Newsletter M & As and launches continue vigorous pace.

This issue we report on two significant acquisitions and three newsletter launches. Previous issues of NL/NL in 2004 have noted no fewer than nine major acquisitions and 19 launches of newsletters, information services, and one new company.

We're also following two other major acquisitions which we hope to report on in the next issue.

The investment advisory firm Whitestone Communications reports that six acquisitions were completed in the first quarter 2004, compared with four last year.

But the value of this year's acquisitions come in at $54 million, compared with last year's $11 in the first quarter.

Whitestone associate Jenifer Lindenman said, "While the first quarter improvement was modest, we expect the pace will pick up as the year goes on."