Press Release

Equifax Reports Third Quarter 2009 Results

Q3 2009 Equifax Inc. Earnings Conference Call

Third quarter revenue was $451.9 million, down 1 percent from the second quarter of 2009.

Third quarter EPS was $0.47 and third quarter adjusted EPS was $0.57.

Announced agreement to acquire IXI Corporation, a leading provider of information on consumer financial assets, income and spending.

ATLANTA, October 21, 2009 - Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The company reported revenue of $451.9 million in the third quarter of 2009, a 7 percent decrease from the third quarter of 2008, of which 3 percent was due to the unfavorable effect of foreign exchange rates. Diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for the third quarter of 2009 was $0.47 compared to $0.56 in the same period of the prior year. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted EPS, which excludes the impact of acquisition-related amortization expense and the restructuring and asset write-down charges and income tax benefit in the prior year, was $0.57 compared to $0.63 in the third quarter of 2008.

"Our business continues to perform well in a very challenging operating environment. Strong operating margins and the strength of our balance sheet enable us to pursue strategic acquisitions that will further enhance our competitive position while providing incremental revenue and EPS growth," said Richard F. Smith, Equifax's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Earlier today we announced an agreement on an important strategic acquisition, IXI Corporation. The wealth and asset data, which IXI owns, significantly broadens and deepens the insight about consumers' capacity, ability and propensity to spend or to pay on their obligations. This unique consumer wealth data substantially enhances our strategy of providing differentiated data, best-in-class analytics, and technology for our customers' decisioning needs."

Third Quarter 2009 Highlights

Revenue decreased 1 percent on a reported basis versus the second quarter of 2009.

Operating margin was 23.5 percent, flat when compared to the second quarter of 2009, but down from an adjusted operating margin of 25.6 percent in the third quarter of 2008, excluding the impact of restructuring and asset write-down charges in the prior year.

Total debt at September 30, 2009 decreased $84.9 million from June 30, 2009.

U.S. Consumer Information Solutions ("USCIS")

Total revenue was $200.7 million in the third quarter of 2009, down 5 percent when compared to the second quarter of 2009 and down 9 percent from the third quarter of 2008.

Online Consumer Information Solutions revenue was $131.4 million, down 13 percent from a year ago.

Mortgage Solutions revenue was $22.5 million, up 35 percent from a year ago.

Credit Marketing Services revenue was $25.7 million, down 14 percent from a year ago.

Direct Marketing Services revenue was $21.1 million, down 7 percent from a year ago.

Operating margin for USCIS was 34.6 percent in the third quarter of 2009, down from 35.2 percent in the second quarter of 2009. Third quarter 2008 operating margin was 38.2 percent.

International

Total revenue was $114.9 million in the third quarter of 2009, a 9 percent increase over the second quarter of 2009, but a 13 percent decrease from the third quarter of 2008. In local currency, revenue was up 4 percent when compared to the second quarter of 2009, but down 4 percent when compared to the same period in the prior year.

Latin America revenue was $52.3 million, down 2 percent in local currency and down 12 percent in U.S. dollars from a year ago.

Europe revenue was $36.5 million, down 8 percent in local currency and down 19 percent in U.S. dollars from a year ago.

Canada Consumer revenue was $26.1 million, down 3 percent in local currency and down 8 percent in U.S. dollars from a year ago.

Operating margin for International was 27.0 percent in the third quarter of 2009, up from 25.3 percent in the second quarter of 2009, but down from 30.0 percent in the third quarter of 2008.

TALX

Total revenue was $83.1 million in the third quarter of 2009, a 13 percent increase over the third quarter of 2008.

The Work Number revenue was $37.0 million, up 13 percent from a year ago.

Tax and Talent Management Services revenue was $46.1 million, also up 13 percent from a year ago.

Operating margin for TALX was 21.4 percent in the third quarter of 2009, up from 16.1 percent in the third quarter of 2008.

North America Personal Solutions

Total revenue was $37.1 million, a 1 percent decrease from the second quarter of 2009 and a 9 percent decrease from the third quarter of 2008. Operating margin was 27.3 percent, up from 21.5 percent in the second quarter of 2009, but down from 29.8 percent in the third quarter of 2008.

North America Commercial Solutions

Total revenue was $16.1 million, flat in local currency and up 2 percent in U.S. dollars from the second quarter of 2009. Revenue was down 2 percent in local currency and down 4 percent in U.S. dollars compared to the third quarter of 2008. Operating margin was 17.8 percent, up from 15.4 percent in the second quarter of 2009 and up from 14.8 percent in the third quarter of 2008.

Fourth Quarter 2009 Outlook

Based on the current level of domestic and international business activity and current foreign exchange rates, adjusted EPS for the fourth quarter of 2009 is expected to be between $0.53 and $0.58.

About Equifax www.equifax.com

Equifax empowers businesses and consumers with information they can trust. A global leader in information solutions, employment and income verification and human resources business process outsourcing services, we leverage one of the largest sources of consumer and commercial data, along with advanced analytics and proprietary technology, to create customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.

