Direct marketing and marketing service/technology firms announced 120 transactions in the first quarter with a total aggregate value estimated at $10.8 billion, according Petsky Prunier
This is only a six percent increase over the prior year in the number of transactions, but it is a 44% increase in transaction value, according to the New York-based investment bank.
The increase is primarily attributable to the printing and interactive advertising segments. R.R. Donnelley’s merger with Moore Wallace contributed $3.7 billion to the quarter’s transaction volume. During the first quarter, Yahoo! acquired Kelkoo, a leading European comparison shopping and lead referral service, for $575 million; Ask Jeeves acquired Interactive Search Holdings for $343 million; and FindWhat.com acquired performance-based services provider Espotting Media for $170 million.
In direct marketing, Petsky Prunier noted that the largest transactions have two common denominators: the acquired companies are non-U.S. businesses or have a large international revenue stream) and they involve business-to-business DMers acquiring manufacturing or distribution businesses.
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