Half-yearly financial report

8 November 2012

Experian, the global information services company, today issues its half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 September 2012.

Highlights

• Strong H1 performance, with good progress towards our strategic and financial objectives.
• Revenue growth across all regions and from all global business lines, with double-digit growth across Latin America and Consumer Services.
• Total Group revenue of US$2.3bn. Revenue from continuing activities up 12% at constant exchange rates and 6% at actual rates, principally due to the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the US dollar. Organic revenue growth of 8% at constant exchange rates.
• Total EBIT from continuing operations of US$590m, up 14% at constant exchange rates and up 6% at actual rates.
• EBIT margin from continuing activities up 10 basis points to 25.8%.
• Profit before tax from continuing operations of US$76m (2011: US$351m), after an IFRS non-cash charge of US$403m from the movement in the Serasa put option liability.
• Benchmark profit before tax of US$563m, up 6% (and up 13% at constant exchange rates).
• Benchmark EPS of 39.0 US cents, up 3%. Basic loss per share from continuing operations of 7.4 US cents (2011: earnings per share of 26.2 US cents).
• Net debt of US$1,920m at 30 September 2012.
• First interim dividend of 10.75 US cents per ordinary share, up 5%.

Don Robert, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“We delivered strong revenue and EBIT growth in the first half of this financial year (at constant currency), with growth across all regions and business lines. This is the result of consistent execution on our strategy and global growth programme, helping us to withstand pressures in the global economy. While we face a tough comparable in Q3, for the full year, we expect high-single digit organic revenue growth, modest margin improvement (at constant currency) and to convert at least 90% of EBIT into operating cash.

“We are now in the fourth year of our global growth programme and it is gaining momentum. We continue to see significant opportunities and in order to maximise our growth potential we are today launching a new efficiency programme to drive operational improvements and to sustain premium growth into the future.”

Contact:

There will be a presentation today at 9.30am (UK time) to analysts and investors at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Financial Centre, 2 King Edward Street, London, EC1A 1HQ. The presentation can be viewed live on the Experian website at www.experianplc.com and can also be accessed live via a dial-in facility on +44 (0)20 3037 9164. The supporting slides and an indexed replay will be available on the website later in the day.

Experian will update on third quarter trading on 16 January 2013, when it will issue an Interim Management Statement.

See Appendix 7 for definition of non-GAAP measures used throughout this announcement.

Roundings

Certain financial data have been rounded within this announcement. As a result of this rounding, the totals of data presented may vary slightly from the actual arithmetic totals of such data. Forward looking statements Certain statements made in this announcement are forward looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from any expected future events or results referred to in these forward looking statements.

Company website

Neither the content of the Company’s website, nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company’s website (or any other website), is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.

About Experian

Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2012 was US$4.5 billion. Experian employs approximately 17,000 people in 44 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and São Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit www.experianplc.com

View the full press release in PDF format.