-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, T/wdbOVEh6Q63Xga2PN4/dlZJQoML9ASsmQ3kAiDvGzmnwf5C5SWSGjreVCwbgF9 RGkbkLvF0T0iEO9urLmRag== 0001047469-05-006391.txt : 20050315 0001047469-05-006391.hdr.sgml : 20050315 20050314183031 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001047469-05-006391 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 15 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20041231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050315 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050314 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: LIBERTY MEDIA CORP /DE/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001082114 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CABLE & OTHER PAY TELEVISION SERVICES [4841] IRS NUMBER: 841288730 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-16615 FILM NUMBER: 05679637 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 12300 LIBERTY BLVD. CITY: ENGLEWOOD STATE: CO ZIP: 80112 BUSINESS PHONE: 7208755400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 12300 LIBERTY BLVD. CITY: ENGLEWOOD STATE: CO ZIP: 80112 10-K 1 a2152779z10-k.txt 10-K - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549 FORM 10-K /X/ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 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 0-20421 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) STATE OF DELAWARE 84-1288730 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) or organization) 12300 LIBERTY BOULEVARD 80112 ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO (Zip Code) (Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (720) 875-5400 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
TITLE OF EACH CLASS NAME OF EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED - ----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- Series A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share New York Stock Exchange Series B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None 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 and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes /X/ No / / Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. / / Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes /X/ No / / The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of Liberty Media Corporation computed by reference to the last sales price of such stock, as of the closing of trading on February 28, 2005, was approximately $27,076,000,000. The number of shares outstanding of Liberty Media Corporation's common stock as of February 28, 2005 was: Series A Common Stock--2,678,923,910 shares; and Series B Common Stock--121,062,825 shares. Documents Incorporated by Reference The Registrant's definitive proxy statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is hereby incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION 2004 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE -------- PART I Item 1. Business.................................................... I-1 Item 2. Properties.................................................. I-18 Item 3. Legal Proceedings........................................... I-19 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders......... I-20 PART II Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters......................................... II-1 Item 6. Selected Financial Data..................................... II-2 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations................................... II-3 Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk........................................................ II-26 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data................. II-30 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.................................... II-30 Item 9A. Controls and Procedures..................................... II-30 Item 9B. Other Information........................................... II-30 PART III Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.......... III-1 Item 11. Executive Compensation...................................... III-1 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.................................................. III-1 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.............. III-1 Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services...................... III-1 PART IV Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.................. IV-1
PART I. ITEM 1. BUSINESS. (a) GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS Liberty Media Corporation is a holding company which, through its ownership of interests in subsidiaries and other companies, is primarily engaged in the electronic retailing, media, communications and entertainment industries. Through our subsidiaries, we operate in the United States, Europe and Asia. Our principal assets include interests in QVC, Inc., Starz Entertainment Group LLC, Ascent Media Group, Inc., Discovery Communications, Inc., Court Television Network, GSN, IAC/InterActiveCorp and News Corporation. From March 9, 1999 through August 9, 2001 we were a wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T Corp. On March 9, 1999, AT&T acquired by merger our parent company at that time, the former Tele-Communications, Inc. ("TCI"), which was converted to a limited liability company and renamed AT&T Broadband, LLC. As part of that merger, AT&T issued its Class A and Class B Liberty Media Group tracking stock, which was designed to reflect the economic performance of the businesses and assets of AT&T attributed to its "Liberty Media Group." Our businesses and assets constituted all of the businesses and assets of Liberty Media Group. Effective August 10, 2001, AT&T effected our split-off pursuant to which our common stock was recapitalized, and each share of AT&T Class A Liberty Media Group tracking stock was redeemed for one share of our Series A common stock, and each share of AT&T Class B Liberty Media Group tracking stock was redeemed for one share of our Series B common stock. Following the split off, we are no longer a subsidiary of AT&T and no shares of AT&T Liberty Media Group tracking stock remain outstanding. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS On June 7, 2004, we completed the spin off of Liberty Media International, Inc., one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, which we refer to as LMI. In connection with this spin off transaction, holders of our common stock on June 1, 2004 received 0.05 of a share of LMI Series A common stock for each share of our Series A common stock owned on June 1, 2004 and 0.05 of a share of LMI Series B common stock for each share of our Series B common stock owned on June 1, 2004. At the time of the spin off, LMI owned substantially all of our international broadband distribution and international video programming assets and businesses. In addition, we also contributed certain monetary assets to LMI in connection with the spin off. See note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for more information on the LMI spin off. During 2004, we continued executing a debt reduction program that we announced and initiated in the fourth quarter of 2003. During 2004 and pursuant to this program, we retired $1.0 billion of our parent company debt for aggregate cash payments of $994 million. Since the inception of the program, we have retired $3.51 billion of parent and subsidiary debt. We currently expect to complete our debt reduction program by retiring $1.0 billion of additional debt in 2005. On July 28, 2004, we completed a transaction with Comcast Corporation pursuant to which we repurchased 120.3 million shares of our Series A common stock held by Comcast in exchange for 100% of the equity of Encore ICCP, Inc., one of our subsidiaries. At the time of the exchange, Encore ICCP held our 10% ownership interest in E! Entertainment Television, our 100% ownership interest in International Channel Networks, all of our rights, benefits and obligations under a TCI Music contribution agreement and $547 million in cash. The transaction also resolved all litigation pending between Comcast and us regarding the TCI Music contribution agreement, to which Comcast had succeeded as part of its acquisition of AT&T Broadband in November of 2002. I-1 In December 2004, we exchanged 86.9 million shares of News Corporation non-voting stock with a fair market value of $1,608 million for 92 million shares of News Corp. voting stock with a fair market value of $1,749 million through a total return equity swap. We currently have an approximate 17% economic interest and an approximate 18% voting interest in News Corp. * * * * * Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. To the extent that statements in this Annual Report are not recitations of historical fact, such statements constitute forward-looking statements which, by definition, involve risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements under Item 1. "Business," Item 2. "Properties," Item 3. "Legal Proceedings," Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Item 7A. "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" contain forward-looking statements. Where, in any forward-looking statement, we express an expectation or belief as to future results or events, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. The following include some but not all of the factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated: - general economic and business conditions and industry trends; - consumer spending levels, including the availability and amount of individual consumer debt; - spending on domestic and foreign television advertising; - the regulatory and competitive environment of the industries in which we, and the entities in which we have interests, operate; - continued consolidation of the broadband distribution and movie studio industries; - uncertainties inherent in the development and integration of new business lines and business strategies; - changes in distribution and viewing of television programming, including the expanded deployment of personal video recorders, and their impact on television advertising revenue and home shopping networks; - increased digital TV penetration and the impact on channel positioning of our networks; - rapid technological changes; - capital spending for the acquisition and/or development of telecommunications networks and services; - uncertainties associated with product and service development and market acceptance, including the development and provision of programming for new television and telecommunications technologies; - future financial performance, including availability, terms and deployment of capital; - fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and political unrest in international markets; - the ability of suppliers and vendors to deliver products, equipment, software and services; - the outcome of any pending or threatened litigation; - availability of qualified personnel; I-2 - changes in, or failure or inability to comply with, government regulations, including, without limitation, regulations of the Federal Communications Commission, and adverse outcomes from regulatory proceedings; - changes in the nature of key strategic relationships with partners and joint venturers; - competitor responses to our products and services, and the products and services of the entities in which we have interests; and - threatened terrorists attacks and ongoing military action in the Middle East and other parts of the world. These forward-looking statements and such risks, uncertainties and other factors speak only as of the date of this Annual 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. This Annual Report includes information concerning OpenTV Corp. and other public companies that file reports and other information with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Information contained in this Annual Report concerning those companies has been derived from the reports and other information filed by them with the SEC. If you would like further information about these companies, the reports and other information they file with the SEC can be accessed on the Internet website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Those reports and other information are not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report. (b) FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT OPERATING SEGMENTS Through our ownership of interests in subsidiaries and other companies, we are primarily engaged in the electronic retailing, media, communications and entertainment industries. Each of these businesses is separately managed. We have divided our businesses into three Groups based upon each businesses' services or products: Interactive Group, Networks Group and Corporate and Other. In analyzing our operating results, our management reviews the combined results of operations of each of these Groups (including consolidated subsidiaries and equity method affiliates), as well as the results of operations of each individual business in each Group. We identify our reportable segments as (A) those consolidated subsidiaries that (1) represent 10% or more of our consolidated revenue, earnings before income taxes or total assets or (2) are significant to an evaluation of the performance of a Group; and (B) those equity method affiliates (1) whose share of earnings represent 10% or more of our pre-tax earnings or (2) are significant to an evaluation of the performance of a Group. Financial information related to our operating segments can be found in note 18 to our consolidated financial statements found in Part II of this report. (c) NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS Our subsidiaries, significant equity affiliates and other assets are divided into three Groups: the Interactive Group, the Networks Group and Corporate and Other (which includes our technology assets). The following table identifies the more significant businesses included in each of these Groups. INTERACTIVE GROUP QVC, Inc. Ascent Media Group, Inc. On Command Corporation OpenTV Corp. (Nasdaq:OPTV) IAC/InterActiveCorp (Nasdaq:IACI) I-3 NETWORKS GROUP Starz Entertainment Group LLC (f/k/a Starz Encore Group LLC) Discovery Communications, Inc. Courtroom Television Network, LLC GSN, LLC News Corporation (NYSE:NWS; NYSE:NWSa) CORPORATE AND OTHER TruePosition, Inc. WildBlue Communications, Inc. IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT-C) Time Warner Inc (NYSE:TWX) Sprint Corporation (NYSE:FON) Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIAb) INTERACTIVE GROUP Our Interactive Group includes companies that provide a wide array of interactive services. Electronic retailing operators, like QVC, offer a wide variety of goods for sale via televised shopping programs, including 24-hour dedicated shopping channels, and over the Internet. Electronic retailing operators generally derive their revenue by obtaining a high volume of goods at wholesale prices and reselling them at a profit. Interactive technology services are offered by many digital television network operators to subscribers with digital television set-top boxes and to hotels, motels and resorts seeking to provide their guests with in-room video entertainment and information services. Interactive service providers combine and market their software, content and applications to these providers, who in turn provide their users with such interactive television services as electronic commerce, targeted advertising, "video on demand" and multiplayer gaming. Interactive service providers derive their revenue from software licenses, affiliation agreements and other contracts with the network operators and other providers that offer their services. Creative media services are offered to the media and entertainment industry. Providers of creative media services provide services necessary to distribute programming content including services necessary to complete the creation of original content and the management of existing content libraries. QVC, INC. QVC, Inc. and its subsidiaries market and sell a wide variety of consumer products in the U.S. and several foreign countries primarily by means of televised shopping programs on the QVC networks and via the Internet through its domestic and international websites. QVC programming is divided into segments that are televised live with a host who presents the merchandise, sometimes with the assistance of a guest representing the product vendor, and conveys information relating to the product to QVC's viewers. QVC's websites offer a complement to televised shopping by allowing consumers to purchase a wide assortment of goods that were previously offered on the QVC networks as well as other items that are available from QVC only via its websites. For the year ended December 31, 2004, approximately 15% of QVC's domestic revenue and approximately 13% of QVC's total revenue was generated from sales of merchandise ordered through its various websites. QVC offers a variety of merchandise at competitive prices. QVC purchases, or obtains on consignment, products from domestic and foreign manufacturers and wholesalers, often on favorable terms based upon the volume of the transactions. QVC classifies its merchandise into three groups: home, apparel/accessories and jewelry. In the year ended December 31, 2004, home, apparel/accessories I-4 and jewelry accounted for approximately 47%, 32% and 21%, respectively, of QVC's net revenue generated by its United States operations. QVC offers products in each of these merchandise groups that are exclusive to QVC as well as popular brand name products. QVC's exclusive products are often endorsed by celebrities, designers and other well known personalities. QVC does not depend on any single supplier or designer for a significant portion of its inventory. QVC distributes its television programs, via satellite or optical fiber, to multichannel video program distributors for retransmission to subscribers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and neighboring countries that receive QVC's broadcast signals. In the U.S., QVC uplinks its programming from its uplink facility in Pennsylvania to a protected, non-preemptible transponder on a domestic satellite. "Protected" status means that, in the event of a transponder failure, QVC's signal will be transferred to a spare transponder or, if none is available, to a preemptible transponder located on the same satellite or, in certain cases, to a transponder on another satellite owned by the same lessor if one is available at the time of the failure. QVC's international business units each lease uplinking facilities from third parties for their uplinking and transmit their programming to non-preemptible transponders on five international satellites. "Non-preemptible" status means that, in the event of a transponder failure, QVC's transponders cannot be preempted in favor of a user of a "protected" failure. QVC's transponder lease for its domestic transponder expires in 2019. QVC's transponder leases for its international transponders expire in 2006 through 2013. QVC enters into long-term affiliation agreements with satellite and cable television operators who downlink QVC's programming and distribute the programming to their customers. QVC's affiliation agreements with these distributors have termination dates ranging from 2005 to 2014. QVC's ability to continue to sell products to its customers is dependent on its ability to maintain and renew these affiliation agreements in the future. In return for carrying the QVC signals, each programming distributor in the United States, the UK and Germany receives an allocated portion, based upon market share, of up to 5% of the net sales of merchandise sold via the television programs to customers located in the programming distributor's service areas. In Japan, some programming distributors receive an agreed upon monthly fee per subscriber regardless of the net sales, while others earn a variable percentage of net sales. In addition to sales-based commissions or per-subscriber fees, QVC also makes payments to distributors in the United States for carriage and to secure favorable positioning on channel 35 or below on the distributor's channel line-up. QVC believes that a portion of its sales are attributable to purchases resulting from channel "browsing" and that a channel position near broadcast and more popular cable networks increases the likelihood of such purchases. As more U.S. cable operators convert their analog customers to digital, channel positioning will become more critical due to the increased channel options on the digital line-up. QVC's shopping programs are telecast 24 hours a day to 88 million homes in the United States. QVC Shopping Channel reaches 16 million households in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland and is broadcast live 19 hours a day. QVC Deutschland GmbH, QVC's shopping network in Germany, reaches 36 million households throughout Germany and Austria and is broadcast live 24 hours a day. QVC Japan, QVC's joint venture with Mitsui & Co., LTD, reaches 15 million households and is broadcast live 24 hours a day. QVC strives to maintain promptness and efficiency in order taking and fulfillment. QVC has four domestic phone centers that can direct calls from one call center to another as volume mandates, which reduces a caller's hold time, helping to ensure that orders will not be lost as a result of hang-ups. QVC also has one phone center in each of the UK and Japan and two call centers in Germany. QVC also utilizes computerized voice response units, which handle approximately 38% of all orders taken. QVC has seven distribution centers worldwide and is able to ship approximately 90% of its orders within 48 hours. I-5 QVC's business is seasonal due to a higher volume of sales in the fourth calendar quarter related to year-end holiday shopping. In recent years, QVC has earned 22%-23% of its revenue in each of the first three quarters of the year and 32%-33% of its revenue in the fourth quarter of the year. We have an approximate 98% ownership interest in QVC. The QVC management team owns the remaining interest. ASCENT MEDIA GROUP, INC. Ascent Media Group, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary, which through its Creative Services group, Media Management Services group and Networks Services group, provides creative, management and distribution services to the media and entertainment industries. Its clients include major motion picture studios, independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising agencies and other companies that produce, own and/or distribute entertainment, news, sports, corporate, educational, industrial and advertising content. Ascent Media's Creative Services group provides services necessary to complete the creation of original media content. Creative Services is comprised of several boutique branded companies that operate in the United States, Mexico and the United Kingdom, with primary operations in Los Angeles, New York and London. The Creative Services companies provide services for feature films, independent and documentary films, episodic television, movies-of-the-week and mini-series, television specials, commercials, music videos, interstitial and promotional material, and identity, corporate image campaigns, and interactive games and new media. Many of the Creative Services companies provide services that include creative editorial, transferring film to digital media, creating visual effects, and assembling source material into final form. The Creative Sound Services companies provide services that include sound design, supervision and editorial services, sound recording and re-recording, and music recording, and maintaining a large sound effects library used by producers in over 35 countries. The Media Management Services group provides owners of content libraries with an entire complement of services necessary to optimize, archive, manage and repurpose media assets for global distribution via freight, satellite, fiber and the Internet. This group's services include providing access to all forms of content, duplication and formatting services, language conversions and laybacks, captioning and subtitling, restoration and preservation of old or damaged content and other laboratory services, mastering from motion picture film to high resolution or data formats, DVD menu design and interactive services, and digital audio and video encoding services. The group's emerging media services include digital media management for global home video, broadcast, pay-per-view, video-on-demand (VOD), streaming media and other new media distribution channels. The Network Services group provides the facilities and services necessary to assemble and distribute programming content for cable and broadcast networks via fiber and satellite to end users in North America, Europe and Asia. Network Services' facilities and major video switching centers supply the broadcast operations support needed to reliably distribute cable and DTH programming. Related services include: network origination and master control; language translation and subtitling; on-air promotion and post-production services; fiber transport; uplink and satellite transponder services. The division also provides systems integration and field service support, encompassing technology consulting services; the design and implementation of advanced video systems; engineering project management; an around-the-clock call center, technical help desk, and over 40 field service locations, as well as broadcast and industrial video equipment rentals. Ascent Media Network Services has operations, teleport and office facilities in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Minnesota, Florida, California, London and Singapore. Ascent Media's groups earn revenue through the provision of the aforementioned services. Ascent Media's primary expenses are personnel, materials and equipment costs. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of Ascent Media's consolidated revenue in 2004. I-6 The demand for Ascent Media's core motion picture services has historically been seasonal, with higher demand in the spring (second fiscal quarter) and fall (fourth fiscal quarter), and lower in the winter and summer, corresponding to Ascent Media's first and third fiscal quarters, respectively. Similarly, demand for Ascent Media's television program services is higher in the first and fourth quarters and lower in the summer, or third quarter. However, recent trends in the demand for television program services may result in increased business for Ascent Media in the summer. In addition, the timing of projects in Ascent Media's Media Management Services Group and Network Services Group are beginning to offset the quarters in which there has been historically lower demand for Ascent Media's motion picture and television services. Accordingly, Ascent Media expects to experience less dramatic quarterly fluctuations in its operating performance in the future. ON COMMAND CORPORATION On Command Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary, is a leading provider (based on number of hotel rooms served) of in-room video entertainment and information services to hotels, motels and resorts (which we collectively refer to as hotels) in the United States. On Command's base of installed rooms was approximately 831,000 rooms at December 31, 2004. On Command provides in-room video entertainment and information services on two main technology platforms: the OCX video system and the OCV video system. The OCX video system is a digital platform that provides enhanced multimedia applications, including an improved graphical interface for movies and games, digital music, television-based Internet with a wireless keyboard and other guest services. The OCV video system is a video selection and distribution technology platform that allows hotel guests to select, at any time, movies and games through the television sets in their hotel rooms. In addition, both of On Command's platforms provide for in-room viewing of select cable channels (such as HBO, Starz, ESPN, CNN, Disney Channel and Discovery). At December 31, 2004, On Command provided its OCX and OCV video systems in 427,000 and 404,000 rooms, respectively. The hotels providing On Command's services collect fees from their guests for the use of On Command's services and are provided a commission equal to a negotiated percentage of the net revenue earned by On Command for such usage. The amount of revenue realized by On Command is affected by a variety of factors, including among others, hotel occupancy rates, the "buy rate" or percentage of occupied rooms that buy movies or services, the quality of On Command's pay-per-view movie offerings, business and leisure travel patterns and changes in the number of rooms served. With the exception of December, which is generally On Command's lowest month for revenue, On Command typically does not experience significant variations in its monthly revenue that can be attributed solely to seasonal factors. On Command primarily provides its services under long-term contracts to hotel corporations, hotel management companies, and individually owned and franchised hotel properties. On Command's services are offered predominantly in the large deluxe, luxury, and upscale hotel categories serving business travelers, such as Marriott, Hilton, Six Continents, Hyatt, Wyndham, Starwood, Radisson, Fairmont, Four Seasons and other select hotels. On Command's contracts with hotels generally provide that On Command will be the exclusive provider of in-room, pay-per-view video entertainment services to the hotel and generally permit On Command to set its prices. On Command's contracts with hotels typically set forth the terms governing On Command's provision of free-to-guest programming as well. At December 31, 2004, contracts covering approximately 31% of On Command's installed rooms have expired, or are scheduled to expire, if not otherwise renewed, during the two-year period ending December 31, 2006. Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt accounted for approximately 35%, 8% and 8% respectively, of On Command's room revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004. These revenue percentages represent all chain affiliations including owned, managed and franchised hotels. I-7 On Command's master contract with Hilton Hotels Corporation expired on April 27, 2000. In October 2000, Hilton announced that it would not be renewing its master contract with On Command. On Command currently provides service to approximately 48,000 rooms in 207 hotels that are owned, managed or franchised by Hilton. Hotel contracts are written at the individual hotel level and expirations will occur over an extended period of time depending on the installation date of the individual hotel. On Command expects that hotels owned by Hilton will not renew their contracts as they expire. Hotels that are managed or franchised by Hilton are not precluded from renewing their contracts with On Command, but On Command cannot predict the number of managed and franchised Hilton hotels that will renew. OPENTV CORP. OpenTV provides technology, content and applications, and services that enable digital television network operators to deliver and manage interactive television services on all major digital television platforms--cable, satellite and terrestrial--in all major geographic areas of the world. OpenTV's software products, including its core middleware and its interactive service platform, have been shipped in more than 50 million digital set-top boxes worldwide. OpenTV offers its customers a comprehensive suite of interactive and enhanced television solutions that leverage its proprietary software and technologies and worldwide patent portfolio. OpenTV's core software products enable network operators to manage the creation and delivery of interactive and enhanced television services to their subscribers. OpenTV develops and manages branded television channels that allow viewers to play interactive games, and it offers applications that enable viewers to engage in commerce transactions, retrieve information such as weather reports and sports updates, and engage in other interactive services, including fixed-odds gaming, through their televisions. OpenTV also recently began efforts to market and commercially deploy targeted and addressable advertising solutions and research analyses detailing how viewers engage and interact with programs and advertisements. To complement its technologies and interactive content and applications, OpenTV also offers a full suite of professional engineering and consulting services. These services allow OpenTV to manage various interactive television projects, from discrete integration or development assignments to complete end-to-end digital programming solutions for network operators. OpenTV derives revenue from (1) royalties from the sale of set-top boxes that incorporate OpenTV software; (2) fees for consulting engagements for set-top box manufacturers, network operators and system integrators and maintenance and support for set-top box manufacturers; (3) channel fees from consumers of the PlayJam interactive games channel who pay to play games and register for prizes; and (4) license fees from the sale of products such as Device Mosaic, OpenTV Core, OpenTV Measure and various applications, including OpenTV Publisher. Sky Italia, BSkyB and Echostar accounted for 18%, 17% and 15%, respectively, of OpenTV's revenue in 2004. While OpenTV is one of the world's leading interactive television companies, the interactive television industry is still in its infancy. The growth of the industry and of OpenTV is highly dependent upon a number of factors, including (i) consumer acceptance of interactive services and products; (ii) deployment of capital by broadband service providers for interactive hardware and software; (iii) acceptance by broadband service providers of OpenTV's interactive technology and products; and (iv) continued development of interactive technology, products and services. These factors are not within OpenTV's control and no assurance can be given that interactive television will expand beyond its current state. We own shares of OpenTV's Class A common stock and Class B common stock, representing an approximate 32% equity interest and an approximate 79% voting interest in OpenTV. Each share of OpenTV Class B common stock has 10 votes per share and is convertible into one share of OpenTV Class A common stock, which has one vote per share. I-8 IAC/INTERACTIVECORP IAC/InterActiveCorp, in which we have an approximate 20% ownership interest, is a multi-brand interactive commerce company transacting business worldwide via the Internet, television and the telephone. IAC's portfolio of companies collectively enables direct-to-consumer transactions across many areas, including home shopping, ticketing, personals, travel, teleservices and local services. IAC consists of the following segments: - IAC Travel, which includes Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Hotwire and Interval International; - Electronic Retailing, which includes HSN U.S. and HSN International; - Ticketing, which includes Ticketmaster; - Personals, which includes Match.com; - IAC Local and Media Services, which includes Citysearch, Evite, Entertainment Publications, TripAdvisor and ServiceMagic; - Financial Services and Real Estate, which includes Lending Tree; - Teleservices, which includes Precision Response Corporation; and - Interactive Development. IAC's businesses largely act as intermediaries between suppliers and consumers. IAC aggregates supply from a variety of sources and captures consumer demand across a variety of channels. In December 2004, IAC announced that its Board of Directors had approved a spin-off plan to separate IAC into two publicly traded companies, Expedia (which would include the IAC Travel business) and IAC. NETWORKS GROUP Programming networks distribute their services through a number of distribution technologies, including cable television, direct-to-home satellite, broadcast television and the Internet. Programming services may be delivered to subscribers as part of a video distributor's analog or digital package of programming services for a fixed monthly fee, or may be delivered individually as a "premium" programming service for a separate monthly charge. Whether a programming service is a basic or premium channel, the programmer generally enters into separate multi-year affiliation agreements with those distributors that agree to carry the service. Basic programming services derive their revenue principally from the sale of advertising time on their networks and from per subscriber license fees received from distributors. Premium services do not sell advertising and primarily generate their revenue from subscriber fees. A basic programming service may derive a significant portion of its revenue from the sale of advertising and may receive only limited amounts of revenue from subscriber license fees. It should be noted, however, that the sale of advertising by these services is only made possible through their affiliation with distributors. Thus the continued ability to generate both advertising revenue and subscriber license fees is dependent on these services' ability to maintain and renew their affiliation agreements. STARZ ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LLC (F/K/A STARZ ENCORE GROUP LLC) Starz Entertainment Group LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary, provides premium movie networks distributed by cable, direct-to-home satellite, or DTH, and other distribution media in the United States. It currently owns and operates 14 full-time domestic movie channels, consisting of STARZ!, primarily a first-run movie service; ENCORE, which airs first-run movies and classic contemporary movies; a number of thematic multiplex channels, a group of channels, each of which exhibits movies based I-9 upon individual themes; and MOVIEPLEX, a "theme by day" channel featuring a different ENCORE or thematic multiplex channel each day, on a weekly rotation. Starz Entertainment has launched a Starz On Demand service, as well as high definition feeds of certain of its channels. In addition, in June 2004, Starz Entertainment made STARZ! and Starz On Demand available over the Internet in a subscription package called STARZ! Ticket. At December 31, 2004, Starz Entertainment had 172.8 million subscription units of which approximately 75% were subscription units for the thematic multiplex channels and the remainder were comprised of subscription units for STARZ!, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX. Subscription units represent the number of Starz Entertainment services which are purchased by cable, DTH and other distribution media customers. The majority of Starz Entertainment's revenue is derived from the delivery of movies to subscribers under long-term affiliation agreements with cable systems and direct broadcast satellite systems, including Comcast Cable, DirecTV, Echostar, Time Warner, Charter Communications, Cox Communications, Adelphia Communications, Cablevision Systems, Insight Communications, Mediacom Communications and the National Cable Television Cooperative. The majority of Starz Entertainment's affiliation agreements, including its agreements with Comcast Cable, DirecTV and Echostar, provide for payments based on the number of subscribers that receive Starz Entertainment's services and expire between June 2005 and December 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2004, Starz Entertainment earned 24%, 24% and 11% of its total revenue from Comcast, DirecTV and Echostar, respectively. The costs of acquiring rights to programming are Starz Entertainment's principal expenses. In order to exhibit theatrical motion pictures, Starz Entertainment enters into agreements to acquire rights from major and independent motion picture producers. Starz Entertainment currently has access to approximately 4,750 movies through long-term licensing agreements. Eighty three percent of the first-run output titles available to Starz Entertainment for airing are available pursuant to exclusive licenses from Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax Films, Disney, Revolution Studios, Universal Studios, New Line Cinema and Fine Line Cinema. Starz Entertainment also has exclusive rights to air first-run output from four independent studios and has licensed the exclusive rights to first-run output from Sony's Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics for pay television availabilities beginning on January 1, 2006. Starz Entertainment's agreements with Universal Studios, New Line Cinema, and Fine Line Cinema expire December 31, 2005 for pay television availabilities. Its remaining output agreements expire between 2006 and 2011, with extensions, at the option of the respective studio, potentially extending the expiration date of certain of these agreements to 2014. Starz Entertainment uplinks its programming to ten transponders on three domestic communications satellites. Starz Entertainment leases its transponders under long-term lease agreements. At December 31, 2004, Starz Entertainment's transponder leases had termination dates ranging from 2018 to 2021. Starz Entertainment transmits to these transponders from its uplink center in Englewood, Colorado. DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Discovery Communications, Inc. is a global media and entertainment company whose operations are organized into four business units: Discovery Networks U.S., Discovery International Networks, Discovery Commerce and Discovery Education. Discovery has grown from its core property, DISCOVERY CHANNEL, to current global operations in over 160 countries with over 1 billion total cumulative subscription units, that include subscription units carried by joint venture networks and subscription units that are reached through branded programming blocks in China. Discovery subscription units are carried under various pricing plans that include free periods and free carriage. Discovery produces original programming and acquires content from numerous producers worldwide that is tailored to the specific needs of viewers around the globe. Discovery has 21 network I-10 entertainment brands including TLC, ANIMAL PLANET, TRAVEL CHANNEL, DISCOVERY HEALTH CHANNEL, DISCOVERY KIDS, and a family of digital channels. Discovery's networks are carried by the largest cable television and satellite distributors in the United States and abroad. Discovery also distributes BBC AMERICA in the United States. Discovery earns revenue from the sale of advertising on its network, from affiliation agreements with cable television and direct-to-home satellite operators and by licensing its programs for international distribution. Discovery's affiliation agreements typically have terms of 3 to 10 years and provide for payments based on the number of subscribers that receive Discovery's services. No single distributor represented more than 10% of Discovery's consolidated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2004. Discovery's other properties consist of DISCOVERY.COM and approximately 115 retail outlets that offer lifestyle, health, science and education oriented products, as well as products related to other programming offered by Discovery. Additionally, Discovery's newest division, Discovery Education, distributes educational materials to over 85,000 schools in the United States and to schools in 19 countries around the world. We hold a 50% interest in Discovery. Cox Communications, Inc. and Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership each hold a 25% interest in Discovery. Discovery is managed by its stockholders rather than a board of directors. Generally, all actions to be taken by Discovery require the approval of the holders of a majority of Discovery's shares, subject to certain exceptions, including certain fundamental actions, which require the approval of the holders of at least 80% of Discovery's shares. The stockholders of Discovery have agreed that they will not be required to make additional capital contributions to Discovery unless they all consent. They have also agreed not to own another basic programming service carried by domestic cable systems that consists primarily of documentary, science and nature programming, subject to certain exceptions. Each stockholder has been granted preemptive rights on share issuances by Discovery. Any proposed transfer of Discovery shares by a stockholder will be subject to rights of first refusal in favor of the other stockholders, subject to certain exceptions, with our right of first refusal being secondary under certain circumstances. In addition, we are not permitted to hold in excess of 50% of Discovery's stock unless our increased ownership results from exercises of our preemptive rights or rights of first refusal. COURTROOM TELEVISION NETWORK, LLC Courtroom Television Network, LLC owns and operates Court TV, a basic cable network that provides informative and entertaining programming based on the American legal system. Court TV's day-time programming focuses on trial coverage. Night-time programming includes original programming such as FORENSIC FILES and PSYCHIC DETECTIVES, original movies such as EXONERATED and GUILT BY ASSOCIATION, reality-based documentary specials and off-network series such as NYPD BLUE and COPS. Court TV was launched in 1991, and as of December 31, 2004 had nearly 83 million subscribers. Court TV earns revenue from the sale of advertising on its network, from affiliation agreements with cable television and direct-to-home satellite operators and by licensing its programs for international distribution. At December 31, 2004, Court TV's affiliation agreements have remaining terms of one to six years and provide for payments based on the number of subscribers that receive Court TV's services. No single distributor represented more than 10% of Court TV's consolidated revenue for 2004. We and Time Warner Entertainment each own 50% of Court Television Network. Pursuant to Court Television Network's operating agreement, no action may be taken with respect to certain material matters without our approval and that of Time Warner Entertainment. Also pursuant to Court I-11 Television Network's operating agreement, each member has a right of first offer with respect to any proposed transfer by the other member of its interest in Court Television Network other than to an affiliate of the transferring member or to NBC Cable Courtroom Holdings, Inc. upon exercise of its option (as described below). In addition, at any time after January 7, 2006, we may require Time Warner Entertainment to purchase all but not less than all of our ownership interest, and Time Warner Entertainment may require us to sell all but not less than all of our ownership interest, in Court Television Network. Furthermore, pursuant to an option agreement among us, Time Warner Entertainment, Court Television Network and NBC Cable Courtroom, NBC Cable Courtroom has the option to purchase a 50.1% voting interest in Court Television Network, if on or before August 31, 2005, we and Time Warner Entertainment convert the service distributed by Court Television Network into a service that provides regularly scheduled general business or financial news or personal finance programming. In addition, if NBC Cable Courtroom exercises its right under the option agreement and becomes a member of Court Television Network, neither we nor Time Warner Entertainment may transfer all or any part of our interest to the other, or more than 50% of our interest to a third party, without first offering to include a portion of NBC Cable Courtroom's membership interest in the sale. GSN, LLC GSN, LLC owns and operates GSN. With more than 56 million subscribers as of December 31, 2004, GSN is a basic cable network dedicated to game-related programming and interactive game playing. GSN offers 24-hour cable programming consisting of game shows, casino games, reality series, documentaries and other game-related shows. GSN currently features 84 hours per week of interactive programming, which allows viewers a chance to win prizes by playing along with GSN's televised games. Players can play along using their remote control through a digital cable box or by using their computer at GSN.com. GSN's interactive programming is expected to expand to 24 hours per day beginning in the second quarter of 2005. GSN's revenue is derived from the delivery of its programming to subscribers under long-term affiliation agreements with cable systems and direct broadcast satellite systems and from the sale of advertising on its network. GSN's affiliation agreements provide for payments based on the number of subscribers that receive GSN's services and expire between 2005 and 2008. GSN is currently out of contract with an affiliate that accounts for approximately 24% of GSN's current subscriber base, and is in negotiations for the renewal of such contract. For the year ended December 31, 2004, GSN earned 11% of its total revenue from DirectTV. We and Sony Pictures Entertainment, a division of Sony Corporation of America, which is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, each own 50% of GSN, LLC. GSN's day-to-day operations are managed by a management committee of its board of managers. Pursuant to GSN's operating agreement, we and Sony each have the right to designate half of the members of the management committee. Also pursuant to the operating agreement, we and Sony have agreed that direct transfers of our interests in GSN and certain indirect transfers that result in a change of control of the transferring party are subject to a right of first refusal in favor of the non-transferring member. NEWS CORPORATION News Corp. is a diversified international media and entertainment company with operations in eight industry segments, including filmed entertainment, television, cable network programming, direct broadcast satellite television, magazines and inserts, newspapers, book publishing and other. News Corp.'s activities are conducted principally in the United States, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia, Australia and the Pacific Basin. News Corp. is a holding company that conducts all of its activities through subsidiaries and affiliates. Its principal subsidiaries and affiliates are Fox Entertainment Group, Inc., Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Fox Television Holdings, Inc., Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Sports Networks, Inc., NDS Group plc, News America Marketing In-Store I-12 Services, Inc., News America Marketing FSI, Inc., News International Limited, News Limited, HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., HarperCollins Publishers Limited, STAR Group Limited, BSkyB and The DIRECTV Group. CORPORATE AND OTHER TRUEPOSITION, INC. TruePosition, Inc., a consolidated subsidiary, develops and markets technology for locating wireless phones and other wireless devices, enabling wireless carriers, application providers and other enterprises to provide E-911 and other location-based services to mobile users worldwide. "E-911" or "Enhanced 911" refers to an FCC mandate requiring wireless carriers to implement wireless location capability. Cingular Wireless began deploying TruePosition's technology in late 2002 and throughout 2003 and 2004, and T-Mobile USA began deploying such technology in 2003 and throughout 2004. In addition, two smaller wireless carriers deployed TruePosition's technology in 2004. Although many of these services have not yet been developed, TruePosition's wireless location technology can also be used to implement a number of commercial location based services including (1) convenience/information services such as "concierge" and "personal navigation" which identify and provide directions to the nearest restaurant, ATM, or gas station or allow travelers to obtain other information specific to their location; (2) corporate applications, such as fleet or asset tracking which could enable enterprises to better manage mobile assets to optimize service or cut costs; (3) entertainment/community services such as "friend finder" or "m-dating" which could allow mobile users to create a localized community of people with similar interests and receive notification when another group member is close-by; (4) mobile commerce services which could help users shop or purchase goods or services from the retailer closest to their current location; and (5) safety related applications which could help public or private safety organizations find or track mobile users in need of assistance or help locate stolen property. The TruePosition-Registered Trademark- Finder-TM- system is a passive overlay system designed to enable mobile wireless service providers to determine the location of wireless devices, including cellular and PCS telephones. Using patented time difference of arrival (TDOA) and angle of arrival (AOA) technology, the TruePosition Finder-TM- system calculates the latitude and longitude of a designated wireless telephone or transmitter and forwards this information in real time to application software. TruePosition technology offerings cover all of the major wireless air interfaces such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Analog Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) and Global System Mobile (GSM). We own approximately 89% of the common equity of TruePosition and 100% of the TruePosition preferred stock with a liquidation preference of $347 million at December 31, 2004. REGULATORY MATTERS PROGRAMMING AND INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SERVICES In the United States, the FCC regulates the providers of satellite communications services and facilities for the transmission of programming services, the cable television systems that carry such services, and, to some extent, the availability of the programming services themselves through its regulation of program licensing. Cable television systems in the United States are also regulated by municipalities or other state and local government authorities. Cable television companies are currently subject to federal rate regulation on the provision of basic service, and continued rate regulation or other franchise conditions could place downward pressure on the fees cable television companies are willing or able to pay for programming services in which we have interests. Regulatory carriage requirements also could adversely affect the number of channels available to carry the programming services in which we have an interest. I-13 REGULATION OF PROGRAM LICENSING. The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 (the 1992 Cable Act) directed the FCC to promulgate regulations regarding the sale and acquisition of cable programming between multi-channel video programming distributors (including cable operators) and satellite-delivered programming services in which a cable operator has an attributable interest. The legislation and the implementing regulations adopted by the FCC preclude virtually all exclusive programming contracts between cable operators and satellite programmers affiliated with any cable operator (unless the FCC first determines the contract serves the public interest) and generally prohibit a cable operator that has an attributable interest in a satellite programmer from improperly influencing the terms and conditions of sale to unaffiliated multi-channel video programming distributors. Further, the 1992 Cable Act requires that such affiliated programmers make their programming services available to cable operators and competing multi-channel video programming distributors such as multi-channel multi-point distribution systems, which we refer to as MMDS, and direct broadcast satellite distributors on terms and conditions that do not unfairly discriminate among distributors. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 extended these rules to programming services in which telephone companies and other common carriers have attributable ownership interests. The FCC revised its program licensing rules by implementing a damages remedy in situations where the defendant knowingly violates the regulations and by establishing a timeline for the resolution of complaints, among other things. Although we no longer own Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico Ltd. ("LCPR"), FCC rules continue to attribute an ownership interest in LCPR to us, thereby subjecting us and satellite-delivered programming services in which we have an interest to the program access rules. REGULATION OF CARRIAGE OF PROGRAMMING. Under the 1992 Cable Act, the FCC has adopted regulations prohibiting cable operators from requiring a financial interest in a programming service as a condition to carriage of such service, coercing exclusive rights in a programming service or favoring affiliated programmers so as to restrain unreasonably the ability of unaffiliated programmers to compete. REGULATION OF OWNERSHIP. The 1992 Cable Act required the FCC, among other things, (1) to prescribe rules and regulations establishing reasonable limits on the number of channels on a cable system that will be allowed to carry programming in which the owner of such cable system has an attributable interest and (2) to consider the necessity and appropriateness of imposing limitations on the degree to which multi-channel video programming distributors (including cable operators) may engage in the creation or production of video programming. In 1993, the FCC adopted regulations limiting carriage by a cable operator of national programming services in which that operator holds an attributable interest to 40% of the first 75 activated channels on each of the cable operator's systems. The rules provided for the use of two additional channels or a 45% limit, whichever is greater, provided that the additional channels carried minority-controlled programming services. The regulations also grandfathered existing carriage arrangements that exceeded the channel limits, but required new channel capacity to be devoted to unaffiliated programming services until the system achieved compliance with the regulations. These channel occupancy limits applied only up to 75 activated channels on the cable system, and the rules did not apply to local or regional programming services. However, on March 2, 2001, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that the FCC had failed to justify adequately the channel occupancy limit, vacated the FCC's decision and remanded the rule to the FCC for further consideration. In response to the Court's decision, the FCC issued a further notice of proposed rulemaking in 2001 to consider channel occupancy limitations. Even if these rules were readopted by the FCC, they would have little impact on programming companies in which we have interests based upon our current attributable ownership interests in cable systems. In its March 2, 2001 decision, the Court of Appeals also vacated the FCC's rule imposing a thirty percent limit on the number of subscribers served by systems nationwide in which a multiple system I-14 operator can have an attributable ownership interest. The FCC presently is conducting a rulemaking regarding this ownership limitation and its ownership attribution standards. The FCC's rules also generally had prohibited common ownership of a cable system and broadcast television station with overlapping service areas. On February 19, 2002, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held that the FCC's decision to retain the cable/broadcast cross-ownership rule was arbitrary and capricious and vacated the rule. The FCC did not seek Supreme Court review of this decision or initiate a new rulemaking proceeding. The FCC rules continue to prohibit common ownership of a cable system and MMDS with overlapping service areas. REGULATION OF CARRIAGE OF BROADCAST STATIONS. The 1992 Cable Act granted broadcasters a choice of must carry rights or retransmission consent rights. The rules adopted by the FCC generally provided for mandatory carriage by cable systems of all local full-power commercial television broadcast signals selecting must carry rights and, depending on a cable system's channel capacity, non-commercial television broadcast signals. Such statutorily mandated carriage of broadcast stations coupled with the provisions of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, which require cable television systems with 36 or more "activated" channels to reserve a percentage of such channels for commercial use by unaffiliated third parties and permit franchise authorities to require the cable operator to provide channel capacity, equipment and facilities for public, educational and government access channels, could adversely affect some or substantially all of the programming companies in which we have interests by limiting the carriage of such services in cable systems with limited channel capacity. On January 18, 2001, the FCC adopted rules relating to the cable carriage of digital television signals. Among other things, the rules clarify that a digital-only television station can assert a right to analog or digital carriage on a cable system. The FCC initiated a further proceeding to determine whether television stations may assert rights to carriage of both analog and digital signals during the transition to digital television and to carriage of all digital signals. On February 10, 2005, the FCC denied mandatory dual carriage of a television station's analog and digital signals during the digital television transition and also denied mandatory carriage of all of a television station's digital signals, other than its "primary" signal. Television station owners may seek judicial review or legislative change of the FCC's decision. CLOSED CAPTIONING AND VIDEO DESCRIPTION REGULATION. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 also required the FCC to establish rules and an implementation schedule to ensure that video programming is fully accessible to the hearing impaired through closed captioning. The rules adopted by the FCC will require substantial closed captioning over an eight to ten year phase-in period, which began in 2000, with only limited exemptions. As a result, the programming companies in which we have interests are expected to incur significant additional costs for closed captioning. A LA CARTE PROCEEDING. In 2004, the FCC's Media Bureau conducted a notice of inquiry proceeding regarding the feasibility of selling video programming services "a la carte", i.e. on an individual or small tier basis. The Media Bureau released a report on November 19, 2004, which concluded that a la carte sales of video programming services would not result in lower video programming costs for most consumers and that they would adversely affect video programming networks. Although the FCC concluded this proceeding, it is possible that Congress may consider a la carte proposals in the future. COPYRIGHT REGULATION. The programming companies in which we have interests must obtain any necessary music performance rights from the rights holders. These rights generally are controlled by the music performance rights organizations of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC), each with rights to the music of various artists. Although the programming companies in which we have interests generally have obtained the necessary rights through separate agreements with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC, certain of the agreements are being negotiated on an industry-wide basis, I-15 including new rate structures that may require retroactive rate increases. Certain of the programming companies also have obtained licenses for music performance rights outside the United States through various licensing agencies located in the foreign countries in which their services are distributed. SATELLITES AND UPLINK. In general, authorization from the FCC must be obtained for the construction and operation of a communications satellite. The FCC authorizes utilization of satellite orbital slots assigned to the United States by the World Administrative Radio Conference. Such slots are finite in number, thus limiting the number of carriers that can provide satellite transponders and the number of transponders available for transmission of programming services. At present, however, there are numerous competing satellite service providers that make transponders available for video services to the cable industry. The FCC also regulates the earth stations uplinking to and/or downlinking from such satellites. INTERNET SERVICES The Internet companies in which we have interests are subject, both directly and indirectly, to various laws and governmental regulations relating to their respective businesses. There are currently few laws or regulations directly applicable to access to or commerce on commercial online services or the Internet. For example, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, enacted into law in 1998, protects certain qualifying online service providers from copyright infringement liability, and, under the Communications Decency Act, an Internet service provider will not be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. Legislation enacted by Congress in 2004 extended the moratorium on state and local taxes on Internet access and commerce until November 1, 2007. Other Internet-related laws and regulations may cover issues such as user privacy, defamatory speech, copyright infringement, pricing and characteristics and quality of products and services. The adoption of such laws or regulations in the future may slow the growth of commercial online services and the Internet, which could in turn cause a decline in the demand for the services and products of the Internet companies in which we have interests and increase such companies' costs of doing business or otherwise have an adverse effect on their businesses, operating results and financial conditions. Moreover, the applicability to commercial online services and the Internet of existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, libel, personal privacy and taxation is uncertain and could expose these companies to substantial liability. OTHER REGULATION We also have significant ownership interests on a cost basis in other entities, such as News Corporation and Sprint Corporation, which are extensively regulated. For example, the broadcast stations owned and the direct broadcast satellite service controlled by News Corp. are subject to a variety of FCC regulations. Sprint is subject not only to federal regulation but also to regulation in varying degrees, depending on the jurisdiction, by state and local regulatory authorities. PROPOSED CHANGES IN REGULATION The regulation of programming services, cable television systems and satellite licensees is subject to the political process and has been in constant flux over the past decade. Further material changes in the law and regulatory requirements must be anticipated and there can be no assurance that our business will not be adversely affected by future legislation, new regulation or deregulation. I-16 COMPETITION INTERACTIVE GROUP In the U.S. and elsewhere, QVC competes with a number of home shopping services, including Home Shopping Network. QVC also competes with other businesses that are engaged in retail merchandising. The businesses of providing software and related technologies, content and applications and professional services for interactive and enhanced television are highly competitive and rapidly changing. The interactive television technology companies with which OpenTV competes include NDS Group plc., Microsoft Corporation, Liberate Technologies (which recently agreed to sell substantially all of its assets to a joint venture owned by Comcast Corporation and Cox Communications) and Scientific Atlanta. NDS Group plc., a company controlled by News Corp., is expanding into the interactive television platform market and recently extended its market share with the acquisition of Media Highway from Thomson Multimedia. News Corp. also has a significant ownership interest in BSkyB and Sky Italia, which are two of OpenTV's largest customers, DirecTV and other satellite operators around the world. Companies that develop interactive television content and applications include dedicated applications providers, interactive television technology companies, and independent third parties that develop and provide applications for middleware platforms. Competition is also faced from media companies that have publicly announced interactive television initiatives, such as The Discovery Channel (in which we also own an interest) and CNN. In addition, certain network operators such as BSkyB in the United Kingdom have entered into agreements, joint ventures, and other relationships with technology and entertainment companies. We expect competition in the interactive content and applications area to intensify as the general market for interactive television services further develops, particularly in the case of independent third parties that have the ability to develop applications for middleware platforms at relatively modest expense through the use of applications development tools. In the interactive television professional services area, competition is faced primarily from third party system integrators, as well as from internal information technology staffs at our network operator customers. Other interactive television technology providers also provide a level of professional services in conjunction with their product offerings. The creative media services industry is highly competitive. Much of the competition is centered in Los Angeles, California, the largest and most competitive market, particularly for domestic television and feature film production as well as for the management of content libraries. We expect that competition will increase both domestically and internationally as a result of industry consolidation and alliances, as well as the emergence of new competitors. In particular, although major motion picture studios such as Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Corporation, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Brothers are customers of these services, they can also perform similar services in-house with substantially greater financial, technical, creative, marketing and other resources. These studios could devote substantially greater resources to the development and marketing of services that compete with those of Ascent Media. Ascent Media also actively competes with certain industry participants that may be smaller but have a unique operating niche or specialty business. There are numerous providers of in-room entertainment services to the hotel industry. Market participants include, but are not limited to, (i) other full service in-room providers, (ii) cable television companies, (iii) direct broadcast satellite services, (iv) television networks and programmers, (v) Internet service providers, (vi) broadband connectivity companies, (vii) other telecommunications companies and (viii) certain hotels. In addition, On Command's services compete for a guest's time and entertainment resources with other forms of entertainment and leisure activities. On Command anticipates that it will continue to face substantial competition from traditional as well as new competitors. Many of On Command's potential competitors are developing ways to use their existing I-17 infrastructure to provide in-room entertainment and/or informational services. Certain of these competitors are already providing guest programming services and are beginning to provide video-on-demand, Internet and high-speed connectivity services to hotels. NETWORKS GROUP The business of distributing programming for cable and satellite television is highly competitive, both in the United States and in foreign countries. The programming companies in which we have interests directly compete with other programmers for distribution on a limited number of channels. Increasing concentration in the multichannel video distribution industry could adversely affect the programming companies in which we have interests by reducing the number of distributors to whom they sell their programming, subjecting more of their programming sales to volume discounts and increasing the distributors' bargaining power in negotiating new affiliation agreements. Once distribution is obtained, our programming services and our business affiliates' programming services compete, in varying degrees, for viewers and advertisers with other cable and off-air broadcast television programming services as well as with other entertainment media, including home video, pay-per-view services, online activities, movies and other forms of news, information and entertainment. The programming companies in which we have interests also compete, to varying degrees, for creative talent and programming content. Our management believes that important competitive factors include the prices charged for programming, the quantity, quality and variety of the programming offered and the effectiveness of marketing efforts. EMPLOYEES As of December 31, 2004, we had approximately 60 corporate employees, and our consolidated subsidiaries had an aggregate of approximately 17,100 employees. We believe that our employee relations are good. (d) FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT GEOGRAPHIC AREAS For financial information related to the geographic areas in which we do business, see note 18 to our consolidated financial statements found in Part II of this report. (e) AVAILABLE INFORMATION All of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including our Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks, as well as amendments to such filings are available on our Internet website free of charge generally within 24 hours after we file such material with the SEC. Our website address is www.libertymedia.com. Our corporate governance guidelines, code of ethics, compensation committee charter, nominating and corporate governance committee charter, and audit committee charter are available on our website. In addition, we will provide a copy of any of these documents, free of charge, to any shareholder who calls or submits a request in writing to Investor Relations, Liberty Media Corporation, 12300 Liberty Boulevard, Englewood, Colorado 80112, Tel. No. (877) 772-1518. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference herein. ITEM 2. PROPERTIES. We own our corporate headquarters in Englewood, Colorado. All of our other real or personal property is owned or leased by our subsidiaries and business affiliates. QVC owns its corporate headquarters and operations center in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It also owns call centers in San Antonio, Texas, Port St. Lucie, Florida, Chesapeake, Virginia and Bochum, Germany, as well as a call center and warehouse in Knowsley, United Kingdom. QVC owns a I-18 warehouse in Hucklehoven, Germany and distribution centers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Suffolk, Virginia and Rocky Mount, North Carolina. To supplement the facilities it owns, QVC also leases various facilities in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan for retail outlet stores, office space, warehouse space and call center locations. Starz Encore owns its corporate headquarters in Englewood, Colorado. In addition, Starz Encore leases office space for its sales staff at 6 locations around the United States. Ascent Media owns or leases over 100 facilities. Domestically, Ascent Media leases facilities with approximately 1 million square feet and owns facilities with approximately 320,000 square feet. Outside of the United States, Ascent Media leases facilities with approximately 300,000 square feet and owns facilities with 50,000 square feet. Nearly all of Ascent Media's facilities are built specifically for their technical and creative service operations. On Command leases its corporate headquarters in Denver, Colorado. It also leases 77,000 square feet and 42,000 square feet of light manufacturing and storage space in Denver, Colorado and San Jose, California, respectively. On Command also has a number of small leased facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our other subsidiaries and business affiliates own or lease the fixed assets necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, including office space, transponder space, headends, cable television and telecommunications distribution equipment, telecommunications switches and customer equipment (including converter boxes). Our management believes that our current facilities are suitable and adequate for our business operations for the foreseeable future. ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. KLESCH & COMPANY LIMITED V. LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION, JOHN C. MALONE AND ROBERT R. BENNETT. On September 4, 2001, we entered into agreements with Deutsche Telekom AG pursuant to which we would purchase its entire interest in six of nine regional cable television companies in Germany. In February 2002, we failed to receive regulatory approval for our proposed acquisition. On July 27, 2001, Klesch & Company Limited initiated a lawsuit against us, our chairman, John C. Malone, and our chief executive officer, Robert R. Bennett, in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado alleging, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and breach of contract in connection with actions alleged to have been taken by us with respect to what then was a proposed transaction with Deutsche Telekom. Klesch sought damages in an unspecified amount in that action, which was the subject of a jury trial that began on August 30, 2004. On September 28, 2004, the jury returned a verdict in our favor on all of the legal claims asserted by the plaintiff. The jury also rejected the plaintiff's claims that Messrs. Malone and Bennett had committed fraud in their dealings with the plaintiff. A final judgment in the case will be entered after the court has ruled on various equitable claims asserted by the parties. Those claims include claims for recovery by the plaintiff for unjust enrichment and promissory estoppel theories. We believe all the plaintiff's equitable claims to be without merit, but there is no assurance that the court will agree with our position The plaintiff's counsel has made public statements indicating that the plaintiff will appeal the judgment, assuming it is entered in our favor. DR. LEO KIRCH, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ASSIGNEE, KGL POOL GMBH, AND INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION TRADING CORP. V. LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION, JOHN MALONE, DEUTSCHE BANK, AG, AND DR. ROLF-ERNST BREUER. Dr. Kirch was the primary owner of KirchGroup, a German cable television and media conglomerate. On September 4, 2001, we entered into agreements with Deutsche Telekom AG pursuant to which we would purchase its entire interest in six of nine regional cable television companies in Germany. In February 2002, we failed to receive regulatory approval for our proposed acquisition and the transactions with Deutsche Telekom were never consummated. On January 14, 2004, Dr. Kirch, KGL Pool GBH, and International Television Trading Corp. added our company, and our chairman, John C. I-19 Malone, to a lawsuit they had initiated against Deutsche Bank and Dr. Breuer on February 3, 2003. In that lawsuit, the plaintiffs' claims against us included, among other things, interference with contract, and interference with prospective economic advantage arising from an alleged conspiracy among our company, Dr. Malone, Deutsche Bank and Dr. Breuer pursuant to which we allegedly were involved in effecting transactions that led to the collapse of the KirchGroup's control of the German cable market in an effort to facilitate our agreements with Deutsche Telekom. Dr. Kirch, KGL Pool and International Television sought damages in an unspecified amount. We and Dr. Malone filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. That motion, as well as the other defendants' motion to dismiss on the same grounds, was granted by the court on September 24, 2004. The plaintiffs have appealed the court's dismissal of the case. We continue to believe that their claims are without merit, and we intend to contest the appeal vigorously. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. None. I-20 PART II. ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS. MARKET INFORMATION We have two series of common stock, Series A and Series B, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols L and LMC.B, respectively. The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices of shares of our Series A and Series B common stock for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003.
