Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation

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Basis of Presentation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Basis of Presentation  
Basis of Presentation

(1) Basis of Presentation

During October 2013, the Board of Directors of Liberty Interactive Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Liberty”) (subsequently renamed Qurate Retail, Inc. (“Qurate Retail”)) authorized a plan to distribute to the stockholders of Liberty’s then-outstanding Liberty Ventures common stock shares of a wholly-owned subsidiary, Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. (“TripCo,” “Consolidated TripCo,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us,” unless the context otherwise requires) (the “TripCo Spin-Off”). TripCo does not have any operations outside of its controlling interest in its subsidiary Tripadvisor, Inc. (“Tripadvisor”). Tripadvisor’s financial performance tends to be seasonally highest in the second and third quarters of a given year, which includes the seasonal peak in consumer demand, traveler hotel and rental stays, and travel activities and experiences taken, compared to the first and fourth quarters, which represent seasonal low points.

The accompanying (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and (b) the interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such periods have been included. Additionally, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified for comparability with the current period presentation. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes for the year ended December 31, 2019 as presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 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. The Company considers (i) recognition and recoverability of goodwill, intangible and long-lived assets and (ii) accounting for income taxes to be its most significant estimates.

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) was reported in Wuhan, China. On January 30, 2020 the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to constitute a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” and subsequently, on March 11, 2020, declared COVID-19 to constitute a “Pandemic.” The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of COVID-19 has caused material declines in demand within the travel, hospitality, restaurant and leisure industry concurrent with travel bans and increased governmental restrictions and mandates globally that has dampened consumer demand for Tripadvisor’s products and services, which has adversely and materially affected its business, results of operations and financial condition. Tripadvisor believes the travel industry and its business will continue to be adversely and materially affected while travel bans and other government restrictions and mandates remain in place. However, the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business is highly uncertain and difficult to predict, as the response to the pandemic is ongoing, information is rapidly evolving, and the duration and severity of the pandemic are also uncertain and cannot be predicted. In addition, Tripadvisor does not have visibility into when these bans will be lifted, nor does it have visibility into the changes to consumer usage patterns on its platform or travel behavior patterns when travel bans and other government restrictions and mandates are lifted.

Furthermore, capital markets and economies worldwide have also been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is possible that it could cause a local and/or global economic recession. Such economic disruption could have a material adverse effect on Tripadvisor’s business as consumers reduce their discretionary spending. Policymakers around the globe have responded with fiscal policy actions to support certain areas of the travel industry and economy as

a whole. The magnitude and overall effectiveness of these actions remains uncertain.

The Company's future results of operations and liquidity could also be adversely impacted by delays in payments of outstanding accounts receivable amounts beyond normal payment terms, travel supplier and restaurant insolvencies, and the impact of any initiatives or programs that Tripadvisor may undertake to address financial and operational challenges faced by Tripadvisor and its customers. As of the date of issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may materially impact the Company's financial condition, liquidity, or results of operations in the future is uncertain.

During the fourth quarter of 2019, we elected to bypass a qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing a quantitative impairment test for Tripadvisor’s trademark. The fair value of our indefinite-lived trademark was estimated to be $975 million using the relief from royalty method. Due to deteriorating revenue, an impairment loss of $288 million was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2019 related to trademarks, related to the hotels, media & platform reporting unit.  

The carrying value of the trademark was $974 million as of March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020, TripCo conducted a thorough evaluation of relevant events and circumstances, including the recent declines in revenue and consideration of potential changes in the key inputs to determining the fair value of the trademark. Based on such evaluation, we do not believe it is more likely than not that the fair value of trademark is below its carrying value as of March 31, 2020. However, further declines in Tripadvisor’s future revenue outlook due to the impact of COVID-19 could result in a decrease in the fair value of the trademark. Accordingly, TripCo believes the trademark is at an elevated risk for impairment in future periods. A future decrease in the fair value may result in a determination that an impairment adjustment is required, which could be material. If an impairment charge is necessary in future periods, the impact to TripCo shareholders is diminished as a large portion would be attributable to the non-controlling interests due to the ownership structure of Tripadvisor. TripCo will continue to monitor events and circumstances that may affect the fair value or carrying value of our trademark.

The carrying value of TripCo’s goodwill was $2.5 billion as of March 31, 2020. TripCo conducted a thorough evaluation of relevant events and circumstances that would materially impact the fair value of each of our reporting units as of March 31, 2020. Based on such evaluation, we do not believe it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting units are below their respective carrying values as of March 31, 2020. However, we believe the passage of time will provide new information regarding the expected duration and severity of impacts of COVID-19 on the economy as a whole and on Tripadvisor’s business. On March 18, 2020, Tripadvisor issued a press release announcing the withdrawal of its previously announced full-year 2020 financial outlook guidance due to the increased adverse impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak and the uncertainty it has created on global travel trends. Management of Tripadvisor is currently working through a reforecasting process which will include determining revised revenue projections as well as identifying various cost reduction strategies.  However, it is uncertain whether or when Tripadvisor will recover the decrease in its trading value. Accordingly, TripCo believes all of its reporting units are at an elevated risk for impairment in future periods. Declines in the future revenue outlook, cash flows, or other factors could result in a determination that an impairment adjustment is required in future periods, which could be material. If an impairment charge is necessary, the impact to TripCo shareholders is diminished as a large portion would be attributable to the non-controlling interests due to the ownership structure of Tripadvisor. TripCo will continue to monitor events and circumstances that may affect the fair value or carrying value of our reporting units.

On March 26, 2020, TripCo issued and sold 325,000 shares of TripCo’s newly-created 8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) for a purchase price of $1,000 per share. See further discussion about the Series A Preferred Stock in note 6.

Spin-Off of TripCo from Qurate Retail  

Following the TripCo Spin-Off, Qurate Retail and TripCo operate as separate, publicly traded companies, and neither has any stock ownership, beneficial or otherwise, in the other. In connection with the TripCo Spin-Off, TripCo entered into certain agreements, including the services agreement, the facilities sharing agreement and the tax sharing agreement, with Qurate Retail and/or Liberty Media Corporation (“Liberty Media”) (or certain of their subsidiaries) in order to govern certain of the ongoing relationships between the companies after the TripCo Spin-Off and to provide for an orderly transition.

Pursuant to the services agreement (except as described below in respect to Gregory B. Maffei), Liberty Media provides TripCo with general and administrative services including legal, tax, accounting, treasury and investor relations support. TripCo reimburses Liberty Media for direct, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Liberty Media in providing these services and TripCo pays a services fee to Liberty Media under the services agreement that is subject to adjustment semi-annually, as necessary.

In December 2019, TripCo entered into an amendment to the services agreement with Liberty Media in connection with Liberty Media’s entry into a new employment arrangement with Gregory B. Maffei, TripCo’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  Under the amended services agreement, components of his compensation will either be paid directly to him by each of TripCo, Liberty Broadband Corporation, GCI Liberty, Inc. and Qurate Retail (collectively, the “Service Companies”) or reimbursed to Liberty Media, in each case, based on allocations among Liberty Media and the Service Companies set forth in the amended services agreement, currently set at 5% for the Company.

Under the facilities sharing agreement, TripCo shares office space with Liberty Media and related amenities at Liberty Media’s corporate headquarters in Englewood, Colorado.

The tax sharing agreement provides for the allocation and indemnification of tax liabilities and benefits between Qurate Retail and TripCo and other agreements related to tax matters.

Under these agreements, approximately $1 million was reimbursable to Liberty Media for both of the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.