2019 PR Agency M&A Transactions
Agency M&A Lists:
The following public relations agency M&A transactions were announced in 2019. To be included on this list, the buying or selling agency must have public relations or integrated communications as one of its core services. Data about the buyers and sellers is derived from publicly-available information in press releases, media coverage, agency websites, and LinkedIn.
Modamedia/SMG acquired by dovetail solutions
Seller: Modamedia/SMG (Sacramento, CA)
Buyer: dovetail solutions (Denver, CO)
Announced: December 13, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 6
Seller Founded: 1994
Seller Focus: Public Relations
Coverage: Announcement | Bulldog Reporter
DynamoPR acquired by Clarity
Seller: Dynamo PR (London, UK)
Buyer: Clarity (London, UK)
Announced: December 11, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 8
Seller Founded: 2011
Seller Focus: Public Relations
Coverage: Announcement | Holmes Report | O’Dwyer’s | PR Week | Bulldog Reporter
Medical & Health Consulting (MHC) acquired by Finn Partners
Seller: Medical & Health Consulting (MHC) (Paris, France)
Buyer: Finn Partners (New York, NY)
Announced: December 4, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 5
Seller Founded: 2013
Seller Focus: Health
Coverage: Announcement | PR Week
Canale Communications acquired by UDG Healthcare
Seller: Canale Communications (San Diego, CA)
Buyer: UDG Healthcare (Dublin, Ireland)
Announced: November 26, 2019
Buyer Type: Consulting Firm
Seller Employees: 25
Seller Founded: 2010
Seller Focus: Life Sciences
Coverage: Announcement | San Diego Union-Tribune | O’Dwyer’s | PR Week
Tessio Labs acquired by Seven Letter
Seller: Tessio Labs (New York, NY)
Buyer: Seven Letter (Washington, DC)
Announced: November 12, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 5
Seller Founded: 2018
Seller Focus: Digital
Coverage: Announcement | PR Week | Capitol Communicator | O’Dwyer’s
Radius Digital Science acquired by W2O Group
Seller: Radius Digital Science (Montclair, NJ)
Buyer: W2O Group (San Francisco, CA)
Announced: November 11, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 25
Seller Founded: 2014
Seller Focus: Digital/Science
Coverage: Announcement
ZPR acquired by Finn Partners
Seller: ZPR (London, UK)
Buyer: Finn Partners (New York, NY)
Announced: November 8, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 20
Seller Founded: Unknown
Seller Focus: Public Relations
Coverage: Announcement
Pink Sparrow acquired by Acceleration Community of Companies
Seller: Pink Sparrow (Brooklyn, NY)
Buyer: Acceleration Community of Companies (Los Angeles, CA)
Announced: November 6, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 52
Seller Founded: 2013
Seller Focus: Experiential Marketing
Coverage: Announcement
MKG acquired by Acceleration Community of Companies
Seller: MKG (New York, NY)
Buyer: Acceleration Community of Companies (Los Angeles, CA)
Announced: November 6, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 140
Seller Founded: 2003
Seller Focus: Experiential Marketing
Coverage: Announcement
ISO.Health acquired by W2O Group
Seller: ISO.Health (London, UK)
Buyer: W2O Group (San Francisco, CA)
Announced: November 5, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 41
Seller Founded: 2009
Seller Focus: Research
Coverage: Announcement
db5 acquired by Bastion Collective
Seller: db5 (Los Angeles, CA)
Buyer: Bastion Collective (Melbourne, Australia)
Announced: November 4, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 14
Seller Founded: 2009
Seller Focus: Research
Coverage: Announcement
Wyse Advertising acquired by Falls Communications
Seller: Wyse Advertising (Cleveland, OH)
Buyer: Falls Communications (Cleveland, OH)
Announced: October 24, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 51
Seller Founded: 1951
Seller Focus: Advertising
Coverage: Announcement
Holberg Design acquired by Gavin
Seller: Holberg Design (York, PA)
Buyer: Gavin (York, PA)
Announced: October 17, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 4
Seller Founded: 1988
Seller Focus: Creative
Coverage: Announcement
Remedy acquired by Motion
Seller: Remedy (Chicago, IL)
Buyer: Motion (Chicago, IL)
Announced: October 15, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 96
