Welcome to our review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here, we discuss the biggest pitch wins and mergers & acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in the summer of 2024.

Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.

Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.

Before we start, our PR Masterclass: Agency Growth Forum has now launched. It’s on 12th November 2024, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm GMT. Both face-to-face and virtual tickets are available. The event is held in central London.

“There is momentum building. We're going into the golden quarter.”

“My observation is that the same agencies are doing very well, but there are some agencies that are struggling.”

“As always, it’s important to keep an eye on your margins.”

“Brands are being cautious…there’s a fair bit of try before you buy."

“Everything is going in the right direction. The work being done by agencies is bold.”

The summer’s PR Pitch wins:

• Castore hires Pretty Green
• Famous Grouse also hires Pretty Green
• B&Q hires The Romans
• Ikea franchisee Ingka Centres hires The Romans
• Virgin Voyages also hires The Romans
• The Independent hires W Communications.
• All Things Butter hires Munch
• ZenDesk hires Axicom
• Homebase hires Aduro
• Jammie Dodgers (Fox’s Burton Biscuits) hire Frank
• Evri hires Citypress
• Brewdog hires Ilk
• UK Export Credit Agency hires Eulogy
• WRAP hires Kindred
• Open Table hires Launch
• National Grid hires nine agencies to its “community agency framework” for the next three years, namely Grayling, Cavendish, Lexington, Aecom, Arup, Camargue, Copper, grasshopper and JBP.

The summer’s M&A activity

• WPP exit FGS Global - KKR takes majority control - valuing the company at $1.7B
• AKT Health sells to JPA Health, the US HQ full-service healthcare group. Ascential (formerly known as Emap) to be acquired by Informa - £1.2bn cash offer deal. Ascential owns Cannes Lions and Warc. The deal is subject to regulatory and shareholder approval. Ascential is FTSE 250 - Cannes Lions generated 131M last year with an EBIT of 55M+.
• Publicis acquires Influential - a leading influencer marketing platform
• Havas - acquires controlling stake in Klareco Communications - 3rd acquisition this year to add to global strategic advisory network H/Advisors
• Prime Weber Shandwick – MBO – Swedish creative PR agency bought ten years ago. Will now operate as an affiliate owned by five members of the leadership team. Will remain a close partner in the network.
• Supreme Group (A US Healthcare and Life Science Comms and Marketing) acquires Bio Strata (a Cambridge based life science pr and marketing)