1. 10 Startups Marissa Mayer Bought Before Tumblr

Summly, a news-sharing service Yahoo picked up in March for $30 million, tops the list of purchases the new CEO made before the $1.1 billion Tumblr “acqui-hire,” which landed the blogging service’s founder, David Karp (pictured), a rising star in tech circles.

2. Figuring Out the Four Screens

The popular Netflix thriller series, "House of Cards," and starups, including Pinterest and Outbrain, inspire dealmakers in digital media.

3. U.S. May Lose Medical Device Makers Due to Obamacare Tax, Warns Former Sen. Scott Brown

"We're going to lose a tremendous opportunity" if medical device manufacturers leave the U.S., cautions the former senator from Massachusetts, who is reportedly considering a move to New Hampshire to run for the Senate again in 2014.

4. Outlook for Pet Industry M&A Strong

With little risk and recession-proof growth, the pet industry will continue attracting PE attention in 2013, says Andrew Beaurline of investment bank Greene Holdcomb & Fisher.

5. WGSN Acquires Competitor Stylesight

The trend-forecasting services firm is quickly snatching up competitors, including previous deals for Mudpie and Mindset Communicaco.

6. Why Wilbur Ross and Other PE Investors are Trolling for Shipping Deals

The legendary distressed investor Ross (pictured, left) is backing several niche carriers.

7. 12 Dealmakers You Should Follow on Twitter

As social media promises to become increasingly important in the middle market, here are a dozen dealmakers worth following on Twitter, including veteran M&A attorney Frank Aquila of Sullivan & Cromwell, noted venture capitalist Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures and tech investor Rich Lawson of HGGC.

8. Marine Shipping Outfits Aim to Stay Afloat

Struggling shipping companies Excel Maritime and Seanergy Maritime work toward restructuring their loans.

9. Cenevo to Acquire Bankrupt National Envelope for $25M

Amid a decline in "snail mail," the private equity-backed envelope manufacturer files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a second time in order to sell.

10. Dealmakers Predict 2014 Will Be a Great Year for Middle-Market M&A

Momentum builds in middle-market M&A, and optimism abounds in dealmaker surveys and interviews conducted by Mergers & Acquisitions with dealmakers, including William Blair's Mark Brady and Jones Day's Robert Profusek.

11. Deal Flow Still Slow But Hope Springs Eternal

Middle-market dealmakers report an end-of-the-year uptick in M&A.

12. More Mezzanine Lenders in Search of Deals

Some bankers remain skeptical that mezzanine financing will make a comeback any time soon.

13. A New M&A Cycle Has Begun

Lazard's Kenneth Jacobs, JPMorgan Chase's James Lee and Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman say Microsoft's Nokia deal and Verizon's Vodafone deal are just the beginning.