Jump to content

Vignette Corporation: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→History: Pruned trivia, added early venture capital info
GreenC bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
2,548,707 edits
Rescued 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#deseretnews.com
 
(43 intermediate revisions by 26 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox company|
{{Infobox company
name = Vignette Corporation |
| name = Vignette Corporation
logo = [[Image:Vignette.png]]|
| logo = Vignette.png
| industry = [[Software]]
type = Subsidiary of OpenText |
| fate = Acquired by [[Open Text Corporation]]
foundation = 1995, Sigma Partners |
| foundation = {{start date and age|1995}}
location = [[Austin, Texas]] (registered)|
| founder = Ross Garber <br>Neil Webber
key_people = Mike Aviles, [[Chief Executive Officer]]|
| defunct = {{end date and age|2009|07|21}}
num_employees = about 670 (2008)|
| location = [[Austin, Texas]]
industry = [[content management]], [[web portal|portal]], [[collaboration]], [[document management]], and [[records management]] |
homepage =
}}
}}


'''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 (text editor)|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 (U.S. TV channel)|National Geographic Channel]], [[Pharmacia & Upjohn]], [[MetLife]], [[BSkyB]], the [[2004 Summer Olympics]], and [[NASA]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cio.com/article/2436135/enterprise-architecture/nasa-phoenix-mission-to-mars--an-out-of-this-world-content-management-challe.html | title=NASA Phoenix Mission to Mars: An Out-Of-This-World Content Management Challenge | first=Laurianne | last=McLaughlin | work=[[CIO magazine]] | date=May 22, 2008}}</ref>
'''Vignette Corporation''' was a company headquartered in [[Austin, Texas]] that offered a suite of [[content management]], [[web portal|portal]], [[collaboration]], [[document management]], and [[records management]] software. Founded in 1995,<ref name="ante" /> Vignette was bought by [[Open Text Corporation]] in 2009.<ref name="buyvignette">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/05/04/daily29.html |title=Vignette to become part of Open Text in $310M deal | work=Austin Business Journal |accessdate=2009-05-06 | date=2009-05-06}}</ref><ref name="vignetteacquired">{{cite web |url=http://www.opentext.com/2/global/press-release-details.html?id=2233 |title=Open Text Completes Vignette Acquisition |accessdate=2009-07-28 }}</ref>


Its V6 content suites was priced at $200,000-$400,000.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://au.pcmag.com/internet-2/8479/vignette-v6-content-suite | title=Vignette V6 Content Suite | first=John | last=Clyman | work=[[PC Magazine]] | date=February 23, 2007}}</ref>
== Overview ==
Targeted at the enterprise market, Vignette offered several suites of products allowing non-technical users to create, edit and track content through workflows and publish it on the web. Vignette provided integration for [[enterprise resource planning]], [[customer relationship management]] and legacy systems, supporting [[Java EE]] and [[Microsoft .NET]].


In 2009, the company was acquired by [[Open Text Corporation]].
The company held more than 70 U.S. patents.<ref>[http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=0&f=S&l=50&TERM1=%22vignette+corporation%22&FIELD1=&co1=AND&TERM2=&FIELD2=&d=PTXT U.S. Patent Office]</ref>


==History==
Many large websites ran Vignette, including [[UnitedHealth Group]], [[Disney]], [[Wachovia]], [[Martha Stewart]], [[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] Digital, [[National Geographic Channel|National Geographic]], MetLife and [[BSkyB]]. Vignette provided the technical platform for the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] website. In 2008, [[NASA]] credited Vignette Portal as a "key tool the team uses in-house to keep the content organized."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cio.com/article/print/365763|work=CIO Magazine| title=NASA Phoenix Mission to Mars: An Out-Of-This-World Content Management Challenge|first= Laurianne|last= McLaughlin| date=May 22, 2008|accessdate=December 3, 2011}}</ref>
In November 1995, Ross Garber and Neil Webber founded the company with the goal of making web publishing easier and more personalized.<ref name=webgo>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2000-06-04/making-the-web-go | title=Making The Web Go | first=Spencer E. | last=Ante | work=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] | date=June 5, 2000 | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=vision>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2002/08/05/story2.html | title=Big vision for Vignette | first=Stacey | last=Higginbotham | work=[[American City Business Journals]] | date=August 4, 2002}}</ref>


