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Exhibit 2.1

EXECUTION COPY

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION,

STAR PARENT, L.P.

and

STAR MERGER SUB, INC.

Dated as of August 8, 2018



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page  

ARTICLE I THE MERGER; CLOSING; EFFECTIVE TIME

    1  

1.1

 

The Merger

   
1
 

1.2

 

Closing

    2  

1.3

 

Effective Time

    2  


ARTICLE II CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION


 

 

2

 

2.1

 

The Certificate of Incorporation

   
2
 

2.2

 

The Bylaws

    2  


ARTICLE III DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION


 

 

2

 

3.1

 

Directors

   
2
 

3.2

 

Officers

    3  


ARTICLE IV EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES


 

 

3

 

4.1

 

Effect on Capital Stock

   
3
 

4.2

 

Exchange of Shares. 

    3  

4.3

 

Treatment of Stock Plans

    6  

4.4

 

Adjustments to Prevent Dilution

    8  


ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES


 

 

8

 

5.1

 

Representations and Warranties of the Company

   
8
 

5.2

 

Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub

    27  


ARTICLE VI COVENANTS


 

 

35

 

6.1

 

Interim Operations. 

   
35
 

6.2

 

Acquisition Proposals. 

    38  

6.3

 

Proxy Filing

    44  

6.4

 

Stockholders Meeting

    44  

6.5

 

Filings; Other Actions; Notification

    45  

6.6

 

Access and Reports

    48  

6.7

 

Stock Exchange De-listing

    49  

6.8

 

Publicity

    49  

6.9

 

Employee Benefits. 

    49  

6.10

 

Expenses

    51  

6.11

 

Financing and Cooperation. 

    51  

6.12

 

Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance. 

    56  

6.13

 

Agreements Concerning Parent and Merger Sub and the Company

    58  

6.14

 

Transaction Litigation

    58  

6.15

 

Existing Company Indebtedness

    58  

6.16

 

Cash Distribution

    61  


ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS


 

 

62

 

7.1

 

Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger

   
62
 

7.2

 

Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub

    62  

7.3

 

Conditions to Obligations of the Company

    63  

i


 
   
  Page  


ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION


 

 

64

 

8.1

 

Termination by Mutual Consent

   
64
 

8.2

 

Termination by Either Parent or the Company

    64  

8.3

 

Termination by the Company

    64  

8.4

 

Termination by Parent

    65  

8.5

 

Effect of Termination and Abandonment. 

    66  

8.6

 

Payments; Non-Recourse Parties. 

    70  


ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL


 

 

71

 

9.1

 

Survival

   
71
 

9.2

 

Modification or Amendment

    71  

9.3

 

Waiver of Conditions

    71  

9.4

 

Counterparts

    71  

9.5

 

GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. 

    71  

9.6

 

Specific Performance. 

    73  

9.7

 

Notices

    74  

9.8

 

Entire Agreement

    75  

9.9

 

No Third Party Beneficiaries

    75  

9.10

 

Obligations of Parent and of the Company

    76  

9.11

 

Definitions

    76  

9.12

 

Severability

    76  

9.13

 

Interpretation; Construction. 

    76  

9.14

 

Assignment

    77  

ii



AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

        AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of August 8, 2018 (hereinafter called this "Agreement"), by and among The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Star Parent, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, a ("Parent"), and Star Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub," with the Company and Merger Sub sometimes being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Constituent Corporations," and the Constituent Corporations, together with Parent, the "Parties").


RECITALS

        WHEREAS, the Parties intend that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, Merger Sub shall merge with and into the Company, with the Company being the surviving corporation (the "Merger");

        WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the "Company Board"), has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (ii) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders and (iii) resolved to recommend that this Agreement be adopted by the Company's stockholders;

        WHEREAS, each of the boards of directors of Parent and Merger Sub has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and (ii) determined that this Agreement and such transactions are fair to, and in the best interests of, Parent and Merger Sub, respectively;

        WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and as a condition and material inducement to the Company's willingness to enter into this Agreement, the Equity Financing Sources, (collectively, the "Guarantors") are each entering into a limited guarantee, dated as of the date hereof, in favor of the Company (collectively, the "Limited Guarantees") with respect to certain obligations of Parent and Merger Sub under this Agreement;

        WHEREAS, Parent shall, or shall cause the direct holder of the stock of Merger Sub to, immediately following execution and delivery of this Agreement, adopt this Agreement and approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, in its capacity as sole stockholder of Merger Sub; and

        WHEREAS, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with this Agreement and to set forth certain conditions to the Merger.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Parties agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

The Merger; Closing; Effective Time

        1.1    The Merger.    Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the "DGCL"), at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease. The Company shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "Surviving Corporation"), and the separate corporate

1


existence of the Company, with all of its rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises shall continue unaffected by the Merger, except as set forth in Article II. The Merger shall have the effects specified in the DGCL, this Agreement and the Certificate of Merger (as defined in Section 1.3).

