Experian to Buy Consumer Data Specialist 192business

Global information services giant Experian is to acquire UK consumer data specialist 192business Limited, subject to approval by the Office of Fair Trading. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the acquisition will be funded from Experian's existing cash resources.

London-based 192business (formerly i-CD Publishing), which is the firm behind the www.192.com directory enquiry site, provides services to help organisations verify and manage the identity of their customers online. More than 1,000 organisations use the firm's ID checking technologies to prevent fraud, money laundering and ID theft, or to track down lost customers, detect underage consumers, and screen employee backgrounds.

Experian says the buy will enable it to expand the range of identity verification and fraud prevention products and services provided by its own Decision Analytics division.

192business, which reported revenue from continuing operations of £7.07m (US$11m) in the year to 31 March 2011, will be acquired from its founding shareholder Alastair Crawford (pictured), senior employees and private investors.

Web sites: www.experianplc.com and www.192business.com .