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.<ref name=story>{{cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/1998/10/14/side1.html | title=Vignette is the story | first=Om | last=Malik | authorlink=Om Malik | work=[[Forbes]] | date=October 14, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/vignette-produces-web-site-tools/ | title=Vignette produces Web site tools | work=[[CNET]] | date=November 13, 1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/1996/09/16/story7.html | title=CNET ups its Vignette stake | first=Neil | last=Orman | work=[[American City Business Journals]] | date=September 15, 1996}}</ref>
== History ==
In November 1995 [[Ross Garber]] and [[Neil Webber(US)|Neil Webber]] started Vignette with the goal of making web publishing easier and more personalized.<ref name="ante">{{Cite web| last = Ante| first = Spencer E.| title = Making the Web Go: Sites hum with Vignette's software, which helps publish and manage Net content| work = Business Week| accessdate = 2011-07-09| date = 2000-06-05| url = http://www.businessweek.com/archives/2000/b3684031.arc.htm}}</ref> The company's seed round investors were [[Austin Ventures]] and Sigma Partners. In a second round, Vignette secured $10 million of venture funding in July 1997<ref>{{Cite news
| last = Thomas
| first = Owen
| title = Vignette lands $10 million in second round
| work = Red Herring Online
| accessdate = 2014-09-07
| date = 1997-07-28
| url = https://web.archive.org/web/19991005165623/http://www.herring.com/insider/1997/0728/garber.html
}} </ref> and $14 million in May 1998.<ref>{{Cite news
| last = Thomas
| first = Owen
| title = Vignette buys RandomNoise
| work = Red Herring Online
| accessdate = 2014-09-07
| date = 1998-05-08
| url = https://web.archive.org/web/19991005151024/http://herring.com/insider/1998/0508/vignette.html
}}</ref>


In February 1996, the company received $400,000 of [[seed money]] from [[Austin Ventures]] and Sigma Partners.<ref name=vision/>
Vignette's first product was called StoryBuilder and handled large-scale content management workflow. This product was announced but never released on its own. During the initial StoryBuilder 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, which wanted a third party to commercialize the product, decided to transfer the technology to Vignette, and invested $500,000, for a 33% stake in Vignette. Vignette rapidly developed the technology into a product called [[StoryServer]], which was released in January 1997. StoryBuilder was later merged into the StoryServer product, and was released in September 1997.<ref name=festa>{{cite news|date=September 16, 1997|title=Vignette updates StoryServer platform|first=Paul |last=Festa|work=CNET News|url=http://news.cnet.com/Vignette-updates-StoryServer--platform/2100-1001_3-203279.html}}</ref><ref name=malik>{{cite news |url=http://www.forbes.com/1998/10/14/side1.html|first=Om|last=Malik|work=Forbes|title=Vignette is the story| date=October 14, 1998|accessdate=December 3, 2011}}</ref>


In July 1996, the company raised $3 million.<ref name=vision/>
In the 1990s, Vignette's [[integrated development environment]] and [[application programming interface]] offered an alternative to conventional [[Common Gateway Interface]]/[[vi]]/[[Perl]] web development, and the company acquired 130 customers by 1998.<ref name=malik />


In January 1997, the company released [[StoryServer]], developed from technology acquired from CNET. It was updated in September 1997.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/vignette-updates-storyserver-platform/ | title=Vignette updates StoryServer platform | first=PAUL | last=FESTA | work=[[CNET]] | date=September 16, 1997}}</ref>
In June 1998, Garber hired [[Greg Peters]] to succeed him as chief executive officer, and Garber became chairman of the board. Vignette's [[initial public offering]] (IPO) took place on February 19, 1999, and became one of the ten most successful "dot-com" IPOs of the year.{{Citation needed |date= January 2014}} Garber left the company later in 1999, and Webber retired in early 2000.


