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Derivative Instruments
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments Derivative InstrumentsIn general, we enter into derivative instruments to protect against (i) increases in the interest rates on our variable-rate debt, (ii) foreign currency movements, particularly with respect to borrowings that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the borrowing entity, and (iii) decreases in the market prices of certain publicly traded securities that we own. In this regard, through our subsidiaries, we have entered into various derivative instruments to manage interest rate exposure and foreign currency exposure, primarily with respect to the U.S. dollar ($), the euro (€), the British pound sterling (£) and the Swiss franc (CHF). Generally, we do not apply hedge accounting to our derivative instruments. Accordingly, changes in the fair values of most of our derivative instruments are recorded in realized and unrealized gains or losses on derivative instruments, net, in our consolidated statements of operations.
The following table provides details of the fair values of our derivative instrument assets and liabilities:
 December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
 CurrentLong-termTotalCurrentLong-termTotal
 in millions
Assets (a):
Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts (b)
$381.4 $1,087.6 $1,469.0 $214.9 $164.3 $379.2 
Equity-related derivative instruments (c)
— 92.4 92.4 — 113.8 113.8 
Foreign currency forward and option contracts
1.0 — 1.0 28.4 — 28.4 
Other0.3 — 0.3 1.0 — 1.0 
Total$382.7 $1,180.0 $1,562.7 $244.3 $278.1 $522.4 
Liabilities (a):
Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts (b)
$286.5 $449.0 $735.5 $208.8 $670.2 $879.0 
Foreign currency forward and option contracts
10.3 1.3 11.6 13.0 — 13.0 
Total$296.8 $450.3 $747.1 $221.8 $670.2 $892.0 
_______________ 

(a)Our long-term derivative assets and long-term derivative liabilities are included in other assets, net, and other long-term liabilities, respectively, on our consolidated balance sheets.

(b)We consider credit risk relating to our and our counterparties’ nonperformance in the fair value assessment of our derivative instruments. In all cases, the adjustments take into account offsetting liability or asset positions within each of our subsidiary borrowing groups (as defined and described in note 11). The changes in the credit risk valuation adjustments associated with our cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts resulted in net gains (losses) of ($16.6 million), ($10.7 million) and $336.0 million during 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. These amounts are included in realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, net, in our consolidated statements of operations. For further information regarding our fair value measurements, see note 9.

(c)Our equity-related derivative instruments include warrants on our investment in Plume.

The details of our realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, net, are as follows:
 Year ended December 31,
 202220212020
 in millions
Cross-currency and interest rate derivative contracts$1,185.5 $578.9 $(1,184.3)
Foreign currency forward and option contracts28.3 (31.8)(81.1)
Equity-related derivative instruments:
ITV Collar
— (11.8)364.2 
Other(21.4)85.6 22.5 
Total equity-related derivative instruments(21.4)73.8 386.7 
Other(0.7)2.0 — 
Total$1,191.7 $622.9 $(878.7)
The net cash received or paid related to our derivative instruments is classified as an operating, investing or financing activity in our consolidated statements of cash flows based on the objective of the derivative instrument and the classification of the applicable underlying cash flows. The following table sets forth the classification of the net cash inflows of our derivative instruments:
 Year ended December 31,
 202220212020
 in millions
Operating activities$75.3 $(22.5)$(55.9)
Investing activities40.9 (107.1)(39.8)
Financing activities(50.0)143.6 129.1 
Total$66.2 $14.0 $33.4 

Counterparty Credit Risk

We are exposed to the risk that the counterparties to the derivative instruments of our subsidiary borrowing groups will default on their obligations to us. We manage these credit risks through the evaluation and monitoring of the creditworthiness of, and concentration of risk with, the respective counterparties. In this regard, credit risk associated with our derivative instruments is spread across a relatively broad counterparty base of banks and financial institutions, however notwithstanding, given the size of our derivative portfolio, the default of certain counterparties could have a significant impact on our consolidated statements of operations. Collateral is generally not posted by either party under our derivative instruments. At December 31, 2022, our exposure to counterparty credit risk included derivative assets with an aggregate fair value of $922.5 million.

Each of our subsidiary borrowing groups have entered into derivative instruments under master agreements with each counterparty that contain master netting arrangements that are applicable in the event of early termination by either party to such derivative instrument. The master netting arrangements are limited to the derivative instruments governed by the relevant master agreement within each individual borrowing group and are independent of similar arrangements of our other subsidiary borrowing groups.

Under our derivative contracts, it is generally only the non-defaulting party that has a contractual option to exercise early termination rights upon the default of the other counterparty and to set off other liabilities against sums due upon such termination. However, in an insolvency of a derivative counterparty, under the laws of certain jurisdictions, the defaulting counterparty or its insolvency representatives may be able to compel the termination of one or more derivative contracts and trigger early termination payment liabilities payable by us, reflecting any mark-to-market value of the contracts for the counterparty. Alternatively, or in addition, the insolvency laws of certain jurisdictions may require the mandatory set off of amounts due under such derivative contracts against present and future liabilities owed to us under other contracts between us and the relevant counterparty. Accordingly, it is possible that we may be subject to obligations to make payments, or may have present or future liabilities owed to us partially or fully discharged by set off as a result of such obligations, in the event of the insolvency of a derivative counterparty, even though it is the counterparty that is in default and not us. To the extent that we are required to make such payments, our ability to do so will depend on our liquidity and capital resources at the time. In an insolvency of a defaulting counterparty, we will be an unsecured creditor in respect of any amount owed to us by the defaulting counterparty, except to the extent of the value of any collateral we have obtained from that counterparty.

