Half-yearly financial report

17 November 2010

Experian, the global information services company, today issues its half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 September 2010.

Highlights

  • A strong performance, with improving trends across all regions.
  • Revenue from contin uing activities up 8% at constant exchange rates. Organic revenue growth of 7%. Total Group revenue of US$2.0bn (2009: US$1.9bn).
  • Further margin progression. EBIT margin from continuing activities up 10 basis points to 24.3%.
  • Continuing EBIT up 8% at constant exchange rates. Total EBIT of US$484m, up 10% at actual exchange rates.
  • Profit before tax from continuing operations of US$283m (2009: US$316m). Benchmark profit before tax of US$450m, up 12%.
  • Basic EPS of 25.9 US cents (2009: 24.5 US cents). Benchmark EPS of 32.4 US cents, up 10%.
  • Net debt of US$1,889m in the half. S&P affirmed BBB+ rating and revised outlook to positive in October.
  • 79% conversion of EBIT into operating cash flow in the seasonally weaker half year.
  • First interim dividend of 9.0 US cents per ordinary share, up 29%.

John Peace, Chairman, commented:
“Experian has made excellent progress in the half, creating significant shareholder value through strong financial performance, net share repurchases of US$147m and a 29% dividend increase to 9.0 US cents.”

Don Robert, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“We performed strongly in the first half, delivering our best organic revenue growth outcome in four years. Trends have improved modestly, with generally more favourable conditions across the majority of our markets. Our strategic priority is to maximise the opportunities we have identified globally. We are executing successfully against our growth programme, as is increasingly visible in our performance. For the year as a whole, we expect to deliver similar rates of organic revenue growth to the first half, and we are targeting modest improvement in our EBIT margin.”

Contact:

Experian
Don Robert Chief Executive Officer +44 (0)20 3042 4215
Paul Brooks Chief Financial Officer  
Nadia Ridout-Jamieson Director of Investor Relations  
James Russell Public Relations Director  
 
Finsbury
Rollo Head   +44 (0)20 7251 3801
Don Hunter    

 

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.

There will be a conference call today for bond analysts and investors at 3.00pm (UK time). This will be broadcast live on the Experian website at www.experianplc.com with supporting slides. A replay will be available on the website later in the day.

Experian will update on third quarter trading on 18 January 2011, when it will issue an Interim Management Statement.

See Appendix 2 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.

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. 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 in more than 90 countries. The company 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 2010 was US$3.9 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 40 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; Costa Mesa, California; and São Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit www.experianplc.com.

View the full press release in PDF format.

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