D&B (NYSE:DNB), the leading provider of global business information, tools and commercial insight, today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009.
“Our performance was solid in the second quarter considering the difficult economic environment,” cited Steve Alesio, D&B’s Chairman and CEO. “Our International business continues to perform very well and we expect it will continue to be strong going forward. The current economic conditions continue to impact our customers in North America. As a result, we expect the back half of 2009 to be tougher than we originally anticipated. We are taking appropriate actions to flex our cost base, while also continuing to invest. While the net impact will lower our outlook for 2009, we are still positioning D&B well for 2010 and beyond.”
Second Quarter 2009 Results
Diluted earnings per share before non-core gains and charges for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, were $1.21, up 5 percent from $1.15 in the prior year similar period. On a GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, were $1.43, down from $1.51 in the prior year similar period, due to discrete tax benefits recorded in the prior year quarter.
See attached Schedule 3 for a reconciliation of diluted earnings per share before non-core gains and charges to earnings per share on a GAAP basis, as well as the definitions of the non-GAAP financial measures that the Company uses to evaluate the business.
Core revenue for the second quarter of 2009 was $405.3 million, up 1 percent from the prior year similar period before the effect of foreign exchange (down 2 percent after the effect of foreign exchange).
Core revenue results for the second quarter of 2009 reflect the following by solution set:
- Risk Management Solutions revenue of $264.7 million, up 3 percent before the effect of foreign exchange (down 2 percent after the effect of foreign exchange);
- Sales & Marketing Solutions revenue of $109.5 million, down 1 percent before the effect of foreign exchange (down 3 percent after the effect of foreign exchange); and
- Internet Solutions revenue of $31.1 million, up 1 percent before the effect of foreign exchange (flat after the effect of foreign exchange).
See attached Schedules 4, 5 and 6 for additional detail.
Total revenue for the second quarter of 2009, which included the results of a divested business, was $416.9 million. This result is up 1 percent from the prior year similar period before the effect of foreign exchange (down 3 percent after the effect of foreign exchange).
We have reclassified revenue associated with the domestic portion of our Italian operations as non-core, due to the sale of substantially all of the assets and liabilities associated with that portion of the business (see the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 1, 2009). Total revenue for the second quarter of 2009 included $11.6 million of revenue associated with that portion of the business, compared to $14.2 million of revenue in the same prior year period.
Operating income before non-core gains and charges for the second quarter of 2009 was $112.8 million, up 5 percent from the prior year similar period. On a GAAP basis, operating income was $110.0 million, up 4 percent from the prior year similar period. During the second quarter of 2009, the Company also incurred transition costs of $5.2 million compared with $3.9 million incurred in the prior year similar period.
Net income before non-core gains and charges for the second quarter of 2009 was $64.7 million, up 1 percent from the prior year similar period. On a GAAP basis, net income for the quarter was $76.8 million, down 9 percent from the prior year similar period, primarily due to discrete tax benefits in the same prior year period.
See attached Schedule 3 for additional detail.
Free cash flow for the first six months of 2009, excluding the impact of legacy tax matters, was $192.0 million, compared with $211.6 million in the prior year similar period. The Company defines free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures and additions to computer software and other intangibles. On a GAAP basis, net cash provided by operating activities for the first six months of 2009 was $234.4 million, compared with $262.3 million in the prior year similar period.
See attached Schedule 4 for additional detail.
Share repurchases during the second quarter of 2009 under the Company’s discretionary repurchase program totaled $27.5 million, while repurchases made to offset the dilutive effect of shares issued under employee benefit plans totaled an additional $9.4 million.
The Company ended the quarter with $226.4 million of cash and cash equivalents.
Second Quarter 2009 Segment Results
North America
Core and total revenue for the second quarter of 2009 was $320.3 million, down 3 percent from the prior year similar period both before and after the effect of foreign exchange.
North America core and total revenue results for the second quarter of 2009 reflect the following:
- Risk Management Solutions revenue of $201.0 million, down 1 percent before the effect of foreign exchange (down 2 percent after the effect of foreign exchange);
- Sales & Marketing Solutions revenue of $89.2 million, down 7 percent both before and after the effect of foreign exchange; and
- Internet Solutions revenue of $30.1 million, flat both before and after the effect of foreign exchange.
Operating income for the second quarter of 2009 was $110.1 million, flat from the prior year similar period. The result was primarily due to reengineering savings in the North America segment, offset by lower revenue.
International
Core revenue for the second quarter of 2009 was $85.0 million, up 20 percent from the prior year similar period before the effect of foreign exchange (up 3 percent after the effect of foreign exchange).
International core revenue results for the second quarter of 2009 reflect the following:
- Risk Management Solutions revenue of $63.7 million, up 17 percent before the effect of foreign exchange (down 1 percent after the effect of foreign exchange);
- Sales & Marketing Solutions revenue of $20.3 million, up 31 percent before the effect of foreign exchange (up 18 percent after the effect of foreign exchange); and
- Internet Solutions revenue of $1.0 million, up 33 percent before the effect of foreign exchange (flat after the effect of foreign exchange).
See attached Schedules 4, 5 and 6 for additional detail.
Total revenue for the second quarter of 2009, which included the results of the domestic portion of our Italian operation, was $96.6 million. This result is up 17 percent from the prior year similar period before the effect of foreign exchange (flat after the effect of foreign exchange).
Operating income for the second quarter of 2009 was $22.6 million, up 7 percent from the prior year similar period. The increase was primarily due to revenue growth in the International segment and the benefit of reengineering savings, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign exchange.
