Vignette Corporation

Vignette Corporation was a company that offered a suite of content management, web portal, collaboration, document management, and records management software. Targeted at the enterprise market, Vignette offered products under the name StoryServer that allowed non-technical users to create, edit and track content through workflows and publish it on the web. It provided integration for enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management and legacy systems, supporting Java EE and Microsoft.NET. Vignette's integrated development environment and application programming interface offered an alternative to conventional Common Gateway Interface/vi/Perl web development. StoryServer was used on many large websites including those of CNET, UnitedHealth Group, The Walt Disney Company, Wachovia, Martha Stewart, Fox News, National Geographic Channel, Pharmacia & Upjohn, MetLife, BSkyB, the 2004 Summer Olympics, and NASA.[1]

Vignette Corporation
IndustrySoftware
Founded1995 (1995)
FounderRoss Garber
Neil Webber
DefunctJuly 21, 2009 (2009-07-21)
FateAcquired by Open Text Corporation
HeadquartersAustin, Texas

Its V6 content suites was priced at $200,000-$400,000.[2]

In 2009, the company was acquired by Open Text Corporation.

History

In November 1995, Ross Garber and Neil Webber founded the company with the goal of making web publishing easier and more personalized.[3][4]

In 1996, the company developed StoryBuilder, its first product, which handled large-scale content management workflow. During the initial development, Vignette partnered with CNET, which had developed its own technology called PRISM that allowed for the creation and delivery of large, database-driven websites. CNET transferred the technology and $500,000 in cash to Vignette for a 33% stake in the company.[5][6][7]

In February 1996, the company received $400,000 of seed money from Austin Ventures and Sigma Partners.[4]

In July 1996, the company raised $3 million.[4]

In January 1997, the company released StoryServer, developed from technology acquired from CNET. It was updated in September 1997.[8]

In January 1998, Vignette and Firefly Networks proposed the XML based Information and Content Exchange (ICE) protocol for content syndication and submitted the specification to the World Wide Web Consortium standards body on October 26, 1998.[9][10]

In May 1998, the company acquired RandomNoise.[11]

In June 1998, Garber hired Greg Peters to succeed him as CEO, and Garber became chairman of the board.[12]

In July 1998, the company launched StoryServer 4, which featured strong support of XML technology.

By December 1998, the company raised an additional $27.5 million in venture capital.[4]

The number of the company's customers rose from 130 in 1998[5] to 700 in 2000.[3]

On February 19, 1999, during the dot-com bubble, the company became a public company via an initial public offering. On the first day of trading, the stock price rose 152%, from $19 to $47.[13]

On February 22, 1999, the company release Vignette Syndication Server.

After the IPO, in 1999, Garber, worth $200 million at the age of 33, sold most of his stock and left the company.[14]

In May 1999, the company acquired Diffusion for 400,000 shares of its stock, then worth $32.9 million.[15]

In January 2000, the company acquired DataSage, a data mining and personalization application vendor, for $606 million.[16][17][18]

In May 2000, the company acquired OnDisplay, an e-business application vendor, for $1.4 billion.[19][20][21][22]

By June 2000, the company had 1,300 employees and its stock had risen more than 1,500% from its IPO price, to $297 per share, giving the company a market capitalization of nearly $9 billion.[3]

In August 2000, the company signed a deal with IBM.[23]

In March 2001, Thomas E. Hogan was named president of the company.[24]

In April 2001, as the dot-com bubble burst, the company sued 13 customers that had not paid for software they received.[25]

In February 2002, the company's products were used for the website of The Wall Street Journal.[26]

In July 2002, Hogan was named CEO.[27]

In October 2002, the company acquired Epicentric for $32 million.[28][29] The company also announced Vignette V7.[30]

In March 2003, the company moved its offices.[31]

In December 2003, the company acquired CMS vendor Intraspect for $20 million.[32][33]

In March 2004, the company acquired Tower Technology, an Australian-based provider of enterprise document and records management software, for $125 million.[34][35]

In February 2006, the company appointed Mike Aviles as CEO.[36]

In April 2008, the company acquired Vidavee, a SaaS-based Web video publishing company, for $6.6 million.[37][38][39]

On July 21, 2009, Open Text Corporation acquired the company for $321 million in cash and stock.[40]

