Full-year financial report

7am, 15 May 2019 ─ Experian plc, the global information services company, today issues its financial report for the year ended 31 March 2019.

Brian Cassin, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

“This was a very good year for Experian. Our investment and innovation agenda delivered strong and broad-based growth with exciting new offers for consumers and businesses. We have strengthened our prospects and expanded our opportunities; both our B2B and Consumer Services businesses delivered strongly. With another year of continued investments, FY20 is expected to deliver further strong performance, with organic revenue growth in the 6-8% range, Benchmark EBIT growth at or above revenue growth and strong progress in Benchmark earnings per share.”

1 See Appendix 1 (page 12) and note 5 to the financial statements (pages 23-25) for definitions of non-GAAP measures.

2 Results for 2018 are restated for IFRS 15, Benchmark measures are also restated for exited business activities which comprise certain B2B businesses.
3 See page 13 for reconciliation of Benchmark EBIT from ongoing activities to Profit before tax. 

• Strong momentum continues.
  • Q4 organic revenue growth of 10% and full year organic revenue growth of 9%.
  • B2B full year organic revenue growth of 9%.
  • Consumer Services organic revenue growth of 6% with rapidly growing new product portfolio.
  • Benchmark EBIT margin of 26.9%, up 20 basis points at constant rates, down 20 basis points at actual rates, with 10% total Benchmark EBIT growth at constant rates.
  • 9% Benchmark EPS growth at constant rates.
• Operational highlights.
  • Broad based investments in technology and innovation driving growth across our expanding markets.
  • Scaling B2B innovation across our geographies; new opportunities secured for PowerCurve, Ascend, CrossCore, Open Data platforms and Marketplace services.
  • Ascend, our big data platform, installed in our largest US clients and sales secured across 4 countries.
  • Direct relationships with consumers scaling rapidly as free consumer memberships reach over 55m combined across our three major markets, up from 40m last year.
  • Launched Experian Boost, a major new US consumer-permissioned data offer; since March 2019 over 600,000 US consumers have already connected to Experian Boost.
  • Strong performance in Experian health with another year of double digit growth.
  • Expanded venture investment programme, with new investments including Marketplace operators.
  • Completed acquisition of Compuscan for R3,720m (c. $263m)⁴, expanding our presence across Africa.
• Continuing commitment to shareholder returns and disciplined capital allocation.
  • Second interim dividend up 4% to 32.5 US cents per ordinary share; total dividend for FY19 up 4% to 46.5 US cents per ordinary share.
  • Share repurchase programme of up to US$400m.

4 Cash consideration before adjustment for debt and net working capital. Translated at ZAR/US$ exchange rate of 14.17.

View the full press release in PDF format.

Contacts

Experian

Nadia Ridout-Jamieson              Investor queries                                    +44 (0)20 3042 4215

Gerry Tschopp                          Media queries

Finsbury

Rollo Head                                                                                            +44 (0)20 7251 3801

Jenny Davey

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 via the link from the Experian website at www.experianplc.com and can also be accessed live via a telephone dial-in facility: 0800 783 0906 (UK primary) or 01296 480 100 (UK direct) or +44 1296 480 100 (International direct), using access code 752 673 51. The supporting slides and an indexed replay will be available on the website later in the day.

Experian will update on first quarter trading for FY20 on 16 July 2019.

Roundings

Certain financial data has 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.

Definitions

B2B - Business-to-Business.

B2B2C - business-to-business-to-consumer. 

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. See page 11 for further information on risks and uncertainties facing Experian.

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 world’s leading global information services company. During life’s big moments – from buying a home or a car, to sending a child to college, to growing a business by connecting with new customers – we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organisations to prevent identity fraud and crime.

We have 17,200 people operating across 44 countries and every day we’re investing in new technologies, talented people and innovation to help all our clients maximise every opportunity. We are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Learn more at www.experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at our global news blog for the latest news and insights from the Group.