Acquisitions:
BIDZ (NasdaqCM: BIDZ), an online jewelry retailer, was acquired by Glendon Group, for $14.3 million, or $0.78 per share. The purchase values BIDZ at 0.2x revenue based on LTM financials as of March 31, 2012. The company reported a net loss of $7.1 million.
Mobile commerce startup Karma, which makes apps for gifting friends and family, was acquired by Facebook (NasdaqGS:FB). The terms of the deal were undisclosed but 16 employees of the startup will be joining Facebook. The purchase will help Facebook build up monetization prowess on mobile platforms — an area that it had said it’s admittedly weak in.
Russia-based Grape, a digital marketing services agency with a focus on Website and social media strategies, sold a majority stake to WPP (LSE:WPP) subsidiary Possible Worldwide, a global interactive marketing agency. The agency employs 124 people and major clients include Henkel, JTI, MTS, and SABMiller. Grape’s revenues for 2011 were approximately $13.6 million. Terms were not disclosed.
Wynne Systems, which offers end-to-end software solutions for rental management, was acquired by Volaris Group, from United Rentals (NYSE:URI), which operates as an equipment rental company. Wynne System’s solutions offer fully integrated ERP solutions designed to manage the full lifecycle of rental management from contract and order management through to inventory utilization, maintenance, and financials. Terms were not disclosed.
Investments:
MuleSoft, a Web middleware company providing an integration platform for cloud, Web, and enterprises, raised $15 million in Series D funding from six internal investors. This brings the company’s total investments to approximately $44 million. The company recently added a cloud service that can connect multiple cloud and on-premise applications, and will enable MuleSoft to compete with services such as IBM’s Websphere Cast Iron, Dell’s Boomi, Pervasive Software’s Cloud Integration, and venture-backed SnapLogic.
Single Digits, a provider of mobile device connectivity, management, and support services, raised $10 million in funding from Tudor Growth Equity. The new funding will be used to support the company’s product development for ensuring laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other WiFi-enabled devices are securely connected to the Internet and managed/supported through traditional IT infrastructures and new cloud-based services and applications.
AxialMarket, which operates a platform that helps private companies manage and execute mergers and other financial transactions, raised $6.5 million in Series A funding led by Redpoint Ventures, with participation from Cove Point Holdings and return backers First Round Capital and Windcrest Partners.
Online learning company Quipper, which helps users learn in a game format, raised $3.6 million in Series A funding led by Japanese venture capital firm Globis. The fundraising, which adds to seed funding from Atomico in 2011, will be used expand with an emphasis on increasing the amount of content on the platform.
Carnegie Speech, a developer of spoken language training software, raised $3.4 million in Series B funding. Backers include Osage Venture Partners, Golden Seeds, and New York Angles.
