Recent Marketing & Advertising Acquisitions
Acquisition Volume in Marketing & Advertising by Year
Last 5 years
This page highlights recent acquisitions in Marketing & Advertising where strategic and private‑equity‑backed buyers are expanding capabilities across paid media, ecommerce, experiential and production services. Transactions range from add‑ons that deepen retail‑media and DSP expertise to deals that broaden experiential, print and direct‑marketing capacity.
Buyers include specialist platforms and PE‑backed agencies — for example, OneMagnify (backed by Crestview Partners), Podean with Mountaingate Capital, and Impact XM (a Riverside portfolio company). Deal locations span U.S. hubs such as California, New York, Texas and the District of Columbia, with activity also noted in British Columbia and Estonia.
What Stands Out
- Private equity‑backed platforms are active: examples include OneMagnify/Crestview Partners, Podean/Mountaingate Capital, and Impact XM/The Riverside Company.
- Capability add‑ons focus on performance and retail media (programmatic, CTV, paid search/social, DSPs), ecommerce/Shopify development, and experiential/live events.
- Strategic buyers are also expanding production and fulfillment: print, installation, promotional products and direct‑mail capacity feature in several deals.
- Geographic spread centers on U.S. markets (CA, NY, TX, DC, FL, MN, IL, VA) with cross‑border and niche market plays in British Columbia and Estonia.
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- Buyer
- Super League Enterprise
- Target
- Misfits Gaming Group (advertising division / Misfits Ads Division)
- Seller
- Misfits Gaming Group
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Type
- Buyout
Super League Enterprise has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Misfits Gaming Group advertising division for $1.5 million in cash, plus a 19.99% equity stake in Super League and potential additional milestone-based consideration over 24 months. The deal also includes a preferred commercial brand partnership agreement enabling Super League to run brand integrations across Misfits’ game portfolio reaching more than 100 million monthly active users.
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March 13, 2026
- Buyer
- Publicis Groupe
- Target
- AdgeAI
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Israel
- Type
- Buyout
Publicis Groupe has acquired creative analytics company AdgeAI to integrate its predictive analytics technology into Publicis’ global production infrastructure. The acquisition combines AdgeAI’s measurement tools with Publicis’ AI-driven production platform to deliver forward-looking, real-time creative performance insights aimed at improving ROI.
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March 13, 2026
- Buyer
- Blue Butterfly LLC
- Target
- IndERA (formerly Crystal Media)
- Seller
- Crystal Vilkaitis (IndERA founder)
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- United States
- Type
- Buyout
Blue Butterfly announced it has acquired IndERA, a digital marketing, education, and events platform serving independent retailers across the United States. The acquisition combines IndERA’s marketing and training offerings (including Facebook and Instagram ads management) with Blue Butterfly’s retail operations, profitability strategy, and retail real estate advisory expertise.
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March 12, 2026
- Buyer
- Verndale
- Target
- Homestead Studio
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- United States
- Type
- Buyout
Verndale announced the acquisition of Homestead Studio, a D2C acquisition and retention agency and a Klaviyo Master Elite Partner. Homestead will operate within Verndale’s DTC and commerce practice, strengthening full-funnel lifecycle marketing and performance optimization capabilities.
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- Buyer
- Precision Strategies LLC
- Target
- Firehouse Strategies LLC
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- District of Columbia, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Precision Strategies LLC has acquired Firehouse Strategies LLC to create a larger, integrated public affairs and strategic communications agency with 125 professionals. The combined firm will expand capabilities across AI/data and insights, digital engagement, paid media, creative production, crisis communications, and Firehouse’s nationwide “grasstops” influencer mobilization network.
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- Buyer
- Community Capital
- Target
- Creator's Corner
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Florida, United States
- 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.
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March 3, 2026
- Buyer
- Levy
- Target
- The iLUKA Collective
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- United Kingdom
- Type
- Buyout
Levy, a hospitality and venue-services provider, has acquired The iLUKA Collective to build a combined powerhouse focused on strategy, design, and live event execution. The partnership is positioned to unite Levy’s venue partnerships with iLUKA’s expertise in global sporting-event sponsorship and hospitality programming.
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March 1, 2026
- Buyer
- Brand Revolution
- Target
- fresh id
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Germany
- Type
- Buyout
Global marketing agency Brand Revolution has acquired custom merchandise provider fresh id. The deal expands Brand Revolution’s reach in Germany and strengthens its custom products and sustainability-focused merchandising capabilities, with fresh id remaining based in Germany as a division.
