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Exhibit 99

LOGO

1550 Peachtree Street, N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30309

News Release

Contact:

 

 

Jeff Dodge
Investor Relations
404.885.8804
jeff.dodge@equifax.com

 

Mitch Haws
Public Relations
404.885.8093
mitch.haws@equifax.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Equifax Reports Record Third Quarter Earnings Per Share of 39 Cents

ATLANTA, October 16, 2003—Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX), a leading provider of critical information to businesses, consumers and the public sector, today reported third quarter revenue of $309.8 million, an increase of 7 percent over the prior year. Earnings per share from continuing operations grew 8 percent to 39 cents, a record for Equifax. Revenues for the nine-month period ending Sept. 30 grew 14 percent to $928.4 million and earnings per share from continuing operations grew 7 percent to $1.08 per share. Free cash flow (cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures) was $78 million for the third quarter compared to $39 million in the prior year.

"The consistency and profitability of our business contributed to another quarter of earnings growth and strong cash flow for Equifax," said Thomas F. Chapman, chairman and CEO. "Our information businesses, along with our decisioning platforms, continue delivering revenue growth and improved profit performance."

Highlights for the third quarter include:

North America

International

Europe—Third quarter revenues were $31.7 million with operating margins of 15 percent. During September, Equifax became the first credit reporting agency in the UK to offer consumers on-line access to their credit report at myequifax.co.uk.

Latin America—Latin America revenues grew in local currency and totaled $21.5 million in the quarter. Operating margins were 28 percent. The Latin American business continues to benefit from its real-time decisioning, modeling and analytics products.



Teleconference

Equifax's quarterly teleconference to discuss results will be held today at 9 a.m. (EDT). The live audio Webcast of the speakers' presentations will be available at www.equifax.com. Please note that Microsoft Media Player is required to access the Webcast. This can be downloaded from www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer.

Equifax has presented in this press release and will discuss during the teleconference certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the Securities Exchange Commission. As required by SEC rules a reconciliation of such measures to the most comparable GAAP measure is presented in the Common Questions and Answers (Unaudited) that are a part of this press release. This information can also be found under the heading "non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Investor Center on the company's website at www.equifax.com.

About Equifax

Equifax Inc. is a global leader in turning information into intelligence. For businesses, Equifax provides faster and easier ways to find, approve and market to the right customers. For consumers, Equifax offers easier, instantaneous ways to buy products or services, and better insight into and management of their personal credit.

Equifax. Information That Empowers.

Equifax employs 4,500 people in 13 countries and had $1.1 billion in revenue during 2002.

Statements in this press release that relate to Equifax's future plans, objectives, expectations, performance, events and the like are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Future events, risks and uncertainties, individually or in the aggregate, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Those factors could include changes in worldwide and U.S. economic conditions that materially impact consumer spending and consumer debt, changes in demand for the Company's products and services, risks associated with the integration of acquisitions and other investments, changes in laws governing our business, and other factors discussed in the "forward-looking information" section and the "risk factor" section of the management's discussion and analysis included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

###


EQUIFAX INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

 
  THREE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30,

 
(In millions, except per share amounts)

 
  2003
  2002
 
Operating revenue   $ 309.8   $ 289.7  
   
 
 
Costs and expenses:              
  Costs of services     129.0     113.2  
  Selling, general and administrative expenses     66.8     66.3  
  Depreciation     4.1     3.7  
  Amortization     21.0     16.8  
   
 
 
    Total costs and expenses     220.9     200.0  
   
 
 
Operating income     88.9     89.7  
  Other income, net     3.0     2.0  
  Minority interests in earnings, net of tax     (0.9 )   0.2  
  Interest expense     (8.6 )   (10.4 )
   
 
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes     82.4     81.5  
  Provision for income taxes     (29.6 )   (31.8 )
   
 
 
Income from continuing operations     52.8     49.7  
   
 
 
Discontinued operations:              
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit of $0.0 in 2003 and $1.6 in 2002     (1.6 )   (10.8 )
   
 
 
Net income   $ 51.2   $ 38.9  
   
 
 
Per common share (basic):              
  Income from continuing operations   $ 0.39   $ 0.37  
  Discontinued operations     (0.01 )   (0.08 )
   
 
 
  Net income   $ 0.38   $ 0.29  
   
 
 
Shares used in computing basic earnings per share     134.5     135.9  
   
 
 
Per common share (diluted):              
  Income from continuing operations   $ 0.39   $ 0.36  
  Discontinued operations     (0.01 )   (0.08 )
   
 
 
  Net income   $ 0.38   $ 0.28  
   
 
 
Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share     136.4     137.6  
   
 
 
Dividends per common share   $ 0.020   $ 0.020  
   
 
 

SEGMENT REVENUE & OPERATING INCOME

 
  THREE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Equifax revenue:              
  North America   $ 256.6   $ 238.6  
  Europe     31.7     32.8  
  Latin America     21.5     18.3  
  Other          
   
 
 
    $ 309.8   $ 289.7  
   
 
 
Equifax operating income:              
  North America   $ 89.4   $ 95.7  
  Europe     4.9     0.9  
  Latin America     6.0     5.1  
  Other          
  Corporate Expense     (11.5 )   (12.0 )
   
 
 
    $ 88.9   $ 89.7  
   
 
 

EQUIFAX INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

 
  NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30,

 
(In millions, except per share amounts)

 
  2003
  2002
 
Operating revenue   $ 928.4   $ 816.7  
   
 
 
Costs and expenses:              
  Costs of services     393.7     323.0  
  Selling, general and administrative expenses     207.4     179.0  
  Depreciation     12.4     10.9  
  Amortization     60.1     47.2  
   
 
 
    Total costs and expenses     673.6     560.1  
   
 
 
Operating income     254.8     256.6  
  Other income, net     12.3     5.3  
  Minority interests in earnings, net of tax     (2.6 )   (1.3 )
  Interest expense     (31.1 )   (30.5 )
   
 
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes     233.4     230.1  
  Provision for income taxes     (86.2 )   (90.5 )
   
 
 
Income from continuing operations     147.2     139.6  
   
 
 
Discontinued operations:              
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit of $0.0 in 2003 and $2.2 in 2002     (10.3 )   (11.5 )
   
 
 
Net income   $ 136.9   $ 128.1  
   
 
 
Per common share (basic):              
  Income from continuing operations   $ 1.09   $ 1.02  
  Discontinued operations     (0.08 )   (0.08 )
   
 
 
  Net income   $ 1.01   $ 0.94  
   
 
 
Shares used in computing basic earnings per share     134.9     136.4  
   
 
 
Per common share (diluted):              
  Income from continuing operations   $ 1.08   $ 1.01  
  Discontinued operations     (0.08 )   (0.08 )
   
 
 
  Net income   $ 1.00   $ 0.92  
   
 
 
Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share     136.8     138.9  
   
 
 
Dividends per common share   $ 0.060   $ 0.060  
   
 
 

SEGMENT REVENUE & OPERATING INCOME

 
  NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Equifax revenue:              
  North America   $ 776.9   $ 657.8  
  Europe     94.4     95.6  
  Latin America     57.1     58.9  
  Other         4.4  
   
 
 
    $ 928.4   $ 816.7  
   
 
 
Equifax operating income:              
  North America   $ 270.2   $ 264.6  
  Europe     13.4     8.4  
  Latin America     13.9     14.7  
  Other         4.4  
  Corporate Expense     (42.7 )   (35.5 )
   
 
 
    $ 254.8   $ 256.6  
   
 
 

EQUIFAX INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except par values)

  September 30,
2003

  December 31,
2002

 
 
  (Unaudited)

   
 
ASSETS              
Current Assets:              
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 33.5   $ 30.5  
  Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $12.7 in 2003 and $17.3 in 2002     191.4     179.8  
  Other receivables     9.4     20.8  
  Deferred income tax assets     19.6     20.9  
  Other current assets     39.4     33.6  
   
 
 
    Total current assets     293.3     285.6  
   
 
 
Property and Equipment:              
  Land, buildings and improvements     31.1     29.3  
  Data processing equipment and furniture     121.4     115.9  
   
 
 
      152.5     145.2  
  Less accumulated depreciation     104.6     94.6  
   
 
 
      47.9     50.6  
   
 
 
Goodwill     703.0     650.5  
Purchased Data Files     262.8     265.4  
Other Assets     285.9     247.3  
Assets of Discontinued Operations     1.0     7.5  
   
 
 
    $ 1,593.9   $ 1,506.9  
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY              
Current Liabilities:              
  Short-term debt and current maturities   $ 27.1   $ 233.9  
  Accounts payable     10.8     16.5  
  Accrued salaries and bonuses     28.6     31.0  
  Other current liabilities     154.8     146.5  
   
 
 
