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Significant Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Business Acquisition [Line Items]  
Significant Transactions
Note 8: Significant Transactions
2018
Sky Transaction
On October 9, 2018, in connection with our offer to acquire the share capital of Sky, we acquired a controlling interest in Sky through a series of purchases of Sky shares at our offer price of £17.28 per Sky share. In the fourth quarter of 2018, we acquired the remaining Sky shares and now own 100% of Sky’s equity interests. Total cash consideration was £30.2 billion (approximately $39.4 billion using the exchange rates on the purchase dates). We financed the acquisition through a combination of fixed and floating rate senior notes, the issuance of term loans and cash on hand.
Allocation of Purchase Price
We have applied acquisition accounting to Sky. Sky’s results of operations are included in our consolidated results of operations since the acquisition date and are reported in our Sky segment. The net assets of Sky were recorded at their estimated fair value using level 3 inputs. In valuing acquired assets and liabilities, fair value estimates are based on, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows, market rate assumptions for contractual obligations and appropriate discount rates.
In 2019, we finalized the acquisition accounting in connection with the Sky transaction, which primarily resulted in decreases to intangible assets and investments (included below in other noncurrent assets and (liabilities), net), an increase to property and equipment, and corresponding adjustments to deferred taxes. We also recorded an additional valuation allowance of approximately $1.2 billion associated with our assessment of the realization of Sky’s deferred tax assets, primarily related to net operating losses. These changes resulted in an increase in goodwill of approximately $1.4 billion and an adjustment recorded in 2019 related to the fourth quarter of 2018 that resulted in an increase to depreciation and amortization expense of $53 million.
The table below presents the allocation of the all-cash purchase price of £30.2 billion, or $39.4 billion, to the assets and liabilities of Sky as a result of the transaction.
Allocation of Purchase Price
 
(in millions)
 
Consideration transferred
$
39,387

 
 
Allocation of purchase price
 
Cash
$
1,283

Accounts receivable and other current assets
2,359

Film and television costs (See Note 4)
2,512

Property and equipment (See Note 11)
4,127

Intangible assets (See Note 12)
19,539

Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other current liabilities
(5,885
)
Long-term debt (See Note 7)
(11,468
)
Deferred tax assets (liabilities), net (See Note 5)
(2,974
)
Other noncurrent assets and (liabilities), net
(1,398
)
Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired
8,095

Goodwill (See Note 12)
$
31,292


Property and Equipment
Property and equipment includes customer premise equipment with a carrying value of $1.4 billion, which have original estimated useful lives of 5 to 7 years. The remaining property and equipment includes network assets, real estate and other machinery and equipment.
Intangible Assets
Finite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of customer relationships with a carrying amount of $9.5 billion and developed technology and software with a carrying amount of $4.3 billion, with original estimated useful lives between 6 and 19 years and 4 and 9 years, respectively. Indefinite-lived assets consist of trade names with a carrying amount of $5.8 billion.
Goodwill
Goodwill consists primarily of intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition, including increased footprint, assembled workforce, noncontractual relationships and agreements. The acquired goodwill is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.
Acquisition-Related Costs
As a result of the Sky transaction, we incurred expenses in 2018 related to legal, accounting, valuation and other professional services, which are reflected in other operating and administrative expenses. We also incurred certain financing costs associated with our borrowings, which are reflected in interest expense. The table below presents the amounts related to these expenses included in our consolidated statement of income. The amounts below do not reflect the costs of any integration activities or costs related to synergies that may be achieved as a result of the acquisition.
(in millions)
Year ended
December 31, 2018
Other operating and administrative expenses
$
339

Interest expense
$
63


Unaudited Pro Forma Information
The following unaudited pro forma information has been presented as if the Sky transaction occurred on January 1, 2017. This information is based on historical results of operations, adjusted for allocation of purchase price and other acquisition accounting adjustments, and is not necessarily indicative of what the results would have been had we operated the business since January 1, 2017. For pro forma purposes, 2018 earnings were adjusted to exclude acquisition-related costs noted above, and 2017 earnings were adjusted to include these costs. No pro forma adjustments have been made for cost savings or synergies that have been or may be achieved by the combined businesses. The year ended December 31, 2019 is not presented as Sky is included in the consolidated results for the entire period.
Year ended December 31 (in millions, except per share data)
2018

2017

Revenue
$
109,518

$
102,971

Net income attributable to Comcast Corporation
$
12,176

$
22,085

Basic earnings per common share attributable to Comcast Corporation shareholders
$
2.66

$
4.69

Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Comcast Corporation shareholders
$
2.62

