Technimetrics
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Business information services |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Founder | James R. Uffelman |
| Defunct | 1993 |
| Fate | Assets sold to Knight-Ridder Business Information; later acquired by Thomson Financial in 1996 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | ShareWorld, Anamate, Dimension, Finex, BirthData, Bad News calendar |
Technimetrics, Inc. focused on developing extensive global databases containing shareholder and corporate information to aid institutional investors, brokers, and business-to-business marketing and sales efforts. Additionally, it provided investor relations solutions utilized by leading investment banks, corporations, and various organizations internationally. The privately owned firm operated for nearly three decades before divesting its assets to Knight-Ridder Business Information in late 1993, with the transaction valued at around $32 million.
History
Established in 1968 by James R. Uffelman, an alumnus of Harvard Business School, Technimetrics was distinguished by its innovative workspace located at 80 South Street in Manhattan, which included modern art displays, a squash court, and a fitness facility. Uffelman’s distinctive leadership approach prioritized employee loyalty through accelerated career progression and attractive compensation packages.
Following Uffelman’s tenure, Thomas J. Clarke, Jr. took over leadership and subsequently became head of TheStreet.com.
Technimetrics served as a training ground for prominent figures who later made significant contributions in business information and investor relations industries. Among these were Edwin Curtin and John Vogt associated with NASDAQ, Ken Zockoll and Adam Barkin at Factset, as well as European executives Veerle Berbers, Fred Stone, Richard Spain, and Cato Wille. Deborah Fuhr expanded the brokerage segment in London before emerging as a pioneer in ETFs at Morgan Stanley and Barclays. Cary Krosinsky, recognized for expertise in ownership data at Technimetrics, joined the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment Expert Group and remains active in sustainable investment research.
In 1996, Thomson Financial acquired Technimetrics from Knight-Ridder for $125 million. The company was then integrated into Thomson Financial Investor Relations (TFIR), enhancing Thomson’s suite of data services.
Products
Technimetrics’ principal offerings comprised:
- ShareWorld, recognized as the first all-encompassing global database service detailing public equity ownership.
- Anamate, an early software solution designed for investor relations on personal computers.
- Dimension, a tailored published directory containing financial contacts and targeting information.
- Finex, an international database listing prominent corporate executives for B2B marketing purposes; this product was eventually sold to InfoUSA.
- Other products included BirthData—a database of notable birthdays used for customized greeting cards—and the Bad News calendar.
The acquisition of Grabill Bloom, a Chicago-based firm led by Tom Bloom and Dave Grabill less than two years prior to Thomson’s purchase, broadened Technimetrics’ capabilities into stock monitoring services under the leadership of Ed Curtin.