    Total current liabilities     221.3     427.9  
Long-Term Debt     841.5     690.6  
Deferred Revenue     13.1     11.7  
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities     38.3     25.9  
Other Long-Term Liabilities     127.0     122.6  
Liabilities of Discontinued Operations     5.7     7.2  
   
 
 
    Total liabilities     1,246.9     1,285.9  
   
 
 
Commitments and Contingencies              

Shareholders' Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized—10.0; Issued—none          
  Common stock, $1.25 par value:              
    Authorized shares—300.0
Issued shares—180.1 in 2003 and 180.1 in 2002
Outstanding shares—134.9 in 2003 and 135.7 in 2002
    225.2     225.1  
  Paid-in capital     422.3     412.0  
  Retained earnings     1,053.8     925.4  
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (315.4 )   (359.4 )
  Treasury stock, at cost, 41.0 shares in 2003 and 38.1 shares in 2002     (965.0 )   (899.7 )
  Stock held by employee benefits trusts, at cost, 5.4 shares in 2003 and 6.3 shares in 2002     (73.9 )   (82.4 )
   
 
 
    Total shareholders' equity     347.0     221.0  
   
 
 
    $ 1,593.9   $ 1,506.9  
   
 
 

EQUIFAX INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 
  NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30,

 
(In millions)

 
  2003
  2002
 
Cash flows from operating activities:              
  Net income   $ 136.9   $ 128.1  
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations:              
    Loss from discontinued operations     9.8     11.5  
    Depreciation and amortization     72.5     58.1  
    Deferred income taxes     10.5     9.8  
    Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding effects of acquisitions:              
      Accounts receivable, net     (1.0 )   13.1  
      Current liabilities, excluding debt     (13.8 )   (33.8 )
      Other current assets     1.7     1.6  
      Other long-term liabilities, excluding debt     4.4     (5.7 )
      Other assets     (27.5 )   (32.7 )
   
 
 
Cash provided by operating activities     193.5     150.0  
   
 
 
Investing activities:              
  Additions to property and equipment     (11.4 )   (8.5 )
  Additions to other assets, net     (25.3 )   (26.9 )
  Acquisitions, net of cash acquired     (40.7 )   (218.1 )
  Investments in unconsolidated affiliates         (0.1 )
  Proceeds on note receivable from sale of business         41.0  
  Deferred payments on prior year acquisitions     (1.4 )   (4.9 )
   
 
 
Cash used by investing activities     (78.8 )   (217.5 )
   
 
 
Financing activities:              
  Net short-term payments     (11.5 )   (15.2 )
  Additions to long-term debt     155.3     137.9  
  Payments on long-term debt     (202.5 )    
  Treasury stock purchases     (65.3 )   (78.7 )
  Dividends paid     (8.4 )   (8.6 )
  Proceeds from exercise of stock options     16.7     31.6  
  Other     0.2     0.6  
   
 
 
Cash (used) provided by financing activities     (115.5 )   67.6  
   
 
 
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash     3.3     (3.3 )
Cash provided by discontinued operations     0.5     0.1  
   
 
 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     3.0     (3.1 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year     30.5     33.2  
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year   $ 33.5   $ 30.1  
   
 
 

Common Questions & Answers (Unaudited)—September 30, 2003
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

1.
Can you provide a further breakdown of revenue in the Equifax North America segment?
 
  2003
  2002
 
  Q3
  Q2
  Q1
  YTD
  Q4
  Q3
  Q2
  Q1
  12 Months
Equifax North America Revenue:                                                      
U.S. Consumer and Commercial Services   $ 131.9   $ 134.7   $ 124.6   $ 391.2   $ 116.8   $ 119.9   $ 109.6   $ 109.1   $ 455.4
Mortgage Services     18.3     21.4     16.7     56.4     16.3     16.0     11.8     11.1     55.2
Canadian Operations     23.3     22.9     20.5     66.7     19.1     19.4     19.8     19.1     77.4
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Total North America Information Services     173.5     179.0     161.8     514.3     152.2     155.3     141.2     139.3     588.0
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit Marketing Services     38.2     41.7     40.3     120.2     41.5     42.2     41.9     38.6     164.2
Direct Marketing Services     26.2     26.9     38.3     91.4     38.7     30.1     21.3     20.4     110.4
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Total Marketing Services     64.4     68.7     78.7     211.6     80.2     72.3     63.2     59.0     274.7
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer Direct     18.7     17.4     14.8     50.9     12.0     11.0     8.7     7.8     39.5
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    $ 256.6   $ 265.0   $ 255.3   $ 776.9   $ 244.4   $ 238.6   $ 213.1   $ 206.2   $ 902.2
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.
Can you provide a breakout of costs of services and SG&A as a percent of sales?
 
