The Supplier Diversity Initiative Report

January– June 2011

2 The Supplier Diversity Initiative Report—January 2011–June 2011

In February 2009, Nielsen launched its Supplier Diversity program with a mission to build collaborative, mutual alliances that would provide minority and women owned business enterprises (MWBEs) with meaningful opportunities to do business with our company while helping us maintain our standards of excellence and position as a market leader. Under the expert knowledge of the director, Brinda Bradley, a strategic plan for the initiative was developed complete with targeted goals, reporting processes, and procedures and a variety of Supplier Diversity resource tools designed to compliment Nielsen’s simple, open, integrated philosophy and corporate strategy.

With the support of top Nielsen executives, our Strategic Sourcing teams and our employees, Nielsen has significantly increased the number of contracts it has with qualified MWBEs. As a result, we’ve tripled the dollars spent on purchasing goods and services from diverse businesses since the inception of our program. Additionally, diverse business development councils are recognizing Nielsen’s commitment to establishing productive business relationships with MWBEs in the community. We are very proud of the success we’ve experienced over the past two years, but there’s still more work to be done. The Supplier Diversity initiative

is expanding in other areas of the company, and we are looking forward to doing all that we can to ensure its success.

At Nielsen, Supplier Diversity isn’t just good business, it’s good for business!

Spend Trends Goals & Accomplishments:

WBE $$ MBE $$

$0

$2

$4

$6

$8

$10

$12

$14

$16

$18

$20

WBE $$

MBE $$

$0

$2

$4

$6

$8

$10

$12

$14

$16

$18

$20

Total U.S. thru Q2 2010$14MM

$7

$7

$13

$6

Total U.S. thru Q2 2011$19MM

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Nielsen MWBE Combined Tier 1&2 Cumulative Annual Comparison 2010/2011

Nielsen’s Supplier Diversity Initiative:

The total MWBE spend through Q2 2011 is $19 million. Overall, the MWBE spend increased 36% over the same period in 2010. The MBE spend increased 86% while spend with WBEs decreased 14%.

Total MWBE spend through Q2 2011 represents 6% of total U.S. sourceable spend.

Minority and Women Owned Business (MWBE) Quarterly Spend Update:

• Chicago United Nielsen Five Forward Initiative

– Facilitated meetings between Finance, IT, Legal, Marketing line of business leaders and selected MWBEs

• Improved Supplier Diversity reporting and analysis process

• Supplier Diversity Communication

– Launched first Supplier Diversity Newsletter

– Approval of tagline image for internal use

– Created quarterly Supplier Diversity Radio Ads for WVON 1690am (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec)

– Director featured in DiversityPlus, DiversityCareers and Chicago Minority publications

– Launched quarterly “Access to Capital” webinars for Nielsen registered MWBEs

– Enhanced internal/external Supplier Diversity web page highlighting our MWBEs and a photo slide show on Supplier Diversity events

– Established Supplier Diversity presence on Nielsen Yammer website and Nielsen Facebook page

• Increased the number of prime suppliers reporting diversity spend from 6 to 26

• Launched Supplier Diversity Challenge with Global Sourcing teams

• Received Nielsen’s corporate membership to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

3www.nielsen.com

Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council (ChicagoMSDC) 44th Annual Chicago Business Opportunity Fair. (left to right): Brinda Bradley (in yellow), supplier diversity director, and Cheryl Pearson-McNeil (in pink), senior vice president public affairs and government relations, cutting the ribbon of the business fair.

Become familiar with Nielsen’s Supplier Diversity mission, eligibility criteria, business registration requirements and outreach events by taking action to do any of the following activities:

1. Visit the Nielsen Supplier Diversity websites

a. Employees—should use company intranet site Nielsen Now, click on

the “Diversity” tab, and then “US Supplier Diversity”

b. Non-employees—visit www.nielsen.com/supplierdiversity

2. Encourage diverse business owners to register in our Nielsen supplier database (see eligibility requirements)

3. When considering the use of an outside vendor for your business needs, contact the Supplier Diversity team to assist in your search

4. Volunteer to attend our sponsored business development council events to network with other corporate members and diverse business owners

Assisting Nielsen’s Supplier Diversity efforts

Supplier Diversity Spotlight— Marcelo Reggiardo, Alianza Services Alianza Services LLC is a full-service, certified MBE, office furniture dealer with offices in Rockland County, New York. We provide a variety of services including furniture procurement, project management, space planning and design services. Alianza represents over 100 different manufacturers. Herman Miller, based in Michigan, is the main line we supply to our customers. We concentrate on offering tailor-made solutions that combine quality products and the highest service levels. Alianza works with many different customers including traditional commercial clients, as well as those in the government, higher-education and healthcare sectors.

