Guarantor Financial Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Guarantees [Abstract]

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Nielsen Holdings plc

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the year ended December 31, 2017

										Non-
(IN MILLIONS)	Parent			Issuers			Guarantor			Guarantor			Elimination			Consolidated
Revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,608		$	2,964		$	—		$	6,572
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		—			—			1,419			1,346			—			2,765
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		4			—			922			936			—			1,862
Depreciation and amortization		—			—			504			136			—			640
Restructuring charges		—			—			44			36			—			80
Operating (loss)/income		(4	)		—			719			510			—			1,225
Interest income		1			839			37			4			(877	)		4
Interest expense		—			(353	)		(857	)		(41	)		877			(374	)
Foreign currency exchange transaction losses, net		—			—			(4	)		(6	)		—			(10	)
Other (expense)/income, net		—			(4	)		152			(165	)		—			(17	)
(Loss)/income before income taxes and equity in net income/(loss) of subsidiaries and affiliates		(3	)		482			47			302			—			828
Provision for income taxes		(1	)		(146	)		(167	)		(74	)		—			(388	)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries		433			193			554			—			(1,180	)		—
Equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates		—			—			(1	)		1			—			—
Net income		429			529			433			229			(1,180	)		440
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			11			—			11
Net income attributable to controlling interest		429			529			433			218			(1,180	)		429
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)		271			(21	)		271			308			(556	)		273
Total other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			2			—			2
Total other comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to controlling interests		271			(21	)		271			306			(556	)		271
Total comprehensive income		700			508			704			537			(1,736	)		713
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			13			—			13
Total comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$	700		$	508		$	704		$	524		$	(1,736	)	$	700

Nielsen Holdings plc

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the year ended December 31, 2016

										Non-
(IN MILLIONS)	Parent			Issuers			Guarantor			Guarantor			Elimination			Consolidated
Revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,557		$	2,752		$	—		$	6,309
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		—			—			1,317			1,290			—			2,607
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		2			—			960			889			—			1,851
Depreciation and amortization		—			—			486			117			—			603
Restructuring charges		—			—			69			36			—			105
Operating (loss)/income		(2	)		—			725			420			—			1,143
Interest income		—			869			38			5			(908	)		4
Interest expense		(3	)		(310	)		(889	)		(39	)		908			(333	)
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net		—			—			2			(8	)		—			(6	)
Other (expense)/income net		—			(7	)		159			(144	)		—			8
(Loss)/income before income taxes and equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates		(5	)		552			35			234			—			816
Provision for income taxes		—			(135	)		(115	)		(59	)		—			(309	)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries		507			185			588			—			(1,280	)		—
Equity in net (loss)/income of affiliates		—			—			(1	)		1			—			—
Net income		502			602			507			176			(1,280	)		507
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			5			—			5
Net income attributable to controlling interest		502			602			507			171			(1,280	)		502
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income		(152	)		10			(152	)		(184	)		321			(157	)
Total other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			(5	)		—			(5	)
Total other comprehensive loss attributable to controlling interests		(152	)		10			(152	)		(179	)		321			(152	)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)	$	350		$	612		$	355		$	(8	)	$	(959	)	$	350

Nielsen Holdings plc

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the year ended December 31, 2015

(IN MILLIONS)	Parent			Issuers			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Elimination			Consolidated
Revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,585		$	2,587		$	—		$	6,172
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		—			—			1,279			1,260			—			2,539
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below		4			—			1,048			863			—			1,915
Depreciation and amortization		—			—			465			109			—			574
Restructuring charges		—			—			32			19			—			51
Operating (loss)/income		(4	)		—			761			336			—			1,093
Interest income		—			864			37			5			(902	)		4
Interest expense		—			(291	)		(881	)		(41	)		902			(311	)
Foreign currency exchange transaction losses, net		—			—			(10	)		(21	)		—			(31	)
Other income/(expense), net		—			—			252			(46	)		—			206
(Loss)/income before income taxes and equity in net loss of affiliates		(4	)		573			159			233			—			961
Provision for income taxes		(1	)		(127	)		(175	)		(80	)		—			(383	)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries		575			201			593			—			(1,369	)		—
Equity in net loss of affiliates		—			—			(2	)		(1	)		—			(3	)
Net income		570			647			575			152			(1,369	)		575
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			5			—			5
Net income attributable to controlling interests		570			647			575			147			(1,369	)		570
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income		(282	)		21			(282	)		(282	)		535			(290	)
Total other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			(8	)		—			(8	)
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to controlling interests		(282	)		21			(282	)		(274	)		535			(282	)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)		288			668			293			(130	)		(834	)		285
Total comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			(3	)		—			(3	)
Total comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to controlling interests	$	288		$	668		$	293		$	(127	)	$	(834	)	$	288

