Braves Revenue Soars at SunTrust Park
Staff Report From Metro Atlanta CEO
Friday, November 10th, 2017
Liberty Media Corporation reported third quarter 2017 results. Highlights include(1):
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Attributed to Liberty SiriusXM Group
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SiriusXM reported strong third quarter 2017 results
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Third quarter revenue climbed 8% to $1.4 billion
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Quarterly net income increased 42% to $276 million; diluted EPS grew 49% to $0.06
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Adjusted EBITDA(2) grew 12% to a quarterly record of $551 million and margin of 39.9%
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Quarterly operating cash flow rose 24% to $521 million
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Free cash flow(2) grew 22% to a quarterly record $434 million
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Self-pay net subscribers increased 311,000 to reach approximately 27 million
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SiriusXM increased 2017 guidance for revenue, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow
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SiriusXM closed second stage of $480 million investment in Pandora, representing approximately 19% interest or approximately 16% on as converted basis
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Liberty Media's ownership of SiriusXM stood at 68.8% as of October 23rd
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Attributed to Formula One Group
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Announced several broadcast agreements, including TF1 free-to-air agreement in France, FOX SPORTS in Australia, ESPN multimedia agreement in the US and satellite radio agreement with SiriusXM
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Completed multi-year extensions for Grands Prix in China and Singapore
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Proposed, jointly with the FIA, overall framework for 2021 power unit definition
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Attributed to Braves Group
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Finished successful first season at SunTrust Park with meaningful increases in ticket sales, concessions and retail revenue
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Remaining Battery Atlanta development on-time and on-budget
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"Formula 1 delivered exciting racing, with five different drivers standing atop the podium so far this season, and Lewis Hamilton securing his fourth World Championship in Mexico City," said Greg Maffei, Liberty Media President and CEO. "The Atlanta Braves new SunTrust Park is living up to its potential, and we saw meaningful increases across the board in revenue. SiriusXM again posted strong results and completed its investment in Pandora."
Unless otherwise noted, the following discussion compares financial information for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to the same period in 2016.
LIBERTY SIRIUSXM GROUP - The following table provides the financial results attributed to Liberty SiriusXM Group for the third quarter of 2017. In the third quarter, approximately $13 million of corporate level selling, general and administrative expense (including stock-based compensation expense) was allocated to the Liberty SiriusXM Group.
3Q16 | 3Q17 | % Change | ||||||||||||||||
amounts in millions | ||||||||||||||||||
Liberty SiriusXM Group | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | ||||||||||||||||||
SiriusXM | $ | 1,276 | $ | 1,379 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||
Total Liberty SiriusXM Group | $ | 1,276 | $ | 1,379 | 8 | % | ||||||||||||
Operating Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||||||||
SiriusXM | 381 | 421 | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | (14 | ) | (13 | ) | 7 | % | ||||||||||||
Total Liberty SiriusXM Group | $ | 367 | $ | 408 | 11 | % | ||||||||||||
Adjusted OIBDA | ||||||||||||||||||
SiriusXM | 490 | 549 | 12 | % | ||||||||||||||
Corporate and other | (8 | ) | (6 | ) | 25 | % | ||||||||||||
Total Liberty SiriusXM Group | $ | 482 | $ | 543 | 13 | % | ||||||||||||
The increases in Liberty SiriusXM Group revenue, operating income and adjusted OIBDA(2) were primarily attributable to an increase in SiriusXM's daily weighted average number of subscribers and an increase in SiriusXM's average monthly revenue per subscriber due to certain rate increases.
SiriusXM is a separate publicly traded company and additional information about SiriusXM can be obtained through its website and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SiriusXM reported its stand-alone third quarter results on October 25, 2017. For additional detail on SiriusXM's financial results for the third quarter, please see SiriusXM's earnings release posted to their Investor Relations website. For presentation purposes on page one of this release, we include the results of SiriusXM, as reported by SiriusXM, without regard to the purchase accounting adjustments applied by us for purposes of our financial statements. Liberty Media believes the presentation of financial results as reported by SiriusXM is useful to investors as the comparability of those results is best understood in the context of SiriusXM's historical financial presentation. For a reconciliation of revenue, adjusted OIBDA (as defined by Liberty Media) and operating income for SiriusXM's stand-alone operating results as reported by SiriusXM to those results as reported by Liberty Media, see Liberty Media's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.
The businesses and assets attributed to Liberty SiriusXM Group consist primarily of Liberty Media's interest in SiriusXM.
