History of Global Insight

Today, Global Insight provides the most comprehensive economic, financial, and political coverage of countries, regions, and industries available from any source—covering over 200 countries and spanning more than 170 industries—using a unique combination of expertise, models, data, and software within a common analytical framework to support planning and decision making.

Recognized as the most consistently accurate forecasting company in the world, Global Insight has over 3,800 clients in industry, finance, and government with revenues in excess of $100 million, 700 employees, and 25 offices in 14 countries covering North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

History of Global Insight: 2001 to November 2007

2001—Global Insight, Inc. is formed. Global Insight, the privately held company formed by Dr. Joseph E. Kasputys, Michael R. Kargula, and Vicki Van Mater in March of 2001, brought together the world's premier economic and financial information firms: DRI and WEFA. WEFA (formerly Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates) was founded in 1963, and Data Resources, Inc. (DRI) was founded in 1968. The formation of Global Insight also included the acquisition of DAFSA, a European market-research company; and GlobalInTech (formerly Primark Poland), a software company specializing in time-series data management, as well as an interest in Decision Economics, Inc.

2002—Global Insight acquires two leading regional economic information firms in 2002, PlanEcon (covering Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union) and CIEMEX (covering Mexico). The operations of all these acquired companies were fully integrated into Global Insight, providing more detailed coverage of these key emerging countries.

2003—Global Insight acquires World Markets Research Centre (WMRC) in April of 2003. WMRC provides "same-day" analysis and continuously updated detailed assessments and reports on over 200 countries around the globe, with a unique capability to provide near real-time analysis of breaking news. Coverage includes economic, political, legal, tax, operational, and security information, together with proprietary direct foreign investment and sovereign risk assessments. WMRC also provides in-depth coverage of the automotive, energy, healthcare, and telecommunications industries, with "same-day" analysis, competitive intelligence, and global country-markets coverage. WMRC's staff, analytical procedures, and content delivery have been fully integrated into Global Insight to provide the most timely and comprehensive coverage of regions, countries, and industries available.

2004—Global Insight acquires a minority interest in Best Independent Research LLC (BIR) in January 2004. BIR is a consortium of five of the nation's highest ranking independent equity research firms. It is a unique research organization that offers investment recommendations on nearly 3,000 public companies from the top-performing independent research providers. With BRI and its member firms, Global Insight adds the outlook for companies to its country and industry coverage.

2005—February 2005, Global Insight acquires Robert Reebie and Associates, Inc. (Reebie), a premier information and consulting firm specializing in U.S. freight transportation and distribution. With its 35-year history, Reebie provides the most extensive coverage of commercial freight traffic available for shippers, carriers, and governments, including railroads, trucking companies, vessel operators, port authorities, air cargo transport providers, and federal, state, and local agencies.

2007—November 2007, Global Insight acquires SupplierBusiness Limited, the world's leading provider of automotive supply-based research and intelligence. In addition to its headquarters in the U.K., SupplierBusiness' operation in Gurgaon, India, provides the foundation for Global Insight to establish a much larger presence in India , expanding the SupplierBusiness staff and adding staffs and capabilities for other automotive products and services, plus other Global Insight operations, such as data and consulting. Global Insight moves to larger offices in Gurgaon and establishes corporate finance and human resources functions, with the entire India operation under the direction of a corporate representative on-site.

Founding Companies

WEFA—was founded in 1963 by Lawrence R. Klein, 1980 Nobel Laureate in Economics. Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates (WEFA), under the umbrella of the Economic Research Unit at the University of Pennsylvania, was initially funded by five companies to develop a model of the U.S. economy and a forecasting service that could provide objective, independent forecasts for business planning and analysis. This effectively launched the economic data and forecasting industry.

In 1987, WEFA merged with Chase Econometrics, an independent subsidiary of Chase Manhattan Bank. Chase Econometrics' research covered the world, with in-depth analysis of the U.S. national and regional economy, including key industries such as steel, non-ferrous metals, automobiles, and energy. The firm offered a tradition of client support unmatched in the economic consulting industry. Over the years, WEFA built its reputation on academic standards, quality research, and forecast accuracy.

Dr. Klein remains actively involved with Global Insight and directs Global Insight's current-quarter-model research and development in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Joseph E. Kasputys became chairman of WEFA when, as president of Primark, he acquired WEFA in 1997.

DRI—Data Resources, Inc. (DRI) was founded in 1968 by Dr. Otto Eckstein and was based on a simple innovation: the delivery of expert economic commentary, data, and forecasts via timesharing. This was a radical idea at the time since timesharing was in its infancy; large computerized databases of public information were unknown, and the concept of econometric modeling was yet to be popularized.

While serving as an outlook expert in 1967, Dr. Otto Eckstein saw timesharing in action and recognized that it would be a superior means for disseminating forecasts and making them more usable in actual business planning.

This marked the beginning of the computer age for economic forecasting with the installation of economic forecasts, models, and databases on a central timesharing computer, to be used via telephone lines by clients. A consulting organization that would promote successful use of the new technical capabilities by clients was envisaged from outset, and proved fundamental to the company's success throughout its history. Dr. Joseph E. Kasputys joined DRI in 1977 and served as its president from 1981 to 1985.