Anna Money acquires BDG and UK Business Forums

Anna Money has completed the acquisitions of company formation platform Business Data Group (BDG) and small business community platform UK Business Forums (UKBF), expanding its presence in the business incorporation and compliance space.

Financial terms of the transactions have not been disclosed. The acquisitions have enabled Anna Money to integrate its banking, bookkeeping and tax compliance services into the company formation process, supporting businesses from the point of incorporation.

Founded by Richard Osborne, UK Business Forums has grown into an online community serving more than 160,000 small business owners, while BDG operates an electronic filing network and partner platform that supports around 30% of the UK’s independent company formation market.

Anna Money has confirmed that both businesses have retained their existing brands, employees and customer relationships following the transactions. Osborne has transitioned to the role of Chairman of BDG, while Rebecca Hill has been appointed Chief Executive Officer after serving as the company’s Chief Commercial Officer.

The FinTech said the acquisitions are intended to strengthen, rather than compete with, independent company formation agents by investing in BDG’s technology, automation capabilities and e-filing infrastructure. The company has planned to leverage the acquired platforms to embed financial administration services, including banking, invoicing, bookkeeping and tax compliance, into the early stages of a business’s lifecycle.

The transactions form part of Anna Money’s broader expansion strategy to build an integrated platform for small businesses. In 2024, the company acquired Australian business spend management platform GetCape, adding expense management capabilities to its offering.

By combining company formation technology with financial management tools, Anna Money aimed to streamline the process of starting and operating a business while expanding its ecosystem for small and medium-sized enterprises across the UK.