2019 PR Agency M&A Transactions
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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