D&B Forms Strategic Relationship in France.

SHORT HILLS, N.J. -- D&B (NYSE: DNB):

--Will Strengthen D&B's Competitive Position in Europe and Enhance Global Data Coverage

--GAAP EPS Guidance Raised to Reflect Non-Core Pre-Tax Gain; Non-GAAP EPS Guidance Unchanged

D&B (NYSE: DNB), the leading provider of global business information, tools, and insight, announced today it has signed an agreement to sell its business in France for approximately $32 million to Base D' Informations Legales Holding S.A.S (Bil Holding), a major business information provider to the French market.

The sale is part of a strategic relationship whereby Bil Holding will own the business and distribute D&B branded products and solutions in France. In addition, D&B will receive access to Bil Holding's database on French businesses for international use, providing enhanced coverage for D&B's customers globally. As part of this agreement, Bil Holding will make targeted investments to enhance the depth and richness of the French business database. D&B will provide technical support for the businesses purchased by Bil Holding under a multi-year services agreement. The business has approximately 170 employees, almost all of whom will remain with the business that is being acquired by Bil Holding.

"D&B continues to execute on its international strategy. This approach, which results in either the direct ownership of the business or the formation of strategic relationships, has been successful in strengthening the D&B brand in Europe, enhancing our DUNSRight(TM) value proposition for customers, and improving our overall financial performance," said Allan Z. Loren, D&B chairman and chief executive officer.

In 2003, D&B's French business generated approximately $38 million in revenue and contributed positively to the region's profitability.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2004. D&B expects to record a non-core pre-tax gain of approximately $11 million in the 2004 fourth quarter. As a result, the Company has increased its GAAP earnings guidance and currently expects its 2004 diluted earnings per share, on a GAAP basis, to be between $2.81 to $2.91 per share, compared with the previous guidance of $2.77 to $2.87 per share. The transaction is expected to have no impact on the Company's prior non-GAAP earnings guidance (before non-core gains and charges). The proceeds expected from this transaction may change based on the percentage variation of core revenue of the French business for specified periods; variation in the actual value of the equity in the French business as of September 30, 2004; actual value of the cash and receivables in the French business as of September 30, 2004 and fluctuations from foreign exchange rates.

About D&B

D&B (NYSE: DNB), the leading provider of global business information, tools, and insight, has enabled customers to Decide with Confidence for over 160 years. D&B's proprietary DUNSRight (TM) quality process provides customers with quality information whenever and wherever they need it. This quality information is the foundation of D&B's solutions that customers rely on to make critical business decisions. Customers use D&B Risk Management Solutions to mitigate risk, increase cash flow and drive increased profitability, D&B Sales & Marketing Solutions to increase revenue from new and existing customers, and D&B Supply Management Solutions to identify purchasing savings, manage risk and ensure compliance within the supply base. D&B's E-Business Solutions help customers convert prospects to clients faster. For more information, please visit www.dnb.com.

About Fininfo:

Fininfo (www.fininfo.fr) is an international supplier of financial news services to financial institutions and business, present in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium and Morocco. With a staff of about 900, consolidated turnover for 2003 of 137 million euros and 2003 net income of 18.6 million euros (before consolidated goodwill), Fininfo is expanding in three domains: financial news, business information and the financial internet.

BIL is a 100% subsidiary of Fininfo, developing the domain of business information. Founded in 1987, BIL was acquired by Fininfo in 1997. With a staff of 130 and a turnover for 2003 of 19 million euros, BIL supplies legal information and business reports to public bodies, banks and insurance companies and large private companies.

Fininfo is listed on the Euronext Second Market (Isin code: FR0000039075).

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains projections of future results and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of trends, risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements.

Risks, uncertainties and assumptions concerning the strategic relationship in the French market include the possibility that the closing conditions contained in the agreement will not be satisfied, or that the net proceeds we will receive, in connection with this transaction, or the pre-tax gain we will recognize, will vary based upon the percentage variation in the core revenue of the French business for specified periods; the actual value of the equity of the French business as of September 30, 2004; and the actual value of the cash and receivables of the French business as of September 30, 2004; or that the strategic relationship will not provide the expected results.

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 Company's results are also dependent upon its continued ability to:

--reallocate expenses to invest for growth through its financial flexibility program;

--invest in its database and maintain its reputation for providing reliable data;

--execute on its plan to improve the business model of its International segment and thereby improve its global data quality while realizing improved financial performance in that segment;

--rely on its customers' belief in the value of the DUNSRight(TM) quality process as a key driver of revenue growth;

--manage employee satisfaction and maintain its global expertise as it implements its financial flexibility program;

--protect against damage or interruptions affecting its database or its data centers; and

--develop new products or enhance existing ones to meet customer needs.

The Company is also subject to the effects of foreign economies, exchange rate fluctuations and U.S. and foreign legislative or regulatory requirements. Its results are also dependent upon the availability of data from its database and the ability of its strategic partners to fulfill their contractual obligations to satisfy the Company's customers and promote and protect the D&B brand. In addition, the Company's ability to repurchase shares is subject to market conditions, including trading volume in the Company's stock. Developments in any of these areas could cause actual results to differ materially from those that have been or may be projected.

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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, including the section entitled "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A")," and the subsection entitled "Trends, Risks and Uncertainties" in the MD&A. Copies of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K 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 to update any forward-looking statements.