Direct marketing industry mergers and acquisitions totaled 351 transactions in the first nine months of 2005, for a total of $38.5 billion, according to investment banker Petsky Prunier, reports BtoB Online (via MediaBuyerPlanner). That marks a 66 percent increase over the same period last year. The largest deals were IAC/InterActive Corp.'s acquisition of Ask Jeeves for $1.85 billion and Hellman & Friedman's purchase of DoubleClick for $1.12 billion.

Petsky Prunier said the reasons for the increase in M&As included the demand for internet marketing capabilities and corporations' stripping of non-core operations.

The investment banker provides M&A and private placement advisory services to the direct marketing, marketing services, technology and advertising industries.