D&B expands into back to basics business info

Small & medium market hoovered up by acquisitive D&B

The American business information database provider D&B has acquired AllBusiness.com, an online media and e-commerce company, in a transaction valued at £27 million ($55 million).

D&B said it would operate AllBusiness.com as a subsidiary, similar to the way it has managed the online business information company Hoover’s which it acquired in 2002.

Kathy Yates, who has been chief executive officer at AllBusiness for just under a year, will remain in her position and the entire staff will stay on in their existing roles. The company will continue to operate from its headquarters in San Francisco.

The analysts Outsell said the acquisition was part of the American company’s move to improve its share of small and medium sized business customers. D&B has traditionally had a larger company customer base.

This is the second acquisition related to small businesses that D&B has made this year, following the buying of First Research for £11 million ($22.5) million in March.

It also adds a source of online advertising-based revenue to the company coffers, which has long relied on subscriptions and offers the chance for D &B to promote its other credit and marketing services to smaller businesses.

AllBusiness attracts more than two million unique visitors every month and takes advantage of this traffic through online display advertising from national advertisers. It is expected to generate around £5 million ($10 million) of incremental revenue for D&B next year.

AllBusiness.com is a well-respected online media and e-commerce company offering resources including how-to articles, contracts and agreements, expert advice, blogs, business directory listings and product comparisons.

www.allbusiness.com