Recent Private Equity-Backed Marketing & Advertising Acquisitions

Acquisition Volume in Private Equity-Backed Marketing & Advertising by Year

Last 5 years

Acquisition volume by year Annual acquisition counts for the last 5 years for Recent Private Equity-Backed Marketing & Advertising Acquisitions. 140 2022 111 2023 96 2024 85 2025 ~97 est. 25 2026
Actual Full-year estimate
  • Buyer
    EagleTree Capital
    Target
    The Opus Group
    Seller
    Growth Catalyst Partners
    Type
    Buyout

    Investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital acquired The Opus Group, a global experiential, event and brand marketing agency network, from Growth Catalyst Partners. Terms were not disclosed, and EagleTree plans to accelerate global, client-centric growth through organic initiatives and strategic acquisitions.

  • Buyer
    Mountaingate Capital
    Target
    UpSwell Marketing
    Type
    Buyout

    Mountaingate Capital, a Denver-based private equity firm, acquired UpSwell Marketing, a vertically focused, technology-enabled direct response marketing platform. The deal is Mountaingate Fund III’s fourth platform investment and will support UpSwell’s growth through continued investment in people, technology, and additional vertical expansion, including strategic acquisitions.

  • Buyer
    Community Capital
    Target
    Creator's Corner
    Type
    Buyout

    Community Capital, a creator-focused investment firm, has acquired Miami-based Creator's Corner in a multi-million dollar deal. The acquisition is intended to accelerate growth for TikTok Shop affiliates and brands, with the Creator's Corner team remaining in place and Community Capital planning to reinvest more than $1 million over the next 12 months.

  • Buyer
    OneMagnify, Crestview Partners
    Target
    Optimal's Performance Marketing business
    Seller
    Optimal
    Type
    Addon

    OneMagnify, backed by private equity firm Crestview Partners, acquired the Performance Marketing business of Optimal. The deal integrates Optimal’s performance media expertise and proprietary audience data into OneMagnify’s AI-enabled platform and analytics to expand its paid media offering across channels including programmatic, CTV, paid search, paid social, and marketplace advertising. Financial terms were not disclosed.

  • Buyer
    Tonka Bay Equity Partners LLC
    Target
    CAMP Digital

    Tonka Bay Equity Partners LLC made a strategic investment in CAMP Digital, a tech-enabled marketing platform for the home services industry. The funding is intended to fuel CAMP’s next phase of aggressive expansion while maintaining founder-led operational continuity.

  • Buyer
    Shamrock Capital
    Target
    Mutiny
    Seller
    Trailer Park Group
    Type
    Buyout

    Shamrock Capital, through its Clover Fund I, acquired Mutiny, a Los Angeles-based creative agency focused exclusively on gaming audiences. The investment is intended to accelerate Mutiny’s growth while strengthening its position as a leading gaming-focused creative agency, operating as a standalone business.

  • Buyer
    Impact XM, The Riverside Company
    Target
    Jack Morton
    Seller
    Omnicom
    Location
    United States
    Type
    Addon

    Impact XM, a Riverside portfolio company, has acquired Jack Morton from Omnicom in an experiential marketing agency merger. The combined agency will operate under the Jack Morton name, leveraging global brand recognition and expanding end-to-end capabilities and scale.

  • February 19, 2026
    Buyer
    Podean, Mountaingate Capital
    Target
    Ad Advance
    Seller
    Permanent Equity
    Type
    Addon

    Marketplace-focused agency Podean has acquired Ad Advance, a Duluth, Minnesota–based retail media agency, from Permanent Equity. The deal—facilitated by Podean's private equity partner Mountaingate Capital—adds Ad Advance’s Streamline technology and retail-media/DSP capabilities to Podean’s global marketplaces platform and was announced as creating a combined business with ~260 staff across 17 countries.

  • Buyer
    Spotlight AR, LLC, Stone-Goff Partners, Spotlight (Spotlight AR)
    Target
    Captivate Collective
    Location
    Canada
    Type
    Addon

    Stone-Goff Partners’ portfolio company Spotlight AR, LLC acquired Captivate Collective, a customer marketing and advocacy consultancy. The deal marks Spotlight’s first strategic add-on investment and expands its “Influence Orchestration” platform by combining analyst relations, customer advocacy, and AI-driven discovery into an end-to-end offering.

  • February 10, 2026
    Buyer
    Supreme Group, Trinity Hunt Partners
    Target
    Broth
    Location
    United States
    Type
    Addon

    Supreme Group, a healthcare and life sciences marketing and communications platform backed by Trinity Hunt Partners, acquired science-first creative agency Broth. The acquisition strengthens Supreme Group’s Brand + Creative vertical by adding evidence-driven strategy and scientific rigor for complex healthcare commercialization.

  • Buyer
    Mubadala Capital, TWG Global, Apollo-managed funds (Apollo Funds)
    Target
    Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.
    Type
    Buyout

    Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Mubadala Capital, in partnership with TWG Global, in an all-cash transaction valued at an enterprise value of $6.2 billion. Under the terms, Clear Channel shareholders will receive $2.43 per share in cash, representing a 71% premium to the unaffected share price, and the deal is expected to close by the end of Q3 2026 subject to regulatory approvals and shareholder approval.

  • Buyer
    XR (Extreme Reach)
    Target
    Telly Traffic
    Location
    Greater London, United Kingdom
    Type
    Addon

    XR, an advertising-operations platform, has acquired UK-based business affairs specialist Telly Traffic to strengthen its UK advertising operations and compliance capabilities. Telly Traffic's London-based team will join XR and continue operating from its London office as part of XR's expanded business affairs offering to support advertisers and agencies across linear TV and connected TV.

  • January 28, 2026
    Buyer
    Residence, Gemspring Capital
    Target
    OK COOL
    Location
    England, United Kingdom
    Type
    Addon

    Residence, a Gemspring Capital-backed global creative network, acquired OK COOL, a social-native creative agency with teams in London, New York and Sydney. The add-on expands Residence’s social strategy, creator partnerships, always-on content and measurement capabilities while allowing OK COOL to operate under its existing brand and leadership.

  • Buyer
    AEA Elevate
    Target
    829 Studios
    Seller
    CIVC Partners
    Type
    Buyout

    AEA Elevate, the growth buyout strategy of AEA Investors, acquired 829 Studios, an integrated technology-enabled digital marketing firm based in Boston. The deal was funded through AEA Elevate, with 829’s founder, management, and employees reinvesting; terms were not disclosed.

  • Buyer
    OuterBox, LLC, WILsquare Capital
    Target
    GRO Marketing, LLC
    Type
    Addon

    OuterBox, a portfolio company of WILsquare Capital, has acquired GRO Marketing, a Tuscaloosa-based digital performance marketing agency specializing in multifamily, student housing and senior living clients. The add-on strengthens OuterBox's vertical capabilities and performance marketing expertise to better serve residential community property management companies and ownership groups.

  • Buyer
    Jack Morton, Impact XM, The Riverside Company
    Target
    Jack Morton, Impact XM
    Seller
    Omnicom
    Location
    United States
    Type
    Buyout

    Impact XM and Jack Morton announced they will merge to form an expanded global experiential marketing agency operating under the Jack Morton name. The combined organization is expected to integrate strategy, creative, production/fabrication, digital innovation and measurement, and is projected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary approvals.

  • Buyer
    Platinum Equity
    Target
    Czarnowski Collective
    Seller
    Mark Nagle and the Nagle family
    Type
    Buyout

    Platinum Equity has acquired Czarnowski Collective, a Chicago-based experiential marketing and event production firm, from CEO Mark Nagle and the Nagle family. The deal includes a leadership transition (Jim Milanowski to become CEO) and signals Platinum’s intent to invest in systems, expand footprint and pursue strategic add-ons while preserving the company’s culture.

  • January 16, 2026
    Buyer
    SaleCycle
    Target
    BEYABLE
    Location
    Île-de-France, France
    Type
    Addon

    Gateshead-based SaleCycle, backed by BGF, has acquired French on-site personalisation and conversion optimisation specialist BEYABLE to create a combined full-funnel European martech platform for enterprise e-commerce brands. The deal expands SaleCycle's product suite (identity resolution, behavioural intent scoring, on-site personalisation, A/B testing and remarketing) and aims to accelerate international growth while emphasising strong European data governance.

  • Buyer
    Highwire
    Target
    The Bliss Group
    Type
    Buyout

    San Francisco-based strategic communications agency Highwire has acquired New York-based The Bliss Group, combining the two firms to create an integrated marketing and communications partner serving technology, healthcare, and financial-services clients. The deal (terms undisclosed) folds Bliss into Highwire’s platform—expanding capabilities, sector expertise and bringing Bliss leadership into senior roles at Highwire while creating a combined organization of more than 250 professionals across North America.

  • January 15, 2026
    Buyer
    SPINS
    Target
    MikMak
    Type
    Buyout

    SPINS, the Chicago-based provider of CPG data and commerce solutions, has acquired MikMak, a New York-based commerce intelligence and omnichannel orchestration software company. The acquisition expands SPINS’ shopper engagement and omnichannel activation capabilities by combining its attribute-rich CPG dataset with MikMak’s orchestration and measurement platform to better plan, execute, and measure marketing across digital and physical touchpoints.

  • Buyer
    Curion, Summit Park
    Target
    Blue Yonder Research
    Location
    West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
    Type
    Addon

    Curion, a Summit Park portfolio company, has acquired Blue Yonder Research, a Leeds-based market research agency specializing in R&D and innovation insights. The acquisition expands Curion's global delivery capabilities — adding Blue Yonder's Sense:Lab outsourced delivery model and strengthening services across CPG end markets; financial terms were not disclosed.

  • Buyer
    Overture Promotions Inc.
    Target
    Pride Products Distributors LLC
    Type
    Addon

    Overture Promotions Inc. announced it will acquire Pride Products Distributors LLC, a Livingston, New Jersey-based provider of apparel, corporate gifts, and custom merchandise. The deal is intended to expand Overture’s North American footprint and deepen its creative and product expertise for branded merchandise and corporate gifting programs.

  • Buyer
    Domaine Worldwide, BV Investment Partners
    Target
    Pattern
    Type
    Addon

    Domaine Worldwide, a global Shopify design and development practice backed by BV Investment Partners, has acquired Pattern, an award-winning digital design agency focused on commerce brands. The acquisition combines Pattern’s brand and experience design capabilities with Domaine’s engineering and delivery operations to expand experience-first digital commerce offerings; terms were not disclosed.

  • January 7, 2026
    Buyer
    2X
    Target
    The Kiln
    Type
    Addon

    2X, a PE-backed Marketing-as-a-Service (MaaS) and go-to-market (GTM) orchestration provider, has acquired The Kiln, a Brooklyn-based Clay partner specializing in GTM engineering and RevOps. The acquisition expands 2X’s capabilities from marketing execution to full GTM orchestration and scales The Kiln’s Clay expertise to enterprise clients as an add-on to 2X’s PE-backed platform.

  • Buyer
    Bain Capital
    Target
    Echo Marketing
    Seller
    Echo Marketing CEO Kim Cheol-ung, an affiliated shareholder
    Location
    South Korea
    Type
    Buyout

    Bain Capital has agreed to acquire South Korea-based Echo Marketing in a transaction valued at roughly $344 million. The deal combines a negotiated purchase of a 43.66% controlling stake with a tender offer for the remaining shares, followed by plans for voluntary delisting and take-private steps under Korean law.

  • Buyer
    The Vomela Companies, The Riverside Company
    Target
    Moss Inc.
    Seller
    EagleTree Capital
    Type
    Addon

    The Riverside Company-backed Vomela acquired Moss Inc., a global producer of premium event and retail graphics and complex structures, from investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital. The transaction merges Vomela’s Fusion events unit into Moss (to operate as Moss, A Vomela Company), expanding Vomela’s European footprint and creating a larger global experiential events production platform.

  • December 11, 2025
    Buyer
    Nava
    Target
    GH Brandtech
    Location
    São Paulo, Brazil
    Type
    Addon

    Brazilian technology consultancy Nava has acquired GH Brandtech, a branding and creative innovation consultancy, marking Nava’s first inorganic growth move since private equity firm Crescera Capital invested. The deal includes an option to acquire full control within 36 months and is intended to expand Nava’s creative innovation, branding and GenAI capabilities as part of its push toward R$1 billion in revenue.

  • December 11, 2025
    Buyer
    Alloy, Purpose Group
    Target
    The Partnership
    Type
    Addon

    Alloy, a Purpose Group‑backed marketing and transformation agency based in Atlanta, has acquired The Partnership (TPI), Atlanta’s oldest privately‑held full‑service marketing and brand communications agency. The Partnership’s team and proprietary analytics/AI product (P360/P360-like dashboard) will operate under the Alloy brand to expand Alloy’s capabilities in communications, brand strategy, paid media, analytics and healthcare/financial services expertise as a bolt‑on acquisition.

  • December 10, 2025
    Buyer
    Cadent
    Target
    VuePlanner
    Type
    Addon

    Cadent, a predictive advertising platform and Novacap portfolio company, has acquired VuePlanner, a YouTube-focused media intelligence and optimization platform. The deal brings YouTube creator inventory and VuePlanner’s contextual scoring, predictive targeting, and measurement capabilities into Cadent’s unified Total Video offering as a capability-expanding add-on.

  • Buyer
    Wpromote, ZMC
    Target
    Giant Spoon
    Type
    Buyout

    Wpromote has acquired Cannes Lions–winning creative agency Giant Spoon to form a combined agency, Wpromote x Giant Spoon, blending creative, experiential, data, and full-funnel performance capabilities. The transaction was supported by Wpromote's private equity partner ZMC; Wpromote CEO Andrea Bendzick will lead the combined agency while Giant Spoon's co-founders join the executive leadership team.

  • Buyer
    MarketFully
    Target
    Social Element
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Type
    Addon

    MarketFully has acquired Social Element, a global social media agency, to extend its multilingual InContent Marketing platform into social media, community engagement, and influencer management. The deal — backed by MarketFully's sponsor Lightview Capital — integrates Social Element's social strategy and creative capabilities with MarketFully's AI-driven multilingual content stack; terms were not disclosed.

  • Buyer
    Broadsign, Crestline Investors
    Target
    Place Exchange
    Type
    Buyout

    Broadsign has acquired Place Exchange, a leading independent programmatic out-of-home (OOH) supply-side platform, with a minority investment from Crestline Investors. The deal integrates Place Exchange’s SSP, programmatic capabilities and team into Broadsign’s global DOOH platform to expand programmatic inventory, measurement and automation across Broadsign’s network; terms were not disclosed.

  • November 12, 2025
    Buyer
    24 Seven, Morgan Stanley Capital Partners
    Target
    Markacy
    Type
    Addon

    24 Seven, a marketing, creative, and digital talent platform backed by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, has acquired New York–based marketing consulting firm Markacy. The deal expands 24 Seven’s end-to-end marketing capabilities and deepens its AI-driven performance marketing, measurement, and M&A marketing diligence offerings as part of the firm’s continued roll-up strategy.

  • Buyer
    Bond (Bond Brand Loyalty), Mountaingate Capital
    Target
    Armadillo
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Type
    Addon

    Bond, the customer-intelligence driven engagement company backed by Mountaingate Capital, has acquired UK-based CRM and relationship marketing agency Armadillo. The deal strengthens Bond's CRM, personalization and loyalty capabilities and expands its international footprint across North America and Europe.