Seller Founded: 1989
Seller Focus: Health
Coverage: O’Dwyer’s
Arcus Medica acquired by W2O Group
Seller: Arcus Medica (Philadelphia, PA)
Buyer: W2O Group (San Francisco, CA)
Announced: October 9, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 25
Seller Founded: 2013
Seller Focus: Health
Coverage: Announcement
Firewood acquired by S4 Capital
Seller: Firewood (San Francisco, CA)
Buyer: S4 Capital / MediaMonks (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Announced: October 8, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 382
Seller Founded: 2010
Seller Focus: Digital
Coverage: Announcement
Health Unlimited USA acquired by Next 15
Seller: Health Unlimited USA (New York, NY)
Buyer: Next 15 (London, UK)
Announced: October 1, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 114
Seller Founded: 1994
Seller Focus: Health
Coverage: Announcement
Aperture Strategies acquired by Bully Pulpit Interactive
Seller: Aperture Strategies (Washington, DC)
Buyer: Bully Pulpit Interactive (Washington, DC)
Announced: September 23, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 1
Seller Founded: Unknown
Seller Focus: Public Affairs
Coverage: PR Week
SPI Group acquired by Ruder Finn
Seller: SPI Group (Fairfield, NJ)
Buyer: Ruder Finn (New York, NY)
Announced: September 19, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 30
Seller Founded: 1997
Seller Focus: Health
Coverage: Announcement
Red Squirrel Communications acquired by Freshwater
Seller: Red Squirrel Communications (Cardiff, UK)
Buyer: Freshwater (Cardiff, UK)
Announced: September 17, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 1
Seller Founded: 2009
Seller Focus: Health Public Affairs
Coverage: Announcement
54 Brands acquired by Buffalo Groupe
Seller: 54 Brands (Charlotte, NC)
Buyer: Buffalo Groupe (Reston, VA)
Announced: September 9, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 8
Seller Founded: 1985
Seller Focus: Golf
Coverage: Golf Inc.
GreenSmith PR acquired by Yes&
Seller: GreenSmith PR (Washington, DC)
Buyer: Yes& (Alexandria, VA)
Announced: September 4, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 3
Seller Founded: 2000
Seller Focus: Public Relations
Coverage: Announcement
Kohnstamm Communications acquired by Broadhead
Seller: Kohnstamm Communications (St. Paul, MN)
Buyer: Broadhead (Minneapolis, MN)
Announced: September 4, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 14
Seller Founded: 1990
Seller Focus: Food and Beverage
Coverage: Announcement
Lazar Partners acquired by Finn Partners
Seller: Lazar Partners (New York, NY)
Buyer: Finn Partners (New York, NY)
Announced: September 4, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 22
Seller Founded: 2001
Seller Focus: Health
Coverage: O’Dwyer’s
Internet Marketing Inc. acquired by REQ
Seller: Internet Marketing Inc. (San Diego, CA)
Buyer: REQ (Washington, DC)
Announced: August 21, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: Unknown
Seller Founded: 2008
Seller Focus: Performance Marketing
Coverage: Announcement
IMA acquired by S4 Capital
Seller: IMA (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Buyer: S4 Capital / MediaMonks (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Announced: August 12, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 85
Seller Founded: 2010
Seller Focus: Influencer Marketing
Coverage: PR Week
Flagship Consulting acquired by Selbey Anderson
Seller: Flagship Consulting (London, UK)
Buyer: Selbey Anderson (London, UK)
Announced: July 25, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 15
Seller Founded: 1989
Seller Focus: Financial & Professional Services
Coverage: Announcement
NEXTFactor acquired by MMGY Global
Seller: NEXTFactor Enterprises (Vancouver, BC)
Buyer: MMGY Global (Kansas City, MO)
Announced: July 22, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 6
Seller Founded: 2015
Seller Focus: Travel & Tourism
Coverage: Announcement
Sopexa acquired by Hopscotch
Seller: Sopexa (France)
Buyer: Hopscotch (Paris, France)
Announced: July 9, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 280
Seller Founded: 1961
Seller Focus: Lifestyle/Food & Drink
Coverage: Holmes Report
Capella PR acquired by PAN Communications
Seller: Capella PR (London, UK)
Buyer: PAN Communications (Boston, MA)
