In Direct.(direct marketing mergers and acquisitions)(Wunderman acquires Bridge...

Direct M&A transactions down but value on the rise

While there were fewer direct marketing-related mergers and acquisitions in 2005, the estimated value of the deals rose sharply compared with 2004, according to Petsky Prunier's "Deal Flash.'' Total estimated transaction value for 2005 was $46.1 billion, a 69% increase from $27.2 billion in 2004. The number of deals totaled 460, down 16% from 550 deals in 2004. In December, 36 transactions were tallied, totaling about $3.9 billion, the company said.

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