Technimetrics
Encyclopedia
Technimetrics, Inc. was a company involved in the creation of global shareholder databases for institutional investor
s and brokers, and company-knowledge databases designed to facilitate business-to-business
sales & marketing, and additionally also provided investor relations
and similar services. These services were used by some of the world's largest investment banks
, corporations and other entities. The company operated for approximately 30 years in this manner. The operating assets of this privately owned company
were sold to Knight-Ridder
Business Information in late 1993 for about $32M.
Founded in 1968 by the eccentric James R. Uffelman, a Harvard Business School
graduate, the firm was quite unique in its day, ending up establishing quirky, unique for the era, and professionally enabling offices near the South Street Seaport in Manhattan, with challenging contemporary art on the walls, a squash court and a fitness center within the six story building at 80 South Street.
At one point in the mid 80's, Uffelman surprised the company's employees by taking them on an impromptu trip to Bermuda. Uffelman's unique management style led him to a quote in Simpson's Contemporary Quotations as follows: "The work is often deadly and boring, but it requires a keen intelligence, and the only way I can compete with large corporations is to treat my employees better, move them up faster, give them more money and put mirrors in the bathrooms."
Among the firm's product line were:
Thomas J. Clarke, Jr. took over the company from the retiring James R. Uffelman. Clarke eventually became the head of TheStreet.com
Technimetrics produced a wealth of industry talent, that eventually spread throughout the business information services and investor relations services communities, including Curtin & John Vogt, now holding senior positions with NASDAQ
. Ken Zockoll, & Adam Barkin, now with Factset and involved with database creation and sales. Europeans including Veerle Berbers, Fred Stone, Richard Spain and Cato Wille led the company's international efforts. Deborah Fuhr, later a leader in the ETF world for Morgan Stanley
and Barclays, joined Technimetrics in London, and spearheaded the brokerage business for the company. Cary Krosinsky, also an ownership data expert, was a member of the 70 person Expert Group for the United Nations
Principles for Responsible Investment process, and continues to write on the subject, including a recent book on Sustainable Investing. Many others also continue to build databases, lead companies, and otherwise have largely spawned a quality community of such services in the industry.
Three years after buying Technimetrics, Knight-Ridder Business Information sold the company to Thomson Financial
for $125 million. Technimetrics was merged into existing services at Thomson Financial, into what became known as Thomson Financial Investor Relations (TFIR).
Institutional investor
Institutional investors are organizations which pool large sums of money and invest those sums in securities, real property and other investment assets...
s and brokers, and company-knowledge databases designed to facilitate business-to-business
Business-to-business
Business-to-business describes commerce transactions between businesses, such as between a manufacturer and a wholesaler, or between a wholesaler and a retailer...
sales & marketing, and additionally also provided investor relations
Investor relations
Investor Relations is a strategic management responsibility that integrates finance, communication, marketing and securities law compliance to enable the most effective two-way communication between a company, the financial community, and other constituencies, which ultimately contributes to a...
and similar services. These services were used by some of the world's largest investment banks
Investment banking
An investment bank is a financial institution that assists individuals, corporations and governments in raising capital by underwriting and/or acting as the client's agent in the issuance of securities...
, corporations and other entities. The company operated for approximately 30 years in this manner. The operating assets of this privately owned company
Privately held company
A privately held company or close corporation is a business company owned either by non-governmental organizations or by a relatively small number of shareholders or company members which does not offer or trade its company stock to the general public on the stock market exchanges, but rather the...
were sold to Knight-Ridder
Knight Ridder
Knight Ridder was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. Until it was bought by The McClatchy Company on June 27, 2006, it was the second-largest newspaper publisher in the United States, with 32 daily newspapers sold.- History :The corporate ancestors of...
Business Information in late 1993 for about $32M.
Founded in 1968 by the eccentric James R. Uffelman, a Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
graduate, the firm was quite unique in its day, ending up establishing quirky, unique for the era, and professionally enabling offices near the South Street Seaport in Manhattan, with challenging contemporary art on the walls, a squash court and a fitness center within the six story building at 80 South Street.
At one point in the mid 80's, Uffelman surprised the company's employees by taking them on an impromptu trip to Bermuda. Uffelman's unique management style led him to a quote in Simpson's Contemporary Quotations as follows: "The work is often deadly and boring, but it requires a keen intelligence, and the only way I can compete with large corporations is to treat my employees better, move them up faster, give them more money and put mirrors in the bathrooms."
Among the firm's product line were:
- ShareWorld was the first truly comprehensive Global public equity-ownership database service of its kind.
- Anamate was among the first PC based Investor Relations software products.
- Dimension was a customized published book of financial contacts and targeting information.
- Finex was a Global database of leading corporate executives used for business-to-business marketing. This part of the business was eventually sold to InfoUSA.
- Numerous other products and services were offered over time, including BirthData, a database of birthdays of famous people, used to create birthday cards, and the Bad News calendar.
- The firm Grabill Bloom of Chicago, headed up by Tom Bloom and Dave Grabill, was acquired less than two years prior to the Thomson acquisition, as spearheaded by Ed Curtin, which added the key area of stock surveillance to the offerings.
Thomas J. Clarke, Jr. took over the company from the retiring James R. Uffelman. Clarke eventually became the head of TheStreet.com
Technimetrics produced a wealth of industry talent, that eventually spread throughout the business information services and investor relations services communities, including Curtin & John Vogt, now holding senior positions with NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
. Ken Zockoll, & Adam Barkin, now with Factset and involved with database creation and sales. Europeans including Veerle Berbers, Fred Stone, Richard Spain and Cato Wille led the company's international efforts. Deborah Fuhr, later a leader in the ETF world for Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm headquartered in New York City serving a diversified group of corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals. Morgan Stanley also operates in 36 countries around the world, with over 600 offices and a workforce of over 60,000....
and Barclays, joined Technimetrics in London, and spearheaded the brokerage business for the company. Cary Krosinsky, also an ownership data expert, was a member of the 70 person Expert Group for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Principles for Responsible Investment process, and continues to write on the subject, including a recent book on Sustainable Investing. Many others also continue to build databases, lead companies, and otherwise have largely spawned a quality community of such services in the industry.
Three years after buying Technimetrics, Knight-Ridder Business Information sold the company to Thomson Financial
Thomson Financial
Thomson Financial was an arm of The Thomson Corporation, which was one of the world's leading information companies, focused on providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers...
for $125 million. Technimetrics was merged into existing services at Thomson Financial, into what became known as Thomson Financial Investor Relations (TFIR).