E-commerce helps drive merger and acquisition activity in July

Deals for digital media and e-commerce companies comprised 40% of the 245 merger and acquisition transactions among marketing, media, technology and service companies announced in July, according to investment banking firm Petsky Prunier LLC. It valued the 97 digital media and commerce deals at approximately $2.7 billion, or about 20% of the month’s total of $13.4 billion.

The volume of transactions among marketing, media, technology and service firms is up 202% from 81 in July 2010, and estimated transaction value is up 179% from $4.8 billion. July’s activity and value, however, is down from the 2011 highs posted in May, when there were 254 deals valued at $18.3 billion.  

Within the digital media and commerce segment, e-commerce led the pack with 22 transactions with an estimated value of $969.8 million in July. E-commerce transactions included PhotoBox Limited’s acquisition of greeting card seller Moonpig.com and Amazon.com Inc.’s acquisition of U.K. bookseller The Book Depository. The social media/apps segment of digital media and commerce also accounted for 22 transactions during the month with an estimated value of $320.4 million. Companies in the gaming space accounted for 12 transactions with an estimated value of $945.2 million.

Eight transactions valued at approximately $558 million for mobile technology firms led the marketing technology segment, which had a total of 51 transactions during July. Social technology firms added seven transactions valued at $63.7 million.