Business
Preliminary results for the year ended 31 Mar 2016
Preliminary results for the year ended 31 Mar 2016.
About this update from Experian Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \nRNS Number : 8547X Experian plc 11 May 2016 \n\n news release\n \nPreliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2016\n \n11 May 2016 ─ Experian, the global information services company, today issues its full year financial results for the twelve months ended 31 March 2016. \n \nGeneral highlights\n· Delivering on our strategy: \no improved growth momentum;\no strength in Credit Services and Decision Analytics;\no successfully repositioning North America Consumer Services; \no resilience in Brazil.\n· Delivering on our capital framework: investing in growth whilst returning nearly US$1bn in dividends and share repurchases during the year.\n· Definitive agreement post year-end to acquire CSIdentity Corporation.\n· Total revenue from continuing activities was US$4,477m, with both total and organic revenue at constant exchange rates up 5%. At actual exchange rates, total revenue from continuing activities fell by 4% reflecting foreign exchange headwinds during the period. Total revenue was US$4,550m as the Group exited a number of non-core businesses in the year.\n· EBIT from continuing activities was US$1,195m, up 5% at constant exchange rates. At actual exchange rates, EBIT from continuing activities was down 6%. Total EBIT was US$1,210m.\n· EBIT margin from continuing activities was stable at constant exchange rates. The impact of foreign exchange movements reduced EBIT margin at actual exchange rates by 60 basis points to 26.7%.\n· Benchmark profit before tax was US$1,136m, up 3% at constant exchange rates. Profit before tax was US$1,027m at actual exchange rates (2015: US$1,006m). \n· Cash flow conversion of 105%. Net debt decreased by US$194m, with net debt to EBITDA ratio remaining at 1.9 times.\n· Benchmark EPS was 89.1 US cents, up 5% at constant exchange rates and down 6% at actual exchange rates. Basic EPS was 78.6 US cents (2015: 79.0 US cents).\n· Second interim dividend of 27.5 US cents per ordinary share, to bring the total for FY16 to 40.0 US cents per share, up 2% reflecting underlying strength, notwithstanding the foreign e...