Liberty Broadband Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Headlines include(1):
-
Fair value of Charter investment was
$14.8 billion as ofSeptember 30 th -
As described in the Schedule 13D/A filed with the
SEC onSeptember 23 rd,Liberty Broadband and the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Charter are discussing a proposed all-stock combination ofLiberty Broadband with Charter- Proposed transaction would rationalize dual corporate structure and provide enhanced trading liquidity
- Additional updates will be provided only if and when definitive terms are agreed
-
From
August 1, 2024 throughOctober 31, 2024 ,Liberty Broadband received$74 million of proceeds from sale of 225 thousand Charter shares to Charter- Maintained fully diluted equity interest in Charter of 26%(2)
-
In the third quarter, GCI(3) increased revenue 9% to
$262 million , generated$42 million in operating income and grew Adjusted OIBDA(4) 12% to$100 million
Share Repurchases
There were no repurchases of Liberty Broadband’s common stock (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK) from
Charter Ownership
Under the terms of
From
Balance Sheet
The following presentation is provided to separately identify cash and liquid investments, debt and public holdings of
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(amounts in millions) |
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Cash and Cash Equivalents: |
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$ |
47 |
|
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$ |
47 |
|
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Corporate and Other |
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
121 |
|
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Total Liberty Broadband Consolidated Cash |
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$ |
73 |
|
|
$ |
168 |
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Fair Value of |
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$ |
13,730 |
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$ |
14,769 |
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Debt: |
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Senior Notes(b) |
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$ |
600 |
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$ |
600 |
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Senior Credit Facility |
|
|
443 |
|
|
|
423 |
|
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Tower Obligations and Other(c) |
|
|
88 |
|
|
|
87 |
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Total GCI Holdings Debt |
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$ |
1,131 |
|
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$ |
1,110 |
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GCI Leverage(d) |
|
|
3.2x |
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3.1x |
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$ |
1,330 |
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$ |
790 |
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3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2053(e) |
|
|
1,265 |
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|
965 |
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3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2054(e) |
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— |
|
|
|
860 |
|
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Total Corporate Level Debt |
|
$ |
2,595 |
|
|
$ |
2,615 |
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|
|
|
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|
|
|
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Total Liberty Broadband Debt |
|
$ |
3,726 |
|
|
$ |
3,725 |
|
|
Fair market value adjustment and deferred loan costs |
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(33 |
) |
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|
70 |
|
|
Tower obligations and finance leases (excluded from GAAP Debt) |
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|
(84 |
) |
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|
(83 |
) |
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Total Liberty Broadband Debt (GAAP) |
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$ |
3,609 |
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$ |
3,712 |
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Other Financial Obligations: |
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Preferred Stock(f) |
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|
180 |
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|
180 |
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_______________________
a) |
Represents fair value of the investment in Charter as of |
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b) |
Principal amount of Senior Notes. |
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c) |
Includes the Wells Fargo Note Payable and current and long-term obligations under tower obligations and finance leases. |
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d) |
As defined in GCI's credit agreement. |
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e) |
Principal amount of Exchangeable Senior Debentures exclusive of fair market value adjustments. |
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f) |
Liquidation value of preferred stock. Preferred stock has a 7% coupon, |
GCI Operating and Financial Results
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3Q23 |
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3Q24 |
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% Change |
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(amounts in millions, except operating metrics) |
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GCI Consolidated Financial Metrics |
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Revenue |
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Consumer |
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$ |
114 |
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$ |
116 |
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2 |
% |
Business |
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|
126 |
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|
|
146 |
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16 |
% |
Total revenue |
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$ |
240 |
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$ |
262 |
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9 |
% |
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Operating income |
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$ |
30 |
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$ |
42 |
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|
40 |
% |
Operating income margin (%) |
|
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12.5 |
% |
|
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16.0 |
% |
|
|
350 bps |
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Adjusted OIBDA(a) |
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$ |
89 |
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$ |
100 |
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12 |
% |
Adjusted OIBDA margin(a) (%) |
|
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37.1 |
% |
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38.2 |
% |
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110 bps |
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GCI Consumer |
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Financial Metrics |
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Revenue |