        1.2    Closing.    Unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing between the Company and Parent, the closing for the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York, 10006 at 8:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the third (3rd) business day following the day on which the last to be satisfied or waived of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior to the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at or immediately prior to the Closing) shall be satisfied or waived in accordance with this Agreement; provided, that in the event that the Marketing Period has not ended at the time of the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior to the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at or immediately prior to the Closing), the Closing shall occur on the earlier of (x) a date during the Marketing Period specified by Parent in writing on no fewer than three (3) business days' prior written notice to the Company and (y) the second (2nd) business day following the final day of the Marketing Period, but subject, in each case, to the satisfaction or waiver of all applicable conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at or immediately prior to the Closing). The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to herein as the "Closing Date". For purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided herein, the term "business day" means any day other than Saturday or Sunday or a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by Law (as defined in Section 5.1(i)) to be closed in New York City.

        1.3    Effective Time.    At the Closing, the Company and Parent will cause a certificate of merger complying with the requirements of the DGCL (the "Certificate of Merger") to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as provided in Section 251 of the DGCL and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the DGCL in connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at the time when the Certificate of Merger has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later time as may be agreed by the Parties in writing and specified in the Certificate of Merger (the "Effective Time").


ARTICLE II

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation

        2.1    The Certificate of Incorporation.    At the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation of Merger Sub shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation (the "Charter"), until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable Law; provided that this Section 2.1 is subject to compliance with Section 6.12(f).

        2.2    The Bylaws.    At the Effective Time, the bylaws of Merger Sub in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation (the "Bylaws"), until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable Law; provided that this Section 2.2 is subject to compliance with Section 6.12(f).


ARTICLE III

Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation

        3.1    Directors.    The directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the only directors of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office

2


until his or her successor has been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Charter and the Bylaws.

        3.2    Officers.    The officers of the Company at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office until his or her successors shall have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Charter and Bylaws.


ARTICLE IV

Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock; Exchange of Certificates

        4.1    Effect on Capital Stock.    At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any capital stock of the Company or on the part of the sole stockholder of Merger Sub:

        4.2    Exchange of Shares.    

3


4


5


        4.3    Treatment of Stock Plans.    

6


7


        4.4    Adjustments to Prevent Dilution.    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, the issued and outstanding Shares or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for Shares shall have been changed into a different number of shares or a different class by reason of any reclassification, stock split (including a reverse stock split), stock dividend or distribution, recapitalization, merger, issuer tender offer or exchange offer, or other similar transaction, then the Per Share Merger Consideration shall be equitably adjusted to provide to Parent and the holders of Shares the same economic effect as contemplated in this Agreement prior to such event and as so adjusted shall, from and after the date of such event, be the Per Share Merger Consideration; provided, however, nothing in this Section 4.4 shall be construed to permit the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Person to take any action except to the extent consistent with, and not otherwise prohibited or restricted by, the terms of this Agreement.


ARTICLE V

Representations and Warranties

        5.1    Representations and Warranties of the Company.    Except as set forth in the Company Reports (as defined in Section 5.1(e)(i)), other than with respect to Section 5.1(b)), filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") (including the exhibits and schedules thereto, but excluding, in each case, any disclosures contained or referenced therein under the captions "Risk Factors," "Forward-Looking Statements" and any similar cautionary disclosures contained therein) prior to the date hereof or in the corresponding sections or subsections of the disclosure letter delivered to Parent by the Company prior to entering into this Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Letter") (it being agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with respect to any other section or subsection to which the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure; provided, however, that the disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall not be construed as an admission of liability under any applicable Law or for any other purpose and shall not be construed as an admission that such item is in fact material or creates a measure of materiality for purposes of this Agreement or otherwise), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that:

8


9


10


11


12


13


14


15


16


17


18


19


20


21


22


23


24


25


26


        As used herein, the term "Government Contract" means any customer Contract between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and a Governmental Entity or entered into by any Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a subcontractor at any tier in connection with a Contract between another Person and a Governmental Entity.

        5.2    Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub.    Except as set forth in the corresponding sections or subsections of the disclosure letter delivered to the Company by Parent prior to entering into this Agreement (the "Parent Disclosure Letter" and, together with the Company Disclosure Letter, the "Disclosure Letters") (it being agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Parent Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with respect to any other section or subsection to which the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure), Parent and Merger Sub each hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:

27


28


29


        As used in this Agreement, the term "Compliant" means, with respect to the Required Information, that (A) such Required Information does not, when taken as a whole, contain any untrue statement of material fact regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries, or, when taken as a whole, omit to state any material fact regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries necessary to make such Required Information not materially misleading under the circumstances under which such statements have been made, (B) the financial statements and other financial information included in such Required Information are sufficient to permit the Company's independent auditors to issue customary "comfort" letters with respect to such financial statements and financial information to the financing sources providing the portion of the Financing consisting of debt securities (including customary "negative assurance" comfort and satisfying the requirements of SAS 72) in order to consummate any offering of debt securities as is customary for Rule 144A offerings of high-yield debt securities on any day of the Marketing Period, and which such auditors have confirmed they are prepared to issue on the last day of the Marketing Period, (C) the Company's independent auditors have not withdrawn, or have not

30


advised the Company or its Subsidiaries in writing that they intend to withdraw, any audit opinion with respect to the audited financial statements contained in the Required Information (it being understood that the Required Information will satisfy this clause (C) if the Company's independent auditors or another independent accounting firm reasonably acceptable to Parent have delivered an unqualified audit opinion with respect to such financial statements), and (D) the Company shall not have publicly announced its intention to or determined that it is required to restate any financial statements contained in the Required Information (it being understood that the Required Information will satisfy this clause (D) if such restatement is completed and the applicable Required Information has been amended or the Company has announced or determined that no restatement shall be required, as applicable).

