Shareholder Representative Services is trying something new this holiday season. SRS is unveiling AcqMan — acq is short for acquisition–a game which tests players’ knowledge of M&A. This is how it works: Users pick from six different AcqMan avatars that represent different deep-pocketed strategic buyers. Choices include Dell, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and Takeda.

IBM has acquired Butterfly Software, a privately held data analysis and migration software company headquartered in Maidenhead, England. Financial terms were not disclosed. Butterfly will become part of IBM’s software group.

Big company innovation is an oxymoron, right? Maybe not. Innovation expert Scott Anthony argues that a dramatic shift is underway in corporate innovation with significant ramifications for venture capitalists.

Streetline, Inc. said it received a $25 million credit facility from Citibank in collaboration with IBM for cities to adopt new parking technologies without upfront costs. Streetline’s parking platform detects the presence of a car through a network of ultra-low power wireless sensors located in individual parking spaces and the information is then made available [...]

Every entrepreneur has met them. Big company executives with big company swagger. They ignore you. They dismiss the business problem you spent your life solving. They think they can crush you. Then the tables turn. They push for strategic relationships. They want to give you money, frequently at irrationally high valuations. Finally they shell out [...]

IBM is acquiring Q1 Labs, a Waltham, Mass.-based company that sells security intelligence software. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Q1 Labs, founded in 2001and has received venture backing from Polaris Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, BDC Venture Capital and Globespan Capital Partners among others over the years. PRESS RELEASE: IBM (NYSE: IBM) [...]

IBM is paying an undisclosed amount to buy British security analytics software firm i2, Reuters reported. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. Cambridge, England-based i2 says its software was used by U.S. forces track down former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 2003, Reuters wrote. The company has roughly 350 empoyees across Britain, the US and Australia.

(Reuters) – Competition is brewing in the small but booming market for flash memory used in corporate data centers, and analysts foresee a wave of consolidation as larger players move in. Giant tech companies from International Business Machines Corp to Western Digital Corp are sharpening their focus on lightning-quick flash storage, hoping to ride a [...]

At Long Last!: Sanofi-Genzyme could finally be happening

Growing: PepsiCo buys most of Russian dairy & juice company Wimm-Bill-Dann, plans full acquisition

Dealing: Nelson Peltz might be orchestrating another deal for Wendy’s/Arby’s, instead of just splitting them up

What’s in a Name?: Groupon is reportedly trying to buy Hipster