  • Buyer
    Fingerpaint Group
    Target
    L&M Healthcare Communications
    Type
    Buyout

    Fingerpaint Group has acquired L&M Healthcare Communications, a New Jersey–based medical communications agency that serves biotech and pharmaceutical clients. The acquisition expands Fingerpaint Medical's medical communications and medical affairs capabilities; financial terms were not disclosed.

  • Buyer
    Imaginuity (via subsidiary)
    Target
    Adwerx (platform assets)
    Seller
    Adwerx

    An Imaginuity subsidiary has acquired the Adwerx digital advertising automation platform and supporting team (≈40 employees) from Adwerx. The platform — used by more than 12,000 users across real estate, mortgage and distributed organizations — will be integrated with Imaginuity’s Pylot CMS and AdScience performance intelligence engine to expand product-led growth and always-on, personalized ad automation for franchise and multi-location clients.

  • Buyer
    Headland, LDC
    Target
    Bladonmore
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Type
    Addon

    LDC-backed communications consultancy Headland has acquired Bladonmore, an international digital, brand and content agency, to broaden Headland’s advisory capabilities and extend its international reach. Bladonmore — a roughly 50-strong team operating from London and New York — will remain a separate brand and management team while collaborating with Headland to serve clients across the US, UK, Europe and the Middle East.

  • Buyer
    Ignite Visibility
    Target
    EverConnect
    Seller
    EverCommerce
    Type
    Addon

    Ignite Visibility has acquired EverConnect, the marketing technology and lead-generation platform of EverCommerce, expanding Ignite's national-to-local digital marketing capabilities for multi-location and franchise service brands. The acquisition — Ignite's fourth since partnering with Mountaingate Capital — brings EverConnect's SEO, website development, directory and performance lead-generation capabilities into Ignite's platform; financing and advisory support were provided by Capital Southwest Corporation, Main Street Capital, Canaccord Genuity and others.

  • October 29, 2025
    Buyer
    Level, Dubin Clark
    Target
    BAM Strategy
    Location
    Quebec, Canada
    Type
    Addon

    Level, a digital marketing agency backed by private equity firm Dubin Clark, has acquired BAM Strategy to form a unified growth platform combining performance marketing, analytics, creative, CRM, and loyalty capabilities. The combined organization creates a roughly 250-person full-service offering to deliver end-to-end marketing solutions across acquisition, retention, and loyalty for clients in CPG, education, financial services and other sectors.

  • Buyer
    OuterBox, WILsquare Capital
    Target
    Accelerated Digital Media
    Type
    Addon

    OuterBox, a portfolio company of WILsquare Capital, has acquired Accelerated Digital Media (ADM), a Chicago-based performance marketing agency that specializes in paid search, paid social, and analytics for healthcare and e-commerce clients. The add-on strengthens OuterBox's paid media, programmatic and analytics capabilities and expands its presence in the healthcare and enterprise e-commerce end markets. Terms were not disclosed.

  • Buyer
    HALO
    Target
    What's Happening Promotions
    Type
    Addon

    HALO has acquired What's Happening Promotions, a promotional marketing agency based in Gainesville, Florida. The acquired business will operate as What's Happening Promotions Powered by HALO and will retain its team while gaining access to HALO's creative talent, technology, and operational capabilities.

  • October 14, 2025
    Buyer
    Alloy
    Target
    Hot Sauce
    Type
    Addon

    Alloy, a Purpose Group portfolio marketing and brand agency, has acquired Atlanta-area digital agency Hot Sauce to deepen Alloy’s martech and growth-marketing capabilities. The deal is an add-on to Alloy (a Purpose Group portfolio company) and will integrate Hot Sauce’s martech, UX/design, and growth marketing expertise into Alloy’s service offering.

