Restructuring Activities

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]

7. Restructuring Activities

A summary of the changes in the liabilities for restructuring activities is provided below:


(IN MILLIONS)	Total Initiatives
Balance at December 31, 2012	$	64
Charges		35
Payments		(21	)
Non-cash charges and other adjustments		(3	)
Effect of foreign currency translation and reclassification adjustments		(1	)

Balance at March 31, 2013	$	74

Nielsen recorded $35 million and $37 million in restructuring charges, primarily relating to severance and contract termination costs, for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Of the $74 million in remaining liabilities for restructuring actions, $59 million is expected to be paid within one year and is classified as a current liability within the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2013.

8. Restructuring Activities

A summary of the changes in the liabilities for restructuring activities is provided below:


(IN MILLIONS)	Transformation Initiative			Productivity Initiatives and Legacy Programs			Total
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	46		$	29		$	75

Charges		(9	)		70			61
Payments		(37	)		(33	)		(70	)
Non-cash charges and other adjustments		3			(1	)		2
Effect of foreign currency translation		(1	)		(2	)		(3	)

Balance at December 31, 2010		2			63			65

Charges		—			84			84
Payments		(2	)		(80	)		(82	)

Balance at December 31, 2011		—			67			67

Charges		—			84			84
Non-cash charges and other adjustments		—			(5	)		(5	)
Payments		—			(82	)		(82	)

Balance at December 31, 2012	$	—		$	64		$	64

Of the $64 million in remaining liabilities for restructuring actions, $53 million is expected to be paid within one year and is classified as a current liability within the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2012.

Productivity Initiatives and Legacy Programs

In December 2009, Nielsen commenced certain specific restructuring actions attributable to defined cost reduction programs directed towards achieving increased productivity in future periods primarily through targeted employee terminations.

The Company recorded $84 million in restructuring charges associated with these initiatives during the year ended December 31, 2012. Of these amounts, $5 million related to property lease termination charges with the remainder relating to severance costs associated with employee terminations.

The Company recorded $84 million in restructuring charges associated with these initiatives during the year ended December 31, 2011. The charges primarily related to severance costs associated with employee terminations.

The Company recorded $70 million in restructuring charges associated with these initiatives during the year ended December 31, 2010. Of these amounts, $11 million related to property lease termination charges with the remainder relating to severance costs associated with employee terminations.

Transformation Initiative

The Transformation Initiative has been completed in all respects as of December 31, 2011.

Nielsen recorded net credits of $9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 associated with adjustments to previously established liabilities for employee severance and other benefits.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for restructuring and related activities. Description of restructuring activities such as exit and disposal activities, include facts and circumstances leading to the plan, the expected plan completion date, the major types of costs associated with the plan activities, total expected costs, the accrual balance at the end of the period, and the periods over which the remaining accrual will be settled.

+ References+ Details