        As used in this Agreement, the term "Marketing Period" means the first period of fifteen (15) consecutive business days commencing after the date on which the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 are satisfied (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior to the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at or immediately prior to the Closing) and during which: (a) Parent has the Required Information from the Company that is Compliant; provided that (x) if the Company in good faith reasonably believes it has provided such Required Information, it may deliver to Parent a written notice to that effect (stating when it believes it completed such delivery), in which case the Company shall be deemed to have provided the Required Information on the date specified in the notice (which date shall not be earlier than the date of such notice) unless Parent in good faith reasonably believes the Company has not completed the delivery of such Required Information and, not later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) two (2) business days following the date of the delivery of such notice by the Company, delivers a written notice to the Company to that effect (stating with specificity which Required Information has not been delivered) and (y) for avoidance of doubt, if at any time during such fifteen (15) consecutive business day period, the Required Information provided at the commencement of such period ceases to be Required Information as a result of updated historical information being required to be delivered pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii) of the definition thereof or such Required Information ceases to be Compliant, then such fifteen (15) consecutive business day period shall be deemed not to have commenced until Parent shall have received Required Information that is Compliant, and such delivery shall result in a restart of the Marketing Period; and (b) nothing has occurred and no condition exists that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 to fail to be satisfied assuming the Closing were to be scheduled for any time during such fifteen (15) consecutive business day period; provided that (i) the Marketing Period shall not commence prior to September 4, 2018, (ii) November 23, 2018 shall be disregarded and shall not count as a business day for purposes of calculating such fifteen (15) consecutive business days, (iii) such fifteen (15) consecutive business day period shall either end on or prior to December 21, 2018 or commence on or after January 2, 2019, and (iv) the Marketing Period shall not be deemed to have commenced if the Required Information is not Compliant; provided, further, that in all circumstances the Marketing Period shall end on any earlier date that is the date on which the proceeds of the Debt Financing are obtained.

        As used in this Agreement, the term "Required Information" means (i) the historical financial statements required pursuant to Section 5 of Exhibit D of the Debt Commitment Letter (as in effect on the date of this Agreement) and, with respect to any quarterly financial statements (other than with respect to the fourth quarter of any fiscal year) required by such section, such quarterly financial statements have been reviewed by the Company's independent auditors as provided in the procedures specified by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in AU-722, Interim Financial Information (provided that the filing by the Company of such required financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K or its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as applicable, within such time periods will be deemed to satisfy the foregoing requirement); (ii) such information and data reasonably requested by Parent that is already prepared by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the form requested, is in the possession of the Company and its Subsidiaries and not in the possession of Parent

31


or its Affiliates and that is necessary for Parent to prepare the pro forma financial statements identified in Section 6 of Exhibit D of the Debt Commitment Letter, it being understood that such information shall include historical financial information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries necessary to prepare such pro forma financial statements and not include information relating to (x) the proposed aggregate amount of debt and equity financing, together with assumed interest rates, dividends (if any), fees and expenses relating to the incurrence of such debt or equity financing, for the transactions contemplated hereby, (y) the assumed pro forma capitalization of the Company after giving effect to the Closing, the Financing and the refinancing or repayment of any indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection therewith and (z) any post-Closing or pro forma assumed cost savings, synergies and similar adjustments (and the assumptions relating thereto) (all of which adjustments and assumptions contemplated by subclauses (x)-(z) hereof shall be the responsibility of Parent); (iii) such other customary financial and other pertinent information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries that is reasonably available and as may be reasonably and timely requested in writing by Parent and necessary to permit Parent to prepare a customary preliminary offering memorandum for offerings of high-yield debt securities pursuant to Rule 144A, it being understood that in no event shall the Required Information be deemed to include or shall the Company be required to provide (1) a description of all or any component of the Financing, including any "description of notes", (2) risk factors relating solely to all or any component of the Financing, (3) separate subsidiary financial statements or any other information of the type required by Rule 3-09, Rule 3-10 or Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X or "segment reporting", (4) Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402 of Regulation S-K, or (5) other information customarily excluded from an offering memorandum involving an offering of high-yield debt securities pursuant to Rule 144A, and (iv) customary authorization letters or management representation letters with respect to the financial statements and financial information to the Debt Financing Sources.

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33


34



ARTICLE VI

Covenants

        6.1    Interim Operations.    

35


36


37


        6.2    Acquisition Proposals.    

38


39


40


41


42


43


        6.3    Proxy Filing.    The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC, as promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement (and in any event within twenty (20) business days), a proxy statement in preliminary form relating to the Stockholders Meeting (as defined in Section 6.4) (such proxy statement, including any amendment or supplement thereto, the "Proxy Statement") and, subject to Section 6.2, shall include the Company Recommendation in the Proxy Statement. The Company will provide Parent and its legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on drafts of the Proxy Statement and other documents related to the Stockholders Meeting prior to filing such documents with the applicable Governmental Entity and mailing such documents to the Company's stockholders. The Company will consider in good faith for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and such other documents related to the Stockholders Meeting all comments reasonably and promptly proposed by Parent or its legal counsel and the Company agrees that all information relating to Parent and its Subsidiaries included in the Proxy Statement shall be in form and content satisfactory to Parent, acting reasonably.