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February 26, 2026
- Buyer
- OneMagnify, Crestview Partners
- Target
- Optimal (Performance Marketing business)
- Seller
- Optimal
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- District of Columbia, United States
- Type
- Addon
OneMagnify, a Crestview Partners–backed AI-enabled marketing platform, has acquired the Performance Marketing business of Optimal to integrate Optimal's performance media expertise and proprietary audience data into OneMagnify's platform. The acquisition expands OneMagnify's paid media capabilities across programmatic, CTV, paid search, paid social, and marketplace advertising; financial terms were not disclosed.
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February 26, 2026
- Buyer
- Tonka Bay Equity Partners LLC
- Target
- CAMP Digital
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Minnesota, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
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.
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February 25, 2026
- Buyer
- Shamrock Capital
- Target
- Mutiny
- Seller
- Trailer Park Group
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- California, United States
- 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.
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February 20, 2026
- Buyer
- ThriveCart
- Target
- VBOUT
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- United States
- Type
- Buyout
ThriveCart, an all-in-one creator commerce and learning platform, announced it has acquired VBOUT, an AI-enriched marketing automation, CRM, and customer journey platform. The integration is intended to bring AI lifecycle automation and behavioral segmentation directly into ThriveCart’s course, membership, and revenue workflows.
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February 19, 2026
- Buyer
- Podean, Mountaingate Capital
- Target
- Ad Advance
- Seller
- Permanent Equity
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Minnesota, United States
- 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.
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February 19, 2026
- Buyer
- Impact XM, The Riverside Company
- Target
- Jack Morton Worldwide
- Seller
- Omnicom
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Massachusetts, United States
- Type
- Addon
Impact XM, a portfolio company of The Riverside Company, has acquired Jack Morton from Omnicom in a transformative add-on that combines two leading experiential and live-event marketing agencies. The combined business will operate under the Jack Morton name and expands global scale, capabilities and talent across creative, digital, production and measurement to serve major brand clients across 20 offices worldwide.
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February 19, 2026
- Buyer
- Avenue Z
- Target
- Varfaj
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Florida, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Avenue Z, a Miami-based hybrid marketing and PR agency, has acquired Varfaj, a Shopify design and development premier partner, to build a full‑funnel growth platform for direct‑to‑consumer brands. Varfaj will be rebranded as Avenue Z, its founder David Conforti will join as Chief Growth Officer, and its Shopify development, CRO and proprietary frameworks will integrate into Avenue Z’s Miami headquarters to expand ecommerce and AI‑led commerce capabilities.
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February 18, 2026
- Buyer
- Custom Logos
- Target
- Builder Promotions
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- California, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Custom Logos, a San Diego-based promotional products distributor, has acquired Builder Promotions, a Del Mar marketing and promotional-products distributor serving the homebuilding and homebuying market. Builder Promotions will operate as "Builder Promotions Powered by Custom Logos," expanding Custom Logos' capabilities and presence in the homebuilder marketing sector; financial terms were not disclosed.
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February 17, 2026
- Buyer
- Komerz Ltd.
- Target
- Pathformance
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- United States
- Type
- Buyout
Komerz Ltd. has announced the acquisition of Pathformance, a marketing measurement and attribution firm. The deal is positioned as bringing Komerz’s global commerce operating platform together with Pathformance’s unified measurement capabilities to help brands link marketing investment to revenue impact across digital, retail, and marketplace channels.
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February 16, 2026
- Buyer
- EWR Digital
- Target
- Modalpoint
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Texas, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Houston-based EWR Digital has acquired Modalpoint, an oil and gas market-insight and commercialization-strategy brand founded by Mark LaCour. The acquisition expands EWR Digital's advisory and marketing capabilities for oil & gas and other industrial B2B markets, with Modalpoint operating as an energy market insight and research platform under EWR ownership.
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February 16, 2026
- Buyer
- Spotlight AR, Stone-Goff Partners
- Target
- Captivate Collective
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
- Type
- Addon
Spotlight AR, a Stone-Goff Partners portfolio company, has acquired Captivate Collective, a customer marketing and advocacy consultancy. The add-on expands Spotlight's capabilities to deliver an end-to-end "Influence Orchestration" offering that unites analyst relations, customer advocacy, and AI-driven discovery for B2B customers.