Consolidated Balance Sheet

Nielsen Holdings plc

Consolidated Balance Sheet

December 31, 2017

							Non-
(IN MILLIONS)	Parent		Issuers		Guarantor		Guarantor		Elimination			Consolidated
Assets:
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2	$	1	$	69	$	584	$	—		$	656
Trade and other receivables, net		—		—		464		816		—			1,280
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		—		—		211		135		—			346
Intercompany receivables		4		1,187		325		155		(1,671	)		—
Total current assets		6		1,188		1,069		1,690		(1,671	)		2,282
Non-current assets													-
Property, plant and equipment, net		—		—		309		173		—			482
Goodwill		—		—		6,100		2,395		—			8,495
Other intangible assets, net		—		—		4,545		532		—			5,077
Deferred tax assets		1		—		—		169		—			170
Other non-current assets		—		17		263		80		—			360
Equity investment in subsidiaries		4,213		1,210		4,583		—		(10,006	)		—
Intercompany loans		25		8,608		424		140		(9,197	)		—
Total assets	$	4,245	$	11,023	$	17,293	$	5,179	$	(20,874	)	$	16,866
Liabilities and equity:
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	$	—	$	61	$	560	$	520	$	—		$	1,141
Deferred revenues		—		—		231		130		—			361
Income tax liabilities		—		—		62		49		—			111
Current portion of long-term debt, capital lease obligations and short-term borrowings		—		35		44		5		—			84
Intercompany payables		—		2		1,345		324		(1,671	)		—
Total current liabilities		—		98		2,242		1,028		(1,671	)		1,697
Non-current liabilities													—
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations		—		8,237		101		19		—			8,357
Deferred tax liabilities		—		71		1,296		68		—			1,435
Intercompany loans		—		62		8,774		361		(9,197	)		—
Other non-current liabilities		—		—		667		267		—			934
Total liabilities		—		8,468		13,080		1,743		(10,868	)		12,423
Total stockholders’ equity		4,245		2,555		4,213		3,238		(10,006	)		4,245
Noncontrolling interests		—		—		—		198		—			198
Total equity		4,245		2,555		4,213		3,436		(10,006	)		4,443
Total liabilities and equity	$	4,245	$	11,023	$	17,293	$	5,179	$	(20,874	)	$	16,866

Nielsen Holdings plc

Consolidated Balance Sheet

December 31, 2016

								Non-
(IN MILLIONS)	Parent		Issuers		Guarantor			Guarantor		Elimination			Consolidated
Assets:
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	5	$	1	$	215		$	533	$	—		$	754
Trade and other receivables, net		2		—		472			697		—			1,171
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		—		—		185			112		—			297
Intercompany receivables		—		862		312			167		(1,341	)		—
Total current assets		7		863		1,184			1,509		(1,341	)		2,222
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net		—		—		306			165		—			471
Goodwill		—		—		5,728			2,117		—			7,845
Other intangible assets, net		—		—		4,248			488		—			4,736
Deferred tax assets		2		—		(1	)		126		—			127
Other non-current assets		—		3		245			81		—			329
Equity investment in subsidiaries		4,117		1,079		4,229			—		(9,425	)		—
Intercompany loans		25		11,533		3,332			150		(15,040	)		—
Total assets	$	4,151	$	13,478	$	19,271		$	4,636	$	(25,806	)	$	15,730
Liabilities and equity:
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	$	—	$	52	$	477		$	483	$	—		$	1,012
Deferred revenues		—		—		171			126		—			297
Income tax liabilities		—		2		36			59		—			97
Current portion of long-term debt, capital lease obligations and short-term borrowings		—		145		35			8		—			188
Intercompany payables		47		2		988			304		(1,341	)		—
Total current liabilities		47		201		1,707			980		(1,341	)		1,594
Non-current liabilities
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations		—		7,611		106			21		—			7,738
Deferred tax liabilities		—		71		1,027			77		—			1,175
Intercompany loans		—		2,985		11,708			347		(15,040	)		—
Other non-current liabilities		2		4		608			316		—			930
Total liabilities		49		10,872		15,156			1,741		(16,381	)		11,437
Total stockholders’ equity		4,102		2,606		4,117			2,702		(9,425	)		4,102
Noncontrolling interests		—		—		(2	)		193		—			191
Total equity		4,102		2,606		4,115			2,895		(9,425	)		4,293
Total liabilities and equity	$	4,151	$	13,478	$	19,271		$	4,636	$	(25,806	)	$	15,730