With a strong heritage of innovation and leadership, Equifax continuously delivers innovative solutions with the highest integrity and reliability. Businesses – large and small – rely on us for consumer and business credit intelligence, portfolio management, fraud detection, decisioning technology, marketing tools, and much more. We empower individual consumers to manage their personal credit information, protect their identity, and maximize their financial well-being.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax Inc. operates in the U.S. and 14 other countries throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Equifax is a member of Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500® Index. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EFX.

Earnings Conference Call and Audio Webcast

In conjunction with this release, Equifax will host a conference call tomorrow, October 22, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT) via a live audio webcast. To access the webcast, go to the Investor Center of our website at www.equifax.com. The discussion will be available via replay at the same site shortly after the conclusion of the webcast. This press release is also available at that website.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This earnings release presents operating income and margin excluding the 2008 third quarter restructuring and asset write-down charges and net income and diluted EPS excluding acquisition-related amortization expense, the 2008 restructuring and asset write-down charges, both net of tax, and the 2008 third quarter income tax benefit. These are important financial measures for Equifax but are not financial measures as defined by GAAP.

These non-GAAP financial measures should be reviewed in conjunction with the relevant GAAP financial measures and are not presented as alternative measures of operating income, operating margin, net income or EPS as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and related notes are presented in the Q&A. This information can also be found under “Investors/GAAP/Non-GAAP Measures” on our website at www.equifax.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Management believes certain statements in this earnings release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. Management does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by Equifax, including restructuring or strategic initiatives (including capital investments or asset acquisitions or dispositions), as well as from developments beyond Equifax’s control, including but not limited to changes in worldwide and U.S. economic conditions that materially impact consumer spending, consumer debt and employment, changes in demand for Equifax's products and services, our ability to develop new products and services, pricing and other competitive pressures, our ability to achieve targeted cost efficiencies, risks relating to illegal third party efforts to access data, risks associated with our ability to complete and integrate acquisitions and other investments, changes in laws and regulations governing our business, including federal or state responses to identity theft concerns, and the outcome of our pending litigation. Certain additional factors are set forth in Equifax’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 under Item 1A, “Risk Factors”, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Additional Investor Information
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Notes to Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to the Comparable GAAP Financial Measures

Restructuring and Asset Write-Down Charges- During the first quarter of 2009, the company recorded an $8.4 million, pretax, ($5.4 million, net of tax) restructuring charge primarily related to severance expense in selling, general and administrative expenses on our Consolidated Statements of Income. During the third quarter of 2008, we recorded restructuring and asset writedown charges of $16.8 million, pretax, ($10.5 million, net of tax). Of this amount, $10.3 million related to severance expense and $4.1 million related to certain contractual costs, including office exit and cancellation fees, both of which were recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses on our Consolidated Statements of Income. The remaining $2.4 million represents software asset write-down charges that were recorded in depreciation and amortization on our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Management believes excluding these charges from certain financial results provides meaningful supplemental information regarding our financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to the same periods in 2008, since charges of such material amounts are not comparable among the periods. This is consistent with how our management reviews and assesses Equifax’s historical performance and is useful when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods.

Income Tax Benefit - During the third quarter of 2008, the applicable statute of limitations related to an uncertain tax position regarding our Brazilian operations expired resulting in the reversal of the related income tax reserves. The reversal of the reserves resulted in the recognition of a $14.6 million income tax benefit. The income tax benefit was recorded in provision for income taxes on our Consolidated Statements of Income. Management believes excluding this income tax benefit from certain financial results provides meaningful supplemental information regarding our financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, since an income tax benefit of such a material amount is not comparable to similar activity in the subsequent periods presented. This is consistent with how our management reviews and assesses Equifax’s historical performance and is useful when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods.

Net income and diluted EPS, adjusted for acquisition-related amortization expense, restructuring and asset write-down charges and income tax benefit -We calculate these financial measures by excluding acquisition-related amortization expense, restructuring and asset write-down charges, all net of tax, and the 2008 income tax benefit from the determination of net income in the calculation of diluted EPS. These financial measures are not prepared in conformity with GAAP. Management believes that these measures are useful because management excludes acquisition-related amortization expense and other items that are not comparable when measuring operating profitability, evaluating performance trends, and setting performance objectives, and it allows investors to evaluate our performance for different periods on a more comparable basis by excluding items that relate to acquisition-related intangible assets and items that impact comparability.

Adjusted operating income and operating margin, excluding restructuring charge - Management believes excluding the 2008 third quarter restructuring and asset write-down charges from the calculation of operating income and margin, on a non-GAAP basis, is useful because management excludes items that are not comparable when measuring operating profitability, evaluating performance trends, and setting performance objectives, and it allows investors to evaluate our performance for different periods on a more comparable basis by excluding items that impact comparability.

Contact Information: Jeff Dodge; Investor Relations; (404) 885-8804; jeff.dodge@equifax.com

Contact Information: Tim Klein; Vice President, Public Relations; (404) 885-8555; tim.klein@equifax.com