UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014

OR

For the transition period from _______ to _______

Commission file number 001-35042

 

Nielsen Holdings N.V.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

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.

 

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 378,915,290 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of March 31, 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Contents

 

 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item  1.Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Nielsen Holdings N.V.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

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 two reporting segments: what consumers buy (“Buy”) and what consumers watch and listen to (“Watch”). In June 2013, Nielsen completed the sale of its Expositions operating segment (see Note 4, Discontinued Operations, for more information). The Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations reflect the Expositions operating segment as a discontinued operation. Nielsen has a presence in more than 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, 2013, Luxco owned 125,224,724 shares (or approximately 33%) of the Company’s common stock. In March 2014, Luxco completed a public offering of 30,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $46.25 per share. Subsequent to this offering and as of March 31, 2014, Luxco owned 95,224,724 shares (or approximately 25%) 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, 2013. 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, 2014 for potential recognition or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements and concluded there were no subsequent events that required recognition or disclosure other than those provided.

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.

The effect of 81,000 and 49,662 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, 2014 and 2013, respectively, as such shares would have been anti-dilutive.

Devaluation of Venezuelan Currency

Nielsen has operations in both the Buy and Watch segments in Venezuela and the functional currency for these operations was the Venezuelan Bolivares Fuertes. Venezuela’s currency has been considered hyperinflationary since January 1, 2010 and, accordingly, the local currency transactions has been denominated in U.S. dollars since January 1, 2010 and will continue to be until Venezuela’s currency is deemed to be non-hyperinflationary.

In February 2013, the Venezuelan government devalued its currency by 32%. The official exchange rate moved from 4.30 to 6.30 and the regulated System of Transactions with Securities in Foreign Currency market was suspended. As a result of this change, Nielsen recorded a pre-tax charge of $12 million during the first quarter of 2013 in foreign currency exchange transaction losses, net line in the condensed consolidated statement of operations primarily reflecting the write-down of monetary assets and liabilities.

Based on recent changes to the Venezuelan currency exchange rate mechanisms as of March 31, 2014, the Company changed the exchange rate used to remeasure our Venezuelan subsidiaries’ financial statements in U.S. dollars. As of such date, Nielsen began using the exchange rate determined by periodic auctions for U.S. dollars conducted under Venezuela’s Complementary System of Foreign Currency Administration (“SICAD I”).  As a result of a recent exchange agreement between the Central Bank of Venezuela and the Venezuelan government, the Company believes any future remittances for royalty and dividend payments that occur would be transacted at the SICAD I exchange rate. Accordingly, because the equity of the Venezuelan subsidiary would be realized through the

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payment of royalties and dividends, the SICAD I exchange rate represents a more realistic exchange rate at which to remeasure the U.S. dollar value of the assets, liabilities, and results of the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary in the condensed consolidated financial statements. At March 31, 2014, the SICAD I exchange rate was 10.8 bolivars to the U.S. dollar, compared with the official exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars to the U.S. dollar.  As a result of this change, Nielsen recorded a pre-tax charge of $20 million during the first quarter of 2014 in foreign currency exchange transaction losses, net in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, reflecting the write-down of monetary assets and liabilities.

The Company will continue to assess the appropriate conversion rate based on events in Venezuela and the Company’s specific facts and circumstances.

 

2. Summary of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Foreign Currency Matters

In March 2013, the FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”), “Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity”, to resolve the diversity in practice regarding the release into net income of the cumulative translation adjustment upon derecognition of a subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity. The amendment requires an entity that ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity to release any related cumulative translation adjustment into net income. Accordingly, the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income only if the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity in which the subsidiary or group of assets had resided. This guidance is effective for Nielsen’s interim and annual reporting periods in 2014. The adoption of this ASU did not have a significant impact on Nielsen’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Discontinued Operations

In April 2014, the FASB issued an ASU, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity”, that raises the threshold for a disposal to qualify as a discontinued operation and requires new disclosures of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation.  The ASU is aimed at reducing the frequency of disposals reported as discontinued operations by focusing on strategic shifts that have or will have a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial reports.  In addition, the guidance permits companies to have continuing cash flows and significant continuing involvement with the disposed component.  The ASU is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 and must be applied prospectively.  Early adoption is permitted for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issue.  The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3. Business Acquisitions

Arbitron Inc.

On September 30, 2013, Nielsen completed the acquisition of Arbitron Inc., an international media and marketing research firm (“Arbitron”), through the purchase of 100% of Arbitron’s outstanding common stock for a total cash purchase price of $1.3 billion (the “Acquisition”).  Arbitron is expected to help Nielsen better address client needs in unmeasured areas of media consumption, including streaming audio and out-of-home and Nielsen’s global distribution footprint can help expand Arbitron’s capabilities outside of the U.S. With Arbitron’s assets, Nielsen intends to further expand its “Watch” segment’s audience measurement across screens and forms of listening.  Arbitron has been rebranded Nielsen Audio.

