Act.

In addition, if the Merger is not completed, the Company could be subject to litigation related to any failure to complete the Merger or related to any enforcement proceeding commenced against the Company to perform its obligations under the Merger Agreement.  Any of these risks could materially and adversely impact the Company’s financial condition, financial results and stock price.

 

Similarly, delays in the completion of the Merger could, among other things, result in additional transaction costs or other negative effects associated with uncertainty about completion of the Merger and could materially and adversely impact Expedia’s ongoing business, financial condition, financial results and stock price following the completion of the Merger.

 

The Merger Agreement contains provisions that limit the Company’s ability to pursue alternatives to the Merger, could discourage a potential competing acquirer of the Company from making a favorable alternative company transaction proposal and, in specified circumstances, could require the Company to pay a substantial termination fee to Expedia. 

The Merger Agreement contains provisions that make it more difficult for the Company to be acquired by any person other than Expedia.  The Merger Agreement contains certain provisions that restrict the Company’s ability to, among other things, solicit, initiate, knowingly facilitate, knowingly induce, knowingly encourage, or enter into or continue or otherwise participate in any discussions relating to, or approve or recommend, any third-party acquisition proposal.  Further, even if our board of directors withdraws or qualifies its recommendation with respect to the approval of the Merger proposal, unless the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Company will still be required to submit the merger proposal to a vote at the special meeting of the Company’s stockholders.  In addition, following receipt by the Company of any third-party acquisition proposal that constitutes a “superior proposal,” Expedia will have an opportunity to offer to modify the terms of the Merger Agreement before our board of directors may withdraw or qualify its recommendation with respect to the merger proposal in favor of such superior proposal.

 

In some circumstances, upon termination of the Merger Agreement, the Company would be required to pay a termination fee of $72 million to Expedia. 

 

These provisions could discourage a potential third-party acquirer or merger partner that might have an interest in acquiring all or a significant portion of the Company or pursuing an alternative company transaction from considering or proposing such a transaction, even if it were prepared to pay consideration with a higher per share value than the value proposed to be received in the merger.  In particular, the termination fee, if applicable, would be substantial, and could result in a potential third-party acquirer or merger partner proposing to pay a lower price to our stockholders than it might otherwise have proposed to pay absent such a fee.

 

If the Merger Agreement is terminated and the Company determines to seek another business combination, the Company may not be able to negotiate a transaction with another party on terms comparable to, or better than, the terms of the merger.

 

Each party is subject to contractual restrictions while the mergers are pending, which could adversely affect each party’s business and operations.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Company is subject to certain restrictions on the conduct of its business prior to completing the Merger which may adversely affect its and its aubsidiaries’ ability to execute certain of its business strategies, maintain customers, or manage risks associated with its business, operations, technology, infrastructure or compliance functions, including the ability in certain cases to enter into or amend contracts, acquire or dispose of assets, incur indebtedness, incur capital expenditures, engage with regulators, settle actual or potential claims, or (in certain instances) communicate with its customers, employees and/or vendors.  Such limitations could adversely affect the Company prior to the completion of the Merger.

 

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Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Expedia is subject to a more limited set of restrictions on the conduct of its business prior to completing the mergers which may adversely affect its ability to execute certain of its business strategies, including the ability in certain cases to amend its organizational documents, pay extraordinary dividends or distributions or repurchase shares of EXPE.  Such limitations could adversely affect Expedia prior to the completion of the Merger.

 

Each of the risks described above may be exacerbated by delays or other adverse developments with respect to the completion of the Merger. 

 

The Merger could result in a significant liability to the Company and Expedia if it causes the 2016 split-off of the Company by Qurate Retail to fail to qualify as a tax-free distribution under applicable tax laws.

The completion of the mergers is conditioned upon the delivery by Skadden to the Company of an opinion to the effect that the Merger will not cause the Expedia Holdings Split-Off to fail to qualify as a tax-free distribution under Sections 355 and 361 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which is referred to as the split-off tax opinion.  If, for any reason, it is subsequently determined that the Expedia Holdings Split-Off does not qualify for tax-free treatment under Sections 355 and 361 of the Code, the Company and Expedia could be required, in certain circumstances, to indemnify Qurate Retail, its subsidiaries and certain related persons for significant tax liabilities resulting from the Expedia Holdings Split-Off. 