SERIES A SERIES B ------------------- ------------------- HIGH LOW HIGH LOW -------- -------- -------- -------- 2004 First quarter............................................. $12.45 10.57 14.15 11.25 Second quarter through June 7, 2004....................... $11.45 10.12 12.75 11.00 June 8 through June 30, 2004*............................. $ 9.65 8.86 11.00 9.80 Third quarter............................................. $ 9.02 8.33 10.20 9.00 Fourth quarter............................................ $11.21 8.68 11.92 8.80 2003 First quarter............................................. $10.38 8.45 10.60 8.65 Second quarter............................................ $12.25 9.52 12.25 9.50 Third quarter............................................. $12.27 9.86 12.47 10.11 Fourth quarter............................................ $12.20 9.78 14.05 9.90
- ------------------------ * Our spin off of LMI was completed on June 7, 2004. HOLDERS As of February 11, 2005, there were approximately 4,800 and 270 record holders of our Series A common stock and Series B common stock, respectively (which amounts do not include the number of shareholders whose shares are held of record by banks, brokerage houses or other institutions, but include each such institution as one shareholder). DIVIDENDS We have not paid any cash dividends on our Series A common stock and Series B common stock, and we have no present intention of so doing. Payment of cash dividends, if any, in the future will be determined by our Board of Directors in light of our earnings, financial condition and other relevant considerations. SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS Information required by this item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2005 Annual Meeting of shareholders. II-1 ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA. The following tables present selected historical information relating to our financial condition and results of operations for the past five years. The following data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements.
DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------------------------- 2004 2003(2) 2002 2001 2000 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS SUMMARY BALANCE SHEET DATA(1): Investments in available-for-sale securities and other cost investments........................... $21,847 19,566 14,181 20,268 16,639 Investment in affiliates........................... $ 3,734 3,613 6,241 9,649 19,271 Total assets....................................... $50,181 54,225 40,324 48,539 54,268 Long-term debt(3).................................. $ 8,566 9,417 4,291 4,592 5,231 Stockholders' equity............................... $24,586 28,842 24,682 30,123 34,109
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------------------------- 2004 2003(2) 2002 2001 2000 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS SUMMARY STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA(1): Revenue............................................. $ 7,682 3,738 1,804 1,774 1,322 Operating income (loss)(4).......................... $ 742 (939) (80) (1,008) 438 Share of earnings (losses) of affiliates, net(5).... $ 97 45 (89) (4,345) (3,316) Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net.................................. $(1,284) (662) 2,139 361 225 Gains (losses) on dispositions, net................. $ 1,406 1,125 (541) (310) 7,338 Nontemporary declines in fair value of investments....................................... $ (129) (22) (5,806) (4,099) (1,463) Earnings (loss) from continuing operations(4)(5).... $ 161 (1,225) (3,062) (5,938) 1,620 Basic and diluted earnings (loss) from continuing operations per common share(6).................... $ .06 (.44) (1.18) (2.29) .63
- ------------------------ (1) On June 7, 2004, we completed the spin off of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Liberty Media International, Inc. or LMI, to our shareholders. During the fourth quarter of 2004, the executive committee of our board of directors approved a plan to dispose of our approximate 56% ownership interest in Maxide Acquisition, Inc. (d/b/a DMX Music, "DMX"). On February 14, 2005, DMX commenced proceedings under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. As a result of marketing efforts conducted prior to the bankruptcy filing, DMX has entered into an arrangement, subject to the approval by the Bankruptcy Court, to sell substantially all of its operating assets to an independent third party. Other prospective buyers will have an opportunity to submit offers to purchase all or a portion of those assets by a date to be determined by the Bankruptcy Court. After competitive bids, if any, have been submitted, we expect that the Bankruptcy Court will make a determination as to the appropriate buyer, and the operating assets of DMX will be sold. Our consolidated financial statements and selected financial information have been prepared to reflect LMI and DMX as discontinued operations. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities, and revenue, costs and expenses of LMI and DMX have been excluded from the respective captions in our consolidated financial statements and selected financial information and have been reported under the heading of discontinued operations. See note 5 to our consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding LMI and DMX. (2) On September 17, 2003, we completed our acquisition of Comcast Corporation's approximate 56.5% ownership in QVC, Inc. for approximately $7.9 billion, comprised of cash, floating rate II-2 senior notes and shares of our Series A common stock. When combined with our previous ownership of approximately 41.7% of QVC, we owned 98.2% of QVC upon consummation of the transaction, which is deemed to have occurred on September 1, 2003, and we have consolidated QVC's financial position and results of operations since that date. (3) Excludes the call option portion of our exchangeable debentures. See note 9 to our consolidated financial statements. (4) Our 2003 operating loss and loss from continuing operations include a $1,352 million goodwill impairment charge related to Starz Entertainment. See footnote 2 to our consolidated financial statements for additional information. Effective January 1, 2002, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS ("Statement 142"), which among other matters, provides that goodwill and other indefinite-lived assets no longer be amortized. Amortization expense for such assets aggregated $565 million and $550 million for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. (5) Included in share of losses of affiliates are other-than-temporary declines in value aggregating $71 million, $76 million and $2,396 million for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively. In addition, share of losses of affiliates includes excess basis amortization of $705 million, $1,017 million for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Pursuant to Statement 142, excess costs that are considered equity method goodwill are no longer amortized, but are evaluated for impairment under APB Opinion No. 18. (6) The basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common share for periods prior to August 10, 2001, the date of our split off from AT&T Corp., is based upon 2,588 million shares of our Series A and Series B common stock issued upon consummation of the split off. ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. 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 consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. OVERVIEW We are a holding company that owns controlling and non-controlling interests in a broad range of electronic retailing, media, communications and entertainment companies. In recent years we have shifted our corporate focus to the acquisition and exercise of control over our affiliated companies. A significant step in this process was our September 2003 acquisition of Comcast Corporation's approximate 56% ownership interest in QVC, Inc., which when combined with our previous 42% ownership interest, increased our ownership to over 98% of QVC, and we now consolidate the financial position and results of operations of QVC. Our businesses are currently organized in three Groups: Interactive Group, Networks Group and Corporate and Other. See "Business--Narrative Description of Business" included in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of the more significant businesses in each of these Groups. On June 7, 2004, we completed the spin off of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Liberty Media International, Inc. ("LMI"), to our shareholders. Substantially all of the assets and businesses of LMI were attributed to our International Group segment. In connection with the spin off, holders of our common stock on June 1, 2004 received 0.05 of a share of LMI Series A common stock for each share of Liberty Series A common stock owned at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on June 1, 2004 and 0.05 of a share of LMI Series B common stock for each share of Liberty Series B common stock owned at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on June 1, 2004. The spin off is intended to qualify as a tax-free spin off. II-3 For accounting purposes, the spin off is deemed to have occurred on June 1, 2004, and we recognized no gain or loss in connection with the spin off. During the fourth quarter of 2004, the executive committee of our board of directors approved a plan to dispose of our approximate 56% ownership interest in Maxide Acquisition, Inc. (d/b/a DMX Music, "DMX"). DMX is principally engaged in programming, distributing and marketing digital and analog music services to homes and businesses and was included in our Networks Group operating segment. On February 14, 2005, DMX commenced proceedings under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. As a result of marketing efforts conducted prior to the bankruptcy filing, DMX has entered into an arrangement, subject to the approval by the Bankruptcy Court, to sell substantially all of its operating assets to an independent third party. Other prospective buyers will have an opportunity to submit offers to purchase all or a portion of those assets by a date to be determined by the Bankruptcy Court. After competitive bids, if any, have been submitted, we expect that the Bankruptcy Court will make a determination as to the appropriate buyer, and the operating assets of DMX will be sold. Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared to reflect LMI and DMX as discontinued operations. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities, revenue, costs and expenses, and cash flows of LMI and DMX have been excluded from the respective captions in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of comprehensive earnings (loss) and statements of cash flows and have been reported under the heading of discontinued operations in such consolidated financial statements. Our Interactive Group is focused on three areas within the interactive arena: commerce, games and targeted advertising. In addition, the Interactive Group is charged with helping our other businesses take advantage of interactive opportunities that may be available to them. In this regard, QVC has partnered with several of our other businesses, including Discovery Communications, OpenTV Corp. and On Command Corporation, to develop new interactive services. Our primary businesses in the Interactive Group are QVC and Ascent Media Group, Inc. In addition, we own approximately 20% of the outstanding common stock of IAC/InterActiveCorp, which we account for as an available-for-sale ("AFS") security. QVC has identified improved domestic growth and continued international growth as key areas of focus in 2005. QVC's steps to achieving these goals will include (1) continued domestic and international efforts to increase the number of customers who have access to and use its service and (2) continued expansion of brand selection and available domestic products. The key challenges to achieving these goals in both the U.S. and international markets are (1) increased competition from other home shopping and internet retailers, (2) advancements in technology, such as video on demand and personal video recorders, which may alter TV viewing habits, and (3) maintaining favorable channel positioning as digital TV penetration increases. In 2005, Ascent Media intends to focus on leveraging its broad array of media services to market itself as a full service provider to new and existing customers within the movie and television production industry. With facilities in the U.S., the United Kingdom and Asia, Ascent Media also hopes to increase its services to multinational companies. The challenges that Ascent Media faces include differentiating its products and services to help maintain or increase operating margins and financing capital expenditures for equipment and other items to satisfy customers' desire for services using the latest technology. Our primary businesses in the Networks Group are Starz Entertainment Group LLC, Discovery Communications, Inc., Courtroom Television Network, LLC and GSN, LLC. In addition we own approximately 17% of News Corporation ("News Corp."), which we account for as an AFS security. We view the development of digital and interactive services, our ability to expand these networks and increase international distribution and our ability to increase advertising rates relative to broadcast networks and other cable networks as key opportunities for growth in the coming months and years. II-4 We face several key obstacles in our attempt to meet these goals, including: continued consolidation in the broadband and satellite distribution industries; the impact on viewer habits of new technologies such as video on demand and personal video recorders; and alternative movie and programming sources. Certain of our subsidiaries and affiliates are dependent on others for entertainment, educational and informational programming. In addition, a significant portion of the revenue of certain of our subsidiaries and affiliates is generated by the sale of advertising on their networks. A downturn in the economy could reduce (i) the development of new television and motion picture programming, thereby adversely impacting their supply of service offerings; (ii) consumer disposable income and consumer demand for their products and services; and (iii) the amount of resources allocated for network and cable television advertising by major corporations. In addition to the businesses included in the foregoing Groups, we continue to maintain significant investments and related derivative positions in public companies such as Time Warner Inc. and Sprint Corporation, which are accounted for as AFS securities and are included in our Corporate and Other Group. We view these holdings as financial assets that we can monetize and use the resulting proceeds for debt repayments, stock buybacks or additional investments in any of our operating Groups. Also included in our Corporate and Other Group are our technology assets, which include our consolidated subsidiary TruePosition, Inc., as well as minority stakes in WildBlue Communications, Inc. and IDT Corporation. TruePosition provides equipment and technology that provide location-based services to wireless users. WildBlue Communications has initiated testing of its high speed Internet and data services via satellite to rural residential and small business customers. IDT Corporation, an AFS investment, is a multinational communications company whose primary businesses are prepaid debit and rechargeable calling cards, wholesale telecommunications carrier services and consumer telephone services. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS To assist you in understanding and analyzing our business in the same manner we do, we have organized the following discussion of our results of operations into two parts: Consolidated Operating Results, and Operating Results by Business Group. The Operating Results by Business Group section includes a discussion of the more significant businesses within each Group. CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS REVENUE Interactive Group........................................... $6,627 2,778 794 Networks Group.............................................. 984 933 969 Corporate and Other......................................... 71 27 41 ------ ------ ----- Consolidated revenue...................................... $7,682 3,738 1,804 ====== ====== ===== OPERATING CASH FLOW (DEFICIT) Interactive Group........................................... $1,375 540 109 Networks Group.............................................. 236 368 371 Corporate and Other......................................... (74) (108) (77) ------ ------ ----- Consolidated operating cash flow.......................... $1,537 800 403 ====== ====== ===== OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) Interactive Group........................................... $ 715 194 (279) Networks Group.............................................. 145 264 296 Corporate and Other......................................... (118) (1,397) (97) ------ ------ ----- Consolidated operating income (loss)...................... $ 742 (939) (80) ====== ====== =====
II-5 REVENUE. Our consolidated revenue increased over 100% in each of 2004 and 2003, as compared to the corresponding prior year. These increases are due primarily to our September 2003 acquisition of a controlling interest in QVC. Our consolidated financial statements include $5,687 million and $1,973 million of revenue from QVC for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Our 2004 revenue was also positively impacted by increases in our Interactive Group due to an increase at Ascent Media of $123 million and in our Networks Group due to an increase at Starz Entertainment of $57 million. In 2003, revenue for the Interactive Group increased $45 million due to our acquisition of OpenTV Corp. in August 2002 and decreased $30 million at Ascent Media. The Networks Group revenue decreased in 2003 due primarily to a reduction in rates in former AT&T Broadband systems resulting from the re-negotiation of Starz Entertainment's affiliation agreement with Comcast in 2003. See "OPERATING RESULTS BY BUSINESS GROUP" below for a more complete discussion of these fluctuations. OPERATING CASH FLOW. We define Operating Cash Flow as revenue less cost of sales, operating expenses and selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses (excluding stock compensation). Our chief operating decision maker and management team use this measure of performance in conjunction with other measures applied on a Group by Group basis 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 compensation, litigation settlements and impairments of long-lived assets that are included in the measurement of operating income pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Accordingly, Operating Cash Flow should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, operating income, net income, cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See note 18 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a reconciliation of Operating Cash Flow to Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Minority Interest. Consolidated Operating Cash Flow increased $737 million and $397 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year. These increases are due primarily to our acquisition of QVC, which contributed $1,230 million and $434 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively, to our consolidated Operating Cash Flow. In 2004, this increase was partially offset by a decrease in Starz Entertainment's operating cash flow ($129 million) primarily due to higher programming costs. In 2003, the increase due to QVC was partially offset by a decrease in our Corporate and Other Group ($31 million), which resulted from lower revenue from ancillary sources and higher legal and consulting expenses. STOCK COMPENSATION. Stock compensation includes compensation related to (1) options and stock appreciation rights for shares of our common stock that are granted to certain of our officers and employees, (2) phantom stock appreciation rights ("PSARs") granted to officers and employees of certain of our subsidiaries pursuant to private equity plans and (3) amortization of restricted stock grants. The amount of expense associated with stock compensation is generally based on the vesting of the related stock options and stock appreciation rights and the market price of the underlying common stock, as well as the vesting of PSARs and the equity value of the related subsidiary. The increase in stock compensation in 2004 is due primarily to an increase in our stock price. The decrease in stock compensation in 2003 is primarily a result of a decrease in the equity value of Starz Entertainment. The expense reflected in the table is based on the market price of the underlying common stock as of the date of the financial statements and is subject to future adjustment based on market price fluctuations, vesting percentages and, ultimately, on the final determination of market value when the options are exercised. II-6 DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION. The increase in depreciation in 2004 and 2003 is due to increases in our depreciable asset base resulting from the acquisition of QVC and subsidiary capital expenditures. The increase in amortization in 2004 and 2003 is due primarily to the acquisition of QVC and amortization of the related intangible assets. IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS. Starz Entertainment obtained an independent third party valuation in connection with its 2003 annual year-end evaluation of the recoverability of its goodwill. The result of this valuation, which was based on a discounted cash flow analysis of projections prepared by the management of Starz Entertainment, indicated that the fair value of this reporting unit was less than its carrying value. This reporting unit fair value was then used to calculate an implied value of the goodwill related to Starz Entertainment. The $1,352 million excess of the carrying amount of the goodwill (including $1,195 million of allocated enterprise-level goodwill) over its implied value was recorded as an impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2003. Starz Entertainment's operating income includes $157 million of the foregoing impairment charge and $1,195 million is included in Corporate and Other. The reduction in the value of Starz Entertainment reflected in the third party valuation is believed to be attributable to a number of factors. Those factors include the reliance placed in that valuation on projections by management reflecting a lower rate of revenue growth compared to earlier projections based, among other things, on the possibility that revenue growth may be negatively affected by (1) a reduction in the rate of growth in total digital video subscribers and in the subscription video on demand business as a result of cable operators' increased focus on the marketing and sale of other services, such as high speed Internet access and telephony, and the uncertainty as to the success of marketing efforts by distributors of Starz Entertainment's services and (2) lower per subscriber rates under a new affiliation agreement with Comcast. During the year ended December 31, 2002, we determined that the carrying value of certain of our subsidiaries' assets exceeded their respective fair values. Accordingly, we recorded impairments of goodwill related to OpenTV ($92 million), Ascent Media ($84 million) and On Command ($9 million). Such impairments were calculated as the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair value of the related assets. OPERATING INCOME (LOSS). We generated consolidated operating income of $742 million in 2004 compared to operating losses of $939 million and $80 million in 2003 and 2002, respectively. The higher operating loss in 2003 is due primarily to the goodwill impairment charge recorded by Starz Entertainment noted above. Our operating income in 2004 is attributable to QVC ($760 million) and Starz Entertainment ($148 million) partially offset by operating losses of our other consolidated subsidiaries and corporate expenses. OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE INTEREST EXPENSE. Interest expense was $615 million, $529 million and $410 million, for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, including $83 million, $61 million and $7 million, respectively, of accretion of our exchangeable debentures. In addition, the increase in 2004 is due to our issuance of debt for our acquisition of QVC in September 2003, partially offset by decreases due to our debt retirements in 2004 and the fourth quarter of 2003. The remaining increase in interest expense in 2003 is due primarily to an increase in our debt balance in 2003. DIVIDEND AND INTEREST INCOME. Dividend and interest income was $131 million, $164 million and $183 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These decreases are due primarily to decreases in the interest we earned on invested cash balances. Interest and dividend income for the year ended December 31, 2004 was comprised of interest income earned on invested cash ($35 million), dividends on News Corp. common stock ($46 million), dividends on Sprint Corporation common stock ($15 million), dividends on ABC Family Worldwide preferred stock ($13 million) and other ($22 million). In connection with our spin off of LMI, we contributed 99.9% of II-7 our economic interest in the ABC Family Worldwide preferred stock to LMI. Accordingly, this will not be a source of dividend income for us in the future. INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE EQUITY METHOD. A summary of our share of earnings (losses) of affiliates, including nontemporary declines in value, is included below:
PERCENTAGE YEARS ENDED OWNERSHIP AT DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2004 2003 2002 ------------- -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Discovery................................................... 50% $84 38 (32) Court TV.................................................... 50% 17 (1) (2) GSN......................................................... 50% (1) -- (6) QVC......................................................... * -- 107 154 Other....................................................... Various (3) (99) (203) --- --- ---- $97 45 (89) === === ====
- ------------------------ * QVC was an equity method affiliate until September 2003 when it became a consolidated subsidiary Included in share of losses for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, are adjustments for nontemporary declines in value aggregating $71 million and $76 million, respectively. See "OPERATING RESULTS BY BUSINESS GROUP" below for a discussion of our more significant equity method affiliates. REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS. Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments are comprised of the following:
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Change in fair value of exchangeable debenture call option features.................................................. $ (129) (158) 784 Change in fair value of equity collars...................... (941) (483) 4,032 Change in fair value of borrowed shares..................... (227) (121) -- Change in fair value of put options......................... 2 108 (445) Change in fair value of put spread collars.................. 8 21 71 Change in fair value of hedged AFS securities............... -- -- (2,378) Change in fair value of other derivatives(1)................ 3 (29) 75 ------- ---- ------ Total realized and unrealized gains (losses), net......... $(1,284) (662) 2,139 ======= ==== ======
- ------------------------ (1) Comprised primarily of forward foreign exchange contracts and interest rate swap agreements. During 2002, we had designated our equity collars as fair value hedges. Pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES," the equity collars were recorded on the balance sheet at fair value, and changes in the fair value of the equity collars and of the hedged securities were recognized in earnings. Effective December 31, 2002, we elected to dedesignate our equity collars as fair value hedges. This election had no impact on our financial position at December 31, 2002 or our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2002. Subsequent to December 31, 2002, changes in the fair value of our AFS securities that previously had been reported in earnings due to the designation of equity collars as fair value hedges are now reported as a component of other comprehensive income on our balance sheet. Changes in the fair value of the equity collars continue to be reported in earnings. II-8 GAINS (LOSSES) ON DISPOSITIONS. Aggregate gains (losses) from dispositions are comprised of the following.
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ TRANSACTION 2004 2003 2002 - ----------- -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Sale of News Corp. non-voting shares........................ $ 844 236 -- Exchange transaction with Comcast........................... 387 -- -- Sale of investment in Cendant Corporation................... -- 510 -- Sale of investment in Vivendi............................... -- 262 -- Exchange of USAI equity securities for Vivendi common stock..................................................... -- -- (817) Sale of Telemundo Communications Group...................... -- -- 344 Other, net.................................................. 175 117 (68) ------ ----- ---- $1,406 1,125 (541) ====== ===== ====
In the above described exchange transactions, the gains or losses were calculated based upon the difference between the carrying value of the assets relinquished, as determined on an average cost basis, compared to the fair value of the assets received. See notes 6, 8 and 11 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the foregoing transactions. NONTEMPORARY DECLINES IN FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS. During 2004, 2003 and 2002, we determined that certain of our cost investments experienced other-than-temporary declines in value. As a result, the cost bases of such investments were adjusted to their respective fair values based primarily on quoted market prices at the date each adjustment was deemed necessary. These adjustments are reflected as nontemporary declines in fair value of investments in the consolidated statements of operations. Other-than-temporary declines in value recorded in 2002 related primarily to our investments in Time Warner Inc., News Corporation and Sprint Corporation. Other-than-temporary declines in value in 2004 and 2003 were not significant. INCOME TAXES. Our effective tax rate was 49.5% in 2004, was not meaningful in 2003 and was 33.1% for the year ended December 31, 2002. Our effective tax rate in 2004 differed from the U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% primarily due to foreign and state taxes, partially offset by a benefit generated by the recognition of our tax basis in the equity of DMX. Although we had a loss before tax expense for book purposes in 2003, we recorded tax expense of $354 million primarily due to our impairment of goodwill which is not deductible for tax purposes. In addition, we incurred state and foreign taxes and an increase in our valuation allowance for losses of subsidiaries that we do not consolidate for tax purposes. The effective tax rate in 2002 differed from the U.S. federal income tax rate primarily due to state and local taxes and amortization for book purposes that is not deductible for income tax purposes. CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE. We and our subsidiaries adopted Statement 142 effective January 1, 2002. Upon adoption, we determined that the carrying value of certain of our reporting units (including allocated enterprise-level goodwill) was not recoverable. Accordingly, in the first quarter of 2002, we recorded an impairment loss of $1,528 million, net of related taxes, as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. This transitional impairment loss includes an adjustment of $61 million for our proportionate share of transition adjustments that our equity method affiliates recorded. OPERATING RESULTS BY BUSINESS GROUP The tables in this section present 100% of each business' revenue, operating cash flow and operating income even though we own less than 100% of many of these businesses. These amounts are II-9 combined on an unconsolidated basis and are then adjusted to remove the effects of the equity method investments to arrive at the consolidated amounts for each Group. This presentation is designed to reflect the manner in which management reviews the operating performance of individual businesses within each Group regardless of whether the investment is accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary or an equity investment. It should be noted, however, that this presentation is not in accordance with GAAP since the results of operations of equity method investments are required to be reported on a net basis. Further, we could not, among other things, cause any noncontrolled affiliate to distribute to us our proportionate share of the revenue or operating cash flow of such affiliate. The financial information presented below for equity method affiliates was obtained directly from those affiliates. We do not control the decision-making process or business management practices of our equity affiliates. Accordingly, we rely on the management of these affiliates to provide us with accurate financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP that we use in the application of the equity method. In addition, we rely on audit reports that are provided by the affiliates' independent auditors on the financial statements of such affiliates. We are not aware, however, of any errors in or possible misstatements of the financial information provided by our equity affiliates that would have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. INTERACTIVE GROUP
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS REVENUE QVC(1)...................................................... $5,687 4,889 4,362 Ascent Media................................................ 631 508 538 Other consolidated subsidiaries............................. 309 297 256 ------ ------ ------ Combined Interactive Group revenue........................ 6,627 5,694 5,156 Eliminate revenue of equity method affiliates(1)............ -- (2,916) (4,362) ------ ------ ------ Consolidated Interactive Group revenue.................... $6,627 2,778 794 ====== ====== ====== OPERATING CASH FLOW QVC(1)...................................................... $1,230 1,013 861 Ascent Media................................................ 98 75 87 Other consolidated subsidiaries............................. 47 31 22 ------ ------ ------ Combined Interactive Group operating cash flow............ 1,375 1,119 970 Eliminate operating cash flow of equity method affiliates(1)............................................. -- (579) (861) ------ ------ ------ Consolidated Interactive Group operating cash flow........ $1,375 540 109 ====== ====== ====== OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) QVC(1)...................................................... $ 760 785 737 Ascent Media................................................ 18 1 (65) Other consolidated subsidiaries............................. (63) (99) (214) ------ ------ ------ Combined Interactive Group operating income............... 715 687 458 Eliminate operating income of equity method affiliates(1)... -- (493) (737) ------ ------ ------ Consolidated Interactive Group operating income (loss).... $ 715 194 (279) ====== ====== ======
- ------------------------ (1) QVC was an equity method affiliate until September 2003 when it became a consolidated subsidiary. II-10 QVC. QVC is a retailer of a wide range of consumer products, which are marketed and sold primarily by merchandise-focused televised shopping programs and, to a lesser extent, via the Internet. In the United States, the programs are aired through its nationally televised shopping network--24 hours a day, 7 days a week ("QVC-US"). Internationally, QVC has electronic retailing program services based in the United Kingdom ("QVC-UK"), Germany ("QVC-Germany") and Japan ("QVC-Japan"). QVC-UK broadcasts live 19 hours a day. In October 2003, QVC-Germany increased its daily broadcast time from 19 to 24 hours; and in May 2004, QVC-Japan increased its daily broadcast time from 17 to 24 hours. As more fully described in note 4 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements, we acquired a controlling interest in QVC on September 17, 2003. For financial reporting purposes, the acquisition is deemed to have occurred on September 1, 2003, and we have consolidated QVC's results of operations since that date. Accordingly, increases in the Interactive Group's revenue and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 are primarily the result of the September 2003 acquisition of QVC. The following discussion describes QVC's results of operations for the full years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002. Depreciation and amortization for periods prior and subsequent to our acquisition of Comcast's interest in QVC are not comparable as a result of the effects of purchase accounting. However, in order to provide a more meaningful basis for comparing the 2004, 2003 and 2002 periods, the operating results of QVC for the four months ended December 31, 2003 have been combined with the eight months ended August 31, 2003 in the following table and discussion. The combining of predecessor and successor accounting periods is not permitted by GAAP.
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Net revenue......................................... $5,687 4,889 4,362 Cost of sales....................................... (3,594) (3,107) (2,784) ------ ------ ------ Gross profit...................................... 2,093 1,782 1,578 Operating expenses.................................. (497) (447) (413) SG&A expenses....................................... (366) (322) (304) ------ ------ ------ Operating cash flow............................... 1,230 1,013 861 Stock compensation.................................. (33) (6) (5) Depreciation and amortization....................... (437) (222) (119) ------ ------ ------ Operating income.................................. $ 760 785 737 ====== ====== ======
Net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 includes the following revenue by geographical area:
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS QVC-US................................................ $4,141 3,845 3,705 QVC-UK................................................ 487 370 296 QVC-Germany........................................... 643 429 275 QVC-Japan............................................. 416 245 86 ------ ----- ----- Consolidated.......................................... $5,687 4,889 4,362 ====== ===== =====
QVC's net revenue increased 16.3% and 12.1% for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year. The 2004 increase is due primarily to an increase in the number of units shipped, an increase in average sales per customer and favorable foreign currency exchange rates. In 2004, the number of units shipped increased from 121.0 million to 138.0 million, or 14.0%, and average sales per customer increased in each of QVC's markets with II-11 Germany increasing 41.6%, Japan 19.0%, United Kingdom 12.4% and the U.S. 7.7%. While the number of units shipped increased, the average sales price per unit ("ASP") in the U.S. market decreased due to purchases of lower priced items within the home category and a shift in product mix to lower priced apparel and accessories. QVC-Germany and QVC-Japan also experienced a drop in ASP in their respective local currencies due primarily to a shift in product mix from jewelry to home products and apparel products. However, these decreases were more than offset by favorable exchange rate fluctuations resulting in an increase in U.S. dollar-denominated ASP in both markets. The 2003 increase in revenue is due to increases in average sales per customer for QVC-Germany and QVC-Japan of 48.4% and 73.0%, respectively, and a 13.0% increase in the number of units shipped, as compared to 2002. Additional increases in 2003 net revenue were due to a 2.8% and a 6.3% increase in net sales per customer in the U.S. and the U.K., respectively. In 2003, QVC-US experienced a 5.7% decrease in ASP, while the ASP in local currency for QVC-UK and QVC-Japan increased 5.0% and 2.3%, respectively. Returns as a percent of gross product revenue decreased from 18.3% in 2002 to 17.8% in 2003 and to 17.6% in 2004. Each of QVC's markets added subscribers in 2004 and 2003. The number of homes receiving QVC's services are as follows:
HOMES (IN MILLIONS) ------------------- DECEMBER 31, ------------------- 2004 2003 -------- -------- QVC-US...................................................... 88.4 85.9 QVC-UK...................................................... 15.6 13.1 QVC-Germany................................................. 35.7 34.6 QVC-Japan................................................... 14.7 11.8
As the QVC service is already received by substantially all of the cable television and direct broadcast satellite homes in the U.S., future growth in U.S. sales will depend on continued additions of new customers from homes already receiving the QVC service and continued growth in sales to existing customers. QVC's future sales may also be affected by (i) the willingness of cable and satellite distributors to continue carrying QVC's programming service, (ii) QVC's ability to maintain favorable channel positioning, which may become more difficult as distributors convert analog customers to digital, (iii) changes in television viewing habit because of personal video recorders and video-on-demand and (iv) general economic conditions. As noted above, during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 the increases in revenue and expenses were also impacted by changes in the exchange rates for the UK pound sterling, the euro and the Japanese yen. In the event the U.S. dollar strengthens against these foreign currencies in the future, QVC's revenue and operating cash flow will be negatively impacted. The percentage increase in revenue for each of QVC's geographic areas in dollars and in local currency is as follows:
PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN NET REVENUE --------------------------------------------------------- YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 --------------------------- --------------------------- US DOLLARS LOCAL CURRENCY US DOLLARS LOCAL CURRENCY ---------- -------------- ---------- -------------- QVC-US........................ 7.7% 3.8% QVC-UK........................ 31.6% 17.5% 25.0% 14.2% QVC-Germany................... 49.9% 36.3% 56.0% 31.0% QVC-Japan..................... 69.8% 58.3% 184.9% 170.2%
Gross profit increased from 36.2% of net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2002 to 36.4% for the year ended December 31, 2003 and to 36.8% for 2004. Such increases are due primarily to lower inventory obsolescence provision and higher product margins due to a shift in the product mix from lower margin home products to higher margin apparel and accessory categories. II-12 QVC's operating expenses are comprised of commissions and license fees, order processing and customer service, provision for doubtful accounts, and credit card processing fees. Operating expenses increased 11.2% and 8.2% for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year period. These increases are primarily due to increases in sales volume. As a percentage of net revenue, operating expenses were 8.7%, 9.1% and 9.5% for 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. As a percent of net revenue, commissions and license fees decreased in both 2004 and 2003, as compared to the corresponding prior year. The decrease in 2004 is primarily due to a decrease in QVC-UK resulting from the termination of commissions to one distributor and an increase in the mix of non-commissionable sales. In 2003, the commissions and license fee expense decreased as a percentage of net revenue for QVC-Japan where certain distributors receive payments based on number of subscribers rather than sales volume. In addition for both periods, there has been an increase in Internet sales for which lower commissions are required to be paid. As a percent of net revenue, order processing and customer service expenses decreased in each international segment in 2004 compared to 2003 as a result of reduced personnel expense due to increased Internet sales, and operator efficiencies in call handling and staffing. Order processing and customer service expenses remained consistent at 3.5% of net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002. QVC's bad debt provision remained constant from 2003 to 2004. The bad debt provision as a percentage of net revenue decreased in 2003 compared to 2002 as the result of a one-time provision related to a bankrupt freight payment agent that occurred in 2002. Credit card processing fees remained consistent at 1.4% of net revenue for each of the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002. QVC's SG&A expenses increased 13.7% and 5.9% during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year. The majority of the increase in 2004 is due to increases in personnel costs due to the addition of employees to support the increased sales of QVC's foreign operations and increased broadcasting hours. Information technology and marketing and advertising costs also increased in 2004. Information technology expenditure increases are the result of higher third-party service costs related to various software projects as well as higher software maintenance fees. The increase in advertising and marketing expenditures can largely be attributed to QVC-Japan and QVC-Germany. These increases are partially offset by decreases in transponder fees and a lower provision for statutory local sales and use tax. In connection with our consolidation of QVC in 2003, transponder leases that previously had been accounted for as operating leases are now accounted for as capital leases pursuant to the provisions of EITF Issue No. 01-8. Accordingly, QVC's transponder expense has decreased while depreciation and interest expense have increased in 2004. The 2003 increase in SG&A expenses is primarily the net result of increases in personnel, transponder and occupancy costs, partially offset by decreases in advertising and marketing costs. Personnel cost increases reflect the addition of personnel to support the increased sales of the foreign operations. The increase in transponder fees is primarily the result of QVC-UK purchasing greater band-width as well as incurring a full year of digital transmission fees. Occupancy costs increased primarily as the result of higher costs for expanded office space in QVC-Japan. Decreases in advertising and marketing were primarily due to decreased domestic spending related to U.S. infomercial ventures as well as lower payments to affiliates for short-term carriage and incentive programs. QVC's depreciation and amortization expense increased for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 due primarily to the amortization of intangible assets recorded in connection with our purchase of QVC. ASCENT MEDIA. Ascent Media provides sound, video and ancillary post production and distribution services to the motion picture and television industries in the United States, Europe, Asia and Mexico. Accordingly, Ascent Media is dependent on the television and movie production industries and the commercial advertising market for a substantial portion of its revenue. II-13 Ascent Media's revenue increased 24.2% and decreased 5.6% during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year. The 2004 increase is due primarily to acquisitions ($62 million) and new business ($34 million) by Ascent Media's Networks Group. In addition, revenue for Ascent Media's Creative Services Group and Audio Group increased $14 million and $11 million, respectively, due to increases in projects for feature films and episodic television. The 2003 decrease is due primarily to a decrease in revenue for Ascent Media's Networks Group ($29 million) due to the disposition of a business unit in December 2002 and the re-negotiation of certain contracts resulting in lower rates for services. Ascent Media's operating expenses increased $79 million or 26.3% and decreased $21 million or 6.5% during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year. These fluctuations are due to changes in variable expenses such as personnel and material costs. In addition, the 2003 decrease is due to the sale of a Networks Group business unit referred to above. Ascent Media's SG&A expenses increased $29 million or 23.8% for the year ended December 31, 2004, as compared to 2003. This increase is due primarily to acquisitions by Ascent Media's Networks Group and various individually insignificant increases. Ascent Media's general and administrative expenses were relatively comparable over the 2002 and 2003 periods. In connection with its 2002 Statement 142 impairment analysis, Ascent Media recorded an $84 million charge to write off a portion of the goodwill related to its Entertainment Television reporting unit. No significant impairments were recorded by Ascent Media in 2004 or 2003. OTHER. Other consolidated subsidiaries included in the Interactive Group are On Command, which provides in-room, on demand video entertainment and information services to hotels, motels and resorts; and OpenTV, which provides interactive television solutions, including operating middleware, web browser software, interactive applications, and consulting and support services. Revenue for our other consolidated subsidiaries was relatively comparable in 2003 and 2004. The changes in operating cash flow and operating loss in 2004 for our other consolidated subsidiaries are due to improvements in the operating results of Open TV. Other consolidated subsidiary revenue increased $41 million in 2003 due primarily to the operations of OpenTV ($46 million), which we acquired in August 2002. The decrease in operating loss from 2002 to 2003 resulted from a $92 million impairment charge recorded by OpenTV in 2002. II-14 NETWORKS GROUP The following table combines information regarding our equity method affiliates with our consolidated subsidiaries, which presentation is not in accordance with GAAP. See--"Operating Results by Business Group" above.
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS REVENUE Starz Entertainment......................................... $ 963 906 945 Discovery(1)................................................ 2,365 1,995 1,717 Court TV(1)................................................. 227 186 148 GSN(1)...................................................... 88 76 53 Other consolidated subsidiaries............................. 21 27 24 ------ ------ ------ Combined Networks Group revenue........................... 3,664 3,190 2,887 Eliminate revenue of equity method affiliates............... (2,680) (2,257) (1,918) ------ ------ ------ Consolidated Networks Group revenue....................... $ 984 933 969 ====== ====== ====== OPERATING CASH FLOW Starz Entertainment......................................... $ 239 368 371 Discovery(1)................................................ 663 508 379 Court TV(1)................................................. 52 43 (1) GSN(1)...................................................... (2) 1 (11) Other consolidated subsidiaries............................. (3) -- -- ------ ------ ------ Combined Networks Group operating cash flow............... 949 920 738 Eliminate operating cash flow of equity method affiliates... (713) (552) (367) ------ ------ ------ Consolidated Networks Group operating cash flow........... $ 236 368 371 ====== ====== ====== OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) Starz Entertainment......................................... $ 148 266 297 Discovery(1)................................................ 484 314 169 Court TV(1)................................................. 36 13 (18) GSN(1)...................................................... (3) (1) (12) Other consolidated subsidiaries............................. (3) (2) (1) ------ ------ ------ Combined Networks Group operating income.................. 662 590 435 Eliminate operating income of equity method affiliates...... (517) (326) (139) ------ ------ ------ Consolidated Networks Group operating income.............. $ 145 264 296 ====== ====== ======
- ------------------------ (1) Represents an equity method affiliate. Equity ownership percentages for significant equity affiliates at December 31, 2004 are as follows: Discovery................................................... 50% Court TV.................................................... 50% GSN......................................................... 50%
STARZ ENTERTAINMENT. Starz Entertainment provides premium programming distributed by cable operators, direct-to-home ("DTH") satellite providers and other distributors throughout the United States. The majority of Starz Entertainment's revenue is derived from the delivery of movies to subscribers under affiliation agreements with these video programming distributors. Starz Entertainment's revenue increased 6.3% and decreased 4.1% for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year. The increase in 2004 is due primarily to an increase in the average number of subscription units for Starz II-15 Entertainment's Thematic Multiplex and Encore services. The Thematic Multiplex service is a group of up to six channels, each of which exhibits movies based on an individual theme. Total average subscription units, which represent the number of Starz Entertainment services which are purchased by cable, DTH and other distribution media customers, increased 13.0% during the year ended December 31, 2004, as compared to the prior year. In addition, Starz Entertainment's period-end subscription units increased 21.8 million units or 14.4% since the end of 2003. These increases in subscription units are due in part to (i) new affiliation agreements between Starz Entertainment and certain multichannel video programming distributors and (ii) participation with distributors in national marketing campaigns and other marketing strategies. Under these new affiliation agreements, Starz Entertainment has obtained benefits such as more favorable promotional offerings of its services and increased co-operative marketing commitments. Starz Entertainment is negotiating with certain of its other multichannel video programming distributors, including Echostar Communications whose affiliation agreement has been extended until June 2005, to obtain similar promotions and increased co-operative marketing commitments. Starz Entertainment's affiliation agreements generally do not provide for the inclusion of its services in specific programming packages of the distributors. The affiliation agreement with Comcast, however, does include a short-term packaging commitment to carry the Encore and Thematic Multiplex channels (EMP) in specified digital tiers on Comcast's cable systems. Although the affiliation agreement expires at the end of 2010, Comcast's packaging commitment expires at the end of 2005. Starz Entertainment and Comcast are currently negotiating an extension of this packaging commitment. At this time, Starz Entertainment is unable to predict whether it will be able to obtain an extended packaging commitment from Comcast comparable to the current commitment on economic terms that are acceptable to Starz Entertainment. If such an extension cannot be obtained, Comcast may elect to place the EMP services on a less favorable digital tier, which could negatively affect Starz Entertainment's ability to retain and add EMP subscribers in Comcast service areas. As noted above, the increase in subscription units is due primarily to subscription units for the Thematic Multiplex service, which has a lower subscription rate than other Starz Entertainment services. In addition, Starz Entertainment has entered into fixed-rate affiliation agreements with certain of its customers. Pursuant to these agreements, the customers pay a fixed rate regardless of the number of subscribers. The fixed rate is increased annually or semi-annually as the case may be. These agreements expire in 2006 through 2008. Due to the foregoing factors, the percentage increase in average subscription units exceeds the percentage increase in revenue. Comcast, DirecTV, Echostar Communications and Time Warner Inc. generated 24.2%, 23.6%, 11.3% and 9.7%, respectively, of Starz Entertainment's revenue for the year ended December 31, 2004. The 2003 decrease in revenue is primarily due to a new seven-year affiliation agreement with Comcast, which Starz Entertainment and Comcast entered into in September 2003. The new affiliation agreement provides for the carriage of the STARZ! and Encore movie services on all of Comcast's owned and operated cable systems, including those systems acquired by Comcast in November 2002 from AT&T Broadband LLC. The AT&T Broadband systems had previously been the subject of an affiliation agreement which provided for AT&T Broadband's unlimited access to all of the existing STARZ! and Encore services in exchange for fixed monthly payments to Starz Entertainment. The effective per-subscriber fee for the AT&T Broadband systems under the new Comcast affiliation agreement is lower than the effective rate under the old AT&T Broadband affiliation agreement, which in conjunction with a loss in STARZ! subscription units in Comcast cable systems resulted in a $77 million decrease in revenue from Comcast in 2003. This decrease was partially offset by a $35 million increase in revenue from other distributors, which resulted from a 13.6% increase in the number of average subscription units. II-16 Starz Entertainment's subscription units at December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 are presented in the table below.
