Basis of Presentation and Description of Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Description of Business

Basis of Presentation and Description of Business

The accompanying financial statements of Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Dun & Bradstreet," or "D&B," or "we," or "us," or "our," or the "Company") were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period reported. As discussed throughout this Note 1, we base our estimates on historical experience, current conditions and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Items subject to such estimates and assumptions include: valuation allowances for receivables and deferred income tax assets; tax liabilities related to our undistributed foreign earnings; liabilities for potential tax exposure and potential litigation claims and settlements; assets and obligations related to employee benefits; impairment assessment for goodwill and other intangible assets; long-term asset recoverability and estimated useful life; stock-based compensation; revenue deferrals; and restructuring charges. We review estimates and assumptions periodically and reflect the changes in the consolidated financial statements in the period in which we determine any changes to be necessary. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Our consolidated financial statements presented herein reflect the latest estimates and assumptions made by management that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and related disclosures as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods presented.

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts, as well as those of our subsidiaries and investments in which we have a controlling interest. Investments in companies over which we have significant influence but not a controlling interest are recorded under the equity method of accounting. When events and circumstances warrant, equity investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting are evaluated for impairment. An impairment charge is recorded whenever a decline in value of an equity investment below its carrying amount is determined to be other-than temporary. We elect to account for investments over which we do not have significant influence at cost adjusted for impairment or other changes resulting from observable market data. Market values associated with these investments are not readily available.

Description of Business

Dun & Bradstreet helps companies around the world improve their business performance. A global leader in business to business data and analytics, we glean insight from data to enable our clients to connect with the prospects, suppliers, clients and partners that matter most. Since 1841, companies of every size rely on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity. We transform data into valuable business insights which are the foundation of our global solutions that clients rely on to make mission critical business decisions.

Dun & Bradstreet provides solution sets that meet a diverse set of clients’ needs globally. Clients use Finance & Risk solutions to mitigate credit, compliance and supplier risk, increase cash flow and drive increased profitability. Our Sales & Marketing solutions help clients better use data to grow sales, digitally engage with clients and prospects, improve marketing effectiveness and also offer data management capabilities that provide effective and cost efficient marketing solutions to increase revenue from new and existing clients.

We manage our business and report our financial results through the following two segments:

•North America offers Finance & Risk and Sales & Marketing data, analytics and business insights in the United States and Canada; and

•International offers Finance & Risk and Sales & Marketing data, analytics and business insights directly in the United Kingdom and Ireland ("U.K."), Northern Europe (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Estonia and Latvia), Central Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and various other central and eastern European countries) (together as "Europe"), Greater China, India and indirectly through our Worldwide Network alliances ("WWN alliances").

All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Where appropriate, we have reclassified certain prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.

During the first quarter of 2024, we changed the presentation of certain data royalty and project fulfillment costs in our condensed consolidated statement of income. Specifically, we changed the classification of these costs from "Selling and administrative expenses" to "Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)," as we believe that presenting these costs based on their nature, as opposed to their function as was done historically, provides more useful information and enhances transparency. Results for prior years have been recast to reflect this change in presentation and to conform to the current period presentation. As a result, we reclassified $30.8 million and $36.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, from "Selling and administrative expenses" to "Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)." This reclassification has no impact on total operating costs, operating income, net income (loss), earnings (loss) per share or segment results. Additionally, this reclassification has no impact on the consolidated balance sheets or consolidated statements of cash flows.