Exit watch, week of March 24, 2008

Microsoft acquires Rapt, KidaroMicrosoft Corp. has agreed to acquire Rapt Inc., a San Francisco-based developer of profit optimization software for improving pricing and supply decisions. No financial terms were disclosed. Rapt has raised about $55 million in total VC funding since 1998 from such firms as Accel Partners and Levensohn Venture Partners. In 2006, Accel and Levensohn reached an out-of-court settlement with two of Rapt’s three co-founders, who had alleged fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.

Separately, Microsoft also agreed to buy Kidaro, an Israeli provider of virtual desktop computing for the enterprise. No financial terms were disclosed. Kidaro has raised $14 million in VC funding since 2004 from Genesis Partners, Storm Ventures and Opus Capital.

BMC buys BladeLogic for about $800MBMC Software (NYSE: BMC) has agreed to acquire BladeLogic (Nasdaq: BLOG), a Lexington, Mass.-based provider of data center automation software. The deal is valued at about $800 million, or $28 per share. BladeLogic went public last year with a $440 million market cap, after having raised about $35 million in VC funding from such firms as Battery Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Globespan Capital Partners and MK Capital. Each of the VC firms continue to hold shares, with Battery holding 2.9 million shares.

LiveWire scoops up Groove MobileLiveWire Mobile Inc., a subsidiary of NMS Communications Corp. (Nasdaq: NMSS), has acquired Groove Mobile Inc., a Bedford, Mass.-based provider of mobile music solutions. The deal is valued at $14.5 million. Groove Mobile had raised about $32.5 million in VC funding since 2001 from such firms as Charles River Ventures, Kodiak Venture Partners and Egan-Managed Capital.

Widearea buys Magicsoft assetsWidearea Systems of Frederick, Md., has acquired the operating assets of Magicsoft, including the multipoint video conferencing product VC Wizard. No financial terms were disclosed. MagicSoft has raised about $3.25 million in VC funding led by NexGen Capital. Widearea has raised startup funding from the Maryland Technology Development Corp.

IBM ensnares EncentuateIBM has acquired Encentuate Inc., a Redwood City, Calif.-based provider of identity and access management software. No financial terms were disclosed. Encentuate had raised $18.2 million in VC funding since 2003 from such firms as Gabriel Venture Partners, VSP Capital and August Capital Management.

Specific Media buys U.K. ad firmSpecific Media, an Irvine, Calif.-based online advertising network, has acquired U.K.-based ad network operator Adviva Media Ltd. No financial terms were disclosed. Adviva had raised more than $10 million in VC funding from Kennet Partners.