SUBSCRIPTIONS AT DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ SERVICE OFFERING 2004 2003 2002 - ---------------- -------- -------- -------- IN MILLIONS Thematic Multiplex..................................... 130.3 111.4 96.8 Encore................................................. 24.5 21.9 20.9 STARZ!................................................. 14.1 12.3 13.2 Movieplex.............................................. 3.9 5.4 5.0 ----- ----- ----- 172.8 151.0 135.9 ===== ===== =====
At December 31, 2004, cable, direct broadcast satellite, and other distribution represented 65.8%, 33.1% and 1.1%, respectively, of Starz Entertainment's total subscription units. Starz Entertainment's operating expenses increased $173 million or 40.3% and $22 million or 5.4% for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year. Such increases are due primarily to increases in programming costs, which increased from $358 million in 2002 to $398 million in 2003 and to $564 million in 2004. Such increases are due to (i) higher cost per title due to new rate cards for movie titles under certain of its license agreements that were effective for movies made available to Starz Entertainment in 2004 and (ii) amortization of deposits previously made under the output agreements. Starz Entertainment's 2003 programming costs were also impacted by increases in the box office performance of movie titles that became available to Starz Entertainment in 2003. In addition, in the first quarter of 2003, Starz Entertainment entered into a settlement agreement regarding the payment of certain music license fees, which resulted in the reversal of a related accrual in the amount of $8 million. Starz Entertainment expects that its programming costs in 2005 will exceed the 2004 costs by approximately $115 million to $135 million due to the factors described above. Assuming a similar quantity of movie titles is available to Starz Entertainment in 2006 and the box office performance of such titles is consistent with the performance of titles received in 2005, Starz Entertainment expects that its 2006 programming expense will be less than 10% higher than its 2005 programming expense. These estimates are subject to a number of assumptions that could change depending on the number and timing of movie titles actually becoming available to Starz Entertainment and their ultimate box office performance. Accordingly, the actual amount of cost increases experienced by Starz Entertainment may differ from the amounts noted above. Starz Entertainment currently does not expect to generate sufficient increases in revenue or reductions in other costs to fully offset the programming increases. Accordingly, we are expecting a reduction to Starz Entertainment's operating cash flow and operating income in 2005. Starz Entertainment's SG&A expenses increased $13 million or 12.5% and decreased $58 million or 35.0% during 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year. The 2004 increase is due primarily to increases in sales and marketing expenses partially offset by decreases in bad debt and payroll tax expense. As noted above, Starz Entertainment has entered into new affiliation agreements with certain multichannel television distributors, which, in some cases, has resulted in new packaging of Starz Entertainment's services and increased co-operative marketing commitments. As a result, sales and marketing expenses increased $33 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, as compared to 2003. During the year ended December 31, 2004, Starz Entertainment sold a portion of its pre-petition accounts receivable from Adelphia Communications to an independent third party. Starz Entertainment had previously provided an allowance against the Adelphia accounts receivable based on Starz Entertainment's estimate of the amount it would collect. The proceeds from the sale of the Adelphia accounts receivable exceeded the net accounts receivable balance by approximately $8 million, II-17 resulting in a corresponding reduction in bad debt expense of $8 million. In addition, Starz Entertainment recovered approximately $4 million of additional accounts receivable from various customers for which a reserve had previously been provided. The 2003 decrease in SG&A expenses is due primarily to a $57 million decrease in sales and marketing expenses and a $7 million decrease in bad debt expense. The decrease in sales and marketing expenses is due to the reduced number of co-operative promotions by certain multichannel television distributors and the reversal of an accrual recorded in prior years. The higher bad debt expense in 2002 resulted from the bankruptcy filing of Adelphia Communications Corporation. Starz Entertainment has outstanding phantom stock appreciation rights held by certain of its officers and employees (including its former chief executive officer). Compensation relating to the phantom stock appreciation rights has been recorded based upon the estimated fair value of Starz Entertainment. The amount of expense associated with the phantom stock appreciation rights is generally based on the vesting of such rights and the change in the fair value of Starz Entertainment. Starz Entertainment's stock compensation decreased in 2003 as a result of a decrease in the estimated equity value of Starz Entertainment. As more fully described above under "--Consolidated Operating Results--Impairment of Long-lived Assets," we recorded a $1,352 million impairment charge in 2003 related to Starz Entertainment, of which $1,195 million relates to enterprise-level goodwill and is included in Corporate and Other. DISCOVERY. Discovery's revenue increased 18.5% and 16.2% for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year. These increases are due to 12.2% and 21.8% increases in advertising revenue and 30.5% and 15.7% increases in affiliate revenue, respectively. The 2004 increase in advertising revenue was due to an increase in advertising rates in the United States and positive developments in International advertising sales. Although advertising rates increased, the advertising revenue growth was slowed in 2004 due primarily to ratings challenges on one of its U.S. networks. Affiliate revenue increased in 2004 due to overall subscription unit growth, subscription units coming off free periods on developing domestic networks, and the extension of domestic networks carriage arrangements with large affiliates that reduced the amortization of launch costs during the period. The 2003 increase in advertising revenue was due to increased audience delivery in the United States and Europe and an increase in overall subscription units. Affiliate revenue increased in 2003 due to overall subscription unit growth, combined with subscription units coming off free periods on developing domestic networks. Discovery's operating expenses increased 12.6% and 7.4% in 2004 and 2003, respectively. Such increases were due primarily to a 19.4% and 13.3% increase in programming costs, respectively, as the company continues to invest in original programming. Discovery's SG&A expenses increased 16.5% and 15.1% in 2004 and 2003, respectively. These increases were driven by increased personnel and general and administrative expense, combined with increased marketing and sales related expenses. As a percent of revenue Discovery's SG&A expenses were 36.2%, 36.8% and 37.2% in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, due to Discovery continuing to realize economies of scale. COURT TV. Court TV's revenue increased 22.0% and 25.7% for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year. These increases are due to 21.1% and 26.9% increases in advertising revenue and 26.9% and 20.6% increases in net affiliate revenue. Advertising revenue increased as a result of a 7.6% and a 7.5% increase in subscribers in 2004 and 2003, respectively, combined with continued ratings strength. Affiliate revenue increased in both periods due to subscriber growth combined with decreases in launch support from 2003 to 2004. Court TV's operating expenses, which are comprised primarily of programming costs, increased 20.0% in 2004 and decreased 11.8% in 2003. Operating costs decreased in 2003 due to a reduction in various acquired programming costs combined with a delay in the release of certain original II-18 programming into 2004. Operating costs increased in 2004 due to increased investment in original and acquired programming. Court TV's SG&A expenses increased 25.9% in 2004 due to growth in the business combined with a significant increase in marketing initiatives. SG&A expenses were relatively comparable from 2002 to 2003. As a percent of revenue, SG&A expenses increased from 40.8% in 2003 to 42.0% in 2004 due to the increased marketing investment. GSN. GSN's revenue increased 15.8% and 43.4% for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year. These increases are due to 13.4% and 30.8% increases in advertising revenue and 18.9% and 60.7% increases in net affiliate revenue. Affiliate revenue increased due to 5.7% and 13.2% growth in subscribers during 2004 and 2003, respectively, combined with modest rate increases in both years and a decrease in amortization of subscriber launch costs in 2003. Advertising revenue increased due to an improved audience delivery, stemming from subscriber growth and improved delivery of key demographics, as well as improved sales efforts yielding higher rates and an increased percentage of inventory sold to advertisers. GSN's operating expenses, which are comprised primarily of programming costs, increased 17.9% and 46.7% in 2004 and 2003, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior year and represented 47.4% and 46.6% of revenue for 2004 and 2003, respectively. The increase in operating costs in both years is due primarily to continued investments in programming. GSN's SG&A expenses increased 19.8% in 2004 due to a 86.6% increase in marketing expense associated with the rebranding of the network. SG&A expenses in 2003 were comparable to the prior year. As a percent of revenue, SG&A expenses increased from 52.6% in 2003 to 54.5% in 2004. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES CORPORATE Our sources of liquidity include our available cash balances, cash generated by the operating activities of our privately-owned subsidiaries (to the extent such cash exceeds the working capital needs of the subsidiaries and is not otherwise restricted), proceeds from asset sales, monetization of our public investment portfolio (including derivatives), debt and equity issuances, and dividend and interest receipts. During the year ended December 31, 2004, our primary corporate uses of cash were investments in and loans to cost investees ($930 million), debt repayments pursuant to our debt reduction program ($994 million), cash used by discontinued operations ($833 million) and the exchange of stock of one of our subsidiaries that held cash and other assets for shares of our common stock held by Comcast ($547 million). These uses of cash were funded primarily by cash on hand, cash transfers from our subsidiaries ($887 million), proceeds from sales of assets ($483 million) and net proceeds from our various derivative transactions ($492 million). At December 31, 2004, we have $1,725 million in cash and marketable debt securities, $8,612 million of non-strategic AFS securities (including related derivatives with an estimated fair value of $644 million) and $10,776 million of total face amount of corporate debt. In addition, we own $9,667 million of News Corp. common stock and $3,824 million of IAC/InterActiveCorp common stock, which we consider to be strategic assets. Accordingly, we believe that our liquidity position at December 31, 2004 is very strong. Our projected uses of cash in 2005 include $1.0 billion of additional debt repayments as we complete the debt reduction program that we initiated in the fourth quarter of 2003. In addition, we may make additional investments in existing or new businesses. However, we are unable to quantify such investments at this time. We expect that our investing and financing activities, including the aforementioned debt reduction plan, will be funded with a combination of cash on hand, cash provided by operating activities, II-19 proceeds from equity collar expirations and dispositions of non-strategic assets. Based on the put price and assuming we physically settle each of our AFS Derivatives and excluding any provision for income taxes, we would be entitled to cash proceeds of approximately $1,014 million in 2005, $396 million in 2006, $387 million in 2007, $101 million in 2008, $1,383 million in 2009, and $3,021 million thereafter upon settlement of our AFS Derivatives. Prior to the maturity of our equity collars, the terms of certain of our equity and narrow-band collars allow us to borrow against the future put option proceeds at LIBOR or LIBOR plus an applicable spread, as the case may be. As of December 31, 2004, such borrowing capacity aggregated approximately $5,900 million. Such borrowings would reduce the cash proceeds upon settlement noted in the preceding paragraph. Based on currently available information, we expect to receive approximately $125 million in dividend and interest income during the year ended December 31, 2005. Based on current debt levels and current interest rates, we expect to make interest payments of approximately $490 million during the year ended December 31, 2005, primarily all of which relates to parent company debt. As of December 31, 2004, each of Standard and Poor's Rating Service ("S&P"), Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") and Fitch Ratings ("Fitch") rated our senior debt at the lowest level of investment grade. At that date, S&P and Moody's both had a negative ratings outlook, while Fitch had a stable outlook. Subsequent to December 31, 2004, S&P affirmed its ratings, but placed us on CreditWatch, and Fitch lowered its outlook to negative and placed us on Rating Watch. Neither S&P nor Fitch provided an estimate of the time for their respective Watch period. However, at the conclusion of the Watch period, we anticipate that each agency will either (1) affirm our rating and outlook, or (2) downgrade our rating to a level below investment grade. At this time we are unable to predict which of these outcomes will occur. None of our existing indebtedness includes any covenant under which a default could occur as a result of a downgrade in our credit rating. However, any such downgrade could adversely affect our access to the public debt markets and our overall cost of future corporate borrowings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we do not believe that a downgrade would adversely impact the ability of our subsidiaries to arrange bank financing or our ability to borrow against the value of our equity collars. SUBSIDIARIES In 2004, our subsidiaries funded capital expenditures ($226 million), acquisitions ($137 million), an increase in working capital ($293 million) and the repurchase of certain subsidiary common stock ($171 million) with cash on hand and cash generated by their operating activities. Our subsidiaries currently expect to spend approximately $435 million for capital expenditures in 2005, including $275 million by QVC. These amounts are expected to be funded by the cash flows of the respective subsidiary. EQUITY AFFILIATES Various partnerships and other affiliates of ours accounted for using the equity method finance a substantial portion of their acquisitions and capital expenditures through borrowings under their own credit facilities and net cash provided by their operating activities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, certain of our affiliates may require additional capital to finance their operating or investing activities. In the event our affiliates require additional financing and we fail to meet a capital call, or other commitment to provide capital or loans to a particular company, such failure may have adverse consequences to us. These consequences may include, among others, the dilution of our equity interest in that company, the forfeiture of our right to vote or exercise other rights, the right of the other stockholders or partners to force us to sell our interest at less than fair value, the forced dissolution of the company to which we have made the commitment or, in some instances, a breach of contract action II-20 for damages against us. Our ability to meet capital calls or other capital or loan commitments is subject to our ability to access cash. OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND AGGREGATE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS Starz Entertainment has entered into agreements with a number of motion picture producers which obligate Starz Entertainment to pay fees ("Programming Fees") for the rights to exhibit certain films that are released by these producers. The unpaid balance under agreements for film rights related to films that were available for exhibition by Starz Entertainment at December 31, 2004 is reflected as a liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The balance due as of December 31, 2004 is payable as follows: $200 million in 2005 and $16 million in 2006. Starz Entertainment has also contracted to pay Programming Fees for the rights to exhibit films that have been released theatrically, but are not available for exhibition by Starz Entertainment until some future date. These amounts have not been accrued at December 31, 2004. Starz Entertainment's estimate of amounts payable under these agreements is as follows: $538 million in 2005; $256 million in 2006; $125 million in 2007; $108 million in 2008; $98 million in 2009 and $134 million thereafter. In addition, Starz Entertainment is also obligated to pay Programming Fees for all qualifying films that are released theatrically in the United States by studios owned by The Walt Disney Company through 2009, all qualifying films that are released theatrically in the United States by studios owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment from 2005 through 2010 and all qualifying films released theatrically in the United States by Revolution Studios through 2006. Films are generally available to Starz Entertainment for exhibition 10 - 12 months after their theatrical release. The Programming Fees to be paid by Starz Entertainment are based on the quantity and domestic theatrical exhibition receipts of qualifying films. As these films have not yet been released in theatres, Starz Entertainment is unable to estimate the amounts to be paid under these output agreements. However, such amounts are expected to be significant. In addition to the foregoing contractual film obligations, each of Disney and Sony has the right to extend its contract for an additional three years. If Sony elects to extend its contract, Starz Entertainment has agreed to pay Sony a total of $190 million in four annual installments of $47.5 million. This option expires December 31, 2007. If made, Starz Entertainment's payments to Sony would be amortized ratably over the extension period beginning in 2011. An extension of this agreement would also result in the payment by Starz Entertainment of Programming Fees for qualifying films released by Sony during the extension period. If Disney elects to extend its contract, Starz Entertainment is not obligated to pay any amounts in excess of its Programming Fees for qualifying films released by Disney during the extension period. Liberty guarantees Starz Entertainment's obligations under the Disney and Sony output agreements. At December 31, 2004, Liberty's guarantees for studio output obligations for films released by such date aggregated $763 million. While the guarantee amount for films not yet released is not determinable, such amount is expected to be significant. As noted above, Starz Entertainment has recognized the liability for a portion of its obligations under the output agreements. As this represents a commitment of Starz Entertainment, a consolidated subsidiary of ours, we have not recorded a separate liability for our guarantees of these obligations. At December 31, 2004, we guaranteed Y4.7 billion ($46 million) of the bank debt of Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd ("J-COM"), a former equity affiliate that provides broadband services in Japan. Our guarantees expire as the underlying debt matures and is repaid. The debt maturity dates range from 2004 to 2018. Our investment in J-COM was attributed to LMI in the spin off. In connection with the spin off of LMI, LMI has agreed to indemnify us for any amounts we are required to fund under these guarantees. II-21 Information concerning the amount and timing of required payments, both accrued and off-balance sheet, under our contractual obligations is summarized below:
PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD --------------------------------------------------------- LESS THAN AFTER CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TOTAL 1 YEAR 1-3 YEARS 4-5 YEARS 5 YEARS - ----------------------- -------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Long-term debt(1)............................... $10,885 10 3,000 2,724 5,151 Long-term derivative instruments................ 1,889 1,179 336 13 361 Interest expense(2)............................. 6,714 480 816 676 4,742 Operating lease obligations..................... 277 62 88 58 69 Programming Fees(3)............................. 1,475 738 397 206 134 Purchase orders and other obligations........... 760 737 20 3 -- ------- ----- ----- ----- ------ Total contractual payments...................... $22,000 3,206 4,657 3,680 10,457 ======= ===== ===== ===== ======
- ------------------------ (1) Includes all debt instruments, including the call option feature related to our exchangeable debentures. Amounts are stated at the face amount at maturity and may differ from the amounts stated in our consolidated balance sheet to the extent debt instruments (i) were issued at a discount or premium or (ii) are reported at fair value in our consolidated balance sheet. Also includes capital lease obligations. (2) Assumes the interest rates on our floating rate debt remain constant at the December 31, 2004 rates. (3) Does not include Programming Fees for films not yet released theatrically, as such amounts cannot be estimated. Pursuant to a tax sharing agreement between us and AT&T when we were a subsidiary of AT&T, we received a cash payment from AT&T in periods when we generated taxable losses and such taxable losses were utilized by AT&T to reduce the consolidated income tax liability. To the extent such losses were not utilized by AT&T, such amounts were available to reduce federal taxable income generated by us in future periods, similar to a net operating loss carryforward. During the period from March 10, 1999 to December 31, 2002, we received cash payments from AT&T aggregating $555 million as payment for our taxable losses that AT&T utilized to reduce its income tax liability. In the fourth quarter of 2004, AT&T requested a refund from us of $70 million, plus accrued interest, relating to losses that it generated in 2002 and 2003 and were able to carry back to offset taxable income previously offset by our losses. In the event AT&T generates capital losses in 2004 and is able to carry back such losses to offset taxable income previously offset by our losses, we may be required to refund as much as an additional $229 million (excluding any accrued interest) to AT&T. We are currently unable to estimate how much, if any, we will ultimately refund to AT&T, but we believe that any such refund, if made, would not be material to our financial position. In connection with agreements for the sale of certain assets, we typically retain liabilities that relate to events occurring prior to the sale, such as tax, environmental, litigation and employment matters. We generally indemnify the purchaser in the event that a third party asserts a claim against the purchaser that relates to a liability retained by us. These types of indemnification guarantees typically extend for a number of years. We are unable to estimate the maximum potential liability for these types of indemnification guarantees as the sale agreements typically do not specify a maximum amount and the amounts are dependent upon the outcome of future contingent events, the nature and likelihood of which cannot be determined at this time. Historically, we have not made any significant indemnification payments under such agreements and no amount has been accrued in the accompanying consolidated financial statements with respect to these indemnification guarantees. II-22 We have contingent liabilities related to legal and tax proceedings and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Although it is reasonably possible we 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 consolidated financial statements. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), "SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS" ("Statement 123R"). Statement 123R, which is a revision of Statement 123 and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services, primarily focusing on transactions in which an entity obtains employee services. Statement 123R generally requires companies to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments (such as stock options and restricted stock) based on the grant-date fair value of the award, and to recognize that cost over the period during which the employee is required to provide service (usually the vesting period of the award). Statement 123R also requires companies to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of liability instruments (such as stock appreciation rights) based on the current fair value of the award, and to remeasure the fair value of the award at each reporting date. Public companies, such as Liberty, are required to adopt Statement 123R as of the beginning of the first interim period that begins after June 15, 2005. The provisions of Statement 123R will affect the accounting for all awards granted, modified, repurchased or cancelled after July 1, 2005. The accounting for awards granted, but not vested, prior to July 1, 2005 will also be impacted. The provisions of Statement 123R allow companies to adopt the standard on a prospective basis or to restate all periods for which Statement 123 was effective. We expect to adopt Statement 123R on a prospective basis, and our financial statements for periods that begin after June 15, 2005 will include pro forma information as though the standard had been adopted for all periods presented. While we have not yet quantified the impact of adopting Statement 123R, we believe that such adoption could have a significant impact on our operating income and net earnings in the future. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us 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. Listed below are the accounting estimates that we believe are critical to our financial statements due to the degree of uncertainty regarding the estimates or assumptions involved and the magnitude of the asset, liability, revenue or expense being reported. All of these accounting estimates and assumptions, as well as the resulting impact to our financial statements, have been discussed with our audit committee. CARRYING VALUE OF INVESTMENTS. Our cost and equity method investments comprise 43.5% and 7.4%, respectively, of our total assets at December 31, 2004 and 36.1% and 6.7%, respectively, at December 31, 2003. We account for these investments pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18, EITF Topic 03-1 and SAB No. 59. These accounting principles require us to periodically evaluate our investments to determine if decreases in fair value below our cost bases are other than temporary or "nontemporary." If a decline in fair value is determined to be nontemporary, we are required to reflect such decline in our statement of operations. Nontemporary declines in fair value of our cost investments are recognized on a separate line in our statement of operations, and II-23 nontemporary declines in fair value of our equity method investments are included in share of losses of affiliates in our statement of operations. The primary factors we consider in our determination of whether declines in fair value are nontemporary are the length of time that the fair value of the investment is below our carrying value; and the financial condition, operating performance and near term prospects of the investee. In addition, we consider the reason for the decline in fair value, be it general market conditions, industry specific or investee specific; analysts' ratings and estimates of 12 month share price targets for the investee; changes in stock price or valuation subsequent to the balance sheet date; and our intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery in fair value. Fair value of our publicly traded investments is based on the market prices of the investments at the balance sheet date. We estimate the fair value of our other cost and equity investments using a variety of methodologies, including cash flow multiples, discounted cash flow, per subscriber values, or values of comparable public or private businesses. Impairments are calculated as the difference between our carrying value and our estimate of fair value. As our assessment of the fair value of our investments and any resulting impairment losses requires a high degree of judgment and includes significant estimates and assumptions, actual results could differ materially from our estimates and assumptions. Our evaluation of the fair value of our investments and any resulting impairment charges are made as of the most recent balance sheet date. Changes in fair value subsequent to the balance sheet date due to the factors described above are possible. Subsequent decreases in fair value will be recognized in our statement of operations in the period in which they occur to the extent such decreases are deemed to be nontemporary. Subsequent increases in fair value will be recognized in our statement of operations only upon our ultimate disposition of the investment. At December 31, 2004, we had unrealized losses of $15 million related to one of our AFS equity securities. ACCOUNTING FOR ACQUISITIONS. We acquired QVC in 2003 and OpenTV in 2002. We account for all acquisitions of companies such as these pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, "BUSINESS COMBINATIONS," which prescribes the purchase method of accounting for business combinations. Pursuant to Statement 141, the purchase price is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of the acquired company, based on their respective fair values. Any excess purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets is recorded as goodwill. In determining fair value, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the recorded amounts. To assist in this process, we often engage third party valuation specialists to value certain of the assets and liabilities. Estimates used in these valuations may include expected future cash flows (including timing thereof), market rate assumptions for contractual obligations, expected useful lives of tangible and intangible assets and appropriate discount rates. Our estimates of fair value are based on assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain. The allocation of the purchase price to tangible and intangible assets impacts our statement of operations due to the amortization of these assets. With respect to the acquisition of QVC, the total purchase price of $7.9 billion was allocated to QVC's net assets based on their estimated fair values as determined by an independent valuation firm. QVC's more significant intangible assets included customer relationships and cable and satellite distribution rights, which are amortized over their respective useful lives, and trademarks, which have an indefinite useful life and are not amortized. We also allocated a portion of the purchase price to goodwill, which is not amortized. We estimate that amortization expense related to the amortizable intangible assets will be $312 million annually. If the allocation to QVC's amortizable assets had been 10% or $436 million more and the allocation to trademarks and goodwill had been $436 million less, our annual amortization expense would be $31 million higher. II-24 ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS. We use various derivative instruments, including equity collars, narrow-band collars, put spread collars, written put and call options, interest rate swaps and foreign exchange contracts, to manage fair value and cash flow risk associated with many of our investments, some of our debt and transactions denominated in foreign currencies. We account for these derivative instruments pursuant to Statement 133 and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 149 "AMENDMENT OF STATEMENT NO. 133 ON DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES." Statement 133 and Statement 149 require that all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes in derivatives designated as fair value hedges and changes in derivatives not designated as hedges are included in realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments in our statement of operations. We use the Black-Scholes model to estimate the fair value of our derivative instruments ("AFS Derivatives") that we use to manage market risk related to certain of our AFS securities. The Black-Scholes model incorporates a number of variables in determining such fair values, including expected volatility of the underlying security and an appropriate discount rate. We obtain volatility rates from independent sources based on the expected volatility of the underlying security over the term of the derivative instrument. The volatility assumption is evaluated annually to determine if it should be adjusted, or more often if there are indications that it should be adjusted. We obtain a discount rate at the inception of the derivative instrument and update such rate each reporting period based on our estimate of the discount rate at which we could currently settle the derivative instrument. At December 31, 2004, the expected volatilities used to value our AFS Derivatives generally ranged from 20% to 30% and the discount rates ranged from 3.1% to 4.8%. Considerable management judgment is required in estimating the Black-Scholes variables. Actual results upon settlement or unwinding of our derivative instruments may differ materially from these estimates. Changes in our assumptions regarding (1) the discount rate and (2) the volatility rates of the underlying securities that are used in the Black-Scholes model would have the most significant impact on the valuation of our AFS Derivatives. The table below summarizes changes in these assumptions and the resulting impacts on our estimate of fair value.
ESTIMATED AGGREGATE FAIR VALUE OF AFS DOLLAR VALUE ASSUMPTION DERIVATIVES CHANGE - ---------- ------------------- ------------ AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS As recorded at December 31, 2004................ $1,340 25% increase in discount rate................... $1,138 (202) 25% decrease in discount rate................... $1,550 210 25% increase in expected volatilities........... $1,298 (42) 25% decrease in expected volatilities........... $1,386 46
CARRYING VALUE OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS. Our property and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill (collectively, our "long-lived assets") also comprise a significant portion of our total assets at December 31, 2004 and 2003. We account for our long-lived assets pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144. These accounting standards require that we periodically, or upon the occurrence of certain triggering events, assess the recoverability of our long-lived assets. If the carrying value of our long-lived assets exceeds their estimated fair value, we are required to write the carrying value down to fair value. Any such writedown is included in impairment of long-lived assets in our consolidated statement of operations. A high degree of judgment is required to estimate the fair value of our long-lived assets. We may use quoted market prices, prices for similar assets, present value techniques and other valuation techniques to prepare these estimates. In addition, we may obtain independent appraisals in certain circumstances. We may need to make estimates of future cash flows and discount rates as well as other assumptions in order to implement these valuation techniques. Accordingly, any value ultimately derived from our II-25 long-lived assets may differ from our estimate of fair value. As each of our operating segments has long-lived assets, this critical accounting policy affects the financial position and results of operations of each segment. In 2003, Starz Entertainment obtained an independent third party valuation in connection with its annual year-end evaluation of the recoverability of its goodwill. The result of this valuation, which was based on a discounted cash flow analysis of projections prepared by the management of Starz Entertainment, indicated that the fair value of this reporting unit was less than its carrying value. This reporting unit fair value was then used to calculate an implied value of the goodwill related to Starz Entertainment. The $1,352 million excess of the carrying amount of the goodwill (including $1,195 million of allocated enterprise-level goodwill) over its implied value has been recorded as an impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2003. The reduction in the value of Starz Entertainment reflected in the third party valuation is believed to be attributable to a number of factors. Those factors include the reliance placed in that valuation on projections by management reflecting a lower rate of revenue growth compared to earlier projections based, among other things, on the possibility that revenue growth may be negatively affected by (1) a reduction in the rate of growth in total digital video subscribers and in the subscription video on demand business as a result of cable operators' increased focus on the marketing and sale of other services, such as high speed Internet access and telephony, and the uncertainty as to the success of marketing efforts by distributors of Starz Entertainment's services and (2) lower per subscriber rates under the new affiliation agreement with Comcast, as compared to the payments required under the 1997 AT&T Broadband affiliation agreement (including the programming pass-through provision). Due to the slow-down in the movie and television industries in 2002, Ascent Media recorded a long-lived asset impairment charge of $84 million. In 2002, we also recorded a $92 million impairment charge related to OpenTV Corp due to slower than expected growth in the interactive television industry and cutbacks in capital expenditures by broadband service providers. INCOME TAXES. We are required to estimate the amount of tax payable or refundable for the current year and the deferred income tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been reflected in our financial statements or tax returns for each taxing jurisdiction in which we operate. This process requires our management to make judgments regarding the timing and probability of the ultimate tax impact of the various agreements and transactions that we enter into. Based on these judgments we may record tax reserves or adjustments to valuation allowances on deferred tax assets to reflect the expected realizability of future tax benefits. Actual income taxes could vary from these estimates due to future changes in income tax law, significant changes in the jurisdictions in which we operate, our inability to generate sufficient future taxable income or unpredicted results from the final determination of each year's liability by taxing authorities. These changes could have a significant impact on our financial position. ITEM 7A. 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 and our subsidiaries in different foreign countries. Market risk refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in stock prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows and future earnings. We have established policies, procedures and internal processes governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage our exposure to such risks. We are exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of our borrowing and investment activities, which include investments in fixed and floating rate debt instruments and borrowings used to maintain liquidity and to fund business operations. The nature and amount of our long-term and short-term debt are expected to vary as a result of future requirements, market conditions and other II-26 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 and (ii) issuing short-term variable rate debt to take advantage of historically low short-term interest rates. As of December 31, 2004, the face amount of our fixed rate debt (considering the effects of interest rate swap agreements) was $7,149 million, which had a weighted average interest rate of 4.7%. Our variable rate debt of $3,736 million had a weighted average interest rate of 3.9% at December 31, 2004. Had market interest rates been 100 basis points higher (representing an approximate 26% increase over our variable rate debt effective cost of borrowing) throughout the year ended December 31, 2004, we would have recognized approximately $37 million of additional interest expense. Had the estimated value of the call option obligations associated with our senior exchangeable debentures been 10% higher during the year ended December 31, 2004, we would have recognized an additional unrealized loss on derivative instruments of $110 million. For additional information regarding the impacts of changes in discount rates and volatilities on our derivative instruments, see "Critical Accounting Estimates--Accounting for Derivatives." We are exposed to changes in stock prices primarily as a result of our significant holdings in publicly traded securities. We continually monitor changes in stock markets, in general, and changes in the stock prices of our holdings, specifically. We believe that changes in stock prices can be expected to vary as a result of general market conditions, technological changes, specific industry changes and other factors. We use equity collars, put spread collars, narrow-band collars, written put and call options and other financial instruments to manage market risk associated with certain investment positions. These instruments are recorded at fair value based on option pricing models. Equity collars provide us with a put option that gives us the right to require the counterparty to purchase a specified number of shares of the underlying security at a specified price (the "Company Put Price") at a specified date in the future. Equity collars also provide the counterparty with a call option that gives the counterparty the right to purchase the same securities at a specified price at a specified date in the future. The put option and the call option generally have equal fair values at the time of origination resulting in no cash receipts or payments. Narrow-band collars are equity collars in which the put and call prices are set so that the call option has a relatively higher fair value than the put option at the time of origination. In these cases we receive cash equal to the difference between such fair values. Put spread collars provide us and the counterparty with put and call options similar to equity collars. In addition, put spread collars provide the counterparty with a put option that gives it the right to require us to purchase the underlying securities at a price that is lower than the Company Put Price. The inclusion of the secondary put option allows us to secure a higher call option price while maintaining net zero cash to enter into the collar. However, the inclusion of the secondary put exposes us to market risk if the underlying security trades below the put spread price and may restrict our ability to borrow against the derivative. Among other factors, changes in the market prices of the securities underlying the AFS Derivatives affect the fair market value of the AFS Derivatives. The following table illustrates the impact that changes in the market price of the securities underlying our AFS Derivatives would have on the fair II-27 market value of such derivatives. Such changes in fair market value would be included in realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments in our consolidated statement of operations.
ESTIMATED AGGREGATE FAIR VALUE -------------------------------------------------------- EQUITY PUT SPREAD PUT CALL COLLARS(1) COLLARS OPTIONS OPTIONS TOTAL ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Fair value at December 31, 2004.................... $1,618 291 (445) (124) 1,340 5% increase in market prices....................... $1,418 290 (423) (141) 1,144 10% increase in market prices...................... $1,218 289 (401) (158) 948 5% decrease in market prices....................... $1,816 292 (467) (108) 1,533 10% decrease in market prices...................... $2,013 292 (489) (92) 1,724
- ------------------------ (1) Includes narrow-band collars. At December 31, 2004, the fair value of our AFS securities was $21,763 million. Had the market price of such securities been 10% lower at December 31, 2004, the aggregate value of such securities would have been $2,176 million lower resulting in a decrease to unrealized gains in other comprehensive earnings. Such decrease would be partially offset by an increase in the value of our AFS Derivatives as noted in the table above. In connection with certain of our AFS Derivatives, we periodically borrow shares of the underlying securities from a counterparty and deliver these borrowed shares in settlement of maturing derivative positions. In these transactions, a similar number of shares that we own have been posted as collateral with the counterparty. These share borrowing arrangements can be terminated at any time at our option by delivering shares to the counterparty. The counterparty can terminate these arrangements upon the occurrence of certain events which limit the trading volume of the underlying security. The liability under these share borrowing arrangements is marked to market each reporting period with changes in value recorded in unrealized gains or losses in the consolidated statement of operations. The shares posted as collateral under these arrangements continue to be treated as AFS securities and are marked to market each reporting period with changes in value recorded as unrealized gains or losses in other comprehensive earnings. We are exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations related primarily to the monetary assets and liabilities and the financial results of QVC's and Ascent Media's foreign subsidiaries. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries for which the functional currency is the local currency are translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates, and the statements of operations are translated at actual exchange rates when known, or at the average exchange rate for the period. Exchange rate fluctuations on translating foreign currency financial statements into U.S. dollars that result in unrealized gains or losses are referred to as translation adjustments. Cumulative translation adjustments are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of stockholders' equity. Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are recorded based on exchange rates at the time such transactions arise. Subsequent changes in exchange rates result in transaction gains and losses, which are reflected in income as unrealized (based on period-end translations) or realized upon settlement of the transactions. Cash flows from our operations in foreign countries are translated at actual exchange rates when known, or at the average rate for the period. Accordingly, we may experience economic loss and a negative impact on earnings and equity with respect to our holdings solely as a result of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. From time to time we enter into total return debt swaps in connection with our own or third-party public and private indebtedness. We initially post collateral with the counterparty equal to 10% of the value of the underlying securities. We earn interest income based upon the face amount and stated interest rate of the underlying debt securities, and we pay interest expense at market rates on the II-28 amount funded by the counterparty. In the event the fair value of the underlying debt securities declines 10%, we are required to post cash collateral for the decline, and we record an unrealized loss on financial instruments. The cash collateral is further adjusted up or down for subsequent changes in fair value of the underlying debt security. At December 31, 2004, the aggregate purchase price of debt securities underlying total return debt swap arrangements related to our senior notes and debentures was $147 million. As of such date, we had posted cash collateral equal to $15 million. In the event the fair value of the purchased debt securities were to fall to zero, we would be required to post additional cash collateral of $132 million. The posting of such collateral and the related settlement of the agreements would reduce our outstanding debt by an equal amount. We periodically assess the effectiveness of our derivative financial instruments. With regard to interest rate swaps, we monitor the fair value of interest rate swaps as well as the effective interest rate the interest rate swap yields, in comparison to historical interest rate trends. We believe that any losses incurred with regard to interest rate swaps would be offset by the effects of interest rate movements on the underlying debt facilities. With regard to equity collars, we monitor historical market trends relative to values currently present in the market. We believe that any unrealized losses incurred with regard to equity collars and swaps would be offset by the effects of fair value changes on the underlying assets. These measures allow our management to measure the success of its use of derivative instruments and to determine when to enter into or exit from derivative instruments. Our derivative instruments are executed with counterparties who are well known major financial institutions with high credit ratings. While we believe these derivative instruments effectively manage the risks highlighted above, they are subject to counterparty credit risk. Counterparty credit risk is the risk that the counterparty is unable to perform under the terms of the derivative instrument upon settlement of the derivative instrument. To protect ourselves against credit risk associated with these counterparties we generally: - execute our derivative instruments with several different counterparties, and - execute equity derivative instrument agreements which contain a provision that requires the counterparty to post the "in the money" portion of the derivative instrument into a cash collateral account for our benefit, if the respective counterparty's credit rating for its senior unsecured debt were to reach certain levels, generally a rating that is below Standard & Poor's rating of A- and/or Moody's rating of A3. Due to the importance of these derivative instruments to our risk management strategy, we actively monitor the creditworthiness of each of these counterparties. Based on our analysis, we currently consider nonperformance by any of our counterparties to be unlikely. Our counterparty credit risk by financial institution is summarized below:
AGGREGATE FAIR VALUE OF DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AT COUNTERPARTY DECEMBER 31, 2004 - ------------ ------------------------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Counterparty A.......................................... $ 541 Counterparty B.......................................... 506 Counterparty C.......................................... 411 Counterparty D.......................................... 342 Counterparty E.......................................... 308 Other................................................... 320 ------ $2,428 ======
II-29 ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA. The consolidated financial statements of Liberty Media Corporation are filed under this Item, beginning on Page II-33. The financial statement schedules required by Regulation S-X are filed under Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE. None. ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. In accordance with Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its chief executive officer, principal accounting officer 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 report. Based on that evaluation, the Executives concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2004 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. See page II-31 for MANAGEMENT'S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING. See page II-32 for REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM for our accountant's attestation regarding our internal controls over financial reporting. There has been no change in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2004 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal controls over financial reporting. ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION. None. II-30 MANAGEMENT'S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING Liberty Media Corporation's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over the Company's financial reporting. The Company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (3) provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (4) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Because of inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate. The Company assessed the design and effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") in INTERNAL CONTROL-- INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK. Based upon our assessment using the criteria contained in COSO, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2004, Liberty Media Corporation's internal control over financial reporting is effectively designed and operating effectively. Liberty Media Corporation's independent registered public accountants audited the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and have issued an audit report on management's assessment of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. This report appears on page II-32 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. II-31 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM The Board of Directors and Stockholders Liberty Media Corporation: We have audited management's assessment, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing on page II-31, that Liberty Media Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the criteria established in INTERNAL CONTROL--INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). Management of Liberty Media Corporation is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management's assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting of Liberty Media Corporation based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management's assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements and related disclosure in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (3) provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (4) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. In our opinion, management's assessment that Liberty Media Corporation maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on criteria established in INTERNAL CONTROL--INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK issued by the COSO. Also, in our opinion, Liberty Media Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the criteria established in INTERNAL CONTROL--INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK issued by COSO. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Liberty Media Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive earnings (loss), stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, and our report dated March 14, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. KPMG LLP Denver, Colorado March 14, 2005 II-32 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM The Board of Directors and Stockholders Liberty Media Corporation: We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Liberty Media Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive earnings (loss), stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Liberty Media Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting of Liberty Media Corporation as of December 31, 2004, based on the criteria established in INTERNAL CONTROL--INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"), and our report dated March 14, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on management's assessment of, and the effective operation of, internal control over financial reporting. KPMG LLP Denver, Colorado March 14, 2005 II-33 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003
2004 2003* --------- --------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents................................ $ 1,421 2,974 Trade and other receivables, net......................... 1,186 1,049 Inventory, net........................................... 712 588 Prepaid expenses and program rights...................... 579 479 Derivative instruments (note 7).......................... 827 543 Other current assets..................................... 63 352 ------- ------ Total current assets................................... 4,788 5,985 ------- ------ Investments in available-for-sale securities and other cost investments (note 6)..................................... 21,847 19,566 Long-term derivative instruments (note 7).................. 1,601 3,247 Investments in affiliates, accounted for using the equity method (note 8).......................................... 3,734 3,613 Property and equipment, at cost............................ 2,105 1,869 Accumulated depreciation................................... (713) (492) ------- ------ 1,392 1,377 ------- ------ Intangible assets not subject to amortization (note 2): Goodwill................................................. 9,073 8,911 Trademarks............................................... 2,385 2,385 ------- ------ 11,458 11,296 ------- ------ Intangible assets subject to amortization, net (note 2).... 4,440 4,821 Other assets, at cost, net of accumulated amortization..... 770 577 Assets of discontinued operations (note 5)................. 151 3,743 ------- ------ Total assets........................................... $50,181 54,225 ======= ======
- ------------------------ * See note 5. (continued) II-34 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003
2004 2003* --------- --------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable.......................................... $ 457 402 Accrued interest payable.................................. 143 152 Other accrued liabilities................................. 694 628 Accrued stock compensation................................ 236 190 Program rights payable.................................... 200 177 Derivative instruments (note 7)........................... 1,179 854 Other current liabilities................................. 298 160 -------- -------- Total current liabilities............................... 3,207 2,563 -------- -------- Long-term debt (note 9)..................................... 8,566 9,417 Long-term derivative instruments (note 7)................... 1,812 1,756 Deferred income tax liabilities (note 10)................... 10,734 10,678 Other liabilities........................................... 826 377 Liabilities of discontinued operations (note 5)............. 151 299 -------- -------- Total liabilities....................................... 25,296 25,090 -------- -------- Minority interests in equity of subsidiaries................ 299 293 Stockholders' equity (note 11): Preferred stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 50,000,000 shares; no shares issued................................ -- -- Series A common stock $.01 par value. Authorized 4,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 2,678,895,158 shares at December 31, 2004 and 2,669,835,166 shares at December 31, 2003............... 27 27 Series B common stock $.01 par value. Authorized 400,000,000 shares; issued 131,062,825 shares at December 31, 2004 and 217,100,515 shares at December 31, 2003....................................... 1 2 Additional paid-in capital................................ 33,765 39,001 Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes ("AOCE") (note 15)...................................... 4,226 3,246 AOCE from discontinued operations......................... 1 (45) Unearned compensation..................................... (64) (98) Accumulated deficit....................................... (13,245) (13,291) -------- -------- 24,711 28,842 Series B common stock held in treasury, at cost (10,000,000 shares at December 31, 2004)................ (125) -- -------- -------- Total stockholders' equity.............................. 24,586 28,842 -------- -------- Commitments and contingencies (note 17) Total liabilities and stockholders' equity.............. $ 50,181 54,225 ======== ========
- ------------------------ * See note 5. See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. II-35 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002
2004 2003* 2002* --------- --------- --------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS Revenue: Net sales from electronic retailing....................... $ 5,687 1,973 -- Communications and programming services................... 1,995 1,765 1,804 ------- ------- ------- 7,682 3,738 1,804 ------- ------- ------- Operating costs and expenses: Cost of sales--electronic retailing services.............. 3,594 1,258 -- Operating................................................. 1,736 1,161 943 Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A").............. 815 519 458 Stock compensation--SG&A (note 2)......................... 101 (88) (46) Litigation settlement..................................... (42) -- -- Depreciation.............................................. 247 195 164 Amortization.............................................. 489 270 178 Impairment of long-lived assets (note 2).................. -- 1,362 187 ------- ------- ------- 6,940 4,677 1,884 ------- ------- ------- Operating income (loss)................................. 742 (939) (80) Other income (expense): Interest expense.......................................... (615) (529) (410) Dividend and interest income.............................. 131 164 183 Share of earnings (losses) of affiliates, net (note 8).... 97 45 (89) Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, net (note 7)............................... (1,284) (662) 2,139 Gains (losses) on dispositions, net (notes 6, 8 and 11)... 1,406 1,125 (541) Nontemporary declines in fair value of investments (note 6)...................................................... (129) (22) (5,806) Other, net................................................ (24) (55) 1 ------- ------- ------- (418) 66 (4,523) ------- ------- ------- Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest........................... 324 (873) (4,603) Income tax benefit (expense) (note 10)...................... (158) (354) 1,512 Minority interests in losses (earnings) of subsidiaries..... (5) 2 29 ------- ------- ------- Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before cumulative effect of accounting change................ 161 (1,225) (3,062) Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (note 5).................................................. (115) 3 (740) Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of taxes (note 2)........................................................ -- -- (1,528) ------- ------- ------- Net earnings (loss)..................................... $ 46 (1,222) (5,330) ======= ======= ======= Earnings (loss) per common share (note 2): Basic and diluted earnings (loss) from continuing operations.............................................. $ .06 (.44) (1.18) Discontinued operations................................... (.04) -- (.29) Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of taxes...... -- -- (.59) ------- ------- ------- Basic and diluted net earnings (loss)..................... $ .02 (.44) (2.06) ======= ======= ======= Number of common shares outstanding......................... 2,856 2,748 2,590 ======= ======= =======
- ------------------------ * See note 5. See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. II-36 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (LOSS) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002
2004 2003* 2002* -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Net earnings (loss)......................................... $ 46 (1,222) (5,330) ------ ------- ------- Other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of taxes (note 15): Foreign currency translation adjustments.................. 30 42 77 Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period.................................................. 1,489 3,343 (4,160) Recognition of previously unrealized losses (gains) on available-for-sale securities, net...................... (488) (628) 3,598 Other comprehensive earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (note 5)..................................... (61) 218 (129) ------ ------- ------- Other comprehensive earnings (loss)....................... 970 2,975 (614) ------ ------- ------- Comprehensive earnings (loss)............................... $1,016 1,753 (5,944) ====== ======= =======
- ------------------------ * See note 5. See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. II-37 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002
AOCE COMMON STOCK ADDITIONAL FROM PREFERRED --------------------- PAID-IN DISCONTINUED UNEARNED STOCK SERIES A SERIES B CAPITAL AOCE OPERATIONS COMPENSATION --------- --------- --------- ---------- -------- ------------ ------------ AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Balance at January 1, 2002......... $ -- 24 2 35,996 974 (134) -- Net loss......................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Other comprehensive loss......... -- -- -- -- (485) (129) -- Issuance of common stock for acquisitions................... -- -- -- 195 -- -- -- Issuance of common stock pursuant to rights offering............. -- 1 -- 617 -- -- -- Purchases of Series A common stock.......................... -- -- -- (281) -- -- -- Series A common stock put options, net of cash received (note 11)...................... -- -- -- (29) -- -- -- --------- -- --------- ------ ----- ---- ---- Balance at December 31, 2002....... -- 25 2 36,498 489 (263) -- Net loss......................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Other comprehensive earnings..... -- -- -- -- 2,757 218 -- Issuance of Series A common stock for acquisitions............... -- 2 -- 2,654 -- -- -- Issuance of Series A common stock for cash....................... -- -- -- 141 -- -- -- Purchases of Series A common stock.......................... -- -- -- (437) -- -- -- Issuance of restricted stock..... -- -- -- 102 -- -- (102) Amortization of deferred compensation................... -- -- -- -- -- -- 4 Series A common stock put options, net of cash received (note11)....................... -- -- -- 37 -- -- -- Gain in connection with the issuance of stock of a subsidiary..................... -- -- -- 6 -- -- -- --------- -- --------- ------ ----- ---- ---- Balance at December 31, 2003....... -- 27 2 39,001 3,246 (45) (98) Net earnings..................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Other comprehensive earnings (loss)......................... -- -- -- -- 1,031 (61) -- Issuance of Series A common stock for acquisitions............... -- -- -- 152 -- -- -- Issuance of Series A common stock in exchange for Series B common stock (note 11)................ -- 1 (1) 125 -- -- -- Acquisition of Series A common stock (note 11)................ -- (1) -- (1,016) -- -- -- Amortization of deferred compensation................... -- -- -- -- -- -- 31 Distribution to stockholders for spin off of Liberty Media International ("LMI") (note 5)............................. -- -- -- (4,512) (51) 107 -- Stock compensation for Liberty options held by LMI employees (note 13)...................... -- -- -- (4) -- -- -- Stock compensation for LMI options held by Liberty employees (note 13)............ -- -- -- 17 -- -- -- Cancellation of restricted stock.......................... -- -- -- (3) -- -- 3 Other............................ -- -- -- 5 -- -- -- --------- -- --------- ------ ----- ---- ---- Balance at December 31, 2004....... $ -- 27 1 33,765 4,226 1 (64) ========= == ========= ====== ===== ==== ==== TOTAL ACCUMULATED TREASURY STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT STOCK EQUITY ----------- -------- ------------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Balance at January 1, 2002......... (6,739) -- 30,123 Net loss......................... (5,330) -- (5,330) Other comprehensive loss......... -- -- (614) Issuance of common stock for acquisitions................... -- -- 195 Issuance of common stock pursuant to rights offering............. -- -- 618 Purchases of Series A common stock.......................... -- -- (281) Series A common stock put options, net of cash received (note 11)...................... -- -- (29) ------- ---- ------ Balance at December 31, 2002....... (12,069) -- 24,682 Net loss......................... (1,222) -- (1,222) Other comprehensive earnings..... -- -- 2,975 Issuance of Series A common stock for acquisitions............... -- -- 2,656 Issuance of Series A common stock for cash....................... -- -- 141 Purchases of Series A common stock.......................... -- -- (437) Issuance of restricted stock..... -- -- -- Amortization of deferred compensation................... -- -- 4 Series A common stock put options, net of cash received (note11)....................... -- -- 37 Gain in connection with the issuance of stock of a subsidiary..................... -- -- 6 ------- ---- ------ Balance at December 31, 2003....... (13,291) -- 28,842 Net earnings..................... 46 -- 46 Other comprehensive earnings (loss)......................... -- -- 970 Issuance of Series A common stock for acquisitions............... -- -- 152 Issuance of Series A common stock in exchange for Series B common stock (note 11)................ -- (125) -- Acquisition of Series A common stock (note 11)................ -- -- (1,017) Amortization of deferred compensation................... -- -- 31 Distribution to stockholders for spin off of Liberty Media International ("LMI") (note 5)............................. -- -- (4,456) Stock compensation for Liberty options held by LMI employees (note 13)...................... -- -- (4) Stock compensation for LMI options held by Liberty employees (note 13)............ -- -- 17 Cancellation of restricted stock.......................... -- -- -- Other............................ -- -- 5 ------- ---- ------ Balance at December 31, 2004....... (13,245) (125) 24,586 ======= ==== ======
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. II-38 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002
2004 2003* 2002* -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS (SEE NOTE 3) Cash flows from operating activities: Earnings (loss) from continuing operations................ $ 161 (1,225) (4,590) Adjustments to reconcile earnings (loss) from continuing operations to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of taxes.... -- -- 1,528 Depreciation and amortization........................... 736 465 342 Impairment of long-lived assets......................... -- 1,362 187 Stock compensation...................................... 101 (88) (46) Payments of stock compensation.......................... (10) (360) (117) Noncash interest expense................................ 96 76 14 Share of losses (earnings) of affiliates, net........... (97) (45) 89 Nontemporary decline in fair value of investments....... 129 22 5,806 Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on derivative instruments, net....................................... 1,284 662 (2,139) Losses (gains) on disposition of assets, net............ (1,406) (1,125) 541 Minority interests in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries........................................... 5 (2) (29) Deferred income tax expense (benefit)................... (197) 279 (1,519) Other noncash charges................................... 20 63 25 Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effect of acquisitions and dispositions: Receivables........................................... (87) (180) (34) Inventory............................................. (124) (14) -- Prepaid expenses and other current assets............. (351) (152) (85) Payables and other current liabilities................ 657 179 13 ------- ------ ------ Net cash provided (used) by operating activities.... 917 (83) (14) ------- ------ ------ Cash flows from investing activities: Cash proceeds from dispositions........................... 483 2,449 1,033 Premium proceeds from origination of derivatives.......... 193 763 521 Net proceeds from settlement of derivatives............... 322 1,172 410 Investments in and loans to equity affiliates............. (30) (48) (65) Investments in and loans to cost investees................ (930) (2,509) (228) Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired.......... (137) (711) (44) Capital expended for property and equipment............... (226) (177) (147) Net sales of short term investments....................... 272 95 148 Repayments of notes receivable from LMI................... 117 -- -- Other investing activities, net........................... (14) 9 14 ------- ------ ------ Net cash provided by investing activities............... 50 1,043 1,642 ------- ------ ------ Cash flows from financing activities: Borrowings of debt........................................ -- 4,155 179 Repayments of debt........................................ (1,006) (3,480) (772) Purchases of Liberty Series A common stock................ (547) (437) (281) Repurchases of subsidiary common stock.................... (171) -- -- Proceeds from issuance of common stock.................... -- 141 618 Other financing activities, net........................... 37 (42) (2) ------- ------ ------ Net cash provided (used) by financing activities........ (1,687) 337 (258) ------- ------ ------ Net cash used by discontinued operations................ (833) (485) (1,272) ------- ------ ------ Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents......................................... (1,553) 812 98 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year...... 2,974 2,162 2,064 ------- ------ ------ Cash and cash equivalents at end of year............ $ 1,421 2,974 2,162 ======= ====== ======
- ------------------------------ * See note 5. See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. II-39 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 (1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Liberty Media Corporation and its controlled subsidiaries ("Liberty" or the "Company," unless the context otherwise requires). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Liberty is a holding company which, through its controlling and noncontrolling ownership of interests in subsidiaries and other companies, is primarily engaged in the electronic retailing, media, communications and entertainment industries in the United States, Europe and Asia. In addition, companies in which Liberty owns interests are engaged in, among other things, (i) interactive commerce via the Internet, television and telephone, (ii) domestic cable and satellite broadband services, and (iii) telephony and other technology ventures. Prior to the June 7, 2004 spin off of Liberty Media International, Inc., Liberty was also engaged in international broadband distribution of video, voice and data services. See note 5. (2) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash equivalents consist of investments which are readily convertible into cash and have maturities of three months or less at the time of acquisition. RECEIVABLES Receivables are reflected net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Such allowance aggregated $77 million and $91 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. A summary of activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:
ADDITIONS BALANCE ------------------------- BALANCE BEGINNING CHARGED DEDUCTIONS-- END OF OF YEAR TO EXPENSE ACQUISITIONS WRITE-OFFS YEAR --------- ---------- ------------ ------------ -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS 2004...................................... $91 21 -- (35) 77 === == == === == 2003...................................... $27 18 62 (16) 91 === == == === == 2002...................................... $18 17 1 (9) 27 === == == === ==
INVENTORY Inventory, consisting primarily of products held for sale, is stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the average cost method, which approximates the first-in, first-out method. II-40 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 A summary of activity in the inventory obsolescence account is as follows:
ADDITIONS BALANCE ------------------------- BALANCE BEGINNING CHARGED DEDUCTIONS-- END OF OF YEAR TO EXPENSE ACQUISITIONS WRITE-OFFS YEAR --------- ---------- ------------ ------------ -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS 2004...................................... $93 54 -- (59) 88 === == == === == 2003...................................... $-- 19 93 (19) 93 === == == === ==
PROGRAM RIGHTS Prepaid program rights are amortized on a film-by-film basis over the anticipated number of exhibitions. Committed program rights and program rights payable are recorded at the estimated cost of the programs when the film is available for airing less prepayments. These amounts are amortized on a film-by-film basis over the anticipated number of exhibitions. INVESTMENTS All marketable equity and debt securities held by the Company are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value ("AFS Securities"). Unrealized holding gains and losses on AFS Securities are carried net of taxes as a component of accumulated other comprehensive earnings in stockholders' equity. Realized gains and losses are determined on an average cost basis. Other investments in which the Company's ownership interest is less than 20% and are not considered marketable securities are carried at cost. For those investments in affiliates in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, the equity method of accounting is used. Under this method, the investment, originally recorded at cost, is adjusted to recognize the Company's share of net earnings or losses of the affiliates as they occur rather then as dividends or other distributions are received, limited to the extent of the Company's investment in, advances to and commitments for the investee. The Company's share of net earnings or loss of affiliates also includes any other-than-temporary declines in fair value recognized during the period. Changes in the Company's proportionate share of the underlying equity of a subsidiary or equity method investee, which result from the issuance of additional equity securities by such subsidiary or equity investee, are recognized as increases or decreases in stockholders' equity. The Company continually reviews its investments to determine whether a decline in fair value below the cost basis is other than temporary ("nontemporary"). The primary factors the Company considers in its determination are the length of time that the fair value of the investment is below the Company's carrying value; and the financial condition, operating performance and near term prospects of the investee. In addition, the Company considers the reason for the decline in fair value, be it general market conditions, industry specific or investee specific; analysts' ratings and estimates of 12 month share price targets for the investee; changes in stock price or valuation subsequent to the balance sheet date; and the Company's intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery in fair value. If the decline in fair value is deemed to be nontemporary, the cost basis of the security is written down to fair value. In situations where the fair value of an investment is not evident due to a lack of a public market price or other factors, the II-41 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 Company uses its best estimates and assumptions to arrive at the estimated fair value of such investment. The Company's assessment of the foregoing factors involves a high degree of judgment and accordingly, actual results may differ materially from the Company's estimates and judgments. Writedowns for cost investments and AFS Securities are included in the consolidated statements of operations as nontemporary declines in fair values of investments. Writedowns for equity method investments are included in share of earnings (losses) of affiliates. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES The Company uses various derivative instruments including equity collars, narrow-band collars, put spread collars, written put and call options, bond swaps and interest rate swaps to manage fair value and cash flow risk associated with many of its investments and some of its variable rate debt. Liberty's derivative instruments are executed with counterparties who are well known major financial institutions. While Liberty believes these derivative instruments effectively manage the risks highlighted above, they are subject to counterparty credit risk. Counterparty credit risk is the risk that the counterparty is unable to perform under the terms of the derivative instrument upon settlement of the derivative instrument. To protect itself against credit risk associated with these counterparties the Company generally: - executes its derivative instruments with several different counterparties, and - executes equity derivative instrument agreements which contain a provision that requires the counterparty to post the "in the money" portion of the derivative instrument into a cash collateral account for the Company's benefit, if the respective counterparty's credit rating for its senior unsecured debt were to reach certain levels, generally a rating that is below Standard & Poor's rating of A- and/or Moody's rating of A3. Due to the importance of these derivative instruments to its risk management strategy, Liberty actively monitors the creditworthiness of each of its counterparties. Based on its analysis, the Company currently considers nonperformance by any of its counterparties to be unlikely. Liberty accounts for its derivatives pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 "ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES" ("Statement 133"). All derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. If the derivative is not designated as a hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in earnings. During 2002, the only derivative instruments designated as hedges were the Company's equity collars, which were designated as fair value hedges. Effective December 31, 2002, the Company elected to dedesignate its equity collars as fair value hedges. Such election had no effect on the Company's financial position at December 31, 2002 or its results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2002. Subsequent to December 31, 2002, changes in the fair value of the Company's AFS Securities that previously had been reported in earnings due to the designation of equity collars as fair value hedges are reported as a component of other comprehensive earnings (loss) on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. Changes in the fair value of the equity collars continue to be reported in earnings. II-42 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 The fair value of derivative instruments is estimated using third party estimates or the Black-Scholes model. The Black-Scholes model incorporates a number of variables in determining such fair values, including expected volatility of the underlying security and an appropriate discount rate. The Company obtains volatility rates from independent sources based on the expected volatility of the underlying security over the term of the derivative instrument. The volatility assumption is evaluated annually to determine if it should be adjusted, or more often if there are indications that it should be adjusted. A discount rate is obtained at the inception of the derivative instrument and updated each reporting period based on the Company's estimate of the discount rate at which it could currently settle the derivative instrument. Considerable management judgment is required in estimating the Black-Scholes variables. Actual results upon settlement or unwinding of derivative instruments may differ materially from these estimates. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Property and equipment, including significant improvements, is stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method using estimated useful lives of 3 to 20 years for support equipment and 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements. INTANGIBLE ASSETS ADOPTION OF STATEMENT NO. 142 Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS ("Statement 142"). Statement 142 requires that goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives (collectively, "indefinite lived intangible assets") no longer be amortized, but instead be tested for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of Statement 142. Equity method goodwill is also no longer amortized, but continues to be considered for impairment under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18. Statement 142 also requires that intangible assets with estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, ACCOUNTING FOR THE IMPAIRMENT OR DISPOSAL OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS ("Statement 144"). Statement 142 required the Company to perform an assessment of whether there was an indication that goodwill was impaired as of the date of adoption. To accomplish this, the Company identified its reporting units and determined the carrying value of each reporting unit by assigning the assets and liabilities, including the existing goodwill and intangible assets, to those reporting units as of the date of adoption. Statement 142 requires the Company to consider equity method affiliates as separate reporting units. As a result, a portion of the Company's enterprise-level goodwill balance was allocated to various reporting units which included a single equity method investment as its only asset. For example, goodwill was allocated to a separate reporting unit which included only the Company's investment in Discovery Communications, Inc. This allocation is performed for goodwill impairment testing purposes only and does not change the reported carrying value of the investment. However, to the extent that all or a portion of an equity method investment which is part of a reporting unit containing allocated goodwill is disposed of in the future, the allocated portion of goodwill will be relieved and included in the calculation of the gain or loss on disposal. The Company determined the fair value of its reporting units using independent appraisals, public trading prices and other means. The Company then compared the fair value of each reporting unit to II-43 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 the reporting unit's carrying amount. To the extent a reporting unit's carrying amount exceeded its fair value, the Company performed the second step of the transitional impairment test. In the second step, the Company compared the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill, determined by allocating the reporting unit's fair value to all of its assets (recognized and unrecognized) and liabilities in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation, to its carrying amount, both of which were measured as of the date of adoption. In situations where the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill was less than its carrying value, Liberty recorded a transition impairment charge. The Company recognized a $1,528 million transitional impairment loss, net of taxes of $24 million, as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in 2002. The foregoing transitional impairment loss includes an adjustment of $61 million for the Company's proportionate share of transition adjustments that its equity method affiliates recorded. GOODWILL Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2004 are as follows:
STARZ ENTERTAINMENT QVC, INC. GROUP LLC OTHER(3) TOTAL ---------- ------------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Balance at December 31, 2003.......... $3,889 1,383 3,639 8,911 Acquisitions(1)..................... 39 -- 23 62 Other(2)............................ 120 -- (20) 100 ------ ----- ----- ----- Balance at December 31, 2004.......... $4,048 1,383 3,642 9,073 ====== ===== ===== =====
- ------------------------ (1) During the year ended December 31, 2004, subsidiaries of Liberty completed several small acquisitions and the buyout of minority partners for aggregate cash consideration of $137 million. In connection with these acquisitions, Liberty recorded additional goodwill of $62 million, which represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired. (2) Other activity for QVC, Inc. ("QVC") relates primarily to the repurchase of QVC stock held by employees of QVC. The differences between the carrying value of the minority interest acquired and the purchase price is recorded as goodwill. (3) As noted above, the Company's enterprise-level goodwill of $3,148 million is allocable to reporting units, whether they are consolidated subsidiaries or equity method investments. Total enterprise- II-44 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 level goodwill at December 31, 2004, which is included in Other, is allocated as follows (amounts in millions).
