Steep increase in M&A deal value through first three quarters.

The total value of mergers and acquisitions of media and information companies increased 130% for the first three quarters of 2005 when compared to the same period in 2004, according to figures supplied by She Jordan, Edmiston Group (New York). M&A activity in 11 media and information categories for the period was valued at $51.7 billion this year compared to $22.4 billion last year. She number of deals for the period increased 3.4%, from 374 deals in 2004 to 390 deals in 2005.

The b2b Magazine category showed 35 deals worth $1.8 billion in 2005, 9.4% and 58.9% increases, respectively, over the 32 deals valued at $1.15 billion last year. In terms of deal value, the categories with the largest percentage gainers were: consumer magazines (+589.9%), exhibitions and conferences (+218.2%), database information services (+163.8%), newspaper publishing (+163.7%), directory and reference publishing (+157.9%) and online media (+147.4%). Only the consumer books (-15.5%) and newsletter publishing (31.9%) categories showed a decline in deal value.

Four categories, newsletter publishing (-33.3%), database information services (-28.9%), consumer books (-22.2%) and newspaper publishing (-7%), had a decline in the number of deals for the period. VNU's purchase of IMS Health for $7 billion is the largest deal of the period for all categories while T&F Informa's acquisition of IIR Holdings for $1.4 billion was the eighth largest deal.

JEGI said impetus for the acceleration in the market include: the convergence of traditional and interactive media, the drive for growth by strategic companies, strong debt markets and low interest rates, and an active private equity market.