Private Companies
Posted:
Sep 25,
2012
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Private Companies vs Public Companies
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated - Public Company
- Publicly held.
- Sells stock on NYS exchange with ticker, KO.
- A lot of information disclosed regularly to public.
- Easier for you to research.
Adirondack Beverage Company, Inc. - Private Company
- Privately held.
- Very little information disclosed to public.
- Much harder for you to research.
More about Private Companies
- How to Find Information about Private Companies. Washington Researchers, 1998. Main Floor, Folsom Library REF HD2785 H6x 1996
- Researching Private Companies. Washington Researchers, 1998. Main Floor, Folsom Library REF HD2771 R47 2002 H6x 2002
- Some larger companies may include some financial information.
- Do a Google search to locate the company's web site. Some private company web sites will include some information as well as some basic financial information.
Best Bets for Coverage of Private Companies
-
Lexis-Nexis Academic
From the LexisNexis home page, click Companies tab in left frame. From the left frame, click Dossier Create a Company List. From Company Type select All Private. From here you can screen by criteria provided. Cick Create button.
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NetAdvantage (Standard & Poor's)
From the home page in the quick links box on the left is a link to the “Register of Private Companies Screener”, click on this. From here you can screen for the criteria shown. If you want to get a comprehensive list search the “Number of Employees” as equal to or greater than 0. This will give a list of the companies and allows you to export the list into Excel in groups of 1,000 companies at a time. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help with.
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MergentOnline
(Search for Private Companies with
same Primary NAICS.)
From the homepage, select primary NAICS radio button. Enter Primary NAICS. Click Search button. At top of search results, click on Private companies link.
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Albany Times
Union
Key word search for articles, some fee and some free. Includes Archives link in left frame.
- The Business Review (Albany, NY)
- Capital District Business Review Ref Desk (Data compilations and rankings for the area) Ref Desk HF 3163 A3 B66 , Main Floor, Folsom Library
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Regional Business News (Business Source Premier)
- Both Inc and Forbes include annual articles on rankings and additional articles on the largest private companies.
- How to Find Information about Private Companies. Washington Researchers, 1998. Main Floor, Folsom Library REF HD2785 H6x 1996
- Researching Private Companies. Washington Researchers, 1998. Main Floor, Folsom Library REF HD2771 R47 2002 H6x 2002
- If a private company is regulated by a federal agency, the company may have filed with that specific agency.
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Securities & Exchange
Commission
- Public companies can buy back their stock and become private.
- If a privately held company was at one time public,
you may be able to locate these historic filings in SEC's
EDGAR.
Directions: Click on Search for Company Filings link. Click on Companies & Other Filers. Enter company name in appropriate search box. Click on Find Companies button. If more than one result displays, click on the company that matches your search. Some company information will display in upper left corner.
-
For more information on federal government regulatory
agencies, and for other search strategies and tips,
consult:
- How to Find Information about Private Companies (Main Floor, Folsom Library REF HD2785 H6x 1996
- Researching Private Companies (Main Floor, Folsom Library REF HD2771 R47 2002 H6x 2002).
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Secretary of State Website Links
- Private companies have to register and file some information in the state where they are registered or incorporated, and headquartered.
- Information will also be filed in each state where company has operations.
- These documents are usually filed with the Corporate Division of the Secretary of State.
- Documents may also be filed with the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) division which keeps track of loan for which plant or equipment are posted for collateral.
- Information provide by the company will usually include, articles of incorporation, name of directors, name and address of legal agent, some type of annual report, information about corporate name changes, and operating locations.
-
Business
and Corporate Filings with States' Business Filings
Database by Kathy Biehl.
Directions: User chooses from matrix of state names which links to an entry for a state outlining the types of material included for that state with links available. Includes both fee and free information.- While all fifty states make business and corporation information available, the amount of information varies from state to state, and will be more limited than what is provided by public companies in SEC.
- Useful information on topics such as mergers may be included.
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State
Attorney Generals Offices (Contact Information)
Contact appropriate state office for information on companies that have been subject to state investigations.
- State Local Economic Development Agencies (U.S. Economic Development Administration) State-by-state listing with links to agency web sites
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Regulatory
Agencies (State and Federal)
Please note: If a private company is regulated by a state agency, the company may have filed with a specific agency.
- Consult the print sources: How to Find Information about Private Companies (Main Floor, Folsom Library REF HD2785 H6x 1996) and Researching Private Companies (Main Floor, Folsom Library REF HD2771 R47 2002 H6x 2002) for more information for regulatory agencies.
- For additional links to state agencies:
State and Territorial Governments (FIRSTGOV.gov)
-
Columbia Gazetteer of
North America
Use to locate county where city or town is located.
- Cities, Counties and Towns (FIRSTGOV.gov)
- Consider county clerks, tax assessors, business development offices, and zoning and planning departments.
Acknowledgements:
- How to Find Information about Private Companies. Washington Researchers, 1998.
- Researching Private Companies. Washington Researchers, 2002.
- Barbara Beverley, Director of Library Services, Empire State Development
