v3.3.1.900

Share-based Compensation (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of stock-based compensation | The following table summarizes our share-based compensation expense:
| Year ended December 31,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
| in millions
Liberty Global shares: |  |  |  |  |
Performance-based incentive awards (a) | $ | 129.9 |  |  | $ | 58.6 |  |  | $ | 33.0 |
Other share-based incentive awards | 99.7 |  |  | 182.9 |  |  | 46.0 |
Total Liberty Global shares (b) | 229.6 |  |  | 241.5 |  |  | 79.0 |
Telenet share-based incentive awards (c) | 14.6 |  |  | 56.5 |  |  | 31.2 |
Other | 13.0 |  |  | 4.5 |  |  | 2.2 |
Total | $ | 257.2 |  |  | $ | 302.5 |  |  | $ | 112.4 |
Included in: |  |  |  |  |
Continuing operations: |  |  |  |  |
Operating expense | $ | 7.6 |  |  | $ | 12.1 |  |  | $ | 8.5 |
SG&A expense | 249.6 |  |  | 288.6 |  |  | 101.6 |
Total - continuing operations | 257.2 |  |  | 300.7 |  |  | 110.1 |
Discontinued operations (d) | — |  |  | 1.8 |  |  | 2.3 |
Total | $ | 257.2 |  |  | $ | 302.5 |  |  | $ | 112.4 |
_______________
(a) | Includes share-based compensation expense related to (i) Liberty Global PSU s for all periods presented, (ii) a challenge performance award plan issued on June 24, 2013 for certain executive officers and key employees (the Challenge Performance Awards) and (iii) for 2014, the Performance Grant Units (PGUs), as described below. The Challenge Performance Awards include performance-based share appreciation rights (PSAR s) and PSU s.
(b) | In connection with the Virgin Media Acquisition, we issued Liberty Global share-based incentive awards (Virgin Media Replacement Awards) to employees and former directors of Virgin Media in exchange for corresponding Virgin Media awards. Virgin Media recorded share-based compensation expense of $55.8 million during 2014, including compensation expense related to the Virgin Media Replacement Awards and new awards that were granted after the Virgin Media Replacement Awards were issued. During 2013, Virgin Media recorded share-based compensation expense of $134.3 million, primarily related to the Virgin Media Replacement Awards, including $80.1 million that was charged to expense in recognition of the Virgin Media Replacement Awards that were fully vested on June 7, 2013 or for which vesting was accelerated pursuant to the terms of the Virgin Media Merger Agreement on or prior to December 31, 2013.
(c) | Represents the share-based compensation expense associated with Telenet’s share-based incentive awards, including (i) warrants and employee stock options with 1,082,322 awards outstanding as of December 31, 2014 at a weighted average exercise price of €27.17 ($32.88), (ii) an employee share purchase plan, (iii) performance-based specific stock option plans for the Chief Executive Officer with 565,000 awards outstanding as of December 31, 2014 at a weighted average exercise price of €37.43 ($45.29) and (iv) performance-based stock options with 87,529 awards outstanding as of December 31, 2014. During 2013 and 2012, Telenet modified the terms of certain of its share-based incentive plans to provide for anti-dilution adjustments in connection with its shareholder returns. In connection with these anti-dilution adjustments, Telenet recognized share-based compensation expense of $32.7 million and $12.6 million, respectively, and continues to recognize additional share-based compensation expense as the underlying options vest. In addition, during 2013, Telenet recognized expense of $6.2 million related to the accelerated vesting of certain options.
(d) | Amounts relate to the share-based compensation expense associated with the Liberty Global share-based incentive awards held by certain employees of the Chellomedia Disposal Group.
