(6) Investment in Affiliates Accounted for Using the Equity Method

Charter

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Through a number of prior years’ transactions and the Combination, Liberty Broadband has acquired an interest in Charter. The investment in Charter is accounted for as an equity method affiliate based on our voting and ownership interest and the board seats held by individuals appointed by Liberty Broadband. As of December 31, 2021, the carrying and market value of Liberty Broadband’s ownership in Charter was approximately $13.3 billion and $34.8 billion, respectively. We own an approximate 30.9% economic ownership interest in Charter, based on shares of Charter’s Class A common stock issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021.

Upon the closing of the Time Warner Cable merger, the Second Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2015, by and among Charter, Liberty Broadband and Advance/Newhouse Partnership, as amended (the “Stockholders Agreement”), became fully effective. Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, Liberty Broadband’s equity ownership in Charter (on a fully diluted basis) is capped at the greater of 26% or the voting cap (as defined below) (“Equity Cap”). As of December 31, 2021, due to Liberty Broadband’s voting interest exceeding the current voting cap of 25.01%, our voting control of the aggregate voting power of Charter is 25.01%. Under the Stockholders Agreement, Liberty Broadband has agreed to vote (subject to certain exceptions) all voting securities beneficially owned by it, or over which it has voting discretion or control that are in excess of the voting cap in the same proportion as all other votes cast by public stockholders of Charter with respect to the applicable matter.

In February 2021, Liberty Broadband was notified that its ownership interest, on a fully diluted basis, had exceeded the Equity Cap set forth in the Stockholders Agreement. On February 23, 2021, Charter and Liberty Broadband entered into a letter agreement in order to implement, facilitate and satisfy the terms of the Stockholders Agreement with respect to the Equity Cap. Pursuant to this letter agreement, following any month during which Charter purchases, redeems or buys back shares of its Class A common stock, and prior to certain meetings of Charter’s stockholders, Liberty Broadband will be obligated to sell to Charter, and Charter will be obligated to purchase, such number of shares of Class A common stock as is necessary (if any) to reduce Liberty Broadband’s percentage equity interest, on a fully diluted basis, to the Equity Cap (such transaction, a “Charter

Repurchase”). The per share sale price for each share of Charter will be equal to the volume weighted average price paid by Charter in its repurchases, redemptions and buybacks of its common stock (subject to certain exceptions) during the month prior to the Charter Repurchase (or, if applicable, during the relevant period prior to the relevant meeting of Charter stockholders). Under the terms of the letter agreement, Liberty Broadband sold 6,077,664 shares of Charter Class A common stock to Charter for $4.2 billion during the year ended December 31, 2021 to maintain our fully diluted ownership percentage at 26%. Subsequent to December 31, 2021, Liberty Broadband sold 535,092 shares of Charter Class A common stock to Charter for $341 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, Liberty Broadband exercised its preemptive right to purchase an aggregate of approximately 35 thousand shares of Charter’s Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $15 million.

During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, there were dilution losses of $102 million, $184 million, and $79 million, respectively, in the Company’s investment in Charter. The dilution losses are attributable to stock option exercises by employees and other third parties at prices below Liberty Broadband’s book basis per share, partially offset by a gain on dilution related to Charter’s repurchase of Liberty Broadband’s Charter shares during the year ended December 31, 2021.

The excess basis has been allocated within memo accounts used for equity method accounting purposes as follows (amounts in millions):

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Property and equipment and customer relationships have weighted average remaining useful lives of approximately 5 years and 9 years, respectively, and indefinite lives for franchise fees, trademarks and goodwill. The excess basis of outstanding debt is amortized over the contractual period using the straight-line method. The increase in excess basis for the year ended December 31, 2021, was primarily due to Charter’s share buyback program, partially offset by Liberty Broadband’s participation in Charter’s share buyback program. Included in our share of earnings from Charter of $1,194 million, $713 million and $286 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are $234 million, $144 million and $124 million, respectively, of losses, net of taxes, due to the amortization of the excess basis related to assets with identifiable useful lives and debt.

Summarized financial information for Charter is as follows:

Consolidated Balance Sheets

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Consolidated Statements of Operations

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