DUN & BRADSTREET REPORTS ON TARGET PRO FORMA FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS; Combined Pro Forma EPS for Three New Companies Increases by 14.6 Percent

Business Wire, April 17, 1996

WILTON, CONN.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 1996--Dun & Bradstreet, which announced plans in January to split into three public corporations, today posted first-quarter combined pro forma earnings of 55 cents a share, up 14.6 percent from 48 cents a share a year ago, for Cognizant Corporation, the 'new' D&B and ACNielsen. Today's Dun & Bradstreet reported consolidated quarterly earnings of 52 cents a share, unchanged from a year ago, excluding a 12-cents-a-share one-time gain in the first quarter of 1995.

"Significant incremental EPS is clearly being delivered by our strategy to split into three corporations," said Robert E. Weissman, chairman and CEO of Dun & Bradstreet. "The financial performance of the new companies is a compelling proof statement of unlocked value."

"Further, we are on target to achieve our 1996 pro forma growth forecasts," continued Weissman. "Cognizant is performing as an exciting high-growth investment, the 'new' D&B is producing good results, and ACNielsen's turnaround strategy is yielding encouraging improvements. Solid operations performance, based on sound business fundamentals, generated our first-quarter earnings." -0-