The transaction value of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the online and mobile industry decreased 50% in the first quarter of 2013 to $7.9bn, according to the latest report from Berkery Noyes.
According to the report, the deal volume however increased 3% during the quarter compared to the corresponding quarter a year earlier.
Berkery Noyes said that the SaaS/ASP segment experienced the largest quarterly rise in volume, improving 16%.
The transaction volume in the e-commerce segment increased 6% in Q1 2013 with Google’s acquisition of Channel Intelligence for $125m being the segment’s highest value deal.
M&A involving transactions with a large mobile component grew 33% over the past three months.
The report found that with four transactions, Yahoo was the most active online and mobile industry acquirer during the quarter.
Yahoo! has already completed three acquisitions in 2013 which include social news application Summly, as well as applications Alike and Jybe.
However, Yahoo had only two mobile transactions last year, both of which occurred in Q4.
M&A activity in the e-marketing & search segment increased 9% in Q1 2013.
Berkery Noyes managing director Evan Klein said: "The ability to better profile and target consumers has necessitated the development and growth of companies that can analyse shoppers’ behaviour and develop appropriate offerings to the consumer."
"This shift has led to the growth of data analytics businesses and, with the need to develop deeper relationships with consumers, the growth in loyalty marketing companies," Klein said.
Berkery Noyes said that regarding the segment’s social media marketing subset, one notable acquisition in Q1 2013 was Twitter’s acquisition of BlueFin Labs.
