One hundred and forty deals in the media and information industry, worth a total of $9.672 billion, were completed in the first quarter of this year--up from 109 deals valued at $4.162 billion for the
first quarter of 2004, according to a report released Monday by investment bank The Jordan Edmiston Group, Inc. Online mergers accounted for 22 deals--including the IAC/Interactive acquisition of Ask
Jeeves, The New York Times Co. purchase of About.com, and Acxiom's acquisition of Digital Impact--worth a collective $2.641 billion, in the first quarter. By contrast, the first quarter of 2004 saw 18
online mergers, valued at a collective $1.388 billion.
--W.D.
