Technimetrics, Inc. was a company involved in the creation of global shareholder databases for institutional investors and brokers, and company-knowledge databases designed to facilitate business-to-business sales and 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.
Contents
History
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."
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).
Products
Among the firm's product line were: