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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

 

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012

OR

 

¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 001-35042

 

 

Nielsen Holdings N.V.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

The Netherlands		98-0662038
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
770 Broadway New York, New York 10003 (646) 654-5000		Diemerhof 2 1112 XL Diemen The Netherlands +31 (0) 20 398 87 77
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (Registrant’s telephone numbers including area code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer”, “large accelerated filer”, and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer		¨		Accelerated filer		¨
Non-accelerated filer		x  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company		¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

There were 360,772,260 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of March 31, 2012.

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

				PAGE
PART I.		FINANCIAL INFORMATION			3
Item 1.		Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements			3
Item 2.		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			17
Item 3.		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			26
Item 4.		Controls and Procedures			27
PART II.		OTHER INFORMATION			27
Item 1.		Legal Proceedings			27
Item 1A.		Risk Factors			27
Item 2.		Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			27
Item 3.		Defaults Upon Senior Securities			27
Item 4.		Mine Safety Disclosures			27
Item 5.		Other Information			27
Item 6.		Exhibits			27
		Signatures			28

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nielsen Holdings N.V.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended March  31,
(IN MILLIONS EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)		2012				2011
Revenues		$	1,340			$	1,302
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below			565				549
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below			453				543
Depreciation and amortization			131				136
Restructuring charges			37				23
Operating income			154				51
Interest income			1				1
Interest expense			(106	)			(140	)
Loss on derivative instruments			—				(1	)
Foreign currency exchange transaction (losses)/gains, net			(9	)			7
Other expense, net			(6	)			(230	)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net loss of affiliates			34				(312	)
(Provision)/benefit for income taxes			(7	)			134
Equity in net loss of affiliates			(2	)			(2	)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations			25				(180	)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax			—				(1	)
Net income/(loss)			25				(181	)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests			—				1
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen stockholders		$	25			$	(182	)
Net income/(loss) per share of common stock, basic and diluted
Income/(loss) from continuing operations		$	0.07			$	(0.55	)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen stockholders		$	0.07			$	(0.55	)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic			360,881,693				331,248,626
Dilutive shares of common stock			4,839,365				—
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted			365,721,058				331,248,626

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Nielsen Holdings N.V.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(IN MILLIONS)		2012				2011
Net income/(loss)		$	25			$	(181	)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax			87				43
Changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax			(1	)			7
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments, net of tax			2				(1	)
Total other comprehensive income			88				49
Total comprehensive income/(loss)			113				(132	)
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests			—				2
Total comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen stockholders		$	113			$	(134	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Nielsen Holdings N.V.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)		March 31, 2012				December 31, 2011
		(Unaudited)
Assets:
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	295			$	319
Trade and other receivables, net of allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns of $25 and $24 as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively			1,057				1,080
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			297				266
Total current assets			1,649				1,665
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net			611				609
Goodwill			7,232				7,155
Other intangible assets, net			4,544				4,561
Deferred tax assets			179				198
Other non-current assets			322				316
Total assets		$	14,537			$	14,504
Liabilities and equity:
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and other current liabilities		$	898			$	1,025
Deferred revenues			424				443
Income tax liabilities			67				80
Current portion of long-term debt, capital lease obligations and short-term borrowings			293				144
Total current liabilities			1,682				1,692
Non-current liabilities
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations			6,563				6,619
Deferred tax liabilities			972				996
Other non-current liabilities			548				556
Total liabilities			9,765				9,863
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Equity:
Nielsen stockholders’ equity
Common stock, €0.07 par value, 1,185,000,000 shares authorized; 361,232,014 and 360,107,359 shares issued and 360,772,260 and 359,647,605 shares outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively			30				30
Additional paid-in capital			6,445				6,427
Accumulated deficit			(1,500	)			(1,525	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes			(211	)			(299	)
Total Nielsen stockholders’ equity			4,764				4,633
Noncontrolling interests			8				8
Total equity			4,772				4,641
Total liabilities and equity		$	14,537			$	14,504

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Nielsen Holdings N.V.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(IN MILLIONS)		2012				2011
Operating Activities
Net income/(loss)		$	25			$	(181	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense			8				4
Currency exchange rate differences on financial transactions and other losses			15				223
Loss on derivative instruments			—				1
Equity in net loss of affiliates, net of dividends received			5				6
Depreciation and amortization			131				136
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of businesses acquired and divested:
Trade and other receivables, net			51				57
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(25	)			(25	)
Accounts payable and other current liabilities and deferred revenues			(227	)			(155	)
Other non-current liabilities			(1	)			2
Interest payable			31				47
Income taxes payable			(16	)			(167	)
Net cash used in operating activities			(3	)			(52	)
Investing Activities
Acquisition of subsidiaries and affiliates, net of cash acquired			(16	)			(60	)
Additions to property, plant and equipment and other assets			(42	)			(20	)
Additions to intangible assets			(40	)			(32	)
Other investing activities			—				(1	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(98	)			(113	)
Financing Activities
Net borrowings under revolving credit facility			120				—
Proceeds from issuances of debt, net of issuance costs			1,209				277
Repayment of debt			(1,271	)			(1,751	)
Increase in other short-term borrowings			6				12
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock			—				1,801
Activity under stock plans			10				(2	)
Settlement of derivatives and other financing activities			(4	)			(212	)
Net cash provided by financing activities			70				125
Effect of exchange-rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			7				15
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(24	)			(25	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			319				421
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	295			$	396
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Cash paid for income taxes		$	(23	)		$	(31	)
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized		$	(75	)		$	(93	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Nielsen Holdings N.V.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

1. Background and Basis of Presentation

Background

Nielsen Holdings N.V. (“Nielsen” or the “Company”), together with its subsidiaries, is a leading global information and measurement company that provides clients with a comprehensive understanding of consumers and consumer behavior. Nielsen is aligned into three reporting segments: what consumers buy (“Buy”), what consumers watch (“Watch”) and Expositions. Nielsen has a presence in approximately 100 countries, with its headquarters located in Diemen, the Netherlands and New York, USA.

The Company was formed by several private equity groups through Valcon Acquisition Holding (Luxembourg) S.à r.l. (“Luxco”). As of December 31, 2011, Luxco owned 270,746,445 shares (or approximately 75%) of the Company’s common stock. On March 26, 2012, Luxco and certain Nielsen employees (the “selling shareholders”) completed a public offering of 34,500,000 shares of Nielsen’s common stock at a price of $30.25 per share. Subsequent to this offering Luxco owned 236,266,399 shares (or approximately 66%) of the Company’s common stock.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, contain all the adjustments (consisting of those of a normal recurring nature) considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) applicable to interim periods. For a more complete discussion of significant accounting policies, commitments and contingencies and certain other information, refer to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. All amounts are presented in U.S. Dollars (“$”), except for share data or where expressly stated as being in other currencies, e.g., Euros (“€“). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nielsen and all subsidiaries and other controlled entities. The Company has evaluated events occurring subsequent to March 31, 2012 for potential recognition or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements and concluded there were no subsequent events that required recognition or disclosure.

