Equifax (EFX)

COMPETITION

The market for our products and services is highly competitive and is subject to constant change. Our competitors vary widely in size and the nature of the products and services they offer. Sources of competition are numerous and include the following:

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Competition for our consumer information solutions and personal solutions products varies by both application and industry, but generally includes two global consumer credit reporting companies, Experian Group Limited, or Experian, and TransUnion LLC, or TransUnion, both of which offer a range of consumer credit reporting products that are similar to products we offer, as well as a large number of smaller competitors who offer competing products in specialized areas such as fraud prevention, data vendors, providers of automated data processing services, and software companies offering credit modeling rules or analytical development tools. We believe that our products offer our customers an advantage over those of our competitors because of the quality of our data files, which we believe to be superior in terms of depth and accuracy and the differentiated information solutions services and decisioning technology that provides customers greater value. Our competitive strategy is to emphasize customer solutions and quality while remaining competitive on price. Our marketing services products also compete with the foregoing companies and others who offer demographic information products, including Acxiom Corporation, Harte-Hanks, Inc. and infoUSA, Inc. We also compete with Fair Isaac Corporation with respect to our analytical tools.

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Competition for our commercial solutions products primarily includes Experian and The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation and providers of these services in the international markets we serve. We believe our U.S. small business loan information from financial institutions creates a unique database and product for the small business segment of that market.

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Competition for our employment and income verification services includes large employers who serve their own needs through in-house systems to manage verification as well as outsourcers who manage verification services through a call center. Competition for complementary TWN Services includes payroll processors such as Automatic Data Processing, Inc., or ADP, Paychex, Inc. and Ceridian Corporation. Competitors of our Tax Management Services include in-house management of this function primarily by large employers; ADP; and a number of smaller regional firms that offer tax management services (including Barnett Associates, Thomas & Thorngren, UC Advantage). Talent Management Services competitors include assessment service providers that offer proprietary content (Previsor, Inc., Development Dimensions International, Brainbench, Inc.), human resources consulting firms (AON Corporation, Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc., Right Management Consulting) and assessment or test publishers that have proprietary delivery platforms (Devine Group, Inc., Hogan Assessments Systems, Inc., SHL Group plc).

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We believe that none of our competitors offers the same mix of products and services as we do. Certain competitors may have larger shares of particular geographic or product markets or operate in geographic areas where we do not currently have a presence.

We assess the principal competitive factors affecting our markets to include: product attributes such as quality, adaptability, scalability, interoperability, functionality and ease-of-use; product price; technical performance; access to unique proprietary databases; availability in application service provider, or ASP, format; quickness of response, flexibility and customer services and support; the effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts; existing market penetration; new product innovation; and our reputation as a trusted steward of information.

COMPETITION

        The market for our products and services is highly competitive and is subject to constant change. Our competitors vary widely in size and the nature of the products and services they offer. Sources of competition are numerous and include the following:

•

Competition for our consumer information solutions and personal solutions products varies by both application and industry, but generally includes two global consumer credit reporting companies, Experian Group Limited, or Experian, and TransUnion LLC, or TransUnion, both of which offer a range of consumer credit reporting products that are similar to products we offer, as well as a large number of smaller competitors who offer competing products in specialized areas such as fraud prevention, data vendors, providers of automated data processing services, and software companies offering credit modeling rules or analytical development tools. We believe that our products offer our customers an advantage over those of our competitors because of the quality of our data files, which we believe to be superior in terms of depth and accuracy and the differentiated information solutions services and decisioning technology that provides customers greater value. Our competitive strategy is to emphasize product features and quality while remaining competitive on price. Our marketing services products also compete with the foregoing companies and others who offer demographic information products, including

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Acxiom Corporation, or Acxiom, Harte-Hanks, Inc. and infoUSA, Inc. We also compete with Fair Isaac Corporation with respect to our analytical tools.

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Competition for our commercial solutions products primarily includes Experian and The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. We believe our small business loan information from financial institutions creates a unique database and product for the small business segment of that market.



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Competition for our employment and income verification services includes large employers who serve their own needs through in-house systems to manage verification as well as outsourcers who manage verification services through a call center. Competition for complementary TWN Services includes payroll processors such as Automatic Data Processing, Inc., or ADP, Paychex, Inc. and Ceridian Corporation. Competitors of our Tax Management Services include in-house management of this function primarily by large employers; ADP; and a number of smaller regional firms that offer tax management services (Barnett Associates, Thomas & Thorngren, UC Advantage). Talent Management Services competitors include assessment service providers that offer proprietary content (Previsor, Inc., Development Dimensions International, Brainbench, Inc.), human resources consulting firms (AON Corporation, Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc., Right Management Consulting) and assessment or test publishers that have proprietary delivery platforms (Devine Group, Inc., Hogan Assessments Systems, Inc., SHL Group plc).

        We believe that none of our competitors offers the same mix of products and services as we do. Certain competitors may have larger shares of particular geographic or product markets or operate in geographic areas where we do not currently have a presence.