FORMULA ONE GROUP - The following table provides the financial results attributed to the Formula One Group for the third quarter of 2017. In the third quarter, the Formula One Group incurred approximately $7 million of corporate level selling, general and administrative expense (including stock-based compensation expense).
"We are looking forward to the final Grands Prix of the season in Sao Paulo and Abu Dhabi," said Chase Carey, Formula 1 Chairman and CEO. "We are focused on making the sport even greater through fan engagement to produce long term results."
3Q16 | 3Q17 | |||||||||||||
amounts in millions | ||||||||||||||
Formula One Group | ||||||||||||||
Revenue | ||||||||||||||
Formula 1 | $ |
N/A |
$ | 501 | ||||||||||
Corporate and other | — | — | ||||||||||||
Total Formula One Group | $ | — | $ | 501 | ||||||||||
Operating Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||||
Formula 1 | $ |
N/A |
$ | (10 | ) | |||||||||
Corporate and other | (16 | ) | (7 | ) | ||||||||||
Total Formula One Group | $ | (16 | ) | $ | (17 | ) | ||||||||
Adjusted OIBDA | ||||||||||||||
Formula 1 | $ |
N/A |
$ | 106 | ||||||||||
Corporate and other | (13 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
Total Formula One Group | $ | (13 | ) | $ | 104 | |||||||||
Liberty completed the acquisition of F1 on January 23, 2017. Liberty maintained an investment in F1 from September 7, 2016 until January 23, 2017, which was accounted for as a cost investment. For comparison and discussion purposes, the pro forma results of F1 are presented below for the full three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, inclusive of purchase accounting adjustments, as if the acquisition of F1 occurred on January 1, 2016. The purchase price allocation related to the F1 business combination and pro forma adjustments are preliminary and have been made available solely for the purpose of providing comparative pro forma condensed consolidated financial information. The financial information below is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not purport to represent the actual results of F1 had the business combination occurred on January 1, 2016, or to project the results of operations of Liberty for any future periods.
Pro Forma F1 Operating Results
3Q16 | 3Q17 | % Change | ||||||||||||||||
amounts in millions | ||||||||||||||||||
Primary Formula 1 revenue | $ | 453 | $ | 430 | (5 | ) | % | |||||||||||
Other Formula 1 revenue | 67 | 71 | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||
Total Formula 1 revenue | $ | 520 | $ | 501 | (4 | ) | % | |||||||||||
Operating expenses (excluding stock-based compensation included below): | ||||||||||||||||||
Team payments | (316 | ) | (273 | ) | 14 | % | ||||||||||||
Other cost of Formula 1 revenue | (86 | ) | (81 | ) | 6 | % | ||||||||||||
Cost of Formula 1 revenue | $ | (402 | ) | $ | (354 | ) | 12 | % | ||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | (31 | ) | (36 | ) | (16 | ) | % | |||||||||||
Adjusted OIBDA |
$ |
87 |
$ |
111(1) |
|
28 | % | |||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | (7 | ) | — | % | |||||||||||||
Depreciation and Amortization | (113 | ) | (114 | ) | (1 | ) | % | |||||||||||
Operating loss | $ | (26 | ) | $ | (10 | ) | 61 | % | ||||||||||
Number of races in period | 7 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
(1) | Pro forma adjusted OIBDA for the third quarter is net of $5 million of transaction expenses related to the F1 acquisition recognized during the quarter. | ||
Primary F1 revenue represents the majority of F1's revenue and is derived from (i) race promotion fees, (ii) broadcasting fees and (iii) advertising and sponsorship fees. Broadcast revenue decreased due to the impact of slightly lower proportionate recognition of season-based income during the quarter (6/20 races in the third quarter of 2017 compared to 7/21 races in the third quarter of 2016) and the adverse impact of weaker prevailing foreign currency exchange rates used to translate a small number of Pound and Euro-denominated contracts into US dollars, partially offset by higher contractual rates. Race promotion and advertising and sponsorship revenue decreased due to one less event being held in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. Other F1 revenue increased modestly during the third quarter primarily due to higher logistics and digital media revenue, partially offset by lower spend by GP3 series' competing teams due to it being the second year of the GP3 vehicle cycle.
Operating loss decreased and adjusted OIBDA increased in the third quarter. Cost of F1 revenue decreased primarily driven by lower team payments due to the pro rata recognition of such payments during the season and a decrease in other costs primarily due to lower circuit fees at one race, partially offset by increased costs related to spend on fan engagement, filming in Ultra High-Definition and higher freight costs. Selling, general and administrative expense increased as a result of additional headcount and new corporate offices, and stock-based compensation increased related to awards granted to members of F1 management.
