Data Downlink changes name to Alacra

Along with new branding, Alacra introduces Alacra Book, a Web-based publishing platform that collects and packages business information from multiple sources into a single PDF document.

Covering more than 25,000 global public companies, the service is intended for use by investment banks, law firms, consultancies and other corporations in the daily preparation of public information books (PIBs) and other presentations. The data collected by use of Alacra Book is assembled into customized reports in minutes. Various types of user-specified information are available, including archival company news, SEC filings, scanned images of annual reports, earnings estimates, M&A profiles, shareholding data, investment research and the home page of a company’s Web site.

The company’s business search engine, previously known as Portal B, has been enhanced as well, the company claims. Now called Alacra, the online search service is said to have greater functionality in finding and sorting results, while at the same time putting information together in more meaningful ways.