Equifax and FICO Join Forces to Offer UK Banking, Insurance and Retail Businesses Game-Changing Risk Management Solutions

LONDON, May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Global information solutions leader Equifax and FICO, the leading provider of predictive analytics and decision management technology, today announced that they have entered into a new partnership for the UK to challenge the status quo in the risk management arena. Building upon a 10-year track record of collaboration in the UK, the two companies are now focused on developing innovative solutions that will help businesses in banking, insurance, retail and other industries accelerate growth while controlling risk and meeting new regulatory requirements.

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Financial services providers today are striving to make sharper lending decisions based on more precise customer assessments; adapt more swiftly in a dynamic economic environment; comply with more stringent regulatory demands; fight new and persistent forms of fraud; and improve the customer experience. The new solutions from Equifax and FICO will address these demands, leveraging FICO's unparalleled predictive analytics and decision management software, Equifax's unmatched data and analytics on UK consumers, and both companies' depth of knowledge and experience in credit scoring. The first joint solution, set to be launched in May, will bring more comprehensive customer data to credit risk analyses, enabling lenders to make more knowledgeable decisions and reduce losses while cross-selling more effectively and building customer loyalty.

Equifax and FICO have been partners in the UK market for over a decade, serving banking clients through innovative product integration. These clients have used Equifax data and scores on the FICO™ TRIAD® Customer Manager and FICO™ Blaze Advisor® platforms, and the FICO origination management platform as part of the Equifax Decision Navigator solution. Both companies serve all the top UK banks, as well as leading insurers and retailers.

"Both Equifax and FICO clients have been telling us that they want the risk management solutions they use to go further in helping them accelerate growth in today's challenging marketplace," explained Shawn Holtzclaw, managing director, Equifax UK. "Equifax and FICO already have a strong working relationship, with a number of shared clients. It made huge sense to create this alliance, delivering innovative solutions that no single company could promise."

"This is the right time for new ideas, and this alliance is a platform for new ideas," added Mike Gordon, vice president and managing director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa for FICO. "UK financial services businesses require broad expertise and innovative solutions in order to accelerate growth. FICO and Equifax are ideally suited to help them develop and execute the game-changing strategies they need to succeed."

"Financial institutions (FIs) want managed growth to balance consumer needs with the FI's growth strategies and risk management policies," said Craig Focardi, senior research director in TowerGroup's Retail Banking & Cards practice. "Integrated vendor solutions help FIs implement new and better systems more quickly, which is especially valuable with sophisticated analytic solutions. These solutions also help FIs evaluate the entire customer relationship and offer the right product at the right time."

Further initiatives from the Equifax and FICO alliance will be launched during the summer and the two companies have established a website on the new alliance at www.efxfico.com to provide clients with more information.

About Equifax (www.equifax.com)

Equifax empowers businesses and consumers with information they can trust. A global leader in information solutions, 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 15 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.

About FICO

FICO (NYSE: FICO) delivers superior predictive analytics solutions that drive smarter decisions. The company's groundbreaking use of mathematics to predict consumer behavior has transformed entire industries and revolutionized the way risk is managed and products are marketed. FICO's innovative solutions include the industry-leading solutions for measuring credit risk, managing credit accounts, identifying and minimizing the impact of fraud, and customizing consumer offers with pinpoint accuracy. Most of the world's top banks, as well as leading insurers, retailers, pharmaceutical companies and government agencies, rely on FICO solutions to accelerate growth, control risk, boost profits and meet regulatory and competitive demands. Learn more at www.fico.com. FICO: Make every decision count™.

Statements Concerning Forward-Looking Information

EQUIFAX

Equifax management believes certain statements in this earnings release that relate to Equifax or its business may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements regarding risk management solutions product performance, customer acceptance of the new products, competitors' products, and the timing of future product launches by the Equifax and FICO risk management solutions partnership in the U.K.  These statements are made on the basis of Equifax management's views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made.  Equifax 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 our ability to develop new products and services as anticipated and to respond to pricing and other competitive pressures, as well as from developments beyond Equifax's control including, but not limited to, changes in U.K. and worldwide economic conditions that materially impact consumer spending, consumer debt and employment and the demand for Equifax's products and services, and changes in U.K. and other laws and regulations governing our business. Certain additional factors are set forth in Equifax's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 under Item 1A, "Risk Factors", and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

FICO

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements contained in this news release that relate to FICO or its business are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the success of the Company's Decision Management strategy and reengineering plan, the maintenance of its existing relationships and ability to create new relationships with customers and key alliance partners, its ability to continue to develop new and enhanced products and services, its ability to recruit and retain key technical and managerial personnel, competition, regulatory changes applicable to the use of consumer credit and other data, the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisitions, continuing material adverse developments in global economic conditions, and other risks described from time to time in FICO's SEC reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2010. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes, FICO's results could differ materially from its expectations. FICO disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

FICO, TRIAD, Blaze Advisor and "Make every decision count" are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and in other countries.

SOURCE Equifax

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