Segment information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Text block [abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information

For more detail on the services and products included in each business segment refer to Item 4.

			2019
All figures in £ millions	Notes		North America			Core			Growth			Penguin Random House			Corporate		Group
Sales				2,534			838			497			—			—		3,869
Adjusted operating profit				361			92			63			65			—		581
Cost of major restructuring				(110	)		(28	)		(19	)		(2	)		—		(159	)
Intangible charges				(62	)		(7	)		(82	)		(12	)		—		(163	)
Other net gains and losses				13			8			(5	)		—			—		16
Operating profit (loss)				202			65			(43	)		51			—		275
Finance costs		6																(84	)
Finance income		6																41
Profit before tax																		232
Income tax		7																34
Profit for the year																		266
Segment assets				4,316			1,957			484			—			489		7,246
Associates		12		—			7			—			397			—		404
Total assets				4,316			1,964			484			397			489		7,650
Other segment items
Share of results of joint ventures and associates		12		—			3			—			51			—		54
Capital expenditure		10, 11		176			35			51			—			—		262
Pre-publication investment		20		189			81			49			—			—		319
Depreciation		10		75			23			25			—			—		123
Amortisation		11, 20		305			85			147			—			—		537

			2018
All figures in £ millions	Notes		North America			Core			Growth			Penguin Random House			Corporate		Group
Sales				2,784			806			539			—			—		4,129
Adjusted operating profit				362			57			59			68			—		546
Cost of major restructuring				(78	)		(16	)		—			(8	)		—		(102	)
Intangible charges				(72	)		(8	)		(19	)		(14	)		—		(113	)
Other net gains and losses				4			—			226			—			—		230
UK pension GMP equalisation				—			(8	)		—			—			—		(8	)
Operating profit				216			25			266			46			—		553
Finance costs		6																(91	)
Finance income		6																36
Profit before tax																		498
Income tax		7																92
Profit for the year																		590
Segment assets				4,366			1,975			536			—			636		7,513
Associates		12		—			5			—			387			—		392
Total assets				4,366			1,980			536			387			636		7,905
Other segment items
Share of results of joint ventures and associates		12		(4	)		1			1			46			—		44
Capital expenditure		10, 11		135			25			36			—			—		196
Pre-publication investment		20		234			90			64			—			—		388
Depreciation		10		41			12			13			—			—		66
Amortisation		11, 20		344			92			89			—			—		525

			2017
All figures in £ millions	Notes		North America			Core			Growth			Penguin Random House			Corporate		Group
Sales				2,929			815			769			—			—		4,513
Adjusted operating profit				394			50			38			94			—		576
Cost of major restructuring				(60	)		(11	)		(8	)		—			—		(79	)
Intangible charges				(89	)		(12	)		(37	)		(28	)		—		(166	)
Other net gains and losses				(3	)		—			35			96			—		128
Impact of US tax reform				—			—			—			(8	)		—		(8	)
Operating profit				242			27			28			154			—		451
Finance costs		6																(110	)
Finance income		6																80
Profit before tax																		421
Income tax		7																(13	)
Profit for the year																		408
Segment assets				4,116			1,914			667			—			793		7,490
Joint ventures		12		—			—			3			—			—		3
Associates		12		4			3			—			388			—		395
Total assets				4,120			1,917			670			388			793		7,888
Other segment items
Share of results of joint ventures and associates		12		5			1			1			71			—		78
Capital expenditure		10,11		162			35			43			—			—		240
Pre-publication investment		20		218			84			59			—			—		361
Depreciation		10		56			13			21			—			—		90
Amortisation		11,20		348			103			110			—			—		561

Summary of Operating Segments in Geographic Areas

The Group operates in the following main geographic areas:

	Sales						Non-current assets
All figures in £ millions	2019		2018		2017		2019		2018
UK		385		377		384		694		900
Other European countries		244		246		262		125		143
US		2,417		2,627		2,770		2,604		2,162
Canada		105		126		126		163		250
Asia Pacific		441		455		643		149		146
Other countries		277		298		328		103		137
Total		3,869		4,129		4,513		3,838		3,738