Introduction
Group overview
The year under review has seen further major steps in the transformation of GUS, with significant disposals, acquisitions and organic investment.In March 2006, the Board of GUS announced plans for the demerger of our two remaining businesses, Argos Retail Group and Experian.This will enable all our existing shareholders to continue to benefit directly from an investment in both these attractive businesses.
Argos Retail Group
General merchandise and home enhancement retailing
Argos Retail Group (ARG) is the UK’s leading nonfood, non-clothing retailer. With its combination of major retail brands it delivers choice, value and convenience through integrated channels of stores, catalogues, websites and home delivery options. ARG incorporates:
- Argos - the UK’s most successful general
merchandise retailer
- Homebase - one of the UK’s leading home enhancement
companies
- ARG Financial Services - providing consumer financial services, including the Argos and Homebase store cards
ARG leads its markets by leveraging its size and strength to improve purchasing scale, to share services and to provide multi-channel capability across the business.
ARG employs 48,000 people in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and the Far East.
Experian
Information solutions
Experian has a comprehensive understanding of individuals and markets and helps organisations to develop and manage customer relationships by providing information, analysis, decision management solutions and processing services.
Experian also helps consumers by enabling them to understand, manage and protect their personal information, and by providing valuable information to enable them to make more informed financial decisions and purchases.
Experian is a strategic partner for clients across diverse industries, including financial services, telecommunications, insurance, retail and catalogue, automotive, utilities, e-commerce and government. It has a broader geographic reach and range of services than any similar company in its sector.
The company employs 12,600 people in 28 countries supporting clients in more than 60 countries. Experian’s operational headquarters are in Nottingham, UK and Costa Mesa, California.