        6.4    Stockholders Meeting.    The Company will take, in accordance with applicable Law and its certificate of incorporation and by-laws, all action necessary to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene a meeting of holders of Shares (the "Stockholders Meeting") as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date that the SEC staff informs the Company that it has no further comments on the preliminary Proxy Statement, to consider and vote upon the adoption of this Agreement, and the Company shall conduct in a timely manner a "broker search" in accordance with Rule 14a-13 of the Exchange Act in connection therewith; provided that in no event shall the Company be required to hold the Stockholders Meeting prior to the fifth business day after the earlier of (x) the Cut-Off Date and (y) the first date from and after the Go-Shop Period End Date as of which no Person qualifies as an Excluded Person. Following the distribution of the Proxy Statement pursuant to Section 6.3, the date of the Stockholders Meeting may not be adjourned or postponed, except the Stockholder Meeting may be adjourned or postponed from time to time and at any time by the Company (and shall be adjourned or postponed by the Company at the reasonable request of Parent in circumstances described in clauses (b) or (d)): (a) with the consent of Parent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); (b) for the absence of a quorum; (c) as the Company Board or any duly constituted committee thereof determines in good faith is required by applicable Law, including in connection with the discharge of the fiduciary duties of the Company Board to the extent necessary to allow for the filing or distribution of any supplemental or amended disclosure with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which the Company Board has determined in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel) is necessary under applicable Laws and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated to and reviewed by the Company's

44


stockholders prior to the Stockholders Meeting; or (d) to solicit additional proxies if the Company or Parent reasonably believes doing so may be necessary to obtain the Requisite Company Vote. Subject to Section 6.2 hereof, the Company Board shall recommend such adoption and shall use reasonable best efforts to take customary lawful actions to solicit such adoption of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent the Company Board makes a Change of Recommendation, the Company nevertheless shall continue to submit this Agreement to the stockholders of the Company for adoption at the Stockholders Meeting unless this Agreement shall been terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the Stockholders Meeting.

        6.5    Filings; Other Actions; Notification.    

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46


47


        6.6    Access and Reports.    Subject to applicable Law, upon reasonable notice, the Company shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to) afford Parent's officers and other authorized Representatives reasonable access, during normal business hours throughout the period prior to the Effective Time, to its employees, properties, books, contracts and records and, during such period, the Company shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to Parent all information concerning its business, properties and personnel as may reasonably be requested; provided, that no investigation pursuant to this Section 6.6 shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made by the Company herein; provided, further, that the foregoing shall not require the Company or its Subsidiaries to permit any inspection, or to disclose any information, that in the reasonable judgment of the Company would (a) unreasonably interfere with the Company's business operations, (b) result in a waiver or otherwise jeopardize the protection of any applicable privilege (including attorney-client privilege) or other immunity or protection or (c) contravene any Law applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses or, in any material respect, any Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their assets or properties are bound. In the event that the Company withholds information on the basis of the foregoing clauses (a) through (c), the Company shall inform the Parent as to the general nature of what is being withheld and the Company and Parent shall cooperate in good faith to make appropriate substitute arrangements to permit reasonable disclosure that does not suffer from any of the foregoing impediments, including through the use of commercially reasonable efforts to (i) obtain the required consent or waiver of any third party required to provide such information and (ii) implement appropriate and mutually agreeable measures to permit the disclosure of such information in a manner to remove the basis for the objection. All requests for access or information made pursuant to this Section 6.6 shall be directed to the specific executive officer or other Person designated by the Company. All such information shall be governed by the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement.

48


        6.7    Stock Exchange De-listing.    Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall cooperate with Parent and use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its part under applicable Laws and rules and policies of the NYSE to enable the delisting by the Surviving Corporation of the Shares from the NYSE and the deregistration of the Shares under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time.

        6.8    Publicity.    The initial press release regarding the Merger shall be a joint press release and thereafter (unless and until a Change of Recommendation has occurred or in connection with Section 6.2(f), and then in either case only in connection therewith) none of the Parties shall issue any press releases or otherwise make any public announcements or make any filings with any third party and/or any Governmental Entity (including any national securities exchange or interdealer quotation service) with respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior written consent of, in the case of Merger Sub or Parent, the Company, and, in the case of the Company, Parent, except as may be required by Law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with or rules of any national securities exchange or interdealer quotation service or by the request of any Governmental Entity; provided, however, that the Parties may make disclosures to the extent consistent with prior public disclosures by the Parties made in accordance with this Section 6.8. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.8 shall not be interpreted to prohibit Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates from making ordinary course communications regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby to existing or prospective general and limited partners, equity holders, members, managers and investors of any Affiliates of such Person, in each case, who are subject to customary confidentiality restrictions.

        6.9    Employee Benefits.    

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        6.10    Expenses.    The Surviving Corporation shall pay all charges and expenses, including those of the Paying Agent, in connection with the transactions contemplated in Article IV. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5(f), Section 6.11(i), Section 6.15(f) and Section 8.5, whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such expense.