The businesses and assets attributed to the Formula One Group consist of all of Liberty Media's businesses and assets other than those attributed to the Liberty SiriusXM Group and the Braves Group, including Liberty Media's subsidiary F1, its interest in Live Nation, minority equity investments in Time Warner and Viacom and an intergroup interest in the Braves Group. There are approximately 9.1 million notional shares of the Braves Group underlying the Formula One Group's 15.5% intergroup interest as of October 31, 2017.
BRAVES GROUP - The following table provides the financial results attributed to the Braves Group for the third quarter of 2017. In the third quarter, approximately $1 million of corporate level selling, general and administrative expense (including stock-based compensation expense) was allocated to the Braves Group.
3Q16 | 3Q17 | ||||||||||||
amounts in millions | |||||||||||||
Braves Group | |||||||||||||
Revenue | |||||||||||||
Corporate and other | $ | 109 | $ | 185 | |||||||||
Total Braves Group | $ | 109 | $ | 185 | |||||||||
Operating Income (Loss) | |||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 1 | (9 | ) | ||||||||||
Total Braves Group | $ | 1 | $ | (9 | ) | ||||||||
Adjusted OIBDA | |||||||||||||
Corporate and other | 16 | 48 | |||||||||||
Total Braves Group | $ | 16 | $ | 48 | |||||||||
The following table provides the operating results of Braves Holdings, LLC ("Braves").
Braves Operating Results
3Q16 | 3Q17 | % Change | ||||||||||||||||
amounts in millions | ||||||||||||||||||
Total revenue | $ | 109 | $ | 185 | 70 | % | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses (excluding stock-based compensation included below): | ||||||||||||||||||
Other operating expenses | (78 | ) | (109 | ) | (40 | ) | % | |||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | (15 | ) | (27 | ) | (80 | ) | % | |||||||||||
Adjusted OIBDA | $ | 16 | $ | 49 | 206 | % | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | (2 | ) | (33 | ) | (1,550 | ) | % | |||||||||||
Depreciation and Amortization | (12 | ) | (24 | ) | (100 | ) | % | |||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | $ | 2 | $ | (8 | ) | (500 | ) | % | ||||||||||
Number of home game openings in period | 35 | 41 | ||||||||||||||||
The increase in Braves revenue in the quarter was primarily attributable to an increase in ballpark operations revenue driven by the Braves move to their new ballpark, SunTrust Park. Ticket sales, concessions, corporate sales, suites and premium seat fees all increased during the third quarter.
Operating loss increased compared to the prior year primarily as a result of increased stock-based compensation expense due to an increase in the estimated value of the Braves, combined with the continued vesting of outstanding awards, which resulted in a higher accrual for Braves' equity compensation. Increased depreciation and amortization expense due to the depreciation of assets associated with the Braves mixed-use facility and SunTrust Park also impacted the operating loss. Adjusted OIBDA increased primarily due to the increase in ballpark operations revenue as discussed above, partially offset by increased costs associated with baseball and ballpark operations and the mixed-use facility.
The Formula One Group holds an approximate 15.5% intergroup interest in the Braves Group as of October 31, 2017. Assuming the issuance of the shares underlying the intergroup interest held by the Formula One Group, the Braves Group outstanding share count as of October 31, 2017 would have been 58.6 million.
The businesses and assets attributed to the Braves Group consist primarily of Liberty Media's subsidiary the Braves, which indirectly owns the Atlanta Braves major league baseball team, five minor league baseball clubs and certain assets and liabilities associated with its ballpark and mixed-use development project.
Share Repurchases
There were no repurchases of Series A or Series C Liberty SiriusXM common stock, Series A or Series C Liberty Braves common stock or Series A or Series C Liberty Formula One common stock from August 1, 2017 through October 31, 2017. The total remaining repurchase authorization for Liberty Media is approximately $1.3 billion and can be applied to repurchases of Series A and Series C shares of any of the Liberty Media Corporation tracking stocks.
FOOTNOTES
1) | Liberty Media's President and CEO, Greg Maffei, will discuss these highlights and other matters on Liberty Media's earnings conference call which will begin at 12:15 p.m. (E.S.T.) on November 9, 2017. For information regarding how to access the call, please see "Important Notice" later in this document. | ||
2) | For definitions of adjusted OIBDA (as defined by Liberty Media) and adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow (as defined by SiriusXM) and applicable reconciliations see the accompanying schedules. | ||
NOTES
The following financial information with respect to Liberty Media's equity affiliates and available for sale securities is intended to supplement Liberty Media's condensed consolidated balance sheet and statement of operations to be included in its Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2017.
