Exit watch, April 30, 2007

Red Hat acquires data management company Red Hat Inc. (NYSE: RHT) has acquired MetaMatrix Inc., a Waltham, Mass.-based provider of data management and integration software. No financial terms were disclosed from the deal, which will result in MetaMatrix being folded into Red Hat’s JBoss division. MetaMatrix had raised about $40.5 million in total VC funding since 1998 from such firms as Allen & Co., Angel Investors, EDBV Management, Gateway Associates, Integral Capital Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Schroder Finance Partners.

Fastchannel buys media distributor for $30M

(Nasdaq: DGIT) has agreed to acquire Pathfire Inc., a Roswell, Ga.-based provider of a digital media distribution pathway and network operations center for the television and entertainment industries. The transaction is valued at $30 million in DG Fastchannel stock. Pathfire has raised about $124 million in total VC funding since 1996 from such firms as Alliance Technology Ventures, AT&T Ventures, Banc of America Capital Investors, CNN, Halpern Denny & Co., Institutional Venture Partners, Kinetic Ventures, Monarch Capital Partners, Noro-Moseley Partners, PanAmSat, Quadrangle Group, Reuters Greenhouse Fund, Riggs Capital Partners and U.S. Venture Partners. The company reported about $16.2 million in 2006 revenue.

Oracle buys Lodestar

(Nasdaq: ORCL) has agreed to acquire Lodestar Corp., a Peabody, Mass.–based provider of data management software for the utilities industry. No financial terms were disclosed. Lodestar raised $29 million in Series A funding in 2001 from Oaktree Capital Management and GFI Energy Ventures.

Hachette cuts deal with Jumpstart

, publisher of such magazines as Car & Driver, has agreed to acquire Jumpstart Automotive Media, a San Francisco-based vertical advertising network focused exclusively on the automotive industry. The deal includes an initial cash payment of $84 million, plus up to $26 million in earnouts in 2008 and 2010, based on the reaching of certain specified earnings targets. Jumpstart Automotive Media raised $10 million last summer from Alta Communications, at a post-money valuation of approximately $40 million.

JPMorgan buys Xign

JPMorgan Chase has agreed to acquire Xign Corp., a Pleasanton, Calif.–based provider of B2B on-demand financial settlement solutions. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal, which will result in Xign becoming part of the commercial card and procurement businesses of JPMorgan Chase’s Treasury Services unit. Xign has raised about $58 million in 2000 from Charles River Ventures, Matrix Partners, FT Ventures, MasterCard and Charles R. Schwab.

Experian targets Hitwise for purchase

(LSE: EXPN) has acquired Hitwise Pty Ltd., an Australia-based provider of website performance monitoring, for about $240 million in cash. Hitwise had raised an undisclosed amount of seed backing from Allen & Buckeridge and late stage funding from Insight Venture Partners.

SDL scoops up Tridion

, has agreed to acquire Tridion Inc., an Amsterdam–based provider of enterprise-class Web content management solutions. The deal is valued at $94 million, including $22 million in Tridion cash-on-hand. Tridion has raised more than $21 million in VC funding since 1999 from such firms as Prime Technology Ventures, Gilde Investment Management, Doughty Hanson and Barnard & Co.

MCF pays $6.5M in stock for MedPanel

(AMEX: MEM) has acquired MedPanel Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.–based online medical market intelligence firm, for $6.5 million worth of common stock. The deal also includes up to $11.5 million in possible earn-outs. MedPanel raised a small amount of strategic venture funding from X-Rite Inc. —PE Week staff