Our Story
1976 › TED BAUER CO-FOUNDED AIM MANAGEMENT GROUP
with Robert Graham and Gary Crum
1977
HIGH YIELD SECURITIES
AIM organizes high yield securities, its first retail mutual fund
1980
STIC
AIM organizes STIC, its first institutional money market fund
1982
SUMMIT INVESTORS
AIM starts summit investors plans
1986
WEINGARTEN / CONSTELLATION
AIM acquires the Weingarten, Constellation and Charter Funds
1990
NATIONALE-NEDERLANDEN
Insurance company Nationale-Nederlanden becomes a significant shareholder in AIM
1991
AIM EXPANDS TO GREENWAY PLAZA
AIM's success grew in the 1990s with an alliance with CIGNA funds group and the founders holding true to two basic requirements in investment management. As of December 31, 1991 the Houston-based investment firm ranked among the nation's Top 25 mutual
fund managers and was the largest in the state, managing approximately $19 billion in assets. The growth at AIM was despite economic challenges being felt throughout the state and country. Read about the expansion of Greenway Plaza when the company
increased its lease by 35,000 feet in Spring 1992 and Ted Bauer shared his thoughts on the company's successful growth. View the newspaper article by clicking here.
1992
CIGNA
AIM acquires the 14 CIGNA funds
1993
RECAPITALIZATION
AIM completes a recapitalization, its first step toward corporate independence
1995
INDUSTRY RECORD
First reopening of AIM aggressive growth fund takes in $1 billion in two days, an industry record
1996
ROBERT W. BAIRD AND CO.
AIM acquires three funds from Robert W. Baird and Co.
1996
AIM OPENS OFFICE IN AUSTIN
Do you remember when AIM opened up an office in Austin? The Austin American-Statesman reported in the beginning of 1996 "One of the country's most successful mutual-fund managers will open an office in downtown Austin this summer, drawing on recent
graduates from the University of Texas to employ 65 people by the end of 1996 and 200 by 1997". View the newspaper article by clicking here.
1996
ARTICLE IN THE TIMES
When Invesco initiated talks to take over AIM, a major driver was the talent of its people. AIM Alumni repeatedly mention how we treasure our time at AIM, the visionary role played by Ted Bauer, Gary Crum and Robert Graham. AIM was recognized as unique
in an industry where corporate loyalty was becoming scarce. From the AIM Scrapbook, enjoy press cuttings of the news reports surrounding this deal. View the newspaper article here.
1997
AIM FOUNDERS LOVE A CHALLENGE
When AIM first began, Ted Bauer and Gary Crum occupied an empty office with not one dollar under management. With secure jobs at the Houston Insurance Company American General Capital Management Corporation, the founders were determined to leave and
go out on their own. After scraping together the necessary seed money, they created three funds from scratch - but could not get any investors to bite. Ted Bauer recalls the founders sitting around looking at each other while things began slowly.
The turning point came in 1980 when they launched a money market fund that was able to charge lower fees - by the end of its first year the fund had managed to pull in $2.5 billion. View the newspaper article
1997
INVESCO
AIM merges with Invesco to form Amvescap PLC
1999
GT GLOBAL FUNDS
AIM becomes investment advisor to the former GT Global Funds
2000
TED BAUER DONATES $40 MILLION TO HOUSTON UNIVERSITY
On July 12, 2000, businessman Ted Bauer announced a $40 million donation to the University of Houston's College of Business Administration. In recognition of his generosity,
the college was renamed the C.T. Bauer College of Business.
2000
$176 BILLION UNDER MANAGEMENT
$176 billion in assets under management and 2,534 employees
The AIM Alumni Website is a private network to help you connect to former employees of the company. For thirty four years, millions of investors
and their financial advisors knew the AIM name as one they could rely on. Their trust was earned from a firm that was built upon a unique culture, and whose leaders empowered employees from an unwavering view that “People Are the Product”.
AIM’s success was recognized within the industry in many instances such as The Best Fund Family of the decade of the 90’s, by Barron's. Some of the best memories we have from our time at AIM are from our exceptional coworkers. From
a firm with such a strong employee identity, it seemed only fitting to establish a private alumni network. We hope you will enjoy its features as a way to help you keep in touch with your AIM alumni.