Earnings per Share

Basic net income or loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock and dilutive potential shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Dilutive potential shares of common stock consist of employee stock options and restricted stock as well as the amount of potential shares to be converted associated with the mandatory convertible subordinated bonds due 2013.

The effect of 5,978,758 shares of common stock equivalents under stock compensation plans were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as such shares would have been anti-dilutive. The effect of 16,596,428 shares of common stock equivalents under stock compensation plans were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2011 due to our net loss position in that period. Of that amount and assuming dilution, 4,664,215 potential common shares would have been included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share and 1,984,085 anti-dilutive stock options would have been excluded from the calculation.

Additionally, the Company’s mandatory convertible subordinated bonds due 2013 are convertible into between 10,416,700 and 12,499,925 shares of common stock, of which a weighted-average number of potential common shares of 10,416,700 and 7,563,394 were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, as such shares would have been anti-dilutive.

2. Summary of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Fair Value Measurement

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting update that amends Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 - “Fair Value Measurement” regarding fair value measurements and disclosure requirements. The amendments were effective for Nielsen as of January 1, 2012. The adoption of this update did not have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Presentation of Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the FASB issued an accounting update that amends ASC 220 - “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”, which eliminates the option to present other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of equity. The Company has presented the items of net income and other comprehensive income in two separate, but consecutive statements and this amended guidance does not have any other impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Testing Goodwill for Impairment

In September 2011, the FASB issued an accounting update that amends ASC 350 - “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, which is intended to simplify goodwill impairment testing by adding a qualitative review step to assess whether the required quantitative impairment analysis that exists today is necessary. The amended guidance permits an entity to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If it is concluded that this is the case, it is necessary to perform the currently prescribed two-step goodwill impairment test. Otherwise, the two-step goodwill impairment test is not required. The Company will apply the updated guidance to its October 1, 2012 annual impairment test and has considered the results of its 2011 impairment test in forming the basis for its assumptions upon adoption of this update. The adoption of this update will not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3. Business Acquisitions

For the three months ended March 31, 2012, Nielsen paid cash consideration of $16 million associated with both current period and previously executed acquisitions, net of cash acquired. Had the current period acquisitions occurred as of January 1, 2012, the impact on Nielsen’s consolidated results of operations would not have been material.

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, Nielsen paid cash consideration of $60 million associated with both that period’s and previously executed acquisitions, net of cash acquired. Had that period’s acquisitions occurred as of January 1, 2011, the impact on Nielsen’s consolidated results of operations would not have been material.

4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The table below summarizes the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

(IN MILLIONS)		Buy				Watch				Expositions				Total
Balance, December 31, 2011		$	3,055			$	3,540			$	560			$	7,155
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments			12				—				—				12
Effect of foreign currency translation			60				5				—				65
Balance, March 31, 2012		$	3,127			$	3,545			$	560			$	7,232

At March 31, 2012, $165 million of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

Other Intangible Assets

 

(IN MILLIONS)		Gross Amounts								Accumulated Amortization
		March 31, 2012				December 31, 2011				March 31, 2012				December 31, 2011
Indefinite-lived intangibles:
Trade names and trademarks		$	1,921			$	1,921			$	—			$	—
Amortized intangibles:
Trade names and trademarks		$	114			$	113			$	(39	)		$	(37	)
Customer-related intangibles			2,848				2,823				(788	)			(747	)
Covenants-not-to-compete			32				32				(23	)			(22	)
Computer software			1,130				1,089				(686	)			(648	)
Patents and other			84				83				(49	)			(46	)
Total		$	4,208			$	4,140			$	(1,585	)		$	(1,500	)

 

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Amortization expense associated with the above intangible assets was $79 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. These amounts included amortization expense associated with computer software of $39 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

5. Restructuring Activities

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

 

(IN MILLIONS)		Total Initiatives
Balance at December 31, 2011		$	67
Charges			37
Payments			(25	)
Effect of foreign currency translation and reclassification adjustments			—
Balance at March 31, 2012		$	79

Nielsen recorded $37 million and $23 million in restructuring charges, primarily relating to severance costs, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Of the $79 million in remaining liabilities for restructuring actions, $66 million is expected to be paid within one year and is classified as a current liability within the condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2012.

6. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which the Company would transact, and also considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk of non-performance.

There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1:		Quoted market prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.
Level 2:		Pricing inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.
Level 3:		Pricing inputs that are generally unobservable and may not be corroborated by market data.

 

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Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities are measured and recorded at fair value, except for equity method investments, cost method investments, and long-term debt. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities being measured and their placement within the fair value hierarchy. The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company’s material financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011:

 

(IN MILLIONS)		March 31,     2012				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
Assets:
Investments in equity securities(1)		$	21			$	21			$	—			$	—
Plan assets for deferred compensation(2)			22				22				—				—
Investment in mutual funds(3)			2				2				—				—
Total		$	45			$	45			$	—			$	—
Liabilities:
Interest rate swap arrangements(4)		$	26			$	—			$	26			$	—
Deferred compensation liabilities(5)			22				22				—				—
Total		$	48			$	22			$	26			$	—

 

(IN MILLIONS)		December 31,  2011				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
Assets:
Investments in equity securities(1)		$	21			$	21			$	—			$	—
Plan assets for deferred compensation(2)			20				20				—				—
Investment in mutual funds(3)			2				2				—				—
Total		$	43			$	43			$	—			$	—
Liabilities:
Interest rate swap arrangements(4)		$	24			$	—			$	24			$	—
Deferred compensation liabilities(5)			20				20				—				—
Total		$	44			$	20			$	24			$	—

 

(1)

Investments in equity securities are carried at fair value, which is based on the quoted market price at period end in an active market. These investments are classified as available-for-sale with any unrealized gains or losses resulting from changes in fair value recorded, net of tax, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) until realized.

(2)

Plan assets are comprised of investments in mutual funds, which are intended to fund liabilities arising from deferred compensation plans. These investments are carried at fair value, which is based on quoted market prices at period end in active markets. These investments are classified as trading securities with any gains or losses resulting from changes in fair value recorded in other expense, net.

(3)	Investments in mutual funds are money-market accounts held with the intention of funding certain specific retirement plans.

(4)	Derivative financial instruments include interest rate swap arrangements recorded at fair value based on externally-developed valuation models that use readily observable market parameters and the consideration of counterparty risk.

(5)

The Company offers certain employees the opportunity to participate in a deferred compensation plan. A participant’s deferrals are invested in a variety of participant directed stock and bond mutual funds and are classified as trading securities. Changes in the fair value of these securities are measured using quoted prices in active markets based on the market price per unit multiplied by the number of units held exclusive of any transaction costs. A corresponding adjustment for changes in fair value of the trading securities is also reflected in the changes in fair value of the deferred compensation obligation.

 

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Derivative Financial Instruments

Nielsen uses interest rate swap derivative instruments principally to manage the risk that changes in interest rates will affect the cash flows of its underlying debt obligations.

To qualify for hedge accounting, the hedging relationship must meet several conditions with respect to documentation, probability of occurrence, hedge effectiveness and reliability of measurement. Nielsen documents the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions as well as the hedge effectiveness assessment, both at the hedge inception and on an ongoing basis. Nielsen recognizes all derivatives at fair value either as assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets and changes in the fair values of such instruments are recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. If specific cash flow hedge accounting criteria are met, Nielsen recognizes the changes in fair value of these instruments in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss).