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Data |
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$ |
57 |
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$ |
59 |
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4 |
% |
Wireless |
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|
47 |
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|
47 |
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— |
% |
Other |
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10 |
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|
10 |
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— |
% |
Total revenue |
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$ |
114 |
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$ |
116 |
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2 |
% |
Operating Metrics |
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Data: |
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Cable modem subscribers(b) |
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159,300 |
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156,400 |
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(2 |
)% |
Wireless: |
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Lines in service(c) |
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200,300 |
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200,300 |
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— |
% |
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GCI Business |
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Financial Metrics |
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Revenue |
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Data |
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$ |
105 |
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$ |
125 |
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19 |
% |
Wireless |
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12 |
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12 |
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— |
% |
Other |
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9 |
|
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|
9 |
|
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— |
% |
Total revenue |
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$ |
126 |
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$ |
146 |
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|
16 |
% |
________________________
a) |
See reconciling schedule 1. |
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b) |
A cable modem subscriber is defined by the purchase of cable modem service regardless of the level of service purchased. If one entity purchases multiple cable modem service access points, each access point is counted as a subscriber. Data cable modem subscribers as of |
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c) |
A wireless line in service is defined as a wireless device with a monthly fee for services. Wireless lines in service as of |
Unless otherwise noted, the following discussion compares financial information for the three months ended
GCI revenue increased 9% in the third quarter. Consumer revenue increased 2% driven by growth in data revenue. Business revenue increased 16% driven by a strong upgrade cycle in schools and healthcare corporations in remote
Operating income and Adjusted OIBDA increased
In the third quarter, GCI spent
FOOTNOTES
1) |
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2) |
Calculated pursuant to the stockholder agreement between |
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3) |
Liberty Broadband’s principal operating asset is |
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4) |
For a definition of Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA margin and applicable reconciliations, see the accompanying schedules. |
NOTES
LIBERTY BROADBAND FINANCIAL METRICS
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(amounts in millions) |
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3Q23 |
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3Q24 |
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Revenue |
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$ |
240 |
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$ |
262 |
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Corporate and other |
|
|
— |
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|
— |
|
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Total Liberty Broadband Revenue |
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$ |
240 |
|
|
$ |
262 |
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Operating Income |
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$ |
30 |
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$ |
42 |
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Corporate and other |
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|
(9 |
) |
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|
(12 |
) |
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Total Liberty Broadband Operating Income |
|
$ |
21 |
|
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$ |
30 |
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Adjusted OIBDA |
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$ |
89 |
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$ |
100 |
|
|
Corporate and other |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
(7 |
) |
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Total Liberty Broadband Adjusted OIBDA |
|
$ |
85 |
|
|
$ |
93 |
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Important Notice:
This press release includes certain forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about business strategies, market potential, future financial prospects, capital expenditures, the proposed transaction with Charter and its expected benefits, matters relating to Liberty Broadband’s equity interest in Charter and Charter’s buyback of common stock, Liberty Broadband’s participation in Charter’s buyback of common stock, the continuation of our stock repurchase program and other matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, without limitation, possible changes in market acceptance of new products or services, competitive issues, regulatory matters affecting our businesses, continued access to capital on terms acceptable to
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
To provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, this press release includes a presentation of Adjusted OIBDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, for
SCHEDULE 1
The following table provides a reconciliation of GCI’s operating income to its Adjusted OIBDA for the three months ended
GCI HOLDINGS ADJUSTED OIBDA RECONCILIATION
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(amounts in millions) |
|
3Q23 |
|
3Q24 |
|
||
GCI Holdings Operating Income |
|
$ |
30 |
|
$ |
42 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
55 |
|
|
55 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
4 |
|
|
3 |
|
GCI Holdings Adjusted OIBDA |
|
$ |
89 |
|
$ |
100 |
|
SCHEDULE 2
The following table provides a reconciliation of operating income (loss) calculated in accordance with GAAP to Adjusted OIBDA for
LIBERTY BROADBAND ADJUSTED OIBDA RECONCILIATION
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(amounts in millions) |
|
3Q23 |
|
3Q24 |
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Liberty Broadband Operating Income |
|
$ |
21 |
|
|
$ |
30 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
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|
