- Good revenue, profit and cash performance against a backdrop of difficult market conditions.
- Total revenue growth of 18% at actual exchange rates to US$4.1bn. Revenue from continuing activities up 14% at constant exchange rates to US$4.1bn. Organic revenue growth of 4%.
- Total EBIT growth of 15% at actual exchange rates to US$945m. Continuing EBIT up 13% at constant exchange rates.
- EBIT margin of 21.8% from continuing activities, excluding FARES contribution, in line with prior year (2007: 21.9%) during period of investment.
- Profit before tax of US$549m. Benchmark profit before tax of US$819m.
- Basic EPS of 43.3 US cents. Benchmark EPS of 60.3 US cents.
- Swift action to improve efficiency and reduce costs, with annualised cost savings target raised to US$110m from US$80m.
- Strong contribution from strategically important expansion into Brazil via Serasa, on plan for revenue, ahead on EBIT.
- Excellent cash conversion of 95%.
- Net debt of US$2.7bn after funding acquisitions of US$1.7bn, mainly Serasa and Hitwise.
- Second dividend of 12.0 US cents per share, to give full year dividend of 18.5 US cents per share, up 9%.
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