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Nielsen Holdings plc

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended December 31, 2017

											Non-
(IN MILLIONS)	Parent				Issuers			Guarantor			Guarantor			Consolidated
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities	$	(1	)		$	171		$	789		$	351		$	1,310
Investing activities:															—
Acquisition of subsidiaries and affiliates, net of cash acquired		—				—			(755	)		(23	)		(778	)
Proceeds from the sale of subsidiaries and affiliates									1			1			2
Additions to property, plant and equipment and other assets		—				—			(63	)		(56	)		(119	)
Additions to intangible assets		—				—			(307	)		(63	)		(370	)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets		—				—			29			13			42
Other investing activities		—				—			(11	)		(2	)		(13	)
Net cash used in investing activities		—				—			(1,106	)		(130	)		(1,236	)
Financing activities:
Repayments of debt		—				(2,295	)		—			(1	)		(2,296	)
Proceeds from the issuance of debt, net of issuance costs		—				2,744			1			—			2,745
Decrease in short term borrowings		—		-		—			—			(5	)		(5	)
Cash dividends paid to stockholders		(474	)			—			—			—			(474	)
Repurchase of common stock		(140	)			—			—			—			(140	)
Activity under stock plans		32				—			(11	)		—			21
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan		6				—			—			—			6
Capital leases		—				—			(51	)		(4	)		(55	)
Settlement of intercompany and other financing activities		574				(620	)		236			(207	)		(17	)
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities		(2	)			(171	)		175			(217	)		(215	)
Effect of exchange-rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—				—			(4	)		47			43
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents		(3	)			—			(146	)		51			(98	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		5				1			215			533			754
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	2			$	1		$	69		$	584		$	656

Nielsen Holdings plc

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended December 31, 2016

										Non-
(IN MILLIONS)	Parent			Issuers			Guarantor			Guarantor			Consolidated
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities	$	(5	)	$	278		$	671		$	352		$	1,296
Investing activities:
Acquisition of subsidiaries and affiliates, net of cash acquired		—			—			(242	)		(43	)		(285	)
Proceeds from the sale of subsidiaries and affiliates		—			—			36			(2	)		34
Additions to property, plant and equipment and other assets		—			—			(53	)		(56	)		(109	)
Additions to intangible assets		—			—			(273	)		(51	)		(324	)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets		—			—			31			11			42
Other investing activities		—			—			(1	)		1			—
Net cash used in investing activities		—			—			(502	)		(140	)		(642	)
Financing activities:
Net payments under revolving credit facility		—			—			(164	)		—			(164	)
Repayments of debt		—			(1,765	)		—			—			(1,765	)
Proceeds from the issuance of debt, net of issuance costs		—			2,502			—			—			2,502
Increase in short term borrowings		—			—			—			4			4
Cash dividends paid to stockholders		(434	)		—			—			—			(434	)
Repurchase of common stock		(418	)		—			—			—			(418	)
Activity under stock plans		103			—			(22	)		—			81
Other financing activities		758			(1,014	)		222			(20	)		(54	)
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities		9			(277	)		36			(16	)		(248	)
Effect of exchange-rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			—			3			(12	)		(9	)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		4			1			208			184			397
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		1			—			7			349			357
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	5		$	1		$	215		$	533		$	754

Nielsen Holdings plc

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended December 31, 2015

(IN MILLIONS)	Parent			Issuers			Guarantor			Non-Guarantor			Consolidated
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	—		$	255		$	667		$	287		$	1,209
Investing activities:
Acquisition of subsidiaries and affiliates, net of cash acquired		—			—			(246	)		—			(246	)
Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries and affiliates, net		—			—			30			—			30
Additions to property, plant and equipment and other assets		—			—			(82	)		(52	)		(134	)
Additions to intangible assets		—			—			(237	)		(37	)		(274	)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment		—			—			—			7			7
Other investing activities		—			—			36			—			36
Net cash used in investing activities		—			—			(499	)		(82	)		(581	)
Financing activities:
Net borrowings under revolving credit facility		—			—			(116	)		—			(116	)
Proceeds from issuances of debt, net of issuance costs		—			746			—			—			746
Repayments of debt		—			(98	)		—			—			(98	)
Cash dividends paid to stockholders		(408	)		—			—			—			(408	)
Repurchase of common stock		(667	)		—			—			—			(667	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		79			—			(7	)		—			72
Other financing activities		948			(904	)		16			(81	)		(21	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(48	)		(256	)		(107	)		(81	)		(492	)
Effect of exchange-rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			—			(3	)		(49	)		(52	)
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents		(48	)		(1	)		58			75			84
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		49			1			(51	)		274			273
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	1		$	—		$	7		$	349		$	357