Exit watch, week of Sept. 21, 2009

Abbott acquires Evalve for $320M

Abbott

(NYSE: ABT) has agreed to acquire Evalve Inc., a Menlo Park, Calif.-based provider of devices for minimally invasive repair of cardiac mitral valves. The deal includes a $320 million up-front payment, plus another $90 million in possible earnouts. Evalve has raised more than $100 million in VC funding from Abbott, ABS Ventures, Delphi Ventures, New Enterprise Associates and Split Rock Partners.

Shutterfly snaps up Tiny Pictures for $3M

Shutterfly Inc.

(Nasdaq: SFLY) has acquired Tiny Pictures, a San Francisco-based provider of applications and services for picture and video sharing. The entire deal is valued at less than $3 million. Tiny Pictures had raised nearly $13 million in VC funding from Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Mohr Davidow Ventures.

Smilebox purchases Preclick

Smilebox Inc., a Redmond, Wash.-based provider of multimedia expressions technology, has acquired Preclick Corp., a Seattle-based provider of digital photo software for such companies as Wal-Mart, Cosco and SanDisk. No financial terms were disclosed. Preclick had raised$1.6 million from LORE Associates, Mid-Atlantic Angel Group, Robin Hood Ventures and SJF Ventures. Smilebox is also venture-backed, having raised $12 million in VC funding from Bessemer Venture Partners and Frazier Technology Ventures.

Trustwave acquires Vericept

Trustwave Corp.

, an Annapolis, Md.–based provider of on-demand data security and payment card industry compliance management solutions, has acquired Vericept Inc., a Denver-based provider of data loss prevention and IP protection solutions. No financial terms were disclosed. Vericept had raised nearly $70 million since 2000 from Sigma Partners, Chicago Growth Partners, Globespan Capital Partners, Visa Inc. and Sequel Ventures. Trustwave raised $10 million from FTV Capital in 2004.

Alcon snatches Swiss company

Alcon (NYSE:ACL) has agreed to acquire EsbaTech AG, a Swiss developer of antibody fragment therapeutics. The deal includes a $150 million up-front cash payment and up to $439 million in milestone payments. EsbaTech had raised about $86 million in VC funding from SV Life Sciences, Clarus Ventures, HBM BioVentures, HBM BioCapital, Novartis Bioventures, BioMedinvest and VI Partners.

Natus buys Alpine Biomed

Natus Medical Inc.

(Nasdaq: BABY) has agreed to acquire Alpine Biomed Holdings Corp., a Fountain Valley, Calif.-based maker of devices for the diagnosis of neurological disorders. No financial terms were disclosed. Alpine Biomed is majority-owned by Water Street Healthcare Partners.