16 May 2008 17:27

D&B and Interfax Announce Joint Venture in Russia

The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (D&B) and Interfax Information Services Group announced today that they have established a joint venture for operations in Russia and CIS. Both parties are equal shareholders in the new venture, which will trade under the name Interfax D&B. The joint venture begins business operations in May 2008.

Interfax D&B will provide its international customers with information on Russian companies obtained from SPARK, Russia’s largest commercial database, which has been designed by Interfax. Such information includes companies’ registration details, details of their founders, and their financials. Interfax D&B will also provide quality business information on other CIS countries.


The venture’s Russian and CIS customers will gain access to information on foreign companies via the unique resources of the D&B Worldwide Network whose global commercial database covers more than 125 million businesses worldwide.


Within Russia and CIS, the venture will build up a system of services based on D&B solutions in risk management and sales and marketing.


"Jointly with D&B, we are setting up a unique mechanism that will make it possible to reduce business risks. Russian companies will be able to obtain information on potential partners abroad, including offshore companies, while foreign firms will find it easier to find partners in Russia. We are sure that, by pooling their efforts, the two companies, each of which possesses unique information resources, are laying a solid basis for successful business," said Mikhail Komissar, Chairman and CEO of the Interfax Group.


"Customers continue to demand greater access to quality information on businesses in this growing region," said Corinne Saunders, Leader of D&B International Partnerships. "The strategic partnership we have formed with Interfax will significantly enhance the breadth and depth of our global commercial database, thereby strengthening our value proposition for our customers around the world."


*** About D&B


D&B (NYSE:DNB) is the world’s leading source of commercial information and insight on businesses, enabling companies to Decide with Confidence® for over 166 years. D&B’s global commercial database contains more than 125 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 SolutionsTM to mitigate credit and supplier risk, increase cash flow and drive increased profitability; D&B Sales & Marketing SolutionsTM to increase revenue from new and existing customers; and D&B Internet Solutions to convert prospects into clients faster by enabling business professionals to research companies, executives and industries. For more information, please visit www.dnb.com.


*** About Interfax


Interfax Information Services Group provides news and information products essential for decision-making in politics and business. Established in 1989, Interfax Group comprises a network of national, regional, and specialized news agencies operating throughout Russia and the CIS countries, as well as in China and Central Europe.


Since the early 1990s, Interfax has been the main provider of real-time news from Russia and the CIS. It is the most frequently quoted source of information about the region. Interfax is now also a leading provider of business news from China and the emerging markets of Central Europe.


The Group includes companies and divisions that provide news, analytical services, market data, as well as offering and developing software solutions for financial markets and databases. One of Interfax’ best-known products is SPARK, a factual and analytical database on all legal entities and self-employed registered in Russia.