        6.11    Financing and Cooperation.    

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        As used in this Agreement, the term "Debt Financing Sources" means the Persons (if any) that have committed to provide or arrange the Debt Financing in connection with the Merger, including the parties to the Debt Commitment Letter and any joinder agreements pursuant thereto or relating thereto, the term "Debt Financing Related Parties" means the Debt Financing Sources and other lenders from time to time party to agreements contemplated by or related to the Debt Financing, including any engagement letters, indentures or credit agreements, and any arrangers, bookrunners, administrative agents, collateral agents and Affiliates of the foregoing, and members, officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives involved in the Debt Financing and their respective successors and assigns, the term "Preferred Financing Sources" means the Persons (if any) that have committed to provide the Preferred Financing in connection with the Merger, including the parties to the Preferred Commitment Letter and any joinder agreements pursuant thereto or relating thereto, the term "Preferred Financing

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Related Parties" means the Preferred Financing Sources and other lenders from time to time party to agreements contemplated by or related to the Preferred Financing and any arrangers, bookrunners, administrative agents, collateral agents and Affiliates of the foregoing, and members, officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives involved in the Preferred Financing and their successors and assigns, the term "Equity Financing Sources" means the Persons (if any) that have committed to provide or otherwise entered into agreements in connection with the Equity Financing in connection with the Merger, including the parties to the Equity Commitment Letters and any joinder agreements entered into pursuant thereto or relating thereto and the term "Equity Financing Related Parties" means the Equity Financing Sources and any arrangers, bookrunners, administrative agents, collateral agents and Affiliates of the foregoing, and members, officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives involved in the Equity Financing and their successors and assigns, the term "Financing Sources" means, collectively, the Debt Financing Sources, Preferred Financing Sources and the Equity Financing Sources, and the term "Financing Source Related Parties" means, collectively, the Debt Financing Related Parties, Preferred Financing Related Parties and the Equity Financing Related Parties.

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        6.12    Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance.    

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        6.13    Agreements Concerning Parent and Merger Sub and the Company.    

        6.14    Transaction Litigation.    Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall promptly notify Parent, and each of Parent and Merger Sub shall promptly notify the Company, of all (i) notices and other communications received by it from any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement or from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, if the subject matter of such communication or the failure of such party to obtain such consent could be material to the Company, its Subsidiaries or Parent and (ii) civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, claims, hearings, arbitrations, investigations or other proceedings commenced or, to such Person's knowledge, threatened against the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, the Company Board or any committee thereof, or against Parent or Merger Sub, in each case in connection with, arising from or otherwise relating to the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement ("Transaction Litigation") (including by providing copies of all pleadings with respect thereto) and thereafter keep such other Party reasonably informed of any material developments with respect to the status thereof. The Company shall (a) give Parent the opportunity to participate in the defense, settlement or prosecution of any Transaction Litigation and (b) consult with Parent with respect to the defense, settlement and prosecution of any Transaction Litigation. The Company shall not offer to make or make any payment with respect to any Transaction Litigation or enter into any settlement or similar agreement relating to any Transaction Litigation without the prior written consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed (it being understood that it would be unreasonable for Parent to withhold or condition consent to any payment, settlement or other agreement in connection with any Transaction Litigation that only requires (x) the issuance of additional disclosure and/or (y) the payment of money in connection with such settlement in an amount that does not exceed any insurance proceeds that the Company reasonably expects to receive (after consultation with the applicable insurer, in which counsel for Parent shall be permitted to participate) with respect to such claim and any deductible in respect thereof). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, any litigation relating to Dissenting Stockholders shall be governed by Section 4.2(f).

        6.15    Existing Company Indebtedness.    

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59


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        "Existing Credit Agreements" means (a) the Revolving Five Year Credit Agreement, dated June 19, 2018, among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A. and Citizens Bank N.A. as Syndication Agents, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., MUFG Union Bank, N.A., PNC Bank, National Association and Suntrust Bank, N.A. as Co-Documentation Agents, and the lenders thereto (the "Existing Revolver Agreement") and (b) the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated June 19, 2018, among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A. and Citizens Bank N.A. as Syndication Agents, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., MUFG Union Bank, N.A., PNC Bank, National Association and Suntrust Bank, N.A. as Co-Documentation Agents, and the lenders thereto.

        "Existing Indenture" means that certain indenture governing the 4.00% Senior Notes due 2020 and the 4.375% Senior Notes due 2022, dated as of March 14, 2006, among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee for the 4.375% Senior Notes, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee for the 4.00% Senior Notes, as amended, supplemented, modified, replaced or refinanced from time to time.

        "Existing Senior Notes" means (a) the 4.375% senior notes due 2022 and (b) the 4.00% senior notes due 2020.

        6.16    Cash Distribution.    

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        "Foreign Subsidiaries" means Subsidiaries of the Company that are organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States (or any political subdivision thereof).


ARTICLE VII

Conditions

        7.1    Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.    The respective obligation of each Party to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:

        7.2    Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub.    The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:

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        7.3    Conditions to Obligations of the Company.    The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:

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ARTICLE VIII

Termination

        8.1    Termination by Mutual Consent.    This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after adoption of this Agreement by the Company's stockholders referred to in Section 7.1(a), by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent.

        8.2    Termination by Either Parent or the Company.    This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Parent or the Company if:

        8.3    Termination by the Company.    This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned by the Company:

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        8.4    Termination by Parent.    This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by Parent if:

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        8.5    Effect of Termination and Abandonment.    

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        8.6    Payments; Non-Recourse Parties.    