Non-Core Gains and Charges
During the second quarter of 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded:
- A net pre-tax, non-core gain of $13.0 million in the second quarter of 2009 and a net pre-tax, non-core charge of $8.6 million in the second quarter of 2008;
- A net after-tax, non-core gain of $12.1 million in the second quarter of 2009 and a net after-tax, non-core gain of $20.2 million in the second quarter of 2008.
See attached Schedule 3 for additional explanations and details of these charges.
D&B’s restructuring charges may be viewed as recurring as they are part of its Financial Flexibility initiatives. In addition to reporting GAAP results, the Company reports results before restructuring charges and other non-core gains and charges because they do not reflect the Company’s underlying business performance and they may have a disproportionate positive or negative impact on the results of its ongoing business operations. For additional information, see the section titled “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
Revised Full Year 2009 Guidance
D&B revised its financial guidance for the full year 2009 as follows:
- Core revenue down 1 percent to up 1 percent, before the effect of foreign exchange, compared with original growth of 2 percent to 5 percent, before the effect of foreign exchange;
- Operating income down 3 percent to up 1 percent, before non-core gains and charges, compared with original growth of 5 percent to 8 percent, before non-core gains and charges;
- Diluted EPS growth of 1 percent to 5 percent before non-core gains and charges, compared with original growth of 9 percent to 12 percent, before non-core gains and charges; and
- Free cash flow of $285 million to $315 million, excluding the impact of legacy tax matters, compared with original guidance of $360 million to $375 million, excluding the impact of legacy tax matters.
D&B does not provide guidance on a GAAP basis because D&B is unable to predict, with reasonable certainty, the future movement of foreign exchange rates or the future impact of non-core gains and charges, such as restructuring charges and legacy tax matters, which are a component of the most comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Non-core gains and charges are uncertain and will depend on several factors, including industry conditions, and could be material to D&B’s results computed in accordance with GAAP.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
D&B reports non-GAAP financial measures in this press release and the schedules attached. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – How We Manage Our Business” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2008, filed February 24, 2009 with the SEC, for a discussion of how the Company defines these measures, why it uses them and why it believes they provide useful information to investors. Additionally, these measures are defined in Schedule 3 attached to this press release.
Second Quarter 2009 Teleconference
As previously announced, D&B will review its second quarter 2009 financial results in a conference call with the investment community on July 31, 2009, at 10 a.m. ET. Live audio, as well as a replay of the conference call and other related information, will be accessible on D&B’s Investor Relations Web site at http://investor.dnb.com .
About Dun & Bradstreet ® (D&B)
Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE:DNB) is the world’s leading source of commercial information and insight on businesses, enabling companies to Decide with Confidence ® for 168 years. D&B’s global commercial database contains more than 140 million business records. The database is enhanced by D&B’s proprietary DUNSRight ® Quality Process, which provides our customers with quality business information. This quality information is the foundation of our global solutions that customers rely on to make critical business decisions.
D&B provides solution sets that meet a diverse set of customer needs globally. Customers use D&B Risk Management Solutions TM to mitigate credit and supplier risk, increase cash flow and drive increased profitability; D&B Sales & Marketing Solutions TM to increase revenue from new and existing customers; and D&B Internet Solutions TM to convert prospects into clients faster by enabling business professionals to research companies, executives and industries. For more information, please visit www.dnb.com .
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release, including, in particular, the section titled “Revised Full Year 2009 Guidance,” 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.
- 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 third party members in its Worldwide Network, and third parties with which it has outsourcing arrangements.
- Demand for D&B’s products is subject to intense competition, changes in customer preferences and economic conditions which impact customer behavior.
- D&B’s solutions and brand image are dependent upon the integrity and security 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 our data centers.
- D&B’s ability to maintain the integrity of its brand and reputation, which it believes are key assets and competitive advantages.
- 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.
- As a result of the credit market crisis and other macro-economic challenges currently affecting the global economy, our customers or vendors may experience cash flow problems. This may cause our customers to delay, cancel or significantly decrease their purchases from us and impact their ability to pay amounts owed to us. In addition, our vendors may substantially increase their prices without notice. Such behavior may adversely affect our earnings and cash flow. In addition, if economic conditions in the United States and other key markets deteriorate further or do not show improvement, we may experience material adverse impacts to our business and operating results.
- D&B’s results are subject to the effects of foreign economies, exchange rate fluctuations, legislative or regulatory requirements, such as the adoption of new or changes in accounting policies and practices, including pronouncements by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard-setting bodies, and the implementation or modification of fees or taxes that we must pay to acquire, use, and/or redistribute data.
- D&B’s ability to introduce new solutions or services in a seamless way and without disruption to existing solutions such as DNBi.
- 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.
- The continued adherence by third party members of our D&B Worldwide Network to our quality standards, our brand and communication standards and to the terms and conditions of our commercial services arrangements.
- D&B’s future success requires that it attract and retain qualified personnel, including members of its sales force, in regions throughout the world.
- 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 D&B Worldwide Network, and its ability 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 successfully implement its growth strategy requires that it successfully reduce its expense base through its Financial Flexibility initiatives, and reallocate certain of the expense-base reductions into initiatives that produce desired revenue growth.
- D&B is involved in various tax matters and legal proceedings, 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 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and notes to the financial statements included therewith, for a more detailed description of these matters.
- D&B’s ability to repurchase shares is subject to market conditions, including trading volume in its stock, and its ability to repurchase shares in accordance with applicable securities laws.
- D&B’s projection for free cash flow is dependent upon its ability to generate revenue, its collection processes, customer payment patterns, the timing and volume of stock option exercises and 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 except as otherwise required by federal securities laws does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.