Nielsen manages exposure to possible defaults on derivative financial instruments by monitoring the concentration of risk that Nielsen has with any individual bank and through the use of minimum credit quality standards for all counterparties. Nielsen does not require collateral or other security in relation to derivative financial instruments. A derivative contract entered into between Nielsen or certain of its subsidiaries and a counterparty that was also a lender under Nielsen’s senior secured credit facilities at the time the derivative contract was entered into is guaranteed under the senior secured credit facilities by Nielsen and certain of its subsidiaries (see Note 7 - Long-term Debt and Other Financing Arrangements for more information). Since it is Nielsen’s policy to only enter into derivative contracts with banks of internationally acknowledged standing, Nielsen considers the counterparty risk to be remote.

It is Nielsen’s policy to have an International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) Master Agreement established with every bank with which it has entered into any derivative contract. Under each of these ISDA Master Agreements, Nielsen agrees to settle only the net amount of the combined market values of all derivative contracts outstanding with any one counterparty should that counterparty default. Certain of the ISDA Master Agreements contain cross-default provisions where if the Company either defaults in payment obligations under its credit facility or if such obligations are accelerated by the lenders, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations. At March 31, 2012, Nielsen had no material exposure to potential economic losses due to counterparty credit default risk or cross-default risk on its derivative financial instruments.

Interest Rate Risk

Nielsen is exposed to cash flow interest rate risk on the floating-rate U.S. Dollar and Euro Term Loans, and uses floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps to hedge this exposure. For these derivatives, Nielsen reports the after-tax gain or loss from the effective portion of the hedge as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) and reclassifies it into earnings in the same period or periods in which the hedged transaction affects earnings, and within the same income statement line item as the impact of the hedged transaction.

 

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As of March 31, 2012 the Company had the following outstanding interest rate swaps utilized in the management of its interest rate risk:

 

Notional Amount

Maturity Date

Currency

Interest rate swaps designated as hedging instruments

US Dollar term loan floating-to-fixed rate swaps

$

500,000,000

November 2012

US Dollar

US Dollar term loan floating-to-fixed rate swaps

$

250,000,000

March 2013

US Dollar

US Dollar term loan floating-to-fixed rate swaps

$

1,000,000,000

November 2013

US Dollar

US Dollar term loan floating-to-fixed rate swaps

$

250,000,000

November 2014

US Dollar

US Dollar term loan floating-to-fixed rate swaps

$

250,000,000

September 2015

US Dollar

US Dollar term loan floating-to-fixed rate swaps

$

125,000,000

November 2015

US Dollar

Euro term loan floating-to-fixed rate swaps

€

125,000,000

November 2015

Euro

Nielsen expects to recognize approximately $20 million of net pre-tax losses from accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense in the next 12 months associated with its interest-related derivative financial instruments.

Fair Values of Derivative Instruments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

The fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were as follows:

 

		March 31, 2012								December 31, 2011
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments (IN MILLIONS)		Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities				Other Non- Current Liabilities				Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities				Other Non- Current Liabilities
Interest rate swaps		$	11			$	15			$	10			$	14

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships

The pre-tax effect of derivative instruments in cash flow hedging relationships for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:

 

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships (IN MILLIONS)		Amount of (Loss)/Gain Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion) Three Months Ended March 31,								Location of (Loss)/ Gain Reclassified from OCI into  Income (Effective Portion)				Amount of Loss Reclassified from OCI into Income (Effective Portion) Three Months Ended March 31,								Amount of Loss Recognized in Income (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing) Three Months Ended March 31,
		2012				2011								2012				2011				2012				2011
Interest rate swaps		$	(8	)		$	1				Interest expense			$	6			$	5			$	—			$	5

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

The pre-tax effect of derivative instruments not designated as hedges for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:

 

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments (IN MILLIONS)		Location of Loss Recognized in Statement of Operations on Derivatives		Three Months Ended March 31,
				2012				2011
Interest rate swaps		Loss on derivative instruments		$	—			$	1
Total				$	—			$	1

 

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Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

The Company is required, on a nonrecurring basis, to adjust the carrying value or provide valuation allowances for certain assets using fair value measurements. The Company’s equity method investments, cost method investments, and non-financial assets, such as goodwill, intangible assets, and property, plant and equipment, are measured at fair value when there is an indicator of impairment and recorded at fair value only when an impairment charge is recognized.

The Company did not measure any material non-financial assets or liabilities at fair value during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

7. Long-term Debt and Other Financing Arrangements

Unless otherwise stated, interest rates are as of March 31, 2012.

 

(IN MILLIONS)		March 31, 2012												December 31, 2011
		Weighted Interest Rate				Carrying Amount				Fair Value				Weighted Interest Rate				Carrying Amount				Fair Value
USD senior secured term loan (LIBOR based variable rate of 2.24%) due 2013						$	218			$	218							$	1,287			$	1,270
USD senior secured term loan (LIBOR based weighted-average variable rate of 3.70%) due 2016							2,332				2,331								2,338				2,290
USD senior secured term loan (LIBOR based weighted-average variable rate of 2.49%) due 2017							1,222				1,175								—				—
Euro senior secured term loan (Euro LIBOR based variable rate of 2.43%) due 2013							35				35								186				183
Euro senior secured term loan (Euro LIBOR based weighted-average variable rate of 4.00%) due 2016							354				354								345				338
$500 million 8.50% senior secured term loan due 2017							500				538								500				538
$635 million senior secured revolving credit facility (weighted-average variable rate of 2.99%) due 2016							120				120								—				—
Total senior secured credit facilities (with weighted-average contractual interest rate)			4.08	%			4,781				4,771				4.13	%			4,656				4,619
$325 million 11.50% senior debenture loan due 2016							307				354								307				350
$215 million 11.625% senior debenture loan due 2014							205				236								204				234
$1,080 million 7.75% senior debenture loan due 2018							1,084				1,191								1,084				1,165
€50 million private placement debenture loan (EMTN) (3-month EURIBOR based variable rate of 2.56%) due 2012							67				67								65				64
€30 million 6.75% private placement debenture loan (EMTN) due 2012							—				—								39				39
$288 million 6.25% mandatory convertible subordinated bonds due 2013							288				336								288				346
Total debenture loans (with weighted-average contractual interest rate)			9.76	%			1,951				2,184				9.72	%			1,987				2,198
Other loans							2				2								4				4
Total long-term debt			5.72	%			6,734				6,957				5.80	%			6,647				6,821
Capital lease and other financing obligations							114												115
Bank overdrafts							8												1
Total debt and other financing arrangements							6,856												6,763
Less: Current portion of long-term debt, capital lease and other financing obligations and other short-term borrowings(1)							293												144
Non-current portion of long-term debt and capital lease and other financing obligations						$	6,563											$	6,619

 

(1)	Current portion of long-term debt includes $120 million outstanding under the senior secured revolving credit facility due 2016 and does not include the $288 million mandatory convertible subordinated bonds due 2013 as such bonds will be converted into shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

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The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt instruments was based on the yield on public debt where available or current borrowing rates available for financings with similar terms and maturities.

