Great Universal Stores Plc

Credit reporting giant Experian Corp. has been acquired by a major British retailing and financial services conglomerate for $1.7 billion in a deal that creates one of the world's largest consumer credit data companies. The all-cash deal, which closed just before midnight Wednesday PST, also puts nearly $700 million in the pockets of a private investment group that bought Experian for $1.01 billion from Cleveland-based TRW Inc. just two months ago. The purchase by Great Universal Stores Plc.

Great Universal Stores PLC said Monday that it completed its $845-million tender for Metromail Corp. and will fold the Illinois-based direct-mail company into its Experian information services. The deal is not expected to affect employment at Experian's headquarters in Orange. Experian officials said the Metromail purchase is a means of amplifying the company's already sizable presence in the direct marketing business.

Credit information giant Experian Inc. has signed a memo of intent to acquire the credit card and check processing unit of French banking industry leader Societe General for $110 million. Completion of the deal is expected later this month. In addition to processing financial instruments, the 1,400 employee SG2 unit compiles and markets consumer and business information databases. Experian, a subsidiary of Great Universal Stores PLC in Great Britain, maintains its U.S. headquarters in Orange.

British home shopping company Great Universal Stores agreed to buy U.S.-based mail-order company Metromail Corp. for $831 million. Promising "substantial" synergies with its other American units, Great Universal Stores, known as GUS, said it would pay $31.50 a share for the outstanding stock of Metromail and assume its debt. Metromail had sales of $328 million last year. GUS' other U.S.

Great Universal Stores PLC said Monday that it completed its $845-million tender for Metromail Corp. and will fold the Illinois-based direct-mail company into its Experian information services. The deal is not expected to affect employment at Experian's headquarters in Orange. Experian officials said the Metromail purchase is a means of amplifying the company's already sizable presence in the direct marketing business.

Not bad for a few months' work. The investment group led by Boston financiers W. Mitt Romney and Thomas H. Lee that bought TRW's information services unit less than two months ago and sold it Thursday made a profit of nearly $12 million a day on the deal. Romney's Bain Capital Inc. and Lee's Thomas H. Lee Co. cleared a profit of $200 million each on the sale, after paying off their investment partners and bank loans related to the purchase. The investment group paid $1.

British home shopping company Great Universal Stores agreed to buy U.S.-based mail-order company Metromail Corp. for $831 million. Promising "substantial" synergies with its other American units, Great Universal Stores, known as GUS, said it would pay $31.50 a share for the outstanding stock of Metromail and assume its debt. Metromail had sales of $328 million last year. GUS' other U.S.

The purchase of Experian Corp. by British retail and financial services giant Great Universal Stores has raised new questions about the sanctity and security of the millions of personal and business credit files that Orange-based Experian maintains in the U.S. Just five years ago, the entire credit reporting industry was embroiled in controversy over inaccurate data and loose controls over how information was disseminated and who got it.

Orange-based Experian, a direct marketing and credit reporting firm, said Tuesday that it has acquired a 19.9% interest in Internet marketer Intellipost. In exchange for the investment, Experian gave San Francisco-based Intellipost its "rewards" program, which gives incentives to consumers who visit and use services on particular Web sites. Further financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

* Great Universal Stores PLC said Friday that it plans to acquire an Illinois direct marketing firm in a deal valued at $831 million and merge it into Great Universal's Experian information company in Orange. Great Universal said Friday it agreed to buy Metromail Corp., of Lombard, and began a tender offer for its stock at $31.50 a share. Terms include assumption of debt. Metromail also operates a large mail service and publishes local business directories.

Credit information giant Experian Inc. has signed a memo of intent to acquire the credit card and check processing unit of French banking industry leader Societe General for $110 million. Completion of the deal is expected later this month. In addition to processing financial instruments, the 1,400 employee SG2 unit compiles and markets consumer and business information databases. Experian, a subsidiary of Great Universal Stores PLC in Great Britain, maintains its U.S. headquarters in Orange.

The purchase of Experian Corp. by British retail and financial services giant Great Universal Stores has raised new questions about the sanctity and security of the millions of personal and business credit files that Orange-based Experian maintains in the U.S. Just five years ago, the entire credit reporting industry was embroiled in controversy over inaccurate data and loose controls over how information was disseminated and who got it.

Credit reporting giant Experian Corp. has been acquired by a major British retailing and financial services conglomerate in a $1.7-billion deal that creates one of the world's largest consumer credit data companies. The all-cash deal, which closed just before midnight, also puts nearly $700 million in the pockets of a private investment group that bought Experian for $1.01 billion from Cleveland-based TRW Inc. just two months ago.

Not bad for a few months' work. The investment group led by Boston financiers W. Mitt Romney and Thomas H. Lee that bought TRW's information services unit less than two months ago and sold it Thursday made a profit of nearly $12 million a day on the deal. Romney's Bain Capital Inc. and Lee's Thomas H. Lee Co. cleared a profit of $200 million each on the sale, after paying off their investment partners and bank loans related to the purchase. The investment group paid $1.

A New Jersey consumer data firm claims that credit bureau giant Experian Inc. is reselling proprietary information in violation of an agreement and is asking a federal judge to stop the alleged abuse. The complaint was filed in federal court in Newark by Database America Companies Inc.