D&B Announces It Will Not Raise Its Offer for Hoover's.

Business Editors

SHORT HILLS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 2003

D&B (NYSE: DNB), the leading provider of global business information and technology solutions, today announced that it will not raise its $7.00 per share offer to acquire Hoover's, despite a higher offer received by Hoover's last week.

"We made a commitment to our shareholders to create value during our transformation into a growth company with an important presence on the Web," said Allan Z. Loren, chairman and chief executive officer of D&B. "We believe Hoover's is a natural fit for D&B. However, we conducted our due diligence in a disciplined manner over many months, and we concluded that to pay more than our most recent offer would not be in the best interests of our shareholders. As a result, we decided we will not raise our offer to acquire Hoover's."

D&B said that it will seek to complete the transaction under the terms of the merger agreement. If the transaction is not completed, D&B will make a further announcement concerning its 2003 guidance.

D&B (NYSE: DNB) provides the information, tools and expertise to help customers Decide with Confidence. D&B enables customers quick access to objective, global information whenever and wherever they need it. Customers use D&B Risk Management Solutions to manage credit exposure, D&B Sales & Marketing Solutions to find profitable customers and D&B Supply Management Solutions to manage suppliers efficiently. D&B's E-Business Solutions are also used to provide Web-based access to trusted business information for current customers as well as new small business and other non-traditional customers. Over 90 percent of the Business Week Global 1000 rely on D&B as a trusted partner to make confident business decisions. For more information, please visit www.dnb.com.