ALLOCABLE ENTITY GOODWILL - ------ --------- Discovery Communications, Inc. ("Discovery")................ $1,771 QVC......................................................... 1,220 Courtroom Television Network, LLC ("Court TV").............. 124 GSN, LLC ("GSN")............................................ 17 Other....................................................... 16 ------ $3,148 ======
Starz Entertainment Group LLC ("Starz Entertainment") obtained an independent third party valuation in connection with its 2003 annual year-end evaluation of the recoverability of its goodwill. The result of this valuation, which was based on a discounted cash flow analysis of projections prepared by the management of Starz Entertainment, indicated that the fair value of this reporting unit was less than its carrying value. This reporting unit fair value was then used to calculate an implied value of the goodwill (including $1,195 million of allocated enterprise-level goodwill) related to Starz Entertainment. The $1,352 million excess of the carrying amount of the goodwill over its implied value was recorded as an impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2003. The reduction in the value of Starz Entertainment reflected in the third party valuation is believed to be attributable to a number of factors. Those factors include the reliance placed in that valuation on projections by management reflecting a lower rate of revenue growth compared to earlier projections based, among other things, on the possibility that revenue growth may be negatively affected by (1) a reduction in the rate of growth in total digital video subscribers and in the subscription video on demand business as a result of cable operators' increased focus on the marketing and sale of other services, such as high speed Internet access and telephony, and the uncertainty as to the success of marketing efforts by distributors of Starz Entertainment's services and (2) lower per subscriber rates under a new affiliation agreement with Comcast. In August 2002, Liberty purchased 38% of the common equity and 85% of the voting power of OpenTV Corp. ("OpenTV"), which when combined with Liberty's previous ownership interest in OpenTV, brought Liberty's total ownership to 41% of the equity and 86% of the voting power of OpenTV. During the period between the execution of the purchase agreement in May 2002 and the consummation of the acquisition in August 2002, OpenTV disclosed that it was lowering its revenue and cash flow projections for 2002 and extending the time before it would be cash flow positive. As a result, OpenTV wrote off all of its separately recorded goodwill. In light of the announcement by OpenTV and the adverse impact on its stock price, as well as other negative factors arising in its industry sector, Liberty determined that the goodwill initially recorded in purchase accounting ($92 million) was not recoverable. This assessment is supported by an appraisal performed by an independent third party. Accordingly, Liberty recorded an impairment charge for the entire amount of the goodwill during the third quarter of 2002. In addition to the goodwill impairment related to OpenTV, the Company recorded 2002 impairments of $84 million related to Ascent Media and $11 million related to other consolidated subsidiaries. II-45 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 INTANGIBLE ASSETS SUBJECT TO AMORTIZATION Intangible assets subject to amortization are comprised of the following:
DECEMBER 31, 2004 DECEMBER 31, 2003 ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- GROSS NET GROSS NET CARRYING ACCUMULATED CARRYING CARRYING ACCUMULATED CARRYING AMOUNT AMORTIZATION AMOUNT AMOUNT AMORTIZATION AMOUNT -------- ------------ -------- -------- ------------ -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Distribution rights........................ $2,618 (589) 2,029 2,580 (375) 2,205 Customer relationships..................... 2,347 (224) 2,123 2,336 (56) 2,280 Other...................................... 636 (348) 288 591 (255) 336 ------ ------ ----- ----- ---- ----- Total...................................... $5,601 (1,161) 4,440 5,507 (686) 4,821 ====== ====== ===== ===== ==== =====
Amortization of intangible assets with finite useful lives was $489 million, $270 million and $178 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Based on its current amortizable intangible assets, Liberty expects that amortization expense will be as follows for the next five years (amounts in millions): 2005........................................................ $469 2006........................................................ $434 2007........................................................ $390 2008........................................................ $358 2009........................................................ $337
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS Statement 144 requires that the Company periodically review the carrying amounts of its property and equipment and its intangible assets (other than goodwill) to determine whether current events or circumstances indicate that such carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the asset is greater than the expected undiscounted cash flows to be generated by such asset, an impairment adjustment is to be recognized. Such adjustment is measured by the amount that the carrying value of such assets exceeds their fair value. The Company generally measures fair value by considering sale prices for similar assets or by discounting estimated future cash flows using an appropriate discount rate. Considerable management judgment is necessary to estimate the fair value of assets. Accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from such estimates. Assets to be disposed of are carried at the lower of their financial statement carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. MINORITY INTERESTS Recognition of minority interests' share of losses of subsidiaries is generally limited to the amount of such minority interests' allocable portion of the common equity of those subsidiaries. Further, the minority interests' share of losses is not recognized if the minority holders of common equity of subsidiaries have the right to cause the Company to repurchase such holders' common equity. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION The functional currency of the Company is the United States ("U.S.") dollar. The functional currency of the Company's foreign operations generally is the applicable local currency for each foreign II-46 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 subsidiary and foreign equity method investee. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries and foreign equity investees are translated at the spot rate in effect at the applicable reporting date, and the consolidated statements of operations and the Company's share of the results of operations of its foreign equity affiliates are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during the applicable period. The resulting unrealized cumulative translation adjustment, net of applicable income taxes, is recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive earnings in stockholders' equity. Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are recorded based on exchange rates at the time such transactions arise. Subsequent changes in exchange rates result in transaction gains and losses which are reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive earnings as unrealized (based on the applicable period-end exchange rate) or realized upon settlement of the transactions. REVENUE RECOGNITION Revenue is recognized as follows: - Revenue from electronic retail sales is recognized at the time of shipment to customers. An allowance for returned merchandise is provided as a percentage of sales based on historical experience. The total reduction in sales due to returns for the year ended December 31, 2004 and the four months ended December 31, 2003 aggregated $1,089 million and $340 million, respectively. - Programming revenue is recognized in the period during which programming is provided, pursuant to affiliation agreements. - Revenue from post-production services is recognized in the period the services are rendered. - Revenue from sales and licensing of software and related service and maintenance is recognized pursuant to Statement of Position No. 97-2 "SOFTWARE REVENUE RECOGNITION." For multiple element contracts with vendor specific objective evidence, the Company recognizes revenue for each specific element when the earnings process is complete. If vendor specific objective evidence does not exist, revenue is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the maintenance period. - Distribution revenue is recognized in the period that services are rendered. COST OF SALES--ELECTRONIC RETAILING Cost of sales primarily includes actual product cost, provision for obsolete inventory, buying allowances received from suppliers, shipping and handling costs and warehouse costs. ADVERTISING COSTS Advertising costs generally are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense aggregated $53 million, $22 million and $40 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Co-operative marketing costs are recognized as advertising expense to the extent an identifiable benefit is received and fair value of the benefit can be reasonably measured. Otherwise, such costs are recorded as a reduction of revenue. II-47 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 STOCK BASED COMPENSATION As more fully described in note 13, the Company has granted to its employees options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs") and options with tandem SARs to purchase shares of Liberty Series A and Series B common stock. The Company accounts for these grants pursuant to the recognition and measurement provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK ISSUED TO EMPLOYEES" ("APB Opinion No. 25"). Under these provisions, options are accounted for as fixed plan awards and no compensation expense is recognized because the exercise price is equal to the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant; whereas options with tandem SARs are accounted for as variable plan awards unless there is a significant disincentive for employees to exercise the SAR feature. Compensation for variable plan awards is recognized based upon the percentage of the options that are vested and the difference between the market price of the underlying common stock and the exercise price of the options at the balance sheet date. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION," ("Statement 123") to its options. Compensation expense for SARs and options with tandem SARs is the same under APB Opinion No. 25 and Statement 123. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustment for such awards is included in the following table.
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS Earnings (loss) from continuing operations............ $161 (1,225) (3,062) Add stock compensation as determined under the intrinsic value method, net of taxes.............. 4 5 -- Deduct stock compensation as determined under the fair value method, net of taxes................... (51) (55) (78) ---- ------ ------ Pro forma earnings (loss) from continuing operations.......................................... $114 (1,275) (3,140) ==== ====== ====== Basic and diluted earnings (loss) from continuing operations per share: As reported......................................... $.06 (.44) (1.18) Pro forma........................................... $.04 (.46) (1.21)
Agreements that require Liberty to reacquire interests in subsidiaries held by officers and employees in the future are marked-to-market at the end of each reporting period with corresponding adjustments being recorded to stock compensation expense. EARNINGS (LOSS) 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 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. The basic EPS calculation is based on 2,856 million weighted average shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2004. The diluted EPS calculation for 2004 includes 14 million potential common shares. However, due to the relative insignificance of these dilutive securities, their inclusion does not impact the EPS amount as reported in the accompanying II-48 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 consolidated statement of operations. Excluded from diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, are 72 million, 84 million and 78 million potential common shares because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. RECLASSIFICATIONS Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified for comparability with the 2004 presentation. ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("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. Liberty considers (i) the estimate of the fair value of its long-lived assets (including goodwill) and any resulting impairment charges, (ii) its accounting for income taxes, (iii) the fair value of its derivative instruments and (iv) its assessment of nontemporary declines in value of its investments to be its most significant estimates. Liberty holds a significant number of investments that are accounted for using the equity method. Liberty does not control the decision making process or business management practices of these affiliates. Accordingly, Liberty relies on management of these affiliates to provide it with accurate financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP that Liberty uses in the application of the equity method. In addition, Liberty relies on audit reports that are provided by the affiliates' independent auditors on the financial statements of such affiliates. The Company is not aware, however, of any errors in or possible misstatements of the financial information provided by its equity affiliates that would have a material effect on Liberty's consolidated financial statements. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), "SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS" ("Statement 123R"). Statement 123R, which is a revision of Statement 123 and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services, primarily focusing on transactions in which an entity obtains employee services. Statement 123R generally requires companies to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments (such as stock options and restricted stock) based on the grant-date fair value of the award, and to recognize that cost over the period during which the employee is required to provide service (usually the vesting period of the award). Statement 123R also requires companies to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of liability instruments (such as stock appreciation rights) based on the current fair value of the award, and to remeasure the fair value of the award at each reporting date. Public companies, such as Liberty, are required to adopt Statement 123R as of the beginning of the first interim period that begins after June 15, 2005. The provisions of Statement 123R will affect the accounting for all awards granted, modified, repurchased or cancelled after July 1, 2005. The accounting for awards granted, but not vested, prior to July 1, 2005 will also be impacted. The provisions of Statement 123R allow companies to adopt the standard on a prospective basis or to restate all periods for which Statement 123 was effective. Liberty expects to adopt Statement 123R on a II-49 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 prospective basis, and will include in its financial statements for periods that begin after June 15, 2005 pro forma information as though the standard had been adopted for all periods presented. While Liberty has not yet quantified the impact of adopting Statement 123R, it believes that such adoption could have a significant impact on its operating income and net earnings in the future. (3) SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Cash paid for acquisitions: Fair value of assets acquired........................ $146 9,996 424 Net liabilities assumed.............................. (19) (968) (57) Long-term debt issued................................ -- (4,000) -- Deferred tax liability............................... -- (1,612) (14) Minority interest.................................... 10 (49) (114) Common stock issued.................................. -- (2,656) (195) ---- ------ ---- Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired... $137 711 44 ==== ====== ==== Cash paid for interest................................. $515 425 398 ==== ====== ==== Cash paid for income taxes............................. $ 51 57 -- ==== ====== ====
(4) ACQUISITION OF CONTROLLING INTEREST IN QVC, INC. On September 17, 2003, Liberty completed its acquisition of Comcast Corporation's ("Comcast") approximate 56.5% ownership interest in QVC for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $7.9 billion. QVC markets and sells a wide variety of consumer products in the U.S. and several foreign countries primarily by means of televised shopping programs on the QVC networks and via the Internet through its domestic and international websites. Prior to the closing, Liberty owned approximately 41.7% of QVC. Subsequent to the closing, Liberty owned approximately 98% of QVC's outstanding shares, and the remaining shares of QVC are held by members of the QVC management team. Liberty's purchase price for QVC was comprised of 217.7 million shares of Liberty's Series A common stock valued, for accounting purposes, at $2,555 million, Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2006 in an aggregate principal amount of $4,000 million (the "Floating Rate Notes") and approximately $1,358 million in cash (including acquisition costs). The foregoing value of the Series A common stock issued was based on the average closing price for such stock for the five days surrounding July 3, 2003, which was the date that Liberty announced that it had reached an agreement with Comcast to acquire Comcast's interest in QVC. Substantially all of the cash component of the purchase price was funded with the proceeds from the Company's issuance of its 3.50% Senior Notes due 2006 in the aggregate principal amount of $1.35 billion. Subsequent to the closing, QVC is a consolidated subsidiary of Liberty. For financial reporting purposes, the acquisition is deemed to have occurred on September 1, 2003, and since that date QVC's results of operations have been consolidated with Liberty's. Prior to its acquisition of Comcast's II-50 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 interest, Liberty accounted for its investment in QVC using the equity method of accounting. Liberty has recorded the acquisition of QVC as a step acquisition, and accordingly, QVC's assets and liabilities have been recorded at amounts equal to (1) 56.5% of estimated fair value at the date of acquisition plus (2) 43.5% of historical cost. The $2,048 million excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of 56.5% of QVC's assets and liabilities combined with Liberty's historical equity method goodwill of $1,848 million has been recorded as goodwill in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The excess of the purchase price for Comcast's interest in QVC over the estimated fair value of QVC's assets and liabilities is attributable to the following: (i) QVC's position as a market leader in its industry, (ii) QVC's ability to generate significant cash from operations and Liberty's ability to obtain access to such cash, and (iii) QVC's perceived significant international growth opportunities. Liberty's total investment in QVC of $10,717 million is comprised of $2,804 million attributable to its historical equity method investment and $7,913 million representing the purchase price for Comcast's interest. This total investment has been allocated based on a third party appraisal to QVC's assets and liabilities as follows (amounts in millions): Current assets, including cash and cash equivalents of $632 million.............................................. $ 1,764 Property and equipment...................................... 631 Intangible assets subject to amortization: Customer relationships(1)................................. 2,336 Cable and satellite television distribution rights(1)..... 2,022 Intangible assets not subject to amortization: Trademarks................................................ 2,385 Goodwill.................................................. 3,896 Other assets................................................ 269 Liabilities................................................. (888) Minority interest........................................... (101) Deferred income taxes....................................... (1,597) ------- $10,717 =======
- ------------------------ (1) Customer relationships are being amortized over 10-14 years. Cable and satellite television distribution rights are being amortized primarily over 14 years. The following unaudited pro forma information for Liberty and its consolidated subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2003 was prepared assuming the acquisition of QVC occurred on January 1, 2003. These pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of operating results that would have occurred if the QVC acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2003 (amounts in millions, except per share amounts) Revenue..................................................... $ 6,653 Loss from continuing operations............................. $(1,178) Net loss.................................................... $(1,175) Loss per common share....................................... $ (.41)
II-51 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 (5) DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS SPIN OFF OF LIBERTY MEDIA INTERNATIONAL, INC. On June 7, 2004 (the "Spin Off Date"), Liberty completed the spin off (the "Spin Off") of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Liberty Media International, Inc. ("LMI"), to its shareholders. Substantially all of the assets and businesses of LMI were attributed to Liberty's International Group segment. In connection with the Spin Off, holders of Liberty common stock on June 1, 2004 (the "Record Date") received 0.05 of a share of LMI Series A common stock for each share of Liberty Series A common stock owned at 5:00 pm, New York City time, on the Record Date and 0.05 of a share of LMI Series B common stock for each share of Liberty Series B common stock owned at 5:00 pm, New York City time, on the Record Date. The Spin Off is intended to qualify as a tax-free spin off. For accounting purposes, the Spin Off is deemed to have occurred on June 1, 2004, and no gain or loss was recognized by Liberty in connection with the Spin Off. In addition to the assets in Liberty's International Group operating segment, Liberty also contributed certain monetary assets to LMI in connection with the Spin Off. These monetary assets consisted of $50 million in cash, 5 million American Depository Shares for preferred, limited voting ordinary shares of News Corporation ("News Corp.") and related derivatives, and a 99.9% economic interest in 345,000 shares of preferred stock of ABC Family Worldwide, Inc. Summarized combined financial information for LMI is as follows: COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
MAY 31, DECEMBER 31, 2004(1) 2003 -------- ------------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Cash................................................... $ 1,819 13 Current assets......................................... 542 18 Equity investments..................................... 1,914 1,741 Cost investments....................................... 1,201 450 Property and equipment, net............................ 3,221 98 Goodwill and franchise costs........................... 2,628 689 Deferred tax assets.................................... -- 458 Other assets........................................... 468 84 ------- ----- Total assets......................................... $11,793 3,551 ======= ===== Current liabilities.................................... $ 1,170 83 Note payable to Liberty................................ 117 -- Long term debt......................................... 4,211 42 Deferred income tax liabilities........................ 511 -- Other liabilities...................................... 267 8 Minority interests..................................... 1,061 -- Equity................................................. 4,456 3,418 ------- ----- Total liabilities and equity......................... $11,793 3,551 ======= =====
II-52 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FIVE MONTHS YEARS ENDED ENDED DECEMBER 31, MAY 31, ----------------------- 2004(1) 2003 2002 ------------ -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Revenue............................................ $ 956 109 104 Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses......................................... (682) (94) (81) Depreciation and amortization...................... (368) (16) (13) Impairment of long-lived assets.................... -- -- (46) ----- --- ---- Operating loss................................... (94) (1) (36) Other income (expense)............................. (54) 50 (490) Income tax benefit (expense)....................... (30) (28) 178 Minority interests................................. 92 -- -- ----- --- ---- Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change.............................. (86) 21 (348) Cumulative effect of accounting change............. -- -- (238) ----- --- ---- Net earnings (loss).............................. $ (86) 21 (586) ===== === ====
- ------------------------ (1) LMI's financial position and results of operations for the five months ended May 31, 2004 include UnitedGlobalCom, Inc., which was consolidated beginning January 1, 2004. Following the Spin Off, LMI and Liberty operate independently, and neither has any stock ownership, beneficial or otherwise, in the other. In connection with the Spin Off, LMI and Liberty entered into certain agreements in order to govern certain of the ongoing relationships between Liberty and LMI after the Spin Off and to provide for an orderly transition. These agreements include a Reorganization Agreement, a Facilities and Services Agreement, a Tax Sharing Agreement and a Short-Term Credit Facility. The Reorganization Agreement provides for, among other things, the principal corporate transactions required to effect the Spin Off and cross indemnities. Pursuant to the Facilities and Services Agreement, Liberty provides LMI with office space and certain general and administrative services including legal, tax, accounting, treasury, engineering and investor relations support. LMI reimburses Liberty for direct, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Liberty in providing these services and for LMI's allocable portion of facilities costs and costs associated with any shared services or personnel. Under the Tax Sharing Agreement, Liberty generally is responsible for U.S. federal, state and local and foreign income taxes owing with respect to consolidated returns which include both Liberty and LMI. LMI is responsible for all other taxes with respect to returns which include LMI, but do not include Liberty whether accruing before, on or after the Spin Off. The Tax Sharing Agreement requires that LMI will not take, or fail to take, any action where such action, or failure to act, would be inconsistent with or prohibit the Spin Off from qualifying as a tax-free transaction. Moreover, LMI has indemnified Liberty for any loss resulting from such action or failure to act, if such action or failure to act precludes the Spin Off from qualifying as a tax-free transaction. II-53 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 Pursuant to the Short-Term Credit Facility, Liberty agreed to make loans to LMI from time to time up to an aggregate principal amount of $383 million. In addition, certain subsidiaries of LMI had notes payable to Liberty in the aggregate amount of $117 million at the date of the Spin Off. During the third quarter of 2004, LMI completed a rights offering, and used a portion of the cash proceeds to repay all principal and accrued interest due under the notes payable and Short-Term Credit Facility. Subsequent to this repayment, the Short-Term Credit Facility was terminated. DMX MUSIC During the fourth quarter of 2004, the executive committee of the board of directors of Liberty approved a plan to dispose of Liberty's approximate 56% ownership interest in Maxide Acquisition, Inc. (d/b/a DMX Music, "DMX"). DMX is principally engaged in programming, distributing and marketing digital and analog music services to homes and businesses and was included in Liberty's Networks Group operating segment. On February 14, 2005, DMX commenced proceedings under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. As a result of marketing efforts conducted prior to the bankruptcy filing, DMX has entered into an arrangement, subject to the approval by the Bankruptcy Court, to sell substantially all of its operating assets to an independent third party. Other prospective buyers will have an opportunity to submit offers to purchase all or a portion of those assets by a date to be determined by the Bankruptcy Court. After competitive bids, if any, have been submitted, Liberty expects that the Bankruptcy Court will make a determination as to the appropriate buyer, and the operating assets of DMX will be sold. In connection with its decision to dispose of its ownership interest, Liberty recognized a $23 million impairment loss to write down the carrying value of the net assets of DMX to their estimated fair value based upon the aforementioned arrangement to sell the assets. Such loss has been included in loss from discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of Liberty have been revised to reflect LMI and DMX as discontinued operations. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities, revenue, costs and expenses, and cash flows of LMI and DMX have been excluded from the respective captions in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of comprehensive earnings (loss) and statements of cash flows and have been reported separately in such consolidated financial statements. II-54 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 (6) INVESTMENTS IN AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES AND OTHER COST INVESTMENTS Investments in AFS Securities, which are recorded at their respective fair market values, and other cost investments are summarized as follows:
DECEMBER 31, --------------------- 2004 2003 --------- --------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS News Corp.(1).............................................. $ 9,667 7,633 IAC/InterActiveCorp ("IAC")................................ 3,824 4,697 Time Warner Inc. ("Time Warner")(2)........................ 3,330 3,080 Sprint Corporation ("Sprint").............................. 2,342 1,134 Motorola(3)................................................ 1,273 1,068 Viacom, Inc. ("Viacom").................................... 552 674 Other AFS equity securities(4)............................. 471 382 Other AFS debt securities(1)(5)............................ 304 985 Other cost investments and related receivables............. 87 178 ------- ------ 21,850 19,831 Less short-term investments.............................. (3) (265) ------- ------ $21,847 19,566 ======= ======
- ------------------------ (1) Certain of Liberty's News Corp. ADSs and other AFS debt securities were contributed to LMI in connection with the Spin Off. See note 5. (2) Includes $176 million of shares pledged as collateral for share borrowing arrangements at December 31, 2004. (3) Includes $654 million and $533 million of shares pledged as collateral for share borrowing arrangements at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. (4) Includes $77 million of shares pledged as collateral for share borrowing arrangements at December 31, 2004. (5) At December 31, 2004, other AFS debt securities include $276 million of investments in third-party marketable debt securities held by Liberty parent. At December 31, 2003, such investments aggregated $560 million. NEWS CORP. Effective October 14, 2003, pursuant to a put/call arrangement with News Corp., Liberty acquired $500 million of American Depository Shares ("ADSs") for News Corp. preferred limited voting shares at $21.50 per ADR. In addition during 2003, Liberty sold certain of its News Corp. non-voting ADSs in the open market and purchased voting News Corp. ADSs in the open market. Liberty recognized a pre-tax gain of $236 million on the sale of its non-voting ADSs. In early 2004, Liberty purchased additional voting ADSs and sold additional non-voting ADSs in the open market and recorded a pre-tax gain of $134 million. On a net basis, Liberty effectively exchanged 21.2 million non-voting ADSs and $693 million in cash for 48 million voting ADSs, taking into account proceeds from sales of, and unwinding of collars on, non-voting News Corp. ADSs. II-55 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 In the fourth quarter of 2004, News Corp. reincorporated as a U.S. corporation and effected a reverse stock split by exchanging one share of newly issued voting stock ("NWS") or non-voting stock ("NWSA") for every two outstanding ADRs. In November 2004, Liberty entered into total return equity swaps with a financial institution with respect to 92 million shares of NWS. Pursuant to the terms of the swap, the financial institution acquired the 92 million shares of NWS for Liberty's benefit for a weighted average strike price of $17.48 (the "Strike Price"). The swaps also provided for (1) the obligation of the financial institution to pay Liberty an amount equal to the number of shares times any increase in the per-share price of NWS above the Strike Price and (2) the obligation of Liberty to pay the institution any decrease in the per-share price of NWS below the Strike Price. In December 2004, Liberty elected to terminate the swaps. In connection with such termination, Liberty delivered 86.9 million shares of NWSA with a fair market value of $1,608 million in exchange for the 92 million shares of NWS with a fair market value of $1,749 million. Accordingly, Liberty recognized a pre-tax gain on the swap transaction of $141 million, which is included in realized and unrealized gains on financial instruments and a pre-tax gain on the exchange of NWSA for NWS of $710 million, which is included in gains on dispositions. Subsequent to the completion of this transaction, Liberty has an approximate 17% economic interest and an approximate 18% voting interest in News Corp. VIVENDI UNIVERSAL ("VIVENDI") AND IAC/INTERACTIVECORP Prior to May 7, 2002, Liberty held various interests in IAC that were accounted for using the equity method. IAC owned and operated businesses in cable programming, television production, electronic retailing, ticketing operations and Internet services. On May 7, 2002, Liberty, IAC, and Vivendi entered into a series of transactions which effectively resulted in Liberty exchanging 25 million shares of IAC, its indirect interests in certain of IAC's cable programming businesses and its 30% interest in multiThematiques S.A. for 37.4 million Vivendi ordinary shares, which at the date of the transaction had an aggregate fair value of $1,013 million. Liberty recognized a loss of $817 million based on the difference between the fair value of the Vivendi shares received and the carrying value of the assets relinquished, including enterprise-level goodwill of $514 million which had been allocated to the reporting unit holding the IAC interests. During the year ended December 31, 2003 and pursuant to contractual pre-emptive rights, Liberty acquired an aggregate 48.7 million shares of IAC for cash consideration of $1,166 million. At December 31, 2004, Liberty owns approximately 20% of IAC common stock representing an approximate 47% voting interest. However, due to certain governance arrangements which limit its ability to exert significant influence over IAC, Liberty has accounted for this investment as an AFS Security. Liberty's approximate 3% ownership interest in Vivendi was also accounted for as an AFS Security following the May 7, 2002 transaction. During the fourth quarter of 2003, Liberty sold all of its shares of Vivendi common stock in the open market for aggregate cash proceeds of $838 million and recognized a $262 million gain (before tax expense of $102 million). NONTEMPORARY DECLINES IN FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS During the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, Liberty determined that certain of its AFS Securities and cost investments experienced nontemporary declines in value. The primary factors considered by Liberty in determining the timing of the recognition for the majority of these impairments was the length of time the investments traded below Liberty's cost bases and the lack of near-term prospects for recovery in the stock prices. As a result, the carrying amounts of such II-56 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 investments were adjusted to their respective fair values based primarily on quoted market prices at the balance sheet date. These adjustments are reflected as nontemporary declines in fair value of investments in the consolidated statements of operations. Nontemporary declines in value recorded in 2002 related primarily to Liberty's investments in Time Warner Inc., News Corporation and Sprint Corporation. Nontemporary declines in value in 2004 and 2003 were not significant. UNREALIZED HOLDINGS GAINS AND LOSSES Unrealized holding gains and losses related to investments in AFS Securities are summarized below.
DECEMBER 31, 2004 DECEMBER 31, 2003 ----------------------- ----------------------- EQUITY DEBT EQUITY DEBT SECURITIES SECURITIES SECURITIES SECURITIES ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Gross unrealized holding gains.......... $7,292 19 5,779 1 Gross unrealized holding losses......... $ (15) -- -- --
Management estimates that the fair market value of all of its other cost investments approximated $151 million and $405 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Management calculates market values of its other cost investments using a variety of approaches including multiple of cash flow, discounted cash flow model, per subscriber value, or a value of comparable public or private businesses. No independent appraisals were conducted for those cost investment assets. II-57 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 (7) DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS The Company's derivative instruments are summarized as follows:
DECEMBER 31, ------------------- TYPE OF DERIVATIVE 2004 2003 - ------------------ -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS ASSETS Equity collars............................................ $ 2,016 3,358 Put spread collars........................................ 291 331 Other..................................................... 121 101 ------- ----- Total................................................... 2,428 3,790 Less current portion...................................... (827) (543) ------- ----- $ 1,601 3,247 ======= ===== LIABILITIES Exchangeable debenture call option obligations............ $ 1,102 990 Put options............................................... 445 772 Equity collars............................................ 398 293 Borrowed shares........................................... 907 533 Other..................................................... 139 22 ------- ----- Total................................................... 2,991 2,610 Less current portion...................................... (1,179) (854) ------- ----- $ 1,812 1,756 ======= =====
EQUITY COLLARS, NARROW-BAND COLLARS, PUT SPREAD COLLARS AND PUT OPTIONS The Company has entered into equity collars, narrow-band collars, put spread collars, written put and call options and other financial instruments to manage market risk associated with its investments in certain marketable securities. These instruments are recorded at fair value based on option pricing models. Equity collars provide the Company with a put option that gives the Company the right to require the counterparty to purchase a specified number of shares of the underlying security at a specified price (the "Company Put Price") at a specified date in the future. Equity collars also provide the counterparty with a call option that gives the counterparty the right to purchase the same securities at a specified price at a specified date in the future. The put option and the call option generally have equal fair values at the time of origination resulting in no cash receipts or payments. Narrow-band collars are equity collars in which the put and call prices are set so that the call option has a relatively higher fair value than the put option at the time of origination. In these cases the Company receives cash equal to the difference between such fair values. Put spread collars provide the Company and the counterparty with put and call options similar to equity collars. In addition, put spread collars provide the counterparty with a put option that gives it the right to require the Company to purchase the underlying securities at a price that is lower than the Company Put Price. The inclusion of the secondary put option allows the Company to secure a higher call option price while maintaining net zero cost to enter into the collar. However, the inclusion of the II-58 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 secondary put exposes the Company to market risk if the underlying security trades below the put spread price. BORROWED SHARES In connection with certain of its derivative instruments, Liberty periodically borrows shares of the underlying securities from a counterparty and delivers these borrowed shares in settlement of maturing derivative positions. In these transactions, a similar number of shares that are owned by Liberty have been posted as collateral with the counterparty. These share borrowing arrangements can be terminated at any time at Liberty's option by delivering shares to the counterparty. The counterparty can terminate these arrangements upon the occurrence of certain events which limit the trading volume of the underlying security. The liability under these share borrowing arrangements is marked to market each reporting period with changes in value recorded in unrealized gains or losses in the statement of operations. The shares posted as collateral under these arrangements continue to be treated as AFS securities and are marked to market each reporting period with changes in value recorded as unrealized gains or losses in other comprehensive earnings. EXCHANGEABLE DEBENTURE CALL OPTION OBLIGATIONS Liberty has issued senior exchangeable debentures which are exchangeable for the value of a specified number of shares of Sprint common stock, Motorola common stock, Viacom Class B common stock or Time Warner common stock, as applicable. (See note 9 for a more complete description of the exchangeable debentures.) Under Statement 133, the call option feature of the exchangeable debentures is reported separately from the long-term debt portion in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. Changes in the fair value of the call option obligations are recognized as unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments in Liberty's consolidated statements of operations. REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS ON DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments during the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 are comprised of the following:
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Change in fair value of exchangeable debenture call option feature..................................... $ (129) (158) 784 Change in the fair value of equity collars........... (941) (483) 4,032 Change in the fair value of borrowed shares.......... (227) (121) -- Change in the fair value of put options.............. 2 108 (445) Change in the fair value of put spread collars....... 8 21 71 Change in fair value of hedged AFS Securities........ -- -- (2,378) Change in fair value of other derivatives(1)......... 3 (29) 75 ------- ---- ------ Total realized and unrealized gains (losses), net.............................................. $(1,284) (662) 2,139 ======= ==== ======
- ------------------------ (1) Comprised primarily of forward foreign exchange contracts and interest rate swap agreements. II-59 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 (8) INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE EQUITY METHOD Liberty has various investments accounted for using the equity method. The following table includes Liberty's carrying amount and percentage ownership of the more significant investments in affiliates at December 31, 2004 and the carrying amount at December 31, 2003:
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 --------------------- ------------- PERCENTAGE CARRYING CARRYING OWNERSHIP AMOUNT AMOUNT ---------- -------- ------------- DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Discovery.................................... 50% $2,946 2,864 Court TV..................................... 50% 277 260 GSN.......................................... 50% 251 240 Other........................................ various 260 249 ------ ----- $3,734 3,613 ====== =====
The following table reflects Liberty's share of earnings (losses) of affiliates including nontemporary declines in value:
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Discovery................................................. $84 38 (32) Court TV.................................................. 17 (1) (2) GSN....................................................... (1) -- (6) QVC*...................................................... -- 107 154 Other..................................................... (3) (99) (203) --- --- ---- $97 45 (89) === === ====
- ------------------------ * A consolidated subsidiary since September 2003. DISCOVERY Discovery is a global media and entertainment company, that provides original and purchased video programming in the United States and over 160 other countries. II-60 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 Summarized financial information for Discovery is as follows: CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, ------------------- 2004 2003 -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Current assets.............................................. $ 835 858 Property and equipment...................................... 380 360 Programming rights.......................................... 1,027 882 Intangible assets........................................... 445 467 Other assets................................................ 549 627 ------ ----- Total assets.............................................. $3,236 3,194 ====== ===== Current liabilities......................................... $ 885 1,539 Long term debt.............................................. 2,498 1,834 Other liabilities........................................... 161 213 Mandatorily redeemable equity of subsidiaries............... 320 410 Stockholders' deficit....................................... (628) (802) ------ ----- Total liabilities and equity.............................. $3,236 3,194 ====== =====
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Revenue............................................... $2,365 1,995 1,717 Operating expenses.................................... (846) (752) (700) Selling, general and administrative................... (856) (735) (638) Stock compensation.................................... (72) (74) (97) Depreciation and amortization......................... (129) (120) (113) Gain on sale of patent................................ 22 -- -- ------ ----- ----- Operating income.................................... 484 314 169 Interest expense...................................... (167) (159) (163) Other expense......................................... (7) (17) (64) Income tax benefit (expense).......................... (142) (75) 10 ------ ----- ----- Net earnings (loss)................................. $ 168 63 (48) ====== ===== =====
OTHER In April 2002, Liberty sold its 40% interest in Telemundo Communications Group for cash proceeds of $679 million, and recognized a gain of $344 million (before related tax expense of $134 million) based upon the difference between the cash proceeds and Liberty's basis in Telemundo, including allocated goodwill of $25 million. II-61 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 During the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, Liberty recorded nontemporary declines in fair value aggregating $71 million and $76 million, respectively, related to certain of its other equity method investments. Such amounts are included in share of losses of affiliates. (9) LONG-TERM DEBT Debt is summarized as follows:
OUTSTANDING CARRYING VALUE PRINCIPAL DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, ------------------- 2004 2004 2003 ------------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Parent company debt: Senior notes and debentures 3.5% Senior Notes due 2006.............................. $ 514 513 1,185 Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2006..................... 2,463 2,463 2,463 7.875% Senior Notes due 2009............................ 716 711 744 7.75% Senior Notes due 2009............................. 234 235 239 5.7% Senior Notes due 2013.............................. 802 800 997 8.5% Senior Debentures due 2029......................... 500 495 495 8.25% Senior Debentures due 2030........................ 959 951 992 Senior exchangeable debentures 4% Senior Exchangeable Debentures due 2029.............. 869 249 246 3.75% Senior Exchangeable Debentures due 2030........... 810 228 226 3.5% Senior Exchangeable Debentures due 2031............ 600 231 229 3.25% Senior Exchangeable Debentures due 2031........... 559 118 127 0.75% Senior Exchangeable Debentures due 2023........... 1,750 1,473 1,398 ------- ------ ----- 10,776 8,467 9,341 Subsidiary debt............................................. 109 109 91 ------- ------ ----- Total debt................................................ $10,885 8,576 9,432 ======= Less current maturities................................... (10) (15) ------ ----- Total long-term debt...................................... $8,566 9,417 ====== =====
SENIOR NOTES AND DEBENTURES The Floating Rate Notes accrue interest at 3 month LIBOR plus a margin. At December 31, 2004 the borrowing rate was 3.99%. Interest on the Senior Notes and Senior Debentures is payable semi-annually based on the date of issuance. The Senior Notes and Senior Debentures are stated net of an aggregate unamortized discount of $20 million and $24 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, which is being amortized to interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. II-62 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 SENIOR EXCHANGEABLE DEBENTURES In November 1999, Liberty issued $869 million of 4% Senior Exchangeable Debentures due 2029. Each $1,000 debenture is exchangeable at the holder's option for the value of 11.4743 shares of Sprint common stock. Liberty may, at its election, pay the exchange value in cash, Sprint common stock or a combination thereof. Liberty, at its option, may redeem the debentures, in whole or in part, for cash generally equal to the face amount of the debentures plus accrued interest. In February and March 2000, Liberty issued an aggregate of $810 million of 3.75% Senior Exchangeable Debentures due 2030. Each $1,000 debenture is exchangeable at the holder's option for the value of 8.3882 shares of Sprint common stock. Liberty may, at its election, pay the exchange value in cash, Sprint common stock or a combination thereof. Liberty, at its option, may redeem the debentures, in whole or in part, for cash equal to the face amount of the debentures plus accrued interest. In January 2001, Liberty issued $600 million of 3.5% Senior Exchangeable Debentures due 2031. Each $1,000 debenture is exchangeable at the holder's option for the value of 36.8189 shares of Motorola common stock and 4.0654 shares of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. ("Freescale"), which Motorola spun off to its shareholders in December 2004. Such exchange value is payable, at Liberty's option, in cash, Motorola and Freescale stock or a combination thereof. On or after January 15, 2006, Liberty, at its option, may redeem the debentures, in whole or in part, for cash generally equal to the face amount of the debentures plus accrued interest. In March 2001, Liberty issued $817.7 million of 3.25% Senior Exchangeable Debentures due 2031. Each $1,000 debenture is exchangeable at the holder's option for the value of 18.5666 shares of Viacom Class B common stock. Such exchange value is payable at Liberty's option in cash, Viacom stock or a combination thereof. On or after March 15, 2006, Liberty, at its option, may redeem the debentures, in whole or in part, for cash equal to the face amount of the debentures plus accrued interest. In March and April 2003, Liberty issued an aggregate principal amount of $1,750 million of 0.75% Senior Exchangeable Debentures due 2023. Each $1,000 debenture is exchangeable at the holder's option for the value of 57.4079 shares of Time Warner common stock. Liberty may, at its election, pay the exchange value in cash, Time Warner common stock, shares of Liberty Series A common stock or a combination thereof. On or after April 5, 2008, Liberty, at its option, may redeem the debentures, in whole or in part, for shares of Time Warner common stock, cash or any combination thereof equal to the face amount of the debentures plus accrued interest. On March 30, 2008, March 30, 2013 or March 30, 2018, each holder may cause Liberty to purchase its exchangeable debentures, and Liberty, at its election, may pay the purchase price in shares of Time Warner common stock, cash, Liberty Series A common stock, or any combination thereof. Interest on the Company's exchangeable debentures is payable semi-annually based on the date of issuance. At maturity, all of the Company's exchangeable debentures are payable in cash. In accordance with Statement 133, the call option feature of the exchangeable debentures is reported at fair value and separately from the long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheet. The reported amount of the long-term debt portion of the exchangeable debentures is calculated as the difference between the face amount of the debentures and the fair value of the call option feature on the date of issuance. The long-term debt is accreted to its face amount over the expected term of the debenture using the effective interest method. Accordingly, at December 31, 2004, the difference II-63 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 between the principal amount and the carrying value of the long-term debt portion is the unamortized fair value of the call option feature that was recorded at the date of issuance of the respective debentures. Accretion related to all of the Company's exchangeable debentures aggregated $83 million, $61 million and $7 million during the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and is included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. SUBSIDIARY DEBT Subsidiary debt at December 31, 2004 is comprised of capitalized satellite transponder lease obligations. In December 2004, Starz Entertainment cancelled its bank credit facility. FIVE YEAR MATURITIES The U.S. dollar equivalent of the annual maturities of Liberty's debt for each of the next five years is as follows (amounts in millions): 2005........................................................ $ 10 2006........................................................ $2,988 2007........................................................ $ 12 2008........................................................ $1,762 2009........................................................ $ 962
FAIR VALUE OF DEBT Liberty estimates the fair value of its debt based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rate offered to Liberty for debt of the same remaining maturities. The fair value of Liberty's publicly traded debt at December 31, 2004 is as follows (amounts in millions): Fixed rate senior notes..................................... $2,373 Floating rate senior notes.................................. $2,492 Senior debentures........................................... $1,628 Senior exchangeable debentures, including call option obligation................................................ $4,376
Liberty believes that the carrying amount of its subsidiary debt approximated fair value at December 31, 2004. II-64 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 (10) INCOME TAXES Income tax benefit (expense) consists of:
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Current: Federal.............................................. $(175) (4) (4) State and local...................................... (62) (30) (1) Foreign.............................................. (118) (41) (2) ----- ---- ----- (355) (75) (7) ----- ---- ----- Deferred: Federal.............................................. 137 (231) 1,288 State and local...................................... 51 (47) 231 Foreign.............................................. 9 (1) -- ----- ---- ----- 197 (279) 1,519 ----- ---- ----- Income tax benefit (expense)........................... $(158) (354) 1,512 ===== ==== =====
Income tax benefit (expense) differs from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% as a result of the following:
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Computed expected tax benefit.......................... $(112) 305 1,617 Impairment charges and amortization of goodwill not deductible for income tax purposes................... -- (477) (62) State and local income taxes, net of federal income taxes................................................ (11) (47) 153 Foreign taxes.......................................... (50) (40) (6) Recognition of tax basis in equity of DMX.............. 38 -- -- Change in valuation allowance affecting tax expense.... (10) (65) (13) Adjustments to dividend received deduction............. -- (21) 16 Disposition of nondeductible goodwill in sales transactions......................................... -- -- (185) Other, net............................................. (13) (9) (8) ----- ---- ----- Income tax benefit (expense)......................... $(158) (354) 1,512 ===== ==== =====
II-65 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented below:
DECEMBER 31, --------------------- 2004 2003 --------- --------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Deferred tax assets: Net operating and capital loss carryforwards............. $ 1,169 803 Accrued stock compensation............................... 127 95 Other future deductible amounts.......................... 198 135 ------- ------ Deferred tax assets.................................... 1,494 1,033 Valuation allowance...................................... (407) (386) ------- ------ Net deferred tax assets................................ 1,087 647 ------- ------ Deferred tax liabilities: Investments.............................................. 8,384 7,735 Intangible assets........................................ 2,453 2,587 Discount on exchangeable debentures...................... 863 849 Other.................................................... 243 176 ------- ------ Deferred tax liabilities............................... 11,943 11,347 ------- ------ Net deferred tax liabilities............................... $10,856 10,700 ======= ======
The Company's valuation allowance increased $21 million in 2004, including a $10 million charge to tax expense and an $11 million valuation allowance recorded in connection with acquisitions. At December 31, 2004, Liberty had net operating and capital loss carryforwards for income tax purposes aggregating approximately $3,162 million which, if not utilized to reduce taxable income in future periods, will expire as follows: 2006: $3 million; 2007: $87 million; 2008: $13 million; 2009: $1,011 million; and beyond 2009: $2,048 million. Of the foregoing net operating and capital loss carryforward amount, approximately $1,149 million is subject to certain limitations and may not be currently utilized. The remaining $2,013 million is currently available to be utilized to offset future taxable income of Liberty's consolidated tax group. During the period from March 9, 1999 to August 10, 2001, Liberty was included in the consolidated federal income tax return of AT&T and was a party to a tax sharing agreement with AT&T (the "AT&T Tax Sharing Agreement"). Under the AT&T Tax Sharing Agreement, Liberty received a cash payment from AT&T in periods when Liberty generated taxable losses and such taxable losses were utilized by AT&T to reduce the consolidated income tax liability. This utilization of taxable losses was accounted for by Liberty as a current federal intercompany income tax benefit. To the extent such losses were not utilized by AT&T, such amounts were available to reduce federal taxable income generated by Liberty in future periods, similar to a net operating loss carryforward, and were accounted for as a deferred federal income tax benefit. During the period from March 10, 1999 to December 31, 2002, Liberty received cash payments from AT&T aggregating $555 million as payment for Liberty's taxable losses that AT&T utilized to reduce its income tax liability. In the fourth quarter of 2004, AT&T requested a refund from Liberty of $70 million, plus accrued interest, relating to losses that it generated in 2002 and 2003 and were able to carry back to offset taxable income previously offset by Liberty's losses. In the event AT&T generates capital losses in 2004 and is able to carry back such II-66 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 losses to offset taxable income previously offset by Liberty's losses, Liberty may be required to refund as much as an additional $229 million (excluding accrued interest) to AT&T. Liberty is currently unable to estimate how much, if any, it will ultimately refund to AT&T, but does not believe that any such refund, if made, would be material to its financial position. (11) STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY PREFERRED STOCK Liberty's preferred stock is issuable, from time to time, with such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in a resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such preferred stock adopted by Liberty's Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2004, no shares of preferred stock were issued. COMMON STOCK The Series A common stock has one vote per share, and the Series B common stock has ten votes per share. Each share of the Series B common stock is exchangeable at the option of the holder for one share of Series A common stock. As of December 31, 2004, there were 56 million shares of Liberty Series A common stock and 28 million shares of Liberty Series B common stock reserved for issuance under exercise privileges of outstanding stock options and warrants. PURCHASES OF COMMON STOCK During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company acquired approximately 96.0 million shares of its Series B common stock from the estate and family of the late founder of Liberty's former parent in exchange for approximately 105.4 million shares of Liberty Series A common stock. Ten million of the acquired Series B shares have been accounted for as treasury stock in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, and the remaining Series B shares have been retired. On July 28, 2004, Liberty completed a transaction with Comcast pursuant to which Liberty repurchased 120.3 million shares of its Series A common stock (valued at $1,017 million) held by Comcast in exchange for 100% of the stock of Encore ICCP, Inc. ("Encore ICCP"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty. At the time of the exchange, Encore ICCP held Liberty's 10% ownership interest in E! Entertainment Television, Liberty's 100% ownership interest in International Channel Networks, all of Liberty's rights, benefits and obligations under a TCI Music contribution agreement, and $547 million in cash. The transaction also resolved all litigation pending between Comcast and Liberty regarding the TCI Music contribution agreement, to which Comcast succeeded as part of its acquisition of AT&T Broadband in November of 2002. In connection with this transaction, Liberty recognized a pre-tax gain on disposition of assets of $387 million. During 2004, Liberty entered into zero-strike call spreads ("Z-Call") with respect to six million shares of its Series A common stock. The Z-Call is comprised of a call option purchased by Liberty from the counterparty with a zero strike price and a similar call option purchased by the counterparty from Liberty with a strike price equal to the market price of the Series A common stock on the date of execution. Upon expiration of the Z-Call, Liberty can purchase the subject shares of Series A common stock from the counterparty for no additional cost, and the counterparty can purchase the same shares II-67 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 from Liberty at the current market price, or the parties can net cash settle. Liberty accounts for the Z-Calls pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 150, "ACCOUNTING FOR CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CHARACTERISTICS OF BOTH LIABILITIES AND EQUITY" ("Statement 150"). The total net payment by Liberty for the Z-Calls outstanding at December 31, 2004 was $63 million and is included in short term derivative assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Changes in the fair value of the Z-Calls are included in realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. During 2004, Liberty also sold put options with respect to shares of its Series A common stock for cash proceeds of $3 million. All of these put options expired unexercised prior to December 31, 2004. Liberty accounted for these put options pursuant to Statement 150. Accordingly, the put options were recorded at fair value, and changes in the fair value of the put options are included in realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. During the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company purchased 42.3 million and 25.7 million shares of its common stock for aggregate cash consideration of $437 million and $281 million, respectively. These purchases have been accounted for as retirements of common stock and have been reflected as a reduction of stockholders' equity in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. During 2002, Liberty sold put options on 7.0 million shares of its Series A common stock, 4.0 million of which were outstanding at December 31, 2002. Liberty sold another 9.3 million put options in the first quarter of 2003. All of these options expired unexercised prior to December 31, 2003. The Company accounted for these put options pursuant to EITF 00-19, "ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS INDEXED TO, AND POTENTIALLY SETTLED IN, A COMPANY'S OWN STOCK" and recorded a net increase to additional paid-in-capital of $37 million during the year ended December 31, 2003. (12) TRANSACTIONS WITH OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN'S EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT In connection with the AT&T Merger, an employment agreement between the Company's Chairman and TCI was assigned to the Company. The Chairman's employment agreement provides for, among other things, deferral of a portion (not in excess of 40%) of the monthly compensation payable to him for all employment years commencing on or after January 1, 1993. The deferred amounts will be payable in monthly installments over a 20-year period commencing on the termination of the Chairman's employment, together with interest thereon at the rate of 8% per annum compounded annually from the date of deferral to the date of payment. The aggregate liability under this arrangement at December 31, 2004 is $1.8 million, and is included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The Chairman's employment agreement also provides that in the event of termination of his employment with Liberty, he will be entitled to receive 240 consecutive monthly payments equal to $15,000 increased at the rate of 12% per annum compounded annually from January 1, 1988 to the date payment commences ($91,956 per month as of December 31, 2004). Such payments would commence on the first day of the month succeeding the termination of employment. In the event of the Chairman's death, his beneficiaries would be entitled to receive the foregoing monthly payments. The II-68 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 aggregate liability under this arrangement at December 31, 2004 is $22.1 million, and is included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The Company's Chairman deferred a portion of his monthly compensation under his previous employment agreement with TCI. The Company assumed the obligation to pay that deferred compensation in connection with the AT&T Merger. The deferred obligation (together with interest at the rate of 13% per annum compounded annually), which aggregated $12.3 million at December 31, 2004 and is included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, is payable on a monthly basis, following the occurrence of specified events, under the terms of the previous employment agreement. The rate at which interest accrues on the deferred obligation was established in 1983 pursuant to the previous employment agreement. OTHER Effective November 28, 2003, Liberty acquired all the outstanding stock of TP Investment, Inc. ("TPI"), a corporation wholly owned by TP-JCM, LLC, a limited liability company in which the sole member is the Company's Chairman. In exchange for the stock of TPI, TP-JCM received 5,281,739 shares of the Company's Series B common stock, valued in the agreement at $11.50 per share. As prescribed by the Agreement and Plan of Merger pursuant to which the acquisition was effected, that per share value equals 110% of the average of the closing sale prices of the Company's Series A common stock for the ten trading days ended November 28, 2003. TPI owns 10,602 shares of Series B Preferred Stock of Liberty TP Management, Inc. ("Liberty TP Management"), a subsidiary of the Company. Those shares of Series B Preferred Stock represent 12% of the voting power of Liberty TP Management. TPI also owns a 5% membership interest (representing a 50% voting interest) in Liberty TP LLC, a limited liability company which owns approximately 20.6% of the common equity and 27.2% of the voting power of Liberty TP Management. As a result of the acquisition, the Company beneficially owns all the equity and voting interests in Liberty TP Management. Liberty TP Management owns our interest in True Position and certain equity interests in Sprint Corporation, IDT Investments, Inc. and priceline.com. In connection with the acquisition of TPI, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement. That agreement provides for the registration by the Company under applicable federal and state securities laws, at the holder's request, of the sale of shares of the Company's Series A common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of the Series B common stock that were issued to TP-JCM. The shares of Liberty Series B common stock issued to TP-JCM are subject to the Company's rights to purchase such shares pursuant to a call agreement entered into in February 1998 by the Chairman and his spouse. Pursuant to the call agreement, Liberty has the right to acquire all of the Liberty Series B common stock held by the Chairman and his spouse in certain circumstances. The price of acquiring such shares is generally limited to the market price of the Liberty Series A common stock, plus a 10% premium. (13) STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS LIBERTY Pursuant to the Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (the "Liberty Incentive Plan"), the Company has granted to certain of its employees stock options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs") and stock options with tandem SARs (collectively, "Awards") to purchase shares of Liberty Series A and II-69 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 Series B common stock. The Liberty Incentive Plan provides for awards to be made in respect of a maximum of 160 million shares of common stock of Liberty. In connection with the Company's rights offering, which expired on December 2, 2002, and pursuant to the Liberty Incentive Plan antidilution provisions, the number of shares and the applicable exercise prices of all Liberty options granted pursuant to the Liberty Incentive Plan were adjusted as of October 31, 2002, the record date for the rights offering. As a result of the foregoing modifications, all of the Company's options granted prior to October 31, 2002 are accounted for as variable plan awards. During the year ended December 31, 2003, Liberty awarded 4,601,000 free standing SARs to its officers and employees with an exercise price of $11.09 and 1,500,000 free standing SARs to its officers and employees with an exercise price of $14.33. Such SARs have a 10-year term, vest as to 20% on each of the first five anniversaries of the respective grant date, and had a weighted average grant date fair value of $5.57 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2004, Liberty awarded 4,011,450 free standing SARs to its officers and employees. Such SARs have a 10-year term, an exercise price of $8.45, vest as to 20% on each of the first five anniversaries of the respective grant date, and had a weighted average grant date fair value of $4.36 per share. On December 17, 2002, shareholders of the Company approved the Liberty Media Corporation 2002 Nonemployee Director Incentive Plan (the "NDIP"). Under the NDIP, the Liberty Board of Directors (the "Liberty Board") has the full power and authority to grant eligible nonemployee directors stock options, SARs, stock options with tandem SARs, and restricted stock. Effective September 9, 2003, the Liberty Board granted each nonemployee director of Liberty 11,000 free standing SARs at an exercise price of $11.85. These options expire 10 years from the date of grant, vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and had a grant date fair value of $5.93 per share. Effective June 1, 2004, the Liberty Board granted each nonemployee director of Liberty 11,000 free standing SARs at an exercise price of $11.00. The options expire 10 years from the date of grant, vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and had a grant date fair value of $5.84 per share. The estimated fair values of the options noted above are based on the Black-Scholes model and are stated in current annualized dollars on a present value basis. The key assumptions used in the model for purposes of these calculations generally include the following: (a) a discount rate equal to the 10-year Treasury rate on the date of grant; (b) a 32% volatility factor; (c) the 10-year option term; (d) the closing price of the respective common stock on the date of grant; and (e) an expected dividend rate of zero. In connection with the Spin Off and pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the Liberty Incentive Plan, the Liberty incentive plan committee determined to make adjustments to outstanding Liberty Awards. As of the Record Date, each outstanding Award held by (1) employees of LMI, (2) employees of Liberty in departments of Liberty that were expected to provide services to LMI pursuant to the Facilities and Services Agreement and (3) directors of Liberty were divided into (A) an option to purchase shares of LMI common stock equal to 0.05 times the number of LMC Awards held by the option holder on the Record Date and (B) an Award to purchase shares of Liberty common stock equal to the same number of shares of Liberty common stock for which the outstanding Award was exercisable. The aggregate exercise price of each pre-Spin Off Award was allocated between the new Liberty Award and the LMI Award. All other Awards were adjusted to increase the number of II-70 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 shares of Liberty common stock for which the Award was exercisable and to decrease the exercise price to reflect the dilutive effect of the distribution of LMI common stock in the Spin Off. Pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement Liberty is responsible for settlement of all Liberty Awards whether held by Liberty employees or LMI employees, and LMI is responsible for settlement of all LMI Awards whether held by Liberty employees or LMI employees. Liberty will continue to record compensation for all Liberty and LMI Awards held by Liberty employees. The compensation for LMI Awards will be reflected as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital in Liberty's statement of stockholders' equity. The following table presents the number and weighted average exercise price ("WAEP") of certain options, SARs and options with tandem SARs to purchase Liberty Series A and Series B common stock granted to certain officers, employees and directors of the Company.
