Investments in Affiliates and Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Investments In And Advances To Affiliates Schedule Of Investments [Abstract]

Investments in Affiliates and Related Party Transactions

15. Investments in Affiliates and Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions with Affiliates

As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, Nielsen had investments in affiliates of $16 million and $13 million, respectively.

Obligations between Nielsen and its affiliates are regularly settled in cash in the ordinary course of business. Nielsen had net receivables from its affiliates of approximately $2 million and $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

On October 1, 2015, Nielsen acquired an additional 13.5% of NCS, a joint venture between Nielsen and Catalina for $40 million, net of cash acquired. The joint venture was historically accounted for under the equity method of accounting. As part of this transaction we gained control of NCS, as such accounted for it as a step-acquisition and calculated the fair value of the investment immediately before the acquisition to be $161 million. As a result, during the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company recorded a $158 million gain on the investment in NCS to other income/(expense), net in the consolidated statement of operations. Commencing October 1, 2015, NCS was included as a consolidated subsidiary within Nielsen’s consolidated financial statements.