Segment Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment

The following tables present operating information about the Company’s reportable segments for the periods indicated (in thousands):



	Research		Consulting		Events		Talent Assessment & Other	Consolidated
2017 (1)
Revenues	$	2,471,280	$	327,661	$	337,903	174,650	$	3,311,494
Gross contribution	1,653,014		93,643		163,480		90,249	2,000,386
Corporate and other expenses								(2,006,715		)
Operating (loss)								$	(6,329	)

	Research		Consulting		Events		Talent Assessment & Other	Consolidated
2016 (1)
Revenues	$	1,857,001	$	318,934	$	268,605	—	$	2,444,540
Gross contribution	1,285,611		89,734		136,655		—	1,512,000
Corporate and other expenses								(1,206,859		)
Operating income								$	305,141

	Research		Consulting		Events		Talent Assessment & Other	Consolidated
2015 (1)
Revenues	$	1,614,904	$	296,317	$	251,835	—	$	2,163,056
Gross contribution	1,117,534		86,486		130,527		—	1,334,547
Corporate and other expenses								(1,046,550		)
Operating income								$	287,997

(1) In 2017 the Company began reporting the results of its Strategic Advisory Services ("SAS") business in Research whereas previously the SAS business was reported with Consulting. Although the impact of the reclassification was not significant, the operating results of the SAS business for 2016 and 2015 were reclassified from Consulting to Research to be comparable with the current year presentation.

Schedule of Reconciliation of Segment Gross Contribution to Net Income

The following table provides a reconciliation of total segment gross contribution to net income for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):



	2017			2016		2015
Total segment gross contribution	$	2,000,386		$	1,512,000	$	1,334,547
Costs and expenses:
Cost of services and product development - unallocated (1)	9,090			13,108		10,567
Selling, general and administrative	1,599,004			1,089,184		962,677
Depreciation and amortization	240,171			61,969		47,131
Acquisition and integration charges	158,450			42,598		26,175
Operating (loss) income	(6,329		)	305,141		287,997
Interest expense and other, net	121,488			16,710		15,786
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	(131,096		)	94,849		96,576
Net income	$	3,279		$	193,582	$	175,635


(1)	The unallocated amounts consist of certain bonus and related fringe costs recorded in consolidated Cost of services and product development expense that are not allocated to segment expense. The Company's policy is to only allocate bonus and related fringe charges to segments for up to 100% of the segment employee's target bonus. Amounts above 100% are absorbed by corporate.

Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets by Geographical Areas

Summarized information by geographic location as of and for the years ended December 31 follows (in thousands):



	2017		2016		2015
Revenues:
United States and Canada	$	2,037,111	$	1,519,748	$	1,347,676
Europe, Middle East and Africa	850,352		616,721		557,165
Other International	424,031		308,071		258,215
Total revenues	$	3,311,494	$	2,444,540	$	2,163,056

Long-lived assets: (1)
United States and Canada	$	288,735	$	143,921	$	163,933
Europe, Middle East and Africa	84,840		42,326		31,130
Other International	41,674		24,630		16,050
Total long-lived assets	$	415,249	$	210,877	$	211,113


(1)	Excludes goodwill, intangible, and held-for-sale assets.