D&B Acquires First Research, the Leading Internet Provider of Editorial-Based Industry Insight.* Enhances Hoover's offering with deeper industry-specific content * Confirms no impact on D&B's 2007 financial guidance SHORT HILLS, N.J. -- D&B (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :DNB DNB Dictionary of National Biography DNB Drum N Bass (music) DNB De Nederlandsche Bank DNB Dun & Bradstreet (stock symbol) DNB Den Norske Bank DNB David Nelson Band ) today announced that it has acquired First Research for $22.5 million, with an earn-out potential of up to $4 million based on financial performance. The acquisition is being funded with cash on hand. First Research, based in Raleigh, North Carolina For other uses of this name, see Raleigh. Raleigh (IPA: /ˈrɑli/, ral-ee) is the capital of the State of North Carolina and the county seat of Wake County. , is the leading Internet provider Internet provider - Internet Service Provider of editorial-based industry insight, specifically tailored toward sales professionals. Through this acquisition, D&B is able to enhance its Hoover's offering with deeper industry-specific content, providing sales professionals with higher quality data and more comprehensive insight. "Our acquisition of First Research is another step in executing against our strategic growth plan for the future," said Steve Alesio, D&B's chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "The acquisition supports our Internet strategy of growing Hoover's by better meeting the need for commercial insight among sales professionals. In addition, it supports our commitment to delivering profitable revenue growth over time." First Research generated 2006 revenue of $6.5 million, which represented 29% growth over the prior year. Due to purchase accounting rules, and specifically the treatment of deferred revenue, D&B does not expect the First Research acquisition to have a material impact on its 2007 revenue performance. First Research is expected to be $0.04 dilutive to earnings in 2007, neutral to earnings in 2008, and accretive in 2009. D&B confirmed that the acquisition will not have an impact on its 2007 financial guidance. About D&B D&B (NYSE:DNB) is the world's leading source of commercial information and insight, enabling companies to Decide with Confidence[R] for 165 years. D&B's global commercial database contains more than 110 million business records. The database is enhanced by D&B's proprietary DUNSRight[R] Quality Process, which transforms the enormous amount of data D&B collects daily into decision-ready insight. Through the D&B Worldwide Network - an unrivaled alliance of D&B and leading business information providers around the world - customers gain access to the world's largest and highest quality global commercial business information database. D&B's customers are many of the world's largest and most successful enterprises as well as mid-size companies and entrepreneurial start-ups. Customers use D&B Risk Management Solutions(TM) to mitigate credit risk, increase cash flow and drive increased profitability; D&B Sales & Marketing Solutions(TM) to increase revenue from new and existing customers; D&B E-Business Solutions(TM) to convert prospects into clients faster by enabling business professionals to research companies, executives and industries; and D&B Supply Management Solutions(TM) to generate ongoing savings through supplier consolidation, and to protect their businesses from supply chain disruption and serious financial, operational and regulatory risk. For more information, please visit www.dnb.com. Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements This press release contains projections of future results and other forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. that involve a number of trends, risks and uncertainties, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. The following important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. * D&B relies significantly on third parties to support critical components of its business model in a continuous and high-quality manner, including third-party data providers, strategic partners in its Worldwide Network, and outsourcing (1) Contracting with outside consultants, software houses or service bureaus to perform systems analysis, programming and datacenter operations. Contrast with insourcing. See netsourcing, ASP, SSP and facilities management. partners. * Demand for D&B's products is subject to intense competition, changes in customer preferences and, to a lesser extent, economic conditions which impact customer behavior. * The profitability of D&B's International segment depends on its ability to identify and execute on various initiatives, such as the implementation of subscription plan pricing and successfully managing its Worldwide Network, and to identify and contend with various challenges present in foreign markets, such as local competition and the availability of public records at no cost. * D&B's ability to renew large contracts, the related revenue recognition and the timing thereof may impact its results of operations from period to period. * D&B's results are subject to the effects of foreign economies, exchange rate fluctuations, legislative or regulatory requirements Regulatory requirements are part of the process of drug discovery and drug development. Regulatory requirements describe what is necessary for a new drug to be approved for marketing in any particular country. , such as the adoption of new or changes in accounting policies and practices, including pronouncements by the Financial Accounting Standards Board Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Board composed of independent members who create and interpret Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). or other standard-setting bodies, and the implementation or modification of fees or taxes that we must pay to acquire, use, and/or redistribute re·dis·trib·ute tr.v. re·dis·trib·ut·ed, re·dis·trib·ut·ing, re·dis·trib·utes To distribute again in a different way; reallocate. data. In particular, D&B's results have been, and may continue to be, significantly impacted by legislative changes affecting the fees charged by the Italian government to acquire and/or re-use data. * D&B's solutions and brand image are dependent upon the integrity of its global database and the continued availability thereof through the Internet and by other means, as well as our ability to protect key assets, such as data center capacity. * D&B is involved in various tax matters and legal proceedings All actions that are authorized or sanctioned by law and instituted in a court or a tribunal for the acquisition of rights or the enforcement of remedies. , the outcomes of which are unknown and uncertain with respect to the impact on D&B's cash flow and profitability. See the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. and notes to the financial statements Notes to the financial statements A detailed set of notes immediately following the financial statements in an annual report that explain and expand on the information in the financial statements. included therewith there·with adv. 1. With that, this, or it. 2. In addition to that. 3. Archaic Immediately thereafter. Adv. 1. , for a more detailed description of these matters. * D&B's ability to successfully implement its Blueprint for Growth Strategy requires that it successfully reduce its expense base through its Financial Flexibility initiatives, and reallocate Verb 1. reallocate - allocate, distribute, or apportion anew; "Congressional seats are reapportioned on the basis of census data" reapportion allocate, apportion - distribute according to a plan or set apart for a special purpose; "I am allocating a loaf of certain of the expense base reductions into initiatives that produce desired revenue growth. * D&B's future success requires that it attract and retain qualified personnel in regions throughout the world. * D&B's ability to repurchase shares is subject to market conditions, including trading volume Trading volume The number of shares transacted every day. As there is a seller for every buyer, one can think of the trading volume as half of the number of shares transacted. That is, if A sells 100 shares to B, the volume is 100 shares. in its stock, and its ability to repurchase securities in accordance with applicable securities laws. * D&B's ability to acquire and successfully integrate other complementary businesses, products and technologies into its existing business, without significant disruption to its existing business or to its financial results. * D&B's projection for free cash flow in 2007 is dependent upon its ability to generate revenue, its collection processes, customer payment patterns, the timing and volume of stock option exercises, the amount and timing of payments related to the tax and other matters and legal proceedings in which it is involved, as referenced above and as more fully described in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and notes to the financial statements included therewith. For a more detailed discussion of the trends, risks and uncertainties that may affect D&B's operating and financial results and its ability to achieve the financial objectives discussed in this press release, readers should review the Company's most recent filings with the SEC, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q are available on its Web site at www.dnb.com and on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. D&B cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not complete and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. |
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