Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

v3.10.0.1
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

For assets and liabilities required to be reported at fair value, GAAP provides a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs, other than quoted market prices included within Level 1, are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. The Company does not have any recurring assets or liabilities measured at fair value that would be considered Level 3.

The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value are as follows:
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Description
 
Total
 
Quoted prices
in active
markets
for identical
assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 
Total
 
Quoted prices
in active
markets
for identical
assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 
 
amounts in thousands
Cash equivalents
 
$
384,071

 
384,071

 
—

 
570,526

 
570,526

 
—

Equity securities
 
$
1,529,901

 
1,529,901

 
—

 
1,800,208

 
1,800,208

 
—

Investment in Liberty Broadband
 
$
3,074,373

 
3,074,373

 
—

 
3,634,786

 
3,634,786

 
—

Variable forward
 
$
20,340

 
—

 
20,340

 
94,807

 
—

 
94,807

Indemnification obligation
 
$
78,522

 
—

 
78,522

 
—

 
—

 
—

Exchangeable senior debentures
 
$
462,336

 
—

 
462,336

 
—

 
—

 
—


    
On June 6, 2017, Qurate Retail purchased an additional 450,000 LendingTree shares and executed a 2‑year variable forward with respect to 642,850 LendingTree shares. The variable forward was executed at the LendingTree closing price on June 6, 2017 of $170.70 per share and has a floor price of $128.03 per share and a cap price of $211.67 per share. The liability associated with this instrument is included in the Other current liabilities line item as of December 31, 2018 and Other liabilities line item as of December 31, 2017 in the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the variable forward was derived from a Black‑Scholes‑Merton model using observable market data as the significant inputs.

Pursuant to an indemnification agreement, GCI Liberty has agreed to indemnify LI LLC for certain payments made to a holder of LI LLC's 1.75% exchangeable debentures due 2046 (the "1.75% Exchangeable Debentures"). An indemnity obligation in the amount of $281.3 million was recorded upon completion of the HoldCo Split-Off. In June 2018, Qurate Retail repurchased 417,759 bonds of the 1.75% Exchangeable Debentures for approximately $457 million, including accrued interest, and the Company made a payment under the indemnification agreement to Qurate Retail in the amount of $133 million. The remaining indemnification liability due to LI LLC pertains to the holder’s ability to exercise its exchange right according to the terms of the 1.75% Exchangeable Debentures on or before October 5, 2023. Such amount will equal the difference between the exchange value and par value of the 1.75% Exchangeable Debentures at the time the exchange occurs. The indemnification obligation recorded in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 represents the fair value of the estimated exchange feature included in the 1.75% Exchangeable Debentures primarily based on observable market data as significant inputs (Level 2). As of December 31, 2018, a holder of the 1.75% Exchangeable Debentures does not have the ability to exchange and, accordingly, such indemnification obligation is included as a long-term liability in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Additionally, as of December 31, 2018, 332,241 bonds of the 1.75% Exchangeable Debentures remain outstanding.

Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Financial Instruments, net

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net are comprised of changes in the fair value of the following:
 
 
Years ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
amounts in thousands
Equity securities
 
$
(274,393
)
 
258,629

 
547,921

Investment in Liberty Broadband
 
(560,413
)
 
473,342

 
761,444

Variable forward
 
75,970

 
(94,807
)
 
NA

Indemnification obligation
 
70,007

 
NA

 
NA

Exchangeable senior debentures
 
7,284

 
NA

 
NA

 
 
$
(681,545
)
 
637,164

 
1,309,365



The Company has elected to account for its exchangeable debt using the fair value option. Accordingly, a portion of the unrealized gain (loss) recognized on the Company’s exchangeable debt is presented in other comprehensive income as it relates to instrument specific credit risk and any other changes in fair value are presented in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.