LIBERTY LIBERTY SERIES A SERIES B COMMON COMMON STOCK WAEP STOCK WAEP --------- -------- --------- -------- NUMBERS OF OPTIONS IN THOUSANDS Outstanding at January 1, 2002............................. 47,659 $11.69 27,462 $15.35 Granted.................................................. 525 $12.38 -- Exercised................................................ (488) $ 3.51 -- Canceled................................................. (995) $25.70 -- Options issued in mergers................................ 744 $34.55 -- Adjustments pursuant to antidilution provisions.......... 1,216 703 ------ ------ Outstanding at December 31, 2002........................... 48,661 $ 9.60 28,165 $14.96 Granted.................................................. 6,233 $11.88 -- Exercised................................................ (323) $ 4.68 -- Canceled................................................. (619) $17.22 -- Options issued in mergers................................ 1,142 $78.53 -- ------ ------ Outstanding at December 31, 2003........................... 55,094 $11.23 28,165 $14.96 Granted.................................................. 4,078 $ 8.54 -- Exercised................................................ (2,060) $ 2.13 -- Canceled................................................. (5,457) $13.32 -- Adjustments related to Spin Off.......................... 4,321 -- ------ ------ Outstanding at December 31, 2004........................... 55,976 $ 9.15 28,165 $12.94 ====== ====== Exercisable at December 31, 2002........................... 30,402 $ 6.78 8,450 $14.96 ====== ====== Exercisable at December 31, 2003........................... 34,529 $ 9.12 13,378 $14.96 ====== ====== Exercisable at December 31, 2004........................... 37,558 $ 8.18 18,307 $12.94 ====== ====== Vesting period............................................. 5 yrs 5 yrs
II-71 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 The following table provides additional information about the Company's outstanding options to purchase Liberty Series A common stock at December 31, 2004.
WEIGHTED NO. OF RANGE OF WAEP OF AVERAGE EXERCISABLE WAEP OF EXERCISE OUTSTANDING REMAINING OPTIONS EXERCISABLE NO. OF OUTSTANDING OPTIONS (000'S) PRICES OPTIONS LIFE (000'S) OPTIONS - ---------------------------------- -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------- 18,927 ............................... $ 0.88-$ 3.39 $ 1.64 0.8 years 18,927 $ 1.64 6,433 ............................... $ 5.60-$ 9.19 $ 8.23 7.3 years 913 $ 6.32 29,158 ............................... $10.04-$ 14.14 $11.93 6.6 years 16,524 $12.26 1,458 ............................... $19.56-$251.69 $54.91 5.3 years 1,194 $57.04 - ------ ------ 55,976 37,558 ====== ======
QVC QVC has a qualified and nonqualified combination stock option/stock appreciation rights plan (collectively, the "Tandem Plan") for employees, officers, directors and other persons designated by the Stock Option Committee of QVC's board of directors. Under the Tandem Plan, the option price is generally equal to the fair market value, as determined by an independent appraisal, of a share of the underlying common stock of QVC at the date of the grant. The fair value of a share of QVC common stock as of the latest valuation date is $2,491. If the eligible participant elects the SAR feature of the Tandem Plan, the participant receives 75% of the excess of the fair market value of a share of QVC common stock over the exercise price of the option to which it is attached at the exercise date. The holders of a majority of the outstanding options have stated an intention not to exercise the SAR feature of the Tandem Plan. Because the exercise of the option component is more likely than the exercise of the SAR feature, compensation expense is measured based on the stock option component. As a result, QVC is applying fixed plan accounting in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25. Under the Tandem Plan, option/SAR terms are ten years from the date of grant, with options/SARs generally becoming exercisable over four years from the date of grant. At December 31, 2004, there were a total of 168,139 options outstanding, 44,627 of which were vested at a weighted average exercise price of $1,142 and 123,512 of which were unvested at a weighted average exercise price of $1,970. During the year ended December 31, 2004, QVC received cash proceeds from the exercise of options aggregating $39 million. In 2004, QVC also repurchased shares of common stock issued upon exercise of stock options in prior years. Cash payments aggregated $168 million for these repurchases. As of December 31, 2004, Liberty had granted to certain officers and employees of QVC a total of 9,847,391 restricted shares of Liberty Series A common stock. Such shares generally vest as to 33% on each of January 1, 2005, 2006 and 2007. STARZ ENTERTAINMENT Starz Entertainment has outstanding Phantom Stock Appreciation Rights ("PSARS") held by certain of its officers and employees (including its former chief executive officer). PSARS granted under the plan generally vest over a five year period. Compensation under the PSARS is computed based upon the percentage of PSARS that are vested and a formula derived from the estimated fair value of the net assets of Starz Entertainment. All amounts earned under the plan are payable in cash, Liberty common stock or a combination thereof. At December 31, 2004 the amount accrued for Starz Entertainment PSARs was $122 million. II-72 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 Effective December 27, 2002, the former chief executive officer of Starz Entertainment elected to exercise 54% of his outstanding PSARS. In July 2003, Starz Entertainment satisfied the amount due the officer with a cash payment of $287 million. OTHER Certain of the Company's other subsidiaries have stock based compensation plans under which employees and non-employees are granted options or similar stock based awards. Awards made under these plans vest and become exercisable over various terms. The awards and compensation recorded, if any, under these plans is not significant to Liberty. (14) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Liberty is the sponsor of the Liberty Media 401(k) Savings Plan (the "Liberty 401(k) Plan"), which provides its employees and the employees of certain of its subsidiaries an opportunity for ownership in the Company and creates a retirement fund. The Liberty 401(k) Plan provides for employees to make contributions to a trust for investment in Liberty common stock, as well as several mutual funds. The Company and its subsidiaries make matching contributions to the Liberty 401(k) Plan based on a percentage of the amount contributed by employees. In addition, certain of the Company's subsidiaries have similar employee benefit plans. Employer cash contributions to all plans aggregated $29 million, $18 million and $13 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. (15) OTHER COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (LOSS) Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss) included in Liberty's consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of stockholders' equity reflect the aggregate of foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized holding gains and losses on AFS Securities. The change in the components of accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of taxes, is summarized as follows:
ACCUMULATED FOREIGN UNREALIZED OTHER CURRENCY HOLDING COMPREHENSIVE TRANSLATION GAINS (LOSSES) EARNINGS (LOSS), ADJUSTMENTS ON SECURITIES NET OF TAXES ----------- -------------- ---------------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Balance at January 1, 2002.............. $(396) 1,370 974 Other comprehensive loss................ 77 (562) (485) ----- ----- ----- Balance at December 31, 2002............ (319) 808 489 Other comprehensive earnings............ 42 2,715 2,757 ----- ----- ----- Balance at December 31, 2003............ $(277) 3,523 3,246 Other comprehensive earnings............ 30 1,001 1,031 Contribution to LMI..................... -- (51) (51) Other activity.......................... 9 (9) -- ----- ----- ----- Balance at December 31, 2004............ $(238) 4,464 4,226 ===== ===== =====
II-73 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 Included in Liberty's accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss) at December 31, 2004 is $123 million, net of income taxes, of foreign currency translation losses related to Cablevision, S.A. ("Cablevision"), a former equity method investment of Liberty, and $186 million, net of income taxes, of foreign currency translation losses related to Telewest Communications plc ("Telewest"), another former equity method investment of Liberty. Subsequent to December 31, 2004, Liberty disposed of its interests in Cablevision and Telewest. Accordingly, in the first quarter of 2005, Liberty will recognize in its statement of operations approximately $510 million of foreign currency translation losses (before income tax benefits) related to Cablevision and Telewest that were previously included in accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss). The components of other comprehensive earnings (loss) are reflected in Liberty's consolidated statements of comprehensive earnings (loss) net of taxes. The following table summarizes the tax effects related to each component of other comprehensive earnings (loss).
TAX BEFORE-TAX (EXPENSE) NET-OF-TAX AMOUNT BENEFIT AMOUNT ---------- --------- ---------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004: Foreign currency translation adjustments........ $ 49 (19) 30 Unrealized holding losses on securities arising during period................................. 2,441 (952) 1,489 Reclassification adjustment for losses realized in net loss................................... (800) 312 (488) ------- ------ ------ Other comprehensive earnings.................... $ 1,690 (659) 1,031 ======= ====== ====== YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003: Foreign currency translation adjustments........ $ 69 (27) 42 Unrealized holding gains on securities arising during period................................. 5,480 (2,137) 3,343 Reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net loss................................... (1,030) 402 (628) ------- ------ ------ Other comprehensive earnings.................... $ 4,519 (1,762) 2,757 ======= ====== ====== YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002: Foreign currency translation adjustments........ $ 126 (49) 77 Unrealized holding losses on securities arising during period................................. (6,820) 2,660 (4,160) Reclassification adjustment for losses realized in net loss................................... 5,898 (2,300) 3,598 ------- ------ ------ Other comprehensive loss........................ $ (796) 311 (485) ======= ====== ======
(16) TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES Subsidiaries of Liberty provide services to various equity affiliates of Liberty, including Discovery. Total revenue recognized by Liberty subsidiaries for such services aggregated $41 million and $13 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. II-74 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 In addition, Starz Entertainment pays Revolution Studios ("Revolution"), an equity affiliate, fees for the rights to exhibit films produced by Revolution. Payments aggregated $99 million, $91 million and $49 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. (17) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES FILM RIGHTS Starz Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty, provides premium video programming distributed by cable operators, direct-to-home satellite providers and other distributors throughout the United States. Starz Entertainment has entered into agreements with a number of motion picture producers which obligate Starz Entertainment to pay fees ("Programming Fees") for the rights to exhibit certain films that are released by these producers. The unpaid balance of Programming Fees for films that were available for exhibition by Starz Entertainment at December 31, 2004 is reflected as a liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The balance due as of December 31, 2004 is payable as follows: $200 million in 2005 and $16 million in 2006. Starz Entertainment has also contracted to pay Programming Fees for films that have been released theatrically, but are not available for exhibition by Starz Entertainment until some future date. These amounts have not been accrued at December 31, 2004. Starz Entertainment's estimate of amounts payable under these agreements is as follows: $538 million in 2005; $256 million in 2006; $125 million in 2007; $108 million in 2008; $98 million in 2009; and $134 million thereafter. In addition, Starz Entertainment is also obligated to pay Programming Fees for all qualifying films that are released theatrically in the United States by studios owned by The Walt Disney Company ("Disney") through 2009, all qualifying films that are released theatrically in the United States by studios owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment ("Sony") from 2005 through 2010 and all qualifying films released theatrically in the United States by Revolution through 2006. Films are generally available to Starz Entertainment for exhibition 10 - 12 months after their theatrical release. The Programming Fees to be paid by Starz Entertainment are based on the quantity and the domestic theatrical exhibition receipts of qualifying films. As these films have not yet been released in theatres, Starz Entertainment is unable to estimate the amounts to be paid under these output agreements. However, such amounts are expected to be significant. In addition to the foregoing contractual film obligations, each of Disney and Sony has the right to extend its contract for an additional three years. If Sony elects to extend its contract, Starz Entertainment would be required to pay Sony a total of $190 million in four annual installments of $47.5 million. Sony is required to exercise this option by December 31, 2007. If made, Starz Entertainment's payments to Sony would be amortized ratably as programming expense over the extension period beginning in 2011. An extension of this agreement would also result in the payment by Starz Entertainment of Programming Fees for qualifying films released by Sony during the extension period. If Disney elects to extend its contract, Starz Entertainment is not obligated to pay any amounts in excess of its Programming Fees for qualifying films released by Disney during the extension period. GUARANTEES Liberty guarantees Starz Entertainment's obligations under the Disney and Sony output agreements. At December 31, 2004, Liberty's guarantees for obligations for films released by such date aggregated $763 million. While the guarantee amount for films not yet released is not determinable, II-75 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 such amount is expected to be significant. As noted above Starz Entertainment has recognized the liability for a portion of its obligations under the output agreements. As this represents a commitment of Starz Entertainment, a consolidated subsidiary of Liberty, Liberty has not recorded a separate liability for its guarantees of these obligations. At December 31, 2004, Liberty has guaranteed Y4.7 billion ($46 million) of the bank debt of Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. ("J-COM"), a former equity affiliate that provides broadband services in Japan. Liberty's guarantees expire as the underlying debt matures and is repaid. The debt maturity dates range from 2005 to 2018. Liberty's investment in J-COM was attributed to LMI in the Spin Off. In connection with the Spin Off, LMI has agreed to indemnify Liberty for any amounts Liberty is required to fund under this guarantee. In connection with agreements for the sale of certain assets, Liberty typically retains liabilities that relate to events occurring prior to its sale, such as tax, environmental, litigation and employment matters. Liberty generally indemnifies the purchaser in the event that a third party asserts a claim against the purchaser that relates to a liability retained by Liberty. These types of indemnification guarantees typically extend for a number of years. Liberty is unable to estimate the maximum potential liability for these types of indemnification guarantees as the sale agreements typically do not specify a maximum amount and the amounts are dependent upon the outcome of future contingent events, the nature and likelihood of which cannot be determined at this time. Historically, Liberty has not made any significant indemnification payments under such agreements and no amount has been accrued in the accompanying consolidated financial statements with respect to these indemnification guarantees. OPERATING LEASES Liberty leases business offices, has entered into pole rental and satellite transponder lease agreements and uses certain equipment under lease arrangements. Rental expense under such arrangements amounted to $84 million, $58 million and $50 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. A summary of future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2004 follows (amounts in millions):
YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31: - ------------------------- 2005........................................................ $62 2006........................................................ $49 2007........................................................ $39 2008........................................................ $32 2009........................................................ $26 Thereafter.................................................. $69
It is expected that in the normal course of business, leases that expire generally will be renewed or replaced by leases on other properties; thus, it is anticipated that future lease commitments will not be less than the amount shown for 2004. LITIGATION Liberty has contingent liabilities related to legal and tax proceedings and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Although it is reasonably possible Liberty may incur losses upon II-76 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 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 consolidated financial statements. (18) INFORMATION ABOUT LIBERTY'S OPERATING SEGMENTS Liberty is a holding company, which through its ownership of interests in subsidiaries and other companies, is primarily engaged in the electronic retailing, media, communications and entertainment industries. Each of these businesses is separately managed. Liberty has organized its businesses into three Groups based upon each businesses' services or products: Interactive Group, Networks Group and Corporate and Other (which includes its Tech/Ventures assets). Liberty's chief operating decision maker and management team review the combined results of operations of each of these Groups (including consolidated subsidiaries and equity method affiliates), as well as the results of operations of each individual business in each Group. Liberty identifies its reportable segments as (A) those consolidated subsidiaries that (1) represent 10% or more of its consolidated revenue, earnings before income taxes or total assets or (2) are significant to an evaluation of the performance of a Group; and (B) those equity method affiliates (1) whose share of earnings represent 10% or more of Liberty's pre-tax earnings or (2) are significant to an evaluation of the performance of a Group. The segment presentation for prior periods has been conformed to the current period segment presentation. Liberty evaluates performance and makes decisions about allocating resources to its Groups and operating segments based on financial measures such as revenue, operating cash flow, gross margin, average sales price per unit, number of units shipped and revenue or sales per customer equivalent. In addition, Liberty reviews non-financial measures such as average prime time rating, prime time audience delivery, subscriber growth and penetration, as appropriate. Liberty defines operating cash flow as revenue less cost of sales, operating expenses, and selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding stock compensation). Liberty believes this 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 compensation, litigation settlements and restructuring and impairment charges that are included in the measurement of operating income pursuant to GAAP. Accordingly, operating cash flow should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, operating income, net income, cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Liberty generally accounts for intersegment sales and transfers as if the sales or transfers were to third parties, that is, at current prices. For the year ended December 31, 2004, Liberty has identified the following consolidated subsidiaries and equity method affiliates as its reportable segments: INTERACTIVE GROUP - QVC--consolidated subsidiary that markets and sells a wide variety of consumer products in the United States and several foreign countries, primarily by means of televised shopping programs on the QVC networks and via the Internet through its domestic and international websites. II-77 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 - Ascent Media Group ("Ascent Media")--consolidated subsidiary that provides sound, video and ancillary post-production and distribution services to the motion picture and television industries in the United States, Europe and Asia. NETWORKS GROUP - Starz Entertainment--consolidated subsidiary that provides premium programming distributed by cable operators, direct-to-home satellite providers and other distributors throughout the United States. - Discovery--50% owned equity method affiliate that provides original and purchased cable television programming in the United States and over 160 other countries. - Court TV--50% owned equity method affiliate that operates a basic cable network that provides informative and entertaining programming based on the American legal system. - GSN--50% owned equity method affiliate that operates a basic cable network dedicated to game-related programming and interactive game playing. Liberty's reportable 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 subsidiaries are the same as those described in the summary of significant policies. The amounts presented in the table below represent 100% of each business' revenue and operating cash flow. These amounts are combined on an unconsolidated basis and are then adjusted to remove the effects of the equity method investments to arrive at the consolidated balances for each group. This presentation is designed to reflect the manner in which management reviews the operating performance of individual businesses within each group regardless of whether the investment is accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary or an equity investment. It should be noted, however, that this presentation is not in accordance with GAAP since the results of equity method investments are required to be reported on a net basis. Further, Liberty could not, among other things, cause any noncontrolled affiliate to distribute to Liberty its proportionate share of the revenue or operating cash flow of such affiliate. II-78 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 PERFORMANCE MEASURES
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- OPERATING OPERATING OPERATING CASH CASH CASH REVENUE FLOW REVENUE FLOW REVENUE FLOW -------- --------- -------- --------- -------- --------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS INTERACTIVE GROUP QVC........................................... $ 5,687 1,230 4,889 1,013 4,362 861 Ascent Media.................................. 631 98 508 75 538 87 Other consolidated subsidiaries............... 309 47 297 31 256 22 ------- ----- ------ ----- ------ ---- Combined Interactive Group.................. 6,627 1,375 5,694 1,119 5,156 970 Eliminate equity method affiliates............ -- -- (2,916) (579) (4,362) (861) ------- ----- ------ ----- ------ ---- Consolidated Interactive Group.............. 6,627 1,375 2,778 540 794 109 ------- ----- ------ ----- ------ ---- NETWORKS GROUP Starz Entertainment........................... 963 239 906 368 945 371 Discovery..................................... 2,365 663 1,995 508 1,717 379 Court TV...................................... 227 52 186 43 148 (1) GSN........................................... 88 (2) 76 1 53 (11) Other consolidated subsidiaries............... 21 (3) 27 -- 24 -- ------- ----- ------ ----- ------ ---- Combined Networks Group..................... 3,664 949 3,190 920 2,887 738 Eliminate equity method affiliates............ (2,680) (713) (2,257) (552) (1,918) (367) ------- ----- ------ ----- ------ ---- Consolidated Networks Group................. 984 236 933 368 969 371 ------- ----- ------ ----- ------ ---- Corporate and Other........................... 71 (74) 27 (108) 41 (77) ------- ----- ------ ----- ------ ---- Consolidated Liberty.......................... $ 7,682 1,537 3,738 800 1,804 403 ======= ===== ====== ===== ====== ====
II-79 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
DECEMBER 31, ----------------------------------------------- 2004 2003 ---------------------- ---------------------- INVESTMENTS INVESTMENTS TOTAL IN TOTAL IN ASSETS AFFILIATES ASSETS AFFILIATES -------- ----------- -------- ----------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS INTERACTIVE GROUP QVC.................................. $14,314 78 13,824 77 Ascent Media......................... 946 4 853 4 Other consolidated subsidiaries...... 552 -- 587 -- ------- ----- ------ ----- Consolidated Interactive Group..... 15,812 82 15,264 81 ------- ----- ------ ----- NETWORKS GROUP Starz Entertainment.................. 2,945 52 2,852 50 Discovery............................ 3,236 74 3,194 61 Court TV............................. 275 -- 285 -- GSN.................................. 108 -- 101 -- Other consolidated subsidiaries...... 9 -- 21 -- ------- ----- ------ ----- Combined Networks Group............ 6,573 126 6,453 111 Eliminate equity method affiliates... (3,619) (74) (3,580) (61) ------- ----- ------ ----- Consolidated Networks Group........ 2,954 52 2,873 50 ------- ----- ------ ----- Corporate and Other.................. 31,264 3,600 32,345 3,482 ------- ----- ------ ----- Discontinued operations.............. 151 -- 3,743 -- ------- ----- ------ ----- Consolidated Liberty................. $50,181 3,734 54,225 3,613 ======= ===== ====== =====
II-80 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 The following table provides a reconciliation of segment operating cash flow to loss from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest:
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS Consolidated segment operating cash flow............ $ 1,537 800 403 Stock compensation.................................. (101) 88 46 Litigation settlement............................... 42 -- -- Depreciation and amortization....................... (736) (465) (342) Impairment of long-lived assets..................... -- (1,362) (187) Interest expense.................................... (615) (529) (410) Share of earnings (losses) of affiliates............ 97 45 (89) Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, net.................................. (1,284) (662) 2,139 Gains (losses) on dispositions, net................. 1,406 1,125 (541) Nontemporary declines in fair value of investments....................................... (129) (22) (5,806) Other, net.......................................... 107 109 184 ------- ------ ------ Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest................ $ 324 (873) (4,603) ======= ====== ======
REVENUE BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA Revenue by geographic area based on the location of customers is as follows:
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 2004 2003 2002 -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS United States......................................... $5,884 3,133 1,656 Foreign countries..................................... 1,798 605 148 ------ ----- ----- Consolidated Liberty................................ $7,682 3,738 1,804 ====== ===== =====
LONG-LIVED ASSETS BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA
DECEMBER 31, ------------------- 2004 2003 -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS United States............................................... $ 933 979 Foreign countries........................................... 459 398 ------ ----- Consolidated Liberty...................................... $1,392 1,377 ====== =====
II-81 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) DECEMBER 31, 2004, 2003 AND 2002 (19) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER -------- -------- -------- -------- AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS 2004: Revenue................................... $1,752 1,801 1,784 2,345 ====== ===== ===== ====== Operating income (loss), as reported...... $ 174 Reclassification for litigation settlement............................ 42 ------ Operating income (loss), as adjusted...... $ 216 184 156 186 ====== ===== ===== ====== Earnings (loss) from continuing operations.............................. $ 81 (311) 374 17 ====== ===== ===== ====== Net earnings (loss)....................... $ (10) (314) 372 (2) ====== ===== ===== ====== Basic and diluted earnings (loss) from continuing operations per common share................................... $ .03 (.11) .13 .01 ====== ===== ===== ====== Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common share............................ $ -- (.11) .13 -- ====== ===== ===== ====== 2003: Revenue................................... $ 438 429 833 2,038 ====== ===== ===== ====== Operating income (loss)................... $ 12 (42) 152 (1,061) ====== ===== ===== ====== Earnings (loss) from continuing operations.............................. $ 131 (472) 37 (921) ====== ===== ===== ====== Net earnings (loss)....................... $ 132 (464) 41 (931) ====== ===== ===== ====== Basic and diluted earnings (loss) from continuing operations per common shares.................................. $ .05 (.17) .01 (.32) ====== ===== ===== ====== Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common share............................ $ .05 (.17) .01 (.32) ====== ===== ===== ======
(20) SUBSEQUENT EVENT Liberty's Board of Directors has approved a resolution authorizing the spin-off of a newly formed subsidiary ("Liberty Spinco"). Liberty Spinco's assets will be comprised of Liberty's 100% ownership interest in Ascent Media and Liberty's 50% ownership interest in Discovery. The spin off, which will be effected as a tax-free distribution of Liberty Spinco's shares to Liberty's shareholders, is expected to occur in the second or third quarter of 2005 subject to, among other things, the receipt of a favorable tax opinion and regulatory and other third party approvals. Upon completion of this transaction, Liberty Spinco will be a separate publicly traded company. This transaction is expected to be accounted for at historical cost due to the pro rata nature of the distribution. II-82 PART III. The following required information is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders presently scheduled to be held in June 2005: ITEM 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant ITEM 11. Executive Compensation ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions ITEM 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services We will file our definitive proxy statement for our 2005 Annual Meeting of shareholders with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before April 30, 2005. III-1 PART IV. ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES. (a) (1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Included in Part II of this Report:
PAGE NO. --------- Liberty Media Corporation: Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm... II-33 Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 2004 and 2003... II-34 Consolidated Statements of Operations, Years ended II-36 December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002........................ Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings (Loss), II-37 Years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002............ Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity, Years II-38 ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.................. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Years Ended II-39 December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002........................ Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, December 31, II-40 2004, 2003 and 2002.....................................
(a) (2) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES Included in Part IV of this Report: (i) All schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, not material or the required information is set forth in the financial statements or notes thereto. (ii) Separate financial statements for Discovery Communications, Inc.: Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm..... IV-5 Consolidated Blance Sheets, December 31, 2004 and 2003...... IV-6 Consolidated Statements of Operations, Years ended IV-7 December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.......................... Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Years ended IV-8 December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.......................... Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Deficit, IV-9 Years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.............. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................. IV-10
(a) (3) 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): 3--Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws: 3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Liberty, dated August 9, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Liberty Media Corporation (File No. 333-55998) as filed on February 21, 2001 (the "Split Off S-1 Registration Statement")). 3.2 Bylaws of Liberty, as adopted August 9, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Split Off S-1 Registration Statement). 4--Instruments Defining the Rights of Securities Holders, including Indentures: 4.1 Specimen certificate for shares of Series A common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Split Off S-1 Registration Statement).
IV-1 4.2 Specimen certificate for shares of Series B common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Split Off S-l Registration Statement). 4.3 Indenture, dated as of July 7, 1999, between the Registrant and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Liberty Media Corporation (File No. 333-86491) as filed on September 3, 1999. 4.4 Liberty undertakes to furnish the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, a copy of all instruments with respect to long-term debt not filed herewith. 10--Material Contracts: 10.1 Inter-Group Agreement dated as of March 9, 1999, between AT&T Corp. and Liberty Media Corporation, Liberty Media Group LLC and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Liberty Media Corporation (File No. 333-86491) as filed on September 3, 1999, the "Liberty S-4 Registration Statement"). 10.2 Ninth Supplement to Inter-Group Agreement dated as of June 14, 2001, between and among AT&T Corp., on the one hand, and Liberty Media Corporation, Liberty Media Group LLC, AGI LLC, Liberty SP, Inc., LMC Interactive, Inc. and Liberty AGI, Inc., on the other hand (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Liberty Media Corporation (File No. 333-66034) as filed on July 27, 2001). 10.3 Intercompany Agreement dated as of March 9, 1999, between Liberty and AT&T Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Liberty S-4 Registration Statement). 10.4 Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of March 9, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Liberty S-4 Registration Statement). 10.5 First Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of May 28, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Liberty S-4 Registration Statement). 10.6 Second Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of September 24, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Liberty Media Corporation (File No. 333-93917) as filed on December 30, 1999 (the "Liberty S-1 Registration Statement)). 10.7 Third Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of October 20, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Liberty S-l Registration Statement).
IV-2 10.8 Fourth Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of October 28, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Liberty S-l Registration Statement). 10.9 Fifth Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of December 6, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Liberty S-l Registration Statement). 10.10 Sixth Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of December 10, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Liberty S-l Registration Statement). 10.11 Seventh Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of December 30, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Liberty S-l Registration Statement). 10.12 Eighth Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of July 25, 2000, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, AT&T Broadband LLC, Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Split Off Registration Statement). 10.13 Instrument dated January 14, 2000, adding The Associated Group, Inc. as a party to the Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of March 9, 1999, as amended, among The Associated Group, Inc., AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Liberty S-1 Registration Statement). 10.14 Restated and Amended Employment Agreement dated November 1, 1992, between Tele-Communications, Inc. and John C. Malone (assumed by Liberty as of March 9, 1999), and the amendment thereto dated June 30, 1999 and effective as of March 9, 1999, between Liberty and John C. Malone (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Liberty S-4 Registration Statement). 10.15 Second Amendment to Employment Agreement dated November 1, 1992 between TCI and John C. Malone (assumed by Liberty as of March 9, 1999), as amended effective March 9, 1999, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Liberty's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, Commission File No. 0-20421). 10.16 Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004), filed herewith. 10.17 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004), filed herewith. 10.18 Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement under the Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004), filed herewith.
IV-3 10.19 Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004), filed herewith. 10.20 Liberty Media Corporation 2002 Non-employee Director Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Liberty's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2002, Commission File No. 0-20421). 10.21 Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement under the Liberty Media Corporation 2002 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan, filed herewith. 10.22 Letter Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2003, between Robert R. Bennett and Liberty regarding Mr. Bennett's personal use of Liberty's aircraft, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Liberty's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, Commission File No. 0-20421). 10.23 Deferred Compensation Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2004, between Liberty and Robert R. Bennett, filed herewith. 10.24 Deferred Compensation Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2004, between Liberty and Robert R. Bennett, filed herewith. 10.25 Amended and Restated Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2003, by and among Liberty, Comcast, Comcast QVC, Inc. and QVC, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 18, 2003, Commission File No. 0-20421). 21--Subsidiaries of Liberty Media Corporation, filed herewith. 23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP, filed herewith. 23.2 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, filed herewith. 31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, filed herewith. 31.2 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, filed herewith. 31.3 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, filed herewith. 32--Section 1350 Certification, filed herewith.
IV-4 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Discovery Communications, Inc.: In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, of changes in stockholders' deficit, and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Discovery Communications, Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP McLean, Virginia February 22, 2005 IV-5 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, --------------------------- 2004 2003 ---------- ---------- IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents................................. $ 24,282 $ 34,075 Accounts receivable, less allowances of $24,375 and $40,213................................................. 527,659 466,747 Inventories............................................... 32,567 37,004 Deferred income taxes..................................... 144,606 232,693 Programming rights, net................................... 50,578 46,364 Other current assets...................................... 55,758 41,500 ---------- ---------- Total current assets........................................ 835,450 858,383 ---------- ---------- Property and equipment, net............................... 380,290 360,411 Programming rights, net, less current portion............. 1,027,379 881,735 Deferred launch incentives................................ 314,601 373,579 Goodwill.................................................. 257,460 253,308 Intangibles, net.......................................... 187,761 213,660 Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates.............................................. 74,450 60,765 Deferred income taxes..................................... 114,673 146,768 Other assets.............................................. 43,622 45,602 ---------- ---------- TOTAL ASSETS................................................ $3,235,686 $3,194,211 ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities.................. $ 338,182 $ 356,320 Launch incentives payable................................. 33,509 62,841 Programming rights payable................................ 94,969 73,340 Current portion of long-term incentive plan liabilities... 261,627 427,755 Current portion of long-term debt......................... 9,736 517,750 Income taxes payable...................................... 21,123 10,564 Other current liabilities................................. 126,207 90,228 ---------- ---------- Total current liabilities................................... 885,353 1,538,798 ---------- ---------- Long-term debt, less current portion........................ 2,498,287 1,833,942 Derivative financial instruments, less current portion...... 46,541 88,781 Launch incentives payable, less current portion............. 34,328 45,422 Long-term incentive plan liabilities, less current portion................................................... 60,735 63,844 Programming rights payable, less current portion............ 8,027 3,668 Other liabilities........................................... 10,774 11,269 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities........................................... 3,544,045 3,585,724 ---------- ---------- Mandatorily redeemable interests in subsidiaries............ 319,567 410,252 ---------- ---------- Commitments and contingencies ---------- ---------- STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT Class A common stock; $.01 par value; 100,000 shares authorized; 51,119 shares issued, less 719 and 504 shares of treasury stock................................ 1 1 Class B common stock; $.01 par value; 60,000 shares authorized; 50,615 shares issued and held in treasury stock at December 31, 2004 and 2003..................... -- -- Additional paid-in capital.................................. 21,093 21,093 Accumulated deficit......................................... (672,931) (840,953) Accumulated other comprehensive income...................... 23,911 18,094 ---------- ---------- Total stockholders' deficit................................. (627,926) (801,765) ---------- ---------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT................. $3,235,686 $3,194,211 ========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. IV-6 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------------------------- 2004 2003 2002 ---------- ---------- --------- IN THOUSANDS OPERATING REVENUE Advertising............................................... $1,133,807 $1,010,585 $ 829,936 Subscriber fees........................................... 976,362 747,927 646,500 Other..................................................... 255,177 236,535 240,339 ---------- ---------- --------- Total operating revenue................................... 2,365,346 1,995,047 1,716,775 ---------- ---------- --------- Cost of revenue........................................... 846,316 751,578 699,737 Selling, general & administrative......................... 856,340 735,017 638,405 Expenses arising from long-term incentive plans........... 71,515 74,119 96,865 Depreciation & amortization............................... 129,011 120,172 112,841 Gain on sale of patents................................... (22,007) -- -- ---------- ---------- --------- Total operating expenses.................................. 1,881,175 1,680,886 1,547,848 ---------- ---------- --------- INCOME FROM OPERATIONS.................................... 484,171 314,161 168,927 ---------- ---------- --------- OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) Interest, net............................................. (167,420) (159,409) (163,315) Unrealized gains (losses) from derivative instruments, net..................................................... 45,540 21,405 (11,607) Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries........... (54,940) (35,965) (45,977) Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates.............................................. 171 (4,477) (2,716) Other..................................................... 2,299 2,307 (3,425) ---------- ---------- --------- Total other expense, net.................................. (174,350) (176,139) (227,040) ---------- ---------- --------- INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES......................... 309,821 138,022 (58,113) ---------- ---------- --------- Income tax expense (benefit).............................. 141,799 74,785 (10,057) ---------- ---------- --------- NET INCOME (LOSS)......................................... $ 168,022 $ 63,237 $ (48,056) ========== ========== =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. IV-7 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------- 2004 2003 2002 ----------- --------- -------- IN THOUSANDS OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income (loss)........................................... $ 168,022 $ 63,237 $(48,056) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operations Depreciation and amortization............................. 129,011 120,172 112,841 Amortization of deferred launch incentives and representation rights................................... 107,757 131,980 132,495 Provision for losses on accounts receivable, net.......... 959 11,413 20,787 Expenses arising from long-term incentive plans........... 71,515 74,119 96,865 Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates.............................................. (171) 4,477 2,716 Deferred income taxes..................................... 105,522 42,280 (37,801) Unrealized (gains) losses on derivative financial instruments, net........................................ (45,540) (21,405) 11,607 Non cash minority interest charges........................ 54,940 35,965 45,977 Gain on sale of patents................................... (22,007) -- -- Other non-cash charges.................................... 8,300 5,584 14,325 CHANGES IN ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, NET OF BUSINESS COMBINATIONS Accounts receivable..................................... (60,841) (52,753) (46,553) Inventories............................................. 4,555 22,978 (30,504) Other assets............................................ (14,706) (10,212) (8,435) Programming rights, net of payables..................... (122,433) (139,387) (86,103) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities................ 55,734 27,646 79,565 Representation rights................................... (479) (11,250) (10,750) Deferred launch incentives.............................. (74,696) (99,630) (72,963) Long-term incentive plan liabilities.................... (240,752) (51,023) (37,003) ----------- --------- -------- Cash provided by operations................................. 124,690 154,191 139,010 ----------- --------- -------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES Acquisition of property and equipment....................... (88,100) (109,956) (138,777) Business combinations, net of cash acquired................. (17,218) (46,541) -- Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates.... (14,884) (11,754) (27,389) Contributions from minority shareholders.................... 3,146 21,652 12,478 Issuance (redemption) of interests in subsidiaries.......... (148,880) -- 92,874 Proceeds from sale of patents, net.......................... 22,007 -- -- ----------- --------- -------- Cash used by investing activities........................... (243,929) (146,599) (60,814) ----------- --------- -------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt.................... 1,848,000 -- 391,924 Principal payments of long-term debt........................ (1,699,215) (12,638) (330,165) Deferred financing fees..................................... (8,499) (56) (1,358) Increase in note receivable from stockholder................ -- (5,238) (10,246) Collection of note receivable from stockholder.............. -- 23,600 -- Repurchase of Class A common stock.......................... -- (55,334) -- Repurchase of Class B common stock.......................... -- -- (109,000) Other financing............................................. (30,840) 42,325 (23,415) ----------- --------- -------- Cash provided (used) by financing activities................ 109,446 (7,341) (82,260) ----------- --------- -------- CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS......................... (9,793) 251 (4,064) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year................ 34,075 33,824 37,888 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR...................... $ 24,282 $ 34,075 $ 33,824 =========== ========= ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. IV-8 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
CLASS A CLASS B ADDITIONAL --------------------- -------- PAID-IN ACCUMULATED AT PAR REDEEMABLE AT PAR CAPITAL DEFICIT -------- ---------- -------- ---------- ----------- IN THOUSANDS BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2001.......... $1 $52,791 $ 1 $121,092 $(852,707) Comprehensive loss Net loss.......................... (48,056) Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $2.7 million.......... Realized loss on investments, net of tax of $0.2 million.......... Total comprehensive loss............ Increase in loan to stockholder..... (10,246) Compensation from redeemable Class A common stock.............. 2,324 Accretion of redeemable Class A common stock...................... 5,827 (5,827) Repurchase of Class B common stock treasury shares................... (1) (99,999) (9,000) -- ------- ------ -------- --------- BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2002.......... $1 $50,696 $ -- $ 21,093 $(915,590) -- ------- ------ -------- --------- Comprehensive income Net income........................ 63,237 Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $5.7 million.......... Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax of $2.4 million...... Total comprehensive income.......... Decrease in loan to stockholder..... 18,362 Reduction of compensation from redeemable Class A common stock... (2,324) Decretion of redeemable Class A common stock...................... (11,400) 11,400 Repurchase of Class A common stock treasury shares................... (55,334) -- ------- ------ -------- --------- BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2003.......... $1 $ -- $ -- $ 21,093 $(840,953) -- ------- ------ -------- --------- Comprehensive income Net income........................ 168,022 Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $5.2 million.......... Unrealized loss on investments, net of tax of $1.7 million...... Total comprehensive income.......... -- ------- ------ -------- --------- BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2004.......... $1 $ -- $ -- $ 21,093 $(672,931) -- ------- ------ -------- --------- OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ---------------------------- FOREIGN UNREALIZED CURRENCY GAIN (LOSS) ON TRANSLATION INVESTMENTS TOTAL ----------- -------------- --------- IN THOUSANDS BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2001.......... $(2,272) $ (334) $(681,428) Comprehensive loss Net loss.......................... Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $2.7 million.......... 6,568 Realized loss on investments, net of tax of $0.2 million.......... 334 Total comprehensive loss............ (41,154) Increase in loan to stockholder..... (10,246) Compensation from redeemable Class A common stock.............. 2,324 Accretion of redeemable Class A common stock...................... -- Repurchase of Class B common stock treasury shares................... (109,000) ------- ------ --------- BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2002.......... $ 4,296 $ -- $(839,504) ------- ------ --------- Comprehensive income Net income........................ Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $5.7 million.......... 10,027 Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax of $2.4 million...... 3,771 Total comprehensive income.......... 77,035 Decrease in loan to stockholder..... 18,362 Reduction of compensation from redeemable Class A common stock... (2,324) Decretion of redeemable Class A common stock...................... -- Repurchase of Class A common stock treasury shares................... (55,334) ------- ------ --------- BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2003.......... $14,323 $3,771 $(801,765) ------- ------ --------- Comprehensive income Net income........................ Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $5.2 million.......... 8,409 Unrealized loss on investments, net of tax of $1.7 million...... (2,592) Total comprehensive income.......... 173,839 ------- ------ --------- BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2004.......... $22,732 $1,179 $(627,926) ------- ------ ---------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. IV-9 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS Discovery Communications, Inc. (the "Company") is a privately held, diversified worldwide entertainment company whose operations are organized into four business units: U.S. Networks, International Networks, Commerce and Education. U.S. Networks operates cable and satellite television networks in the United States, including Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, The Travel Channel and Discovery Health Channel. International Networks operates cable and satellite television networks worldwide, including regional variants of Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, People & Arts, Travel & Adventure, and Discovery Health Channel. Commerce operates 115 Discovery Channel retail stores as well as direct-to-consumer sales in the United States, and manages licensing for the Company. Education provides products and services to educational institutions. 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned and controlled subsidiaries. The equity method of accounting is used for unconsolidated affiliates in which the Company's ownership interests range from 20% to 50% and the Company exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies. All significant intercompany transactions and balances among the consolidated entities have been eliminated. USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from those estimates and could have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. The Company has issued redeemable interests in a number of its consolidated subsidiaries for which the redemption events are outside of the Company's control. Estimating the redemption values of these interests requires making assumptions regarding fair value, future performance, comparing to similar transactions, and complex contract interpretation. Other significant estimates include the recoverability of programming rights, the amortization period and method of programming rights, valuation and recoverability of intangible assets and other long-lived assets, the fair value of derivative financial instruments, and the adequacy of reserves associated with accounts receivable and retail inventory. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In December 2003 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued CONSOLIDATION OF VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES: AN INTERPRETATION OF FASB NO. 51 (FIN 46R), which was effective as of March 31, 2004. Variable interest entities (VIEs) are primarily entities that lack sufficient equity to finance their activities without additional financial support from other parties or whose equity holders possess governance rights that are not proportionate with their equity holdings. All VIEs with which the Company is involved must be evaluated to determine the primary beneficiary of the risks and rewards of the VIE. The primary beneficiary is required to consolidate the VIE for financial reporting purposes. IV-10 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) The Company has minority interests in certain entities as discussed in Note 9. In connection with the adoption of FIN 46R, the Company's preliminary assessment is that certain of its immaterial unconsolidated international joint ventures may be VIEs in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Pursuant to the transition provisions of FIN 46R, the Company will begin consolidating such ventures commencing 2005, however the impact on the consolidated financial statements is not expected to be material. See Note 9 for summarized balance sheets, statements of operations and cash flows of all equity method investments. FASB Statement No. 150 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CHARACTERISTICS OF BOTH LIABILITIES AND EQUITY, (FAS 150) establishes standards for classifying and measuring as liabilities certain financial instruments that embody obligations of the issuer and have traditionally been characterized as equity. The Financial Accounting Standards Board delayed the FAS 150 effective date for nonpublic companies with respect to instruments that are mandatorily redeemable on fixed dates for amounts that are either fixed or determined by reference to an index to January 1, 2005. If the Company were a public registrant, mandatorily redeemable minority interests in the amount of $142.9 million would be classified as current liabilities. REVENUE RECOGNITION The Company derives revenues from five primary sources: (1) advertising revenue for commercial spots aired on the Company's networks, (2) subscriber revenue from cable system operators (affiliates), (3) retail sales of consumer product inventory, (4) licensing of the Company's programming and other intellectual property, and (5) product and service sales to educational institutions. Advertising revenue is recorded net of agency commissions and audience deficiency liabilities in the period when the advertising spots are broadcast. Subscriber revenue is recognized in the period the service is provided, net of launch incentives and other vendor consideration. Retail revenues are recognized either at the point-of-sale or upon product shipment. Program licensing revenues are recognized when the programming is available to broadcast and upon satisfaction of other revenue recognition conditions. Trademarks and other non-programming licensing are generally recognized ratably over the term of the agreement. Product and service sales to educational institutions are generally recognized ratably over the term of the agreement or as the product is delivered. ADVERTISING COSTS The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. The Company incurred advertising costs of $170.3 million, $140.2 million and $111.9 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Highly liquid investments with original maturities of ninety days or less are recorded as cash equivalents. The Company had $4.3 million and $3.9 million in restricted cash included in other assets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 due to foreign currency restrictions. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Derivative financial instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. The Company did not apply hedge accounting during 2004, 2003 and 2002, and therefore changes in the fair values of derivative financial instruments are recorded in the statements of operations. IV-11 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) INVENTORIES Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market and include inventory acquisition costs. Cost is determined using the weighted average cost method. PROGRAMMING RIGHTS Costs incurred in the direct production or licensing of programming rights are capitalized and stated at the lower of unamortized cost, fair value, or net realizable value. The Company evaluates the net realizable value of programming by considering the fair value and net realizable values of the underlying produced and licensed programs, respectively. The costs of produced programming are capitalized and amortized based on the expected realization of revenues, resulting in an accelerated basis over four years for developed networks (Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, and The Travel Channel) in the United States, a straight-line basis over three to five years for developing networks in the United States, and a straight-line basis over three years for all International networks. The cost of licensed programming is capitalized and amortized over the term of the license period based on the expected realization of revenues, resulting in an accelerated basis for developed networks in the United States, and a straight-line basis for all International networks and developing networks in the United States. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of three to seven years for equipment, furniture and fixtures, five to forty years for building structure and construction, and six to fifteen years for satellite transponders. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of their estimated useful lives or the terms of the related leases. Equipment under capital lease represents the present value of the minimum lease payments at the inception of the lease, net of accumulated depreciation. CAPITALIZED SOFTWARE COSTS Capitalization of software development costs occurs during the application development stage. Costs incurred during the pre and post implementation stages are expensed as incurred. Capitalized software is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful lives of one to five years. Unamortized computer software costs totaled $55.2 million and $49.6 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003. RECOVERABILITY OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS, GOODWILL, AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS The Company periodically reviews the carrying value of its acquired intangible assets, including goodwill, and its other long-lived assets, including deferred launch incentives, to determine whether an impairment may exist. Goodwill impairment is determined by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent that the fair value of the goodwill within the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. Intangible assets and other long-lived assets are grouped for purposes of evaluating recoverability at the lowest level for which independent cash flows are identifiable. If the carrying amount of an intangible asset, long-lived asset, or asset grouping exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. Fair values for reporting units, goodwill and other intangible assets are IV-12 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) determined based on discounted cash flows, market multiples, or comparable assets as appropriate. Generally, the Company's reporting units and asset groups consist of the individual cable networks or other operating units. The determination of recoverability of goodwill and other intangible and long lived assets requires significant judgment and estimates regarding future cash flows, fair values, and the appropriate grouping of assets. Such estimates are subject to change and could result in impairment losses being recognized in the future. If different reporting units, asset groupings, or different valuation methodologies had been used, the impairment test results could have differed. DEFERRED LAUNCH INCENTIVES Consideration issued to cable affiliates in connection with the execution of long-term network distribution agreements is deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis as a reduction to revenue over the terms of the agreements. Obligations for fixed launch incentives are recorded at the inception of the agreement. Obligations for performance-based arrangements are recorded when performance thresholds have been achieved. Following the extension or renewal of an original launch agreement, remaining deferred consideration is amortized over the new period. Amortization of deferred launch incentives and interest on unpaid deferred launch incentives was $98.4 million, $122.7 million and $122.8 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION The Company's foreign subsidiaries' assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, while results of operations are translated at average exchange rates for the respective periods. The resulting translation adjustments are included as a separate component of stockholders' equity in accumulated other comprehensive income. The effect of exchange rate changes on cash balances held in foreign currencies impacting the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows totals $2.5 million, $1.2 million, and $0.2 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002. LONG-TERM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS The Company grants unit awards under its long-term incentive plans. These unit awards, which vest over a period of years, are granted to employees and increase or decrease in value based on a specified formula of certain business metrics of the Company. The Company accounts for these units similar to stock appreciation rights and applies the guidance in FASB Interpretation Number 28, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." The Company adjusts compensation expense for the changes in the accrued value of these awards over the vesting period. MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE INTERESTS IN SUBSIDIARIES Mandatorily redeemable interests in subsidiaries are initially recorded at fair value and accreted or decreted to the estimated redemption value ratably over the period to the redemption date, as appropriate. The Company records accretion and decretion on these instruments in minority interest expense. IV-13 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) TREASURY STOCK Treasury stock is accounted for using the cost method. The repurchased shares are held in treasury and are presented as if retired. Treasury stock activity for the three years ended December 31, 2004 is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Deficit. INCOME TAXES Income taxes are recorded using the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not such assets will not be realized. RECLASSIFICATIONS Certain prior period financial statement amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2004 presentation. During 2004, the Company reclassified book overdrafts at December 31, 2003 and 2002. These reclassifications increased cash and current liabilities by $42.9 million and $0.6 million at December 31, 2003 and 2002. Additionally, the Company reclassified approximately $15.5 million and $6.0 million in restricted cash and other assets previously reported as cash at December 31, 2003 and 2002. As a result of these reclassifications, cash flows from operating activities decreased $9.5 million and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, and cash flows from financing activities increased $42.3 million and decreased $23.4 million for the same year ends. 3. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 2002 - ----------------------- -------- -------- -------- IN THOUSANDS Cash paid for acquisitions: Fair value of assets acquired.................. $21,414 $50,509 $ -- Net liabilities assumed........................ (4,196) (3,968) -- Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired................................... 17,218 46,541 -- Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest....................................... 166,584 162,904 154,288 Cash paid for income taxes....................... 28,999 32,395 25,537 ======= ======= =======
4. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS During 2004, the Company completed two acquisitions in its Education division, in which the Company acquired customer lists valued at $14.6 million, covenants not to compete valued at $0.6 million and trademarks valued at $0.1 million, which are being amortized over their useful lives, of three years for the customer lists and covenants not to compete. During 2003, the Company completed two acquisitions, one in its Education division and one in its International Networks division. In connection with these acquisitions, the Company acquired customer lists valued at $27.7 million, which are being amortized over their useful lives of three years. The Company also acquired deferred launch incentives valued at $16.7 million. Of these, $13.2 million are IV-14 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) being amortized over the five-year term of the agreements, and $3.5 million relate to a penalty for non-renewal in 2008. If no renewal is effectuated in 2008, the acquiree will refund the Company. If renewed, the Company will amortize this amount over the renewal period. Purchase price in excess of the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired of $1.1 million and $6.0 million was recorded to goodwill in 2004 and 2003. 5. PROGRAMMING RIGHTS
PROGRAMMING RIGHTS, DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 - -------------------------------- ---------- ---------- IN THOUSANDS Produced programming rights Completed.......................................... $1,099,483 $ 892,867 In process......................................... 100,086 77,062 Co-produced programming rights Completed.......................................... 698,758 626,934 In process......................................... 38,575 44,464 Licensed programming rights Acquired........................................... 189,662 243,541 Prepaid............................................ 4,232 7,719 ---------- ---------- Programming rights, at cost.......................... 2,130,796 1,892,587 Accumulated amortization............................. (1,052,839) (964,488) ---------- ---------- Programming rights, net.............................. 1,077,957 928,099 Current portion, licensed programming rights......... (50,578) (46,364) ---------- ---------- Non-current portion.................................. $1,027,379 $ 881,735 ========== ==========
Amortization of programming rights was $494.2 million, $413.9 million and $365.4 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, and is recorded as a cost of revenue. The Company estimates that 91.1% of unamortized costs of programming rights at December 31, 2004 will be amortized within the next three years. The Company expects to amortize $377.0 million of unamortized programming rights, not including in-process and prepaid productions, during the next twelve months. 6. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 - ------------------------------------ --------- --------- IN THOUSANDS Equipment and software................................ $ 344,525 $ 346,438 Land.................................................. 28,781 27,575 Buildings............................................. 136,088 137,190 Furniture, fixtures, leasehold improvements and other assets.............................................. 160,418 160,744 Assets in progress.................................... 60,806 29,582 --------- --------- Property and equipment, at cost....................... 730,618 701,529 Accumulated depreciation and amortization............. (350,328) (341,118) --------- --------- Property and equipment, net........................... $ 380,290 $ 360,411 ========= =========
IV-15 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) The cost and accumulated depreciation of satellite transponders under capital leases were $23.5 million and $4.1 million at December 31, 2004, and $64.3 million and $45.4 million at December 31, 2003. Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, including equipment under capital lease, was $85.4 million, $86.4 million and $96.3 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002. Through December 31, 2004, total capitalized costs associated with facility construction projects include land costs of $2.3 million, and building and leasehold improvement costs of $43.8 million. The Company expects these facilities to be completed in 2005. The Company completed construction of its worldwide headquarters facility in Silver Spring, Maryland, in the first quarter of 2003. The final facility is comprised of land costs of $26.5 million, building structure and construction costs of $121.4 million, and interest costs of $14.7 million. 7. SALE OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS In 2004, the Company recorded a net gain of $22.0 million on the sale of certain of the Company's television technology patents. The transaction closed August 19, 2004 and the gain represents the sale price less costs to sell. The Company expensed all of the costs to develop this technology in prior years. 8. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS, DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 - -------------------------------------------- -------- -------- IN THOUSANDS Goodwill................................................ $257,460 $253,308 Trademarks.............................................. 13,383 13,230 Customer relationships and lists, net of amortization of $86,406 and $64,393................................... 64,109 72,153 Non-compete and other, net of amortization of $43,021 and $33,229........................................... 33,068 42,343 Representation rights, net of amortization of $60,528 and $51,198........................................... 77,201 85,934 -------- -------- Goodwill and intangible assets, net..................... $445,221 $466,968 ======== ========
Goodwill and trademarks are not amortized. Customer relationships and lists are amortized on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of three to seven years. Non-compete assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the contractual term of five to seven years. Other intangibles are amortized on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of ten years. Representation rights are amortized on a straight-line basis over the contractual term of fifteen years. During 2004 and 2003 the Company reduced its estimate of certain pre-acquisition contingencies associated with certain subscriber contractual arrangements acquired as part of the acquisition of The Health Network. These revisions resulted in a reduction of goodwill of $8.0 million and $26.7 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003. The $4.2 million net increase in goodwill results from 1) a $8.0 million reduction related to an adjustment for pre-acquisition contingent liabilities (discussed above), 2) a $9.5 million adjustment to increase goodwill for recognition of certain deferred tax liabilities, 3) a $1.1 million addition related to current year acquisitions and 4) a $1.6 million increase for foreign currency translation effect. IV-16 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) The Company has the exclusive rights to represent BBC America ("BBCA"), a cable network, in sales, marketing, distribution and other operational activities through 2013. As a part of this agreement, the Company will receive a percentage of revenues earned and collected by BBCA during the representation term. The cost of acquiring the representation rights is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the fifteen-year term of the agreement, and is reported as a reduction of revenue. Amortization of intangible assets amounted to $41.8 million, $33.8 million and $17.8 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002. The Company estimates that unamortized costs of intangible assets at December 31, 2004 will be amortized over the next five years as follows: $44.1 million in 2005, $41.1 million in 2006, $28.6 million in 2007, $20.1 million in 2008, and $9.8 million in 2009. 9. INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATED COMPANIES JOINT VENTURES WITH THE BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION ("BBC") The Company and the BBC have formed cable and satellite television network joint ventures, a venture to produce and acquire factual based programming ("JV Programs" or "JVP") and a venture to provide debt funding to the cable and satellite television network joint ventures and JV Programs venture ("JV Network"). In addition to its own funding requirements, the Company has assumed the BBC funding requirements for each of these ventures. As a result, the Company has preferential cash distribution agreements with these ventures. The ventures had no distributable cash in 2004 and distributed $1.7 million in accordance with the agreements in 2004 and 2003. Because the BBC does not have risk of loss, no losses were allocated to minority interest for consolidated joint ventures with the BBC. The Company recognizes both its own and the BBC's share of losses in equity method ventures with the BBC. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES The Company is a partner in several joint ventures accounted for under the equity method in which it has a variable interest. JV Programs produces and acquires factual based programming that it then sells to the Company for use on many of the Company's joint venture and wholly-owned networks. The Company's funding to JVP was $14.4 million, $5.4 million and $3.4 million during 2004, 2003 and 2002. The Company acquired and licensed $44.1 million, $43.9 million and $35.9 million of programming from JVP for its networks during 2004, 2003 and 2002. At December 31, 2004, the Company's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with JVP is the $55.1 million book value of its investment in JVP and future operating losses of JVP that the Company is obligated to fund. JVP has no third party debt. If JVP were to be consolidated under FIN 46R, the Company expects the net impact to the consolidated financial statements to be insignificant. Substantially all of JVP's activities are with the Company and those are already reflected in the financial statements. The Company is a partner in other international joint venture cable and satellite television networks in which the Company has a variable interest. The Company's funding to these joint ventures totaled $3.3 million, $7.5 million and $9.9 million during 2004, 2003 and 2002. At December 31, 2004, the Company's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with these joint ventures is the IV-17 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) $19.3 million book value of its investments in these joint ventures and future operating losses of these joint ventures that the Company is obligated to fund. These joint ventures have no third party debt. The following table outlines the Company's joint ventures and the method of accounting during 2004, 2003 and 2002:
ACCOUNTING AFFILIATES: METHOD - ----------- ------------ JOINT VENTURES WITH THE BBC: JV Network.................................................. Consolidated JV Programs................................................. Equity Animal Planet United States (see Note 11)................... Consolidated Animal Planet Europe........................................ Consolidated Animal Planet Latin America................................. Consolidated People & Arts Latin America................................. Consolidated Animal Planet Asia.......................................... Consolidated Animal Planet Japan......................................... Equity Animal Planet Canada........................................ Equity OTHER VENTURES: Discovery Times Channel (see Note 11)....................... Consolidated FitTV (f.k.a. The Health Network) (see Note 11)............. Consolidated Discovery Canada............................................ Equity Discovery Japan............................................. Equity Discovery Health Canada..................................... Equity Discovery Kids Canada....................................... Equity Discovery Civilization Canada............................... Equity Meteor Studios.............................................. Equity
Combined financial information of the Company's unconsolidated ventures (amounts do not reflect any eliminations of activity with the Company):
OPERATING RESULTS, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 2002 - ------------------------------------------ -------- -------- -------- IN THOUSANDS Revenue....................................... $163,630 $145,786 $106,598 Income from operations........................ 26,201 13,278 4,806 Net income (loss)............................. 8,688 1,155 (1,060) -------- -------- --------
BALANCE SHEETS, DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 - ---------------------------- -------- -------- IN THOUSANDS Current assets............................................ $68,554 $65,046 Total assets.............................................. 136,703 117,772 Current liabilities....................................... 21,817 17,880 Total liabilities......................................... 46,683 42,382 Total shareholders' equity or partners' capital........... 90,020 75,390 ------- -------
IV-18 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) 10. LONG-TERM DEBT
LONG-TERM DEBT, DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 - ---------------------------- ---------- ---------- IN THOUSANDS $1,250.0 Term Loan, due quarterly from 2007 to 2009......... $1,250,000 $ -- $1,250.0 Revolving Loan, due June 2009...................... 238,000 -- $2,036.5 Term Loan and Revolving Loans, paid 2004........... -- 1,334,000 7.81% Senior Notes, semi annual interest, due March 2006.... 300,000 300,000 8.06% Senior Notes, semi annual interest, due March 2008.... 180,000 180,000 8.37% Senior Notes, semi annual interest, due March 2011.... 220,000 220,000 7.45% Senior Notes, semi annual interest, due September 2009............................................ 55,000 55,000 8.13% Senior Notes, semi annual interest, due September 2012............................................ 235,000 235,000 Obligations under capital leases............................ 25,125 19,631 Other notes payable......................................... 4,898 8,061 ---------- ---------- Total long-term debt........................................ 2,508,023 2,351,692 Current portion............................................. (9,736) (517,750) ---------- ---------- Non-current portion......................................... $2,498,287 $1,833,942 ========== ==========
In June 2004, the Company successfully refinanced the Term Loan and the Revolving Loans, maturing in 2004 and 2005, with a new Term Loan and Revolving Facility. The Company capitalized $8.5 million in deferred financing costs as part of the new term and revolving loan facility and expensed $6.3 million in capitalized costs associated with the previous term loan and revolving loans. All Term and Revolving Loans are unsecured. Interest, which is payable quarterly, is based on the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or prime rate plus a margin based on the Company's leverage ratios. The weighted average interest rate on these facilities was 3.7% and 2.5% at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the interest rate averaged 2.9% and 2.7% during 2004 and 2003. The cost of the Revolving Loans includes a fee (ranging from 0.125% to 0.375%) based on the Company's leverage ratios. The Company uses derivative instruments to modify its exposure to interest rate fluctuations on its debt. The Term Loans, Revolving Loans, and Senior Notes contain covenants that require the Company to meet certain financial ratios and place restrictions on the payment of dividends, sale of assets, additional borrowings, mergers, and purchases of capital stock, assets, and investments. The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants at December 31, 2004. Future principal payments under the current debt arrangements, excluding obligations under capital leases and other notes payable, are as follows: no payments in 2005, $300 million in 2006, $234 million in 2007, $961 million in 2008, $527 million in 2009 and $456 million from 2011 to 2012. Future minimum payments under capital leases are as follows: $5.1 million in 2005, $5.5 million in 2006, $5.7 million in 2007, $3.8 million in 2008, $3.8 million in 2009 and $8.4 million thereafter. IV-19 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) 11. MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE INTERESTS IN SUBSIDIARIES
MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE INTERESTS IN SUBSIDIARIES, DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 - -------------------------------------------------------------- -------- -------- IN THOUSANDS Discovery Times............................................ $125,763 $123,896 FitTV (f.k.a. The Health Network).......................... 92,874 94,000 Discovery Health Channel................................... -- 143,736 Animal Planet LLC.......................................... 50,000 -- Animal Planet LP........................................... 48,730 48,620 People & Arts Latin America and Animal Planet Channel Group... 2,200 -- -------- -------- Mandatorily redeemable interests in subsidiaries........... $319,567 $410,252 ======== ========
DISCOVERY TIMES In April 2002, the Company sold a 50% interest in Discovery Times Channel to the New York Times ("NYT") for $100 million. Due to NYT redemption rights, this transaction resulted in no gain or loss to the Company. While the Company consolidates the financial results of Discovery Times, no losses of Discovery Times have been allocated to minority interest due to the NYT's redemption feature, and the Company has recorded the interest held by NYT as mandatorily redeemable interest in a subsidiary. NYT has the right, in April 2005, and again in April 2006, to put its interest back to the Company for a value determined by a specified formula, with a floor of $80 million and a ceiling of $125 million in April 2005, and a floor of $80 million and a ceiling of $135 million in April 2006. The Company accretes or decretes the mandatorily redeemable interest in a subsidiary to its estimated redemption value through the redemption date. The Company updates its estimate of the redemption value each period and based on its most recent calculations, the Company will decrete to an amount representing the estimated value of $101.1 million. The Company recorded decretion of $1.3 million in 2004 and accretion of $7.0 million and $6.5 million to minority interest expense in 2003 and 2002. After 2006, the NYT has certain other protective rights that, if triggered and not cured, could require the Company to repurchase the NYT interest for a value determined by a specified formula. FITTV (F.K.A. THE HEALTH NETWORK) Fox Entertainment Group (FEG) had the right, from December 2003 to February 2004, to put its FitTV interests back to the Company. In December 2003, FEG notified the Company of its intention to put its interest in FitTV back to the Company. The Company estimates that it will acquire this interest for approximately $92.9 million in 2005. The Company recorded decretion of $1.1 million in 2004 and recorded accretion of $8.5 million and $11.1 million in 2003 and 2002 to minority interest expense. DISCOVERY HEALTH CHANNEL (DHC) During the second quarter of 2004, Comcast put its DHC interests back to the Company for $148.9 million. The Company recorded accretion of $5.1 million, $20.4 million and $28.3 million to minority interest expense in 2004, 2003 and 2002. IV-20 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) ANIMAL PLANET LLC Beginning March 2003, the BBC has the right to put its Animal Planet LLC ("APUS") interests back to the Company. In April 2004, the BBC notified the Company of its intention to put its interest in APUS back to the Company. The Company estimates a range of possible outcomes to acquire this interest. Given the uncertainty associated with the determination of the final redemption value of this interest (which will be based on the terms outlined in the agreement), the Company has recorded accretion of $50.0 million in 2004 to minority interest expense. At December 31, 2003, the Company determined there was no redemption value associated with this right. ANIMAL PLANET LP One of the Company's stockholders holds 44,000 senior preferred partnership units of Animal Planet LP ("APLP") that have a redemption value of $44.0 million and carry a rate of return ranging from 8.75% to 13%. Payments are made quarterly and totaled $4.6 million, $5.8 million and $4.4 million during 2004, 2003 and 2002. APLP's senior preferred partnership units may be called by APLP during the period January 2007 through December 2011 for $44.0 million, and may be put to the Company by the holder beginning in January 2012 for $44.0 million. At December 31, 2004, and 2003, the Company has recorded this security at the redemption value of $44.0 million plus accrued returns of $4.7 million and $4.6 million. Preferred returns are recorded as a component of interest expense and aggregated $4.7 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002. PEOPLE & ARTS LATIN AMERICA AND ANIMAL PLANET CHANNEL GROUP The BBC has the right, upon a failure of the People & Arts Latin America or the Animal Planet Channel Group (comprised of Animal Planet Europe, Animal Planet Asia, and Animal Planet Latin America) to achieve certain financial performance benchmarks as of December 2005, and every three years thereafter, to put its interests back to the Company for a value determined by a specified formula. The Company accretes or decretes the mandatorily redeemable equity in a subsidiary to its estimated redemption value through the 2005 redemption date. The redemption value is based on a contractual formula utilizing projected results of each network within the channel group. At December 31, 2004, the Company has estimated a redemption value of $15.3 million. At December 31, 2003, the Company determined there was no redemption value associated with this right. Accretion to the redemption value has been recorded as a component of minority interest expense of $2.2 million in 2004. 12. STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT In September 2001, the Company sold 50,615 shares of Class B Non-voting Common Stock to its existing shareholders for $100.0 million. In September 2002, the Company repurchased these shares for $109.0 million. The appreciation of the shares represented a fair transition value as was confirmed in consultation with an investment bank. STOCKHOLDER PUT RIGHT In June 2003, the Company's founder, John Hendricks, put 215 outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock to the Company in exchange for $55.3 million. Concurrent with this transaction, outstanding loans, secured by Mr. Hendricks' shares and vested compensation units, of $23.6 million to Mr. Hendricks were repaid to the Company with interest. Prior to this purchase, the value of these IV-21 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) shares had been recorded as redeemable common stock and changes in value had been recorded to stockholders' deficit. The Company received a third party valuation to record the transactions. The valuation reflected a lower value for the Company than had been previously estimated and, as a result, the Company decreased the carrying value of the stock by $13.7 million and reduced compensation expense recorded in prior years associated with the loans by $2.3 million in connection with the settlement. 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES The Company leases certain satellite transponders, facilities and equipment under operating leases that expire through 2019. The Company is obligated to license programming under agreements that expire through 2012.
