Did you know the same company that makes Sunlight dish detergent also makes Axe cologne, or that Starbucks owns an insurance company in Vermont? Ever wonder which law firms represent the Disney Company? Finding company information is a useful skill, whether you are looking to make a good impression in an interview, conducting due diligence as you prepare your client for a merger, or trying to come up with some decent trivia questions. Fortunately, there is a lot of information you can learn about companies, and much of it is accessible for free.
If it's a publicly traded company, check out EDGAR, the Securities and Exchange Commission's free company search website. Track down the latest 10-K form, and see what surprises await. This is the annual report, where you will find everything you could want to know, including a list of subsidiaries, a rundown of the past year's performance, and projected income for the coming year. If you want to see how a company has been impacted by recent events, take a look at the 10-Q quarterly report, or for significant new developments, the 8-K report.
For information on privately-held companies, you'll have to do a little more sleuthing. The company website can be a treasure trove of information, and news stories can also help you follow a company’s activities. If you know the state where a privately held corporation is incorporated, see what's available through that state's Secretary of State website (access via NASS directory). If you don’t know the state of incorporation, there are company research resources like Reference USA and Hoover's that require a subscription (or a Duke NetID). If you just want to take a guess, start with Delaware, which has corporate-friendly laws that make it a popular state for incorporation.
Finding information about company litigation and legal representation generally requires a paid database. Want to learn more? The Duke Law summer Legal Research Bootcamp module for this week is "Finding Company Information." If you are a law student who is signed up for the Bootcamp, log in and find out everything you've always wanted to know about Burt's Bees. If not, take a look at the library's research guide to Business Associations and Ask a Librarian for help with any resources.
--Jane Bahnson, Head of Research and Instruction
If it's a publicly traded company, check out EDGAR, the Securities and Exchange Commission's free company search website. Track down the latest 10-K form, and see what surprises await. This is the annual report, where you will find everything you could want to know, including a list of subsidiaries, a rundown of the past year's performance, and projected income for the coming year. If you want to see how a company has been impacted by recent events, take a look at the 10-Q quarterly report, or for significant new developments, the 8-K report.
For information on privately-held companies, you'll have to do a little more sleuthing. The company website can be a treasure trove of information, and news stories can also help you follow a company’s activities. If you know the state where a privately held corporation is incorporated, see what's available through that state's Secretary of State website (access via NASS directory). If you don’t know the state of incorporation, there are company research resources like Reference USA and Hoover's that require a subscription (or a Duke NetID). If you just want to take a guess, start with Delaware, which has corporate-friendly laws that make it a popular state for incorporation.
Finding information about company litigation and legal representation generally requires a paid database. Want to learn more? The Duke Law summer Legal Research Bootcamp module for this week is "Finding Company Information." If you are a law student who is signed up for the Bootcamp, log in and find out everything you've always wanted to know about Burt's Bees. If not, take a look at the library's research guide to Business Associations and Ask a Librarian for help with any resources.
--Jane Bahnson, Head of Research and Instruction