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Investments in joint ventures and associates
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Text block1 [abstract]  
Investments in joint ventures and associates

12. Investments in joint ventures and associates

The amounts recognised in the balance sheet are as follows:

 

All figures in £ millions

   2017      2016  

Associates

     395        1,245  

Joint ventures

     3        2  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     398        1,247  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The amounts recognised in the income statement are as follows:

 

All figures in £ millions

   2017      2016  

Associates

     77        98  

Joint ventures

     1        (1
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     78        97  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investment in associates

The Group has the following material associates:

 

     Principal
place of
business
     Ownership
interest
    Nature of
relationship
     Measurement
method
 

Penguin Random House Ltd

     UK/Global        25     See below        Equity  

Penguin Random House LLC

     US        25     See below        Equity  

 

On 1 July 2013, Penguin Random House was formed, upon the completion of an agreement between Pearson and Bertelsmann to merge their respective trade publishing companies, Penguin and Random House, with the parent companies owning 47% and 53% of the combined business respectively. On 5 October 2017, Pearson sold a 22% stake in Penguin Random House to Bertelsmann, retaining a 25% share (see note 31 for more information on disposal of associates). Pearson owns its 25% interest in Penguin Random House via 25% interests in each of the two entities listed in the table above. Despite the separate legal structures of the two Penguin Random House entities, Pearson regards Penguin Random House as one combined global business. Consequently, Pearson discloses Penguin Random House as one single operating segment and presents disclosures related to its interests in Penguin Random House on a combined basis.

The shareholder agreement includes protective rights for Pearson as the minority shareholder, including rights to dividends. Management considers ownership percentage, Board composition and the additional protective rights, and exercises judgement to determine that Pearson has significant influence over Penguin Random House and Bertelsmann has the power to direct the relevant activities and therefore control. Following the transaction in 2017 the assessment of significant influence has not changed. Penguin Random House does not have a quoted market price.

The summarised financial information of the material associate is detailed below:

 

     2017     2016  

All figures in £ millions

   Penguin
Random
House
    Penguin
Random
House
 

Assets

    

Non-current assets

     1,048       1,267  

Current assets

     1,758       1,587  

Liabilities

    

Non-current liabilities

     (859     (394

Current liabilities

     (1,579     (1,074
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets

     368       1,386  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sales

     2,693       2,620  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Profit for the year

     171       209  

Other comprehensive expense

     (60     (14
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

     111       195  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends received from associate in relation to profits

     146       131  

Re-capitalisation dividends received from associate

     312        
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The information above reflects the amounts presented in the financial statements of the associate, adjusted for fair value and similar adjustments. The tax on Penguin Random House LLC is settled by the partners. For the purposes of clear and consistent presentation, the tax has been shown in the associate line items in the consolidated income statement and consolidated balance sheet, recording the Group’s share of profit after tax consistently for the Penguin Random House associates.

 

A reconciliation of the summarised financial information to the carrying value of the material associate is shown below:

 

     2017     2016  

All figures in £ millions

   Penguin
Random
House
    Penguin
Random
House
 

Opening net assets

     1,386       1,206  

Exchange differences

     (18     179  

Profit for the year

     171       209  

Other comprehensive expense

     (60     (14

Dividends, net of tax paid

     (1,167     (194

Tax adjustments in relation to disposals

     56        
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Closing net assets

     368       1,386  

Share of net assets

     92       651  

Goodwill

     296       589  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Carrying value of associate

     388       1,240  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Information on other individually immaterial associates is detailed below:

 

All figures in £ millions

   2017      2016  

Profit for the year

       7         
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

     7         
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Transactions with material associates

The Group has loans to Penguin Random House which are unsecured and interest is calculated based on market rates. The amount outstanding at 31 December 2017 was £46m (2016: £33m). The loans are provided under a working capital facility and fluctuate during the year. The loan outstanding at 31 December 2017 was repaid in its entirety in January 2018.

The Group also has a current asset receivable of £19m (2016: £21m) from Penguin Random House and a current liability payable of £3m (2016: £nil) arising from the provision of services. Included in other income (note 4) is £3m (2016: £4m) of service fees. In addition, the Group will receive a further re-capitalisation dividend of £49m in April 2018, which was triggered by the Group’s decision to sell a 22% stake in Penguin Random House in 2017.

Investment in joint ventures

Information on joint ventures, all of which are individually immaterial, is detailed below:

 

All figures in £ millions

   2017      2016  

Profit/(loss) for the year

       1        (1
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income/(expense)

     1        (1