In January 1998, Vignette and [[Firefly (website)|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.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.xml.com/pub/a/ws/SeyboldReport/ip020701.html | title=Vignette and Firefly propose the ICE protocol | first=Victor | last=Votsch | work=XML.com | date=March 10, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.w3.org/TR/1998/NOTE-ice-19981026 | title=The Information and Content Exchange (ICE) Protocol | publisher=W3 | date=October 26, 1998}}</ref>
The company made several acquisitions, including e-business application vendor OnDisplay for $1.4 billion in 2000,<ref>{{cite news| first=Stephanie|last=Sanborn|title=Vignette to acquire OnDisplay|work=InfoWorld|date= May 22, 2000|accessdate= July 25, 2011|url= http://web.archive.org/web/20041102173456/http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/00/05/22/000522hnvignette.html}}</ref> enterprise portal software vendor [[Epicentric]] for $32 million in 2002,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/1490541|work= Internet News|title=Vignette Buys Epicentric for $32 Million| first=Jim|last= Wagner | date=October 29, 2002}}</ref> CMS vendor Intraspect for $20 million in 2003,<ref>{{cite news|title=Vignette buys collaboration company|first=David |last=Becker|work= ZD Net|date= September 15, 2003|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20050116040333/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5076873.html}}</ref> Tower Technology, an [[Australia]]n-based provider of enterprise document and records management software, in 2004 for $125 million,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040427191533/http://www.crm2day.com/news/crm/EpZuluZyEltXzkCTDr.php|title=Vignette to Acquire Tower Technology Pty Ltd| date= January 23, 2004|work=CRM Today}}</ref> and Vidavee, a [[SaaS]]-based Web video publishing company in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cmswire.com/cms/enterprise-cms/video-sharing-becomes-part-of-vignette-platform-002557.php|work= CMSWire| title=Video Sharing Becomes Part of Vignette Platform| first= Maria M. |last=Diaz|date= April 18, 2008}}</ref>


In May 1998, the company acquired RandomNoise.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/vignette-to-buy-randomnoise/ | title=Vignette to buy RandomNoise | work=[[CNET]] | date=May 11, 1998}}</ref>
In 2008 Vignette suffered a marked decrease in gross profit and net income (Q2 2008 vs. Q2 2007).<ref name="cmswatch.com">{{cite web |date=July 25, 2008 |title=Interwoven prospers as Vignette continues to bleed|first=Kas|last= Thomas|work=Real Story Group|url=http://www.realstorygroup.com/Blog/1324-Interwoven-prospers-as-Vignette-continues-to-bleed}}</ref><ref name="cmswire.com">{{cite news |date=July 28, 2008 |title=Vignette's Year on Year Income Falls 73.5%|url=http://www.cmswire.com/cms/enterprise-cms/vignettes-year-on-year-income-falls-735-002937.php| first=Irina |last=Guseva |work=CMS Wire}}</ref> The company reported a loss of a little over $863,000 in Q2 of 2008, compared to a net gain of $4 million in Q2 of 2007.<ref name="cmswatch.com"/><ref name="cmswire.com"/> However, the company had no debt and approximately $150 million in cash. Vignette launched a dozen products in 2008 but needed to prove the value of these products by producing license revenue.<ref name="cmswatch.com"/><ref name="cmswire.com"/>


In June 1998, Garber hired Greg Peters to succeed him as CEO, and Garber became chairman of the board.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/1999/1129/6413220a.html | title=Automating the Web | first=Daniel | last=Fisher | work=[[Forbes]] | date=November 29, 1999}}</ref>
On May 6, 2009, [[Open Text Corporation]] announced its intention to buy Vignette for $310 million<ref name="buyvignette" /> and completed the acquisition on July 21, 2009.<ref name="vignetteacquired"/>


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


By December 1998, the company raised an additional $27.5 million in [[venture capital]].<ref name=vision/>
Vignette was criticized for being very expensive. Traditionally Vignette aimed at the high-end of the market with the typical deployment costing over $250,000.<ref>{{cite news|work=PC Mag|date=September 17, 2002|title=Vignette V6 Content Suite|first=John |last=Clyman|url=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,479068,00.asp}}</ref> Newer offerings (i.e. Video, Recommendations and Social) were priced well under $100,000.


