C.E. Unterberg, Towbin

C.E. Unterberg, Towbin, was a United States investment bank. Founded as C.E. Unterberg & Co. in 1932 by Clarence E. Unterberg, the firm changed its name to C.E Unterberg, Towbin & Co., in 1953.[1][2]

C.E. Unterberg, Towbin
TypeCorporation
IndustryInvestment services
FateAcquired
SuccessorL. F. Rothschild, Unterberg, Towbin (later Collins Stewart)
Founded1932
Defunct2007
ProductsFinancial Services
Investment Banking

History

The firm began as a niche over-the-counter trading firm. Following World War II, the firm made a name for itself as an investment banker for the technology oriented companies of the period.[3]

Following its merger with L.F. Rothschild in 1977, the firm was known as L. F. Rothschild, Unterberg, Towbin and was led primarily by Thomas I. Unterberg and A. Robert Towbin. The firm was known for its merchant banking investments, particularly in high-technology companies. In the early 1980s, the firm emerged as the leading underwriter of initial public offerings, surpassing the elite investment banks (at the time, including Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley). Among the companies they took public were Intel, Cray Research and biotechnology company Cetus Corporation.[4] Following the 1986 departure of Tom Unterberg and Bob Towbin for Lehman Brothers, the firm became known as L.F. Rothschild until it filed Chapter 11 in 1989.

Subsequently, in 1990 Tom Unterberg started a new firm with investment banker Bob Harris, formerly of Alex. Brown & Sons, called Unterberg Harris. The firm focused on raising capital for growth companies, with a focus in the technology, healthcare and global security sectors. In 1995, Towbin joined the firm and in 1997, Bob Harris left for Bear Stearns, so the company took on the C.E. Unterberg, Towbin name once again. Since January 2002, John Gutfreund, a former CEO of Salomon Brothers has been senior managing director of the bank. On July 16, 2007, the firm was acquired by UK based investment bank Collins Stewart, and assumed that firm's name.[5]

References
  1. New York Times Obituary- Clarence E. Unterberg
  2. New York Times- Dealer Changing Name
  3. Williamson, John Peter. The Investment Banking Handbook. John Wiley and Sons, 1988
  4. MCGEEHAN, PATRICK. "Private Sector; Banker's Novel Late-Career Move." The New York Times, November 11, 2001
  5. Reuters- Collins Stewart to Acquire C.E. Unterberg Towbin
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