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ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous and General

        9.1    Survival.    This Article IX and the agreements of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained in Article IV, Section 6.9 (Employee Benefits), Section 6.10 (Expenses), Section 6.12 (Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance), Section 6.11(i), Section 6.15(f) and Section 6.16(b) shall survive the consummation of the Merger and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as set forth in this Section 9.1, no representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in this Agreement shall survive the consummation of the Merger.

        9.2    Modification or Amendment.    Subject to the provisions of applicable Law, at any time prior to the Effective Time, the Parties may modify or amend this Agreement, solely by a written agreement executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the respective Parties; provided, however, that following receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, there shall be no amendment to or waiver of the provisions of this Agreement which by Law or in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NYSE would require further approval by the holders of Shares without such approval; provided, further, that any modification, amendment or waiver of Sections 8.5(e), 8.6, 9.2, 9.5, 9.6, 9.9 and 9.12, or of any defined term used in any of the foregoing Sections, in each case to the extent such modification, amendment or waiver would affect the rights of a Financing Source Related Party or a Non-Recourse Party under such Section in a manner that is materially adverse, shall also be approved in writing by the Financing Source or Non-Recourse Party to the Commitment Letters (or any Definitive Agreements resulting therefrom) affiliated with such Financing Source Related Party or Non-Recourse Party.

        9.3    Waiver of Conditions.    The conditions to each of the respective Parties' obligations to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are for the sole benefit of such Party and may be waived by such Party in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law; provided, however, that any such waiver shall only be effective if made in writing. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights hereunder or under applicable Law shall not constitute a waiver of such rights and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no single or partial exercise by any Party of any of its rights hereunder precludes any other or further exercise of such rights or any other rights hereunder or under applicable Law.

        9.4    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same agreement.

        9.5    GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.    

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        9.6    Specific Performance.    

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        9.7    Notices.    All notices, requests, instructions, consents or other documents to be given hereunder by any Party to the others shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, by facsimile, email or overnight courier:

Star Parent, L.P.
Star Merger Sub, Inc.
c/o CC Capital
200 Park Ave., 58th floor
New York, NY 10166
Attention:   Douglas Newton
Email:   newton@cc.capital
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention:   Daniel E. Wolf, P.C.
Peter Martelli, P.C.
Lauren Colasacco
Fax:   (212) 446-4900
Email:   daniel.wolf@kirkland.com
peter.martelli@kirkland.com
lauren.colasacco@kirkland.com
The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
103 JFK Parkway, 4th Floor
Short Hills, New Jersey 07078
Attention:   Christie A. Hill, Esq.
Email:   hillc@dnb.com

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Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, NY 10006
Attention:   Ethan Klingsberg
Paul M. Tiger
Fax:   (212) 225-3999
Email:   eklingsberg@cgsh.com
ptiger@cgsh.com

or to such other persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the Party to receive such notice as provided above. Any notice, request, instruction, consent or other document given as provided above shall be deemed given to the receiving Party upon actual receipt, if delivered personally; three (3) business days after deposit in the mail, if sent by registered or certified mail; upon confirmation of successful transmission, if sent by facsimile or email (provided, that if given by facsimile or email such notice, request, instruction or other document shall be followed up within one business day by dispatch pursuant to one of the other methods described herein); or on the next business day after deposit with an overnight courier, if sent by an overnight courier. If the last day for the giving of any notice or the performance of any act required or permitted under this Agreement is a day that is not a business day, then the time for the giving of such notice or the performance of such action shall be extended to the next succeeding business day.

        9.8    Entire Agreement.    This Agreement (including any exhibits hereto) and the documents, instruments and other agreements among the Parties contemplated by this Agreement or referred to herein, including the Company Disclosure Letter, the Parent Disclosure Letter, the Confidentiality Agreement, dated July 23, 2018, between CC Capital Partners, LLC and the Company (as may be amended from time to time, the "Confidentiality Agreement"), the other agreements entered into in connection with preserving the confidentiality of information, the Limited Guarantees and the Equity Commitment Letters, constitute the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the Parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof. EACH PARTY AGREES THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, ANY CERTIFICATE DELIVERED HERETO, THE LIMITED GUARANTEES AND THE EQUITY COMMITMENT LETTERS, NEITHER PARENT AND MERGER SUB NOR THE COMPANY MAKES OR HAS RELIED ON ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, STATEMENTS, INFORMATION OR INDUCEMENTS, AND EACH HEREBY DISCLAIMS RELIANCE ON ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, STATEMENTS, INFORMATION OR INDUCEMENTS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OR ON THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY STATEMENTS OR OTHER INFORMATION, MADE BY, OR MADE AVAILABLE BY, ITSELF OR ANY OF ITS REPRESENTATIVES, WITH RESPECT TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, NOTWITHSTANDING THE DELIVERY OR DISCLOSURE TO THE OTHER OR THE OTHER'S REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOREGOING, AND WAIVES ANY CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION RELATING THERETO.