FUTURE MINIMUM PAYMENTS, YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, LEASES PROGRAMMING OTHER TOTAL - ------------------------------------ -------- ----------- -------- ---------- IN THOUSANDS 2005.............................. $ 80,088 $201,857 $ 66,170 $ 348,115 2006.............................. 67,689 64,857 52,908 185,454 2007.............................. 62,298 55,155 54,550 172,003 2008.............................. 57,336 55,893 46,570 159,799 2009.............................. 31,596 57,010 16,907 105,513 Thereafter........................ 178,748 100,898 4,080 283,726 -------- -------- -------- ---------- Total............................. $477,755 $535,670 $241,185 $1,254,610 ======== ======== ======== ==========
Expenses recorded in connection with operating leases, including rent expense, were $127.8 million, $128.7 million and $131.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002. In connection with the long-term distribution agreements for certain of its European cable networks, the Company is committed to pay a satellite system operator 25% to 49% of the increase in value of these networks, if any, at the termination of the contract on December 31, 2006. The value of the networks at the termination date, and the Company's liability thereon, are materially impacted by the terms of future renewed or extended distribution agreements with the satellite system operator. The Commitment was designed as an incentive to enter into a renewed or extended agreement. However, the Company is currently unable to predict the terms and conditions of any renewal or extension of the distribution agreements. The Company has recorded a liability associated with this arrangement based on the estimated value of the networks at the termination of the agreement if no renewal is in place and adjusts such liability each period for changes in value. However, if the current distribution agreement is renewed or extended before the expiration of the existing agreement, amounts to be paid in 2007 to this system operator could be significantly higher than amounts currently accrued. The Company will record the effect of a renewed or extended distribution agreement when such terms are in place. The Company is solely responsible for providing financial, operational and administrative support to the JV Programs, JV Network, Animal Planet United States, Animal Planet Latin America, People & Arts Latin America, Animal Planet Asia, and Animal Planet Europe ventures and has committed to do so through at least fiscal 2005. IV-22 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) The Company is involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of its business. In addition, the Company is involved in negotiations with organizations holding the rights to music used in the Company's programming. The Company believes the reserves related to these music rights are adequate and does not expect the outcome of such litigation and negotiations to have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, cash flows, or financial position. 14. EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLANS The Company maintains two separate employee savings plans, a defined contribution savings plan for its employees and a Supplemental Deferred Compensation Plan (together, the "Savings Plans") for certain management employees. The Company matches participant contributions at a rate of 75% up to a maximum of 6% of the participant's annual compensation. The Company contributions to the Savings Plans were $6.8 million, $5.5 million and $5.7 million during 2004, 2003 and 2002. 15. LONG-TERM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS The Company recorded expense of $71.5 million, $76.5 million, and $94.6 million in connection with these plans during 2004, 2003, and 2002. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS The Company maintains unit-based, long-term incentive plans for its employees who meet certain eligibility criteria. Units are awarded to eligible employees upon their one-year anniversary of hire and vest at a rate of 25% per year thereafter. Upon exercise, participants receive the increase in value of the units from the unit value at the date of issuance. The Company has authorized the issuance of up to 33.1 million units under these plans. From the period April 1 to May 31, certain eligible participants have the option to exercise any portion of their vested units. All other employees may redeem some or all of their units during a window of time five years subsequent to the date of the award. The Company pays amounts for the exercise of units on September 30 of the year of exercise. However, the Company may defer, with interest, payment of up to 75% of any benefit for a period not longer than September 30 of the year subsequent to exercise. Upon voluntary termination of employment the Company distributes 75% of vested and exercisable benefits to certain senior executives. These employees are required to comply with post-employment obligations to receive payment of withheld benefits upon the one-year anniversary of employment termination. All other participants receive their full vested benefit upon voluntary termination. The 25% vested and exercisable employee benefits that would be withheld upon employee termination in the amount of $60.7 million, have been classified as long-term liability in the accompanying balance sheet. All other vested employee unit incentive compensation liabilities are classified as current liabilities in the accompanying balance sheet. Although classified as current liabilities, the Company's actual cash disbursements under the plans were $45.9 million, $27.9 million and $36.9 million during 2004, 2003 and 2002. IV-23 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) All awards must be redeemed and applicable benefits paid by the Company on the tenth anniversary of each award. During 2004, the Company paid $8.5 million in awards, which had reached their tenth anniversary date. Unit appreciation is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting periods. Compensation expense was $68.8 million, $101.7 million and $61.7 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002. The accrued value of units based on the Company's vesting schedule was $322.4 million and $299.5 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003. The unaccrued value of awarded units was $15.4 million and $4.5 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003. During 2004, 2003 and 2002, the Company granted 8.7 million, 4.1 million and 2.3 million units with weighted average exercise prices of $34.22, $29.02, and $25.74. Units redeemed or cancelled during 2004, 2003, and 2002 totaled 2.3 million, 2.1 million, and 3.5 million with weighted average exercise prices of $13.49, $14.18, and $13.66. For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, units outstanding totaled 25.6 million, 19.1 million, and 17.2 million with weighted average exercise prices of $24.10, $18.18, and $15.12, and units exercisable totaled 17.5 million, 16.5 million, and 13.9 million with weighted average exercise prices of $19.76, $16.65, and $13.18. At the beginning of fiscal year 2002, outstanding units totaled 18.4 million with a weighted average exercise price of $13.52. As of December 31, 2004, outstanding units had several ranges of exercise prices. The Company has 1.6 million units outstanding and exercisable at exercise prices ranging from $3.33 to $8.14 with a weighted average contractual life remaining of 1 year and a weighted average exercise price of $6.47. The Company has 9.5 million units outstanding and exercisable at exercise prices ranging from $10.96 to $22.18 with a weighted average contractual life remaining of 4.2 years and a weighted average exercise price of $15.30. The Company has 14.5 million units outstanding at exercise prices ranging from $25.02 to $37.35 with a weighted average contractual life remaining of 8.5 years and weighted average exercise price of $31.95. Of these, 6.4 million units, with a weighted average exercise price of $29.78, are exercisable. The value of units at the end of the year was $37.35, $34.06, and $28.60 for 2004, 2003, and 2002. The value of the units is determined based on changes in the Company's value as estimated by an external investment banking firm. The average assumptions used in the valuation model include adjusted projected operating cash flows segregated by business group. The valuation also includes a business group specific discount rate and terminal value based on business risk. UNIT APPRECIATION AND INCENTIVE AGREEMENT As part of his long-term incentive plan with the Company, the Company's founder, John Hendricks, had a 10-year incentive agreement with the Company that granted him a cash award equal to 1.6% of the difference between the Company's value at December 31, 1993 and December 31, 2003 for his services as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer during the period. This cash award was paid out to Mr. Hendricks in two installments, one in December 2003 and one in February 2004. The final determination of value was based on an appraisal from an investment banking firm using a consistent valuation methodology both at the beginning and the end of the 10-year term. The portion of the cash award that was paid out in February 2004 has been included as a current liability at December 31, 2003. The estimated change in value of this incentive has been recorded as a component of compensation expense during the term of the agreement. IV-24 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) 16. INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT), YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 2002 - ----------------------------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- IN THOUSANDS Current Federal......................................... $ (231) $ 2,813 $ -- State........................................... 3,952 6,722 6,156 Foreign......................................... 32,556 22,970 21,588 -------- ------- -------- Total current income tax provision................ 36,277 32,505 27,744 -------- ------- -------- Deferred Federal......................................... 95,761 33,963 (25,189) State........................................... 7,723 5,175 (12,134) -------- ------- -------- Total deferred income tax expense (benefit)....... 103,484 39,138 (37,323) -------- ------- -------- Change in valuation allowance..................... 2,038 3,142 (478) -------- ------- -------- Total income tax expense (benefit)................ $141,799 $74,785 $(10,057) ======== ======= ========
2004 2003 ---------------------- ---------------------- DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSETS AND LIABILITIES DECEMBER 31, CURRENT NON-CURRENT CURRENT NON-CURRENT - ------------------------------------------------------- -------- ----------- -------- ----------- IN THOUSANDS Assets Loss carryforwards................................. $ 1,148 $ 20,090 $ 21,077 $ 18,460 Compensation....................................... 102,595 22,745 169,003 24,216 Accrued expenses................................... 26,474 -- 30,857 -- Reserves and allowances............................ 8,720 10,132 9,568 10,214 Tax credits........................................ 4,330 -- 3,118 -- Derivative financial instruments................... -- 16,979 -- 34,186 Investments........................................ -- 69,729 -- 84,306 Intangibles........................................ -- 31,627 -- 23,756 Other.............................................. 3,066 8,342 441 2,480 -------- -------- -------- -------- 146,333 179,644 234,064 197,618 Valuation allowance................................ -- (19,554) -- (17,516) -------- -------- -------- -------- Total deferred income tax assets..................... 146,333 160,090 234,064 180,102 -------- -------- -------- -------- Liabilities Accelerated depreciation........................... -- (20,908) -- (18,263) Intangibles........................................ -- -- -- (788) Foreign currency translation....................... -- (13,687) -- (7,193) Unrealized gains on investments.................... -- (720) -- (2,343) Other.............................................. (1,727) (10,102) (1,371) (4,747) -------- -------- -------- -------- Total deferred income tax liabilities................ (1,727) (45,417) (1,371) (33,334) -------- -------- -------- -------- Deferred income tax assets, net...................... $144,606 $114,673 $232,693 $146,768 ======== ======== ======== ========
IV-25 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
RECONCILIATION OF EFFECTIVE TAX RATE, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 2003 2002 - ------------------------------------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- Federal statutory rate................................... 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% Increase (decrease) in tax rate arising from: State income taxes, net of Federal benefit............. 2.4 7.9 6.7 Foreign withholding taxes, net of Federal benefit...... 6.4 12.2 (24.1) Other.................................................. 2.0 (0.9) (0.3) ---- ---- ----- Effective income tax rate................................ 45.8% 54.2% 17.3% ==== ==== =====
The Company has Federal operating loss carryforwards of $3.3 million expiring in 2021 and state operating loss carryforwards of $526.9 million in various state jurisdictions available to offset future taxable income that expire in various amounts through 2024. The Company also has $4.3 million of alternative minimum tax credits that do not have an expiration date. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance relating to the state tax benefits attributable to net operating losses in certain jurisdictions where realizability is not more likely than not. Deferred taxes of $3.8 million have been provided for the excess book basis in the shares of certain foreign subsidiaries, because these are not permanent in nature as defined by Accounting Principles Board Opinion 23, ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES--SPECIAL AREAS. 17. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The Company uses derivative financial instruments to modify its exposure to market risks from changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates. The Company does not hold or enter into financial instruments for speculative trading purposes. The Company's interest expense is exposed to movements in short-term interest rates. Derivative instruments, including both fixed to variable and variable to fixed interest rate instruments, are used to modify this exposure. These instrument contracts include a combination of swaps, caps, collars, and other structured instruments to modify interest rate exposure. At December 31, 2004, the variable to fixed interest rate instruments have a notional principal amount of $800 million and have a weighted average interest rate of 5.93%. At December 31, 2004, the fixed to variable interest rate agreements have a notional principal amount of $240 million and have a weighted average interest rate of 6.46%. At December 31, 2004, an unexercised interest rate swap put right held by a bank had a notional amount of $25 million and a written rate of 5.4%. As a result of unrealized mark to market adjustments, the Company recognized $44.1 million, $21.6 million and $(13.4) million in gains and losses on these instruments during 2004, 2003 and 2002. The foreign exchange instruments used are spot, forward, and option contracts. Additionally, the Company enters into non-designated forward contracts to hedge non-dollar denominated cash flows and foreign currency balances. At December 31, 2004, the notional amount of foreign exchange derivative contracts was $92.8 million. As a result of unrealized mark to market adjustments, the Company recognized $(0.4) million, $(0.1) million and $1.8 million in losses and gains on these instruments during 2004, 2003 and 2002. The Company's derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value as a component of long-term liabilities and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. IV-26 DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, and accounts payable approximate their carrying values. Investments are carried at fair value and fluctuations in fair value are recorded through other comprehensive income. Losses on investments that are other than temporary declines in value are recorded in the statement of operations. The carrying amount of the Company's borrowings was $2,478 million and the fair value was $2,586 million at December 31, 2004. The carrying amount of the Company's borrowings was $2,324 million and the fair value was $2,440 million at December 31, 2003. The carrying amount of all derivative instruments represents their fair value. The net fair value of the Company's short and long-term derivative instruments is $(44.8) million at December 31, 2004; 8.9%, 6.5% and 84.6% of these derivative instrument contracts will expire in 2005, 2006, and thereafter. The fair value of the Company's derivative instruments totaled $(90.3) million at December 31, 2003. The fair value of derivative contracts was estimated by obtaining interest rate and volatility market data from brokers. As of December 31, 2004, an estimated 100 basis point parallel shift in the interest rate yield curve would change the fair value of the Company's portfolio by approximately $11.4 million. CREDIT CONCENTRATIONS The Company continually monitors its positions with, and the credit quality of, the financial institutions that are counterparties to its financial instruments and does not anticipate nonperformance by the counterparties. In addition, the Company limits the amount of investment credit exposure with any one institution. The Company's trade receivables and investments do not represent a significant concentration of credit risk at December 31, 2004 due to the wide variety of customers and markets in which the Company operates and their dispersion across many geographic areas. 18. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS The Company identifies related parties as investors and their consolidated businesses, equity investment companies, and executive management. The most significant transactions with related parties result from companies that distribute cable networks, produce programming, or provide media uplink services. Gross revenue earned from related parties was $71.8 million, $209.2 million and $205.1 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002. Accounts receivable from these entities were $10.9 million and $33.3 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003. Purchases from related parties totaled $133.2 million, $164.7 million, and $144.7 million in 2004, 2003, 2002; of these $91.0 million, $101.1 million and $99.9 million relate to capitalized assets, principally programming. Amounts payable to these parties totaled $4.3 million and $52.6 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003. IV-27 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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 MEDIA CORPORATION Dated: March 15, 2005 By /s/ CHARLES Y. TANABE ------------------------------------------ Charles Y. Tanabe SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE --------- ----- ---- /s/ JOHN C. MALONE ------------------------------------ Chairman of the Board, and Director March 15, 2005 John C. Malone /s/ ROBERT R. BENNETT ------------------------------------ Director, President and Chief March 15, 2005 Robert R. Bennett Executive Officer /s/ DONNE F. FISHER ------------------------------------ Director March 15, 2005 Donne F. Fisher /s/ PAUL A. GOULD ------------------------------------ Director March 15, 2005 Paul A. Gould /s/ DAVID E. RAPLEY ------------------------------------ Director March 15, 2005 David E. Rapley /s/ M. LAVOY ROBISON ------------------------------------ Director March 15, 2005 M. LaVoy Robison /s/ LARRY E. ROMRELL ------------------------------------ Director March 15, 2005 Larry E. Romrell /s/ DAVID J.A. FLOWERS ------------------------------------ Senior Vice President and Treasurer March 15, 2005 David J.A. Flowers (Principal Financial Officer) /s/ CHRISTOPHER W. SHEAN ------------------------------------ Senior Vice President and Controller March 15, 2005 Christopher W. Shean (Principal Accounting Officer)
IV-28 EXHIBIT INDEX 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): 3--Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws: 3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Liberty, dated August 9, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Liberty Media Corporation (File No. 333-55998) as filed on February 21, 2001 (the "Split Off S-1 Registration Statement")). 3.2 Bylaws of Liberty, as adopted August 9, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Split Off S-1 Registration Statement). 4--Instruments Defining the Rights of Securities Holders, including Indentures: 4.1 Specimen certificate for shares of Series A common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Split Off S-1 Registration Statement). 4.2 Specimen certificate for shares of Series B common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Split Off S-l Registration Statement). 4.3 Indenture, dated as of July 7, 1999, between the Registrant and The Bank of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Liberty Media Corporation (File No. 333-86491) as filed on September 3, 1999. 4.4 Liberty undertakes to furnish the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, a copy of all instruments with respect to long-term debt not filed herewith. 10--Material Contracts: 10.1 Inter-Group Agreement dated as of March 9, 1999, between AT&T Corp. and Liberty Media Corporation, Liberty Media Group LLC and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Liberty Media Corporation (File No. 333-86491) as filed on September 3, 1999, the "Liberty S-4 Registration Statement"). 10.2 Ninth Supplement to Inter-Group Agreement dated as of June 14, 2001, between and among AT&T Corp., on the one hand, and Liberty Media Corporation, Liberty Media Group LLC, AGI LLC, Liberty SP, Inc., LMC Interactive, Inc. and Liberty AGI, Inc., on the other hand (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Liberty Media Corporation (File No. 333-66034) as filed on July 27, 2001). 10.3 Intercompany Agreement dated as of March 9, 1999, between Liberty and AT&T Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Liberty S-4 Registration Statement). 10.4 Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of March 9, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Liberty S-4 Registration Statement). 10.5 First Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of May 28, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Liberty S-4 Registration Statement). 10.6 Second Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of September 24, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Liberty Media Corporation (File No. 333-93917) as filed on December 30, 1999 (the "Liberty S-1 Registration Statement")). 10.7 Third Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of October 20, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Liberty S-l Registration Statement). 10.8 Fourth Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of October 28, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Liberty S-l Registration Statement). 10.9 Fifth Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of December 6, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Liberty S-l Registration Statement). 10.10 Sixth Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of December 10, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Liberty S-l Registration Statement). 10.11 Seventh Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of December 30, 1999, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Liberty S-l Registration Statement). 10.12 Eighth Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of July 25, 2000, by and among AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, AT&T Broadband LLC, Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Split Off Registration Statement). 10.13 Instrument dated January 14, 2000, adding The Associated Group, Inc. as a party to the Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of March 9, 1999, as amended, among The Associated Group, Inc., AT&T Corp., Liberty Media Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc., Liberty Ventures Group LLC, Liberty Media Group LLC, TCI Starz, Inc., TCI CT Holdings, Inc. and each Covered Entity listed on the signature pages thereof (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Liberty S-1 Registration Statement). 10.14 Restated and Amended Employment Agreement dated November 1, 1992, between Tele-Communications, Inc. and John C. Malone (assumed by Liberty as of March 9, 1999), and the amendment thereto dated June 30, 1999 and effective as of March 9, 1999, between Liberty and John C. Malone (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Liberty S-4 Registration Statement). 10.15 Second Amendment to Employment Agreement dated November 1, 1992 between TCI and John C. Malone (assumed by Liberty as of March 9, 1999), as amended effective March 9, 1999, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Liberty's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, Commission File No. 0-20421). 10.16 Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004), filed herewith. 10.17 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004), filed herewith. 10.18 Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement under the Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004), filed herewith. 10.19 Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004), filed herewith. 10.20 Liberty Media Corporation 2002 Non-employee Director Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Liberty's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2002, Commission File No. 0-20421). 10.21 Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement under the Liberty Media Corporation 2002 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan, filed herewith. 10.22 Letter Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2003, between Robert R. Bennett and Liberty regarding Mr. Bennett's personal use of Liberty's aircraft, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Liberty's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, Commission File No. 0-20421). 10.23 Deferred Compensation Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2004, between Liberty and Robert R. Bennett, filed herewith. 10.24 Deferred Compensation Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2004, between Liberty and Robert R. Bennett, filed herewith. 10.25 Amended and Restated Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2003, by and among Liberty, Comcast, Comcast QVC, Inc. and QVC, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 18, 2003, Commission File No. 0-20421). 21--Subsidiaries of Liberty Media Corporation, filed herewith. 23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP, filed herewith. 23.2 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, filed herewith. 31.1 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, filed herewith. 31.2 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, filed herewith. 31.3 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, filed herewith. 32--Section 1350 Certification, filed herewith.
EX-10.16 2 a2152779zex-10_16.txt EX 10.16 EXHIBIT 10.16 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION 2000 INCENTIVE PLAN (As Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004) ARTICLE I PURPOSE AND ASSUMPTION OF PLAN 1.1 PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success of the Company by providing a method whereby (i) eligible employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (ii) independent contractors providing services to the Company and its Subsidiaries may be awarded additional remuneration for services rendered and encouraged to invest in capital stock of the Company, thereby increasing their proprietary interest in the Company's businesses, encouraging them to remain in the employ of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and increasing their personal interest in the continued success and progress of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Plan is also intended to aid in (i) attracting Persons of exceptional ability to become officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (ii) inducing independent contractors to agree to provide services to the Company and its Subsidiaries. 1.2 ASSUMPTION OF PLAN; AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF PLAN. The Plan was previously adopted as the Amended and Restated AT&T Corp. Liberty Media Group 2000 Incentive Plan, by the board of directors of AT&T Corp., the Company's former parent corporation. The Board approved the amendment and restatement of the Plan, effective August 10, 2001, and assumed and adopted the Plan on behalf of the Company. The Plan was later amended and restated, effective September 11, 2002. 1.3 FURTHER AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF PLAN. The Plan is being further amended and restated as set forth herein. The Committee has approved the further amendment and restatement of the Plan as set forth herein, effective April 19, 2004. ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS 2.1 CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS. Capitalized terms not defined elsewhere in the Plan shall have the following meanings (whether used in the singular or plural): "Affiliate" of the Company means any corporation, partnership or other business association that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. "Agreement" means a stock option agreement, stock appreciation rights agreement, restricted shares agreement, stock units agreement, cash award agreement or an agreement evidencing more than one type of Award, specified in Section 11.5, as any such Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time. "Approved Transaction" means any transaction in which the Board (or, if approval of the Board is not required as a matter of law, the stockholders of the Company) shall approve (i) any consolidation or merger of the Company, or binding share exchange, pursuant to which shares of Common Stock of the Company would be changed or converted into or exchanged for cash, securities, or other property, other than any such transaction in which the common stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction have the same proportionate ownership of the Common Stock of, and voting power with respect to, the surviving corporation immediately after such transaction, (ii) any merger, consolidation or binding share exchange to which the Company is a party as a result of which the Persons who are common stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto have less than a majority of the combined voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Company ordinarily (and apart from the rights accruing under special circumstances) having the right to vote in the election of directors immediately following such merger, consolidation or binding share exchange, (iii) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (iv) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Company. "Award" means a grant of Options, SARs, Restricted Shares, Stock Units, Performance Awards, Cash Awards and/or cash amounts under the Plan. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company. "Board Change" means, during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the entire Board cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof unless the election, or the nomination for election, of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period. "Cash Award" means an Award made pursuant to Section 10.1 of the Plan to a Holder that is paid solely on account of the attainment of one or more Performance Objectives that have been preestablished by the Committee. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute or statutes thereto. Reference to any specific Code section shall include any successor section. "Committee" means the committee of the Board appointed pursuant to Section 3.1 to administer the Plan. "Common Stock" means each or any (as the context may require) series of the Company's common stock. "Company" means Liberty Media Corporation, a Delaware corporation. 2 "Control Purchase" means any transaction (or series of related transactions) in which (i) any person (as such term is defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), corporation or other entity (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company) shall purchase any Common Stock of the Company (or securities convertible into Common Stock of the Company) for cash, securities or any other consideration pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer, without the prior consent of the Board, or (ii) any person (as such term is so defined), corporation or other entity (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any Exempt Person (as defined below)) shall become the "beneficial owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company ordinarily (and apart from the rights accruing under special circumstances) having the right to vote in the election of directors (calculated as provided in Rule 13d-3(d) under the Exchange Act in the case of rights to acquire the Company's securities), other than in a transaction (or series of related transactions) approved by the Board. For purposes of this definition, "Exempt Person" means each of (a) the Chairman of the Board, the President and each of the directors of the Company as of April 19, 2004, and (b) the respective family members, estates and heirs of each of the Persons referred to in clause (a) above and any trust or other investment vehicle for the primary benefit of any of such Persons or their respective family members or heirs. As used with respect to any Person, the term "family member" means the spouse, siblings and lineal descendants of such Person. "Disability" means the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. "Dividend Equivalents" means, with respect to Restricted Shares to be issued at the end of the Restriction Period, to the extent specified by the Committee only, an amount equal to all dividends and other distributions (or the economic equivalent thereof) which are payable to stockholders of record during the Restriction Period on a like number and kind of shares of Common Stock. "Domestic Relations Order" means a domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules thereunder. "Effective Date" means December 6, 2000, the date on which the Plan originally became effective. "Equity Security" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(11) of the Exchange Act, and an equity security of an issuer shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Rule 16a-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or any successor Rule. 3 "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute or statutes thereto. Reference to any specific Exchange Act section shall include any successor section. "Fair Market Value" of a share of any series of Common Stock on any day means the last sale price (or, if no last sale price is reported, the average of the high bid and low asked prices) for a share of such series of Common Stock on such day (or, if such day is not a trading day, on the next preceding trading day) as reported on the consolidated transaction reporting system for the principal national securities exchange on which shares of such series of Common Stock are listed on such day or if such shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange, then as reported on Nasdaq or, if such shares are not then listed or quoted on Nasdaq, then as quoted by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated. If for any day the Fair Market Value of a share of the applicable series of Common Stock is not determinable by any of the foregoing means, then the Fair Market Value for such day shall be determined in good faith by the Committee on the basis of such quotations and other considerations as the Committee deems appropriate. "Free Standing SAR" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.1. "Holder" means a Person who has received an Award under the Plan. "Nasdaq" means The Nasdaq Stock Market. "Nonqualified Stock Option" means a stock option granted under Article VI. "Option" means a Nonqualified Stock Option. "Performance Award" means an Award made pursuant to Article X of the Plan to a Holder that is subject to the attainment of one or more Performance Objectives. "Performance Objective" means a standard established by the Committee to determine in whole or in part whether a Performance Award shall be earned. "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity of any kind. "Plan" means this Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004). "Restricted Shares" means shares of any series of Common Stock or the right to receive shares of any specified series of Common Stock, as the case may be, awarded pursuant to Article VIII. "Restriction Period" means a period of time beginning on the date of each Award of Restricted Shares and ending on the Vesting Date with respect to such Award. 4 "Retained Distribution" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.3. "SARs" means stock appreciation rights, awarded pursuant to Article VII, with respect to shares of any specified series of Common Stock. "Stock Unit Awards" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 9.1. "Subsidiary" of a Person means any present or future subsidiary (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) of such Person or any business entity in which such Person owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the voting, capital or profits interests. An entity shall be deemed a subsidiary of a Person for purposes of this definition only for such periods as the requisite ownership or control relationship is maintained. "Tandem SARs" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.1. "Vesting Date," with respect to any Restricted Shares awarded hereunder, means the date on which such Restricted Shares cease to be subject to a risk of forfeiture, as designated in or determined in accordance with the Agreement with respect to such Award of Restricted Shares pursuant to Article VIII. If more than one Vesting Date is designated for an Award of Restricted Shares, reference in the Plan to a Vesting Date in respect of such Award shall be deemed to refer to each part of such Award and the Vesting Date for such part. ARTICLE III ADMINISTRATION 3.1 COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board unless a different committee is appointed by the Board. The Committee shall be comprised of not less than two Persons. The Board may from time to time appoint members of the Committee in substitution for or in addition to members previously appointed, may fill vacancies in the Committee and may remove members of the Committee. The Committee shall select one of its members as its chairman and shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it shall deem advisable. A majority of its members shall constitute a quorum and all determinations shall be made by a majority of such quorum. Any determination reduced to writing and signed by all of the members shall be as fully effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a meeting duly called and held. 3.2 POWERS. The Committee shall have full power and authority to grant to eligible Persons Options under Article VI of the Plan, SARs under Article VII of the Plan, Restricted Shares under Article VIII of the Plan, Stock Units under Article IX of the Plan, Cash Awards under Article X of the Plan and/or Performance Awards under Article X of the Plan, to determine the terms and conditions (which need not be identical) of all Awards so granted, to interpret the provisions of the Plan and any Agreements relating to Awards granted under the Plan and to supervise the administration of the Plan. The Committee in making an Award may 5 provide for the granting or issuance of additional, replacement or alternative Awards upon the occurrence of specified events, including the exercise of the original Award. The Committee shall have sole authority in the selection of Persons to whom Awards may be granted under the Plan and in the determination of the timing, pricing and amount of any such Award, subject only to the express provisions of the Plan. In making determinations hereunder, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective employees and independent contractors, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion deems relevant. 3.3 INTERPRETATION. The Committee is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan and to take such other action in connection with or in relation to the Plan as it deems necessary or advisable. Each action and determination made or taken pursuant to the Plan by the Committee, including any interpretation or construction of the Plan, shall be final and conclusive for all purposes and upon all Persons. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made or taken by him or the Committee in good faith with respect to the Plan. ARTICLE IV SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN 4.1 NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to the provisions of this Article IV, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted during the term of the Plan shall be 160 million shares. Shares of Common Stock will be made available from the authorized but unissued shares of the Company or from shares reacquired by the Company, including shares purchased in the open market. The shares of Common Stock subject to (i) any Award granted under the Plan that shall expire, terminate or be annulled for any reason without having been exercised (or considered to have been exercised as provided in Section 7.2), (ii) any Award of any SARs granted under the Plan that shall be exercised for cash, and (iii) any Award of Restricted Shares or Stock Units that shall be forfeited prior to becoming vested (provided that the Holder received no benefits of ownership of such Restricted Shares or Stock Units other than voting rights and the accumulation of Retained Distributions and unpaid Dividend Equivalents that are likewise forfeited) shall again be available for purposes of the Plan. Except for Awards described in Section 11.1, no Person may be granted in any calendar year Awards covering more than 25 million shares of Common Stock (as such amount may be adjusted from time to time as provided in Section 4.2). No Person shall receive payment for Performance Awards during any calendar year aggregating in excess of $10,000,000. 4.2 ADJUSTMENTS. If the Company subdivides its outstanding shares of any series of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of such series of Common Stock (by stock dividend, stock split, reclassification, or otherwise) or combines its outstanding shares of any series of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of such series of Common Stock (by reverse stock split, reclassification, or otherwise) or if the Committee determines that any stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, split-up, spin-off, combination, exchange of shares, warrants or rights offering to purchase such series of 6 Common Stock or other similar corporate event (including mergers or consolidations other than those which constitute Approved Transactions, adjustments with respect to which shall be governed by Section 11.1(b)) affects any series of Common Stock so that an adjustment is required to preserve the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee, in its sole discretion and in such manner as the Committee may deem equitable and appropriate, may make such adjustments to any or all of (i) the number and kind of shares of stock which thereafter may be awarded, optioned or otherwise made subject to the benefits contemplated by the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of shares of stock subject to outstanding Awards, and (iii) the purchase or exercise price and the relevant appreciation base with respect to any of the foregoing, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the number of shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if all shares of any series of Common Stock are redeemed, then each outstanding Award shall be adjusted to substitute for the shares of such series of Common Stock subject thereto the kind and amount of cash, securities or other assets issued or paid in the redemption of the equivalent number of shares of such series of Common Stock and otherwise the terms of such Award, including, in the case of Options or similar rights, the total exercise price, and, in the case of Free Standing SARs, the base price, shall remain constant before and after the substitution (unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement). The Committee may, if deemed appropriate, provide for a cash payment to any Holder of an Award in connection with any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4.2. ARTICLE V ELIGIBILITY 5.1 GENERAL. The Persons who shall be eligible to participate in the Plan and to receive Awards under the Plan shall, subject to Section 5.2, be such Persons who are employees (including officers and directors) of or independent contractors providing services to the Company or its Subsidiaries as the Committee shall select. Awards may be made to employees or independent contractors who hold or have held Awards under the Plan or any similar or other awards under any other plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates. 5.2 INELIGIBILITY. No member of the Committee, while serving as such, shall be eligible to receive an Award. ARTICLE VI STOCK OPTIONS 6.1 GRANT OF OPTIONS. Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Committee shall designate from time to time those eligible Persons to be granted Options, the time when each Option shall be granted to such eligible Persons, the series and number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Option, and, subject to Section 6.2, the purchase price of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option. 7 6.2 OPTION PRICE. The price at which shares may be purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be fixed by the Committee and may be more than, less than or equal to the Fair Market Value of the shares of the applicable series of Common Stock subject to the Option as of the date the Option is granted. 6.3 TERM OF OPTIONS. Subject to the provisions of the Plan with respect to death, retirement and termination of employment, the term of each Option shall be for such period as the Committee shall determine as set forth in the applicable Agreement. 6.4 EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. An Option granted under the Plan shall become (and remain) exercisable during the term of the Option to the extent provided in the applicable Agreement and the Plan and, unless the Agreement otherwise provides, may be exercised to the extent exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time during such term; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that subsequent to the grant of an Option, the Committee, at any time before complete termination of such Option, may accelerate the time or times at which such Option may be exercised in whole or in part (without reducing the term of such Option). 6.5 MANNER OF EXERCISE. (a) FORM OF PAYMENT. An Option shall be exercised by written notice to the Company upon such terms and conditions as the Agreement may provide and in accordance with such other procedures for the exercise of Options as the Committee may establish from time to time. The method or methods of payment of the purchase price for the shares to be purchased upon exercise of an Option and of any amounts required by Section 11.9 shall be determined by the Committee and may consist of (i) cash, (ii) check, (iii) promissory note (subject to applicable law), (iv) whole shares of any series of Common Stock, (v) the withholding of shares of the applicable series of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise of the Option, (vi) the delivery, together with a properly executed exercise notice, of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds required to pay the purchase price, or (vii) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment, or such other consideration and method of payment as may be permitted for the issuance of shares under the Delaware General Corporation Law. The permitted method or methods of payment of the amounts payable upon exercise of an Option, if other than in cash, shall be set forth in the applicable Agreement and may be subject to such conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. (b) VALUE OF SHARES. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement, shares of any series of Common Stock delivered in payment of all or any part of the amounts payable in connection with the exercise of an Option, and shares of any series of Common Stock withheld for such payment, shall be valued for such purpose at their Fair Market Value as of the exercise date. (c) ISSUANCE OF SHARES. The Company shall effect the transfer of the shares of Common Stock purchased under the Option as soon as practicable after the exercise thereof and payment in full of the purchase price therefor and of any amounts required by 8 Section 11.9, and within a reasonable time thereafter, such transfer shall be evidenced on the books of the Company. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement, (i) no Holder or other Person exercising an Option shall have any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to an Option granted under the Plan until due exercise and full payment has been made, and (ii) no adjustment shall be made for cash dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such due exercise and full payment. 6.6 NONTRANSFERABILITY. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement, Options shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, and, except as otherwise required pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, Options may be exercised during the lifetime of the Holder thereof only by such Holder (or his or her court-appointed legal representative). ARTICLE VII SARs 7.1 GRANT OF SARs. Subject to the limitations of the Plan, SARs may be granted by the Committee to such eligible Persons in such numbers, with respect to any specified series of Common Stock, and at such times during the term of the Plan as the Committee shall determine. A SAR may be granted to a Holder of an Option (hereinafter called a "related Option") with respect to all or a portion of the shares of Common Stock subject to the related Option (a "Tandem SAR") or may be granted separately to an eligible employee (a "Free Standing SAR"). Subject to the limitations of the Plan, SARs shall be exercisable in whole or in part upon notice to the Company upon such terms and conditions as are provided in the Agreement. 7.2 TANDEM SARs. A Tandem SAR may be granted either concurrently with the grant of the related Option or at any time thereafter prior to the complete exercise, termination, expiration or cancellation of such related Option. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent that the related Option is exercisable (and may be subject to such additional limitations on exercisability as the Agreement may provide) and in no event after the complete termination or full exercise of the related Option. Upon the exercise or termination of the related Option, the Tandem SARs with respect thereto shall be canceled automatically to the extent of the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the related Option was so exercised or terminated. Subject to the limitations of the Plan, upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR and unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement, (i) the Holder thereof shall be entitled to receive from the Company, for each share of the applicable series of Common Stock with respect to which the Tandem SAR is being exercised, consideration (in the form determined as provided in Section 7.4) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of the applicable series of Common Stock with respect to which the Tandem SAR was granted on the date of exercise over the related Option purchase price per share, and (ii) the related Option with respect thereto shall be canceled automatically to the extent of the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Tandem SAR was so exercised. 9 7.3 FREE STANDING SARs. Free Standing SARs shall be exercisable at the time, to the extent and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Agreement. The base price of a Free Standing SAR may be more than, less than or equal to the Fair Market Value of the applicable series of Common Stock with respect to which the Free Standing SAR was granted as of the date the Free Standing SAR is granted. Subject to the limitations of the Plan, upon the exercise of a Free Standing SAR and unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement, the Holder thereof shall be entitled to receive from the Company, for each share of the applicable series of Common Stock with respect to which the Free Standing SAR is being exercised, consideration (in the form determined as provided in Section 7.4) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of the applicable series of Common Stock with respect to which the Free Standing SAR was granted on the date of exercise over the base price per share of such Free Standing SAR. 7.4 CONSIDERATION. The consideration to be received upon the exercise of a SAR by the Holder shall be paid in cash, shares of the applicable series of Common Stock with respect to which the SAR was granted (valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of such SAR), a combination of cash and such shares of the applicable series of Common Stock or such other consideration, in each case, as provided in the Agreement. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issuable upon exercise of a SAR, and unless otherwise provided in the applicable Agreement, the Holder will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, to the extent a Free Standing SAR is exercisable, it will be exercised automatically for cash on its expiration date. 7.5 LIMITATIONS. The applicable Agreement may provide for a limit on the amount payable to a Holder upon exercise of SARs at any time or in the aggregate, for a limit on the number of SARs that may be exercised by the Holder in whole or in part for cash during any specified period, for a limit on the time periods during which a Holder may exercise SARs, and for such other limits on the rights of the Holder and such other terms and conditions of the SAR, including a condition that the SAR may be exercised only in accordance with rules and regulations adopted from time to time, as the Committee may determine. Unless otherwise so provided in the applicable Agreement, any such limit relating to a Tandem SAR shall not restrict the exercisability of the related Option. Such rules and regulations may govern the right to exercise SARs granted prior to the adoption or amendment of such rules and regulations as well as SARs granted thereafter. 7.6 EXERCISE. For purposes of this Article VII, the date of exercise of a SAR shall mean the date on which the Company shall have received notice from the Holder of the SAR of the exercise of such SAR (unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement). 7.7 NONTRANSFERABILITY. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement, (i) SARs shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, and (ii) except as otherwise required pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, SARs may be exercised during the lifetime of the Holder thereof only by such Holder (or his or her court-appointed legal representative). 10 ARTICLE VIII RESTRICTED SHARES 8.1 GRANT. Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Committee shall designate those eligible Persons to be granted Awards of Restricted Shares, shall determine the time when each such Award shall be granted, shall determine whether shares of Common Stock covered by Awards of Restricted Shares will be issued at the beginning or the end of the Restriction Period and whether Dividend Equivalents will be paid during the Restriction Period in the event shares of the applicable series of Common Stock are to be issued at the end of the Restriction Period, and shall designate (or set forth the basis for determining) the Vesting Date or Vesting Dates for each Award of Restricted Shares, and may prescribe other restrictions, terms and conditions applicable to the vesting of such Restricted Shares in addition to those provided in the Plan. The Committee shall determine the price, if any, to be paid by the Holder for the Restricted Shares; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the issuance of Restricted Shares shall be made for at least the minimum consideration necessary to permit such Restricted Shares to be deemed fully paid and nonassessable. All determinations made by the Committee pursuant to this Section 8.1 shall be specified in the Agreement. 8.2 ISSUANCE OF RESTRICTED SHARES AT BEGINNING OF THE RESTRICTION PERIOD. If shares of the applicable series of Common Stock are issued at the beginning of the Restriction Period, the stock certificate or certificates representing such Restricted Shares shall be registered in the name of the Holder to whom such Restricted Shares shall have been awarded. During the Restriction Period, certificates representing the Restricted Shares and any securities constituting Retained Distributions shall bear a restrictive legend to the effect that ownership of the Restricted Shares (and such Retained Distributions), and the enjoyment of all rights appurtenant thereto, are subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions provided in the Plan and the applicable Agreement. Such certificates shall remain in the custody of the Company or its designee, and the Holder shall deposit with the custodian stock powers or other instruments of assignment, each endorsed in blank, so as to permit retransfer to the Company of all or any portion of the Restricted Shares and any securities constituting Retained Distributions that shall be forfeited or otherwise not become vested in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Agreement. 8.3 RESTRICTIONS. Restricted Shares issued at the beginning of the Restriction Period shall constitute issued and outstanding shares of the applicable series of Common Stock for all corporate purposes. The Holder will have the right to vote such Restricted Shares, to receive and retain such dividends and distributions, as the Committee may designate, paid or distributed on such Restricted Shares, and to exercise all other rights, powers and privileges of a Holder of shares of the applicable series of Common Stock with respect to such Restricted Shares; EXCEPT, THAT, unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement, (i) the Holder will not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate or certificates representing such Restricted Shares until the Restriction Period shall have expired and unless all other vesting requirements with respect thereto shall have been fulfilled or waived; (ii) the Company or its designee will retain custody of the stock certificate or certificates representing the Restricted Shares during the Restriction Period as provided in Section 8.2; (iii) other than such dividends 11 and distributions as the Committee may designate, the Company or its designee will retain custody of all distributions ("Retained Distributions") made or declared with respect to the Restricted Shares (and such Retained Distributions will be subject to the same restrictions, terms and vesting, and other conditions as are applicable to the Restricted Shares) until such time, if ever, as the Restricted Shares with respect to which such Retained Distributions shall have been made, paid or declared shall have become vested, and such Retained Distributions shall not bear interest or be segregated in a separate account; (iv) the Holder may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, exchange, encumber or dispose of the Restricted Shares or any Retained Distributions or his interest in any of them during the Restriction Period; and (v) a breach of any restrictions, terms or conditions provided in the Plan or established by the Committee with respect to any Restricted Shares or Retained Distributions will cause a forfeiture of such Restricted Shares and any Retained Distributions with respect thereto. 8.4 ISSUANCE OF STOCK AT END OF THE RESTRICTION PERIOD. Restricted Shares issued at the end of the Restriction Period shall not constitute issued and outstanding shares of the applicable series of Common Stock, and the Holder shall not have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered by such an Award of Restricted Shares, in each case until such shares shall have been transferred to the Holder at the end of the Restriction Period. If and to the extent that shares of Common Stock are to be issued at the end of the Restriction Period, the Holder shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered thereby either (i) during the Restriction Period or (ii) in accordance with the rules applicable to Retained Distributions, as the Committee may specify in the Agreement. 8.5 CASH PAYMENTS. In connection with any Award of Restricted Shares, an Agreement may provide for the payment of a cash amount to the Holder of such Restricted Shares at any time after such Restricted Shares shall have become vested. Such cash amounts shall be payable in accordance with such additional restrictions, terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by the Committee in the Agreement and shall be in addition to any other salary, incentive, bonus or other compensation payments which such Holder shall be otherwise entitled or eligible to receive from the Company. 8.6 COMPLETION OF RESTRICTION PERIOD. On the Vesting Date with respect to each Award of Restricted Shares and the satisfaction of any other applicable restrictions, terms and conditions, (i) all or the applicable portion of such Restricted Shares shall become vested, (ii) any Retained Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents with respect to such Restricted Shares shall become vested to the extent that the Restricted Shares related thereto shall have become vested, and (iii) any cash amount to be received by the Holder with respect to such Restricted Shares shall become payable, all in accordance with the terms of the applicable Agreement. Any such Restricted Shares, Retained Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents that shall not become vested shall be forfeited to the Company, and the Holder shall not thereafter have any rights (including dividend and voting rights) with respect to such Restricted Shares, Retained Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents that shall have been so forfeited. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide that the delivery of any Restricted Shares, Retained Distributions and unpaid Dividend Equivalents that shall have become vested, and payment of any related cash amounts that shall have become payable under 12 this Article VIII, shall be deferred until such date or dates as the recipient may elect. Any election of a recipient pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be filed in writing with the Committee in accordance with such rules and regulations, including any deadline for the making of such an election, as the Committee may provide. ARTICLE IX STOCK UNITS 9.1 GRANT. In addition to granting Awards of Options, SARs and Restricted Shares, the Committee shall, subject to the limitations of the Plan, have authority to grant to eligible Persons Awards of Stock Units which may be in the form of shares of any specified series of Common Stock or units, the value of which is based, in whole or in part, on the Fair Market Value of the shares of any specified series of Common Stock. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, including any rules established pursuant to Section 9.2, Awards of Stock Units shall be subject to such terms, restrictions, conditions, vesting requirements and payment rules as the Committee may determine in its discretion, which need not be identical for each Award. The determinations made by the Committee pursuant to this Section 9.1 shall be specified in the applicable Agreement. 9.2 RULES. The Committee may, in its discretion, establish any or all of the following rules for application to an Award of Stock Units: (a) Any shares of Common Stock which are part of an Award of Stock Units may not be assigned, sold, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered prior to the date on which the shares are issued or, if later, the date provided by the Committee at the time of the Award. (b) Such Awards may provide for the payment of cash consideration by the Person to whom such Award is granted or provide that the Award, and any shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection therewith, if applicable, shall be delivered without the payment of cash consideration; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the issuance of any shares of Common Stock in connection with an Award of Stock Units shall be for at least the minimum consideration necessary to permit such shares to be deemed fully paid and nonassessable. (c) Awards of Stock Units may provide for deferred payment schedules, vesting over a specified period of employment, the payment (on a current or deferred basis) of dividend equivalent amounts with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Award, and elections by the employee to defer payment of the Award or the lifting of restrictions on the Award, if any. (d) In such circumstances as the Committee may deem advisable, the Committee may waive or otherwise remove, in whole or in part, any restrictions or limitations to which a Stock Unit Award was made subject at the time of grant. 13 ARTICLE X CASH AWARDS AND PERFORMANCE AWARDS 10.1 CASH AWARDS. In addition to granting Options, SARs, Restricted Shares and Stock Units, the Committee shall, subject to the limitations of the Plan, have authority to grant to eligible Persons Cash Awards. Each Cash Award shall be subject to such terms and conditions, restrictions and contingencies, if any, as the Committee shall determine. Restrictions and contingencies limiting the right to receive a cash payment pursuant to a Cash Award shall be based upon the achievement of single or multiple Performance Objectives over a performance period established by the Committee. The determinations made by the Committee pursuant to this Section 10.1 shall be specified in the applicable Agreement. 10.2 DESIGNATION AS A PERFORMANCE AWARD. The Committee shall have the right to designate any Award of Options, SARs, Restricted Shares or Stock Units as a Performance Award. All Cash Awards shall be designated as Performance Awards. 10.3 PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES. The grant or vesting of a Performance Award shall be subject to the achievement of Performance Objectives over a performance period established by the Committee based upon one or more of the following business criteria that apply to the Holder, one or more business units, divisions or Subsidiaries of the Company or the applicable sector of the Company, or the Company as a whole, and if so desired by the Committee, by comparison with a peer group of companies: increased revenue; net income measures (including income after capital costs and income before or after taxes); stock price measures (including growth measures and total stockholder return); price per share of Common Stock; market share; earnings per share (actual or targeted growth); earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); economic value added (or an equivalent metric); market value added; debt to equity ratio; cash flow measures (including cash flow return on capital, cash flow return on tangible capital, net cash flow and net cash flow before financing activities); return measures (including return on equity, return on average assets, return on capital, risk-adjusted return on capital, return on investors' capital and return on average equity); operating measures (including operating income, funds from operations, cash from operations, after-tax operating income, sales volumes, production volumes and production efficiency); expense measures (including overhead cost and general and administrative expense); margins; stockholder value; total stockholder return; proceeds from dispositions; total market value and corporate values measures (including ethics compliance, environmental and safety). Unless otherwise stated, such a Performance Objective need not be based upon an increase or positive result under a particular business criterion and could include, for example, maintaining the status quo or limiting economic losses (measured, in each case, by reference to specific business criteria). The Committee shall have the authority to determine whether the Performance Objectives and other terms and conditions of the Award are satisfied, and the Committee's determination as to the achievement of Performance Objectives relating to a Performance Award shall be made in writing. 10.4 SECTION 162(m) OF THE CODE. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, if the Committee intends for a Performance Award to be granted and administered in a manner designed to preserve the deductibility of the compensation resulting from such Award in 14 accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code, then the Performance Objectives for such particular Performance Award relative to the particular period of service to which the Performance Objectives relate shall be established by the Committee in writing (i) no later than 90 days after the beginning of such period and (ii) prior to the completion of 25% of such period. 