Summary of stock compensation not recognized | The following table provides certain information related to share-based compensation not yet recognized for share-based incentive awards related to Liberty Global ordinary shares as of December 31, 2014:
| Liberty Global ordinary shares (a) |  | Liberty Global performance- based awards (b)
Total compensation expense not yet recognized (in millions) | $ | 132.7 |  |  | $ | 162.5 |
Weighted average period remaining for expense recognition (in years) | 2.6 |  |  | 1.3 |
_______________
(a) | Amounts relate to awards granted or assumed by Liberty Global under (i) the Liberty Global 2014 Incentive Plan, (ii) the Liberty Global 2014 Nonemployee Director Incentive Plan, (iii) the Liberty Global, Inc. 2005 Incentive Plan (as amended and restated effective June 7, 2013) (the Liberty Global 2005 Incentive Plan), (iv) the Liberty Global, Inc. 2005 Nonemployee Director Incentive Plan (as amended and restated effective June 7, 2013) (the Liberty Global 2005 Director Incentive Plan) and (v) certain other incentive plans of Virgin Media, including Virgin Media’s 2010 stock incentive plan (the VM Incentive Plan). All new awards are granted under the Liberty Global 2014 Incentive Plan or the Liberty Global 2014 Nonemployee Director Incentive Plan. The Liberty Global 2014 Incentive Plan, the Liberty Global 2014 Nonemployee Director Incentive Plan, the Liberty Global 2005 Incentive Plan, the Liberty Global 2005 Director Incentive Plan and the VM Incentive Plan are described below.
(b) | Amounts relate to (i) the Challenge Performance Awards, (ii) PSU s and (iii) the PGUs, as defined and described below.
Stock compensation assumptions | The following table summarizes certain information related to the incentive awards granted and exercised with respect to Liberty Global ordinary shares:
| Year ended December 31,
| 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
Assumptions used to estimate fair value of options, SARs and PSARs granted: |  |  |  |  |
Risk-free interest rate | 0.81 - 1.77% |  | 0.36 - 1.27% |  | 0.37 - 1.68%
Expected life (a) | 3.1 - 5.1 years |  | 3.2 - 7.1 years |  | 3.3 - 7.9 years
Expected volatility (a) | 25.1 - 28.7% |  | 26.5 - 35.8% |  | 28.0 - 40.4%
Expected dividend yield | none |  | none |  | none
Weighted average grant-date fair value per share of awards granted: |  |  |  |  |
Options | $ | 11.40 |  |  | $ | 11.09 |  |  | $ | 10.00 |
SARs | $ | 8.93 |  |  | $ | 8.36 |  |  | $ | 7.18 |
PSARs | $ | 8.15 |  |  | $ | 8.31 |  |  | $ | — |
RSUs | $ | 40.68 |  |  | $ | 35.74 |  |  | $ | 24.57 |
PSUs and PGUs | $ | 42.47 |  |  | $ | 34.94 |  |  | $ | 25.09 |
Total intrinsic value of awards exercised (in millions): |  |  |  |  |
Options | $ | 126.6 |  |  | $ | 175.0 |  |  | $ | 43.9 |
SARs | $ | 48.7 |  |  | $ | 73.2 |  |  | $ | 52.0 |
PSARs | $ | 0.4 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Cash received from exercise of options (in millions) | $ | 54.8 |  |  | $ | 81.0 |  |  | $ | 25.6 |
Income tax benefit related to share-based compensation (in millions) | $ | 54.6 |  |  | $ | 48.0 |  |  | $ | 16.1 |
_______________
(a) | The 2013 ranges shown for these assumptions exclude the awards for certain former employees of Virgin Media who were expected to exercise their awards immediately or soon after the Virgin Media Acquisition. For these awards, the assumptions used for expected life and volatility were essentially nil.
Options [Member] | Class A Ordinary Shares [Member] |
Stock options activity | The following tables summarize the share-based award activity during 2014 with respect to Liberty Global ordinary shares:
Options — Class A ordinary shares | Number of shares |  | Weighted average exercise price |  | Weighted average remaining contractual term |  | Aggregate intrinsic value
|  |  |  |  | in years |  | in millions
Outstanding at January 1, 2014 | 2,708,445 |  |  | $ | 16.12 |  |  |  |  |
Granted | 78,677 |  |  | $ | 42.54 |  |  |  |  |
Cancelled | (51,826 | ) |  | $ | 22.49 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised | (1,009,037 | ) |  | $ | 14.61 |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 | 1,726,259 |  |  | $ | 18.01 |  |  | 5.4 |  | $ | 55.6 |
Exercisable at December 31, 2014 | 1,125,619 |  |  | $ | 13.84 |  |  | 4.5 |  | $ | 40.9 |
Options [Member] | Class C Ordinary Shares [Member] |
Stock options activity |
Options — Class C ordinary shares | Number of shares |  | Weighted average exercise price |  | Weighted average remaining contractual term |  | Aggregate intrinsic value