Announced: July 9, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 8
Seller Founded: 2012
Seller Focus: Technology/Finance
Coverage: Announcement
Umbrla acquired by Multiply
Seller: Umbrla (Denver, CO)
Buyer: Multiply (New York, NY)
Announced: June 20, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 3
Seller Founded: 2016
Seller Focus: Social Content
Coverage: PR Week
Stratagem merges with Connect
Seller: Strategem (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
Buyer: Connect (London, UK)
Announced: June 17, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 8
Seller Founded: 1998
Seller Focus: Public Affairs
Coverage: Announcement
Stitch Communications acquired by Deloitte
Seller: Stitch Communications (Bristol, UK)
Buyer: Deloitte (New York, NY)
Announced: June 4, 2019
Buyer Type: Consulting Firm
Seller Employees: 15
Seller Founded: 2011
Seller Focus: Internal Communications
Coverage: Announcement
Rsquared acquired by Next 15
Seller: Rsquared (San Francisco, CA)
Buyer: Next 15 / Archetype (San Francisco, CA)
Announced: June 1, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 8
Seller Founded: 2009
Seller Focus: Technology
Coverage: Holmes Report
Creativ-Ceutical acquired by Huntsworth
Seller: Creativ-Ceutical (Luxembourg)
Buyer: Huntsworth (London, UK)
Announced: May 21, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 130
Seller Founded: 2008
Seller Focus: Research
Coverage: Morningstar
Message acquired by Gonring, Spahn and Associates
Seller: Message (Los Angeles, CA)
Buyer: Gonring, Spahn and Associates (Los Angeles, CA)
Announced: May 21, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 8
Seller Founded: 2012
Seller Focus: Strategic Communications
Coverage: O’Dwyer’s
Kyne acquired by Huntsworth
Seller: Kyne (Dublin, Ireland)
Buyer: Huntsworth / Evoke (London, UK)
Announced: May 21, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 100
Seller Founded: 2009
Seller Focus: Health
Coverage: Announcement
Uproar PR acquired by Kanaris Group
Seller: Uproar PR (Orlando, FL)
Buyer: Kanaris Group (Annapolis, MD)
Announced: May 13, 2019
Buyer Type: Investor
Seller Employees: 50
Seller Founded: 2011
Seller Focus: PR and Social Media
Coverage: Announcement
Digital Brand Group acquired by Bastion Collective
Seller: Digital Brand Group (Irvine, CA)
Buyer: Bastion Collective (Melbourne, Australia)
Announced: May 8, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 25
Seller Founded: 2006
Seller Focus: Digital
Coverage: Announcement
Rare Branding acquired by Bastion Collective
Seller: Rare Branding (Irvine, CA)
Buyer: Bastion Collective (Melbourne, Australia)
Announced: May 8, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: Unknown
Seller Founded: 2016
Seller Focus: Digital
Coverage: Announcement
Cheryl Andrews Marketing Communications aquired by Zapwater
Seller: Cheryl Andrews Marketing Communications (Miami, FL)
Buyer: Zapwater Communications (Chicago, IL)
Announced: April 25, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 15
Seller Founded: 1984
Seller Focus: Travel & Tourism
Coverage: Announcement
Astro Media acquired by SutherlandGold
Seller: Astro Media (New York, NY)
Buyer: SutherlandGold Group (San Francisco, CA)
Announced: April 23, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 1
Seller Founded: 2010
Seller Focus: Digital
Coverage: Announcement
Greentarget acquired by Selbey Anderson
Seller: Greentarget (London, UK)
Buyer: Selbey Anderson (London, UK)
Announced: April 11, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 20
Seller Founded: 2006
Seller Focus: Financial Services
Coverage: Announcement
Digital Spring acquired by MMGY Global
Seller: Digital Spring (London, UK)
Buyer: MMGY Global (Kansas City, MO)
Announced: April 11, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 19
Seller Founded: 2011
Seller Focus: Digital
Coverage: Announcement
Hanover Communications acquired by Avenir Global
Seller: Hanover Communications (London, UK)
Buyer: Avenir Global (Montreal, Quebec)
Announced: April 4, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 175
Seller Founded: 1998
Seller Focus: Public Relations
Coverage: Announcement
Droga5 acquired by Accenture
Seller: Droga5 (New York, NY)
Buyer: Accenture (Dublin, Ireland)
Announced: April 3, 2019
