Experian 2011 Annual Report Download - page 60

Experian Annual Report 2011
58
Directors’ report
Substantial shareholdings
Date of notificationShareholder
Direct/indirect
interest
Number of
ordinary shares /
voting rights
Percentage of
issued
share capital/
voting rights
14 October 2009 Legal & General Group plc Direct 40,756,800 3.97%
4 March 2010 Artisan Partners Limited Partnership Indirect 51,639,960 5.03%
The directors present their report and
the audited financial statements for the
year ended 31 March 2011. The corporate
governance statement which follows forms
part of this report.
Principal activities
and business review
Experian provides data and analytical tools
to organisations in North America, Latin
America, UK and Ireland, EMEA and Asia
Pacific. Clients use these to manage credit
risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers
and automate decision making. Experian
also helps individuals to manage their
credit relationships and protect against
identity theft. Activities in the regions
in which Experian operates are grouped
into four business lines: Credit Services,
Decision Analytics, Marketing Services and
Interactive.
The introduction and business review
sections are incorporated into this report
by reference. They contain details of the
development and performance of the
Group’s businesses during the year, an
indication of the key performance indicators
and information regarding principal risks
and uncertainties, together with information
equivalent to that required for a business
review.
Research and development
Research and development plays a key role
in supporting Experian’s activities. Details
of such activities are given in the business
review section.
Results and dividends
The Group income statement shows a profit
for the financial year ended 31 March 2011
of US$623m (2010: US$636m). The directors
have announced the payment of a second
interim dividend in lieu of a final dividend
of 19 US cents per ordinary share (2010:
16 US cents) to be paid on 22 July 2011 to
shareholders on the register of members on
24 June 2011. An interim dividend of
9 US cents per ordinary share was paid on
28 January 2011 giving a total dividend for
the year of 28 US cents per ordinary share
(2010: 23 US cents).
Directors
The names and biographical details of the
directors at the date of this report are shown
on the immediately preceding pages. Judith
Sprieser and Paul Walker were appointed as
directors of the Company on 1 June 2010.
Particulars of directors’ remuneration,
service contracts and interests in the
ordinary shares of the Company are shown
in the report on directors’ remuneration.
There have been no changes in the
directors’ interests in such ordinary shares
between the end of the financial year and
17 May 2011.
In accordance with the new UK Corporate
Governance Code, all directors will retire
at the annual general meeting in July 2011
and, being eligible, will offer themselves
for re-election. An external evaluation of
Board performance and the performance of
individual directors, as well as an evaluation
of the performance of the principal Board
committees, was carried out during the
year ended 31 March 2011 and the Board
is satisfied that all directors contribute
effectively and demonstrate commitment
to their roles. Further details regarding the
evaluation process are contained in the
corporate governance statement.
Insurance and third party
indemnification
During the year and up to the date of
approval of this annual report, the Company
maintained liability insurance and third
party indemnification provisions for its
directors.
Acquisitions
Information in respect of acquisitions
made during the year are contained in the
business review and in note 40 to the Group
financial statements.
Post balance sheet events
Details of events occurring after the end of
the reporting period are contained in note 46
to the Group financial statements.
Share capital
Details of the authorised and issued share
capital of the Company and changes to the
Company’s share capital during the year
ended 31 March 2011 are set out in note O to
the parent company financial statements.
The rights and obligations attaching to the
ordinary and deferred shares are also set
out in note O and the articles of association
of the Company, a copy of which can be
obtained from the Experian website at
www.experianplc.com.
Substantial shareholdings
Substantial shareholders are required to
notify their interests in accordance with the
Company’s articles of association, which
obliges shareholders to comply with the
notification obligations to the Company
contained in the UK Disclosure and
Transparency Rules. As at 17 May 2011, the
Company had been notified of the interests
below in its issued ordinary share capital or
voting rights.
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