In February 2012, the Company’s €30 million 6.75% EMTN matured and was repaid.

Annual maturities of Nielsen’s long-term debt are as follows:

 

(IN MILLIONS)
For April 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012		$	260
2013(2)			631
2014			340
2015			149
2016			3,037
2017			1,233
Thereafter			1,084
		$	6,734

 

(2)	Includes the $288 million mandatory convertible subordinated bonds due 2013.

Amendment to Senior Secured Credit Facility

In February 2012, the Senior Secured Credit Agreement was amended and restated to provide for a new five-year amortizing term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $1,222 million, the proceeds from which were used to repay a corresponding amount of the existing senior secured term loans due 2013. The Company accounted for this as a new term loan due 2017 and an extinguishment of the amounts repaid under the existing term loan due 2013 and recorded a charge of $6 million associated with the combined elements of this transaction as a component of other expense, net in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Borrowings under the new term loan facility bear interest at a rate as determined by the type of borrowing, equal to either the “base rate” or LIBOR rate, plus, in each case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin on base rate loans under this new term loan facility ranges from 0.75% to 1.50% based on a total leverage ratio. The applicable margin on LIBOR loans under this new term loan facility ranges from 1.75% to 2.50% based on the total leverage ratio. Loans under this new term loan facility mature in full in February 2017, but the maturity date shall be January 2016 if at such time there is more than $750 million in the aggregate of existing other term loans under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement with a maturity of May 2016. The loans under this new term loan facility are required to be repaid in an amount equal to 5% of the original principal amount in the first year after the closing date, 5% in the second year, 10% in the third year, 10% in the fourth year and 70% in the fifth year (with payments in each year being made in equal quarterly installments other than the fifth year, in which payments shall be equal to 3.33% of the original principal amount of loans in each of the first three quarters and the remaining principal balance due in February 2017 (unless repayment is required in January 2016 as indicated above)). Loans under this new term loan facility are secured on a pari passu basis with the Company’s existing obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement and Senior Secured Loan Agreement.

8. Stockholders’ Equity

Common stock activity is as follows:

 

		Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
Actual number of shares of common stock outstanding
Beginning of period			359,647,605
Shares of common stock issued through compensation plans			1,124,655
End of period			360,772,260

Cumulative shares of treasury stock were 459,754 with a corresponding cost of $8 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. No dividends were declared or paid during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

9. Income Taxes

The effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were 21% and 43% (benefit), respectively. The tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was lower than the statutory expense rate as the favorable

 

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impact of certain financing activities and tax audit settlements more than offset the tax rate differences in other jurisdictions where the Company files tax returns. The tax rate benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was higher than the statutory benefit rate would have been primarily due to the favorable impact of certain financing activities and the tax rate differences in other jurisdictions where the Company files tax returns.

Liabilities for unrecognized income tax benefits totaled $97 million and $96 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. If the Company’s tax positions are favorably sustained by the taxing authorities, the reversal of the underlying liabilities would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate in future periods.

The Company files numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction and in many state and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal income tax examinations for 2006 and prior periods. In addition, the Company has subsidiaries in various states, provinces and countries that are currently under audit for years ranging from 2001 through 2010.

The Company is under Canadian audit for the years 2007 and 2008. It is anticipated that these examinations will be completed within the next twelve months. To date, the Company is not aware of any material adjustments not already accrued related to any of the current Federal, state or foreign audits under examination.

10. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings and Contingencies

Nielsen is subject to litigation and other claims in the ordinary course of business, some of which include claims for substantial sums. Accruals have been recorded when the outcome is probable and can be reasonably estimated. While the ultimate results of claims and litigation cannot be determined, the Company does expect that the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on its operations or financial condition. However, depending on the amount and the timing, an unfavorable resolution of some or all of these matters could materially affect the Company’s future results of operations or cash flows in a particular period.

11. Segments

The Company aligns its operating segments in order to conform to management’s internal reporting structure, which is reflective of service offerings by industry. Management aggregates such operating segments into three reporting segments: what consumers buy (“Buy”), consisting principally of market research information and analytical services; what consumers watch (“Watch”), consisting principally of television, online and mobile audience and advertising measurement and corresponding analytics and Expositions, consisting principally of trade shows, events and conferences.

Corporate consists principally of unallocated items such as certain facilities and infrastructure costs as well as intersegment eliminations. Certain corporate costs, other than those described above, including those related to selling, finance, legal, human resources, and information technology systems, are considered operating costs and are allocated to the Company’s segments based on either the actual amount of costs incurred or on a basis consistent with the operations of the underlying segment. Information with respect to the operations of each of Nielsen’s business segments is set forth below based on the nature of the services offered and geographic areas of operations.

Business Segment Information

 

(IN MILLIONS)		Buy				Watch				Expositions				Corporate				Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
Revenues		$	799			$	480			$	61			$	—			$	1,340
Depreciation and amortization		$	53			$	70			$	6			$	2			$	131
Restructuring charges		$	31			$	5			$	—			$	1			$	37
Stock-based compensation expense		$	2			$	2			$	—			$	4			$	8
Other items(1)		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	2			$	2
Operating income/(loss)		$	35			$	108			$	30			$	(19	)		$	154
Business segment income/(loss)(2)		$	121			$	185			$	36			$	(10	)		$	332
Total assets as of March 31, 2012		$	6,879			$	6,582			$	797			$	279			$	14,537

 

(IN MILLIONS)		Buy				Watch				Expositions				Corporate				Total
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
Revenues		$	778			$	468			$	56			$	—			$	1,302
Depreciation and amortization		$	48			$	79			$	7			$	2			$	136

 

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(IN MILLIONS)		Buy				Watch				Expositions				Corporate				Total
Restructuring charges		$	17			$	4			$	—			$	2			$	23
Stock-based compensation expense		$	2			$	1			$	—			$	1			$	4
Other items(1)		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	106			$	106
Operating income/(loss)		$	53			$	93			$	26			$	(121	)		$	51
Business segment income/(loss)(2)		$	120			$	177			$	33			$	(10	)		$	320
Total assets as of December 31, 2011		$	6,782			$	6,560			$	794			$	368			$	14,504

 

(1)

Other items include costs associated with Nielsen’s secondary public offering of common stock and other transaction related costs of $2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and fees associated with certain consulting arrangements and preparatory costs for Nielsen’s initial public offering of common stock of $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Other items for the three months ended March 31, 2011 also include $102 million for the termination and settlement of the Sponsor Advisory Agreements.

 

(2)	The Company’s chief operating decision making group uses business segment income/(loss) to measure performance from period to period both at the consolidated level as well as within its operating segments.

 

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Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Introduction

The following discussion and analysis supplements management’s discussion and analysis of Nielsen Holdings N.V. (“the Company” or “Nielsen”) for the year ended December 31, 2011 as contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2012, and presumes that readers have read or have access to such discussion and analysis. The following discussion and analysis should also be read together with the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto. Further, this report may contain material that includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect, when made, Nielsen’s current views with respect to current events and financial performance. Statements, other than those based on historical facts, which address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to Nielsen’s operations and business environment that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, express or implied, by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those set forth in this Item 2 and Part II, Item 1A, if any, and those noted in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K under “Risk Factors.” Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or as of the date they were made. We disclaim any intention to update the current expectations or forward-looking statements contained in this report. Unless required by context, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to Nielsen and each of its consolidated subsidiaries.

