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News Release Investor Relations : Sara Gubins , +1 646 654 8153 Media Relations : Meg Chari , +1 647 616 8181 ● ● Completed the sale of Nielsen Global Connect on March 5 , 2021 ; reported as discontinued operations as of Q1'21 Revenues of $ 863 million increased 2.5 % on a reported basis , 1.3 % on a constant currency basis & 2.3 % organic Net income per share of $ 0.29 ( diluted , from continuing operations ) ; Adjusted EPS of $ 0.47 Raising key elements of 2021 guidance NIELSEN REPORTS 1st QUARTER 2021 RESULTS New York , USA - May 6 , 2021 - Today , Nielsen Holdings plc ( NYSE : NLSN ) announced its results for the quarter ended March 31 , 2021. These results reflect the March 5 , 2021 sale of the Global Connect business for $ 2.4 billion in net proceeds , which resulted in a $ 542 million preliminary gain on sale , net of taxes , recognized in the quarter . Of the net proceeds , $ 2.28 billion were used for debt reduction in March and April 2021. Beginning in the first quarter of 2021 , Global Connect results were reclassified to discontinued operations for all periods presented . nielsen David Kenny , Chief Executive Officer , commented , " We delivered a solid first quarter , as our teams executed incredibly well . We closed on the sale of Global Connect in March and are now singularly focused as the global essential data , measurement , and analytics provider for the entire media ecosystem . We are investing in our future and we are well - positioned to drive new growth from new solutions across all of our end markets globally . In particular , we are pleased with the advances we've made in Audience Measurement , Outcomes and Gracenote Content Services . We are executing as planned and we are increasing key elements of our 2021 guidance . " 39 First Quarter 2021 Results Unless indicated otherwise , the results referenced in this press release relate to Nielsen's continuing operations . First quarter revenues increased 2.5 % to $ 863 million on a reported basis , 1.3 % on a constant currency basis , and 2.3 % on an organic basis compared to the prior year . O Audience Measurement revenues of $ 632 million increased 2.8 % on a reported basis , 1.9 % on a constant currency basis , and 2.3 % on an organic basis compared to the prior year , with overall solid growth , most notably in digital measurement and with local pressures subsiding . Outcomes & Content revenues of $ 231 million increased 1.8 % on a reported basis , decreased 0.4 % on a constant currency basis , and grew 2.2 % on an organic basis compared to the prior year , driven in part by improving trends in short - cycle revenues and solid growth in Content . Net income from continuing operations increased 89 % to $ 106 million , compared to $ 56 million in the first quarter of 2020. Net income from continuing operations per share on a diluted basis for the first quarter was $ 0.29 , compared to $ 0.16 for the first quarter of 2020. Net income from continuing operations was driven by strong revenue performance , the benefit of permanent cost actions from the 2020 optimization plan , lower depreciation and amortization expense and lower restructuring charges . O ● ● Adjusted earnings per share on a New Nielsen basis , which assumes the Connect transaction closed on January 1 , 2020 , was $ 0.47 for the first quarter , compared to $ 0.36 per share in the prior year period , reflecting higher adjusted EBITDA and lower depreciation and amortization expense year over year . ● Adjusted EBITDA was $ 388 million , compared to $ 326 million in the first quarter of 2020 , up 19.0 % on a reported basis and 18.3 % on a constant currency basis , as compared to the prior year . Adjusted EBITDA margin of 45.0 % increased 624 basis points on a reported basis , or an increase of 646 basis points on a constant currency basis , compared to the prior year , reflecting the strong revenue performance and the benefit of permanent cost actions implemented during the second half of 2020 . ● Our reported results were impacted by stronger currencies versus the dollar during the first quarter , which had a 120 basis point positive impact on reported revenue growth and a 70 basis point positive impact on adjusted EBITDA growth . 1