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February 14, 2026
- Buyer
- Direct Marketing Solutions
- Target
- Johnson & Quin
- Seller
- Johnson & Quin family owners (Henkel family / company leadership)
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Direct Marketing Solutions (DMS) has acquired Johnson & Quin, a 150-year-old, family-owned direct mail production and marketing firm, combining complementary capabilities to form a larger national direct-marketing platform. The deal expands DMS's production capacity and Midwest footprint, preserves leadership continuity (Andrew Henkel becomes President of DMS; David Henkel joins the DMS board) and aims to deepen end-to-end, data-driven omnichannel direct marketing services.
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February 13, 2026
- Buyer
- Boonuspart.ee
- Target
- Kasiino-boonus.ee
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Estonia
- Type
- Buyout
Estonian casino-portal Boonuspart.ee has acquired Kasiino-boonus.ee to consolidate its position in the Estonian iGaming affiliate market. The deal combines Kasiino-boonus.ee's strong search visibility around bonus terms with Boonuspart.ee's broader editorial and comparison content to expand content depth, SEO strength and user experience; no player data is being transferred as part of the transaction.
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February 13, 2026
- Buyer
- Front Row
- Target
- Socium Media
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- New York, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Front Row, a New York–based e-commerce and Amazon marketplace agency, has acquired Socium Media, a performance marketing and digital growth agency. Socium will merge into Front Row's integrated agency business to deepen performance marketing capabilities and expand Front Row's Connected Commerce platform, with Socium operating initially as "Socium, Powered by Front Row."
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- Buyer
- Duggal Visual Solutions
- Target
- CSI Printing & Graphics
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Virginia, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Duggal Visual Solutions has acquired CSI (CSI Printing & Graphics), a Washington, D.C.-area print and graphics firm, to expand Duggal’s national production and installation capacity and add a presence in the Washington, D.C. region. The deal integrates CSI’s large-format and dye-sublimation printing capabilities and installation expertise into Duggal’s broader digital signage, fabrication, and creative services platform.
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February 11, 2026
- Buyer
- Main Street Capital Corporation, MSC Income Fund, Inc., DMS Holdco LLC
- Target
- Johnson & Quin, Inc., DMS Holdco LLC
- Seller
- owners of Johnson & Quin, Inc.
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN) and its co-investor MSC Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: MSIF) completed a follow-on investment totaling $25.6 million in their existing portfolio company, DMS Holdco LLC. The new financing supports DMS’s strategic acquisition of Johnson & Quin, Inc. (J&Q), an omni-channel/direct marketing services business located in Chicago, Illinois.
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February 10, 2026
- Buyer
- Supreme Group, Trinity Hunt Partners
- Target
- Broth
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- New York, United States
- Type
- Addon
Supreme Group, a Trinity Hunt Partners‑backed healthcare and life sciences marketing and communications platform, has acquired Broth, a science‑first creative agency. Broth will join Supreme Group's Brand + Creative vertical to add scientific rigor and evidence‑driven strategy for complex therapeutic commercialization and launch work.
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February 9, 2026
- Buyer
- Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
- Target
- Beanstalk
- Seller
- JPE Capital, Beach Point Capital Management, Family office of Lance Hirt, Family office of Brian Cooper
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- New York, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has acquired Beanstalk, a global brand licensing and management agency, and will integrate it into CAA Brand Management to expand its licensing and consumer-products capabilities. Sellers include JPE Capital, Beach Point Capital Management and the family offices of Lance Hirt and Brian Cooper; financial terms were not disclosed.
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February 9, 2026
- Buyer
- Mubadala Capital, TWG Global, Apollo-managed funds (Apollo Funds)
- Target
- Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Texas, United States
- 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.
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February 7, 2026
- Buyer
- SourceCode Communications
- Target
- Rally Point Public Relations
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- New York, United States
- Type
- Buyout
SourceCode Communications has acquired Rally Point Public Relations to deepen its media strategy capabilities and combine Rally Point's editorial storytelling with SourceCode's Storyhub AI-informed insight platform. Rally Point's team will join SourceCode immediately, with co-founder John Cook leading media strategy and fintech teams while co-founder Dorian Langlais departs to start a new consultancy.
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February 7, 2026
- Buyer
- XR (Extreme Reach)
- Target
- Telly Traffic
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- 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.
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February 3, 2026
- Buyer
- FMG
- Target
- Testimonial iQ
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Colorado, United States
- Type
- Buyout
FMG, a marketing platform for wealth management enterprises, financial advisors, and insurance professionals, has acquired Testimonial iQ, an online reputation management platform built for the wealth management industry. Testimonial iQ’s compliant testimonials, reviews, referrals, and client feedback tools will be integrated into FMG and the acquired business will be rebranded as FMG Testimonials. The company says the transaction was finalized in December, though financial terms were not disclosed.