55 |
|
|
|
55 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
Liberty Broadband Adjusted OIBDA |
|
$ |
85 |
|
|
$ |
93 |
|
|
|
$ |
89 |
|
|
$ |
100 |
|
Corporate and other |
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|
(4 |
) |
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|
(7 |
) |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION (unaudited) |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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amounts in millions, |
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except share amounts |
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Assets |
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Current assets: |
|
|
|
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|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
168 |
|
158 |
|
Trade and other receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of |
|
|
186 |
|
178 |
|
Prepaid and other current assets |
|
|
63 |
|
94 |
|
Total current assets |
|
|
417 |
|
430 |
|
Investment in Charter, accounted for using the equity method |
|
|
12,760 |
|
12,116 |
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
1,131 |
|
1,053 |
|
Intangible assets not subject to amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
755 |
|
755 |
|
Cable certificates |
|
|
550 |
|
550 |
|
Other |
|
|
41 |
|
40 |
|
Intangible assets subject to amortization, net |
|
|
423 |
|
461 |
|
Other assets, net |
|
|
226 |
|
236 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
16,303 |
|
15,641 |
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Liabilities and Equity |
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Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
|
$ |
112 |
|
86 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
30 |
|
30 |
|
Current portion of debt |
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
Other current liabilities |
|
|
56 |
|
59 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
201 |
|
178 |
|
Long-term debt, net, including |
|
|
3,709 |
|
3,733 |
|
Obligations under tower obligations and finance leases, excluding current portion |
|
|
79 |
|
83 |
|
Long-term deferred revenue |
|
|
93 |
|
65 |
|
Deferred income tax liabilities |
|
|
2,342 |
|
2,216 |
|
Preferred stock |
|
|
201 |
|
202 |
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
140 |
|
141 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
6,765 |
|
6,618 |
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series A common stock, |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
Series B common stock, |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
Series C common stock, |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
3,028 |
|
3,107 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of taxes |
|
|
70 |
|
52 |
|
Retained earnings |
|
|
6,421 |
|
5,843 |
|
Total stockholders' equity |
|
|
9,520 |
|
9,003 |
|
Non-controlling interests |
|
|
18 |
|
20 |
|
Total equity |
|
|
9,538 |
|
9,023 |
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and equity |
|
$ |
16,303 |
|
15,641 |
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS INFORMATION (unaudited) |
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Three months ended |
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2024 |
|
2023 |
|
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amounts in millions, |
|
|||||
|
|
except per share amounts |
|
|||||
Revenue |
|
$ |
262 |
|
|
240 |
|
|
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below) |
|
|
64 |
|
|
59 |
|
|
Selling, general and administrative, including stock-based compensation |
|
|
113 |
|
|
105 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
55 |
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
|
|
232 |
|
|
219 |
|
|
Operating income (loss) |
|
|
30 |
|
|
21 |
|
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest expense (including amortization of deferred loan fees) |
|
|
(46 |
) |
|
(54 |
) |
|
Share of earnings (losses) of affiliate |
|
|
346 |
|
|
326 |
|
|
Gain (loss) on dilution of investment in affiliate |
|
|
(8 |
) |
|
(10 |
) |
|
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net |
|
|
(144 |
) |
|
(81 |
) |
|
Other, net |
|
|
3 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
Earnings (loss) before income taxes |
|
|
181 |
|
|
208 |
|
|
Income tax benefit (expense) |
|
|
(39 |
) |
|
(46 |
) |
|
Net earnings (loss) |
|
|
142 |
|
|
162 |
|
|
Less net earnings (loss) attributable to the non-controlling interests |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
Net earnings (loss) attributable to |
|
$ |
142 |
|
|
162 |
|
|
Basic net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, Series B and Series C Liberty Broadband shareholders per common share |
|
$ |
0.99 |
|
|
1.11 |
|
|
Diluted net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, Series B and Series C Liberty Broadband shareholders per common share |
|
$ |
0.99 |
|
|
1.10 |
|
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION (unaudited) |
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|
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Nine months ended |
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|||||
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|||||
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|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
|||
|
|
amounts in millions |
|
|||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net earnings (loss) |
|
$ |
578 |
|
|
483 |
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
157 |
|
|
169 |
|
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
22 |
|
|
25 |
|
|
Share of (earnings) losses of affiliate, net |
|
|
(923 |
) |
|
(892 |
) |
|
(Gain) loss on dilution of investment in affiliate |
|
|
40 |
|
|
42 |
|
|
Realized and unrealized (gains) losses on financial instruments, net |
|
|
85 |
|
|
155 |
|
|
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
124 |
|
|
137 |
|
|
Other, net |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
(3 |
) |
|
Change in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Current and other assets |
|
|
44 |
|
|
(60 |
) |
|
Payables and other liabilities |
|
|
(20 |
) |
|
(102 |
) |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
|
103 |
|
|
(46 |
) |
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Capital expenditures |
|
|
(183 |
) |
|
(149 |
) |
|
Grant proceeds received for capital expenditures |
|
|
40 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
Cash received for Charter shares repurchased by Charter |
|
|
226 |
|
|
42 |
|
|
Cash released from escrow related to dispositions |
|
|
— |
|
|
23 |
|
|
Purchases of investments |
|
|
— |
|
|
(53 |
) |
|
Other investing activities, net |
|
|
(14 |
) |
|
2 |
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
|
69 |
|
|
(129 |
) |
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Borrowings of debt |
|
|
1,114 |
|
|
1,501 |
|
|
Repayments of debt, tower obligations and finance leases |
|
|
(1,198 |
) |
|
(1,547 |
) |
|
Repurchases of |
|
|
(89 |
) |
|
(40 |
) |
|
Indemnification payment to Qurate Retail |
|
|
— |
|
|
(26 |
) |
|
Other financing activities, net |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
(3 |
) |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
|
(174 |
) |
|
(115 |
) |
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
(290 |
) |
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period |
|
|
176 |
|
|
400 |
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period |
|
$ |
174 |
|
|
110 |
|
|
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106626145/en/
Source: