2020 PR Agency M&A Transactions
Agency M&A Lists:
The following public relations agency M&A transactions were announced in 2020. 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.
Calypso Communications acquired by Matter Communications
Seller: Calypso Communications (Portsmouth, NH)
Buyer: Matter Communications (Newburyport, MA)
Announced: March 3, 2020
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 10
Seller Founded: 2000
Seller Focus: Marketing & Branding
Coverage: PRWeek
Navigate PR acquired by Witt O’Brien’s
Seller: Navigate PR (London, UK)
Buyer: Witt O’Brien’s (Washington, DC)
Announced: February 26, 2020
Buyer Type: Other
Seller Employees: 7
Seller Founded: 2003
Seller Focus: Maritime
Coverage: Announcement
Sloane & Company acquired by Stagwell Group / SKDKnickerbocker
Seller: Sloane & Company (New York, NY)
Buyer: Stagwell Group / SKDKnickerbocker (New York, NY)
Announced: February 20, 2020
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 50
Seller Founded: 1998
Seller Focus: Financial
Coverage: PRWeek | O’Dwyer’s
MIX PR acquired by Raffetto Herman Strategic Communications
Seller: MIX PR (Seattle, WA)
Buyer: Raffetto Herman Strategic Communications (Seattle, WA)
Announced: February 11, 2020
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 10
Seller Founded: 2010
Seller Focus: Technology
Coverage: Announcement
CGPR acquired by French/West/Vaughan
Seller: CGPR (Marblehead, MA)
Buyer: French/West/Vaughan (New York, NY)
Announced: February 3, 2020
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 7
Seller Founded: 1993
Seller Focus: Outdoor Lifestyle
Coverage: Announcement | PR Week
Diplolicy acquired by LLYC
Seller: Diplolicy (Barcelona, Spain)
Buyer: LLYC (New York, NY)
Announced: January 20, 2020
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 1
Seller Founded: 2016
Seller Focus: Public Affairs
Coverage: Announcement | Holmes Report
Casteel Schoenborn acquired by Lambert & Co.
Seller: Casteel Schoenborn (Williamsville, NY)
Buyer: Lambert & Co. (Detroit, MI)
Announced: January 14, 2020
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 4
Seller Founded: 2010
Seller Focus: Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Coverage: Announcement
21GRAMS acquired by W2O Group
Seller: 21GRAMS (New York, NY)
Buyer: W2O Group (San Francisco, CA)
Announced: January 13, 2020
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 150
Seller Founded: 2016
Seller Focus: Healthcare Advertising
Coverage: Announcement | Holmes Report | FiercePharma | PR Week | O’Dwyer’s | MediaPost
The Tembo Group acquired by APCO Worldwide
Seller: The Tembo Group (Brooklyn, NY)
Buyer: APCO Worldwide (Washington, DC)
Announced: January 13, 2020
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 4
Seller Founded: 2015
Seller Focus: Social Impact
Coverage: Announcement | O’Dwyer’s | PR Week
Nectar Communications acquired by Next 15
Seller: Nectar Communications (San Francisco, CA)
Buyer: Next 15 / OutCast (San Francisco, CA)
Announced: January 8, 2020
Buyer Type: Holding Company
Seller Employees: 38
Seller Founded: 2008
Seller Focus: Technology
Coverage: Holmes Report | PR Week
Hatley Strategy Advisors acquired by Teneo
Seller: Hatley Strategy Advisors (Montreal, Canada)
Buyer: Teneo (New York, NY)
Announced: January 7, 2020
Buyer Type: Consulting Firm
Seller Employees: 6
Seller Founded: 2010
Seller Focus: Puiblic Affairs
Coverage: Announcement | PR Week | Holmes Report
Bottom Line Marketing & Public Relations acquired by Michael Best Strategies
Seller: Bottom Line Marketing & Public Relations (Milwaukee, WI)
Buyer: Michael Best Strategies (Madison, WI)
Announced: January 7, 2020
Buyer Type: Consulting Firm
Seller Employees: 3
Seller Founded: 1998
Seller Focus: Healthcare, Financial Services, and Real Estate
Coverage: Announcement | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | O’Dwyer’s | BizTimes
TechTHiNQ acquired by Brodeur Partners
Seller: TechTHiNQ (Phoenix, AZ)
Buyer: Brodeur Partners (Boston, MA)
Announced: January 6, 2020
Buyer Type: Independent
Seller Employees: 3
Seller Founded: 2010
Seller Focus: Technology
Coverage: Announcement
Chip Griffin founded the Small Agency Growth Alliance (SAGA) to help PR and marketing agency owners achieve their goals.