|  |  |  |  | in years |  | in millions
Outstanding at January 1, 2014 | 7,031,369 |  |  | $ | 14.95 |  |  |  |  |
Granted | 157,346 |  |  | $ | 40.86 |  |  |  |  |
Cancelled | (128,419 | ) |  | $ | 21.13 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised | (3,114,104 | ) |  | $ | 12.54 |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 | 3,946,192 |  |  | $ | 17.67 |  |  | 5.7 |  | $ | 120.9 |
Exercisable at December 31, 2014 | 2,452,721 |  |  | $ | 13.72 |  |  | 4.8 |  | $ | 84.8 |
SARs [Member] | Class A Ordinary Shares [Member] |
Stock options activity |
SARs — Class A ordinary shares | Number of shares |  | Weighted average base price |  | Weighted average remaining contractual term |  | Aggregate intrinsic value
|  |  |  |  | in years |  | in millions
Outstanding at January 1, 2014 | 4,168,758 |  |  | $ | 24.78 |  |  |  |  |
Granted | 2,192,672 |  |  | $ | 40.90 |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited | (203,409 | ) |  | $ | 32.22 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised | (550,033 | ) |  | $ | 21.97 |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 | 5,607,988 |  |  | $ | 31.07 |  |  | 4.8 |  | $ | 107.3 |
Exercisable at December 31, 2014 | 2,527,237 |  |  | $ | 23.25 |  |  | 3.6 |  | $ | 68.1 |
SARs [Member] | Class C Ordinary Shares [Member] |
Stock options activity |
SARs — Class C ordinary shares | Number of shares |  | Weighted average base price |  | Weighted average remaining contractual term |  | Aggregate intrinsic value
|  |  |  |  | in years |  | in millions
Outstanding at January 1, 2014 | 12,437,530 |  |  | $ | 23.87 |  |  |  |  |
Granted | 4,408,368 |  |  | $ | 39.07 |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited | (566,688 | ) |  | $ | 22.52 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised | (1,590,165 | ) |  | $ | 20.92 |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 | 14,689,045 |  |  | $ | 28.49 |  |  | 4.5 |  | $ | 291.2 |
Exercisable at December 31, 2014 | 7,308,864 |  |  | $ | 21.95 |  |  | 3.5 |  | $ | 192.7 |
PSARs [Member] | Class A Ordinary Shares [Member] |
Stock options activity |
PSARs — Class A ordinary shares | Number of shares |  | Weighted average base price |  | Weighted average remaining contractual term |  | Aggregate intrinsic value
|  |  |  |  | in years |  | in millions
Outstanding at January 1, 2014 | 2,817,498 |  |  | $ | 35.07 |  |  |  |  |
Granted | 10,000 |  |  | $ | 43.58 |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited | (29,376 | ) |  | $ | 35.03 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised | (9,373 | ) |  | $ | 35.03 |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 | 2,788,749 |  |  | $ | 35.10 |  |  | 5.5 |  | $ | 42.1 |
Exercisable at December 31, 2014 | 7,499 |  |  | $ | 35.03 |  |  | 1.8 |  | $ | 0.1 |
PSARs [Member] | Class C Ordinary Shares [Member] |
Stock options activity |
PSARs — Class C ordinary shares | Number of shares |  | Weighted average base price |  | Weighted average remaining contractual term |  | Aggregate intrinsic value
|  |  |  |  | in years |  | in millions
Outstanding at January 1, 2014 | 8,452,494 |  |  | $ | 33.44 |  |  |  |  |
Granted | 30,000 |  |  | $ | 43.03 |  |  |  |  |
Forfeited | (88,127 | ) |  | $ | 33.41 |  |  |  |  |
Exercised | (28,119 | ) |  | $ | 33.41 |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 | 8,366,248 |  |  | $ | 33.48 |  |  | 5.5 |  | $ | 124.1 |
Exercisable at December 31, 2014 | 22,498 |  |  | $ | 33.41 |  |  | 1.8 |  | $ | 0.3 |
RSUs [Member] | Class A Ordinary Shares [Member] |
Other-than-options activity |
RSUs — Class A ordinary shares | Number of shares |  | Weighted average grant-date fair value per share |  | Weighted average remaining contractual term
|  |  |  |  | in years
Outstanding at January 1, 2014 | 725,676 |  |  | $ | 35.48 |  |  |
Granted | 226,069 |  |  | $ | 41.77 |  |  |
Forfeited | (44,428 | ) |  | $ | 33.32 |  |  |
Released from restrictions | (342,047 | ) |  | $ | 35.07 |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 | 565,270 |  |  | $ | 38.27 |  |  | 4.6
RSUs [Member] | Class C Ordinary Shares [Member] |
Other-than-options activity |
RSUs — Class C ordinary shares | Number of shares |  | Weighted average grant-date fair value per share |  | Weighted average remaining contractual term
|  |  |  |  | in years
Outstanding at January 1, 2014 | 1,944,468 |  |  | $ | 32.79 |  |  |
Granted | 460,866 |  |  | $ | 40.14 |  |  |
Forfeited | (122,418 | ) |  | $ | 30.93 |  |  |
Released from restrictions | (895,913 | ) |  | $ | 32.36 |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 | 1,387,003 |  |  | $ | 35.59 |  |  | 4.5
