Equifax Invests Further In European Market

ATLANTA, June 18, 1998 -- Equifax today announced it is extending its investment and commitment to the pan-European information market by acquiring the majority shareholding of its Spanish operation, ASNEF-Equifax. The company has increased its ownership to 58 percent, resulting in consolidated revenues of approximately $35 million on an annualized basis.

This latest investment has been made by Equifax to enable a greater commitment to the provision of information solutions for profitable business decision-making throughout Spain and Portugal. It also marks the next stage of Equifax's plans to extend its services throughout Europe.

Thomas F. Chapman, Equifax president and CEO, said, "Equifax is committed to facilitating commerce by extending our knowledge-based information solutions throughout Europe. This latest investment demonstrates our continuing commitment to growth and innovation worldwide."

Equifax entered Spain in 1994 when it joined the Spanish association of banks and finance companies - Asociation Nacional de Entidades de Financiacion (ASNEF) -- to establish a joint venture to provide consumer financial information. In 1995 the company created Portuguese consumer credit information business, CREDINFORMACOES and in July 1997, the Spanish commercial information company, INCRESA, was acquired to complement Equifax's commercial information services for Spain and Portugal.

Serving the financial services, motor finance, retail and communications markets as well as general business and industry, ASNEF-Equifax manages information on more than 38 million individuals in Iberia, as well as providing sophisticated tools for effective consumer risk management, to support profitable consumer lending. Its business information services, featuring performance data on more than half a million Spanish companies, support the selection of the right customers and suppliers in the business-to-business market. ASNEF-Equifax also provides analytical expertise and data resources for consumer and business-to-business marketing in both countries.

Nick Bevan, executive vice president and group executive Equifax Europe, said, "Our investment in ASNEF-Equifax provides us with the facility to develop new services and solutions on the Iberian peninsula, enabling our customers to enhance their performance and profitability."

Managing Director Miguel Rueda remains at the head of the ASNEF-Equifax organization. The ASNEF organization, comprised of Spain's leading banks and finance houses, however, retains control of its members' own data, in order to sustain the principles of reciprocal information sharing which have been at the heart of its operation since its founding. ASNEF will also continue to play a significant and integral role in the development of Equifax's services.

Equifax's worldwide knowledge-based information, transaction processing, consulting and software businesses are designed to bring buyers and sellers together, thus changing the shape of global commerce. Equifax serves the banking, financial, retail, credit card, automotive, telecommunications/utilities, government and health care industries. It is a leading supplier of business information solutions in Canada, the UK and Latin America. Equifax operates in 17 countries with sales in 42 countries. Founded in 1899 in Atlanta, Equifax (NYSE: EFX) today has 10,000 employees around the world. Revenues for the 12 months ended March 31, 1998, were more than $1.4 billion. Visit the company's Internet web site at http://www.equifax.com.