10.5 WAIVER OF PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES. The Committee shall have no discretion to modify or waive the Performance Objectives or conditions to the grant or vesting of a Performance Award unless such Award is not intended to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and the relevant Agreement provides for such discretion. ARTICLE XI GENERAL PROVISIONS 11.1 ACCELERATION OF AWARDS. (a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. If a Holder's employment shall terminate by reason of death or Disability, notwithstanding any contrary waiting period, installment period, vesting schedule or Restriction Period in any Agreement or in the Plan, unless the applicable Agreement provides otherwise: (i) in the case of an Option or SAR, each outstanding Option or SAR granted under the Plan shall immediately become exercisable in full in respect of the aggregate number of shares covered thereby; (ii) in the case of Restricted Shares, the Restriction Period applicable to each such Award of Restricted Shares shall be deemed to have expired and all such Restricted Shares, any related Retained Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents shall become vested and any related cash amounts payable pursuant to the applicable Agreement shall be adjusted in such manner as may be provided in the Agreement; and (iii) in the case of Stock Units, each such Award of Stock Units shall become vested in full. (b) APPROVED TRANSACTIONS; BOARD CHANGE; CONTROL PURCHASE. In the event of any Approved Transaction, Board Change or Control Purchase, notwithstanding any contrary waiting period, installment period, vesting schedule or Restriction Period in any Agreement or in the Plan, unless the applicable Agreement provides otherwise: (i) in the case of an Option or SAR, each such outstanding Option or SAR granted under the Plan shall become exercisable in full in respect of the aggregate number of shares covered thereby; (ii) in the case of Restricted Shares, the Restriction Period applicable to each such Award of Restricted Shares shall be deemed to have expired and all such Restricted Shares, any related Retained Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents shall become vested and any related cash amounts payable pursuant to the applicable Agreement shall be adjusted in such manner as may be provided in the Agreement; and (iii) in the case of Stock Units, each such Award of Stock Units shall become vested in full, in each case effective upon the Board Change or Control Purchase or immediately prior to consummation of the Approved Transaction. The effect, if any, on a Cash Award of an Approved Transaction, Board Change or Control Purchase shall be prescribed in the applicable Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise provided in the 15 applicable Agreement, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that any or all outstanding Awards of any or all types granted pursuant to the Plan will not vest or become exercisable on an accelerated basis in connection with an Approved Transaction if effective provision has been made for the taking of such action which, in the opinion of the Committee, is equitable and appropriate to substitute a new Award for such Award or to assume such Award and to make such new or assumed Award, as nearly as may be practicable, equivalent to the old Award (before giving effect to any acceleration of the vesting or exercisability thereof), taking into account, to the extent applicable, the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets into or for which the applicable series of Common Stock may be changed, converted or exchanged in connection with the Approved Transaction. 11.2 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) GENERAL. If a Holder's employment shall terminate prior to the complete exercise of an Option or SAR (or deemed exercise thereof, as provided in Section 7.2) or during the Restriction Period with respect to any Restricted Shares or prior to the vesting or complete exercise of any Stock Units, then such Option, SAR or Stock Unit shall thereafter be exercisable, and the Holder's rights to any unvested Restricted Shares, Retained Distributions, unpaid Dividend Equivalents and related cash amounts and any such unvested Stock Units shall thereafter vest, in each case solely to the extent provided in the applicable Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement, (i) no Option or SAR may be exercised after the scheduled expiration date thereof; (ii) if the Holder's employment terminates by reason of death or Disability, the Option or SAR shall remain exercisable for a period of at least one year following such termination (but not later than the scheduled expiration of such Option or SAR); and (iii) any termination of the Holder's employment for cause will be treated in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.2(b). The effect on a Cash Award of the termination of a Holder's employment for any reason, including by reason of death or Disability or for cause, shall be prescribed in the applicable Agreement. (b) TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. If a Holder's employment with the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall be terminated by the Company or such Subsidiary during the Restriction Period with respect to any Restricted Shares, or prior to the exercise of any Option or SAR or prior to the vesting or complete exercise of any Stock Unit for cause (for these purposes, cause shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in any employment agreement to which such Holder is a party or, in the absence thereof, shall include, but not be limited to, insubordination, dishonesty, incompetence, moral turpitude, other misconduct of any kind and the refusal to perform his duties and responsibilities for any reason other than illness or incapacity; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such termination occurs within 12 months after an Approved Transaction or Control Purchase or Board Change, termination for cause shall mean only a felony conviction for fraud, misappropriation, or embezzlement), then, unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement, (i) all Options and SARs and all unvested or unexercised Stock Units held by such Holder shall immediately terminate 16 and (ii) such Holder's rights to all Restricted Shares, Retained Distributions, any unpaid Dividend Equivalents and any related cash amounts shall be forfeited immediately. (c) MISCELLANEOUS. The Committee may determine whether any given leave of absence constitutes a termination of employment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that for purposes of the Plan, (i) a leave of absence, duly authorized in writing by the Company for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company if the period of such leave does not exceed 90 days, and (ii) a leave of absence in excess of 90 days, duly authorized in writing by the Company provided the employee's right to reemployment is guaranteed either by statute or contract, shall not be deemed a termination of employment. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and provided in the applicable Agreement, Awards made under the Plan shall not be affected by any change of employment so long as the Holder continues to be an employee of the Company. 11.3 RIGHT OF COMPANY TO TERMINATE EMPLOYMENT. Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Award, and no action of the Company or the Committee with respect thereto, shall confer or be construed to confer on any Holder any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to terminate the employment of the Holder at any time, with or without cause, subject, however, to the provisions of any employment agreement between the Holder and the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. 11.4 NONALIENATION OF BENEFITS. Except as set forth herein, no right or benefit under the Plan shall be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, hypothecation, pledge, exchange, transfer, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge, exchange, transfer, encumber or charge the same shall be void. No right or benefit hereunder shall in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities or torts of the Person entitled to such benefits. 11.5 WRITTEN AGREEMENT. Each Award of Options shall be evidenced by a stock option agreement; each Award of SARs shall be evidenced by a stock appreciation rights agreement; each Award of Restricted Shares shall be evidenced by a restricted shares agreement; each Award of Stock Units shall be evidenced by a stock units agreement; each Cash Award shall be evidenced by a cash award agreement; and each Performance Award shall be evidenced by a performance award agreement, each in such form and containing such terms and provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee from time to time shall approve; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if more than one type of Award is made to the same Holder, such Awards may be evidenced by a single Agreement with such Holder. Each grantee of an Option, SAR, Restricted Shares, Stock Units, Cash Award or Performance Award shall be notified promptly of such grant, and a written Agreement shall be promptly executed and delivered by the Company. Any such written Agreement may contain (but shall not be required to contain) such provisions as the Committee deems appropriate (i) to insure that the penalty provisions of Section 4999 of the Code will not apply to any stock or cash received by the Holder from the Company or (ii) to provide cash payments to the Holder to mitigate the impact of such penalty provisions upon the Holder. Any such Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time as approved by the Committee as contemplated by Section 11.7(b). 17 11.6 DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARIES. Each Person who shall be granted an Award under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries and may change such designation from time to time by filing a written designation of beneficiary or beneficiaries with the Committee on a form to be prescribed by it, provided that no such designation shall be effective unless so filed prior to the death of such Person. 11.7 TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT. (a) GENERAL. Unless the Plan shall theretofore have been terminated as hereinafter provided, no Awards may be made under the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. The Plan may be terminated at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date and may, from time to time, be suspended or discontinued or modified or amended if such action is deemed advisable by the Committee. (b) MODIFICATION. No termination, modification or amendment of the Plan may, without the consent of the Person to whom any Award shall theretofore have been granted, adversely affect the rights of such Person with respect to such Award. No modification, extension, renewal or other change in any Award granted under the Plan shall be made after the grant of such Award, unless the same is consistent with the provisions of the Plan. With the consent of the Holder and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan (including Section 11.7(a)), the Committee may amend outstanding Agreements with any Holder, including any amendment which would (i) accelerate the time or times at which the Award may be exercised and/or (ii) extend the scheduled expiration date of the Award. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may, but solely with the Holder's consent unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, agree to cancel any Award under the Plan and grant a new Award in substitution therefor, provided that the Award so substituted shall satisfy all of the requirements of the Plan as of the date such new Award is made. Nothing contained in the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.7(b) shall be construed to prevent the Committee from providing in any Agreement that the rights of the Holder with respect to the Award evidenced thereby shall be subject to such rules and regulations as the Committee may, subject to the express provisions of the Plan, adopt from time to time or impair the enforceability of any such provision. 11.8 GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS. The obligation of the Company with respect to Awards shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and such approvals by any governmental agencies as may be required, including the effectiveness of any registration statement required under the Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or association on which the Common Stock may be listed or quoted. For so long as any series of Common Stock are registered under the Exchange Act, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to comply with any legal requirements (i) to maintain a registration statement in effect under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to all shares of the applicable series of Common Stock that may be issued to Holders under the Plan and (ii) to file in a timely manner all reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act. 18 11.9 WITHHOLDING. The Company's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock or pay cash in respect of any Award under the Plan shall be subject to applicable federal, state and local tax withholding requirements. Federal, state and local withholding tax due at the time of an Award, upon the exercise of any Option or SAR or upon the vesting of, or expiration of restrictions with respect to, Restricted Shares or Stock Units or the satisfaction of the Performance Objectives applicable to a Performance Award, as appropriate, may, in the discretion of the Committee, be paid in shares of the applicable series of Common Stock already owned by the Holder or through the withholding of shares otherwise issuable to such Holder, upon such terms and conditions (including the conditions referenced in Section 6.5) as the Committee shall determine. If the Holder shall fail to pay, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee for the payment to the Company of, all such federal, state and local taxes required to be withheld by the Company, then the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Holder an amount equal to any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required to be withheld by the Company with respect to such Award. 11.10 NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN. The adoption of the Plan by the Board or the Committee shall not be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including the granting of stock options and the awarding of stock and cash otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. 11.11 EXCLUSION FROM PENSION AND PROFIT-SHARING COMPUTATION. By acceptance of an Award, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Agreement, each Holder shall be deemed to have agreed that such Award is special incentive compensation that will not be taken into account, in any manner, as salary, compensation or bonus in determining the amount of any payment under any pension, retirement or other employee benefit plan, program or policy of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. In addition, each beneficiary of a deceased Holder shall be deemed to have agreed that such Award will not affect the amount of any life insurance coverage, if any, provided by the Company on the life of the Holder which is payable to such beneficiary under any life insurance plan covering employees of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. 11.12 UNFUNDED PLAN. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company shall be required to segregate any cash or any shares of Common Stock which may at any time be represented by Awards, and the Plan shall constitute an "unfunded" plan of the Company. Except as provided in Article VIII with respect to Awards of Restricted Shares and except as expressly set forth in an Agreement, no employee shall have voting or other rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered by an Award prior to the delivery of such shares. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company shall, by any provisions of the Plan, be deemed to be a trustee of any shares of Common Stock or any other property, and the liabilities of the Company and any Subsidiary of the Company to any employee pursuant to the Plan shall be those of a debtor pursuant to such contract obligations as are created by or pursuant to the Plan, and the rights of any employee, former employee or beneficiary under the Plan shall be limited to those of a general creditor of the Company or the applicable Subsidiary of the 19 Company, as the case may be. In its sole discretion, the Board may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations of the Company under the Plan, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan. 11.13 GOVERNING LAW. The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware. 11.14 ACCOUNTS. The delivery of any shares of Common Stock and the payment of any amount in respect of an Award shall be for the account of the Company or the applicable Subsidiary of the Company, as the case may be, and any such delivery or payment shall not be made until the recipient shall have paid or made satisfactory arrangements for the payment of any applicable withholding taxes as provided in Section 11.9. 11.15 LEGENDS. Each certificate evidencing shares of Common Stock subject to an Award shall bear such legends as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect or refer to any terms, conditions or restrictions of the Award applicable to such shares, including any to the effect that the shares represented thereby may not be disposed of unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, acceptable to the Company, that such disposition will not violate any federal or state securities laws. 11.16 COMPANY'S RIGHTS. The grant of Awards pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make reclassifications, reorganizations or other changes of or to its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, liquidate, sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of its business or assets. 20 EX-10.17 3 a2152779zex-10_17.txt EX 10.17 EXHIBIT 10.17 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION 2000 INCENTIVE PLAN (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE APRIL 19, 2004) NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT THIS NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of_________________, 2004 (the "Effective Date"), by and between LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the individual whose name, address and social security number appear on the signature page hereto (the "Grantee"). The Company has adopted the Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated April 19, 2004) (the "Plan"), a copy of which is attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A and by this reference made a part hereof, for the benefit of eligible employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein will have the meaning given thereto in the Plan. Pursuant to the Plan, the Incentive Plan Committee (the "Committee") appointed by the Board pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Plan to administer the Plan has determined that it would be in the interest of the Company and its stockholders to award Options to Grantee, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth herein and in the Plan, in order to provide the Grantee additional remuneration for services rendered, to encourage the Grantee to remain in the employ of the Company or its Subsidiaries and to increase the Grantee's personal interest in the continued success and progress of the Company. The Company and the Grantee therefore agree as follows: 1. DEFINITIONS. The following terms, when used in this Agreement, have the following meanings: "Base Price" means $______. "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in Denver, Colorado, are required or authorized to be closed. "Cause" has the meaning specified for "cause" in Section 10.2(b) of the Plan. "Close of Business" means, on any day, 5:00 p.m., Denver, Colorado time. "Committee" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement. "Company" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Effective Date" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Grantee" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "L Options" has the meaning specified in Section 2 of this Agreement. "L Stock" has the meaning specified in Section 2 of this Agreement. "Option Shares" has the meaning specified in Section 4(a) of this Agreement. "Plan" has the meaning specified in the recitals of this Agreement. "Required Withholding Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 5 of this Agreement. "Special Termination Period" has the meaning specified in Section 7(d) of this Agreement. "Term" has the meaning specified in Section 2 of this Agreement. "Vesting Anniversary Date" means _____________________, 2004. "Year of Continuous Service" has the meaning specified in Section 7(d) of this Agreement. 2. GRANT OF OPTIONS. Subject to the terms and conditions herein, pursuant to the Plan, the Company grants to the Grantee options to purchase from the Company, exercisable during the period commencing on the Effective Date and expiring at Close of Business on _____________, 2014 (the "Term"), subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 7 below, at the Base Price, the number of shares of Liberty Media Corporation Series A Common Stock ("L Stock") set forth on the signature page hereto. The Options granted hereunder are "Nonqualified Stock Options" and are hereinafter referred to as the "L Options." The Base Price and L Options are subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 10 below. No fractional shares of L Stock will be issuable upon exercise of an L Option, and the Grantee will receive, in lieu of any fractional share of L Stock that the Grantee otherwise would receive upon such exercise, cash equal to the fraction representing such fractional share multiplied by the Fair Market Value of one share of L Stock as of the date on which such exercise is considered to occur pursuant to Section 4 below. 3. CONDITIONS OF EXERCISE. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the L Options will be exercisable only in accordance with the conditions stated in this Section 3. (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.1(b) of the Plan or in the last sentence of this Section 3(a), the L Options may be exercised only to the extent they have become exercisable in accordance with the following schedule: 2
PERCENTAGE OF L STOCK DATE OPTIONS BECOMING EXERCISABLE ---- ---------------------------- __________________________ , 2005 20% __________________________ , 2006 20% __________________________ , 2007 20% __________________________ , 2008 20% __________________________ , 2009 20% --- Total 100%
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) all L Options will become exercisable on the date of the Grantee's termination of employment if (A) the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates by reason of Disability or (B) the Grantee dies while employed by the Company or a Subsidiary, and (ii) if the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause (as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee), any L Options that otherwise would become exercisable during the remainder of the calendar year in which the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated will become exercisable on the date of the Grantee's termination of employment. (b) To the extent the L Options become exercisable, such L Options may be exercised in whole or in part (at any time or from time to time, except as otherwise provided herein) until expiration of the Term or earlier termination thereof. (c) The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Committee, in its discretion and as contemplated by Section 3.3 of the Plan, may adopt rules and regulations from time to time after the date hereof with respect to the exercise of the L Options and that the exercise by the Grantee of L Options will be subject to the further condition that such exercise is made in accordance with all such rules and regulations as the Committee may determine are applicable thereto. 4. MANNER OF EXERCISE. L Options will be considered exercised (as to the number of L Options specified in the notice referred to in Section 4(a) below) on the latest of (i) the date of exercise designated in the written notice referred to in Section 4(a) below, (ii) if the date so designated is not a Business Day, the first Business Day following such date or (iii) the earliest Business Day by which the Company has received all of the following: (a) Written notice, in such form as the Committee may require, containing such representations and warranties as the Committee may require and designating, among other things, the date of exercise and the number of shares of L Stock ("Option Shares") to be purchased; 3 (b) Payment of the Base Price for each Option Share to be purchased in any (or a combination) of the following forms: (A) cash, (B) check or (C) the delivery, together with a properly executed exercise notice, of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds required to pay the purchase price (and, if applicable the Required Withholding Amount, as described in Section 5 below); and (c) Any other documentation that the Committee may reasonably require. 5. MANDATORY WITHHOLDING FOR TAXES. The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Company will deduct from the shares of L Stock otherwise payable or deliverable upon exercise of any L Options that number of shares of L Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise) that is equal to the amount of all federal, state and local taxes required to be withheld by the Company upon such exercise, as determined by the Committee (the "Required Withholding Amount"). If the Grantee elects to make payment of the Base Price by delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds required to pay the purchase price, such instructions may also include instructions to deliver the Required Withholding Amount to the Company. In such case, the Company will notify the broker promptly of the Committee's determination of the Required Withholding Amount. 6. PAYMENT OR DELIVERY BY THE COMPANY. As soon as practicable after receipt of all items referred to in Section 4, and subject to the withholding referred to in Section 5, the Company will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Grantee certificates issued in the Grantee's name for the number of shares of L Stock purchased by exercise of L Options, and (ii) any cash payment to which the Grantee is entitled in lieu of a fractional share of L Stock, as provided in Section 2 above. Any delivery of shares of L Stock will be deemed effected for all purposes when certificates representing such shares have been delivered personally to the Grantee or, if delivery is by mail, when the stock transfer agent of the Company has deposited the certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the Grantee, and any cash payment will be deemed effected when a check from the Company, payable to the Grantee and in the amount equal to the amount of the cash payment, has been delivered personally to the Grantee or deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the Grantee. 7. EARLY TERMINATION OF L OPTIONS. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the L Options will terminate, prior to the expiration of the Term, at the time specified below:(a) Subject to Section 7(b), if the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated other than (i) by the Company or a Subsidiary (whether for Cause or without Cause) or (ii) by reason of death or Disability, then the L Options will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of the 90-day period which began on the date of termination of the Grantee's employment. (b) If the Grantee dies (i) while employed by the Company or a Subsidiary, or prior to the expiration of a period of time following termination of the Grantee's employment during which the L Options remain exercisable as provided in Section 7(a) or Section 7(c), as 4 applicable, the L Options will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of the one-year period which began on the date of the Grantee's death, or (ii) prior to the expiration of a period of time following termination of the Grantee's employment during which the L Options remain exercisable as provided in Section 7(d), the L Options will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of (A) the one-year period which began on the date of the Grantee's death or (B) the Special Termination Period, whichever period is longer. (c) Subject to Section 7(b), if the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates by reason of Disability, then the L Options will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of the one-year period which began on the date of termination of the Grantee's employment. (d) If the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause (as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee), the L Options will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of the Special Termination Period. The Special Termination Period is the period of time beginning on the date of the Grantee's termination of employment and continuing for the number of days that is equal to the sum of (a) 90, plus (b) 180 multiplied by the Grantee's total Years of Continuous Service. A Year of Continuous Service means a consecutive 12-month period, measured by the Grantee's hire date (as reflected in the payroll records of the Company or a Subsidiary) and the anniversaries of that date, during which the Grantee is employed by the Company or a Subsidiary without interruption. For purposes of determining the Grantee's Years of Continuous Service, Grantee's employment with the Company's former parent, AT&T Broadband LLC, formerly known as Tele-Communications, Inc. ("TCI"), and any predecessor of the Company or TCI will be included, provided that the Grantee's hire date with the Company or a Subsidiary occurred within 30 days following the Grantee's termination of employment with TCI or such predecessor. If the Grantee was employed by a Subsidiary at the time of such Subsidiary's acquisition by the Company, the Grantee's employment with the Subsidiary prior to the acquisition date will not be included in determining the Grantee's Years of Continuous Service unless the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines that such prior employment will be included. (e) If the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company for Cause, then the L Options will terminate immediately upon such termination of the Grantee's employment. In any event in which L Options remain exercisable for a period of time following the date of termination of the Grantee's employment as provided above, the L Options may be exercised during such period of time only to the extent the same were exercisable as provided in Section 3 above on such date of termination of the Grantee's employment. Unless the Committee otherwise determines, a change of the Grantee's employment from the Company to a Subsidiary or from one Subsidiary to another Subsidiary will be a termination of employment within the meaning of this Section 7. Notwithstanding any period of time referenced in this 5 Section 7 or any other provision of this Section 7 that may be construed to the contrary, the L Options will in any event terminate upon the expiration of the Term. 8. NONTRANSFERABILITY. During the Grantee's lifetime, the L Options are not transferable (voluntarily or involuntarily) other than pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order and, except as otherwise required pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, are exercisable only by the Grantee or the Grantee's court appointed legal representative. The Grantee may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom the L Options will pass upon the Grantee's death and may change such designation from time to time by filing a written designation of beneficiary or beneficiaries with the Committee on the form annexed hereto as Exhibit B or such other form as may be prescribed by the Committee, provided that no such designation will be effective unless so filed prior to the death of the Grantee. If no such designation is made or if the designated beneficiary does not survive the Grantee's death, the L Options will pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Following the Grantee's death, the L Options, if otherwise exercisable, may be exercised by the person to whom such option or right passes according to the foregoing and such person will be deemed the Grantee for purposes of any applicable provisions of this Agreement. 9. NO STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. Prior to the exercise of L Options in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Grantee will not be deemed for any purpose to be, or to have any of the rights of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to any shares of L Stock, nor will the existence of this Agreement affect in any way the right or power of the Company or any stockholder of the Company to accomplish any corporate act, including, without limitation, the acts referred to in Section 10.16 of the Plan. 10. ADJUSTMENTS. If the outstanding shares of L Stock are subdivided into a greater number of shares (by stock dividend, stock split, reclassification or otherwise) or are combined into a smaller number of shares (by reverse stock split, reclassification or otherwise), or if the Committee determines that any stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, split-up-spin-off, combination, exchange of shares, warrants or rights offering to purchase any shares of L Stock, or other similar corporate event (including mergers or consolidations other than those which constitute Approved Transactions, which shall be governed by Section 10.1(b) of the Plan) affects shares of L Stock such that an adjustment is required to preserve the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Agreement, then the L Options will be subject to adjustment (including, without limitation, as to the number of L Options and the Base Price per share of such L Options) in the sole discretion of the Committee and in such manner as the Committee may deem equitable and appropriate in connection with the occurrence of any of the events described in this Section 10 following the Vesting Anniversary Date. 11. RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY LAW. Without limiting the generality of Section 10.8 of the Plan, the Grantee will not exercise the L Options, and the Company will not be obligated to make any cash payment or issue or cause to be issued any shares of L Stock, if counsel to the Company determines that such exercise, payment or issuance would violate any 6 applicable law or any rule or regulation of any governmental authority or any rule or regulation of, or agreement of the Company with, any securities exchange or association upon which shares of L Stock are listed or quoted. The Company will in no event be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of the L Options or the resulting payment of cash or issuance of shares of L Stock to comply with any such law, rule, regulation or agreement. 12. NOTICE. Unless the Company notifies the Grantee in writing of a different procedure, any notice or other communication to the Company with respect to this Agreement will be in writing and will be delivered personally or sent by United States first class mail, postage prepaid and addressed as follows: Liberty Media Corporation 12300 Liberty Boulevard Englewood, Colorado 80112 Attn: Charles Y. Tanabe, Esq. Any notice or other communication to the Grantee with respect to this Agreement will be in writing and will be delivered personally, or will be sent by United States first class mail, postage prepaid, to the Grantee's address as listed in the records of the Company on the Effective Date, unless the Company has received written notification from the Grantee of a change of address. 13. AMENDMENT. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time as approved by the Committee as contemplated in Section 10.7(b) of the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the consent of the Grantee, (a) this Agreement may be amended or supplemented from time to time as approved by the Committee (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or (ii) to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company for the benefit of the Grantee or surrender any right or power reserved to or conferred upon the Company in this Agreement, subject to any required approval of the Company's stockholders and, provided, in each case, that such changes or corrections will not adversely affect the rights of the Grantee with respect to the Award evidenced hereby, or (iii) to make such other changes as the Company, upon advice of counsel, determines are necessary or advisable because of the adoption or promulgation of, or change in or of the interpretation of, any law or governmental rule or regulation, including any applicable federal or state securities laws; and (b) subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the Company, the L Options granted under this Agreement may be canceled by the Company and a new Award made in substitution therefor, provided that the Award so substituted will satisfy all of the requirements of the Plan as of the date such new Award is made and no such action will adversely affect any L Options to the extent then exercisable. 7 14. GRANTEE EMPLOYMENT. Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action of the Company or the Committee with respect hereto, will confer or be construed to confer on the Grantee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any employing Subsidiary to terminate the Grantee's employment at any time, with or without cause, subject to the provisions of any employment agreement between the Grantee and the Company or any Subsidiary. 15. NONALIENATION OF BENEFITS. Except as provided in Section 8 of this Agreement, (i) no right or benefit under this Agreement will be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, hypothecation, pledge, exchange, transfer, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge, exchange, transfer, encumber or charge the same will be void, and (ii) no right or benefit hereunder will in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities or torts of the Grantee or other person entitled to such benefits. 16. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Colorado. Each party irrevocably submits to the general jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of Colorado in any action to interpret or enforce this Agreement and irrevocably waives any objection to jurisdiction that such party may have based on inconvenience of forum. 17. CONSTRUCTION. References in this Agreement to "this Agreement" and the words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder" and similar terms include all Exhibits and Schedules appended hereto. The word "include" and all variations thereof are used in an illustrative sense and not in a limiting sense. All decisions of the Committee upon questions regarding this Agreement will be conclusive. Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan will control. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been included for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. 18. DUPLICATE ORIGINALS. The Company and the Grantee may sign any number of copies of this Agreement. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 19. RULES BY COMMITTEE. The rights of the Grantee and the obligations of the Company hereunder will be subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt from time to time. 20. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is in satisfaction of and in lieu of all prior discussions and agreements, oral or written, between the Company and the Grantee regarding the subject matter hereof. The Grantee and the Company hereby declare and represent that no promise or agreement not herein expressed has been made and that this Agreement 8 contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the Award and replaces and makes null and void any prior agreements between the Grantee and the Company regarding the Award. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, successors and assigns. 21. GRANTEE ACCEPTANCE. The Grantee will signify acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement by signing in the space provided at the end hereof and returning a signed copy to the Company. 9 SIGNATURE PAGE TO NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF_______________, 2004 BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION By: ------------------------------------- Name: ----------------------------------- Title: ---------------------------------- ACCEPTED: ---------------------------------------- Grantee Name: --------------------------- Address: -------------------------------- SSN: ------------------------------------ Number of shares of L Stock as to which Options are granted ___________________ 10 EXHIBIT A TO NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF_______________, 2004 BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE [COPY OF LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION 2000 INCENTIVE PLAN (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE APRIL 19, 2004)] 11 EXHIBIT B TO NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF_______________, 2004 BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY I, ___________________________________________ (the "Grantee"), hereby declare that upon my death (the "Beneficiary") of ___________________________ Name ______________________________________________________________________________ , Street Address City State Zip Code who is my ____________________________________________ , will be entitled to the Relationship to Grantee L Options and all other rights accorded the Grantee by the above-referenced grant agreement (the "Agreement"). It is understood that this Designation of Beneficiary is made pursuant to the Agreement and is subject to the conditions stated herein, including the Beneficiary's survival of the Grantee's death. If any such condition is not satisfied, such rights will devolve according to the Grantee's will or the laws of descent and distribution. It is further understood that all prior designations of beneficiary under the Agreement are hereby revoked and that this Designation of Beneficiary may only be revoked in writing, signed by the Grantee, and filed with the Company prior to the Grantee's death. - ----------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Date Grantee 12
EX-10.18 4 a2152779zex-10_18.txt EX 10.18 EXHIBIT 10.18 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION 2000 INCENTIVE PLAN (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE APRIL 19, 2004) STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT THIS STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of _________________ (the "Effective Date"), by and between LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the individual whose name, address, and social security number appear on the signature page hereto (the "Grantee"). The Company has adopted the Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004) (the "Plan"), a copy of which is attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A and by this reference made a part hereof, for the benefit of eligible employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein will have the meaning given to them in the Plan. Pursuant to the Plan, the Incentive Plan Committee (the "Committee") appointed by the Board pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Plan to administer the Plan has determined that it would be in the interest of the Company and its stockholders to award Free Standing SARs to Grantee, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth herein and in the Plan, in order to provide the Grantee additional remuneration for services rendered, to encourage the Grantee to remain in the employ of the Company or its Subsidiaries and to increase the Grantee's personal interest in the continued success and progress of the Company. The Company and the Grantee therefore agree as follows: 1. DEFINITIONS. The following terms, when used in this Agreement, have the following meanings: "Base Price" means $______. "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in Denver, Colorado, are required or authorized to be closed. "Cause" has the meaning specified for "cause" in Section 11.2(b) of the Plan. "Close of Business" means, on any day, 5:00 p.m., Denver, Colorado time. "Committee" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement. "Company" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Effective Date" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Grantee" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "L SAR" has the meaning specified in Section 2 of this Agreement. "L Stock" has the meaning specified in Section 2 of this Agreement. "Plan" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement. "Required Withholding Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 5 of this Agreement. "Special Termination Period" has the meaning specified in Section 7(d) of this Agreement. "Term" has the meaning specified in Section 2 of this Agreement. "Vesting Anniversary Date" means _________. "Year of Continuous Service" has the meaning specified in Section 7(d) of this Agreement. 2. GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Subject to the terms and conditions herein, pursuant to the Plan, the Company grants to the Grantee during the period commencing on the Effective Date and expiring at Close of Business on ________ (the "Term"), subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 7 below, a Free Standing SAR with respect to the number of shares of Liberty Media Corporation Series A Common Stock ("L Stock") identified on the signature page hereto (individually, an "L SAR" and collectively, the "L SARs"). Upon exercise of an L SAR in accordance with this Agreement, the Company will, subject to Section 5 below, pay to the Grantee consideration equal to the amount, if any, by which the Fair Market Value of a share of L Stock on the date of exercise exceeds the Base Price of such L SAR. 3. CONDITIONS OF EXERCISE. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the L SARs are exercisable only in accordance with the conditions stated in this Section 3. (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.1(b) of the Plan or in the last sentence of this Section 3(a), the L SARs may be exercised only to the extent they have become exercisable in accordance with the following schedule:
Percentage of L SARs Date Becoming Exercisable ---- -------------------- 20% 20% 20% 20% 20% --- Total 100%
2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) all L SARs will become exercisable on the date of the Grantee's termination of employment if (A) the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates by reason of Disability or (B) the Grantee dies while employed by the Company or a Subsidiary, and (ii) if the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause (as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee), any L SARs that otherwise would become exercisable during the remainder of the calendar year in which the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated will become exercisable on the date of the Grantee's termination of employment. (b) To the extent the L SARs become exercisable, such L SARs may be exercised in whole or in part (at any time or from time to time, except as otherwise provided herein) until expiration of the Term or earlier termination thereof. (c) The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Committee may, in its discretion and as contemplated by Section 3.3 of the Plan, adopt rules and regulations from time to time after the date hereof with respect to the exercise of the L SARs and that the exercise by the Grantee of L SARs will be subject to the further condition that such exercise is made in accordance with all such rules and regulations as the Committee may determine are applicable thereto. 4. MANNER OF EXERCISE. L SARs will be considered exercised (as to the number of L SARs specified in the notice referred to in Section 4(a) below) on the latest of (i) the date of exercise designated in the written notice referred to in Section 4(a) below, (ii) if the date so designated is not a Business Day, the first Business Day following such date or (iii) the earliest Business Day by which the Company has received all of the following: (a) Written notice, in such form as the Committee may require, containing such representations and warranties as the Committee may require and designating, among other things, the date of exercise and the number of L SARs to be exercised; and (b) Any other documentation that the Committee may reasonably require. 5. MANDATORY WITHHOLDING FOR TAXES. The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Company will deduct from the shares of L Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of any L SARs a number of shares of L Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise) that is equal to the amount of all federal, state and local taxes required to be withheld by the Company upon such exercise, as determined by the Company (the "Required Withholding Amount"). 6. DELIVERY BY THE COMPANY. As soon as practicable after receipt of all items referred to in Section 4, and subject to the withholding referred to in Section 5, the Company will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Grantee the amount of consideration determined under the final sentence of Section 2 above, which consideration shall consist of shares of L Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise), except as provided in the Plan with respect to 3 fractional shares. Any delivery of shares of L Stock will be deemed effected for all purposes when certificates representing such shares have been delivered personally to the Grantee or, if delivery is by mail, when the stock transfer agent of the Company has deposited the certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the Grantee, and any cash payment will be deemed effected when a check from the Company, payable to the Grantee and in the amount equal to the amount of the cash payment, has been delivered personally to the Grantee or deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the Grantee. 7. EARLY TERMINATION OF L SARS. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the L SARs will terminate, prior to the expiration of the Term, at the time specified below: (a) Subject to Section 7(b), if the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated other than (i) by the Company or a Subsidiary (whether for Cause or without Cause) or (ii) by reason of death or Disability of the Grantee, then the L SARs will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of the 90-day period which began on the date of termination of the Grantee's employment. (b) If the Grantee dies (i) while employed by the Company or a Subsidiary, or prior to the expiration of a period of time following termination of the Grantee's employment during which the L SARs remain exercisable as provided in Section 7(a) or Section 7(c), as applicable, the L SARs will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of the one-year period which began on the date of the Grantee's death, or (ii) prior to the expiration of a period of time following termination of the Grantee's employment during which the L SARs remain exercisable as provided in Section 7(d), the L SARs will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of (A) the one-year period which began on the date of the Grantee's death or (B) the Special Termination Period, whichever period is longer. (c) Subject to Section 7(b), if the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates by reason of Disability, then the L SARs will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of the one-year period which began on the date of termination of the Grantee's employment. (d) If the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary without Cause (as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee), the L SARs will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of the Special Termination Period. The Special Termination Period is the period of time beginning on the date of the Grantee's termination of employment and continuing for the number of days that is equal to the sum of (a) 90, plus (b) 180 multiplied by the Grantee's total Years of Continuous Service. A Year of Continuous Service means a consecutive 12-month period, measured by the Grantee's hire date (as reflected in the payroll records of the Company or a Subsidiary) and the anniversaries of that date, during which the Grantee is employed by the Company or a Subsidiary without interruption. For purposes of determining the Grantee's Years of Continuous Service, Grantee's employment with the Company's former parent, AT&T Broadband LLC, formerly known as Tele-Communications, Inc. ("TCI"), and any predecessor of the Company or TCI will be included, provided that the 4 Grantee's hire date with the Company or a Subsidiary occurred within 30 days following the Grantee's termination of employment with TCI or such predecessor. If the Grantee was employed by a Subsidiary at the time of such Subsidiary's acquisition by the Company, the Grantee's employment with the Subsidiary prior to the acquisition date will not be included in determining the Grantee's Years of Continuous Service unless the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines that such prior employment will be included. (e) If the Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminated by the Company for Cause, then the L SARs will terminate immediately upon such termination of the Grantee's employment. In any event in which L SARs remain exercisable for a period of time following the date of termination of the Grantee's employment as provided above, the L SARs may be exercised during such period of time only to the extent the same were exercisable as provided in Section 3 above on such date of termination of the Grantee's employment. Unless the Committee otherwise determines, a change of the Grantee's employment from the Company to a Subsidiary or from one Subsidiary to another Subsidiary will be a termination of employment within the meaning of this Section 7. Notwithstanding any period of time referenced in this Section 7 or any other provision of this Section 7 that may be construed to the contrary, the L SARs will in any event terminate upon the expiration of the Term. 8. AUTOMATIC EXERCISE OF L SARS. Immediately prior to the termination of L SARs as provided in Section 7(a), 7(b), 7(c) or 7(d) above or upon expiration of the Term, all remaining L SARs then exercisable will be deemed to have been exercised by the Grantee. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no exercise of LSARs will be deemed to occur upon termination of the Grantee's employment for Cause. 9. NONTRANSFERABILITY. During the Grantee's lifetime, L SARs are not transferable (voluntarily or involuntarily) other than pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order and, except as otherwise required pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, are exercisable only by the Grantee or the Grantee's court appointed legal representative. The Grantee may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom the L SARs will pass upon the Grantee's death and may change such designation from time to time by filing a written designation of beneficiary or beneficiaries with the Committee on the form annexed hereto as Exhibit B or such other form as may be prescribed by the Committee, provided that no such designation will be effective unless so filed prior to the death of the Grantee. If no such designation is made or if the designated beneficiary does not survive the Grantee's death, the L SARs will pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Following the Grantee's death, the L SARs, if otherwise exercisable, may be exercised by the person to whom such right passes according to the foregoing and such person will be deemed the Grantee for purposes of any applicable provisions of this Agreement. 10. NO SToCKHOLDER RIGHTS. The Grantee will not, by reason of the Award granted under this Agreement, be deemed for any purpose to be, or to have any of the rights of, a stockholder of the Company or of the Company with respect to any shares of L Stock, nor will the existence of this Agreement affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to accomplish any corporate act, including, without limitation, the acts referred to in Section 11.16 of the Plan. 5 11. ADJUSTMENTS. If the outstanding shares of L Stock are subdivided into a greater number of shares (by stock dividend, stock split, reclassification or otherwise) or are combined into a smaller number of shares (by reverse stock split, reclassification or otherwise), or if the Committee determines that any stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, split-up-spin-off, combination, exchange of shares, warrants or rights offering to purchase any L Stock, or other similar corporate event (including mergers or consolidations other than those which constitute Approved Transactions, which shall be governed by Section 11.1(b) of the Plan) affects shares of L Stock such that an adjustment is required to preserve the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Agreement, then the L SARs will be subject to adjustment (including, without limitation, as to the number of L SARs and the Base Price per share of such L SARs) in the sole discretion of the Committee and in such manner as the Committee may deem equitable and appropriate in connection with the occurrence of any of the events described in this Section 11 following the Vesting Anniversary Date. 12. RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY LAW. Without limiting the generality of Section 11.8 of the Plan, the Grantee will not exercise the L SARs , and the Company will not be obligated to make any cash payment or issue or cause to be issued any shares of L Stock, if counsel to the Company determines that such exercise, payment or issuance would violate any applicable law or any rule or regulation of any governmental authority or any rule or regulation of, or agreement of the Company with, any securities exchange or association upon which shares of L Stock are listed or quoted. The Company will in no event be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of the L SARs or the resulting payment of cash or issuance of L Stock to comply with any such law, rule, regulation or agreement. 13. NOTICE. Unless the Company notifies the Grantee in writing of a different procedure, any notice or other communication to the Company with respect to this Agreement will be in writing and will be delivered personally or sent by United States first class mail, postage prepaid and addressed as follows: Liberty Media Corporation 12300 Liberty Boulevard Englewood, Colorado 80112 Attn: General Counsel Any notice or other communication to the Grantee with respect to this Agreement will be in writing and will be delivered personally, or will be sent by United States first class mail, postage prepaid, to the Grantee's address as listed in the records of the Company on the Effective Date, unless the Company has received written notification from the Grantee of a change of address. 14. AMENDMENT. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time as approved by the Committee as contemplated in Section 11.7(b) of the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the consent of the Grantee, 6 (a) this Agreement may be amended or supplemented from time to time as approved by the Committee (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or (ii) to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company for the benefit of the Grantee or surrender any right or power reserved to or conferred upon the Company in this Agreement, subject to any required approval of the Company's stockholders and, provided, in each case, that such changes or corrections will not adversely affect the rights of the Grantee with respect to the Award evidenced hereby, or (iii) to make such other changes as the Company, upon advice of counsel, determines are necessary or advisable because of the adoption or promulgation of, or change in or of the interpretation of, any law or governmental rule or regulation, including any applicable federal or state securities laws; and (b) subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the Company, the L SARs granted under this Agreement may be canceled by the Company and a new Award made in substitution therefor, provided that the Award so substituted will satisfy all of the requirements of the Plan as of the date such new Award is made and no such action will adversely affect any L SARs to the extent then exercisable. 15. GRANTEE EMPLOYMENT. Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action of the Company or the Committee with respect hereto, will confer or be construed to confer on the Grantee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any employing Subsidiary to terminate the Grantee's employment at any time, with or without cause, subject to the provisions of any employment agreement between the Grantee and the Company or any Subsidiary. 16. NONALIENATION OF BENEFITS. Except as provided in Section 9 of this Agreement, (i) no right or benefit under this Agreement will be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, hypothecation, pledge, exchange, transfer, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge, exchange, transfer, encumber or charge the same will be void, and (ii) no right or benefit hereunder will in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities or torts of the Grantee or other person entitled to such benefits. 17. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Colorado. Each party irrevocably submits to the general jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of Colorado in any action to interpret or enforce this Agreement and irrevocably waives any objection to jurisdiction that such party may have based on inconvenience of forum. 18. CONSTRUCTION. References in this Agreement to "this Agreement" and the words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder" and similar terms include all Exhibits and Schedules appended hereto. The word "include" and all variations thereof are used in an illustrative sense and not in a limiting sense. All decisions of the Committee upon questions regarding this Agreement will be conclusive. Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan will control. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been included for convenience of reference 7 only, are not to be considered a part hereof and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. 19. DUPLICATE ORIGINALS. The Company and the Grantee may sign any number of copies of this Agreement. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 20. RULES BY COMMITTEE. The rights of the Grantee and the obligations of the Company hereunder will be subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt from time to time. 21. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is in satisfaction of and in lieu of all prior discussions and agreements, oral or written, between the Company and the Grantee regarding the subject matter hereof. The Grantee and the Company hereby declare and represent that no promise or agreement not herein expressed has been made and that this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the Award and replaces and makes null and void any prior agreements between the Grantee and the Company regarding the Award. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, successors and assigns. 22. GRANTEE ACCEPTANCE. The Grantee will signify acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement by signing in the space provided at the end hereof and returning a signed copy to the Company. 23. CODE SECTION 409A COMPLIANCE. If any provision of this Agreement would result in the imposition of an excise tax under Section 409A of the Code and related regulations and Treasury pronouncements ("Section 409A"), that provision will be reformed to avoid imposition of the excise tax and no action taken to comply with Section 409A shall be deemed to impair a benefit under this Agreement. [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS] 8 SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED ____________ BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION By: --------------------------------- ACCEPTED: , Grantee ----------------------- Name: ------------------------------- Address: ------------------------------- ------------------------------- SSN: ------------------------------- Number of shares of L Stock as to which L SARs are granted: ------ 9 EXHIBIT A TO STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED __________ BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE [COPY OF LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION 2000 INCENTIVE PLAN (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE APRIL 19, 2004)] 10 EXHIBIT B TO STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED __________ BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY I, ___________________________________________ (the "Grantee"), hereby declare that upon my death ______________________________ (the "Beneficiary") of NAME ______________________________________________________________________________ , STREET ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE who is my _____________________________________________, will be entitled to the RELATIONSHIP TO GRANTEE L SARs and all other rights accorded the Grantee by the above-referenced grant agreement (the "Agreement"). It is understood that this Designation of Beneficiary is made pursuant to the Agreement and is subject to the conditions stated herein, including the Beneficiary's survival of the Grantee's death. If any such condition is not satisfied, such rights will devolve according to the Grantee's will or the laws of descent and distribution. It is further understood that all prior designations of beneficiary under the Agreement are hereby revoked and that this Designation of Beneficiary may only be revoked in writing, signed by the Grantee, and filed with the Company prior to the Grantee's death. - --------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Date Grantee