Buyer Type: Consulting Firm
Seller Employees: 600
Seller Founded: 2006
Seller Focus: Creative
Coverage: Announcement | New York Times | PR Week
LFPR acquired by Bastion Collective
Seller: LFPR (Irvina, CA)
Buyer: Bastion Collective (Melbourne, Australia)
Announced: April 2, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: Unknown
Seller Founded: Unknown
Seller Focus: Digital
Coverage: Announcement
Vertical Measures acquired by Investis Digital
Seller: Vertical Measures (Phoenix, AZ)
Buyer: Investis Digital (London, UK)
Announced: April 1, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 60
Seller Founded: 2012
Seller Focus: Digital
Coverage: Announcement
NichePlus Digital acquired by AMF Media Group
Seller: NichePlus Digital (Vancouver, BC)
Buyer: AMF Media Group (San Ramon, CA)
Announced: April 1, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 5
Seller Founded: 2012
Seller Focus: Digital
Coverage: Announcement
Sepia Communications acquired by Next 15
Seller: Sepia Communications (London, UK)
Buyer: Next 15 / OutCast (San Francisco, CA)
Announced: March 25, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 16
Seller Founded: 2012
Seller Focus: Public Relations
Coverage: Announcement | PR Week
BJL acquired by Dentsu Aegis Network
Seller: BJL (Manchester, UK)
Buyer: Dentsu Aegis Network (London, UK)
Announced: March 19, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 75
Seller Founded: 1987
Seller Focus: Creative
Coverage: Release
Intermarket acquired by Lansons
Seller: Intermarket Communications (New York, NY)
Buyer: Lansons (London, UK)
Announced: February 22, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 15
Seller Founded: 1986
Seller Focus: Financial Services
Coverage: PR Week
Moorgate Communications acquired by Finn Partners
Seller: Moorgate Communications (London, UK)
Buyer: Finn Partners (New York, NY)
Announced: February 14, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 16
Seller Founded: 2002
Seller Focus: Financial Services
Coverage: Release
Small Army acquired by Finn Partners
Seller: Small Army (Boston, MA)
Buyer: Finn Partners (New York, NY)
Announced: February 7, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 45
Seller Founded: 2002
Seller Focus: Digital
Coverage: Announcement
Publicum Group and Idea Group acquired by Havas
Sellers: Publicum Group and Idea Group (Lithuania & Estonia)
Buyer: Havas Group (Paris, France)
Announced: January 29, 2019
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: Unknown
Seller Founded: 2001 (Publicum)
Seller Focus: PR in the Baltics
Coverage: Holmes Report
Codeword acquired by WE Communications
Seller: Codeword (New York, NY)
Buyer: WE Communications (Bellevue, WA)
Announced: January 16, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 75
Seller Founded: 2010
Seller Focus: Content Marketing
Coverage: Holmes Report
Speakerbox acquired by REQ
Seller: SpeakerBox (Vienna, VA)
Buyer: REQ (Washington, DC)
Announced: January 16, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 8
Seller Founded: 1997
Seller Focus: Technology
Coverage: Capitol Communicator
Z|COMM acquired by rbb Communications
Seller: Z|COMM (Miami, FL)
Buyer: rbb Communications (Miami, FL)
Announced: January 16, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 5
Seller Founded: 2001
Seller Focus: Lifestyle
Coverage: Announcement
CatchOn acquired by Finn Partners
Seller: CatchOn (Hong Kong)
Buyer: Finn Partners (New York, NY)
Announced: January 9, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 30
Seller Founded: 1997
Seller Focus: Travel & Lifestyle
Coverage: Announcement
Mansfield Communications acquired by Proof
Seller: Mansfield Communications (Toronto, Ontario)
Buyer: Proof (Toronto, Ontario)
Announced: January 7, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 6
Seller Founded: 2013
Seller Focus: Traditional and Digital PR
Coverage: Announcement
Westwicke Partners acquired by ICR
Seller: Westwicke Partners (Baltimore, MD)
Buyer: ICR (New York, NY)
Announced: January 3, 2019
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 75
Seller Founded: 2006
Seller Focus: Healthcare
Coverage: Announcement
Chip Griffin founded the Small Agency Growth Alliance (SAGA) to help PR and marketing agency owners achieve their goals.