  Q3
 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Operating Expenses:          
Costs of services   42 % 39 %
Selling, general and administrative   22 % 23 %
Depreciation & amortization   8 % 7 %
   
 
 
    72 % 69 %
   
 
 
3.
Can you give depreciation and amortization by segment?
 
  2003
  2002
 
  Q3
  Q2
  Q1
  YTD
  Q4
  Q3
  Q2
  Q1
  12 Months
Depreciation & Amortization:                                                      
Equifax North America   $ 17.4   $ 16.6   $ 16.2   $ 50.2   $ 15.7   $ 13.7   $ 12.3   $ 12.0   $ 53.8
Equifax Europe     3.0     2.9     2.6   $ 8.5     3.4     2.3     3.5     3.7     12.9
Equifax Latin America     1.4     1.3     1.3   $ 4.0     1.1     1.4     1.5     1.5     5.4
General Corporate     3.3     3.3     3.1   $ 9.7     2.2     2.1     2.1     2.1     8.4
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    $ 25.1   $ 24.1   $ 23.2   $ 72.4   $ 22.4   $ 19.5   $ 19.4   $ 19.3   $ 80.5
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.
What was the currency impact on the foreign operations?
 
  2003 Revenue
  2003 Operating Income
  2002 Revenue
  2002 Operating Income
 
 
  Q3
  %
  Q3
  %
  Q3
  %
  Q3
  %
 
Canada   $ 2.8   14 % $ 1.1   17 % $ (0.2 ) -1 % $ (0.1 ) -1 %
Europe     1.8   5 %   0.2   21 %   2.5   7 %     -2 %
Latin America     1.2   7 %   0.4   8 %   (5.2 ) -19 %   (0.9 ) -11 %
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    $ 5.8   2 % $ 1.7   2 % $ (2.9 ) -1 % $ (1.0 ) -1 %
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

5a.
What was your cash flow from operations for the third quarter 2003 and 2002?
5b.
What was your free cash flow (cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures) for the third quarter 2003 and 2002?
6.
What was the level of debt?
 
  Sept 30
2003

  Jun 30
2003

  Mar 31
2003

  Dec 31
2002

Senior Notes and Debentures—Long-term   $ 648.0   $ 648.0   $ 648.0   $ 647.8
Senior Notes and Debentures—Current             200.6     199.9
Revolving Credit Facility     178.1     222.9     27.2     21.8
Other Long-term Obligations     15.3     21.0     18.6     21.0
Other Short-term Debt & Current Maturities     27.1     23.7     42.4     34.0
   
 
 
 
    $ 868.5   $ 915.6   $ 936.8   $ 924.5
   
 
 
 
7.
What was the level of capital spending?
 
  2003
  2002
 
  Q3
  Q2
  Q1
  YTD
  Q4
  Q3
  Q2
  Q1
  12 Months
Capital Expenditures   $ 13.5   $ 10.4   $ 12.8   $ 36.7   $ 20.4   $ 19.0   $ 11.0   $ 5.4   $ 55.8
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.
Why did other income increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2003?
9.
Why did the year to date's estimated effective tax rate decline to 37%?
10.
What is the current authorization amount for stock buyback?
11.
What is the is the status of the sale of the discontinued operations?

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

A.
Free cash flow
(In millions)

  2003
  2002
 
Cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002   $ 193.5   $ 150.0  
  Adjustments to reconcile cash provided by operating activities for the nine months September 30, 2003 and 2002, to free cash flow for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 and 2002:              
    Cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002     (102.1 )   (92.2 )
    Additions to property and equipment for the three months ended ended September 30, 2003 and 2002     (3.1 )   (5.2 )
    Additions to other assets, net, for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002     (10.4 )   (13.8 )
   
 
 
Free cash flow for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 and 2002   $ 77.9   $ 38.8  
   
 
 

*
Free cash flow is commonly used by investors to measure a company's liquidity. We feel it adds insight to the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) measure of cash provided by operating activities by subtracting uses of cash for capital related expenditures. Free cash flow is not a measurement of liquidity under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. In addition, our calculation of free cash flow may be different from the calculation used by other companies and therefore, comparability may be limited.



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Equifax Reports Record Third Quarter Earnings Per Share of 39 Cents