  • Buyer
    Prezent AI, Multiplier Capital, Greycroft, Nomura Strategic Ventures, True Global Ventures, Emergent Ventures, West Wave Capital, BluePointe Ventures, Alumni Ventures
    Target
    Prezentium
    Type
    Buyout

    Prezent AI acquired Prezentium, the largest business presentation services firm serving life sciences customers, in a cash-plus-equity deal and announced an additional $30M in funding. The round was led by Multiplier Capital, Greycroft and Nomura Strategic Ventures (with participation from several existing investors), valuing Prezent AI at $400M as it pursues an AI-enabled roll-up strategy to combine software and human presentation services.

  • Buyer
    Mountaingate Capital
    Target
    Walker Sands
    Seller
    Stone-Goff Partners
    Type
    Buyout

    Mountaingate Capital completed the acquisition of Walker Sands, an integrated B2B growth services agency, from Stone-Goff Partners. Walker Sands—which operates offices in Chicago, Seattle, and Boston and employs more than 170 people—will continue to be led by co-CEOs Andrew Cross and Dave Parro as Mountaingate supports growth through capability expansion, data & analytics investment, and strategic acquisitions.

  • Buyer
    Serata Capital Partners, Paceline Equity Partners
    Target
    EventLink (EventLink Holding Company)
    Seller
    Fort Point Capital
    Type
    Buyout

    Austin-based Serata Capital Partners and Dallas-based Paceline Equity Partners have acquired EventLink (EventLink Holding Company), a Sterling Heights, Michigan experiential marketing and event services provider, from Fort Point Capital. The transaction transfers ownership to the two private equity managers, who plan to support EventLink's growth, expand capabilities and geographic reach, and deepen client relationships; terms were not disclosed.

  • Buyer
    Spectrum Science
    Target
    Return on Focus
    Type
    Addon

    Spectrum Science has acquired Return on Focus, a strategic marketing consultancy that provides evidence-based brand positioning and strategic services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The acquisition strengthens Spectrum’s strategic and commercial capabilities—bringing Return on Focus’ data-driven positioning expertise into Spectrum’s integrated healthcare marketing platform; Dan Reinhardt and Abby Manning will continue to lead the ROF team.

  • Buyer
    Seacoast Capital, Wildwood Capital
    Target
    Mail America
    Seller
    Founding shareholders

    Seacoast Capital has made a subordinated debt and equity co-investment in Mail America to support a recapitalization led by Wildwood Capital. The deal provides liquidity to Mail America’s founding shareholders and positions the company to invest in people, technology, production capacity and potential add-on acquisitions to accelerate growth.

  • Buyer
    Gravity Global, Elysian Capital
    Target
    Marketing Doctor
    Seller
    Janet Casey (Founder & CEO of Marketing Doctor)
    Type
    Addon

    Gravity Global, backed by Elysian Capital, has acquired performance media agency Marketing Doctor to strengthen its paid media capabilities and integrated marketing services. The add-on expands Gravity Global's expertise in regulated and mid-market sectors, bringing Marketing Doctor's data-driven media planning, buying, and public-sector experience into the Gravity network.

  • Buyer
    Interluxe Group, North & Warren, Mountaingate Capital
    Target
    Quinn
    Seller
    Quinn, Florence Quinn
    Type
    Addon

    Interluxe Group and North & Warren, in partnership and with equity backing from Mountaingate Capital, have acquired Quinn, a luxury-focused strategic communications agency. The deal adds Quinn’s storytelling, earned media, influencer and communications capabilities to the Mountaingate-backed luxury marketing platform to create an integrated end-to-end offering for luxury brands.

  • Buyer
    CQL
    Target
    Riess Group
    Type
    Buyout

    CQL, a Shopify Platinum digital commerce agency based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has acquired Riess Group, a Shopify Platinum partner with offices in France and Texas, to create a leading unified commerce agency combining ecommerce and point-of-sale (POS) expertise. Riess Group founder Mike Riess will join CQL as VP of Unified Commerce and Managing Director, EMEA, as the combined firm expands capabilities to serve mid-market through enterprise retail, fashion and entertainment brands.

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