Dun & Bradstreet
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Business intelligence, Commercial data, Analytics |
| Predecessor | R. G. Dun & Company, John M. Bradstreet |
| Founded | July 20, 1841 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Lewis Tappan |
| Headquarters | Jacksonville , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (Americas, Europe, UK, Ireland, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India) |
Key people | Thomas J. Manning (CEO) |
| Products | D&B Hoovers, Master Data, D&B Data Exchange |
| Parent | Clearlake Capital Group (since 2025) |
| Website | www |
Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. (D&B) is a U.S.-based enterprise specializing in commercial data, analytics, and business intelligence solutions. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, the company delivers a range of offerings centered on risk assessment, financial evaluation, supply chain and operational management, sales and marketing optimization, as well as global market research. Its clientele spans government bodies and sectors including communications, technology, financial services, retail, telecommunications, and manufacturing. D&B's vast repository contains more than 500 million business profiles worldwide, underpinning its leadership in business intelligence and market positioning.
19th century
The origins of Dun & Bradstreet trace back to July 20, 1841, when Lewis Tappan founded The Mercantile Agency in New York City. Tappan created this firm to establish a centralized credit reporting network that relied on correspondents to provide dependable credit data to subscribers. By 1844, the agency served over 280 clients and had expanded its offices to Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Upon Tappan’s retirement in 1849, Benjamin Douglass assumed control. In 1859, Robert Graham Dun purchased the company, renamed it R. G. Dun & Company, and over the following forty years broadened its international reach.
20th century
In March 1933, R. G. Dun & Company merged with rival John M. Bradstreet under CEO Arthur Whiteside’s guidance, forming the present-day Dun & Bradstreet. Whiteside’s successor, J. Wilson Newman, advanced the company's portfolio throughout the 1960s by incorporating emerging technologies.
The acquisition of Moody's Corporation occurred in 1962, followed by the launch of the D&B D-U-N-S Number in 1963 to enhance data service capabilities. During this era, Dun & Bradstreet also acquired companies such as R.H. Donnelley, Official Airline Guides, and Technical Publishing; these businesses were subsequently divested.
In 1986, Dun & Bradstreet expanded into educational data by acquiring Market Data Retrieval (MDR). By 1996, it reorganized into three separate entities: Dun & Bradstreet; Nielsen Holdings; and Cognizant Corporation—the latter including Gartner Group and additional subsidiaries—which later became a standalone leader in IT services.
On July 1, 1998, the company split into two firms: one retained the Dun & Bradstreet name while the other became R.H. Donnelley focusing on directory publishing. This division enabled each organization to concentrate on its principal markets and growth strategies.
21st century
In 2000, Moody’s Corporation was spun off from Dun & Bradstreet. The following year saw the acquisition of Harris InfoSource International for data enhancement purposes. In 2003, Dun & Bradstreet further expanded by purchasing business information provider Hoover's. That same year, it restated previous financial statements to correct revenue recognition issues dating from 1997 through 2002.
The company acquired AllBusiness.com in 2007 but divested it in 2012. In August 2010, its credit monitoring division was spun off and sold as Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. Bob Carrigan was appointed CEO in 2013.
To strengthen its data capabilities through acquisitions: NetProspex was acquired in 2015; later that year Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. was integrated to form the Emerging Business segment; and in 2017 Avention was purchased for its OneSource offerings.
Thomas J. Manning assumed CEO duties in August 2018 as Dun & Bradstreet agreed to be acquired by an investor consortium led by CC Capital, Cannae Holdings, and Thomas H. Lee Partners. The transaction finalized in February 2019 took the company private and led to the retirement of its DNB stock ticker.
Dun & Bradstreet returned to public trading on July 1, 2020, relisting on the NYSE under the symbol DNB. In January 2021, it bolstered its international presence by acquiring European analytics firm Bisnode Business Information Group AB (“Bisnode”) for SEK 7.2 billion (approximately US$818 million).
On May 20, 2021, the company announced it would relocate its global headquarters to Jacksonville, Florida—a move reflecting strategic priorities in operational efficiency.
Most recently, on March 24, 2025, Dun & Bradstreet consented to a $4.1 billion cash acquisition by private equity firm Clearlake Capital Group in a deal valued at $7.7 billion including debt—signifying a major shift in its corporate ownership and investment landscape.
Operations
The company derives its income through subscription services, business intelligence reports, licensing of data, strategic alliances, and personalized concierge offerings.
Revenue is divided between the Americas and non-Americas regions. The Americas segment consists of the United States and Canada, following the sale of Latin American operations in September 2016. The non-Americas segment encompasses Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and India. In November 2016, operations in the Netherlands and Belgium were sold. Additionally, Australian and New Zealand operations were divested to Archer Capital in June 2015 for $169.8 million and later rebranded as illion Australia Pty. Ltd. in 2018; debt recovery services were renamed Milton Graham.
Products and services
Dun & Bradstreet provides a diverse portfolio tailored to credit management, risk assessment, marketing, sales enhancement, and analytics. Prominent products include D&B Hoovers, Master Data, and D&B Data Exchange, which equip clients across multiple sectors with data-driven insights to support informed decision-making and foster business expansion.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Dun & Bradstreet
- 1841 establishments in New York (state)
- 2019 mergers and acquisitions
- 2020 initial public offerings
- American companies established in 1841
- Business services companies established in the 19th century
- Business services companies of the United States
- Companies based in Essex County, New Jersey
- Companies based in Jacksonville, Florida
- Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange
- Credit rating agencies
- Data brokers
- Financial services companies established in 1841
- Lewis Tappan
- Millburn, New Jersey
- Multinational companies based in Jacksonville
- Publicly traded companies based in Jacksonville, Florida
- Technology companies based in Florida
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
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