The Company incurred acquisition related expenses of $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013, which primarily consisted of transaction fees, legal, accounting and other professional services that are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

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The following unaudited pro forma information presents the consolidated results of operations of the Company and Arbitron for the three months ended March 31, 2013, as if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2013, with pro forma adjustments to give effect to amortization of intangible assets, an increase in interest expense from acquisition financing, and certain other adjustments:

The unaudited pro forma results do not reflect any synergies and are not necessarily indicative of the results that the Company would have attained had the acquisition of Arbitron been completed as of the beginning of the reporting period. The Arbitron results of operations are fully reflected in Nielsen’s consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Other Acquisitions

For the three months ended March 31, 2014, Nielsen paid cash consideration of $184 million associated with both current period and previously executed acquisitions, net of cash acquired. Had these current period acquisitions occurred as of January 1, 2014, the impact on Nielsen’s consolidated results of operations would not have been material.

For the three months ended March 31, 2013, Nielsen paid cash consideration of $11 million associated with both current period and previously executed acquisitions, net of cash acquired. Had these current period acquisitions occurred as of January 1, 2013, the impact on Nielsen’s consolidated results of operations would not have been material.

 

4. Discontinued Operations

On February 3, 2014, Nielsen completed the acquisition of Harris Interactive, Inc., a leading global market research firm, through the purchase of all outstanding shares of Harris Interactive’s common stock for $2.04 per share. Further, in March 2014, the Company classified the net assets of the Harris Interactive European operations (“Harris Europe”) as held for sale.  As of March 31, 2014, the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet included $19 million of assets in prepaid expenses and other current assets and $12 million of liabilities in accounts payable and other current liabilities classified as held for sale related to this business.  The condensed consolidated statements of operations reflect the operating results of Harris Europe as a discontinued operation.

In June 2013, the Company completed the sale of its Expositions business, which operates one of the largest portfolios of business-to-business trade shows and conference events in the United States, for total cash consideration of $950 million and recorded a gain of $290 million, net of tax.  The condensed consolidated statements of operations reflect the operating results of this business as a discontinued operation.

In March 2013, Nielsen completed the exit and shut down of one of its legacy online businesses and recorded a net loss of $3 million associated with this divestiture. The condensed consolidated statements of operations reflect the operating results of this business as a discontinued operation.

Summarized results of operations for discontinued operations are as follows:

 

Nielsen allocated a portion of its consolidated interest expense to discontinued operations based upon the ratio of net assets sold as a proportion of consolidated net assets. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, interest expense of zero and $5 million, respectively, was allocated to discontinued operations.

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Following are the major categories of cash flows from discontinued operations, as included in Nielsen’s condensed consolidated statements of cash flows:

 

 

5. 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, 2014.

 

At March 31, 2014, $161 million of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

Other Intangible Assets

 

Amortization expense associated with the above intangible assets was $97 million and $75 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These amounts included amortization expense associated with computer software of $51 million and $39 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

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6. Changes in and Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss by Component

The table below summarizes the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, by component for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

 

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The table below summarizes the reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

 

 

7. Restructuring Activities

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

 

Nielsen recorded $24 million in restructuring charges for the three months ended March 31, 2014, primarily relating to severance costs.

Nielsen recorded $35 million in restructuring charges for the three months ended March 31, 2013, primarily relating to severance and contract termination costs.

Of the $82 million in remaining liabilities for restructuring actions, $69 million is expected to be paid within one year and is classified as a current liability within the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2014.

 

8. 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.

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

 

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, 2014 and December 31, 2013:

 

 

 

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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 9 - 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, 2014, 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.

As of March 31, 2014 the Company had the following outstanding interest rate swaps utilized in the management of its interest rate risk:

 

Nielsen expects to recognize approximately $14 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.

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Fair Values of Derivative Instruments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

The fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

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, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:

 

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, 2014.

 

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9. Long-term Debt and Other Financing Arrangements

Unless otherwise stated, interest rates are as of March 31, 2014.

 

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 and such fair value measurements are considered Level 1 or Level 2 in nature, respectively.

