Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation

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Basis of Presentation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
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”) and its former wholly owned subsidiary, BuySeasons, Inc. (“BuySeasons”). TripCo sold its ownership in BuySeasons effective June 30, 2017. The TripCo Spin-Off was completed on August 27, 2014 and effected as a pro‑rata dividend of shares of TripCo to the stockholders of Series A and Series B Liberty Ventures common stock of Liberty. The TripCo Spin-Off was accounted for at historical cost due to the pro rata nature of the distribution to stockholders of Liberty Ventures common stock. TripAdvisor’s financial performance tends to be seasonally highest in the second and third quarters of a year, as  it is a key period for leisure travel research and trip-taking, which includes the seasonal peak in traveler hotel and rental stays, and tours and experiences taken, compared to the first and fourth quarters, which represent seasonal low points.

On June 30, 2017, TripCo sold BuySeasons. The sale resulted in an $18 million loss, which is included in Gain (loss) on dispositions, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations. BuySeasons is not presented as a discontinued operation as the sale did not represent a strategic shift that had a major effect on TripCo’s operations and financial results. Included in other revenue in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations is $7 million and $13 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, related to BuySeasons. Included in net earnings (loss) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations are losses of less than $1 million and $1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, related to BuySeasons.

The accompanying (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017, 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, 2017 as presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

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.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted in December 2017. The Tax Act significantly changed U.S. tax law by, among other things, lowering U.S. corporate income tax rate, implementing a territorial tax system and imposing a one-time transition tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries.  In the prior year, we recognized the provisional tax impacts related to the one-time transition tax and the revaluation of deferred tax balances and included these estimates in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, we recorded a $5 million income tax benefit and zero net income tax expense, respectively, for the transition tax, reflecting additional information obtained related to uncertain tax positions, earnings and profits, foreign tax credits and state taxes. We are still in the process of analyzing the impact of the various provisions of the Tax Act. The ultimate impact may materially differ from these provisional amounts due to, among other things, continued analysis of the estimates and further guidance and interpretations on the application of the law. We expect to complete our analysis by December 2018.

 

Spin‑Off of TripCo from Liberty

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 reorganization agreement, the services agreement, the facilities sharing agreement and the tax sharing agreement, with Liberty 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.

The reorganization agreement provides for, among other things, the principal corporate transactions (including the internal restructuring) required to effect the TripCo Spin‑Off, certain conditions to the TripCo Spin‑Off and provisions governing the relationship between TripCo and Qurate Retail with respect to and resulting from the TripCo Spin‑Off.

Pursuant to the services agreement, 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.

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. Pursuant to the tax sharing agreement, TripCo has agreed to indemnify Qurate Retail, subject to certain limited exceptions, for losses and taxes resulting from the TripCo Spin-Off to the extent such losses or taxes result primarily from, individually or in the aggregate, the breach of certain restrictive covenants made by TripCo (applicable to actions or failures to act by TripCo and its subsidiaries following the completion of the TripCo Spin-Off).

Under these agreements, approximately $1 million was reimbursable to Liberty Media for both of the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, and approximately $2 million and $1 million was reimbursable to Liberty Media for the six month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.