GUS is a retail and business services group. Its activities comprise general merchandise retailing through Argos Retail Group, information and customer relationship management services through Experian and luxury goods through a majority shareholding in Burberry Group plc.

Argos Retail Group
General merchandise retailing

Argos Retail Group (ARG) is the UK's leading multi-brand, multi-channel retailer. It delivers choice, value and convenience through a unique and award-winning combination of stores, catalogues, websites and home delivery options. ARG provides this through its market leading brands:

• Argos - the UK's most successful general merchandise retailer
• Homebase - one of the UK's leading home enhancement companies
• ARG Financial Services - providing financial services, including the Argos and Homebase store cards
• Wehkamp - the largest home shopping catalogue in the Netherlands

ARG leads its markets by leveraging its size and strength to integrate and improve purchasing scale, to share services and to provide multi-channel capability across the business.

ARG employs 46,000 people in the UK, Holland and the Republic of Ireland.

Experian
Information solutions

Experian has an unrivalled understanding of individuals, markets and economies around the world. It helps organisations to develop and manage profitable customer relationships by providing information, analysis, decision management solutions and processing services.

Experian also promotes the financial wellbeing of consumers by helping them to understand and protect their personal information and to manage the financial aspects of key life events.

Experian is a strategic partner to more than 50,000 business clients across diverse industries, including financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, insurance, retail, automotive, manufacturing, leisure, utilities, e-commerce, property and government. The company employs 12,000 people in 28 countries, supporting clients in more than 60 countries. Experian's headquarters are in Nottingham, UK and Costa Mesa, California.

Burberry
International luxury goods

Burberry designs and markets a comprehensive range of luxury clothing and accessories, which appeal to style-conscious consumers around the world.

Burberry products are sold through 157 directlyoperated stores, concessions and outlets, and through partnerships with key retailers in the world's leading economies.

The company employs approximately 4,000 people around the world.

Burberry's principal strengths are its:

• unique history and positioning
• international recognition and broad appeal
• diversified distribution channels
• multiple product and geographic growth opportunities

Lewis Group
South African retailing

Lewis Group is a leading retailer in Southern Africa selling household and electrical goods, mainly on credit, together with associated financial products.

GUS undertook a partial flotation of Lewis Group in October 2004. Its remaining 50% stake was successfully placed in May 2005.