The number of the company's customers rose from 130 in 1998<ref name=story /> to 700 in 2000.<ref name=webgo/>
The user interfaces of Vignette's products were considered to be complicated, non-intuitive and hard to learn.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vignette, Ajax, and Usability|first=Tony |last=Byrne |date=November 2, 2007 | url=http://www.realstorygroup.com/Feature/169-Vignette-Demo|work=Real Story Group}}</ref> Later product versions were aimed at addressing these criticisms.


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.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/02/19/technology/webtrends/ | title=Internet IPOs soar | work=[[CNN]] | date=February 19, 1999}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[StoryServer]]


On February 22, 1999, the company release Vignette Syndication Server.
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}


After the IPO, in 1999, Garber, worth $200 million at the age of 33, sold most of his stock and left the company.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/20/magazine/austin-we-have-a-problem.html | title=Austin, We Have a Problem | first=HELEN | last=THORPE | work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] | date=August 20, 2000 | url-access=subscription}}</ref>


In May 1999, the company acquired Diffusion for 400,000 shares of its stock, then worth $32.9 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/114441/Vignette+Acquires+Diffusion.htm | title=Vignette Acquires Diffusion | first=Cyrus | last=Afzali | work=[[QuinStreet]] | date=May 11, 1999}}</ref>
[[Category:Content management systems]]

[[Category:Companies based in Austin, Texas]]
In January 2000, the company acquired [[DataSage]], a data mining and personalization application vendor, for $606 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB947537057569483479 | title=Vignette Sets Deal to Buy DataSage For $606.4 Million, Lifting Shares | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=January 11, 2000 | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/737648/Vignette-to-acquire-DataSage-for-5536M-in-stock.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521025451/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/737648/Vignette-to-acquire-DataSage-for-5536M-in-stock.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 21, 2018 | title=Vignette to acquire DataSage for $553.6M in stock | agency=[[Bloomberg News]] | publisher=[[Deseret News]] | date=January 10, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2594251/vignette-buys-datasage-for--595-million.html | title=Vignette buys DataSage for $595 million | first=Robin A. | last=Robinson | work=[[Computerworld]] | date=January 10, 2000}}</ref>

In May 2000, the company acquired OnDisplay, an e-business application vendor, for $1.4 billion.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news/article.php/376561/Vignette+Acquires+OnDisplay+for+17+Billion.htm | title=Vignette Acquires OnDisplay for $1.7 Billion | first=Thor | last=Olavsrud | work=[[QuinStreet]] | date=May 22, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB958998993581419539 | title=Vignette to Buy OnDisplay For $1.28 Billion in Stock | first=Gary | last=McWilliams | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=May 23, 2000 | url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://money.cnn.com/2000/05/22/deals/vignette/ | title=Vignette buys OnDisplay | work=[[CNN]] | date=May 22, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/vignette-buys-ondisplay-in-1-7b-deal/ | title=Vignette buys OnDisplay in $1.7B deal | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=May 22, 2000}}</ref>

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.<ref name=webgo/>

In August 2000, the company signed a deal with [[IBM]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB965260740724758369 | title=IBM Signs Joint Marketing Agreement In Deal With Software Vendor Vignette | first=William M. | last=Bulkeley | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=August 3, 2000 | url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In March 2001, Thomas E. Hogan was named president of the company.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB983889616424076761 | title=Vignette Names Siebel's Hogan As President, Operating Chief | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=March 7, 2001 | url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In April 2001, as the dot-com bubble burst, the company sued 13 customers that had not paid for software they received.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2001/04/16/story7.html | title=Vignette goes after debts | first=Shannon | last=Rentner | work=[[American City Business Journals]] | date=April 15, 2001}}</ref>

In February 2002, the company's products were used for the website of [[The Wall Street Journal]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2586934/networking/wsj-com-completes-web-site-overhaul.html | title=WSJ.com Completes Web Site Overhaul | first=Julia | last=King | work=[[Computerworld]] | date=February 11, 2002}}</ref>

In July 2002, Hogan was named CEO.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2002/07/22/daily4.html | title=Vignette names new CEO | work=[[American City Business Journals]] | date=July 22, 2002}}</ref>

