Google acquires BumpTop part 3

Okay, this should do it on the BumpTop front. But since so many of you are detail oriented…here goes.

Purchase price was closer to US$30 million that the US$35/40 million I’d estimated at the outset (see prior post “Google acquires BumpTop” May 1-10).

In terms of returns, the rumours are that original investors (such as Extreme Venture Partners and the angel contingent) did indeed earn the heralded 10 bagger. For Toronto’s GrowthWorks, they came in a snick later and earned a lower multiple on their invested capital.

The original news-breaking blog piece drove our traffic to a high for the year. Even the Wall Street Journal picked it up (with a hat tip, of course). Guess Google grabs attention wherever they turn.

As for my friends at the DTM, no such luck on the hat tip front. This from Canada’s National Newspaper:

Google Inc. (GOOG-Q) has snatched one of Canada’s hottest tech startups.

The search engine company has acquired BumpTop, a Toronto-based firm specializing in software that turns a computer desktop into a 3D environment. The parties involved in the sale did not disclose the purchase price, but it is believed to be between $30-million and $45-million.

Despite first learning of the news from the blogosphere, adopting the “snatch” word from our May 1st url (is that plagiarism or inspiration?):

http://www.markmcqueen.ca/2010/05/01/did-google-snatch-bumptop

Not to mention our details regarding Google’s estimated purchase price. Sadly, they didn’t feel it important to send any hat tippage love our way; not that this is unique (see prior post “DTM copycats at it again” Feb 14-08 and “DTM copycats at it again part 8” June 20-08). Unlike even the Financial Post, which was kind enough to tip away!

Shame.

MRM