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Reconciliation of operating profit to a headline operating profit - Summary of Reconciliation of Operating Profit to Headline Operating Profit (Detail) - GBP (£) £ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Statement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating profit | [1] | £ 1,295.9 | £ 1,245.3 | [2] | £ 1,577.9 | [2]
Goodwill impairment | [3] | 47.7 | 176.5 | [2] | 27.1 | [2]
Gains on disposal of investments and subsidiaries |  | (40.4) | (237.9) |  | (98.7) |
(Gains)/losses on remeasurement of equity interests arising from a change in scope of ownership |  | (0.4) | (2.0) |  | 0.3 |
Investment write-downs |  | 7.5 | 2.0 |  | 91.7 |
Litigation settlement |  | (16.8) |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of freehold property in New York | [1] | 7.9 |  |  |  |
Continuing Operation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Statement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating profit |  | 1,295.9 | 1,245.3 | [1],[2] | 1,577.9 | [2]
Amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets |  | 121.5 | 201.8 | [1],[2] | 138.0 | [2]
Goodwill impairment |  | 47.7 | 176.5 | [1],[2] | 27.1 | [2]
Gains on disposal of investments and subsidiaries |  | (40.4) | (237.9) | [1],[2] | (98.7) | [2]
(Gains)/losses on remeasurement of equity interests arising from a change in scope of ownership |  | (0.4) | (2.0) | [1],[2] | 0.3 | [2]
Investment write-downs |  | 7.5 | 2.0 | [1],[2] | 91.7 | [2]
Litigation settlement |  | (16.8) |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of freehold property in New York |  | (7.9) |  |  |  |
Restructuring and transformation costs |  | 153.5 | 265.5 | [1],[2] | 56.8 | [2]
Headline operating profit |  | £ 1,560.6 | £ 1,651.2 | [1],[2] | £ 1,793.1 | [2]
[1] | Figures have been restated, as described in the accounting policies.
[2] | Prior year figures have been re-presented in accordance with IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations, as described in the accounting policies.
[3] | Figures in 2018 have been restated, as described in the accounting policies.

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- Definition The amount of expense relating to restructuring. Restructuring is a programme that is planned and controlled by management and materially changes either the scope of a business undertaken by an entity or the manner in which that business is conducted. Such programmes include: (a) the sale or termination of a line of business; (b) closure of business locations in a country or region or the relocation of activities from one country or region to another; (c) changes in management structure; and (d) fundamental reorganisations that have a material effect on the nature and focus of the entity's operations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 98 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_98_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The profit (loss) from operating activities of the entity. [Refer: Profit (loss)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 32 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph IE33 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=32&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_IE33&doctype=Illustrative%20Examples -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 85 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_85&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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