Background and Executive Summary

We are a global information and measurement company that provides clients with a comprehensive understanding of consumers and consumer behavior. We deliver critical media and marketing information, analytics and industry expertise about what consumers buy (referred to herein as “Buy”) and what consumers watch on a global and local basis (consumer interaction across the television, online and mobile viewing platforms referred to herein as “Watch”). Our information, insights and solutions help our clients maintain and strengthen their market positions and identify opportunities for profitable growth. We have a presence in approximately 100 countries, including many developing and emerging markets, and hold leading market positions in many of our services and geographies.

We believe that important measures of our results of operations include revenue, operating income and adjusted EBITDA (defined below). Our long-term financial objectives include consistent revenue growth and expanding operating margins. Accordingly, we are focused on geographic market and service offering expansion to drive revenue growth and improving operating efficiencies including effective resource utilization, information technology leverage and overhead cost management.

Our business strategy is built upon a model that has traditionally yielded consistent revenue performance. Typically, before the start of each year, nearly 70% of our annual revenue has been committed under contracts in our combined Buy and Watch segments, which provides us with a high degree of stability to our revenue and allows us to effectively manage our profitability and cash flows. We continue to look for growth opportunities through global expansion, specifically within developing markets, as well as through the cross-platform expansion of our insights services and measurement services.

Our restructuring and other productivity initiatives have been focused on a combination of improving operating leverage through targeted cost-reduction programs, business process improvements, portfolio restructuring actions while at the same time investing in key programs to enhance future growth opportunities.

Achieving our business objectives requires us to manage a number of key risk areas. Our growth objective of geographic market and service expansion requires us to maintain the consistency and integrity of our information and underlying processes on a global scale, and to invest effectively our capital in technology and infrastructure to keep pace with our clients’ demands and our competitors. Our operating footprint across approximately 100 countries requires disciplined global and local resource management of internal and third party providers to ensure success. In addition, our high level of indebtedness requires active management of our debt profile, with a focus on underlying maturities, interest rate risk, liquidity and operating cash flows.

Business Segment Overview

Our Buy and Watch segments, which together generate substantially all of our revenues, are built on a foundation of proprietary data assets that are designed to yield essential insights for our clients to successfully measure, analyze and grow their businesses.

Our Buy segment provides Information services, which includes our core tracking and scan data (primarily transactional measurement data and consumer behavior information) and Insights services (primarily comprised of our analytical solutions) to businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry. Our services also enable our clients to better manage their brands, uncover new sources of demand, launch and grow new products, analyze their sales, improve their marketing mix and establish more effective consumer relationships. Our data is used by our clients to measure their market share, tracking billions of sales transactions per month in retail outlets around the world. Our extensive database of retail and consumer information, combined with our advanced analytical

 

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capabilities, helps generate strategic insights that influence our clients’ key business decisions. Within our Buy segment, we have two primary geographic groups, developed and developing markets. Developed markets primarily include the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Japan and Australia while developing markets include Latin America, Eastern Europe, Russia, China, India and Southeast Asia.

Our Watch segment provides viewership data and analytics primarily to the media and advertising industries across television, online and mobile screens. Our Watch data is used by our media clients to understand their audiences, establish the value of their advertising inventory and maximize the value of their content, and by our advertising clients to plan and optimize their spending. We are a leader in providing cross-platform measurement services.

Our Expositions segment operates one of the largest portfolios of business-to-business trade shows and conference events in the United States. Each year, we produce more than 40 trade shows and conference events, which in 2011 connected over 300,000 buyers and sellers across 20 industries.

Certain corporate costs, other than those described above, including those related to selling, finance, legal, human resources, and information technology systems, are considered operating costs and are allocated to our segments based on either the actual amount of costs incurred or on a basis consistent with the operations of the underlying segment.

Factors Affecting Nielsen’s Financial Results

Acquisitions and Investments in Affiliates

For the three months ended March 31, 2012, we paid cash consideration of $16 million associated with both current period and previously executed acquisitions, net of cash acquired. Had the current period acquisition occurred as of January 1, 2012, the impact on our consolidated results of operations would not have been material.

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, we paid cash consideration of $60 million associated with both that period’s and previously executed acquisitions, net of cash acquired. Had that period’s acquisitions occurred as of January 1, 2011, the impact on our consolidated results of operations would not have been material.

Foreign Currency

Our financial results are reported in U.S. dollars and are therefore subject to the impact of movements in exchange rates on the translation of the financial information of individual businesses whose functional currencies are other than U.S. dollars. Our principal foreign exchange revenue exposure is spread across several currencies, primarily the Euro. The table below sets forth the profile of our revenue by principal currency.

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2012				2011
U.S. Dollar			52	%			52	%
Euro			12	%			13	%
Other Currencies			36	%			35	%
Total			100	%			100	%

As a result, fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar impact our operating results. Impacts associated with fluctuations in foreign currency are discussed in more detail under “Item 3.—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.” In countries with currencies other than the U.S. dollar, assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using end-of-period exchange rates; revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated using average rates of exchange. The average U.S. dollar to Euro exchange rate was $1.31 to €1.00 and $1.37 to €1.00 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Constant currency growth rates used in the following discussion of results of operations eliminate the impact of year-over-year foreign currency fluctuations.

 

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We evaluate our results of operations on both an as reported and a constant currency basis. The constant currency presentation is a non-GAAP financial measure, which excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe providing constant currency information provides valuable supplemental information regarding our results of operations, consistent with how we evaluate our performance. We calculate constant currency percentages by converting our prior-period local currency financial results using the current period foreign currency exchange rates and comparing these adjusted amounts to our current period reported results. This calculation may differ from similarly-titled measures used by others and, accordingly, the constant currency presentation is not meant to be a substitution for recorded amounts presented in conformity with GAAP nor should such amounts be considered in isolation.

Results of Operations – Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the amounts included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(IN MILLIONS)		2012				2011
Revenues		$	1,340			$	1,302
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below			565				549
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below			453				543
Depreciation and amortization			131				136
Restructuring charges			37				23
Operating income			154				51
Interest income			1				1
Interest expense			(106	)			(140	)
Loss on derivative instruments			—				(1	)
Foreign currency exchange transaction (losses)/gains, net			(9	)			7
Other expense, net			(6	)			(230	)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net loss of affiliates			34				(312	)
(Provision)/benefit for income taxes			(7	)			134
Equity in net loss of affiliates			(2	)			(2	)
Income/(loss) from continuing operations			25				(180	)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax			—				(1	)
Net income/(loss)			25				(181	)

Net Income/(Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss from our consolidated statements of operations before interest income and expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, restructuring charges, goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, stock compensation expense and other non-operating items from our consolidated statements of operations as well as certain other items specifically described below.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP, and our use of the term Adjusted EBITDA may vary from the use of similarly-titled measures by others in our industry due to the potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation and differences due to items subject to interpretation.

We use Adjusted EBITDA to measure our performance from period to period both at the consolidated level as well as within our operating segments, to evaluate and fund incentive compensation programs and to compare our results to those of our competitors. In addition to Adjusted EBITDA being a significant measure of performance for management purposes, we also believe that this presentation provides useful information to investors regarding financial and business trends related to our results of operations and that when non-GAAP financial information is viewed with GAAP financial information, investors are provided with a more meaningful understanding of our ongoing operating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or loss, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance or cash flows as measures of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has important limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.

 

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The below table presents a reconciliation from net income/(loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(IN MILLIONS)		2012				2011
Net income/(loss)		$	25			$	(181	)
Loss from discontinued operations, net			—				1
Interest expense, net			105				139
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes			7				(134	)
Depreciation and amortization			131				136
EBITDA			268				(39	)
Equity in net loss of affiliates			2				2
Other non-operating expense, net			15				224
Restructuring charges			37				23
Stock-based compensation expense			8				4
Other items(a)			2				106
Adjusted EBITDA		$	332			$	320

 

(a)

Other items include costs associated with our secondary public offering of common stock and other transaction related costs of $2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and fees associated with certain consulting arrangements and preparatory costs for our initial public offering of common stock of $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Other items for the three months ended March 31, 2011 also include $102 million for the termination and settlement of the Sponsor Advisory Agreements.

Consolidated Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

Revenues

Our revenues increased 2.9% to $1,340 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $1,302 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, or 4.2% on a constant currency basis, which excludes a 1.3% unfavorable impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These increases were driven by a 2.7% increase within our Buy segment (4.6% on a constant currency basis), a 2.6% increase within our Watch segment (3.0% on a constant currency basis), and an 8.9% increase in our Expositions segment.

Cost of Revenues, Exclusive of Depreciation and Amortization

Cost of revenues increased 2.9% to $565 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $549 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, or 4.4% on a constant currency basis, excluding a 1.5% favorable impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These increases resulted from a 3.8% increase within our Buy segment (6.2% on a constant currency basis) due primarily to investments in the continued global expansion of our services. Costs within our Watch segment increased 1.1% (1.6% on a constant currency basis).

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Exclusive of Depreciation and Amortization

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 16.6% to $453 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $543 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, or 16.0% on a constant currency basis, excluding a 0.6% favorable impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These decreases were driven primarily by a $99 million decrease in Corporate costs as a result of the $102 million charge for the termination and settlement of the Sponsor Advisory Agreements in 2011. Costs within our Buy segment increased 2.2% (3.5% on a constant currency basis) due to increases in client service costs and other investments associated with the continued global expansion of our services and costs within our Watch segment increased 2.9% (3.9% on a constant currency basis) due primarily to increased investment in cross-platform measurement initiatives.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expense was $131 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $136 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Depreciation and amortization expense associated with tangible and intangible assets acquired in business combinations decreased to $42 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $50 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 resulting from lower amortization on purchase price adjustments for certain assets that became fully amortized. This decline was slightly offset by increases in depreciation and amortization expense associated with ongoing capital expenditures.

 

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Restructuring Charges

We recorded $37 million and $23 million in restructuring charges relating to employee severance associated with productivity initiatives during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Operating Income

Operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $154 million as compared to operating income of $51 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Operating income within our Buy segment was $35 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $53 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Operating income within our Watch segment was $108 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $93 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Operating income within our Expositions segment was $30 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $26 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Corporate operating expenses decreased to $19 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $121 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $106 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $140 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The decline related to the impact of debt retirements from our initial public offering of common stock in 2011, partially offset by increases in interest costs associated with our senior secured term loans.

Foreign Currency Exchange Transaction (Losses)/Gains, Net

Foreign currency exchange transaction (losses)/gains, net, represent the net loss or gain on revaluation of external debt, intercompany loans and other receivables and payables denominated in currencies other than the underlying functional currency. Fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. Dollar have a significant effect on our operating results, particularly the Euro. The average U.S. Dollar to Euro exchange rate was $1.31 to €1.00 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $1.37 to €1.00 for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Foreign currency exchange resulted in a $9 million loss for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $7 million gain for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The loss in 2012 resulted primarily from fluctuations in certain currencies associated with a portion of our intercompany loan portfolio. The gain in 2011 resulted primarily from the fluctuation in Japanese Yen as compared to the Euro applied to a debenture loan that has matured and was repaid as well as fluctuations in certain currencies associated with a portion of our intercompany loan portfolio.

Other Expense, net

The $6 million of other expense, net amount for the three months ended March 31, 2012 primarily relates to the write-off of deferred financing costs and other costs associated with the amendment and restatement of the Senior Secured Credit Facility.

The $230 million other expense, net amount for the three months ended March 31, 2011 includes charges of approximately $231 million associated with the redemption and subsequent retirement of certain indebtedness through the use of proceeds generated from our initial public offering of common stock and concurrent offering of mandatory convertible subordinated bonds. The charges related to the associated redemption premiums and recognition of previously deferred financing costs. These charges were partially offset by $1 million of other gains.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were 21% and 43% (benefit), respectively. The tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was lower than the statutory expense rate as the favorable impact of certain financing activities and tax audit settlements more than offset the tax rate differences in other jurisdictions where we file tax returns. The tax rate benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was higher than the statutory benefit rate would have been primarily due to the favorable impact of certain financing activities and the tax rate differences in other jurisdictions where we file tax returns.

Liabilities for unrecognized income tax benefits totaled $97 million and $96 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. If the Company’s tax positions are favorably sustained by the taxing authorities, the reversal of the underlying liabilities would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate in future periods.

 

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Adjusted EBITDA

Our Adjusted EBITDA increased 3.8% to $332 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $320 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, or 5.1% on a constant currency basis, excluding a 1.3% unfavorable impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. See “Results of Operations – Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2011” for the reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA.

Business Segment Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

Revenues

The table below sets forth our segment revenue performance data for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2011, both on an as-reported and constant currency basis.

 

(IN MILLIONS)		Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Reported				Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 Reported				% Variance 2012 vs. 2011 Reported				Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 Constant Currency				% Variance 2012 vs. 2011 Constant Currency
Revenues by segment
Buy		$	799			$	778				2.7	%		$	764				4.6	%
Watch			480				468				2.6	%			466				3.0	%
Expositions			61				56				8.9	%			56				8.9	%
Total		$	1,340			$	1,302				2.9	%		$	1,286				4.2	%

Buy Segment Revenues

Revenues increased 2.7% to $799 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $778 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, or 4.6% on a constant currency basis driven by a 7.2% increase in Developing markets (10.8% on a constant currency basis), as our customers continue to expand geographically and increase their spending on analytical services.

Revenues from Information services increased 2.0% to $612 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $600 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, or 3.9% on a constant currency basis. These increases were driven by 6.4% growth in Developing markets (9.9% on a constant currency basis) as a result of continued expansion of both our retail measurement and consumer panel services to both new and existing customers and new markets. Revenues from Developed markets were relatively flat for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the three months March 31, 2011.

Revenues from Insights services increased 5.1% to $187 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $178 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, or 6.9% on a constant currency basis. These increases were driven by growth in both Developed and Developing markets.

