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PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions: July 2023 update

Welcome to the PRmoment Podcast.

Welcome to our July review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch.

Andrew is a co-founder and non-executive director at Frank PR and is now lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR. He is also a partner at PCB Partners where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.

Thanks to our PRmoment Podcast sponsors, The PRCA.

Do take a look at the brace of new webinars that we’ve launched on PRmoment, including Social Media in B2B and The Contribution of Comms to ESG

2 mins Andrew contextualises the state of the new business market in UK PR currently.

“In an economy that is a bit shaky…being able to demonstrate effectiveness is more important than ever.”

“Why Andrew’s PR agency activity barometer is busier than ever!”

“The PR brief barometer is busy”

8 mins Andrew gives us his rundown of PR pitch wins for July, including:

  • Good Relations wins Starling Bank
  • Fleishman wins HS1
  • Mischief wins Team GB
  • Ready 10 wins Kind Snacks
  • Stripe wins Giggling Squid
  • PR Network and Heathrow Express
  • Azaria win VTech and Leapfrog
  • Nudge wins Kettle chips
  • MSL wins Currys
  • Ketchum wins Dolmio

18 mins Andrews gives us his insight into the Havas Uncommon deal.

“It could be a deal that’s worth up to £120m in 6 years time”

“Havas already has a reputation as being one of the most creative marketing services in the world…and they are doubling down on creativity.”

21 mins Andrew explains the £120m valuation of Uncommon on its current fee income of £22m.

25 mins Andrew reviews SEC Newgate’s $100m investment from Investcorp, an alternative investment firm, for a 55% stake in the business. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and values SEC Newgate as a $250 m business.

28 mins Andrew rounds us off by talking us through some smaller trade deals:

  • The Bigger Boat acquires Scriba
  • Bulla acquires Hype Collective

There’s a management buyout at Lucre Group which rebrands to Gold79.

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