Fair Value Measurements |
9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2025 | |
| Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] | |
| Fair Value Measurements | Fair Value Measurements General U.S. GAAP provides for a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the 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 are inputs, other than quoted market prices included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Recurring Fair Value Measurements Derivatives In order to manage our interest rate and foreign currency exchange risk, we have entered into various derivative instruments, as further described in note 6. We use the fair value method to account for most of our derivative instruments. The recurring fair value measurements of these derivative instruments are determined using discounted cash flow models. Most of the inputs to these discounted cash flow models consist of, or are derived from, observable Level 2 data for substantially the full term of these derivative instruments. This observable data mostly includes interest rate futures and swap rates, which are retrieved or derived from available market data. Although we may extrapolate or interpolate this data, we do not otherwise alter this data in performing our valuations. We incorporate a credit risk valuation adjustment in our fair value measurements to estimate the impact of both our own nonperformance risk and the nonperformance risk of our counterparties. Our and our counterparties’ credit spreads represent our most significant Level 3 inputs, and these inputs are used to derive the credit risk valuation adjustments with respect to these instruments. As we would not expect changes in our or our counterparties’ credit spreads to have a significant impact on the valuations of these instruments, we have determined that these valuations fall under Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Our credit risk valuation adjustments with respect to our interest rate derivative contracts are further explained in note 6. Non-recurring Fair Value Measurements Fair value measurements may also be used for purposes of non-recurring valuations performed in connection with our acquisition accounting and impairment assessments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, we performed non-recurring valuations in connection with certain impairment assessments at Liberty Puerto Rico, as further discussed below. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, we did not perform any non-recurring valuations in connection with acquisition accounting. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, we performed certain nonrecurring valuations related to the preliminary acquisition accounting for the LPR Acquisition and impairment assessments. For additional information related to the LPR Acquisition, see note 4. Spectrum License Intangible Assets During the second quarter of 2025, and in response to the cumulative impact of challenges stemming from the migration of customers acquired from AT&T to Liberty Puerto Rico’s mobile network and other various network challenges that impacted these mobile customers, including a slower than expected recovery, we concluded that a triggering event occurred requiring an assessment of the fair value of our spectrum license intangible asset at Liberty Puerto Rico. We used a market approach for purposes of the quantitative impairment assessment to value our owned spectrum license intangible assets at Liberty Puerto Rico using a range of values established largely through industry benchmarks, FCC auction data, and precedent transactions, which falls under Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Based on this valuation the fair value of the owned spectrum assets at Liberty Puerto Rico was less than the respective carrying value, and as a result, we recorded an impairment loss of $494 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2025. The impairment is reflected in impairment, restructuring and other operating items, net, in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, the carrying value of which was $777 million after the impairment loss. The impairment loss was driven by the lower fair value, primarily attributed to a result of challenges related to the operationalization of this spectrum. Goodwill Impairment Assessment During the third quarter of 2024, we completed our annual goodwill impairment assessment. For this assessment, we used an income approach to determine the estimated fair values of our reporting units. Under this approach, we utilized a discounted cash flow model as the valuation technique to estimate the fair values of the reporting units from a market participant’s perspective. This approach uses certain inputs and assumptions that require estimates and judgments, including forecasted cash flows and appropriate discount rates. Forecasts of future cash flows are largely based on our assumptions using Level 3 inputs, which we consider to be consistent with a market participant’s approach. We used the weighted-average cost of capital for each reporting unit as the basis for the discount rate to establish the present value of the expected cash flows for the respective reporting unit. The inputs for our weighted average cost of capital calculations include Level 2 and Level 3 inputs, generally derived from third-party pricing services. Based upon the results of the aforementioned analysis, we recorded a $501 million impairment of goodwill at our Liberty Puerto Rico reporting unit, which is included in impairment, restructuring and other operating items, net, in our condensed consolidated statement of operations. This impairment was mainly driven by declines in revenue, primarily from mobile subscriber losses, increased bad debt and other adverse impacts largely associated with (i) the migration of customers acquired from AT&T to our mobile network and (ii) various network challenges that have impacted these mobile customers. See note 7 for additional information associated with our impairment charges and our intangible assets.
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