Global markets present Equifax with an opportunity to leverage the same technologies, analytics and other products that we have successfully deployed in the United States. These customers have the same information needs as our U.S. customers — to make real-time decisions about their own customers in order to mitigate risk and optimize growth. Today, we are helping customers do so in Europe and Latin America, as well as Canada.

While the dynamics and growth potential of each country differ, all share common characteristics: leveraging of information, analytics, marketing services and enabling technologies. In Brazil, for instance, we have deployed the same strategy used by our North American counterparts to help customers pre-approve loans in order to generate new sales. Throughout Latin America, marketing products have grown from 5 percent to over 9 percent of our revenue mix in just one year. Also, in Latin America, we offer our customers unique data, introduce new products, utilize indirect distribution channels to penetrate new markets and offer value-added solutions to gain pricing strength. In Europe, where the economy has rebounded, our business is once again growing top-line revenue — up 8 percent in 2006 — while maintaining the excellent level of margin control achieved in recent years. In Canada, we will continue to grow and diversify our revenue, expanding into new vertical markets where businesses can use the same decisioning solutions historically used by our financial institution customers.

In Europe, similar strategies are in play. Customers want more options and more choices for information solutions that can help them make better decisions. As businesses look to new partners, this is an opportunity for Equifax to gain market share. We also are expanding our presence in the commercial space through new products and a focus on the small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Because our international business has a diverse focus, it will benefit greatly from the organizational transformations that have occurred over the past six months. Our global Centers of Excellence are providing every business — from Portugal to Peru — with corporate partners and support to propel new growth within our various geographies.