Supplier Diversity Spotlight— Robin E. BeamanBeaman Incorporated (BI) is a full-service communications firm that specializes in advertising, public relations, and community engagement on a local, regional and national level. We are dedicated to providing our clients with an unmatched level of service and expertise; customized, innovative strategies; and measurable results.

Best Practices:

The Supplier Diversity team actively participates in conferences and networking events hosted by diverse business development councils. Activities include speaking roles, booth exhibit, and/or onsite meetings with MWBEs.

Date City Event

June 21–23 Las Vegas, NV Women Business Enterprise National Council Conference

August 15 Naperville, IL Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council Annual Scholarship Golf Classic

August 19 Chicago, IL Chicago Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week

September 14 Chicago, IL Chicago Women’s Business Development Center Entrepreneurial Conference

Events & Activities:

Information of past and upcoming events, speaking engagements, photos, etc.

2011 WBENC National Conference & Business Fair. (left to right): Tracy Nappier, representative Adcomm Group, Nielsen’s Brinda Bradley, supplier diversity director, Janice Bryant Howroyd, Chairman and CEO, Act 1 Group

Copyright © 2011 The Nielsen Company. All rights reserved. Nielsen and the Nielsen logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of CZT/ACN Trademarks, L.L.C.

www.nielsen.com

Glossary of Supplier Diversity Terms

MWBE Minority and women owned business enterprise

SourceableAll spend for products and services that could be sourced from a minority and/or woman business

First Tier A first tier supplier is a supplier that invoices Nielsen for goods and services rendered directly by that supplier

Direct Second Tier Purchases A second tier supplier is one whose products and services can be identified directly to Nielsen, but who invoices a First Tier supplier

Indirect Second Tier Purchasing A second tier supplier is one whose products and services cannot be identified in support of specific Customer requirements, but who invoices a First Tier supplier

(MBE) Minority Business Enterprise Any for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, in the United States of America or trust territories, which is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a member of a minority group and targets other businesses as customers. The minority ownership and control shall be real and continuing, and not solely to take advantage of special set aside programs aimed at minority business development. Members of minority groups must be U.S. Citizens. Minority ethnic groups are defined as the following: • African American • Asian American (Pacific and Indian) • Hispanic American • Native American

Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) Any for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, in the United States of America or trust territories, which is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by one or more women and targets other businesses as customers. The women ownership and control shall be real and continuing, and not solely to take advantage of special set aside programs aimed at women business development. Women business owners must be U.S. Citizens.

2011 Supplier Corporate Membership Organizations: Provides access to quality, certified diverse business owners

• National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

• National Minority Supplier Development Council

• Women’s Business Enterprise National Council

Supplier Diversity Eligibility:To qualify as a Nielsen diverse supplier, a company must be:

• A for-profit business, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or one of its trust territories

• At least 51 percent owned, controlled and operated by a minority or woman U.S. citizen

• Certified by one of the following certification agencies: National Minority Development Council (NMSDC), Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), National Gay Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), Government Agency (City, State or National)

Nielsen Registration Requirements:To qualify as a diverse business, you must be certified as one of the following classifications listed below to register in the Nielsen Supplier Management Portal.

• 8(a) SBA Certified

• Small Disadvantage Business (SDB/SBA)

• HUB Zone (SBA Certified)

• Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)

• Woman Business Enterprise (WBE)

• Disabled Person-Owned Business (DOBE)

• Veteran Owned Business (VBE)

• Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVB)

• Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender (LGBT)

supplier.diversity@nielsen.com or call (877) 603-9122

Team Contact Information: