The time for Indies to Shine | M&A Insider | January 2026

2026 feels like the year for independent agencies to take advantage of the market dynamics.

While many of the big groups are distracted by restructuring/layoffs and adapting to demand/ pricing pressures, we’re seeing smaller, specialist agencies showing strong growth and winning larger, international clients.

In terms of M&A, we expect more consolidation of the agency landscape, as there are too many agencies and reduced demand from clients.

Buyers are focusing on adding specialist agencies to plug in capability gaps, more so than purely geographical expansion. And with that they’re looking for talent and new agency models that are scalable, tech-enabled, data-driven and unique expertise in a field.

The AI “hype” phase is fading fast - buyers now want proof: delivery, IP, workflows, and measurable outcomes.

If you’re an independent, this is your moment to move with speed and clarity, whether evolving the business model or scaling through acquisition.

M&A Deals

• BLUHALO DEAL - PrettyGreen acquires Pinpoint Media to add AI-enabled Paid Social, Search and Content Marketing to its offering

• Dentsu struggling to sell its underperforming international businesses

• VCCP up for sale under private equity ownership of Providence

• PMG acquires UK influencer marketing agency Digital Voices

• US group Residence acquires UK social agency OK Cool

• MediaMint Strengthens Agentic Growth with Taktical Digital Acquisition

• Accenture to Acquire UK business Faculty to Scale AI Capabilities

• Fifty Thousand Feet acquires the customer experience consultancy Tangible

• Specialist brand growth consultancy G=mc2 gets backing by Mobeus private equity

• Strata acquires UK experiential agency Wonderland

• St Luke’s sells majority stake to BBD Perfect Storm

• OpenAI to acquire the team behind executive coaching AI tool Convogo

• OpenAI buys tiny health records startup Torch for, reportedly, $100M

• Microsoft announces acquisition of Osmos to accelerate autonomous data engineering in Fabric

• EAB Acquires UK Education focused group Hybrid to Expand Global Reach and Enhance Digital Innovation

• Humanz raises $15 million and buys two platforms as creator economy consolidates

• Paritee acquires UK strategic intelligence agency Truth Consulting

News

• How AI is transforming agencies from creative partners to tech-fueled vendors

• Havas leaning into AI to re-skill agency group

• McKinsey says the firm now has 60,000 employees, 25,000 are AI Agents

• The AI hype cycle is rewriting ad tech’s M&A math

• Global RAM Shortage and Price Hikes: Causes, Consequences, and Outlook

bluhalo io News

• Pretty Green acquires Pinpoint Media

• Have you clearly mapped your Now, Next & Future service offerings?

• What most agencies will get wrong in 2026 - February 4th

• The increasing importance of PR in Agency Marketing in 2026 - February 11th - 111 agency founders/leaders already booked!

Recommendations

Book

The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom

Tech

Moltbot - AI Assistant

Podcast

The Disruptions That Will Reshape Everything by 2030

Playlist/Album

Fred again… USB