We would like to inform you of important changes we are making to our U.S. Commercial Credit Score and U.S. Financial Stress Score. The scores you currently use are being updated with new, and improved predictive versions. These new scores will be released in May of 2006 as follows:

Why we are improving our scores
We've updated our models to honour our commitment to you to deliver the most trusted source of business insight so you can decide with confidence. D&B regularly evaluates and updates our predictive models. As we identify enhancements and changes in data and methodology, we develop new models that leverage these advances.

How the new scores will help you
The benefits you can derive from incorporating these new versions of the U.S. Commercial Credit Score and U.S. Financial Stress Score into your processes are significant. The new scores:

• Are the most predictive scores available. We've made significant advances in DUNSRight® , our proprietary process for collecting and enhancing data and transforming it into actionable business insight. DUNSRight® not only delivers the quality information you need to make critical risk decisions, but also drives the quality of our predictive models. Models are only as good as the information used to build them. Our DUNSRight® driven data, in conjunction with our leading-edge algorithms, make D&B's scores the industry standard in commercial credit scoring.
• Are built using the latest data. As the economy changes, it is important that models are updated to reflect current conditions. Because our new models are built using the latest data, they are more statistically sound, predictive and relevant for evaluating today's businesses.
• Are tailored to evaluate businesses of various sizes. We've taken a closer analytical look at the risk posed by businesses of varying sizes. As a result, we've developed a suite of models that are designed to score businesses of varying sizes with a higher degree of precision.

What do you need to do

• All Customers: Review the Performance Tables at dnb.ca/scores for the new scores and determine what modifications, if any, you should make to your decision rules.
• Toolkit Customers: You should obtain a Development ID, set up, and test the new scores. When you are ready to begin receiving the new scores, switch to a Production ID and notify D&B to make the change to your ID. Contact the DunsCare IC team to assist you with this process.
• DUNSLink Customers: You must change your request protocol to enable new packet delivery and test. Contact your D&B Implementation Consultant representative or, if you are accessing the scores via a Third Party, your Third Party contact to enable new packet delivery. D&B will work with you to facilitate your transition to the new scores so you can achieve maximum benefits.

Please note that there will be no changes to the Canadian Commercial Credit Score or the Canadian Financial Stress Score at this time.