(1) Basis of Presentation

During October 2013, the Board of Directors of Liberty Interactive Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Liberty”) authorized a plan to distribute to the stockholders of Liberty’s 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 “Trip Spin‑Off”). TripCo holds its subsidiary TripAdvisor, Inc. (“TripAdvisor”) and held its former subsidiary, BuySeasons, Inc. (“BuySeasons”) until June 30, 2017. The Trip 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 Trip 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 highest in the second and third quarters of a year, as these are key periods for leisure travel research and trip-taking, which includes the seasonal peak in traveler hotel and vacation rental stays, and tours and attractions 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 $13 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, and $13 million and $29  million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, related to BuySeasons. Included in Net earnings (loss) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations are losses of $2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, and losses of $1 million and $7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, related to BuySeasons. Included in Total assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016 is $23 million related to BuySeasons.

The accompanying (a) condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016, 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, 2016 as presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

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, (ii) accounting for income taxes and (iii) stock‑based compensation to be its most significant estimates.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued new accounting guidance on revenue from contracts with customers.  The new guidance requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. This new guidance also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. In March 2016, the FASB issued additional guidance, which clarifies principal versus agent considerations, and in April 2016, the FASB issued further guidance which clarifies the identification of performance obligations and the implementation guidance for licensing. The updated guidance will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either a full retrospective or modified retrospective transition method. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted only for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company plans to adopt this new guidance under the modified retrospective method on January 1, 2018. 

TripAdvisor has made significant progress toward completing its evaluation of the potential changes from adopting this new guidance. To date, TripAdvisor has evaluated the majority of its revenue streams and, based on preliminary analysis, expects the new revenue guidance will change the timing of revenue recognition for its instant booking revenue recorded under the consumption model. Upon adoption, instant booking revenue will be recognized at the transaction booking date for a hotel accommodation rather than upon completion of the stay by the traveler, which is how instant booking revenue is currently recorded.  TripAdvisor does not currently expect this timing change to have a material impact to its financial statements, either on an annual or quarterly basis. In addition, the new guidance is expected to result in immaterial changes in the timing of certain other revenue streams. TripAdvisor currently does not expect any major reengineering required to its accounting systems or to its internal controls related to the above accounting changes or related to the additional disclosure requirements required by the standard. However, while TripAdvisor has made significant progress, and is in the implementation phase of this project, it is still evaluating less material revenue streams, and, in addition, its costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. We will continue to update our assessment of the effect that the new revenue guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements, disclosures and related controls, and will disclose any material effects, if any, when known.

In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which revises the accounting for leases. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases. The new guidance also simplifies the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions. The new standard, to be applied via a modified retrospective transition approach, is effective for the Company for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company anticipates adopting this new guidance on January 1, 2019. The Company has not yet determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting. The Company is currently working with TripAdvisor to evaluate the impact of the adoption of this new guidance on our consolidated financial statements, including identifying the population of leases, updating accounting policies, implementing technology solutions and collecting lease data. We will continue to provide updates of our assessment of the effect that this new lease guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements, disclosures, systems and related controls, and will disclose any material effects, if any, when known.

In August and November 2016, the FASB issued new accounting standards which add and clarify guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows, and add guidance on the presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows, respectively. The guidance in both standards is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted, including adoption in an interim period, but any adjustments must be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. Upon adoption, an entity may apply the new guidance only retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures. The new guidance is expected to change the presentation of paid in kind interest in the period it is paid from financing to operating on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

In October 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on income tax accounting associated with intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. This accounting update, which is part of the FASB's simplification initiative, is intended to reduce diversity in practice and the complexity of tax accounting, particularly for those transfers involving intellectual property. This new guidance requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. Upon adoption, an entity may apply the new guidance only on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company plans to adopt this guidance on January 1, 2018 and does not expect this new guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued new accounting guidance, which assists entities in evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, and will be applied prospectively to any transactions occurring within the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted, including for interim or annual periods in which the financial statements have not been issued. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued new accounting guidance to simplify the measurement of goodwill impairment. Under the new guidance, an entity will no longer perform a hypothetical purchase price allocation to measure goodwill impairment. Instead, impairment will be measured using the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the reporting unit. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for goodwill impairment tests with measurement dates after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In May 2017, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as modifications. Under the new guidance, an entity will not apply modification accounting to a share-based payment award if the award’s fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value, if those measurement methods are used), the award’s vesting conditions, and the award’s classification as an equity or liability instrument are the same immediately before and after the change. The guidance also states that an entity is not required to estimate the value of the award immediately before and after the change if the change does not affect any of the inputs to the model used to value the award. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, and will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the adoption date. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for which financial statements have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this new guidance on its financial statements and related disclosures.

Spin‑Off of TripCo from Liberty

Following the Trip Spin‑Off, Liberty and TripCo operate as separate, publicly traded companies, and neither has any stock ownership, beneficial or otherwise, in the other. In connection with the Trip 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 Trip 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 Trip Spin‑Off, certain conditions to the Trip Spin‑Off and provisions governing the relationship between TripCo and Liberty with respect to and resulting from the Trip 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 Liberty and TripCo and other agreements related to tax matters. Pursuant to the tax sharing agreement, TripCo has agreed to indemnify Liberty, subject to certain limited exceptions, for losses and taxes resulting from the Trip 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 Trip Spin-Off).

Under these agreements, approximately $1 million was reimbursable to Liberty for both of the three month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 and approximately $2 million was reimbursable to Liberty for both of the nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.