Agency Growth, M&A & Transformation 8th December 2025

M&A activity is continuing its momentum that has been building since the summer following a quieter start to the year.

Market insights from this week

• Revenue growth, margin improvement and adding capabilities & talent is a top priority for businesses, and M&A is the key path to delivering this.

• Some deals are still failing to complete, due to performance issues from the companies selling. But smaller, nimble independent businesses are delivering growth, high margins, adapting and outperforming the larger groups, leading to strong interest from buyers.

Investment areas that are delivering the best results:

• Sales and marketing - modernising proposition/service offering and building a strong pipeline

• Acquisitions - creating scale, adding capabilities and improving profitability

• Operational efficiency - better organisational design and tech solutions to improve work quality, speed and reduced turnaround time

• Business planning - investing time on where to focus and how to grow feels like a medium/long term focus, but it delivers shorter term results
  
  Whilst there is so much flux in the larger advertising/media and consulting groups, and brands looking to find better agency/consulting partners, it is a great opportunity for small independents to succeed against the bigger competitors.

  Check out our newsletters for M&A deals and industry insight. https://lnkd.in/eeXx7HxA