Schaumburg, Ill., 19 May 2004 – Experian Automotive, a division of global information solutions company Experian®, today announced it has acquired AutoCount, a leading auto research firm. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is consistent with Experian’s global strategy of acquiring complementary businesses that provide new products, new data or entry in new vertical or regional markets, while leveraging the core assets of Experian.
“AutoCount is the premier resource for timely, accurate and comprehensive market share reporting on vehicle sales and financing,” said Scott Waldron, president of Experian Automotive. “AutoCount brings an exciting array of solutions for both financial institutions and automotive dealers.”
AutoCount offers “The AutoCount Report” which provides dealers and lenders with access to key information on new and used vehicle sales. These reports are designed to reflect sales by franchised and independent dealers and to assist dealers and financial institutions in making decisions about expansion, retention, competition, and brand positioning.
“AutoCount’s clients can benefit from Experian’s unique combination of automotive marketing and credit information, providing us the opportunity to continue our rapid growth” said Bob Starr, president, AutoCount. “We’re excited to join forces with Experian Automotive, a leader in automotive information.”
The AutoCount team will continue to operate out of its Casselberry, Fla. headquarters as a key part of Experian Automotive and will be called AutoCount, an Experian Company. AutoCount’s extensive client list includes nine of the top ten indirect lenders nationwide as well as franchised and independent dealerships, auto auctions, the media, and other auto industry related companies.
Experian Automotive delivers information solutions to manufacturers, dealers, finance and insurance companies, and consumers. Experian helps automotive clients increase customer loyalty, target and win new business, and make better lending and vehicle purchase decisions. Its National Vehicle Database, housing more than 450 million vehicles, along with Experian’s credit, consumer and business information assets, meets the industry’s growing demand for an integrated information source. Experian’s advanced decision support services help clients turn this information into improved business results. Experian technology supports several top automotive websites including eBay Motors, CarsDirect.com, AutoTrader.com and NADAguides.com. For more information on Experian Automotive and its suite of solutions, visit our website at www.experianautomotive.com.
Experian® is a global leader in providing information solutions to organizations and consumers. It helps organizations find, develop and manage profitable customer relationships by providing information, decision-making solutions and processing services. It empowers consumers to understand, manage and protect their personal information and assets. Experian works with more than 40,000 clients across diverse industries, including financial services, telecommunications, health care, insurance, retail and catalogue, automotive, manufacturing, leisure, utilities, property, e-commerce and government. Experian is a subsidiary of GUS plc and has headquarters in Nottingham, UK, and Costa Mesa, Calif. Its 13,000 people support clients in more than 60 countries. Annual sales exceed $2.2 billion. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.experian.com.
AutoCount, a service that began in Florida in 1998, is the premier resource for accurate, timely information on new and used vehicle sales derived from DMV data. The company’s dedication to providing quality information has resulted in AutoCount’s rapid growth.