In October 2002, the company acquired [[Epicentric]] for $32 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2578506/enterprise-applications/vignette-to-acquire-epicentric-portal-developer.html | title=Vignette to acquire Epicentric portal developer | first=Jennifer | last=Mears | work=[[Computerworld]] | date=October 29, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.eweek.com/it-management/vignette-to-acquire-epicentric | title=Vignette to Acquire Epicentric | first=Dennis | last=Callaghan | work=[[eWeek]] | date=October 29, 2002}}</ref> The company also announced Vignette V7.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2578908/app-development/vignette-unveils-new-content-management-products.html | title=Vignette unveils new content management products | first=Todd R. | last=Weiss | work=[[Computerworld]] | date=October 22, 2002}}</ref>

In March 2003, the company moved its offices.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2003/03/24/story7.html | title=Vignette moving offices | first=Matt | last=Hudgins | work=[[American City Business Journals]] | date=March 23, 2003}}</ref>

In December 2003, the company acquired CMS vendor Intraspect for $20 million.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20031211005097/en/Vignette-Completes-Acquisition-Collaboration-Leader-Intraspect-Software | title=Vignette Completes Acquisition of Collaboration Leader Intraspect Software Inc. | publisher=[[Business Wire]] | date=December 11, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/25/vignette_buys_intraspect/ | title=Vignette buys Intraspect | work=[[The Register]] | date=September 25, 2003}}</ref>

In March 2004, the company acquired Tower Technology, an [[Australia]]n-based provider of enterprise document and records management software, for $125 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/vignette-buys-tower-technology/ | title=Vignette buys Tower Technology | first=James | last=Pearce | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=January 23, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/01/30/vignette_buys_into_traditional_ecm/ | title=Vignette buys into traditional ECM with Tower Technology | work=[[The Register]] | date=January 30, 2004}}</ref>

In February 2006, the company appointed Mike Aviles as CEO.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20060214005421/en/Vignette-Appoints-Michael-A.-Aviles-Chief-Executive | title=Vignette Appoints Michael A. Aviles as Chief Executive Officer; Seasoned Executive Brings Leadership, Multi-Industry Experience and Operational Expertise | publisher=[[Business Wire]] | date=February 14, 2006}}</ref>

In April 2008, the company acquired Vidavee, a [[SaaS]]-based Web video publishing company, for $6.6 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://adage.com/article/web-video-report-news/vignette-buys-vidavee-6-6-mil/129076 | title=VIGNETTE BUYS VIDAVEE FOR $6.6 MIL | author=Sergio | work=[[Advertising Age]] | date=April 9, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.computerworld.com.au/article/211975/vignette_acquires_video_publishing_capability_vidavee_buy/ | title=Vignette acquires video publishing capability with Vidavee buy | first=Sandra | last=Rossi | work=[[Computerworld]] | date=April 10, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vignette-to-acquire-video-white-labeler-vidavee-for-66-million-sale-price-below-total-raise/ | title=Vignette To Acquire Video White Labeler Vidavee For $6.6 Million; Sale Price Below Total Raise | first=Joseph | last=Weisenthal | work=[[CBS News]] | date=April 9, 2008}}</ref>

On July 21, 2009, [[Open Text Corporation]] acquired the company for $321 million in cash and stock.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.opentext.com/who-we-are/press-releases?id=2233 | title=Open Text Completes Vignette Acquisition | publisher=[[Open Text Corporation]] | date=July 21, 2009}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Dot-com Bubble}}
{{OpenText}}

[[Category:OpenText]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Dot-com bubble]]
[[Category:1999 initial public offerings]]
[[Category:2009 mergers and acquisitions]]

Latest revision as of 00:55, 8 November 2024

Vignette Corporation
IndustrySoftware
Founded1995; 30 years ago (1995)
FounderRoss Garber
Neil Webber
DefunctJuly 21, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-07-21)
FateAcquired by Open Text Corporation
HeadquartersAustin, Texas

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]

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

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

History

[edit]

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

[edit]
  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. ^ a b c Ante, Spencer E. (June 5, 2000). "Making The Web Go". Bloomberg L.P.
  4. ^ a b c d Higginbotham, Stacey (August 4, 2002). "Big vision for Vignette". American City Business Journals.
  5. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018.
  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.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Vignette_Corporation&oldid=1256064162"