Today’s Deals: Cisco Systems Acquires Two More

  
* 
Amount:         $79
million

  
* 
Terms:           
2.4 million shares

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:        Internet
services

  
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Scorecard:      B

• 
  
• 
  DALLAS, Sept. 28–Efficient Networks, a
  provider of broadband digital subscriber line (DSL) solutions, announced
  that it has acquired privately-held MultiMedia Development
  Corporation (MMD), a software vendor providing network management
  systems and solutions for the broadband networking industry. MMD brings to Efficient a strong foundation of
  management technology and expertise, underscoring Efficient’s strategy to
  offer complete broadband solutions to its customers. Under terms of the
  agreement, Efficient Networks issued approximately 2.4 million shares of
  Efficient common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding stock
• of
  MMD.
• 
  
•  

  
* 
Amount:         $6.1
billion

  
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Terms:           
100% stock

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:        Internet
services

  
* 
Scorecard:      A-

• 
  
• 
  SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 28–Exodus Communicationsand Global Crossing Ltd.announced
  a definitive merger agreement under which Exodus will acquire GlobalCenter Inc., a
  wholly owned subsidiary of Global
  Crossing. The two companies which both provide complex Web hosting
  services to business customers worldwide will together be positioned to
  capture new opportunities in the rapidly growing U.S. Web hosting market.
  Based on the collar and Exodus’ closing stock price of $53.25 on September
  27, 2000, the current value of the transaction is approximately $6.1
  billion. Read analysis of this deal in Tom Taulli’s
  Morning Report.
• 
  
•  

  
* 
Amount:        
Undisclosed

  
* 
Terms:           
n/a

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:        Performance
software

  
* 
Scorecard:      B

• 
  
• 
  WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 28–FirePond, a
  global provider of integrated e-business solutions for multi-channel
  selling, announced its acquisition of Signature Software, a training
  and consulting firm specializing in the architecture, design and
  construction of distributed enterprise applications. Through the
  acquisition, FirePond gains the
  expertise of Signature
  Software’s training and implementation personnel to meet partner and
  customer demand for FirePond’s analyst-acclaimed technology. Terms of the
  deal are not disclosed.
• 
  
•  

  
* 
Amount:        
Undisclosed

  
* 
Terms:           
n/a

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:       
Content/Communities

p;

  
* 
Scorecard:      B

• 
  
• 
  HONG KONG, Sept. 28–chinadotcom, a
  pan-Asian integrated Internet company, announced the acquisition of
  Venex Corporation, an e-business integrator in Japan. The Venex transaction is the second
  Japan-focused acquisition by chinadotcom’s subsidiary, Web
  Connection, this year. This transaction reinforces Web Connection as a
  leading provider in the Asia Pacific region of e-business strategies and
  solutions and helps extend its growing wireless practice. Terms of the
  transaction were not disclosed.
• 
  
•  

  
* 
Amount:         $369
million

  
* 
Terms:           
100% stock

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:       
Speed/Bandwidth

  
* 
Scorecard:      A-

• 
  
• 
  SAN JOSE, Sept. 28–Cisco Systems
  announced it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire privately
  held Vovida Networks of San Jose, California, and privately held
  IPCell Technologies, based in Richardson, Texas. Vovida Networks is a communications
  software provider and supplier of networking protocols, while IPCell Technologies is a provider of
  software for broadband access networks combining Internet Protocol (IP) and
  telephony service
• s. The acquisitions provide Cisco with technologies that will help its
  partners and customers provide new data, voice and video services and
  support Cisco’s vision of a single, IP-based communications network. Cisco
  common stock worth a gross aggregate value of approximately $369 million
  will be exchanged for all outstanding shares and options both companies
  combined.
• 
  
•  

  
* 
Amount:         $65
million

  
* 
Terms:           
n/a

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:       
Content/Communities

  
* 
Scorecard:      B+

• 
  
• 
  CLEVELAND, Sept. 28–Penton Mediaannounced
  it has completed the acquisition of Streaming Media of San
  Francisco, an integrated media company serving the streaming media market
  that produces the Streaming Media East, Streaming Media West and Streaming
  Media Europe trade shows, as well as the streamingmedia.com Web site and
  Streaming Media Magazine. The purchase price was $65 million, plus
  contingent consideration of up to $35 million based on the achievement of
  specified business targets in 2001.
• 
  
•  

  
* 
Amount:  &n

bsp;      $20
million

  
* 
Terms:           
1.4 million shares

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:       
Search/Portals

  
* 
Scorecard:      C+

• 
  
• 
  SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 28–LookSmart, a
  global leader in Web directories, announced the acquisition of Zeal
  Media, a provider of community directory technology. Zeal’s technology allows active members
  (“Zealots”) to submit and publish categorized descriptions of Web sites.
  The acquisition extends LookSmart’s
  leadership in Web directories, creating the first integration of
  professional editorial, proprietary technologies and community involvement.
  Under the terms of the agreement, approximately 1.4 million shares of
  LookSmart common stock will be exchanged for all outstanding shares,
  options and warrants of Zeal, valued at approximately $20 million.
• 
  
•  

  
* 
Amount:        
Undisclosed

  
* 
Terms:           
n/a

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:        E-tailers

  
* 
Scorecard:      C-

• 
  
• 
  SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 28–GourmetMarket.com, a portfolio company of iiGroup,
  announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire
  VirtualGourmet.com, a Web site founded with a mission to provide
  high quality gourmet food and customer service on the Web. The combined
  strength of VirtualGourmet.com
  and GourmetMarket.com is
  expected to enable the company to provide the most extensive gourmet food
  offering throughout the online marketplace.
• 
  
•