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February 2, 2026
- Buyer
- Hakuhodo
- Target
- BCM Venture Integrated Co. Ltd.
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Type
- Buyout
Hakuhodo has acquired a majority stake in BCM Venture Integrated Co. Ltd., a Ho Chi Minh City–based integrated digital marketing agency, making BCM a consolidated subsidiary of the Hakuhodo Group. The deal is intended to strengthen Hakuhodo's digital and e-commerce capabilities in Vietnam and support its New One Vietnam network to deliver full-funnel marketing and DX services to Japanese and local clients across the region.
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February 2, 2026
- Buyer
- Athena Global Advisors
- Target
- Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Type
- Addon
Athena Global Advisors announced a merger with Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy to expand and integrate their in-house client service capabilities. Ceisler Media will become an Athena company while continuing to operate under the Ceisler Media brand with leadership and staff remaining in place.
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February 2, 2026
- Buyer
- Privy
- Target
- Sendlane
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Type
- Buyout
Privy, an email and SMS marketing platform for growing ecommerce brands, announced it has acquired Sendlane, an email and SMS marketing platform known for a hands-on, service-first customer experience. The deal brings together two ecommerce-focused platforms to accelerate Privy’s unified roadmap for deeper automation, connected reporting, and dedicated human support.
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January 29, 2026
- Buyer
- Ruder Finn
- Target
- Missouri Creative
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- England, United Kingdom
- Type
- Buyout
Ruder Finn has acquired Missouri Creative, a London-based creative agency specializing in visual storytelling, immersive 2D/3D design, animation and experiential brand activation. The acquisition strengthens Ruder Finn’s RF Studio53 creative platform, expands its capability to deliver image-first, AI-enabled brand experiences globally, and will see Missouri Creative continue operating from its UK office with founders Paul Brennan and Stuart Wood leading the team.
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January 28, 2026
- Buyer
- Residence, Gemspring Capital
- Target
- OK COOL
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- 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.
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January 28, 2026
- Buyer
- AEA Elevate
- Target
- 829 Studios
- Seller
- CIVC Partners
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Massachusetts, United States
- 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.
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- Buyer
- Parkour3
- Target
- ThinkFuel
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
- Type
- Buyout
Montreal-based HubSpot agency Parkour3 has acquired ThinkFuel, a remote HubSpot consulting agency, in a deal effective December 1. The combination brings together ThinkFuel's technical CRM architecture expertise and Parkour3's marketing automation capabilities to expand capabilities and better serve B2B clients across Canada and the United States.
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- Buyer
- Verndale
- Target
- Product Experience Division of Amp
- Seller
- Advantage Solutions
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Massachusetts, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Verndale, a Boston-based digital experience and technology company, has acquired the Product Experience Division of Amp (part of Advantage Solutions). The deal brings product design, UX, engineering, and digital marketing capabilities into Verndale to enable end-to-end digital product development and broaden its reach into tech, CPG, and healthcare verticals. Canaccord Genuity advised Advantage Solutions; financial terms were not disclosed.
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- Buyer
- Fixated
- Target
- Ellify
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Canada
- Type
- Buyout
Fixated, a content creator representation company, acquired Ellify, another creator representation firm with a strong presence in gaming and youth culture. The deal expands Fixated’s reach in gaming-focused creator communities (notably Roblox) and adds Ellify’s creator roster and brand partnership capabilities to Fixated’s creator monetization platform.
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January 22, 2026
- Buyer
- OuterBox, LLC, WILsquare Capital
- Target
- GRO Marketing, LLC
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Alabama, United States
- 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.
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January 22, 2026
- Buyer
- 617 Collective
- Target
- Nominee Design
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Oklahoma, United States
- Type
- Addon
New York-based holding company 617 Collective has acquired Nominee Design, an Oklahoma City-based strategic brand and creative studio. The deal adds Nominee to 617 Collective's founder-led agency platform; Nominee will continue operating under its existing name and leadership with no anticipated staffing or client changes. Terms were not disclosed.
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January 22, 2026
- Buyer
- Toptal
- Target
- No Single Individual (NSI)
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- United States
- Type
- Buyout
Toptal has acquired No Single Individual (NSI), a curated talent platform connecting agencies with vetted independent experts in advertising, marketing, branding and social media. The acquisition expands Toptal’s advertising and brand capabilities and brings key NSI leadership into Toptal to ensure continuity and strengthen its professional services offering.