References
  1. McLaughlin, Laurianne (May 22, 2008). "NASA Phoenix Mission to Mars: An Out-Of-This-World Content Management Challenge". CIO magazine.
  2. Clyman, John (February 23, 2007). "Vignette V6 Content Suite". PC Magazine.
  3. Ante, Spencer E. (June 5, 2000). "Making The Web Go". Bloomberg L.P.
  4. Higginbotham, Stacey (August 4, 2002). "Big vision for Vignette". American City Business Journals.
  5. Malik, Om (October 14, 1998). "Vignette is the story". Forbes.
  6. "Vignette produces Web site tools". CNET. November 13, 1996.
  7. Orman, Neil (September 15, 1996). "CNET ups its Vignette stake". American City Business Journals.
  8. FESTA, PAUL (September 16, 1997). "Vignette updates StoryServer platform". CNET.
  9. Votsch, Victor (March 10, 1998). "Vignette and Firefly propose the ICE protocol". XML.com.
  10. "The Information and Content Exchange (ICE) Protocol". W3. October 26, 1998.
  11. "Vignette to buy RandomNoise". CNET. May 11, 1998.
  12. Fisher, Daniel (November 29, 1999). "Automating the Web". Forbes.
  13. "Internet IPOs soar". CNN. February 19, 1999.
  14. THORPE, HELEN (August 20, 2000). "Austin, We Have a Problem". The New York Times Magazine.
  15. Afzali, Cyrus (May 11, 1999). "Vignette Acquires Diffusion". QuinStreet.
  16. "Vignette Sets Deal to Buy DataSage For $606.4 Million, Lifting Shares". The Wall Street Journal. January 11, 2000.
  17. "Vignette to acquire DataSage for $553.6M in stock". Deseret News. Bloomberg News. January 10, 2000.
  18. Robinson, Robin A. (January 10, 2000). "Vignette buys DataSage for $595 million". Computerworld.
  19. Olavsrud, Thor (May 22, 2000). "Vignette Acquires OnDisplay for $1.7 Billion". QuinStreet.
  20. McWilliams, Gary (May 23, 2000). "Vignette to Buy OnDisplay For $1.28 Billion in Stock". The Wall Street Journal.
  21. "Vignette buys OnDisplay". CNN. May 22, 2000.
  22. "Vignette buys OnDisplay in $1.7B deal". ZDNet. May 22, 2000.
  23. Bulkeley, William M. (August 3, 2000). "IBM Signs Joint Marketing Agreement In Deal With Software Vendor Vignette". The Wall Street Journal.
  24. "Vignette Names Siebel's Hogan As President, Operating Chief". The Wall Street Journal. March 7, 2001.
  25. Rentner, Shannon (April 15, 2001). "Vignette goes after debts". American City Business Journals.
  26. King, Julia (February 11, 2002). "WSJ.com Completes Web Site Overhaul". Computerworld.
  27. "Vignette names new CEO". American City Business Journals. July 22, 2002.
  28. Mears, Jennifer (October 29, 2002). "Vignette to acquire Epicentric portal developer". Computerworld.
  29. Callaghan, Dennis (October 29, 2002). "Vignette to Acquire Epicentric". eWeek.
  30. Weiss, Todd R. (October 22, 2002). "Vignette unveils new content management products". Computerworld.
  31. Hudgins, Matt (March 23, 2003). "Vignette moving offices". American City Business Journals.
  32. "Vignette Completes Acquisition of Collaboration Leader Intraspect Software Inc" (Press release). Business Wire. December 11, 2003.
  33. "Vignette buys Intraspect". The Register. September 25, 2003.
  34. Pearce, James (January 23, 2004). "Vignette buys Tower Technology". ZDNet.
  35. "Vignette buys into traditional ECM with Tower Technology". The Register. January 30, 2004.
  36. "Vignette Appoints Michael A. Aviles as Chief Executive Officer; Seasoned Executive Brings Leadership, Multi-Industry Experience and Operational Expertise" (Press release). Business Wire. February 14, 2006.
  37. Sergio (April 9, 2008). "VIGNETTE BUYS VIDAVEE FOR $6.6 MIL". Advertising Age.
  38. Rossi, Sandra (April 10, 2008). "Vignette acquires video publishing capability with Vidavee buy". Computerworld.
  39. Weisenthal, Joseph (April 9, 2008). "Vignette To Acquire Video White Labeler Vidavee For $6.6 Million; Sale Price Below Total Raise". CBS News.
  40. "Open Text Completes Vignette Acquisition" (Press release). Open Text Corporation. July 21, 2009.
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