In addition, where a counterparty is in financial difficulty, under the laws of certain jurisdictions, the relevant regulators may be able to (i) compel the termination of one or more derivative instruments, determine the settlement amount and/or compel, without any payment, the partial or full discharge of liabilities arising from such early termination that are payable by the relevant counterparty, or (ii) transfer the derivative instruments to an alternative counterparty.
Details of our Derivative Instruments

Cross-currency Derivative Contracts

We generally match the denomination of our subsidiaries’ borrowings with the functional currency of the supporting operations or, when it is more cost effective, we provide for an economic hedge against foreign currency exchange rate movements by using derivative instruments to synthetically convert unmatched debt into the applicable underlying currency. At December 31, 2022, substantially all of our debt was either directly or synthetically matched to the applicable functional currencies of the underlying operations. The following table sets forth the total notional amounts and the related weighted average remaining contractual lives of our cross-currency swap contracts at December 31, 2022:
Notional amount due from counterparty Notional amount due
to counterparty 		Weighted average remaining life
 
in millionsin years
UPC Holding
$250.0 €220.6 2.8
$4,475.0 CHF4,098.2 (a)5.5
€2,650.0 CHF2,970.1 3.1
CHF740.0 €701.1 —


Telenet
$3,940.0 €3,489.6 (a)4.1
€45.2 $50.0 (b)2.1
_______________ 

(a)Includes certain derivative instruments that are “forward-starting,” such that the initial exchange occurs at a date subsequent to December 31, 2022. These instruments are typically entered into in order to extend existing hedges without the need to amend existing contracts.

(b)Includes certain derivative instruments that do not involve the exchange of notional amounts at the inception and maturity of the instruments. Accordingly, the only cash flows associated with these derivative instruments are coupon-related payments and receipts.

Interest Rate Swap Contracts

The following table sets forth the total U.S. dollar equivalents of the notional amounts and the related weighted average remaining contractual lives of our interest rate swap contracts at December 31, 2022:
Pays fixed rateReceives fixed rate
Notional
amount 		Weighted average remaining lifeNotional
amount 		Weighted average remaining life
 
in millionsin yearsin millionsin years
UPC Holding
$5,945.2 (a)2.3$3,419.2 3.7

Telenet$2,954.7 (a)2.3$1,394.5 0.8
______________ 

(a)Includes forward-starting derivative instruments.
Interest Rate Swap Options

From time to time, we enter into interest rate swap options (swaptions) which give us the right, but not the obligation, to enter into certain interest rate swap contracts at set dates in the future. Such contracts typically have a life of no more than three years. At December 31, 2022, the option expiration period on each of our swaptions had expired.

Basis Swaps

Our basis swaps involve the exchange of attributes used to calculate our floating interest rates, including (i) the benchmark rate, (ii) the underlying currency and/or (iii) the borrowing period. We typically enter into these swaps to optimize our interest rate profile based on our current evaluations of yield curves, our risk management policies and other factors. The following table sets forth the total U.S. dollar equivalents of the notional amounts and related weighted average remaining contractual lives of our basis swap contracts at December 31, 2022:
Notional amount due from counterpartyWeighted average remaining life
 
in millionsin years
UPC Holding
$3,417.0 (a)0.2
Telenet$2,295.0 —
______________ 

(a)Includes forward-starting derivative instruments.

Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars

From time to time, we enter into interest rate cap, floor and collar agreements. Purchased interest rate caps and collars lock in a maximum interest rate if variable rates rise, but also allow our company to benefit, to a limited extent in the case of collars, from declines in market rates. Purchased interest rate floors protect us from interest rates falling below a certain level, generally to match a floating rate floor on a debt instrument. At December 31, 2022, we had no interest rate collar agreements, and the total U.S. dollar equivalents of the notional amounts of our purchased interest rate caps and floors were $1.2 billion and $7.4 billion, respectively.

Impact of Derivative Instruments on Borrowing Costs

The impact of the derivative instruments that mitigate our foreign currency and interest rate risk, as described above, on our borrowing costs is as follows:
Decrease to
borrowing costs at December 31, 2022 (a)
 
UPC Holding(2.79)%
Telenet(2.38)%
VM Ireland
(2.28)%
Total decrease to borrowing costs(2.58)%
_______________ 

(a)Represents the effect of derivative instruments in effect at December 31, 2022 and does not include forward-starting derivative instruments.
Foreign Currency Forwards and Options

Certain of our subsidiaries enter into foreign currency forward and option contracts with respect to non-functional currency exposure, including hedges of the proceeds from the sale of UPC Poland. As of December 31, 2022, the total U.S. dollar equivalent of the notional amounts of our foreign currency forward and option contracts was $873.5 million.