Experian Considers Initial Public Offering

Credit data giant Experian Corp. said it may go public soon with a $250-million stock offering--equal to about 23% of the $1.1-billion price placed on the company when it broke away last month from its former parent, TRW Inc. In a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Experian said it would use proceeds from the offering to repay a $248.7-million loan from its main financial backers, Boston investment firms Bain Capital Inc. and Thomas H. Lee Co. But the company is also exploring other means of raising the cash, including a bond or debenture offering. The company’s S-1 filing with the SEC did not state an offering price or the number of shares to be sold. It said that information will be filed later.