So far, 2005 is picking up right where 2004 left off in terms of the quick pace of b-to-b media merger and acquisition activity. The only place there's more dealing is on "The World Series of Poker."
Among the major deals announced in January:
Other investment bank reports on media M&A activity noted similar strength in the market. Whitestone Communications calculated that the number of deals in the publishing, information and training sector rose 12% to 349 in 2004 from 312 in 2003. The value of those deals jumped 33% to $12.0 billion in 2004 from $9.0 billion the previous year.
Whitestone calculated that the number of trade magazine/trade show deals remained flat at 31 between 2003 and 2004. However, the company found that the value of the deals increased by 73% to $561 million, from $325 million in 2003.
Excerpted from
mediabusiness.com.
Copyright February 2005.
