Discontinued Operations and Other Dispositions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Discontinued Operations and Other Dispositions

4. Discontinued Operations and Other Dispositions

In December 2016, Nielsen completed the sale of Claritas, a business focusing on consumer segmentation insights within the Company’s Buy segment, for cash consideration of $34 million and a note receivable for $60 million. The note is payable at any time over three years and bears interest at 3% in year one, 5% in year two and 7% in year three. As a result of this transaction, the Company recorded a $14 million gain on the sale to other income/(expense), net in the consolidated statement of operations. This disposition did not qualify to be classified as a discontinued operations.

In November 2015, Nielsen completed the sale of the National Research Group, Inc., a leader in providing market research to movie studios within the Company’s Watch segment, for total cash consideration of $34 million and recorded an $18 million gain on the sale to other income/(expense), net in the consolidated statement of operations. This disposition did not qualify to be classified as a discontinued operations.

In February 2014, Nielsen completed the acquisition of Harris Interactive, Inc., a leading global market research firm, through the purchase of all outstanding shares of Harris Interactive’s common stock for $2.04 per share. In June 2014, the Company completed the sale of Harris Interactive European operations (“Harris Europe”) to ITWP Acquisitions Limited (“ITWP”), the parent company of Toluna, a leading digital market research and technology company in exchange for a minority stake in ITWP. The consolidated statements of operations reflect the operating results of Harris Europe as a discontinued operation.

Summarized results of operations for discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

(IN MILLIONS)	2014
Revenue	$	15
Operating income		—
Interest expense		—
Income from operations before income taxes		—
Provision for income taxes		—
Income from operations		—
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		—
Gain on sale, net of tax		—
Income from discontinued operations	$	—

There were no discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.