AFTER THE HONEYMOON: The rush of global agency networks whipping out their checkbooks to boost agency line-ups shows no sign of letting up - but not all marriages are made in heaven. Chris Barnett investigates

There will soon be no major independent PR agencies left in the US. If this sounds like a rash statement, consider this. There are only three independents (Edelman, Ruder-Finn and Waggener Edstrom) left in the top 20, after a buying dash this year that has seen MWW, Morgen-Walke Associates and Cunningham become just the latest firms to be snapped up by global networks.