• Mediaweek, Tuesday, July 3, 2007 11:01 AM

The first half of the year brought a surge of deal-making in the media and information industries, with companies consolidating and branching out to reach audiences digitally, according to investment bank Jordan, Edmiston Group.

In the first six months of 2007, 399 with a value of $75.9 billion were announced -- eclipsing the $60.6 billion value of all the 637 deals last year. By contrast, in 2003, the firm recorded 301 deals valued at $16.1 billion. For the first half, 238 were in marketing services and online media, but merger activity for consumer magazines was also brisk.

Among the biggest in the latter were Source Interlink Cos. purchase of Primedia's enthusiast group and Quadrangle Group's acquisition of Dennis Publishing's U.S. men's titles. Total deals in the sector topped $2.7 billion, more than triple the year-ago period.

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