Equifax (EFX) Risk Factor Changes

A downgrade in our credit ratings would increase the cost of borrowings under our commercial paper program and $1.5 billion revolving credit facility, and could limit or, in the case of a significant downgrade, preclu…

In addition, it is difficult to monitor compliance with, and enforce, our intellectual property rights on a worldwide basis in a cost-effective manner.

Our success increasingly depends on our proprietary technology and its ability to differentiate us from our competitors.

We are regularly involved in claims, suits, government investigations, enforcement actions and regulatory proceedings arising from the ordinary course of our business, including actions with respect to consumer protec…

Any failure by us to comply with, or remedy any violations of, applicable laws and regulations could result in new costs for our operations, the curtailment of certain of our operations, the imposition of fines and pe…

In addition, there are laws and legislative proposals in the U.S.

We and our customers are subject to various current laws and governmental regulations, and could be affected by new and evolving laws and regulations, including those related to consumer privacy and protection, cybers…

As part of the Consumer Settlement, we agreed to implement certain business practice commitments related to consumer assistance and our information security program, including third party assessments of our program.

We earn revenue, pay expenses, own assets and incur liabilities in countries using currencies other than the U.S.

•data privacy, consumer protection and artificial intelligence laws and regulations;

We have outsourced various components of our application development, information technology, operational support and administrative functions and will continue to evaluate additional outsourcing.

Data accuracy is an essential component of data quality and is the foundation of our business model.

Over the past several years, regulators, investors, customers, employees and other stakeholders have focused on various sustainability-related matters, including environmental, social and governance ("ESG") matters, b…

Our reputation and/or business could be negatively impacted by stakeholder responses to our responsible business priorities and commitments and our reporting of such matters.

We face various risks related to health epidemics, pandemics and similar outbreaks.

Furthermore, our government contracts are funded through federal and state budgeting processes, which may be subject to political, tax revenue and other external factors.

We derive a meaningful portion of our revenue from direct and indirect sales to U.S.

Despite our past experience, opportunities to grow our business through acquisitions, joint ventures and other alliances may not be available to us in the future.

Public or commercial sources of free or relatively inexpensive consumer credit, credit score and other information have become increasingly available, including sources that utilize artificial intelligence or machine…

We continuously invest in new technologies.

We use artificial intelligence and machine learning models in the development of some of our products and artificial intelligence systems to support the deployment of new applications and to improve the efficiency of…

We generally sell our products and services in industries that are characterized by rapid technological changes, including the introduction of new innovative technologies and analytical capabilities, frequent new prod…

We have long-standing relationships with a number of our customers and business partners, many of whom could unilaterally terminate their relationship with us or materially reduce the amount of business they conduct w…

We also license our information to competing firms, and license information from certain of our competitors, in order to sell “tri-bureau” and other products, most notably into the U.S.

The size of our competitors varies across market segments, as do the resources we have allocated to the segments we target.

Our markets are highly competitive.

We rely extensively on data from external sources to maintain proprietary and non-proprietary databases, including data received from customers, licensors, furnishers, strategic partners, consumers, and various govern…

The loss of access to credit, employment, financial and other data or intellectual property from external sources could harm our ability to provide our products and services.

We are in the final stages of migrating the vast majority of our applications and systems infrastructure from legacy on-premises systems to cloud-based solutions hosted by third parties.

The techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service or sabotage systems are constantly evolving and often are not recognized until launched against a target, or even some time after.

new debt.

or requiring a change in our business practices, products or technologies, which could in the future materially and adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Any failure by us to comply with, or remedy any violations of, applicable laws and regulations could result in new costs for our operations, the curtailment of certain of our operations, the imposition of fines and pe…

There are laws and regulatory requirements in the U.S.

and new business practice commitments, which, depending on the amount and type, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

Public or commercial sources of free or relatively inexpensive consumer credit, credit score and other information have become increasingly available, including sources that utilize artificial intelligence or machine…

intellectual property rights.

artificial intelligence and additional countries and U.S.

There are laws and regulatory requirements in the U.S.

The establishment of tariffs, changes in tax policy or other restrictions on commerce or business operations by the U.S.

portion of the adverse financial effects of unfavorable movements in foreign exchange rates over the limited time the hedges are in place.

and business, as well as our reputation, could suffer or we could incur liability through the violation of laws, third-party privacy or other rights, or contracts to which we are a party.

There is no guarantee that we will be able to retain or renew existing agreements, maintain relationships with any of our customers or business partners on acceptable terms or at all, or collect amounts owed to us fro…

In addition, a significant portion of our revenue is derived from products and services that incorporate intellectual property licensed from key business partners.

this information and/or regulatory changes that impact the use of the tri-bureau credit report in the U.S.

We operate in a number of geographic, product and service markets that are highly competitive.

We remain in a period of economic uncertainty in the U.S.

decreased revenue, net income and earnings per share and reputational loss.