EX-10.19 5 a2152779zex-10_19.txt EX 10.19 EXHIBIT 10.19 RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of [_____________ (the "Grant Date"), by and between LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the person signing as "Grantee" on the signature page hereof (the "Grantee"). The Company has adopted the Liberty Media Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (as Amended and Restated Effective April 19, 2004) (the "Plan"), a copy of which is appended to this Agreement as EXHIBIT A and by this reference made a part hereof, for the benefit of eligible employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan. Pursuant to the Plan, the Incentive Plan Committee (the "Committee") appointed by the Board pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Plan to administer the Plan, has determined that it would be in the interest of the Company and its stockholders to award shares of common stock to Grantee, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth herein and in the Plan, in order to provide Grantee with additional remuneration for services rendered, to encourage Grantee to remain in the employ of the Company or its Subsidiaries and to increase Grantee's personal interest in the continued success and progress of the Company. The Company and Grantee therefore agree as follows: 1. AWARD. Pursuant to the terms of the Plan and in consideration of the covenants and promises of Grantee herein contained, the Company hereby awards to Grantee as of the Grant Date the number of shares of Liberty Media Corporation Series A ("L") Common Stock set forth on SCHEDULE 1 hereto, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth below and in the Plan (the "Restricted Shares"). 2. ISSUANCE OF RESTRICTED SHARES AT BEGINNING OF THE RESTRICTION PERIOD. Upon issuance of the Restricted Shares, the stock certificate or certificates representing such Restricted Shares shall be registered in the name of Grantee. During the Restriction Period, certificates representing the Restricted Shares and any securities constituting Retained Distributions shall bear a restrictive legend to the effect that ownership of the Restricted Shares (and such Retained Distributions), and the enjoyment of all rights appurtenant thereto, are subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions provided in the Plan and this Agreement. Such certificates shall remain in the custody of the Company, and Grantee shall deposit with the Company stock powers or other instruments of assignment, each endorsed in blank, so as to permit retransfer to the Company of all or any portion of the Restricted Shares and any securities constituting Retained Distributions that shall be forfeited or otherwise not become vested in accordance with the Plan and this Agreement. 3. RESTRICTIONS. Restricted Shares shall constitute issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock for all corporate purposes. Grantee will have the right to vote such Restricted Shares, to receive and retain such dividends and distributions, as the Committee may in its sole discretion designate, paid or distributed on such Restricted Shares and to exercise all other rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Common Stock with respect to such Restricted Shares, except that (a) Grantee will not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate or certificates representing such Restricted Shares until the Restriction Period shall have expired and unless all other vesting requirements with respect thereto shall have been fulfilled or waived, (b) the Company will retain custody of the stock certificate or certificates representing the Restricted Shares during the Restriction Period as provided in Section 8.2 of the Plan, (c) other than such dividends and distributions as the Committee may in its sole discretion designate, the Company or its designee will retain custody of all distributions ("Retained Distributions") made or declared with respect to the Restricted Shares (and such Retained Distributions will be subject to the same restrictions, terms and vesting and other conditions as are applicable to the Restricted Shares) until such time, if ever, as the Restricted Shares with respect to which such Retained Distributions shall have been made, paid or declared shall have become vested, and such Retained Distributions shall not bear interest or be segregated in a separate account, (d) Grantee may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, exchange, encumber or dispose of the Restricted Shares or any Retained Distributions or Grantee's interest in any of them during the Restriction Period and (e) a breach of any restrictions, terms or conditions provided in the Plan or established by the Committee with respect to any Restricted Shares or Retained Distributions will cause a forfeiture of such Restricted Shares and any Retained Distributions with respect thereto. 4. VESTING AND FORFEITURE OF RESTRICTED SHARES. Subject to earlier vesting in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 7(b) below, Grantee shall become vested as to 25% of the Restricted Shares subject to this Agreement on each of the first four anniversaries of the Grant Date, each such anniversary being a Vesting Date; provided, however, that Grantee shall not vest, pursuant to this Paragraph 4, in Restricted Shares as to which Grantee would otherwise vest as of a given date if Grantee has not been continuously employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries from the date of this Agreement through such date (the vesting or forfeiture of such shares to be governed instead by the provisions of Paragraph 5). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any date on which vesting would otherwise occur is a Saturday, Sunday or a holiday, such vesting shall instead occur on the business day next following such date. 5. EARLY TERMINATION OF AWARD. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the Award shall terminate, to the extent not theretofore vested, prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, at the time specified below: (a) If Grantee's employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason other than death or Disability, then the Award, to the extent not theretofore vested, shall be forfeited immediately; (b) If Grantee dies while employed by the Company or a Subsidiary, then the Award, to the extent not theretofore vested, shall immediately become fully vested; and (c) If Grantee's employment with the Company terminates by reason of Disability, then the Award, to the extent not theretofore vested, shall immediately become fully vested. 6. COMPLETION OF THE RESTRICTION PERIOD. On the Vesting Date with respect to each award of Restricted Shares, and the satisfaction of any other applicable restrictions, terms and conditions (a) all or the applicable portion of such Restricted Shares shall become vested, (b) any 2 Retained Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents with respect to such Restricted Shares shall become vested to the extent that the Restricted Shares related thereto shall have become vested and (c) any cash award to be received by Grantee with respect to such Restricted Shares shall become payable, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Any such Restricted Shares, Retained Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents that shall not become vested shall be forfeited to the Company, and Grantee shall not thereafter have any rights (including dividend and voting rights) with respect to such Restricted Shares, Retained Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents that shall have been so forfeited. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide that the delivery of any Restricted Shares, Retained Distributions and unpaid Dividend Equivalents that shall have become vested shall be deferred until such date or dates as the recipient may elect. Any election of a recipient pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be filed in writing with the Committee in accordance with such rules and regulations, including any deadline for the making of such an election, as the Committee may provide. 7. ADJUSTMENTS. (a) The Restricted Shares shall be subject to adjustment (including, without limitation, as to the number of Restricted Shares) in the sole discretion of the Committee and in such manner as the Committee may deem equitable and appropriate in connection with the occurrence of any of the events described in Section 4.2 of the Plan following the Grant Date. (b) In the event of any Approved Transaction, Board Change or Control Purchase, the restrictions in Paragraph 3 shall lapse. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine that the restrictions in Paragraph 3 will not lapse on an accelerated basis in connection with an Approved Transaction if the Board or the surviving or acquiring corporation, as the case may be, shall have taken or made effective provision for the taking of such action as in the opinion of the Committee is equitable and appropriate to substitute a new Award for the Award evidenced by this Agreement or to assume this Agreement and the Award evidenced hereby and in order to make such new or assumed Award, as nearly as may be practicable equivalent to the Award evidenced by this Agreement as then in effect (but before giving effect to any acceleration of the exercisability hereof unless otherwise determined by the Committee), taking into account, to the extent applicable, the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets into or for which shares of L may be changed, converted or exchanged in connection with the Approved Transaction. 8. MANDATORY WITHHOLDING FOR TAXES. Upon the expiration of the Restriction Period, Grantee (or Beneficiary, as defined in Paragraph 10 below) must remit to the Company the amount of all federal, state or other governmental withholding tax requirements imposed upon the Company with respect to the vesting of Restricted Shares, unless provisions to pay such withholding requirements have been made to the satisfaction of the Committee. Upon the payment of any cash dividends with respect to Restricted Shares during the Restriction Period, the amount of such dividends shall be reduced to the extent necessary to satisfy any withholding tax requirements applicable thereto prior to payment to Grantee. 9. DELIVERY BY THE COMPANY. As soon as practicable after vesting in Restricted Shares pursuant to Paragraphs 4, 5 or 7, and subject to the withholding referred to in 3 Paragraph 8, the Company shall deliver to Grantee certificates issued in Grantee's name for the number of Restricted Shares. If delivery is by mail, delivery of shares of L shall be deemed effected for all purposes when a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have deposited the certificates in the United States mail, addressed to Grantee. 10. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF RESTRICTED SHARES BEFORE VESTING. Before vesting and during Grantee's lifetime, the Restricted Shares are not transferable (voluntarily or involuntarily) other than pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order and, except as otherwise required pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, are exercisable only by Grantee or Grantee's court appointed legal representative. The Grantee may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries (each, a "Beneficiary"), to whom the Restricted Shares shall pass upon Grantee's death and may change such designation from time to time by filing a written designation of Beneficiary or Beneficiaries with the Committee on the form annexed hereto as EXHIBIT B or such other form as may be prescribed by the Committee, provided that no such designation shall be effective unless so filed prior to the death of Grantee. If no such designation is made or if the designated Beneficiary does not survive the Grantee's death, the Restricted Shares shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Following Grantee's death, the Restricted Shares shall pass accordingly to the designated Beneficiary, and such Beneficiary shall be deemed the Grantee for purposes of any applicable provisions of this Agreement. 11. COMPANY'S RIGHTS. The existence of this Agreement shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to accomplish any corporate act, including, without limitation, the acts referred to in Section 10.16 of the Plan. 12. LIMITATION OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall be construed to: (a) give Grantee any right to be awarded any further Restricted Shares other than in the sole discretion of the Committee; or (b) give Grantee or any other person any interest in any fund or in any specified asset or assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. 13. PREREQUISITES TO BENEFITS. Neither Grantee nor any person claiming through Grantee shall have any right or interest in the Restricted Shares awarded hereunder, unless and until all the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement and the Plan which affect the Grantee or such other person shall have been complied with as specified herein. 14. RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY LAW. Without limiting the generality of Section 10.8 of the Plan, Grantee agrees that Grantee will not require the Company to deliver any Restricted Shares and that the Company will not be obligated to deliver any Restricted Shares if counsel to the Company determines that such exercise, delivery or payment would violate any applicable law or any rule or regulation of any governmental authority or any rule or regulation of, or agreement of the Company with, any securities exchange or association upon which the L Common Stock is listed or quoted. The Company shall in no event be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the delivery of any Restricted Shares to comply with any such law, rule, regulation or agreement. 4 15. NOTICE. Unless the Company notifies Grantee in writing of a different procedure or address, any notice or other communication to the Company with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the following address: Liberty Media Corporation 12300 Liberty Boulevard Englewood, Colorado 80112 Attn: Charles Y. Tanabe Any notice or other communication to Grantee with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, or shall be sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, to Grantee's address as listed in the records of the Company on the Grant Date, unless the Company has received written notification from Grantee of a change of address. 16. AMENDMENT. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time as approved by the Committee as contemplated by Section 10.7(b) of the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the consent of Grantee, (a) this Agreement may be amended or supplemented from time to time as approved by the Committee (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or (ii) to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company for the benefit of Grantee or surrender any right or power reserved to or conferred upon the Company in this Agreement, subject to any required approval of the Company's stockholders and provided, in each case, that such changes or corrections shall not adversely affect the rights of Grantee with respect to the Award evidenced hereby or (iii) to make such other changes as the Company, upon advice of counsel, determines are necessary or advisable because of the adoption or promulgation of, or change in or of the interpretation of, any law or governmental rule or regulation, including any applicable federal or state securities laws; and (b) subject to any required action by the Board or the Company's stockholders, the Award evidenced by this Agreement may be canceled by the Committee and a new Award made in substitution therefor, provided that the Award so substituted shall satisfy all of the requirements of the Plan as of the date such new Award is made and no such action shall adversely affect the Restricted Shares to the extent then vested. 17. GRANTEE EMPLOYMENT. Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action of the Company or the Committee with respect hereto, shall confer or be construed to confer on Grantee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any employing Subsidiary to terminate Grantee's employment at any time, with or without cause; subject, however, to the provisions of any employment agreement between Grantee and the Company or any Subsidiary. 18. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Colorado. Each party irrevocably submits to 5 the general jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of Colorado in any action to interpret or enforce this Agreement and irrevocably waives any objection to jurisdiction that such party may have based on inconvenience of forum. 19. CONSTRUCTION. References in this Agreement to "this Agreement" and the words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder" and similar terms include all Exhibits and Schedules appended hereto, including the Plan. This Agreement is entered into, and the Award evidenced hereby is granted, pursuant to the Plan and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Plan and the administrative interpretations adopted by the Committee thereunder. All decisions of the Committee upon questions regarding the Plan or this Agreement shall be conclusive. Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement have been included for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. 20. DUPLICATE ORIGINALS. The Company and Grantee may sign any number of copies of this Agreement. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 21. RULES BY COMMITTEE. The rights of Grantee and obligations of the Company hereunder shall be subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt from time to time hereafter. 22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is in satisfaction of and in lieu of all prior discussions and agreements, oral or written, between the Company and Grantee. Grantee and the Company hereby declare and represent that no promise or agreement not herein expressed has been made and that this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the Restricted Shares and replaces and makes null and void any prior agreements between Grantee and the Company regarding the Restricted Shares. 23. GRANTEE ACCEPTANCE. Grantee shall signify acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement by signing in the space provided at the end hereof and returning a signed copy to the Company. 6 SIGNATURE PAGE TO RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT DATED AS OF [_______], BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE. LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION By:_____________________________________ Name: Charles Y. Tanabe Title: Senior Vice President ACCEPTED: ---------------------------------------- Address: -------------------------------- -------------------------------- SSN: ------------------------------------ 7 EXHIBIT A TO RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT DATED AS OF [_______] BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION 2000 INCENTIVE PLAN (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE APRIL 19, 2004) EXHIBIT B TO RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT DATED AS OF [_______] BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY I, ____________________________________________ (the "Grantee"), hereby declare that upon my death ___________________________________________ (the Name "Beneficiary") of ____________________________________________________________ , Street Address City State Zip Code who is my _________________________________________________, shall be entitled Relationship to Grantee to the Restricted Shares and all other rights accorded the Grantee by the above-referenced grant agreement (the "Agreement"). It is understood that this Designation of Beneficiary is made pursuant to the Agreement and is subject to the conditions stated herein, including the Beneficiary's survival of the Grantee's death. If any such condition is not satisfied, such rights shall devolve according to the Grantee's will or the laws of descent and distribution. It is further understood that all prior designation of beneficiary under this Agreement are hereby revoked and that this Designation of Beneficiary may only be revoked in writing, signed by the Grantee, and filed with the Company prior to the Grantee's death. SCHEDULE 1 TO RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT DATED AS OF [________] BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE Grantee: Grant Date: Restricted Shares: [_______] shares of Liberty Media Corporation Series A Common Stock, $.01 par value per share EX-10.21 6 a2152779zex-10_21.txt EX 10.21 EXHIBIT 10.21 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION 2002 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR INCENTIVE PLAN STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT THIS STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of June 1, 2004 (the "Effective Date"), by and between LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the individual whose name, address, and social security number appear on the signature page hereto (the "Grantee"). The Company has adopted the Liberty Media Corporation 2002 Nonemployee Director Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), a copy of which is attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A and by this reference made a part hereof, for the benefit of eligible Nonemployee Directors of the Company. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein will have the meaning given to them in the Plan. Pursuant to the Plan, the Board has determined that it would be in the interest of the Company and its stockholders to award Free Standing SARs to Grantee, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth herein and in the Plan, in order to provide the Grantee additional remuneration for services rendered as a Nonemployee Director and to increase the Grantee's personal interest in the continued success and progress of the Company. The Company and the Grantee therefore agree as follows: 1. DEFINITIONS. The following terms, when used in this Agreement, have the following meanings: "Base Price" means $11.00. "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in Denver, Colorado, are required or authorized to be closed. "Close of Business" means, on any day, 5:00 p.m., Denver, Colorado time. "Company" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Effective Date" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Grantee" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "L SAR" has the meaning specified in Section 2 of this Agreement. "L Stock" has the meaning specified in Section 2 of this Agreement. "Plan" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement. "Required Withholding Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 5 of this Agreement. "Term" has the meaning specified in Section 2 of this Agreement. "Vesting Anniversary Date" means June 1, 2004. 2. GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Subject to the terms and conditions herein, pursuant to the Plan, the Company grants to the Grantee during the period commencing on the Effective Date and expiring at Close of Business on June 1, 2014 (the "Term"), subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 7 below, a Free Standing SAR with respect to the number of shares of Liberty Media Corporation Series A Common Stock ("L Stock") identified on the signature page hereto (individually, an "L SAR" and collectively, the "L SARs"). Upon exercise of an L SAR in accordance with this Agreement, the Company will, subject to Section 5 below, pay to the Grantee consideration equal to the amount, if any, by which the Fair Market Value of a share of L Stock on the date of exercise exceeds the Base Price of such L SAR. 3. CONDITIONS OF EXERCISE. Unless otherwise determined by the Board in its sole discretion, the L SARs are exercisable only in accordance with the conditions stated in this Section 3. (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.1(b) of the Plan or in the last sentence of this Section 3(a), the L SARs may be exercised only on or after June 1, 2005. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all L SARs will become exercisable on the date of the Grantee's termination of service as a Nonemployee Director if (i) the Grantee's service as a Nonemployee Director terminates by reason of Disability or (ii) the Grantee dies while serving as a Nonemployee Director. (b) To the extent the L SARs become exercisable, such L SARs may be exercised in whole or in part (at any time or from time to time, except as otherwise provided herein) until expiration of the Term or earlier termination thereof. (c) The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Board may, in its discretion and as contemplated by Section 3.3 of the Plan, adopt rules and regulations from time to time after the date hereof with respect to the exercise of the L SARs and that the exercise by the Grantee of L SARs will be subject to the further condition that such exercise is made in accordance with all such rules and regulations as the Board may determine are applicable thereto. 4. MANNER OF EXERCISE. L SARs will be considered exercised (as to the number of L SARs specified in the notice referred to in Section 4(a) below) on the latest of (i) the date of exercise designated in the written notice referred to in Section 4(a) below, (ii) if the date so designated is not a Business Day, the first Business Day following such date or (iii) the earliest Business Day by which the Company has received all of the following: (a) Written notice, in such form as the Board may require, containing such representations and warranties as the Board may require and designating, among other things, the date of exercise and the number of L SARs to be exercised; and 2 (b) Any other documentation that the Board may reasonably require. 5. WITHHOLDING FOR TAXES. The Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Company will deduct from the cash or shares of L Stock otherwise payable or deliverable upon exercise of any L SARs an amount of cash, a number of shares of L Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise) or a combination of the foregoing that is equal to the amount, if any, of all federal, state and local taxes required to be withheld by the Company upon such exercise, as determined by the Company (the "Required Withholding Amount"). 6. PAYMENT OR DELIVERY BY THE COMPANY. As soon as practicable after receipt of all items referred to in Section 4, and subject to the withholding referred to in Section 5, the Company will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Grantee the amount of consideration determined under the final sentence of Section 2 above, which consideration shall consist of cash, shares of L Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise) or a combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless the Board otherwise determines, the consideration will consist of cash in the amount equal to the Required Withholding Amount, if any (which amount will be withheld from the total amount payable to the Grantee), and the balance will be delivered to the Grantee in the form of shares of L Stock. Any delivery of shares of L Stock will be deemed effected for all purposes when certificates representing such shares have been delivered personally to the Grantee or, if delivery is by mail, when the stock transfer agent of the Company has deposited the certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the Grantee, and any cash payment will be deemed effected when a check from the Company, payable to the Grantee and in the amount equal to the amount of the cash payment, has been delivered personally to the Grantee or deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the Grantee. 7. EARLY TERMINATION OF L SARS. Unless otherwise determined by the Board in its sole discretion, the L SARs will terminate, prior to the expiration of the Term, at the time specified below: (a) Subject to Section 7(b), if the Grantee's service as a Nonemployee Director terminates other than (i) by the Company for cause or (ii) by reason of death or Disability, then the L SARs will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of the one-year period which began on the date of termination of the Grantee's service. For purposes of this Section 7, "cause" will have the meaning specified in Section 11.2(b) of the Plan. (b) If the Grantee dies while serving as a Nonemployee Director, or prior to the expiration of a period of time following termination of the Grantee's service during which the L SARs remain exercisable as provided in Section 7(a) or Section 7(c), as applicable, the L SARs will terminate at the Close of Business on the first Business Day following the expiration of the one-year period which began on the date of the Grantee's death. (c) Subject to Section 7(b), if the Grantee's service as a Nonemployee Director terminates by reason of Disability, then the L SARs will terminate at the Close of Business on the 3 first Business Day following the expiration of the one-year period which began on the date of termination of the Grantee's service. (d) If the Grantee's service as a Nonemployee Director is terminated by the Company for "cause" (as defined in Section 11.2(b) of the Plan), then the L SARs will terminate immediately upon such termination of the Grantee's service. In any event in which L SARs remain exercisable for a period of time following the date of termination of the Grantee's service as provided above, the L SARs may be exercised during such period of time only to the extent the same were exercisable as provided in Section 3 above on such date of termination of the Grantee's service. Notwithstanding any period of time referenced in this Section 7 or any other provision of this Section 7 that may be construed to the contrary, the L SARs will in any event terminate upon the expiration of the Term. 8. AUTOMATIC EXERCISE OF L SARS. Immediately prior to the termination of L SARs as provided in Section 7(a), 7(b) or 7(c) above or upon expiration of the Term, all remaining L SARs then exercisable will be deemed to have been exercised by the Grantee. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no exercise of LSARs will be deemed to occur upon termination of the Grantee's service for "cause" (as defined in Section 11.2(b) of the Plan). 9. NONTRANSFERABILITY. During the Grantee's lifetime, L SARs are not transferable (voluntarily or involuntarily) other than pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order and, except as otherwise required pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, are exercisable only by the Grantee or the Grantee's court appointed legal representative. The Grantee may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom the L SARs will pass upon the Grantee's death and may change such designation from time to time by filing a written designation of beneficiary or beneficiaries with the Board on the form annexed hereto as Exhibit B or such other form as may be prescribed by the Board, provided that no such designation will be effective unless so filed prior to the death of the Grantee. If no such designation is made or if the designated beneficiary does not survive the Grantee's death, the L SARs will pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Following the Grantee's death, the L SARs , if otherwise exercisable, may be exercised by the person to whom such right passes according to the foregoing and such person will be deemed the Grantee for purposes of any applicable provisions of this Agreement. 10. NO STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. The Grantee will not, by reason of the Award granted under this Agreement, be deemed for any purpose to be, or to have any of the rights of, a stockholder of the Company or of the Company with respect to any shares of L Stock, nor will the existence of this Agreement affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to accomplish any corporate act, including, without limitation, the acts referred to in Section 11.15 of the Plan. 11. ADJUSTMENTS. If the outstanding shares of L Stock are subdivided into a greater number of shares (by stock dividend, stock split, reclassification or otherwise) or are combined into a smaller number of shares (by reverse stock split, reclassification or otherwise), or if the Board determines that any stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, split-up-spin-off, combination, exchange of shares, warrants or rights offering to purchase any L Stock, or other similar corporate event (including mergers or 4 consolidations other than those which constitute Approved Transactions, which shall be governed by Section 11.1(b) of the Plan) affects shares of L Stock such that an adjustment is required to preserve the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Agreement, then the L SARs will be subject to adjustment (including, without limitation, as to the number of L SARs and the Base Price per share of such L SARs) in the sole discretion of the Board and in such manner as the Board may deem equitable and appropriate in connection with the occurrence of any of the events described in this Section 11 following the Vesting Anniversary Date. 12. RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY LAW. Without limiting the generality of Section 11.7 of the Plan, the Grantee will not exercise the L SARs , and the Company will not be obligated to make any cash payment or issue or cause to be issued any shares of L Stock, if counsel to the Company determines that such exercise, payment or issuance would violate any applicable law or any rule or regulation of any governmental authority or any rule or regulation of, or agreement of the Company with, any securities exchange or association upon which shares of L Stock are listed or quoted. The Company will in no event be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of the L SARs or the resulting payment of cash or issuance of L Stock to comply with any such law, rule, regulation or agreement. 13. NOTICE. Unless the Company notifies the Grantee in writing of a different procedure, any notice or other communication to the Company with respect to this Agreement will be in writing and will be delivered personally or sent by United States first class mail, postage prepaid and addressed as follows: Liberty Media Corporation 12300 Liberty Boulevard Englewood, Colorado 80112 Attn: General Counsel Any notice or other communication to the Grantee with respect to this Agreement will be in writing and will be delivered personally, or will be sent by United States first class mail, postage prepaid, to the Grantee's address as listed in the records of the Company on the Effective Date, unless the Company has received written notification from the Grantee of a change of address. 14. AMENDMENT. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time as approved by the Board as contemplated in Section 11.6(b) of the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the consent of the Grantee, (a) this Agreement may be amended or supplemented from time to time as approved by the Board (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or (ii) to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company for the benefit of the Grantee or surrender any right or power reserved to or conferred upon the Company in this Agreement, subject to any required approval of the Company's stockholders and, provided, in each case, that such changes or corrections will not adversely affect the rights of the Grantee with respect to the Award 5 evidenced hereby, or (iii) to make such other changes as the Company, upon advice of counsel, determines are necessary or advisable because of the adoption or promulgation of, or change in or of the interpretation of, any law or governmental rule or regulation, including any applicable federal or state securities laws; and (b) subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the Company, the L SARs granted under this Agreement may be canceled by the Company and a new Award made in substitution therefor, provided that the Award so substituted will satisfy all of the requirements of the Plan as of the date such new Award is made and no such action will adversely affect any L SARs to the extent then exercisable. 15. STATUS AS DIRECTOR. Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action of the Company or the Board with respect hereto, will confer or be construed to confer on the Grantee any right to continue as a director of the Company or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or its shareholders to terminate the Grantee's status as a director at any time, with or without cause. 16. NONALIENATION OF BENEFITS. Except as provided in Section 9 of this Agreement, (i) no right or benefit under this Agreement will be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, hypothecation, pledge, exchange, transfer, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge, exchange, transfer, encumber or charge the same will be void, and (ii) no right or benefit hereunder will in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities or torts of the Grantee or other person entitled to such benefits. 17. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Colorado. Each party irrevocably submits to the general jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of Colorado in any action to interpret or enforce this Agreement and irrevocably waives any objection to jurisdiction that such party may have based on inconvenience of forum. 18. CONSTRUCTION. References in this Agreement to "this Agreement" and the words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder" and similar terms include all Exhibits and Schedules appended hereto. The word "include" and all variations thereof are used in an illustrative sense and not in a limiting sense. All decisions of the Board upon questions regarding this Agreement will be conclusive. Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan will control. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been included for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. 19. DUPLICATE ORIGINALS. The Company and the Grantee may sign any number of copies of this Agreement. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 6 20. RULES BY BOARD. The rights of the Grantee and the obligations of the Company hereunder will be subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as the Board may adopt from time to time. 21. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is in satisfaction of and in lieu of all prior discussions and agreements, oral or written, between the Company and the Grantee regarding the subject matter hereof. The Grantee and the Company hereby declare and represent that no promise or agreement not herein expressed has been made and that this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the Award and replaces and makes null and void any prior agreements between the Grantee and the Company regarding the Award. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective heirs, successors and assigns. 22. GRANTEE ACCEPTANCE. The Grantee will signify acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement by signing in the space provided at the end hereof and returning a signed copy to the Company. [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS] 7 SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED JUNE 1, 2004 BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION By: ------------------------------------ Charles Y. Tanabe Senior Vice President ACCEPTED: _______________________, Grantee Name: Address: -------------------------- -------------------------- SSN: ------------------------------- Number of shares of L Stock as to which L SARs are granted: 8 EXHIBIT A TO STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED JUNE 1, 2004 BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE [COPY OF 2002 LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR INCENTIVE PLAN] 9 EXHIBIT B TO STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED JUNE 1, 2004 BETWEEN LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION AND GRANTEE DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY I, ___________________________________________ (the "Grantee"), hereby declare that upon my death __________________________________________ (the NAME "Beneficiary") of ____________________________________________________________ , STREET ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE who is my _________________________________________________, will be entitled RELATIONSHIP TO GRANTEE to the L SARs and all other rights accorded the Grantee by the above-referenced grant agreement (the "Agreement"). It is understood that this Designation of Beneficiary is made pursuant to the Agreement and is subject to the conditions stated herein, including the Beneficiary's survival of the Grantee's death. If any such condition is not satisfied, such rights will devolve according to the Grantee's will or the laws of descent and distribution. It is further understood that all prior designations of beneficiary under the Agreement are hereby revoked and that this Designation of Beneficiary may only be revoked in writing, signed by the Grantee, and filed with the Company prior to the Grantee's death. - ------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Date Grantee EX-10.23 7 a2152779zex-10_23.txt EX 10.23 EXHIBIT 10.23 DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENT THIS DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is dated as of January 1, 2004, by and between LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("the Company"), and Robert R. Bennett (the "Executive"). RECITALS The Executive is an employee of the Company. The Incentive Plan Committee of the Board (the "Committee") has determined that it would be in the interest of the Company and its stockholders to award to the Executive the benefits provided herein to provide the Executive with additional remuneration for services rendered, to encourage the Executive to remain in the employ of the Company or its Affiliates and to increase the Executive's personal interest in the continued success and progress of the Company and its Affiliates. AGREEMENT In consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the Company and the Executive agree as follows: 1. DEFINITIONS. In addition to the terms defined above, the following terms, when used in this Agreement, have the following meanings: "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any Person that directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with such Person, and "Control" means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. "Agreement" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Board" means the board of directors of the Company. "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in Denver, Colorado, are required or authorized to be closed. "Account" means the account established and maintained by the Company for the Executive pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement. "Committee" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement. "Company" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Deferred Amount" means U.S. $50,000 per annum. "Determination Date" means the last day of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs. "Executive" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Investment Return" means, as to the daily balance in the Account, 8% per annum, compounded quarterly as of the end of each calendar quarter. "Person" means a human being or a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association or other entity. "Termination Date" means the date on which the Executive ceases to be a "covered employee" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 2. ACCOUNT. The Company will establish and maintain, in the name of the Executive, an account (the "Account") to which the Company will credit (i) the Deferred Amount in quarterly installments of U.S. $12,500 at the end of each calendar quarter beginning on March 31, 2004 and continuing until the date specified in Section 3, and (ii) the Investment Return for each calendar quarter. Within 30 days after the end of each calendar year during the term of this Agreement, the Company will provide to the Executive a statement setting forth all credits to the Account during such calendar year and the balance in the Account as of the end of such calendar year. 3. TERMINATION. No installments of the Deferred Amount will be credited to the Account subsequent to the Termination Date, but the Executive will be entitled to a credit for a partial installment for the period from the most recent calendar quarter-end preceding the Termination Date to the Termination Date. In any event, the Investment Return will be credited to the Account through the Determination Date. Within 30 days following the Determination Date, the Company will deliver to the Executive cash equal to the balance in the Account as of the Determination Date, less the amount of all federal, state and other governmental withholding tax requirements imposed upon the Company. 4. BENEFITS PAYABLE FROM GENERAL ASSETS. Amounts payable hereunder will be paid exclusively from the general assets of the Company, and the Executive will not have any claim, right, security interest, or other interest in any fund, trust, account, insurance contract, or asset of the Company from which payments may be made. The Company's liability for the payment of benefits hereunder will be evidenced only by this Agreement. 2 5. NO TRUST. Nothing contained in this Agreement and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between Executive and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may elect to establish a separate trust to accumulate funds to discharge its obligations hereunder, but the Executive will have no rights, title or interest in any such trust. However, payments from any such trust will be deemed to be payments by the Company under this Agreement. 6. ALIENATION. No right or benefit under this Agreement will be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber or charge the same will be void. No right or benefit hereunder or under this Agreement will in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities or torts of the Person entitled to such benefit. 7. ADMINISTRATION; CLAIMS PROCEDURE. The administration, construction and interpretation of this Agreement will be vested in the Committee. The Executive or his legal representative will submit any claim under this Agreement in writing to the Committee. 8. NOTICE. Any notice or other communication with respect to this Agreement will be in writing and will be addressed as follows: If to the Company: Liberty Media Corporation 12300 Liberty Boulevard Englewood, Colorado 80112 Attn: Charles Y. Tanabe Facsimile: 720-875-5382 If to Executive: Robert R. Bennett xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Any notice or other communication will be deemed to have been given (a) on the date of receipt if personally delivered, (b) the date of receipt, if sent by registered or certified U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or five days after being sent by U.S. mail, postage prepaid, (c) one Business Day after receipt, if sent by confirmed facsimile or telecopier transmission or (d) one Business Day after having been sent by a nationally recognized courier service. In computing time periods, the day of the notice will be included. 3 9. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended from time to time only by a written instrument signed by the Company and the Executive. 10. EXECUTIVE'S EMPLOYMENT. Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action of the Company, the Committee or the Board with respect hereto, will confer or be construed to confer on the Executive any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Affiliates or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any employing Affiliate to terminate the Executive's employment at any time, with or without cause, subject to the provisions of any employment agreement between the Executive and the Company or any employing Affiliate. 11. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Colorado. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the general jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of Colorado in any action to interpret or enforce this Agreement, and irrevocably waives any objection to jurisdiction such party may have based on inconvenience of the forum. 12. CONSTRUCTION. References in this Agreement to "this Agreement" and the words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder" and similar terms include all Exhibits appended hereto. The word "include" and all variations thereof are used in an illustrative sense and not in a limiting sense. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been included for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. 13. DUPLICATE ORIGINALS. The Company and the Executive may sign any number of copies of this Agreement. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 14. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is in satisfaction of and in lieu of all prior discussions and agreements, oral or written, between the Company and the Executive regarding the subject matter hereof. The Executive and the Company hereby declare and represent that no promise or agreement not herein expressed has been made and that this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the deferred compensation arrangement described herein and replaces and makes null and void any prior agreements between the Executive and the Company regarding such deferred compensation arrangement. This Agreement will be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties and their respective heirs, successors and assigns. 15. SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement will be prohibited or invalid under such law, such provision will be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision of this Agreement. 4 16. EXECUTIVE'S ACCEPTANCE. The Executive will signify acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement by signing in the space provided at the end hereof and returning a signed copy to the Company. LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION By: ------------------------------------- Charles Y. Tanabe Senior Vice President ACCEPTED: ---------------------------------------- Robert R. Bennett 5 EX-10.24 8 a2152779zex-10_24.txt EX 10.24 EXHIBIT 10.24 DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENT THIS DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as of October 15, 2004, by and between LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("the Company"), and Robert R. Bennett (the "Executive"). RECITALS The Executive is an employee of the Company. The Incentive Plan Committee of the Board (the "Committee") has determined that it would be in the interest of the Company and its stockholders to award to the Executive the benefits provided herein to provide the Executive with additional remuneration for services rendered, to encourage the Executive to remain in the employ of the Company or its Affiliates and to increase the Executive's personal interest in the continued success and progress of the Company and its Affiliates. AGREEMENT In consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the Company and the Executive agree as follows: 1. DEFINITIONS. In addition to the terms defined above, the following terms, when used in this Agreement, have the following meanings: "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any Person that directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with such Person, and "Control" means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. "Agreement" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Board" means the board of directors of the Company. "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in Denver, Colorado, are required or authorized to be closed. "Account" means the account established and maintained by the Company for the Executive pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement. "Committee" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Agreement. "Company" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Deferred Amount" means U.S. $1,000,000. "Determination Date" means the last day of the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs. "Executive" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Agreement. "Investment Return" means, as to the daily balance in the Account, 8% per annum, compounded quarterly as of the end of each calendar quarter. "Person" means a human being or a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association or other entity. "Termination Date" means the date on which the Executive ceases to be a "covered employee" of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 2. ACCOUNT. The Company will establish and maintain, in the name of the Executive, an account (the "Account") to which the Company will credit (i) the Deferred Amount as of July 1, 2004, and (ii) the Investment Return for each calendar quarter beginning on or after July 1, 2004 and ending on or before the Determination Date. Within 30 days after the end of each calendar year during the term of this Agreement, the Company will provide to the Executive a statement setting forth the all credits to the Account during such calendar year and the balance in the Account as of the end of such calendar year. 3. PAYMENT FOLLOWING TERMINATION. Within 30 days following the Determination Date, the Company will deliver to the Executive cash equal to the balance in the Account as of the Determination Date, less the amount of all federal, state and other governmental withholding tax requirements imposed upon the Company. 4. BENEFITS PAYABLE FROM GENERAL ASSETS. Amounts payable hereunder will be paid exclusively from the general assets of the Company, and the Executive will not have any claim, right, security interest, or other interest in any fund, trust, account, insurance contract, or asset of the Company from which payments may be made. The Company's liability for the payment of benefits hereunder will be evidenced only by this Agreement. 2 5. NO TRUST. Nothing contained in this Agreement and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between Executive and the Company; provided, however, if the Company establishes a separate trust to accumulate funds to discharge its obligations hereunder, Executive will have no rights, title or interest in any such trust. However, payments from any such trust will be deemed to be payments by the Company under this Agreement. 6. ALIENATION. No right or benefit under this Agreement will be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber, or charge the same will be void. No right or benefit hereunder or under this Agreement will in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, or torts of the Person entitled to such benefit. 7. ADMINISTRATION; CLAIMS PROCEDURE. The administration, construction and interpretation of this Agreement will be vested in the Committee. The Executive or his legal representative will submit any claim under this Agreement in writing to the Committee. 8. NOTICE. Any notice or other communication with respect to this Agreement will be in writing and will be addressed as follows: If to the Company: Liberty Media Corporation 12300 Liberty Boulevard Englewood, Colorado 80112 Attn: Charles Y. Tanabe, Esq. Facsimile: 720-875-5382 If to the Executive: Robert R. Bennett xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Any notice or other communication will be deemed to have been given (a) on the date of receipt if personally delivered, (b) the date of receipt, if sent by registered or certified U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or five days after being sent by U.S. mail, postage prepaid, (c) one Business Day after receipt, if sent by confirmed facsimile or telecopier transmission or (d) one Business Day after having been sent by a nationally recognized courier service. In computing time periods, the day of the notice will be included. 3 9. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended from time to time only by a written instrument signed by the Company and the Executive. 10. EXECUTIVE'S EMPLOYMENT. Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action of the Company, the Committee or the Board with respect hereto, will confer or be construed to confer on the Executive any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Affiliates or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any employing Affiliate to terminate the Executive's employment at any time, with or without cause, subject to the provisions of any employment agreement between the Executive and the Company or any employing Affiliate. 11. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Colorado. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the general jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of Colorado in any action to interpret or enforce this Agreement, and irrevocably waives any objection to jurisdiction such party may have based on inconvenience of the forum. 12. CONSTRUCTION. References in this Agreement to "this Agreement" and the words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder" and similar terms include all Exhibits appended hereto. The word "include" and all variations thereof are used in an illustrative sense and not in a limiting sense. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been included for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. 13. PENDING LEGISLATION. As of the date of this Agreement, Congress has approved the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the "Bill"). If the Bill is enacted into law, certain provisions of the Bill will impose new requirements with respect to the deferral of income recognition under nonqualified deferred compensation plans. The Company and the Executive believe and intend that the provisions of current law, rather than the provisions of the Bill, will govern the arrangement under this Agreement. However, if the Bill is enacted into law and the parties determine in good faith that the provisions of the Bill are applicable to this Agreement, the Company and the Executive will cooperate in amending this Agreement in the manner and to the extent necessary to cause it to comply with the provisions of the Bill while preserving, to the maximum extent possible, the economic arrangement set forth in this Agreement. 14. DUPLICATE ORIGINALS. The Company and the Executive may sign any number of copies of this Agreement. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is in satisfaction of and in lieu of all prior discussions and agreements, oral or written, between the Company and the Executive regarding the subject matter hereof. The Executive and the Company hereby declare and represent that no promise or agreement not herein expressed has been made and that this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the deferred compensation 4 arrangement described herein and replaces and makes null and void any prior agreements between the Executive and the Company regarding such deferred compensation arrangement. This Agreement will be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties and their respective heirs, successors and assigns. 16. SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement will be prohibited or invalid under such law, such provision will be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision of this Agreement. 17. EXECUTIVE'S ACCEPTANCE. The Executive will signify acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement by signing in the space provided at the end hereof and returning a signed copy to the Company. LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION By: ------------------------------------- Charles Y. Tanabe Senior Vice President ACCEPTED: ---------------------------------------- Robert R. Bennett 5 EX-21 9 a2152779zex-21.txt EX 21 EXHIBIT 21 AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004 A TABLE OF SUBSIDIARIES OF LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION IS SET FORTH BELOW, INDICATING AS TO EACH THE STATE OR JURISDICTION OF ORGANIZATION AND THE NAMES UNDER WHICH SUCH SUBSIDIARIES DO BUSINESS. SUBSIDIARIES NOT INCLUDED IN THE TABLE ARE INACTIVE OR, CONSIDERED IN THE AGGREGATE AS A SINGLE SUBSIDIARY, WOULD NOT CONSTITUTE A SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARY. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
State/Country Name of Formation ---- ------------- 1227844 Ontario Ltd. CANADA (Ontario) A.F. Associates, Inc. DE AEI Collingham Holdings Co. Ltd. CAYMAN AEI France S.P.R.L. FRANCE AEI Holding Inc. CAYMAN AEI Music Eastern Europe B.V. NETHERLANDS AEI Music Europe BV NETHERLANDS AEI Music Network, Inc. WA AEI Reditune Music BV NETHERLANDS AEI Satellite Media Polska POLAND AEI Satellite Media Spo. CZECH REPUBLIC AFA Products Group, Inc. NJ Affiliate Marks Investments, Inc. DE Affiliate Investment, Inc. DE Affiliate Relations Holdings, Inc. DE Affiliate Sales & Marketing, Inc. DE Animal Planet, L.P. DE Aries Pictures LLC CO Ascent Entertainment Group, Inc. DE Ascent Media Creative Services, Inc. [dba Enciore Video; Riot; E-Finish] CA Ascent media Creative Sound Services, Inc. NY Ascent Media Debt, Inc. DE Ascent Media Group Limited UK Ascent Media Group, Inc. [dba Visiontext] DE Ascent Media Holdings Limited UK Ascent Media Holdings Ltd. SINGAPORE Ascent Media Limited UK Ascent Media Management Services, Inc.[dba Level 3 Post; Digital Transform] DE Ascent Media Network Services Europe Limited UK Ascent Media Network Services, Inc. CA
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State/Country Name of Formation ---- ------------- Ascent Media Pte. Ltd. SINGAPORE Ascent Media Systems and Technology Services, LLC DE Associated Information Services Corporation DE Associated PCN Company Associated PCN Holding Corporation DE Background Music BV NETHERLANDS BDTV II Inc. DE BDTV III Inc. DE BDTV Inc. DE BDTV IV, Inc. DE BET Movies/STARZ!3, LLC DE CDirect Mexico I, Inc. DE CDirect Mexico II, Inc. DE Chinese Movie and Drama Channel Venture LLC CO Commerce Technologies, Inc. NY Communication Capital Corp. DE Company 3 New York, Inc. DE Company 3, Inc. DE CVN Companies, Inc. MN CVN Direct Marketing Corp. MN CVN Distribution Co., Inc. MN CVN Management, Inc. MN CVN Michigan, Inc. MN Diamonique Corporation NJ DMX Music GERMANY DMX Music Australia Pty Limited AUSTRALIA DMX Music Canada, Inc. BC DMX Music Choice Investment Co. UK DMX Music Germany GmbH GERMANY DMX Music GmbH & Co. GERMANY DMX Music Ltd. UK DMX Music UK Ltd. UK DMX Music, Inc. DE DMX-Europe N.V. NETHERLANDS Dry Creek Productions LLC CO Encore Asia, Inc. CO Encore Australia Management, Inc. DE
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State/Country Name of Formation ---- ------------- Encore International Newco, Inc. CO Encore International, Inc. CO Encore London Limited UK Equipment OCV, Inc. DE ER Development International, Inc. PA ER Marks, Inc. DE EZShop International, Inc. DE Fine Music Servicos de Programacao Ltd. BRAZIL Four Media Company [dba Digital Image, Image Laboratory; Method; Todd Studios Burbank; Todd Burbank; Stream] DE Four Media Company Canada Ltd. BC Goosetray Investments Ltd. MAURITIUS Group W Broadcast Pte. Ltd. SINGAPORE Health Ventures Partners G.P. PA Hotel Digital Network Inc. CA Hotelevision, Inc DE IC Marks, Inc. DE IM Experience, Inc. PA Influence Marketing Corp [dba QVC @ theMall] NOVA SCOTIA Influence Marketing Services, Inc. CANADA (Ontario) Ingenius CO Innovative Retailing, Inc. DE Interactive Technology Acquisitions, Inc. DE Interactive Technology Holdings, L.L.C. DE iQVC GmbH GERMANY KSI, Inc. DE LBTW I, Inc. CO LBTW II, Inc. CO LBTW III, Inc. CO LDIG Aloy, Inc. DE LDIG Cars, Inc. DE LDIG Film, Inc. DE LDIG Financing LLC DE LDIG Food, Inc. DE LDIG Gamenet, Inc. DE LDIG House, Inc. DE LDIG ICTV Corp. DE LDIG Koz, Inc. DE LDIG Music Online, Inc. DE
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State/Country Name of Formation ---- ------------- LDIG NL, Inc. DE LDIG Online Retail, Inc. DE LDIG Order, Inc. DE LDIG OTV, Inc. DE LDIG Respond, Inc. DE LDIG UGON, Inc. DE LDIG, LLC DE Liberty Academic Systems Holdings, Inc. CO Liberty AEG, Inc. DE Liberty Aero, LLC DE Liberty AGI, LLC DE Liberty Animal, Inc. DE Liberty Associated Holdings LLC DE Liberty Associated, Inc. DE Liberty ATCL, Inc. CO Liberty Auction Holdings LLC DE Liberty Auction, Inc. DE Liberty BBandnow Holdings, LLC DE Liberty BBandnow, Inc. DE Liberty BETI, Inc. DE Liberty Broadband Interactive Television, Inc. DE Liberty Centennial Holdings, Inc. DE Liberty Challenger, LLC DE Liberty Citation, Inc. DE Liberty CM, Inc. DE Liberty CNBC, Inc. CO Liberty Court II, Inc. CO Liberty Court, Inc. WY Liberty Crown, Inc. DE Liberty CSG Cash, LLC DE Liberty CSG Warrants, LLC DE Liberty Denver Arena LLC DE Liberty Equator, Inc. DE Liberty ETC Holdings, LLC DE Liberty ETC, LLC DE Liberty EVNT, Inc. DE Liberty Family Preferred, LLC DE Liberty Finance LLC DE Liberty Geonet, Inc. DE
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State/Country Name of Formation ---- ------------- Liberty GI II, Inc. DE Liberty GI, Inc. DE Liberty GIC. Inc. CO Liberty HSN II, Inc. DE Liberty IATV Events, Inc. DE Liberty IATV Holdings, Inc. DE Liberty IATV, Inc. DE Liberty IB2, LLC DE Liberty ICGX, Inc. DE Liberty IDTC 2, Inc. DE Liberty IDTC 3, Inc. DE Liberty IDTC 4, Inc. DE Liberty IDTC, Inc. DE Liberty IDTel Holdings, Inc. DE Liberty IDTel, Inc. DE Liberty IDTMED, Inc. DE Liberty International B-L LLC DE Liberty Java, Inc. CO Liberty KI, Inc. DE Liberty KV Holdings, Inc. DE Liberty KV Partners I, LLC DE Liberty Lightspan Holdings, Inc. CO Liberty Livewire LLC DE Liberty LQ VII, LLC DE Liberty LSAT II, Inc. DE Liberty LSAT, Inc. DE Liberty LWR, Inc. DE Liberty MCNS Holdings, Inc. CO Liberty MicroUnity Holdings, Inc. CO Liberty MLP, Inc. CO Liberty N2P II, Inc. DE Liberty N2P III, Inc. DE Liberty N2P, Inc. DE Liberty NC II, Inc. DE Liberty NC III, Inc. DE Liberty NC IV, Inc. DE Liberty NC IX, Inc. DE Liberty NC V, Inc. DE Liberty NC VI, Inc. DE
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State/Country Name of Formation ---- ------------- Liberty NC VII, Inc. DE Liberty NC VIII, Inc. DE Liberty NC XII, Inc. DE Liberty NC XIII, Inc. DE Liberty NC, Inc. DE Liberty NEA, Inc. DE Liberty Next, Inc. DE Liberty NP, Inc. DE Liberty Online Health KI Holdings, Inc. CO Liberty Online Health RN Holdings, Inc. CO Liberty PCLN, Inc. DE Liberty PL2, Inc. DE Liberty PL3, LLC DE Liberty Prime, Inc. DE Liberty Programming Company LLC DE Liberty Property Holdings, Inc. DE Liberty QS, Inc. DE Liberty QVC Holding, LLC DE Liberty QVC, Inc. CO Liberty Replay, Inc. DE Liberty Satellite & Technology, Inc. DE Liberty Satellite, LLC DE Liberty SMTRK of Texas, Inc. CO Liberty SMTRK, LLC DE Liberty Sportsouth, Inc. GA Liberty Tower, Inc. DE Liberty TP Holdings, Inc. DE Liberty TP Investment, LLC DE Liberty TP LLC DE Liberty TP Management, Inc. DE Liberty TSAT, Inc. DE Liberty VF, Inc. DE Liberty Virtual I/O, Inc. CO Liberty WDIG, Inc. DE Liberty WF Holdings LLC DE Liberty WF, Inc. DE Liberty Wireless 1, Inc. DE Liberty Wireless 10, Inc. DE Liberty Wireless 11, Inc. DE
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State/Country Name of Formation ---- ------------- Liberty Wireless 2, Inc. DE Liberty Wireless 3, Inc. DE Liberty Wireless 4, Inc. DE Liberty Wireless 5, Inc. DE Liberty Wireless 6, Inc. DE Liberty Wireless 7, Inc. DE Liberty Wireless 8, Inc. DE Liberty Wireless 9, Inc. DE Liberty XMSR, Inc. DE LMC Animal Planet, Inc. CO LMC Bay Area Sports, Inc. CO LMC BET Holdings LLC DE LMC BET, Inc. CO LMC Capital LLC DE LMC Denver Arena, Inc. DE LMC Discovery, Inc. CO LMC IATV Events, LLC DE LMC Information Services, LLC DE LMC Request, Inc. CO LMC Silver King, Inc. CO LMC Southeast Sports, Inc. CO LMC USA IX, Inc. DE LMC USA VIII, Inc. DE LMC USA XI, Inc. DE LMC USA XII, Inc. DE LMC USA XIII, Inc. DE LMC USA XIV, Inc. DE LMC USA XV, Inc. DE LMC Wireless 1, LLC DE LMC Wireless 2, LLC DE LMC Wireless 2, LLC DE LMC Wireless 3, LLC DE LMC Wireless 4, LLC DE LMC Wireless 5, LLC DE LMC Wireless 6, LLC DE LMC Wireless Holdings, Inc. DE LMC Wireless IV, LLC DE LMC/LSAT Holdings, Inc. DE LQ I, Inc. CO
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
State/Country Name of Formation ---- ------------- LQ II, Inc. CO LQ III, Inc. DE LQ IV, Inc. DE LQ V, Inc. DE LQ VI, Inc. DE LSAT Astro LLC DE LSAT Astro LLC DE LTP Wireless 1, LLC DE LTWX I, Inc. CO LTWX II, Inc. CO LTWX III, Inc. CO LTWX IV, Inc. CO LTWX V, Inc. CO MacNeil/Lehrer Productions [gp] NY Maxide Acquisition, Inc. DE MediaView LLC CO OCV Iberia, SA On Command Argentina, SRL On Command Canada, Inc. On Command Corporation DE On Command Development Corporation DE On Command Video Corporation DE ONCO-HTV, Inc. DE One Post Limited UK Pioneer Studios, Inc. DE Project Discovery, Inc. DE Puerto Rico Video Entertainment Corporation DE Purple Demon, Inc. NY Q Fit, Inc. DE Q The Music, Inc. DE Q2, Inc. NY QC Marks, Inc. DE QDirect Ventures, Inc. DE QExhibits, Inc. DE QFlight, Inc. DE QHealth, Inc. DE QK Holdings, Inc. DE QS Holdings, Inc. DE
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
State/Country Name of Formation ---- ------------- QVC GREAT BRITAIN QVC Britain ENGLAND QVC Britain I Limited ENGLAND QVC Britain I, Inc. DE QVC Britain II, Inc. DE QVC Britain III, Inc. DE QVC Call Center GmbH & Co. KG GERMANY QVC Call Center Verwaltungs-GmbH GERMANY QVC Chesapeake, Inc. VA QVC China Domain Limited HONG KONG QVC China, Inc. DE QVC de Mexico de S. de R.L. de C.V. MEXICO QVC Delaware, Inc. DE QVC Deutschland GmbH GERMANY QVC eDistribution Inc. & Co. KG GERMANY QVC EDV-Service GmbH GERMANY QVC eService Inc. & Co. KG GERMANY QVC Germany I, Inc. DE QVC Germany II, Inc. DE QVC Grundstucksverwaltungs GmbH GERMANY QVC Handel GmbH GERMANY QVC Handel GmbH GERMANY QVC Holdings, Inc. DE QVC International, Inc. DE QVC Investment, Inc. CO QVC Japan Holdings, Inc. DE QVC Japan Services, Inc. DE QVC Japan, Inc. JAPAN QVC Local, Inc. DE QVC Mexico II, Inc. DE QVC Mexico III, Inc. DE QVC Mexico, Inc. DE QVC Middle East, Inc. DE QVC of Thailand, Inc. DE QVC Productworks, Inc. DE QVC Properties, Inc. BRITAIN QVC Publishing, Inc. DE QVC Realty, Inc. PA QVC Rocky Mount, Inc. NC
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
State/Country Name of Formation ---- ------------- QVC RS Naples, Inc. FL QVC San Antonio, Inc. TX QVC Satellite, Ltd JAPAN QVC St. Lucie, Inc. FL QVC Studio GmbH GERMANY QVC Virginia, Inc. VA QVC, Inc. DE QVC-QRT, Inc. DE Rediffusion Music Ltd. UK Reditune Achergrondmuzlirk en Reklame BV NETHERLANDS Request Holdings, Inc. DE RS Marks, Inc. DE RS Myrtle Beach, Inc. SC RTV Associates, L.P. (lp) DE Rushes PostProduction Limited UK Rushes Television S.A. de C.V. MEXICO Satellite MGT, Inc. DE SEG Investments, Inc. DE Servicios Administrativos de Post Produccion S.A. de C.V. MEXICO SonicNet, Inc. DE Sound One Corporation NY Spectradyne International, Inc. DE Starz Entertainment Group LLC CO SVC Television Limited UK TATV, Inc. DE TBH Marks, Inc. DE TCI Cathay TV, Inc. CO TEMPO Sound, Inc. OK The Box Music Network S.L. SPAIN The Box Worldwide-Europe, B.V. NETHERLANDS TOBH, Inc. DE Todd-AO, Espana CA TruePosition, Inc. DE TSAT Holding 1, Inc. DE TSAT Holding 2, Inc. DE TVI Limited [dormant] UK Video Jukebox Network Europe, Ltd. UK Virgin Islands Video Entertainment Corporation [dba Hotel Video Services] DE
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
State/Country Name of Formation ---- ------------- VLG Argentina LLC DE VSC MAL CORP. DE X*PRESS Electronic Services, Ltd. CO X*PRESS Information Services, Ltd. CO
EX-23.1 10 a2152779zex-23_1.txt EX 23.1 Exhibit 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM The Board of Directors and Stockholders Liberty Media Corporation: We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following registration statements of Liberty Media Corporation of our reports dated March 14, 2005, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Liberty Media Corporation as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive earnings (loss), stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, and all related financial statement schedules, management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, which reports appear in the December 31, 2004 annual report on Form 10-K of Liberty Media Corporation: FORM REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. DESCRIPTION - ---- -------------------------- ----------- S-8 333-67276 Liberty Media Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan S-8 333-67296 Liberty Media Corporation Incentive Plan S-3 333-66034 (Post Effective Liberty Media Corporation $3.0 Billion, shares of Series A Common Stock, Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1) Debt Securities, or Warrants S-8 333-104154 Liberty Media Corporation 2002 Non-employee Director Incentive Plan S-3 333-105006 Liberty Media Corporation $1.75 Billion, 0.75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2023 S-3 333-107613 Liberty Media Corporation 217,709,773 shares of Series A Common Stock and $225,620,069 Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2006 S-3 333-118758 Liberty Media Corporation 23,474 shares of Series A Common Stock
As discussed in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, Liberty Media Corporation changed its method of accounting for intangible assets in 2002. KPMG LLP Denver, Colorado March 14, 2005
EX-23.2 11 a2152779zex-23_2.txt EX 23.2 Exhibit 23.2 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-66034, 333-107613, 333-118758, 333-105006) and Form S-8 (Nos. 333-67276, 333-67296, 333-104154) of Liberty Media Corporation of our report dated February 22, 2005 relating to the financial statements of Discovery Communications, Inc., which appears in Liberty Media Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP McLean, Virginia March 11, 2005 EX-31.1 12 a2152779zex-31_1.txt EX 31.1 EXHIBIT 31.1 CERTIFICATION I, Robert R. Bennett, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Liberty Media Corporation; 2. Based on my knowledge, this annual 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 annual report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this annual 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 annual 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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 annual report is being prepared; b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and d) disclosed in this annual 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: March 15, 2005 /s/ ROBERT R. BENNETT - ------------------------------------ Robert R. Bennett President and Chief Executive Officer
EX-31.2 13 a2152779zex-31_2.txt EX 31.2 EXHIBIT 31.2 CERTIFICATION I, David J.A. Flowers, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Liberty Media Corporation; 2. Based on my knowledge, this annual 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 annual report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this annual 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 annual 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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 annual report is being prepared; b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and d) disclosed in this annual 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: March 15, 2005 /s/ DAVID J.A. FLOWERS - ------------------------------------ David J.A. Flowers Senior Vice President and Treasurer
EX-31.3 14 a2152779zex-31_3.txt EX 31.3 EXHIBIT 31.3 CERTIFICATION I, Christopher W. Shean, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Liberty Media Corporation; 2. Based on my knowledge, this annual 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 annual report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this annual 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 annual 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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 annual report is being prepared; b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and d) disclosed in this annual 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: March 15, 2005 /s/ CHRISTOPHER W. SHEAN - ------------------------------------ Christopher W. Shean Senior Vice President and Controller
EX-32 15 a2152779zex-32.txt EX 32 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 Media Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), does hereby certify, to such officer's knowledge, that: The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 (the "Form 10-K") 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-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 and for the three years ended December 31, 2004. /s/ ROBERT R. BENNETT ------------------------------------------------------- Robert R. Bennett Dated: March 15, 2005 Chief Executive Officer /s/ DAVID J.A. FLOWERS ------------------------------------------------------- David J.A. Flowers Senior Vice President and Treasurer Dated: March 15, 2005 (Principal Financial Officer) /s/ CHRISTOPHER W. SHEAN ------------------------------------------------------- Christopher W. Shean Senior Vice President and Controller Dated: March 15, 2005 (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-K or as a separate disclosure document.
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