Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation

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Basis of Presentation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Basis of Presentation  
Basis of Presentation

(1) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. and its controlled subsidiaries (collectively, "TripCo," "Consolidated TripCo," the "Company," "we," "us," or “our,” unless the context otherwise requires). TripCo does not have any operations outside of its controlling interest in its subsidiary Tripadvisor, Inc. (“Tripadvisor”).

The accompanying (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023, 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, none of which were material to the presentation of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. 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, 2023 as presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Under the accounting guidance in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 205, Presentation of Financial Statements (“ASC 205”), when preparing financial statements for each annual and interim reporting period, management has the responsibility to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. As a result of the considerations articulated below, we believe there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued.

In applying the accounting guidance in ASC 205, TripCo considered its current financial condition and liquidity sources, including current funds available, forecasted future cash flows and its conditional and unconditional obligations due over the twelve months after the date that its financial statements were issued. The Company specifically considered the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock and TripCo’s 0.50% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2051 (the “Debentures”) in its analysis.  

As disclosed in note 6, TripCo’s 8% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) is required to be redeemed for cash on March 27, 2025.  As of March 31, 2024, the Redemption Price (as defined in note 6) of the Series A Preferred Stock was $281 million. As disclosed in note 5, the Debentures may be redeemed by TripCo, in whole or in part, on or after March 27, 2025. Holders of the Debentures also have the right to require TripCo to purchase their Debentures on March 27, 2025. As of March 31, 2024, the fair value of the Debentures was $311 million. If all holders exchanged their Debentures on March 27, 2025 and upon the redemption of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, TripCo would not have sufficient cash on hand to cover these obligations as of March 31, 2024. We note that Tripadvisor has sufficient cash to cover these obligations, but TripCo does not have ready access to Tripadvisor’s cash.  TripCo could sell shares of Tripadvisor common stock (“TRIP common stock”) in order to cover its obligations, but given the share price of TRIP common stock as of March 31, 2024, TripCo would no longer retain a significant economic or voting interest in Tripadvisor if it were to do so.

On February 9, 2024, TripCo’s board of directors authorized TripCo to engage in discussions with respect to a potential transaction (“Potential Transaction”), pursuant to which all of the outstanding stock of TripCo and all of the outstanding common stock and Class B common stock of Tripadvisor, would be acquired concurrently for cash. The board of directors of Tripadvisor has formed a special committee comprised of independent and disinterested directors of the board of directors of Tripadvisor (“Special Committee”). TripCo and the Special Committee have ceased discussions with third parties with respect to a Potential Transaction. Strategic alternatives with respect to TripCo remain under

consideration. In light of current circumstances, management’s plans do not alleviate the substantial doubt that the entity will continue as a going concern.  

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. 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.

Tripadvisor and the Company were negatively impacted by the risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic and Tripadvisor’s business would be adversely and materially affected upon a resurgence of COVID-19 or the emergence of any new pandemic or other health crisis that results in reinstated travel bans and/or other government restrictions and mandates. Following the lifting of restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, travel demand increased. In addition, the U.S. and other countries have seen significant increased inflation and decreases in discretionary spending patterns by consumers. If macroeconomic conditions deteriorate, consumer demand and spending may decline, Tripadvisor may not be able to pass on increased costs to its customers and Tripadvisor’s inability or failure to navigate the macroeconomic environment could harm its business, results of operations and financial condition.

Additionally, natural disasters, public health-related events, political instability, geopolitical conflicts, including the evolving events in the Middle East, acts of terrorism, fluctuations in currency values, and changes in global economic conditions are examples of other events that could have a negative impact on the travel industry, and, as a result, Tripadvisor’s financial results in the future.

Consumer travel expenditures have historically followed a seasonal pattern. Correspondingly, travel partner advertising investments, and therefore Tripadvisor’s revenue and operating profits, have also historically followed a seasonal pattern. 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, including traveler accommodation stays, and travel experiences taken, compared to the first and fourth quarters, which represent seasonal low points. In addition, during the first half of the year, experience bookings typically exceed the amount of completed experiences, resulting in higher cash flow related to working capital, while during the second half of the year, particularly in the third quarter, this pattern reverses and cash flows from these transactions are typically negative. Other factors may also impact typical seasonal fluctuations, such as significant shifts in Tripadvisor’s business mix, adverse economic conditions, or public health-related events, as well as other factors.

TripCo has entered into certain agreements, including the services agreement, the facilities sharing agreement and the tax sharing agreement, with Qurate Retail, Inc. (“Qurate Retail”) and/or Liberty Media Corporation (“Liberty Media”) (or certain of their subsidiaries).  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, information technology, cybersecurity 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.

Pursuant to the services agreement, in connection with Liberty Media’s employment arrangement with Gregory B. Maffei, TripCo’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, components of Mr. Maffei’s compensation will either be paid directly to him 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 but subject to adjustment on an annual basis and upon the occurrence of certain events.

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, 2024 and 2023.