Watch Segment Revenues

Revenues increased 2.6% to $480 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $468 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, or 3.0% on a constant currency basis driven by 3.6% growth in Television measurement as a result of increases in spending from existing customers.

Expositions Segment Revenues

Revenues increased 8.9% to $61 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $56 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. These increases predominately relate to growth driven by certain sectors of existing shows.

Business Segment Profitability

We do not allocate items below operating income/(loss) to our business segments and therefore the tables below set forth a reconciliation of operating income/(loss) at the business segment level for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, adjusting for certain items affecting operating income/(loss), such as restructuring charges, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense and certain other items described below resulting in a presentation of our non-GAAP business segment profitability. Non-GAAP business segment profitability provides useful supplemental information to management and investors regarding financial and business trends related to our results of operations. When this non-GAAP financial information is viewed with our GAAP financial information, investors are provided with a meaningful understanding of our ongoing operating performance. It is important to note that the non-GAAP business segment profitability corresponds in total to our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

 

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described within our consolidated results of operations above, which our chief operating decision making group and other members of management use to measure our performance from period to period both at the consolidated level as well as within our operating segments, to evaluate and fund incentive compensation programs and to compare our results to those of our competitors. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered as an alternative to net income/(loss), operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance or cash flows as measures of liquidity. These non-GAAP measures have important limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2012 (IN MILLIONS)		Operating Income/(Loss)				Restructuring Charges				Depreciation and Amortization				Stock-Based Compensation Expense				Other Items(1)				Non-GAAP Business Segment Income/(Loss)
Buy		$	35			$	31			$	53			$	2			$	—			$	121
Watch			108				5				70				2				—				185
Expositions			30				—				6				—				—				36
Corporate and Eliminations			(19	)			1				2				4				2				(10	)
Total Nielsen		$	154			$	37			$	131			$	8			$	2			$	332

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011 (IN MILLIONS)		Operating Income/(Loss)				Restructuring Charges				Depreciation and Amortization				Stock-Based Compensation Expense				Other Items(1)				Non-GAAP Business Segment Income/(Loss)
Buy		$	53			$	17			$	48			$	2			$	—			$	120
Watch			93				4				79				1				—				177
Expositions			26				—				7				—				—				33
Corporate and Eliminations			(121	)			2				2				1				106				(10	)
Total Nielsen		$	51			$	23			$	136			$	4			$	106			$	320

 

(1)

Other items include costs associated with our secondary public offering of common stock and other transaction related costs of $2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and fees associated with certain consulting arrangements and preparatory costs for our initial public offering of common stock of $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Other items for the three months ended March 31, 2011 also include $102 million for the termination and settlement of the Sponsor Advisory Agreements.

 

(IN MILLIONS)		Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Reported				Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 Reported				% Variance 2012 vs. 2011 Reported				Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 Constant Currency				% Variance 2012 vs. 2011 Constant Currency
Non-GAAP Business Segment Income/(Loss)
Buy		$	121			$	120				0.8	%		$	117				3.4	%
Watch			185				177				4.5	%			176				5.1	%
Expositions			36				33				9.1	%			33				9.1	%
Corporate and Eliminations			(10	)			(10	)			NM				(10	)			NM
Total Nielsen		$	332			$	320				3.8	%		$	316				5.1	%

Buy Segment Profitability

Operating income was $35 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $53 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 due primarily to higher restructuring charges and increases in depreciation and amortization. The revenue performance mentioned above was substantially offset by unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates as well as investments in Developing markets expansion and increases in data acquisition costs. Non-GAAP business segment income increased 3.4% on a constant currency basis.

 

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Watch Segment Profitability

Operating income was $108 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $93 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The increase was driven by the revenue performance discussed above and decreased depreciation and amortization expense, offset in part by unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates and increased investment in cross-platform measurement initiatives. Non-GAAP business segment income increased 5.1% on a constant currency basis.

Expositions Segment Profitability

Operating income was $30 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $26 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 driven primarily by the revenue performance discussed above. Non-GAAP business segment income increased 9.1% on a constant currency basis.

Corporate and Eliminations Expenses

Operating expenses were $19 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $121 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 due primarily to the $102 million charge for the termination and settlement of the Sponsor Advisory Agreements in 2011.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Our contractual obligations, commitments and debt service requirements over the next several years are significant. We expect that our primary source of liquidity will continue to be cash generated from operations as well as existing cash. Of the $295 million of cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2012, approximately $274 million was held in jurisdictions outside the U.S. and as a result there may be tax consequences if such amounts were moved out of these jurisdictions or repatriated to the U.S. We regularly review the amount of cash and cash equivalents held outside of the U.S. to determine the amounts necessary to fund the current operations of our foreign operations and their growth initiatives and amounts needed to service our U.S. indebtedness and related obligations.

At March 31, 2012, our total indebtedness was $6,856 million. As of March 31, 2012, we had $120 million in outstanding borrowings and $13 million of outstanding letters of credit under our senior secured revolving credit facility leaving $502 million available for future borrowing. We believe we will have available resources to meet both our short-term and long-term liquidity requirements, including our senior secured debt service. We expect the cash flow from our operations, combined with existing cash and amounts available under the revolving credit facility, will provide sufficient liquidity to fund our current obligations, projected working capital requirements, restructuring obligations, and capital spending over the next year. In addition we may, from time to time, purchase, repay, redeem or retire any of our outstanding debt securities (including any publicly issued debt securities) in privately negotiated or open market transactions, by tender offer or otherwise.

Financing Transactions

In February 2012, the Senior Secured Credit Agreement was amended and restated to provide for a new five-year amortizing term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $1,222 million, the proceeds from which were used to repay a corresponding amount of the existing senior secured term loans due 2013. We accounted for this as a new term loan due 2017 and an extinguishment of the amounts repaid under the existing term loan due 2013 and recorded a charge of $6 million associated with the combined elements of this transaction as a component of other expense, net in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Borrowings under this new term loan facility bear interest at a rate as determined by the type of borrowing, equal to either the “base rate” or LIBOR rate, plus, in each case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin on base rate loans under this new term loan facility ranges from 0.75% to 1.50% based on a total leverage ratio. The applicable margin on LIBOR loans under this new term loan facility ranges from 1.75% to 2.50% based on the total leverage ratio. Loans under this new term loan facility mature in full in February 2017, but the maturity date shall be January 2016 if at such time there is more than $750 million in the aggregate of existing other term loans under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement with a maturity of May 2016. The loans under this new term loan facility are required to be repaid in an amount equal to 5% of the original principal amount in the first year after the closing date, 5% in the second year, 10% in the third year, 10% in the fourth year and 70% in the fifth year (with payments in each year being made in equal quarterly installments other than the fifth year, in which payments shall be equal to 3.33% of the original principal amount of loans in each of the first three quarters and the remaining principal balance due in February 2017 (unless repayment is required in January 2016 as indicated above)). Loans under this new term loan facility are secured on a pari passu basis with our existing obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement and Senior Secured Loan Agreement.

In February 2012, our €30 million 6.75% EMTN matured and was repaid.

 

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Cash Flows

Operating activities. Net cash used in operating activities was $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $52 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2011 included the $102 million payment for the termination and settlement of the Sponsor Advisory Agreements. Excluding this payment, cash flows from operating activities declined $53 million driven by increases in certain employee benefit payments as well as higher billing and lower accounts receivable collections performance. Our key collections performance measure, days billing outstanding (DBO), increased 1 day for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2011. These declines were partially offset by the Adjusted EBITDA performance described above as well as lower interest and tax payments.

Investing activities. Net cash used in investing activities was $98 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, as compared to $113 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The primary driver for the decreased usage of cash from investing activities was the decrease in acquisition payments partially offset by an increase in capital expenditures.

Capital expenditures for property, plant, equipment, software and other assets totaled $82 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $52 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Financing activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $70 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to $125 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The decrease in cash provided was driven by the results of the 2012 transactions described under the “Financing Transactions” section above.

Financial Debt Covenants Attributable to TNC B.V.

Financial covenants contained in our Senior Secured Credit Agreement consist of a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio as related to our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Nielsen Holding and Finance B.V. and its restricted subsidiaries. The leverage ratio requires that we not permit the ratio of total net debt (as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Agreement) at the end of any calendar quarter to Covenant EBITDA (as defined in the facility) for the four quarters then ended to exceed a specified threshold. Currently, the maximum permitted ratio is 7.0 to 1.0, with such maximum ratio declining to 6.25 to 1.0 for periods after October 1, 2012.

The interest coverage ratio requires that we not permit the ratio of Covenant EBITDA at the end of any calendar quarter to Consolidated Interest Expense (as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Agreement) for the four quarters then ended to be less than a specified threshold. Currently, the minimum permitted ratio is 1.60 to 1.0, with such minimum ratio declining to 1.50 to 1.0 for periods beginning October 1, 2012.

Failure to comply with either of these covenants would result in an event of default under our Senior Secured Credit Agreement unless waived by our senior credit lenders. An event of default under our Senior Secured Credit Agreement can result in the acceleration of our indebtedness under the facility, which in turn would result in an event of default and possible acceleration of indebtedness under the agreements governing our debt securities as well. As our failure to comply with the covenants described above can cause us to go into default under the agreements governing our indebtedness, management believes that our Senior Secured Credit Agreement and these covenants are material to us. As of March 31, 2012, we were in full compliance with the covenants described above.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that currently have or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditure or capital resources.

Summary of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Fair Value Measurement

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting update that amends Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820—“Fair Value Measurement” regarding fair value measurements and disclosure requirements. The amendments were effective for us as of January 1, 2012. The adoption of this update did not have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Presentation of Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the FASB issued an accounting update that amends ASC 220—“Presentation of Comprehensive Income”, which eliminates the option to present other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of equity. We have presented the items of net income and other comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive statements and this amended guidance does not have any other impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Testing Goodwill for Impairment

In September 2011, the FASB issued an accounting update that amends ASC 350—“Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, which is intended to simplify goodwill impairment testing by adding a qualitative review step to assess whether the required quantitative impairment analysis that exists today is necessary. The amended guidance permits an entity to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If it is concluded that this is the case, it is necessary to perform the currently prescribed two-step goodwill impairment test. Otherwise, the two-step goodwill impairment test is not required. We will apply the updated guidance to our October 1, 2012 annual impairment test and have considered the results of our 2011 impairment test in forming the basis for our assumptions upon adoption of this update. The adoption of this update will not have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and market prices such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and changes in the market value of equity instruments. We are exposed to market risk, primarily related to foreign exchange and interest rates. We actively monitor these exposures. Historically, in order to manage the volatility relating to these exposures, we entered into a variety of derivative financial instruments, mainly interest rate swaps, cross-currency swaps and forward rate agreements. Currently we only employ basic contracts, that is, without options, embedded or otherwise. Our objective is to reduce, where it is deemed appropriate to do so, fluctuations in earnings, cash flows and the value of our net investments in subsidiaries resulting from changes in interest rates and foreign currency rates. It is our policy not to trade in financial instruments.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

We operate globally and predominantly generate revenue and expenses in local currencies. Approximately 48% of our revenues and 50% of our operating costs were generated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Because of fluctuations (including possible devaluations) in currency exchange rates or the imposition of limitations on conversion of foreign currencies into our reporting currency, we are subject to currency translation exposure on the profits of our operations, in addition to transaction exposure. Typically, a one cent change in the U.S. Dollar/Euro exchange rate will impact revenues by approximately $7 million annually, with an immaterial impact on our profitability.

Foreign currency translation risk is the risk that exchange rate gains or losses arise from translating foreign entities’ statements of earnings and balance sheets from functional currency to our reporting currency (the U.S. Dollar) for consolidation purposes.

Translation risk exposure is primarily managed by creating “natural hedges” in our financing or by using derivative financial instruments aimed at offsetting certain exposures in the statement of earnings or the balance sheet.

The table below details the percentage of revenues and expenses by currency for the three months ended March 31, 2012:

 

 

		U.S. Dollar				Euro				Other Currencies
Revenues			52	%			12	%			36	%
Operating costs			50	%			14	%			36	%

Interest Rate Risk

We continually review our fixed and variable rate debt along with related hedging opportunities in order to ensure our portfolio is appropriately balanced as part of our overall interest rate risk management strategy. At March 31, 2012, we had $4,348 million in carrying value of floating-rate debt under our senior secured credit facilities and our existing floating rate notes of which $2,542 million was subject to effective floating-fixed interest rate swaps. A one percent increase in interest rates applied to our floating rate indebtedness would therefore increase annual interest expense by approximately $18 million ($43 million without giving effect to any of our interest rate swaps).

Derivative instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of non-performance, or credit risk. We do not believe that we currently face a significant risk of loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparties associated with these instruments, as these transactions were executed with a diversified group of major financial institutions with a minimum investment-grade or better credit rating. Our credit risk exposure is managed through the continuous monitoring of our exposures to such counterparties.

Equity Price Risk

We are not exposed to material equity risk.

 

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Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

(a)	Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits to the SEC under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2012 (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation and subject to foregoing, such officers have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

(b)	Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

There have been no material changes to our Legal Proceedings as previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to our Risk Factors as previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

There were no repurchases of shares of our common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.

Other Information

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

The exhibit index attached hereto is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

				Nielsen Holdings N.V.         (Registrant)
Date: April 25, 2012				/s/ Jeffrey R. Charlton
				Jeffrey R. Charlton
				Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Accounting Officer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure other than with respect to the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by the registrant in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.

 

Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibits
4.1		Amendment Agreement, dated February 2, 2012, by and among Nielsen Finance LLC, the other borrowers party thereto, the guarantors party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, and certain of the lenders (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 8-K of Nielsen Holdings N.V. filed on February 6, 2012 (File No. 001-35042)).
4.2		Form of Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Form 8-K of Nielsen Holdings N.V. filed on February 6, 2012 (File No. 001-35042)).
31.1		CEO 302 Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e)
31.2		CFO 302 Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e)/15d-15(e)
32.1		Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)
101		The following financial information from Nielsen Holdings N.V.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, formatted in XBRL includes: (i) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2012 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2011, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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