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

 

Subsequent Event

In April 2014, Nielsen completed the issuance of $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.0% Senior Notes due 2022 at par.  In addition, in April 2014, the Company entered into an amendment agreement to amended and restate the Third Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Agreement in the form of the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which provides for three new classes of term loans, Class A Term Loans, Class B-1 Term Loans and Class B-2 Term Loans, in a combined principal amount of $3,180 million and €286 million, the proceeds of which, when combined with the net proceeds from the $750 million 5.0%

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Senior Notes, were used to repay and replace the Company’s existing Class D Term Loans maturing in February 2017 and the Class E Term Loans maturing in May 2016.  Concurrent with the refinancing of the term loans, the existing $635 million revolving credit facility with a final maturity in April 2016 was replaced with new aggregate revolving credit commitments of $575 million with a final maturity of April 2019.  Finally, in April 2014, the Company issued a redemption notice for $280 million in principal amount of the $1,080 million aggregate principal amount of the currently outstanding 7.75% Senior Notes due 2018.  The redemption will occur in May 2014 and is expected to be financed with proceeds from the new term loans.  As a result of these transactions, the Company expects to record a pre-tax charge of approximately $50 million during the second quarter of 2014 to other expense, net in the condensed consolidated statement of operations primarily related to the “make-whole” premium associated with the note redemption, as well as the write-off of certain previously capitalized deferred financing fees associated with the Class D and E term loans and certain costs incurred in connection with the refinancings.

The Class A Term Loans were issued with an aggregate principal balance of $1,580 million, maturing in full in April 2019. The Class A Term Loans shall be 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, 7.5% in the third year, 10% in the fourth year, and 72.5% 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 3.75% of the original principal amount in each of the first three quarters, with the balance repayable on the maturity date). Class A Term Loans bear interest equal to, at our election, a base rate or eurocurrency rate, in each case plus an applicable margin which ranges from 0.50% to 1.25% (in the case of base rate loans) or 1.50% to 2.25% (in the case of eurocurrency rate loans).  The specific applicable margin is determined by the Company’s total leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement).

The Class B-1 Term Loans were issued with an aggregate principal balance are $500 million, maturing in full in May 2017 and are required to be repaid in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the original principal amount of Class B-1 Term Loans, with the balance payable in May 2017. Class A Term Loans bear interest equal to, at our election, a base rate or eurocurrency rate, in each case plus an applicable margin, which is equal to 1.25% (in the case of base rate loans) and 2.25% (in the case of eurocurrency rate loans).

The Class B-2 Term Loans were issued with an aggregate principal balance of $1,100 million and €286 million, maturing in full in April 2021 and are required to be repaid in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the original principal amount of Class B-2 Term Loans, with the balance payable in April 2021. Class B-2 Term Loans denominated in dollars bear interest equal to, at our election, a base rate or eurocurrency rate, in each case plus an applicable margin, which is equal to 2.00% (in the case of base rate loans) and  3.00% (in the case of eurocurrency rate loans). Class B-2 Term Loan denominated in Euros bear interest equal to the eurocurrency rate plus an applicable margin of 3.00%.

 

The Fourth Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Agreement contains substantially the same affirmative covenants as the Thrid Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Agreement.  However, certain negative covenants, including the limitation on the ability of Nielsen and certain of its subsidiaries to make investments and restricted payments and incur debt and liens have been amended, and the financial covenant requiring compliance with certain total leverage ratios have been revised and the covenant in respect of interest coverage ratios has been eliminated.

 

10. Stockholders’ Equity

Common stock activity is as follows:

 

Cumulative shares of treasury stock were 655,898 and 409,067 with a corresponding value of $29 million and $13 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

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On January 31, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a cash dividend policy to pay quarterly cash dividends on its outstanding common stock.   The below table summarizes the dividends declared on Nielsen’s common stock during 2013 and the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

The dividend policy and the payment of future cash dividends are subject to the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors.

On July 25, 2013, the Company’s board of directors approved a new share repurchase program for up to $500 million of Nielsen’s outstanding common stock. The primary purpose of the program is to mitigate dilution associated with the Company’s equity compensation plans. Repurchases will be made in accordance with applicable securities laws from time to time in the open market depending on Nielsen management’s evaluation of market conditions and other factors. The program will be executed within the limitations of the existing authority granted at Nielsen’s 2013 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, as may be extended pursuant to action proposed to be taken at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. As of March 31, 2014, the Company has purchased 641,169 shares of Nielsen’s common stock at an average price of $42.93 per share (total consideration of approximately $28 million) under this program. The activity during the first quarter of 2014 consisted of open market share repurchases and is summarized in the following table:

 

 

11. Income Taxes

 

The effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were 38% and 44%, respectively. The tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were higher than statutory rate as a result of the tax impact of the Venezuela currency revaluation, profits generated in jurisdictions with higher tax rates than the statutory rate and accrual for future audit settlements offset by the favorable impact of certain financing activities and release of tax contingencies.

Liabilities for unrecognized income tax benefits totaled $492 million and $475 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, 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. and in many state and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions the Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal income tax examination 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 2004 through 2013.

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.

 

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12. 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.

 

13. 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 two reporting segments: what consumers buy (“Buy”), consisting principally of market research information and analytical services; and what consumers watch (“Watch”), consisting principally of television, radio, online and mobile audience and advertising measurement and corresponding analytics. The Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations reflect the Expositions reporting segment as a discontinued operation.

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