        9.9    No Third Party Beneficiaries.    Except (a) as provided in Section 6.12 (Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance), (b) for the right of the Company's stockholders and equity award holders, after the Effective Time, to receive the aggregate consideration payable pursuant to Article IV and (c) for the right of the Financing Source Related Parties or Non-Recourse Parties, as relevant, pursuant to Sections 8.5(e), 8.6, 9.2, 9.5, 9.6, 9.9 and 9.12, each of which shall inure to the benefit of,

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and be enforceable by, each Financing Source Related Party or Non-Recourse Party, as appropriate, which rights set forth in the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 9.9 are hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed by Parent and Merger Sub, Parent and the Company hereby agree that their respective representations, warranties and covenants set forth in this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the other Parties, in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any Person other than the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder, including the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement. The Parties further agree that the rights of third-party beneficiaries under Section 6.12 and under clause (b) of this Section 9.9 shall not arise unless and until the Effective Time occurs. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the Parties and are for the sole benefit of the Parties. Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the Parties in accordance with Section 9.3 without notice or liability to any other Person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the Parties of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the Parties. Consequently, Persons other than the Parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.

        9.10    Obligations of Parent and of the Company.    Whenever this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of Parent to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of Parent to cause such Subsidiary to take such action. Whenever this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of the Company to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of the Company to cause such Subsidiary to take such action and, after the Effective Time, on the part of the Surviving Corporation to cause such Subsidiary to take such action.

        9.11    Definitions.    Each of the terms set forth in Annex A is defined in the Section of this Agreement set forth opposite such term.

        9.12    Severability.    The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties intend that the remedies and limitations thereon contained in Section 8.5(e) and Section 8.6 be construed as an integral provision of this Agreement and that such remedies and limitations shall not be severable in any manner that increases a Person's liability or obligations hereunder or under the Financing or the Limited Guarantees.

        9.13    Interpretation; Construction.    

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        9.14    Assignment.    This Agreement and the rights, interests and obligations hereunder shall not be assignable by operation of law or otherwise without the prior written consent of (x) the Company (in the case of an assignment by either Parent or Merger Sub) or (y) Parent (in the case of an assignment by the Company); provided, that (i) Parent and Merger Sub each shall be permitted to assign all of its rights (but not obligations) under this Agreement to any of their respective Affiliates without the consent of the Company unless such assignment would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, and (ii) Parent may assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations pursuant to this Agreement to the Debt Financing Sources pursuant to the terms of the Debt Commitment Letter for purposes of creating a security interest herein or otherwise assigning as collateral in respect of the Debt Financing; provided, further, that (A) no assignment shall relieve the assigning party of any of its obligations hereunder and (B) no such assignment shall affect the obligations of any Person who has committed to provide Equity Financing or Preferred Financing under the applicable Equity Commitment Letter or Preferred Commitment Letter or the Guarantors under the Limited Guarantees. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 9.14, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 9.14 shall be null and void.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the Parties as of the date first written above.

  THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION

 

By:

 

/s/ THOMAS J. MANNING


      Name:   Thomas J. Manning

      Title:   Interim Chief Executive Officer

 

STAR PARENT, L.P.

 

By:

 

Star GP Holding, LLC

  Its:   General Partner

 

By:

 

/s/ DOUGLAS NEWTON


      Name:   Douglas Newton

      Title:   Treasurer

 

STAR MERGER SUB, INC.

 

By:

 

/s/ DOUGLAS NEWTON


      Name:   Douglas Newton

      Title:   Treasurer

   

[SIGNATURE PAGE—AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER]

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ANNEX A

DEFINED TERMS

Term
  Section
2009 Order   6.5(c)(iv)
Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement   6.2(a)(i)
Acquisition Proposal   6.2(e)
Affiliate   5.1(a)
Agreement   Preamble
Alternative Acquisition Agreement   6.2(b)(v)
Alternative Financing   6.11(d)
Applicable Date   5.1(e)(i)
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception   5.1(c)(i)
Benefit Plan   5.1(h)(i)
Book-Entry Share   4.1(a)
business day   1.2
Bylaws   2.2
Capitalization Date   5.1(b)(i)
Cash Transfer   6.16(a)
Certificate   4.1(a)
Certificate of Merger   1.3
CFIUS   6.5(c)(iv)
CFIUS Approval   6.5(c)(iv)
Change of Recommendation   6.2(f)(i)
Charter   2.1
claim   5.2(e)(iv)
Closing   1.2
Closing Date   1.2
Code   4.2(g)
Commitment Letters   5.2(e)(i)
Company   Preamble
Company Board   Recitals
Company Disclosure Letter   5.1
Company Intellectual Property   5.1(p)(vi)
Company Material Adverse Effect   5.1(a)
Company Option   4.3(a)
Company Recommendation   5.1(c)(ii)
Company Reports   5.1(e)(i)
Company Termination Fee   8.5(b)(iii)
Company's Knowledge   5.1(g)
Compliant   5.2(e)
Confidentiality Agreement   9.8
Constituent Corporations   Preamble
Continuing Employees   6.9(a)
Contract   5.1(d)(ii)
control, controlling, controlled by, under common control with   5.1(a)
Copyrights   5.1(p)
Cut-Off Date   6.2(b)
D&O Insurance   6.12(b)
debt   5.2(e)(iv)