PSUs and PGUs [Member] | Class A Ordinary Shares [Member] |
Other-than-options activity |
PSUs and PGUs — Class A ordinary shares | Number of shares |  | Weighted average grant-date fair value per share |  | Weighted average remaining contractual term
|  |  |  |  | in years
Outstanding at January 1, 2014 | 924,648 |  |  | $ | 32.05 |  |  |
Granted | 1,518,276 |  |  | $ | 42.74 |  |  |
Performance adjustment (a) | (138,668 | ) |  | $ | 26.17 |  |  |
Forfeited | (40,627 | ) |  | $ | 35.77 |  |  |
Released from restrictions | (273,936 | ) |  | $ | 26.24 |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 | 1,989,693 |  |  | $ | 41.34 |  |  | 1.8
PGUs [Member] | Class A Ordinary Shares [Member] |
Other-than-options activity |
PGUs — Class B ordinary shares | Number of shares |  | Weighted average grant-date fair value per share |  | Weighted average remaining contractual term
|  |  |  |  | in years
Outstanding at January 1, 2014 | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  |
Granted | 1,000,000 |  |  | $ | 44.55 |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 | 1,000,000 |  |  | $ | 44.55 |  |  | 2.2
PSUs [Member] | Class C Ordinary Shares [Member] |
Other-than-options activity |
PSUs — Class C ordinary shares | Number of shares |  | Weighted average grant-date fair value per share |  | Weighted average remaining contractual term
|  |  |  |  | in years
Outstanding at January 1, 2014 | 2,744,452 |  |  | $ | 29.99 |  |  |
Granted | 1,048,614 |  |  | $ | 39.83 |  |  |
Performance adjustment (a) | (416,004 | ) |  | $ | 24.73 |  |  |
Forfeited | (112,487 | ) |  | $ | 33.15 |  |  |
Released from restrictions | (821,808 | ) |  | $ | 24.79 |  |  |
Outstanding at December 31, 2014 | 2,442,767 |  |  | $ | 36.71 |  |  | 1.3
_______________
(a) | Represents the reduction in PSU s associated with the first quarter 2014 determination that 66.3% of the PSU s that were granted in 2012 (the 2012 PSU s) had been earned. As of December 31, 2014, all of the earned 2012 PSU s have been released from restrictions.

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the allocation of equity-based compensation costs to a given line item on the balance sheet and income statement for the period. This may include the reporting line for the costs and the amount capitalized and expensed. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 14 -Section F + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the changes in other outstanding share-based compensation awards other than stock options or nonvested awards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfOtherShareBasedCompensationActivityTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the number and weighted-average exercise prices (or conversion ratios) for share options (or share units) that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, vested and expected to vest, exercisable or convertible at the end of the year, and the number of share options or share units that were granted, exercised or converted, forfeited, and expired during the year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationStockOptionsActivityTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the significant assumptions used during the year to estimate the fair value of stock options, including, but not limited to: (a) expected term of share options and similar instruments, (b) expected volatility of the entity's shares, (c) expected dividends, (d) risk-free rate(s), and (e) discount for post-vesting restrictions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (f)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedPaymentAwardStockOptionsValuationAssumptionsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the total compensation cost related to nonvested awards not yet recognized and the weighted-average period over which it is expected to be recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfUnrecognizedCompensationCostNonvestedAwardsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=lbtya_ClassOrdinarySharesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=lbtya_ClassCOrdinarySharesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=lbtya_PerformanceStockAppreciationRightsPSARsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=lbtya_PSUsandPGUsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=lbtya_PGUsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=lbtya_PerformanceShareUnitsPSUsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |