eBenX (EBNX) to acquire Arbor Administrative Services

   *  Amount:         $61 million

   *  Terms:            2.6 million shares/$17 million cash

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Consultants/Designers

   *  Scorecard:      B-

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 29--eBenX announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Arbor Administrative Services, d/b/a Arbor Associates, a privately held, Web-based benefits administrator and application service provider (ASP). The acquisition accelerates eBenX's presence in the mid-sized employer marketplace, adding over 120,000 committed employee lives, deep domain expertise in benefits administration, great mid-market broker relationships, and a strong and satisfied mid-market customer base. Arbor shareholders will receive $17 million in cash and 2,587,500 shares of eBenX common stock.

 

 Attorneys.com (ATTY) acquires 1800attorneys.com, rfpNOW.com

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            100% stock

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Content/Communities

   *  Scorecard:      C

LAKE HELEN, Fla., Aug. 29--Attorneys.com announced it has acquired for stock the assets of 1800attorneys.com Advertising, based in New York, as well as rfpNOW.com, a privately-held provider of Web-based content relating to legal subjects and topics located in Florida. Both acquisitions support Attorneys.com's strategy of building a premier legal referral organization by combining traditional referral sources with leading edge, Web-based tools for both legal professionals and consumers. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

 

 Exodus Communications (EXDS) to acquire Grenville Consulting

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Internet services

   *  Scorecard:      B

SANTA CLARA, Aug. 29--Exodus Communications , a provider of complex Internet hosting and managed services, announced that its UK subsidiary, Exodus Internet Limited, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Grenville Consulting. The acquisition of Grenville Consulting, a leading UK consulting firm, will enhance Exodus' worldwide professional services organization, as well as provide additional Internet consulting expertise to help ensure optimum performance, reliability and scalability for customers' mission-critical Internet operations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

 Tumbleweed (TMWD) ups ownership to 80% of Japanese subsidiary

   *  Amount:         $13.75 million

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Internet services

   *  Scorecard:      A-

REDWOOD CITY, Aug. 29--Tumbleweed Communications , a provider of advanced e-mail solutions for business communications, announced that it has acquired an additional 25% of its jointly-owned Japanese subsidiary, Tumbleweed Communications KK (TKK), which it co-owns with Hikari Tsushin, increasing Tumbleweed's ownership position in the subsidiary to 80%. Tumbleweed purchased the shares from Hikari Tsushin for $13.75 million in order to enhance its position in Tumbleweed KK as a key to its business goals for its long term presence in the Japanese market. Hikari Tsushin still owns 20% of shares in Tumbleweed KK.

 

 Informatica (INFA) to acquire Zimba

   *  Amount:         $25 million

   *  Terms:            100% stock

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Content/Communities

   *  Scorecard:      A-

PALO ALTO, Aug. 29--Informatica, a provider of e-business analytic solutions, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Zimba, a provider of applications that enable mobile professionals with real-time access to corporate and external information via wireless devices, voice recognition, and the Web. Informatica is acquiring Zimba in a stock-for-stock merger transaction valued at approximately $25 million.