Ann. A-1


Term
  Section
Debt Commitment Letter   5.2(e)(i)
Debt Financing   5.2(e)(i)
Debt Financing Related Parties   6.11(e)
Debt Financing Sources   6.11(e)
Definitive Agreements   6.11(b)
Determination Notice   6.2(g)(ii)
DGCL   1.1
Disclosure Letters   5.2
Dissenting Shares   4.1(a)
Dissenting Stockholders   4.1(a)
Effect   5.1(a)
Effective Time   1.3
Enforcement Costs   8.5(e)(i)
Environmental Law   5.1(m)
Equity Commitment Letters   5.1(e)(i)
Equity Financing   5.2(e)(i)
Equity Financing Related Parties   6.11(e)
Equity Financing Sources   6.11(e)
ERISA   5.1(h)(i)
ERISA Affiliate   5.1(h)(iv)
ERISA Plan   5.1(h)(ii)
ESPP   4.3(e)
Exchange Act   5.1(a)
Exchange Fund   4.2(a)
Excluded Person   6.2(e)
Excluded Share   4.1(a)
Existing Credit Agreements   6.15(f)
Existing Indenture   6.15(f)
Existing Notes Offer Documents   6.15(b)
Existing Notes Offers   6.15(b)
Existing Notes Redemption   6.15(c)
Existing Notes Redemption Notice   6.15(c)
Existing Revolver Agreement   6.15(f)
Existing Senior Notes   6.15(f)
Expense Reimbursement   8.5(d)
Export Control Laws   5.1(s)(i)
extent, to the extent   9.13(c)
FCA   6.5(c)(iv)
FCPA   5.1(q)(i)
Fee Letter   5.2(e)(i)
Financing   5.2(e)(i)
Financing Source Related Parties   6.11(e)
Financing Sources   6.11(e)
Foreign Investment and Antitrust Laws   6.5(c)(ii)
Foreign Subsidiaries   6.16
FSMA   6.5(c)(iv)
GAAP   5.1(a)(I)
GDPR   5.1(p)(iv)
Go-Shop Period End Date   6.2(a)
Government Contract   5.1(w)

Ann. A-2


Term
  Section
Governmental Entity   5.1(d)(i)
Guarantors   Recitals
Hazardous Substance   5.1(m)
hereof, herein, hereunder   9.13(b)
HSR Act   5.1(d)(i)
include, includes, including   9.13(a)
Indemnified Parties   6.12(a)
Insurance Policies   5.1(t)
Intellectual Property   5.1(p)(vi)
Intercompany Funding Notice   6.16(a)
Intervening Event   6.2(e)
IRS   5.1(h)(i)
J.P. Morgan   5.1(c)(ii)
Laws   5.1(i)
Lien   5.1(b)
Limited Guarantees   Recitals
Marketing Period   5.1(e)(iii)
Material Contract   5.1(j)
Merger   Recitals
Merger Sub   Preamble
New Plans   6.9(b)
Non-U.S. Benefit Plan   5.1(h)(i)
Notice Period   6.2(g)(ii)
NYSE   5.1(a)(C)
Old Plans   6.9(b)
Order   7.1(c)
ordinary course of business   5.1(g)(ii)
Owned Real Property   5.1(k)
Parent   Preamble
Parent Disclosure Letter   5.2
Parent Reimbursement Obligations   8.5(a)
Parent Related Parties   8.6(a)
Parent Termination Fee   8.5(c)
Parties   Preamble
Patents   5.1(p)(vi)
Paying Agent   4.2(a)
Paying Agent Agreement   4.2(a)
PBGC   5.1(h)(i)
Per Share Merger Consideration   4.1(a)
Permitted Liens   5.1(b)
Person   4.2(d)
Personal Data   5.1(p)(iv)
Preferred Commitment Letter   5.2(e)(i)
Preferred Financing   5.2(e)(i)
Preferred Financing Related Parties   6.11(e)
Preferred Financing Sources   6.11(e)
Proceedings   5.1(g)(i)
Processing   5.1(p)(iv)
Prohibited Amendments   6.11(a)
Proxy Statement   6.3

Ann. A-3


Term
  Section
PSU   4.3(d)
Registered Intellectual Property   5.1(p)(i)
Representatives   6.2(a)
Required Information   5.1(e)(iii)
Required Payments   5.2(e)(ii)
Requisite Company Vote   5.1(c)(i)
RSU   4.3(b)
Sanctions   5.1(r)(i)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act   5.1(e)(i)
SEC   5.1
Securities Act   5.1(d)(i)
Service Provider   5.1(h)(i)
Share   4.1(a)
Significant Subsidiary   5.1(a)
Solvent   5.2(e)(iv)
Stock Plans   5.1(b)
Stockholders Meeting   6.4
Subsidiary   5.1(a)
Superior Proposal   6.2(e)
Supervisory Authority   5.1(p)(iv)
Surviving Corporation   1.1
Takeover Statute   5.1(l)
Tax   5.1(n)
Tax Authority   5.1(n)
Tax Proceeding   5.1(n)(iii)
Tax Return   5.1(n)
Taxes   5.1(n)
Termination Date   8.2(a)
Trademarks   5.1(p)(iv)
Transaction Litigation   6.14
Willful and Material Breach   8.5(a)

Ann. A-4




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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION, STAR PARENT, L.P. and STAR MERGER SUB, INC. Dated as of August 8, 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
RECITALS
ARTICLE I The Merger; Closing; Effective Time
ARTICLE II Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation
ARTICLE III Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation
ARTICLE IV Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock; Exchange of Certificates
ARTICLE V Representations and Warranties
ARTICLE VI Covenants
ARTICLE VII Conditions
ARTICLE VIII Termination
ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous and General
ANNEX A DEFINED TERMS