 

As described in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-210377) initially filed with the SEC on March 24, 2016, as amended, if the Expedia Holdings Split-Off does not qualify under Section 355, Section 368(a)(1)(D) and related provisions of the Code, Qurate Retail would generally be subject to tax as if it sold the shares of our common stock distributed in the Expedia Holdings Split-Off in a taxable transaction.  In such a circumstance, Qurate Retail would recognize taxable gain in an amount equal to the excess of (1) the total fair market value of the shares of our common stock distributed in the Expedia Holdings Split-Off over (2) Qurate Retail’s aggregate tax basis in such shares of our common stock.  Pursuant to the tax sharing agreement by and between Qurate Retail and the Company and the joinder to the tax sharing agreement by and among Qurate Retail, the Company and Expedia, in certain circumstances, the Company and Expedia will be required to jointly and severally indemnify Qurate Retail and its subsidiaries for any taxes or losses resulting from the failure of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off to qualify as a tax-free transaction under Section 355, Section 368(a)(1)(D) and related provisions of the Code, including to the extent that such taxes or losses (1) result primarily from, individually or in the aggregate, the breach of certain covenants made by the Company (applicable to actions or failures to act by the Company and its subsidiaries following the completion of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off), (2) result from the application of Section 355(e) of the Code to the Expedia Holdings Split-Off as a result of the treatment of the Expedia Holdings Split-Off as part of a plan (or series of related transactions) pursuant to which one or more persons acquire, directly or indirectly, a 50-percent or greater interest (measured by either vote or value) in the stock of the Company (or any successor corporation) or (3) result primarily from, individually or in the aggregate, the breach by Expedia of certain covenants under the tax sharing agreement following the completion of the Merger.  Any such indemnity obligation could be material. 

 

 

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

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, no shares of Series A Expedia Holdings common stock and no shares of Series B Expedia Holdings common stock were surrendered by our officers and employees to pay withholding taxes and other deductions in connection with the vesting of their restricted stock and restricted stock units.

 

 

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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):

 

 

 

2.1†

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 15, 2019, by and among the Company, Expedia, Inc., LEMS I LLC and LEMS II Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 16, 2019 (File No. 001-37938) (the “April 2019 8-K”)).

10.1

Amendment No. 2 to Transaction Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2019, by and among the Company, Qurate Retail, Inc., Barry Diller, John C. Malone and Leslie Malone (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the April 2019 8-K).

10.2

Exchange Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2019, by and among the Company, Barry Diller, The Diller Foundation d/b/a The Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation and Expedia, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the April 2019 8-K).

10.3

Voting Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2019, by and among John C. Malone, Leslie Malone and Expedia, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the April 2019 8-K).

10.4

Stockholders Agreement Termination Agreement, by and among Barry Diller, the Company, LEXEB, LLC and LEXE Marginco, LLC, dated as of April 15, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the April 2019 8-K).

10.5

Governance Agreement Termination Agreement by and among Barry Diller, Expedia, Inc., the Company, LEXEB, LLC and LEXE Marginco, LLC, dated as of April15, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the April 2019 8-K).

10.6

Assumption and Joinder Agreement to Tax Sharing Agreement by and among Expedia, Inc., the Company and Qurate Retail, Inc., dated as of April 15, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the April 2019 8-K).

10.7

Tax Sharing Agreement, by and between Liberty Interactive Corporation and the Company, dated as of November 4, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Qurate Retail’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 7, 2016 (File No.001-33982)).

10.8

Assumption Agreement Concerning Transaction Agreement Obligations by and among Expedia, Inc., the Company, Qurate Retail, Inc., Barry Diller, John C. Malone and Leslie Malone, dated as of April 15, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the April 2019 8-K).

10.9

Assumption and Joinder Agreement to Reorganization Agreement by and among Expedia, Inc., the Company and Qurate Retail, Inc., dated as of April 15, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the April 2019 8-K).

10.10

Reorganization Agreement by and between Liberty Interactive Corporation and the Company, dated as of October 26, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on November 4, 2016 (File No. 333-210377)).

10.11

Form of Indemnification Agreement by and between the Registrant and its executive officers/directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the SEC on February 8, 2019 (File No. 001-37938)).

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*

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document*

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document*

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document*

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101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Definition Document*


* Filed herewith

** Furnished herewith

†   Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the SEC; provided, however, that the Company may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for any schedules so furnished.

 

 

 

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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 EXPEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

Date: May 2, 2019

By:

/s/ CHRISTOPHER W. SHEAN

 

 

Christopher W. Shean

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Date: May 2, 2019

By:

/s/ WADE HAUFSCHILD

 

 

Wade Haufschild

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal

Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

II-6


EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Christopher W. Shean, certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc.;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this quarterly report fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.     The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and we have:

a)    designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b)     evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report based on such evaluation; and

c)    disclosed in this quarterly report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.     The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)    all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

May 2, 2019

 

 

/s/ CHRISTOPHER W. SHEAN

Christopher W. Shean

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 


EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Wade Haufschild, certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc.;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this quarterly report fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.     The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and we have:

a)    designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b)     evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report based on such evaluation; and

c)    disclosed in this quarterly report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.     The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)    all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

May 2, 2019

 

 

/s/ WADE HAUFSCHILD

Wade Haufschild

Chief Financial Officer

 

 


Exhibit 32

Certification

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

(Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)

Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), does hereby certify, to such officer's knowledge, that:

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2019 (the "Form 10-Q") of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:  May 2, 2019

 

/s/ CHRISTOPHER W. SHEAN

 

 

Christopher W. Shean

President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated:  May 2, 2019

 

/s/ WADE HAUFSCHILD

 

 

Wade Haufschild

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code) and is not being filed as part of the Form 10-Q or as a separate disclosure document.