$
4.61


Universal Beijing Resort
In 2018, we entered into an agreement with a consortium of Chinese state-owned companies to build and operate a Universal theme park and resort in Beijing, China (“Universal Beijing Resort”). We own a 30% interest in Universal Beijing Resort and the construction is being funded through a combination of debt financing and equity contributions from the investors in accordance with their equity interests. The debt financing, which is being provided by a syndicate of Chinese financial institutions, contains certain financial and operating covenants and a maximum borrowing limit of ¥26.6 billion RMB (approximately $3.8 billion). The debt financing is secured by the assets of Universal Beijing Resort and the equity interests of the investors. As of December 31, 2019, Universal Beijing Resort had $1.3 billion principal amount of a term loan outstanding under the debt financing agreement.
We have concluded that Universal Beijing Resort is a variable interest entity based on its governance structure, and we consolidate it because we have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact its economic performance. There are no liquidity arrangements, guarantees or other financial commitments between us and Universal Beijing Resort, and therefore our maximum risk of financial loss is our 30% interest. Universal Beijing Resort’s results of operations are reported in our Theme Parks segment. Our consolidated statement of cash flows includes the costs of construction and related borrowings in the “construction of Universal Beijing Resort” and “proceeds from borrowings” captions, respectively, and equity contributions from the noncontrolling interests are included in other financing activities.
In March 2018, Universal Beijing Resort received initial equity investments through a combination of cash and noncash contributions from the investors. As of December 31, 2019, our consolidated balance sheet included assets, primarily property and equipment, and liabilities, including the term loan, of Universal Beijing Resort totaling $3.0 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively.
2017
FCC Spectrum Auction
On April 13, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission announced the results of its spectrum auction. In the auction, NBCUniversal relinquished its spectrum rights in the New York, Philadelphia and Chicago designated market areas (“DMAs”) where NBC and Telemundo had overlapping spectrum. NBCUniversal received proceeds of $482 million in July 2017, which were recorded in other investing activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows. NBCUniversal recognized a pretax gain of $337 million in other operating gains in 2017. NBC and Telemundo stations share broadcast signals in these DMAs. In connection with the auction, we also acquired the rights to $1.7 billion of spectrum in the second quarter of 2017, which were recorded to other intangible assets, net. We had previously made a deposit of $1.8 billion to participate in the auction in 2016 and received a refund for amounts in excess of the purchase price in 2017.
Universal Studios Japan
On April 6, 2017, we acquired the remaining interests in Universal Studios Japan that we did not already own for $2.3 billion. The acquisition was funded through cash on hand and borrowings under our commercial paper program. Because we maintained control of Universal Studios Japan, the difference between the consideration transferred and the recorded value of the noncontrolling interests, as well as the related tax and accumulated other comprehensive income impacts, were recorded to additional paid-in capital.
NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]  
Business Acquisition [Line Items]  
Significant Transactions
Note 7: Significant Transactions
 
2018
Universal Beijing Resort
In 2018, we entered into an agreement with a consortium of Chinese state-owned companies to build and operate a Universal theme park and resort in Beijing, China (“Universal Beijing Resort”). We own a 30% interest in Universal Beijing Resort and the construction is being funded through a combination of debt financing and equity contributions from the investors in accordance with their equity interests. The debt financing, which is being provided by a syndicate of Chinese financial institutions, contains certain financial and operating covenants and a maximum borrowing limit of ¥26.6 billion RMB (approximately $3.8 billion). The debt financing is secured by the assets of Universal Beijing Resort and the equity interests of the investors. As of December 31, 2019, Universal Beijing Resort had $1.3 billion principal amount of a term loan outstanding under the debt financing agreement.
We have concluded that Universal Beijing Resort is a variable interest entity based on its governance structure, and we consolidate it because we have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact its economic performance. There are no liquidity arrangements, guarantees or other financial commitments between us and Universal Beijing Resort, and therefore our maximum risk of financial loss is our 30% interest. Universal Beijing Resort’s results of operations are reported in our Theme Parks segment. Our consolidated statement of cash flows includes the costs of construction and related borrowings in the “construction of Universal Beijing Resort” and “proceeds from borrowings” captions, respectively, and equity contributions from the noncontrolling interests are included in other financing activities.
In March 2018, Universal Beijing Resort received initial equity investments through a combination of cash and noncash contributions from the investors. As of December 31, 2019, our consolidated balance sheet included assets, primarily property and equipment, and liabilities, including the term loan, of Universal Beijing Resort totaling $3.0 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively.
2017
FCC Spectrum Auction
On April 13, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission announced the results of its spectrum auction. In the auction, we relinquished our spectrum rights in the New York, Philadelphia and Chicago designated market areas (“DMAs”) where NBC and Telemundo had overlapping spectrum. We received proceeds of $482 million in July 2017, which were recorded in other investing activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows. We recognized a pretax gain of $337 million in other operating gains in 2017. NBC and Telemundo stations share broadcast signals in these DMAs.
Universal Studios Japan
On April 6, 2017, we acquired the remaining interests in Universal Studios Japan that we did not already own for $2.3 billion. The acquisition was funded through borrowings under our revolving credit agreement with Comcast. Because we maintained control of Universal Studios Japan, the difference between the consideration transferred and the recorded value of the noncontrolling interests, as well as the related accumulated other comprehensive income impacts, were recorded to additional paid-in capital.