        We assess the principal competitive factors affecting our markets to include: technical performance; access to unique proprietary databases; availability in application service provider (ASP) format; product attributes such as quality, adaptability, scalability, interoperability, functionality and ease-of-use; product price; quickness of response, flexibility and customer services and support; the effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts; existing market penetration; new product innovation; and our reputation as a trusted steward of information.

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Competition

We operate in a number of geographic, product and service markets, which are highly competitive. Our USCIS products primarily compete with the products of two global consumer credit reporting companies, Experian and TransUnion, which offer a range of

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consumer credit reporting products that are similar to products we offer. We believe that our products and services offer customers an advantage over those of our competitors because of the quality of our data files, which we believe to be superior in terms of depth and accuracy. Our competitive strategy is to rely on product features and quality while remaining competitive on price. Experian and The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation are the major competitors for our North America Commercial Solutions products and services, although we believe we have a unique database and product for the small business segment of that market. Our Credit Marketing Services and Direct Marketing Services products and services also compete with these companies and others who offer demographic information products and services, including Acxiom Corporation, Harte-Hanks, Inc. and infoUSA, Inc. We believe these products and services are superior and, in some cases, unique compared to those offered by our competitors at comparable prices. Our North America Personal Solutions products and services compete with similar offerings sold directly by Experian and TransUnion and also with offerings from a number of resellers of consumer credit information sold by Experian, TransUnion and us. We tailor our pricing of North America Personal Solutions products and services to the needs of the market, which can change frequently due to the dynamic nature of the consumer market. We change our pricing periodically to accommodate new product introductions or other market conditions. We also compete with Fair Isaac Corporation, Experian and TransUnion with respect to our analytical tools.

Competition

We operate in a number of geographic, product and service markets, which are highly competitive. Our Information Services products primarily compete with the products of two global consumer credit reporting companies, Experian and TransUnion, which offer a range of consumer credit reporting products that are similar to products we offer. We believe that our products and services offer customers an advantage over those of our competitors because of the quality of our data files, which we believe to be superior in terms of depth and accuracy. Our competitive strategy is to rely on product features and quality while remaining competitive on price. Experian and The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation are the major competitors for our Commercial Services products, although we believe we have a unique database and product for the small business segment of that market. Our Marketing Services products also compete with these companies and others who offer demographic information products and services, including Acxiom Corporation, Harte-Hanks, Inc. and infoUSA, Inc. We believe the Marketing Services products and services are superior and, in some cases, unique compared to those offered by our competitors at comparable prices. Our Personal Solutions products and services compete with similar offerings sold directly by Experian and TransUnion and also with offerings from a number of resellers of consumer credit information sold by Experian, TransUnion and us. We tailor our pricing of Personal Solutions products to the needs of the market, which can change frequently due to the dynamic nature of the consumer market. We change our pricing periodically to accommodate new product introductions or other market conditions. We also compete with Fair Isaac Corporation, Experian and TransUnion with respect to our analytical tools.

We operate in a number of geographic, product and service markets, which are highly competitive. Our Information Services products primarily compete with the products of two global consumer credit reporting companies, Experian and TransUnion, which offer a range of consumer credit reporting products that are similar to products we offer. We believe that our products and services offer customers an advantage over those of our competitors because of the quality of our data files, which we believe to be superior in terms of depth and accuracy. Our competitive strategy is to rely on product features and quality while remaining competitive on price. Experian and Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. are the major competitors for our Commercial Services products, although we believe we have a unique database and product for the small business segment of that market. Our Marketing Services products also compete with these companies and others who offer demographic information products and services, including Acxiom Corporation, Harte-Hanks, Inc. and InfoUSA, Inc. We believe the Marketing Services products and services are superior and, in some cases unique compared to those offered by our competitors at comparable prices. Our Personal Solutions products and services compete with similar offerings sold directly by Experian and TransUnion and also with offerings from a number of resellers of consumer credit information sold by Experian, TransUnion and us. We tailor our pricing of Personal Solutions products to the needs of the market, which can change frequently due to the dynamic nature of the consumer market. We change our pricing periodically to accommodate new product introductions, or other market conditions.

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Competition

We operate in a number of geographic, product and service markets, which are highly competitive. Our Information Services products primarily compete with the products of two global consumer credit reporting companies, Experian Information Solutions, Inc. and TransUnion LLC, which offer a range of consumer credit reporting products that are similar to products we offer. We believe that our products and services offer customers an advantage over those of our competitors’ because of the quality of our data files, which we believe to be superior in terms of depth and accuracy. Our competitive strategy is to rely on product features and quality while remaining competitive on price. Experian and Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. are the major competitors for our Commercial Services products, although we believe we have a unique database and product for the small business segment of that market. Our Marketing Services products also compete with these companies and others who offer demographic information products and services, including Acxiom Corporation, Harte-Hanks, Inc. and InfoUSA, Inc. We believe the Marketing Services’ products and services are superior and, in some cases unique compared to those offered by our competitors at comparable prices. Our Personal Solutions products and services compete with similar offerings sold directly by Experian and TransUnion and also with offerings from a number of resellers of consumer credit information sold by Experian, TransUnion and us. We tailor our pricing of Personal Solutions products to the needs of the market, which can change frequently due to the dynamic nature of the consumer market. We change our pricing periodically to accommodate new product introductions, or other market conditions.

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