BRIEFLY / PUBLISHING : Dun & Bradstreet’s Largest Holder Urges Sale

Shares of Dun & Bradstreet Corp. jumped after its largest stockholder called on the business information provider to put itself up for sale, saying the company could fetch more than twice its current stock price. In a regulatory filing, Harris Associates urged Dun & Bradstreet’s board to hire an investment bank to solicit offers for the Murray Hill, N.J., company. The Chicago-based money manager holds a 13% stake in Dun & Bradstreet, the parent of Moody’s Investors Service and other business information services. Dun & Bradstreet has issued several disappointing financial reports this year. Similar information businesses have been selling for rich premiums, said William Nygren, a Harris partner who manages its Oakmark Select Fund. Nygren calculates that Dun & Bradstreet could sell for $60 a share. Company officials couldn’t be reached for comment. Dun & Bradstreet shares rose $2.56 to close at $26.19, a 10.8% rise, on the NYSE.