Boston-based Sphera Corp., a developer of Web hosting automation and management software, said Thursday it has raised an additional $5 million from Vision Capital and Bank of America Equity Partners in its Series B round, after securing $15 million last year from Tlcom Capital Partners, Gemini Israel Venture Fund and Jerusalem Venture Partners in an initial close. No figure was disclosed on the valuation, though a company source said it fell from the prior round in which the company raised $13.5 million at a post-money valuation of $43 million. Founded in 1998, Sphera develops software that allows Internet hosters to offer automated management and maintenance services to their customers. The funds are to be used for further research and development and marketing.

-- Neal Sandler (The Daily Deal)