Fair Value of Corporate Public Holdings
(amounts in millions) | 6/30/2017 | 9/30/2017 | |||||||||||||||
Liberty SiriusXM Group(1) | $ | N/A | $ | N/A | |||||||||||||
Formula One Group | |||||||||||||||||
Live Nation Equity Method Investment(2) | $ | 2,427 | 3,033 | ||||||||||||||
Other Public Holdings(3) | 509 | 502 | |||||||||||||||
Total Formula One Group | $ | 2,936 | $ | 3,535 | |||||||||||||
Braves Group | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||
Total Liberty Media | $ | 2,936 | $ | 3,535 | |||||||||||||
(1) |
SiriusXM's investment in Pandora excluded from public holdings presented above. |
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(2) | Represents the fair value of the equity investment attributed to Formula One Group. In accordance with GAAP, Liberty Media accounts for its investment in the equity of Live Nation using the equity method of accounting and includes it in its condensed consolidated balance sheet at its historical carrying value of $755 million and $805 million as of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2017, respectively. | ||
(3) | Represents the carrying value of other public holdings which are accounted for at fair value. | ||
Cash and Debt
The following presentation is provided to separately identify cash and liquid investments and debt information.
(amounts in millions) | 6/30/2017 | 9/30/2017 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents Attributable to: | |||||||||||||||||||
Liberty SiriusXM Group(1) | $ | 173 | $ | 234 | |||||||||||||||
Formula One Group(2) | 443 | 420 | |||||||||||||||||
Braves Group | 128 | 129 | |||||||||||||||||
Total Liberty Consolidated Cash and Cash Equivalents (GAAP) | $ | 744 | $ | 783 | |||||||||||||||
Debt: | |||||||||||||||||||
SiriusXM senior notes(3) | $ | 5,500 | $ | 6,500 | |||||||||||||||
Margin loans | 250 | 250 | |||||||||||||||||
Other subsidiary debt(4) | 1,011 | 299 | |||||||||||||||||
Total Attributed Liberty SiriusXM Group Debt | $ | 6,761 | $ | 7,049 | |||||||||||||||
Unamortized discount, fair market value adjustment and deferred loan costs | (44 | ) | (67 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Total Attributed Liberty SiriusXM Group Debt (GAAP) | $ | 6,717 | $ | 6,982 | |||||||||||||||
1.375% cash convertible notes due 2023(5) | 1,000 | 1,000 | |||||||||||||||||
1% cash convertible notes due 2023(5) | 450 | 450 | |||||||||||||||||
2.25% exchangeable senior debentures due 2046(5) | 445 | 445 | |||||||||||||||||
Live Nation margin loan | 350 | 350 | |||||||||||||||||
Formula 1 bank loans | 3,402 | 3,302 | |||||||||||||||||
Delta Topco exchangeable notes(5) | 351 | 27 | |||||||||||||||||
Other corporate level debt | 35 | 35 | |||||||||||||||||
Total Attributed Formula One Group Debt | $ | 6,033 | $ | 5,609 | |||||||||||||||
Fair market value adjustment | 272 | 325 | |||||||||||||||||
Total Attributed Formula One Group Debt (GAAP) | $ | 6,305 | $ | 5,934 | |||||||||||||||
Atlanta Braves debt(6) | 511 | 585 | |||||||||||||||||
Total Attributed Braves Group Debt | $ | 511 | $ | 585 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred loan costs | (9 | ) | (9 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Total Attributed Braves Group Debt (GAAP) | $ | 502 | $ | 576 | |||||||||||||||
Total Liberty Media Corporation Debt (GAAP) | $ | 13,524 | $ | 13,492 | |||||||||||||||
(1) | Includes $43 million and $74 million of cash and liquid investments held at SiriusXM as of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2017, respectively. | ||
(2) | Includes $297 million and $274 million of cash and liquid investments held at Formula 1 as of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2017, respectively. | ||
(3) | Outstanding principal amount of Senior Notes with no reduction for the net unamortized discount. | ||
(4) | Includes SiriusXM capital leases and borrowings under the SiriusXM revolving credit facility. | ||
(5) | Face amount of the cash convertible notes and exchangeable debentures with no fair market value adjustment. | ||
(6) | Includes Atlanta National League Baseball Club, LLC borrowings, Braves Stadium Company, LLC debt to fund the construction of the new ballpark and drawdowns under various credit facilities to fund development costs for the mixed-use development. | ||
Total cash and liquid investments attributed to Liberty SiriusXM Group increased $61 million during the quarter as cash from operations and net debt borrowings more than offset approximately $308 million spent to complete the second stage of SiriusXM's investment in Pandora as well as stock repurchases, dividends paid to shareholders and capital expenditures at SiriusXM. Included in the cash and liquid investments balance attributed to Liberty SiriusXM Group at September 30, 2017 is $74 million held at SiriusXM. Although SiriusXM is a consolidated subsidiary, it is a separate public company with a significant non-controlling interest, therefore Liberty Media does not have ready access to SiriusXM's cash balance.