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January 22, 2026
- Buyer
- Mindgruve
- Target
- Ameo
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Hamburg, Germany
- Type
- Buyout
Mindgruve has acquired Hamburg-based commerce agency Ameo to accelerate its European expansion and deepen its retail media and Amazon execution capabilities. Ameo founder Sönke Hansen will join Mindgruve as SVP of Commerce for Europe; financial terms were not disclosed and Makanta advised Ameo.
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- Buyer
- IdentiBrands Powered by Proforma
- Target
- Absolute Ink Promotional Products Inc.
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Arizona, United States
- Type
- Addon
Phoenix-based IdentiBrands Powered by Proforma has acquired Absolute Ink Promotional Products Inc., a Phoenix promotional-products distributor founded in 1999. Financial terms were not disclosed; the deal is an add-on acquisition intended to expand IdentiBrands’ product offering and customer base within the Proforma distributor network.
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- Buyer
- Jack Morton, Impact XM, The Riverside Company
- Target
- Jack Morton, Impact XM
- Seller
- Omnicom
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- 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.
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January 21, 2026
- Buyer
- Power Digital
- Target
- Cardinal Digital Marketing
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Georgia, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Power Digital (a tech-enabled growth marketing firm) has acquired Cardinal Digital Marketing to establish a dedicated healthcare division. Cardinal will operate as Power Digital's healthcare division, retaining its leadership and team while leveraging Power Digital's enterprise intelligence and measurement capabilities to scale healthcare-focused marketing services.
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January 21, 2026
- Buyer
- Herringbone Digital
- Target
- BluShark Digital
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- District of Columbia, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Herringbone Digital has acquired BluShark Digital, a Washington, D.C.-based legal marketing and local search agency. BluShark will continue to operate under its brand and leadership while gaining access to Herringbone's engineering, data, AI enablement, and shared operations to scale its SEO and local-market capabilities across Herringbone's legal vertical.
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January 20, 2026
- Buyer
- Bear Icebox Communications
- Target
- Carson Stoga Communications
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Chicago-based Bear Icebox Communications (BICOM) has acquired boutique PR and crisis communications firm Carson Stoga Communications. The acquisition expands BICOM's reputation management and crisis readiness capabilities; Carson Stoga's founders and senior leaders will join BICOM to continue leading crisis and reputational accounts. Financial terms were not disclosed.
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January 20, 2026
- Buyer
- Wonder, Grubhub
- Target
- Claim
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- New York, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Wonder, the parent company of Grubhub, has acquired Claim, a restaurant rewards app that offers automatic cash-back incentives and a merchant dashboard for promotions and performance tracking. The acquisition will integrate Claim's guest acquisition and retention tools into Grubhub's merchant network, beginning with availability in New York City and a nationwide rollout planned for 2026.
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January 20, 2026
- Buyer
- Tombras
- Target
- Opinionated
- Industry
- Marketing & Advertising
- Location
- Oregon, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Knoxville-based independent agency Tombras has acquired Portland, Oregon creative shop Opinionated for an undisclosed amount. Opinionated’s ~40-person team will operate as Opinionated, a Tombras Company in 2026 and transition to Tombras West in 2027, expanding Tombras’ coast-to-coast footprint and adding creative talent and capabilities to its data-led full-service offering.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What types of buyers are active in these deals?
Both strategic agencies and private‑equity‑backed platforms are active. Examples from recent transactions include strategic buyers like Avenue Z, Duggal Visual Solutions, and Front Row, alongside PE‑backed platforms such as Crestview Partners (supporting OneMagnify), Mountaingate Capital (supporting Podean), and The Riverside Company (supporting Impact XM).
Which capabilities are buyers most often acquiring?
Recurring themes are performance media and retail media/DSP capabilities, ecommerce and Shopify development, experiential and live‑event services, and production/fulfillment (print, promotional products, direct mail).
Where are these marketing and advertising deals occurring?
Recent transactions are concentrated in U.S. markets — notably California, New York, Texas, the District of Columbia, Florida, Minnesota, Illinois and Virginia — with additional activity in British Columbia, Canada and Estonia.
Are add‑ons being used to scale global or specialized offerings?
Yes. Some add‑ons are explicitly used to broaden global scale or specialized services — for example, the Impact XM acquisition of Jack Morton combines experiential networks and capabilities across multiple offices, while other deals integrate niche tech or geographic presence (e.g., retail‑media DSPs, Shopify development, or regional production capacity).