Experian's phased withdrawal

GUS PLC 27 April 2006 27 April 2006 GUS plc Experian's phased withdrawal from large scale UK account processing Experian, the global leader in value-added information solutions, today announces its phased withdrawal from large scale credit card and loan account processing in the UK. Experian currently provides account processing services to a number of large credit card, store card and loan providers in the UK. It provides software and systems to run all aspects of card and loan processing. This has been a successful business for Experian for many years but there is now increasing client consolidation, with major clients taking these services in house as their scale grows. As a result of these trends, this business, which accounts for less than 3% of Experian revenue, is now contracting. Experian is fully committed to servicing all existing contracts and the phased withdrawal from UK large scale account processing will enable it to continue to meet those clients' needs until Autumn 2009 as they move their operations in house or to third parties. Experian expects to continue to build on the significant relationships it has with these clients, who already purchase products and services in other areas of the company. In the year to 31 March 2006, sales in UK account processing fell to about £44m, generating EBIT of approximately £20m. The latter has been boosted in the last 12 months by an efficiency programme, including cost reductions in areas such as sales and business development. With the planned contraction of the business, the profit of this activity will decline over the next few years, with EBIT in the year to 31 March 2007 expected to be no more than half the 2006 level. The costs of withdrawal, all of which are cash, will be about £15m. These will be charged against EBIT in the year to 31 March 2007. Experian will continue to invest in account processing operations in other markets and other countries, including France and Germany. Enquiries GUS David Tyler Group Finance Director 020 7495 0070 Fay Dodds Director of Investor Relations Finsbury Rupert Younger 020 7251 3801 Rollo Head This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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