The Nielsen Company B.V., a leading global information and media company, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.
Reported revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $1,214 million, an increase of 13% over the revenues of $1,072 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. Excluding the impact of currency fluctuations*, revenues for the quarter increased 8%.

Reported operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $115 million compared to $56 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. The quarterly results were negatively impacted by $7 million, and $27 million, respectively, for certain items such as restructuring costs and compensation agreements. Adjusting for these items, operating income, on a constant currency basis*, increased 41%.

Covenant earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and other adjustments permitted under our senior secured credit facilities (“Covenant EBITDA”) was $1,345 million for the twelve month period ended March 31, 2008. Covenant EBITDA is a non – GAAP measure. Refer to page 4 for a reconciliation of loss from continuing operations for the twelve month period ended March 31, 2008 to Covenant EBITDA.

Finances
As of March 31, 2008, total debt was $8,527 million, and cash balances were $354 million. Capital expenditures were $69 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with $49 million for the three months period ended March 31, 2007.

Conference Call and Webcast
The Nielsen Company will hold an earnings conference call, hosted by The Nielsen Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David L. Calhoun, and Chief Financial Officer Brian J. West at 9:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Wednesday, May 14, 2008. The call will be audio-webcast live at www.nielsen.com, and an archive will be available on the website after the call. In addition, a link to the company’s financial report has been posted at www.nielsen.com.

Forward-looking Statements
This news release includes information that could constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as ‘expect’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘shall’ and similar expressions. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and events could differ materially from what presently is expected. Factors leading thereto may include without limitations general economic conditions, conditions in the markets Nielsen is engaged in, behavior of customers, suppliers and competitors, technological developments, as well as legal and regulatory rules affecting Nielsen’s business. This list of factors is not intended to be exhaustive. We assume no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf as a result of new information, future events, or other factors.