Inktomi buys Webcast software company FastForward Networks for $1.3 billion… Online banking firm Juniper Financial lands $94 million in venture capital from J&W Seligman… Compaq and Nokia join up to create Web and intranet services.
By Paul Bonanos
MEDIA MATCHMAKING After months of telecom-related deals dominating the merger arena, Internet-related media deals took center stage last week. Inktomi took a step toward speeding up its delivery of video content by acquiring FastForward Networks, a streaming-video software firm: Microsoft tuned up its MSN.com portal with two deals: It bought MP3 storage from Mongo Music and enhanced its chat rooms with RadioWave.com’s Net radio.
Elsewhere, Diamond Technology Partners took a shine to Cluster Consulting, paying $930 million for it. Barnesandnoble.com acquired Fatbrain.com for $64million.
Juniper Financial, a consumer-focused online bank, landed a $94 million round of funding led by J&W Seligman, making it the week’s largest venture investment. Cicadence scored $51 million in primary corporate investments, while Investor AB fed nearly $90 million in two companies, wireless firm JP Systems and contractor marketplace Guru.com.
NET DEAL MONITOR Highlights Of The Week
M & A
Value* Date Target Acquirer The Deal
$1,300 Sept. 13 FatForwarf Networks, Inktomi Content delivery/search firm buys Webcast software company.
$972 Sept. 11 Janna Systems, Siebel Systems Customer service software firm buys banking CRM software firm
$930 Sept. 11 Cluster, Consulting Diamond Technology development firm buys strategy consultant
$150 Sept. 11 Covad Communications, SBC Communications Connectivity firm takes 6 percent stake in DSL service provider
$119 Sept. 13 Venture Finance Software, Intuit Financial software company buys online financial content firm
$90 Sept. 13 Circa Communications, Polycom Broadband systems developer buys voice-over-IP firm
$82 Sept. 13 Global Sports, Comcast Cable company invests in sporting goods site-builder.
$64 Sept. 13 Fatbrain.com, Barnesandnoble.com Online bookseller acquires textbook retail site
$50 Sept. 12 Priceline.com, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Saudi prince takes stake in reverse-auction site
$27 Sept. 13 Epoch Internet, Williams Communications Telecom firm takes stake in hosting and connectivity service
N/A Sept. 13 Covad Communications, FMR Investment firm raises stake in DSL service provider.
N/A Sept. 12 Callrewards.com, PhoneFree.com IP telephony service buys voice-over-IP marketing firm
Venture Capital
N/A Sept. 12 C
Value* Date Target Lead Investors Target Company Description
$94 Sept. 12 Jupiter Financial J&W Seligman Online banking and financial services firm
$51 Sept. 13 Circadence HP, PSINet Traffic and monitoring software and services firm
$45 Sept. 13 JP System Investors AB Wireless connectivity systems developer
$44 Sept. 12 Guru.com Investors AB Contract personnel and project marketplace.
$44 Sept. 11 Reflect.com Procter $ Gamble, IVP Personalized online beauty retailer
$30 Sept. 12 Bolero.net Apax Online document exchange service
$30 Sept. 12 Clareon Technology Crossover Business-to-business payment systems developer
$25 Sept.11 eNic Molc.com Behard Specialized domain-name registrar
$23 Sept. 11 Edventions Investors group Educational-services firm targeting elementary schools.
$21 Sept. 12 Mobilocity Morgan Stanely Consultancy for mobile and wireless enterprises
$20 Sept. 11 DigiMine Mayfield Fund Data-warehousing and analysis firm
$20 Sept.11 Event Zero Firsst Union Web and wireless development firm
$17 Sept. 12 Appshop Menlo Managed ASP featuring database software
$15 Sept. 12 Decidiir.com GE Equit, SCP Consumer digital-audio service provider
Partnerships
Type Date Partners The Deal
Alliance Sept. 8 NaviSite/Compaq Managed hosting service joins PC maker to create application hosting and storage service.
By: Paul Bonanos
Source: The Standard