DUNSRight and XBRL

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DUNSRight and XBRL Enhancing Transparency
through a Common Commitment to Global Standards

• 13th XBRL International Congress
• June, 2006

CONFIDENTIAL PROPRIETARY This material is
proprietary to Dun Bradstreet and may not be
reproduced, published or disclosed to others
without the express authorization of the General
Counsel of Dun Bradstreet.
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Business has evolved since Dun Bradstreet was
founded in 1841, but the value of its information
has not changed

• Initially, DB facilitated trade in the United
  States by
• Providing the transparency that businesses needed
  to set credit terms for business partners that
  they did not know personally
• Allowing trade across broad geographical areas
• Today DBs Worldwide Network helps multinational
  corporations make credit decisions by
• Providing the transparency that businesses needed
  to set credit terms for business partners that
  they did not know personally
• Allowing trade across broad geographical areas

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Our DB Worldwide Network is the most
comprehensive source of local and global business
information
The DB Worldwide Network mark symbolizes
participation in the alliance which helps
customers around the world make business
decisions with confidence.
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We have implemented strategic relationships
around the world in over 24 markets this is the
foundation of our Worldwide Network
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Today, DBs partners contribute more than 35 of
the 105 million records in our Worldwide Network
database

Includes DB North Africa
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The process for enhancing data that all Worldwide
Network Partners share is called DUNSRightTM
Entity Matching 2
D-U-N-S Number 3
Corporate Linkage 4
Predictive Indicators 5
Global Data Collection 1
Quality Information
DB Global Database
Quality Assurance
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The DB Worldwide Network Partners also share a
definition of information quality
Credit decisions that drive profitable
relationships
Quality of Information
Accuracy Completeness Timeliness
Cross-Border Consistency
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The DB Worldwide Network Partners deliver the
transparency required by credit markets
combining local expertise with global standards

• Global commitment to standards for accuracy,
  completeness, timeliness, and cross-border
  consistency
• Thought leadership in working with regulators and
  other market participants in countries and
  regions that are adopting XBRL standards such as
  the U.K., Sweden, Japan, and Spain
• Active monitoring of XBRL standards development
  in other countries and regions

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XBRL has the potential to enhance accuracy and
timeliness by facilitating . . .
Data Collection Companies and other producers of financial data and business reports can automate the processes of data collection. For example, data from different company divisions with different accounting systems can be assembled quickly, cheaply and efficiently.
Data Reporting Once data is gathered in XBRL, different types of reports using varying subsets of the data can be produced with minimum effort. A company finance division, for example, could quickly and reliably generate internal management reports, financial statements for publication, tax and other regulatory filings, as well as credit reports for lenders.  Data handling can be automated, removing time-consuming, error-prone processes.
Data Consumption Data received electronically in XBRL can be automatically processed, cutting out time-consuming collation and re-entry of information. For example, software can be used immediately validate the data, highlighting errors and gaps that can immediately be addressed.
Data Analysis XBRL can also help in analyzing, selecting, and processing the data for re-use.  Human effort can switch to higher, more value-added aspects of analysis, review, reporting and decision-making. Analysts can simplify the selection and comparison of data.  Lenders can save costs and speed up their dealings with borrowers.  Regulators and government departments can efficiently assemble, validate and review data.
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DBs Worldwide Network Partners are creating the
building blocks needed to deliver XBRL

• DB has invested in achieving common global data
  definitions for the Worldwide Network through the
  development of its Standard Data Architecture
• These global data standards are built on 2
  foundational principles
• All data is global
• Data is modelled generically
• DB has created a Standard Data Architecture for
  Business-to-Business data exchange using XML
  through the deployment of its Global Standard
  Record Layout (GSRL)

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Principle 1, that all data is global, overturns
the traditional view that only data that is
available in every country is of interest globally
Traditional View
Standard Data Architecture View
Global Data
Global Data
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Principle 2, that data is modelled generically,
reduces the need for change and thus minimizes
costs

• Here is an example of specific versus generic
  definition
• The specific International Dialling Code for
  France is 33
• If viewed as the French International Dialling
  Code it might be concluded that this is specific
  local data and defined accordingly
• The US International Dialling Code and the UK
  International Dialling Code etc. are defined on
  an ad-hoc basis as local data
• If viewed generically as the International
  Dialling Code then this is seen as global data
  it is only the field content which differs by
  country
• This may seem obvious but the challenge is to
  apply the same logic to all data. By defining
  data generically so that only field content is
  country specific a consistent Standard Data
  Architecture can be defined for all countries

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The Standard Data Architecture is applied to all
data exchanges across the DB Worldwide Network
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The DB Worldwide Network is positioned to meet
XBRL standards in the future, but two quality
dimensions need more attention

• Completeness
• All data elements needed for full risk analysis
  are not currently included in the standards
• Legal proceedings
• Payment experiences
• Unique identifiers (e.g., DUNS Numbers)
  multiple names and corporate family linkages
• Private companies in many countries will not be
  included within regulatory reporting requirements
• As an example, in the US about 12,000 public
  companies report to the Securities and Exchange
  Commission but about 30,000,000 businesses report
  to the Internal Revenue Service

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Cross-border consistency, another dimension of
information quality, will need very careful
attention

• XBRL standards are being created by local country
  regulatory bodies, regional regulatory bodies,
  industry associations, etc.
• Cross border definitional issues remain
  unresolved
• As-reported versus standardized data issues
  remain unresolved

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DBs Worldwide Network is committed to
delivering the high quality information required
to ensure transparency in credit decisions

• A strong commitment to global standards for
  defining information quality
• A thought-leadership position within countries
  and regions where standards are being
  implemented by regulatory authorities
• An active monitoring position in other countries
  and regions
• The potential to deliver XBRL format as market
  demand develops

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Questions?