Total debt attributed to Liberty SiriusXM Group increased $288 million during the quarter primarily due to net borrowings at SiriusXM. During the third quarter, SiriusXM issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.875% Senior Notes due 2022 and $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.00% Senior Notes due 2027, which was partially offset by the redemption of $1.5 billion across various tranches of Senior Notes and net repayments under SiriusXM's credit facility.
Total cash and liquid investments attributed to the Formula One Group decreased $23 million during the quarter, primarily as a result of debt repayments, partially offset by cash from operations and working capital swings due to the seasonality of the business.
Total debt attributed to Formula One Group decreased approximately $424 million primarily as a result of the repayment of debt at F1 and the Exchangeable Notes (described below). On August 3, 2017, Liberty closed a $200 million add-on to F1's $3.1 billion first lien term loan. The add-on is on the same terms as the existing first lien term loan and has a rate of 3.25%, which was further reduced to 3.00% after September 2, 2017 due to certain upgraded credit ratings. F1 used the proceeds from the $200 million term loan, together with cash on hand, to repay the remaining $300 million of F1's second lien term loan. Liberty also amended the first lien term loan agreement to, among other things, increase F1's available revolving credit facility capacity from $75 million to $500 million, which was undrawn as of September 30, 2017. The term loan and revolving credit facility remain non-recourse to Liberty.
On September 22, 2017, Liberty closed a secondary offering on behalf of certain F1 selling shareholders of 17.7 million shares of Series C Liberty Formula One common stock ("FWONK") at a price of $37.40 per share. The offering included approximately 14.5 million shares of FWONK that were issued to the selling shareholders in exchange for approximately $323.2 million aggregate principal amount of Exchangeable Notes, and accrued interest thereon, issued to the F1 selling shareholders in connection with the F1 acquisition. Liberty did not receive any proceeds from the offering.
On October 27, 2017, Liberty launched an exchange offer to exchange all, but not less than all, of the remaining outstanding Exchangeable Notes issued to the F1 selling shareholders in connection with the F1 acquisition. Upon exchange, noteholders will receive (i) a number of FWONK shares equal to the principal amount owned divided by the $22.323 conversion price, rounded up to the nearest whole share, and (ii) cash equal to all unpaid interest had the Exchangeable Notes been held until maturity on July 23, 2019. The exchange offer expires at midnight, New York City time, at the end of Friday, November 24, 2017, unless extended or earlier terminated.
As of October 31, 2017, there are approximately 230.8 million shares of Formula One Group common stock outstanding, pro forma for the approximately 1.2 million shares of FWONK issuable upon exchange of the remaining Exchangeable Notes. Based on this share count, the original selling shareholders of F1 who acquired shares of FWONK in January 2017 in connection with the Formula 1 acquisition own approximately 3% of the equity of the Formula One Group, assuming no prior or subsequent acquisitions of Liberty Formula One common stock.
Total cash and liquid investments attributed to the Braves Group was flat in the quarter as capital expenditures related to the construction of the new ballpark and adjacent mixed-use development were offset by cash from operations and additional borrowings.
As of September 30, 2017, approximately $718 million had been spent on the new ballpark, of which approximately $390 million of funding was provided by Cobb County and related entities and $328 million provided by the Braves. As of September 30, 2017, approximately $398 million had been spent on the mixed-use development (including $7 million of cost towards future development phases, including purchased land cost, not reflected in the currently forecasted equity contribution towards the mixed-use development). The Braves have provided $364 million of this funding, of which approximately $188 million was contributed in equity and approximately $176 million in debt.
Total debt attributed to the Braves Group increased by $74 million primarily as a result of additional borrowings for funding the ballpark and mixed-use development.