Private Equity-Backed Marketing & Advertising Acquisitions

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.

Shamrock Capital, via its Clover Fund I, LP, has acquired Mutiny, a Los Angeles–based creative agency focused on connecting global publishers and brands with gaming audiences. Mutiny was acquired from Trailer Park Group and will operate as a standalone business under Shamrock, pursuing organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

EisnerAmper has integrated MLCworks, a Metairie, Louisiana–based digital marketing and growth advisory firm, in a transaction that closed in early January 2026. The move expands EisnerAmper's capabilities beyond traditional accounting and advisory services into digital marketing, leveraging the firm’s 2021 private equity backing to accelerate capability expansion.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Amplēo, a Lehi, Utah-based provider of fractional finance, marketing and HR services backed by private equity, has acquired Avalaunch Media, a Utah-based digital marketing agency known for SEO, paid media, content and fractional CMO services. Avalaunch's leadership will remain in place, with cofounder David Mink serving as president of Amplēo Marketing as the combined business expands Amplēo's embedded marketing capabilities for SMB and scaling clients.

Harkey Media, an out-of-home (OOH) advertising operator, has acquired Mesa Outdoor, an independent billboard operator in the San Francisco Bay Area. Financing for the transaction was provided by Verde Outdoor Capital, and the deal expands Harkey Media's footprint in northern California as part of its broader roll-up strategy.

Centerfield, a Platinum Equity–backed digital customer acquisition platform, has acquired ConsumerVoice, a digital commerce platform that curates and promotes products on sites including ConsumerVoice.org and BuyersReport.org. The add-on expands Centerfield's digital commerce capabilities and audience reach, enabling cross-sell opportunities for Centerfield's Dugout platform and serving new categories for its brand clients.

Podean announced the strategic acquisition of Commerce Canal, with equity investment from Mountaingate Capital, combining the two companies into the largest independent global marketplace-focused agency. The combined business will integrate Commerce Canal's Purvey.AI platform with Podean's global marketplace services, creating a buy-and-build platform of more than 200 team members across 17 countries to support high-growth consumer brands.

Los Angeles-based Shamrock Capital has acquired Penta Group from Falfurrias Management Partners to accelerate Penta's growth and invest in its proprietary data, analytics and AI capabilities. Penta, a Washington, D.C.-headquartered stakeholder communications and reputation intelligence firm serving Fortune 500 clients, will expand its global footprint and product offerings under Shamrock's ownership.

Finland-based, private-equity-backed marketing group Luxid has acquired U.S.-based B2B agency TriComB2B to accelerate its U.S. expansion and strengthen its B2B marketing capabilities. TriComB2B’s principals will lead Luxid’s U.S. business, and the combined company now totals more than 160 employees (TriComB2B ~40 employees).

BV Investment Partners has made a majority investment in The Millennium Alliance, a New York–headquartered peer-to-peer sales enablement platform that hosts curated C-suite assemblies, dinners and operates digital properties including the Millennium Live podcast. Stellus Capital Management provided unitranche financing and an equity co-investment to support the transaction; BV will work with the Millennium management team to accelerate growth, expand digital and data capabilities, and scale the executive events platform.

Supreme Group, a Trinity Hunt Partners–backed healthcare and life sciences marketing platform, has acquired Pivot Design, a Chicago-based creative agency specializing in pharma and rare disease branding and omnichannel campaigns. The acquisition expands Supreme Group's capabilities in rare disease and pharma and is the platform's ninth deal in 18 months; Pivot Design will retain its brand identity and leadership while gaining access to Supreme Group's AI, technology, and inter-agency resources.