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M&A activity for the media and information industries soared in 2005, surpassing 2000 levels, with 525 deals totaling $56 billion in value being completed, according to investment bank The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc. (JEGI), which tracks M&A deal activity and volume across 11 media and information industry sectors. The significant increase in M&A activity was led by seven sectors. The number of deals for marketing and interactive services was up 30 percent, and value was up 42 percent.

Top 10 Media M&A Deals

Business-to-business magazine deals were up 10 percent, value up 42 percent; consumer magazines (value up 472 percent); directory and reference publishing (deals up 26 percent, value up 246 percent); exhibitions and conferences (44 percent and 128 percent); newspaper publishing (7 percent and 72 percent); and online media (38 percent and 101 percent).

According to JEGI, the durability of the digital media market, the strength of the economy and JEGI's own pipeline of deal activity suggest that the consolidation and merger trend will remain strong into 2006.