Exit watch, week of Aug. 2, 2010

Unknown buyer scoops up NanoGram

NanoGram Corp., a Milpitas, Calif.-based maker of core process technology for the manufacture of nanostructured materials for, has been acquired by an undisclosed third party. The deal was revealed in a regulatory filing by former parent company NeoPhotonics, which is in registration for an IPO. NanoGram has raised more than $50 million in VC funding from ATA Ventures, Bay Partners, Harris & Harris, Institutional Venture Partners, Nth Power, Rockport Capital Partners, SBV Venture Partners, Technology Partners, Global Cleantech Capital, Masdar Clean Tech Fund, Mitsui Ventures, Nagase & Co., Nanostart AG, TEL Venture Capital and Yasuda Enterprise Development.

Oclaro buys Mintera for $32M

(NASDAQ: OCLR) has agreed to acquire Mintera Corp., an Acton, Mass.-based provider of high bit-rate optical transport systems. The deal is valued at upwards of $32 million, including a $12 million up-front payment. Mintera had raised more than $73 million in VC funding since 2000, although VentureWire reported that a recent recap left just three primary shareholders: Court Square Ventures, RRE Ventures and Star Ventures.

Pace picks up 2Wire for $475M

has agreed to acquire 2Wire Inc., a San Jose, Calif.-based provider of broadband service delivery platforms. The deal is valued at $475 million in cash, inclusive of $55 million of 2Wire cash on hand. 2Wire raised nearly $200 million in VC funding since 1998, although some backers sold out in a secondary offering two years ago to AT&T and Alcatel-Lucent. Remaining shareholders include Technology Crossover Ventures, Meritech Capital Partners and Oak Investment Partners.

GameStop makes play for Kongregate

(NYSE: GME) has agreed to acquire Kongregate, a San Francisco-based social gaming website. No financial terms were disclosed. Kongregate has raised more than $5 million from Greylock Partners, Bezos Expedition and individual investors Reid Hoffman, Joe Kraus, Jeff Clavier and Richard Wolpert.

Illumina buys Helixis for $105M

(Nasdaq: ILMN) has acquired Helixis Inc., a Carlsbad, Calif.-based developer of nucleic acid analysis tools. The deal is valued at up to $105 million, including a $70 million up-front payment. Helixis had raised more than $15 million in VC funding from Advanced Technology Ventures, Domain Associates and Okapi Venture Capital.

Acuity acquires Renaissance Lighting

Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE: AYI) has acquired Renaissance Lighting Inc., a Herndon, Va.-based maker of solid-state LED architectural lighting. No financial terms were disclosed. Renaissance Lighting has raised more than $27 million in VC funding from Altira Group, NGen Partners, Rockport Capital Partners and Sumitomo Corp.

IBS buys SinglePipe

Integrated Broadband Services has agreed to acquire SinglePipe Inc., a Louisville, Ky.-based provider of VoIP solutions for cable. No financial terms were disclosed. SinglePipe has raised over $10 million from Chrysalis Ventures and Meritus Ventures.

SDL scoops up Language Weaver for $42.5M

has acquired Language Weaver, a Marina Del Rey, Calif.-based provider of automated language translation software, for $42.5 million in cash. Language Weaver had raised more than $4 million in VC funding from In-Q-Tel, Palisades Ventures and Tech Coast Angels.

Olympus acquires Innov-X

has acquired Innov-X Systems Inc., a Woburn, Mass.-based provider of elemental analyzers to the industrial, transportation, security and energy end-markets. No financial terms were disclosed. Sellers include Summit Partners, which invested $27 million in late 2006, Rand Capital Corp. and CEI Ventures.

Southwest Windpower buys Deerpath

has acquired Deerpath Energy, a Marblehead, Mass.-based provider of site analysis and deployment of small wind in the multi-unit community and commercial channels. No financial terms were disclosed. Deerpath raised $3.5 million from Rockport Capital Partners. Meanwhile, Southwest Windpower shareholders include Rockport, Altira Group, Natural Gas Partners and Chevron Technology Partners.

BMG buys Stage Three Music

, a joint venture of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Bertelsman, has agreed to buy Stage Three Music, a London-based music publisher whose portfolio includes Aerosmith’s “Walk this Way.” No financial terms were disclosed. Sellers include Apax Partners and Ingenious Ventures.

Actelion acquires Trophos

has paid €10 million ($13 million) for an option to acquire Trophos SA, a Marseille, France-based drug company focused on neurological disorders. The purchase price would be between €125 and €195 million ($160 million and $250 million). Trophos has raised VC funding from OTC Asset Management, CM-CIC Capital Prive, SGAM, Viveris Management, Turenne Capital Partners, Blue Medical and the Association Francaise contre les Myopathies.