Hot Topics
Australian Company Information
The Business of Art
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Identifying Scams, Swindles, Frauds and Hoaxes
Overseas Companies Information
Starting a Business in Western Australia
Telephone Numbers & Postcodes
Unclaimed Money
Major References
International Directory of Company Histories
This multivolume encyclopedia gives 1-2 page profiles of larger companies, and is particularly good for historical background. Profiles are updated regularly.
Major Companies of Europe
Like its companion publications Major Companies of the Far East and Australasia v.1 SE Asia, v.2 East Asia, and Major Companies of South West Asia, this directory gives contact details and brief descriptive and financial details for larger companies.
Who Owns Whom: Australasia, Asia, Middle East, Africa
Information on wholly owned subsidiaries is often easier to find by searching under the parent company. This directory can help you establish company ownership structures. There are similar publications for Continental Europe, United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, and North and South America.
Brands and Their Companies
This directory can be very useful if you know the name of a product (or brand name) but not the name of the company which manufactures or distributes it. Other business directories often have trade or product name indexes which you can use in a similar way.
Hoovers' Handbook of World Business
Hoovers produce a range of company directories; another is Hoovers' Handbook of American Business. Their web site is also useful for free brief company details (fuller details are available for a fee).
Japan Company Handbook 1st Section Firms and 2nd Section Firms
This handbook gives summary profiles of companies listed on the Japanese stock exchange. Ask a librarian or browse in the Business Information Centre of the State Library for similar publications from other countries.
Journals and Newspapers
Financial Times
This major world business newspaper provides a convenient company search facility on its web site, as well as a free download facility for some company annual reports. The London edition is also available in print.
Wall Street Journal
Another major international business newspaper. Their web site includes a search facility available only to subscribers (although free trial subscriptions are offered).
Professional Associations
Trade and professional associations are useful contacts for finding information about smaller, especially private companies, which may not have got much attention in the media. Resources which list associations in various subject or industry fields include:
Corporatewatch
Corporate Watch is a consumer activist organization that specializes in gathering corporate information, focusing on multinationals. Their website has an excellent 'resources' section enabling a search by company, industry or issue.
Government
EDGAR Database of Corporate Information
EDGAR is the USA Securities and Exchange Commission's free database of electronic documents filed by companies, including form 10-K annual reports.
Companies House
All companies in the United Kingdom must register and report information such as shareholders, directors and annual accounts with Companies House. Their database of company names and addresses is searchable Monday - Saturday, 7am - 12 midnight UK time. Fees are charged for some information.
Annual Report Gallery
A free service offering access to a range of recent US company annual reports. Links to similar international sites (eg CAROL: Company Annual Reports On Line for the UK) are also given.
Corporate Information
This site links to over 350,000 company profiles on other sites (including Wright Investors' Service) and also offers company research reports and brief profiles of industry sectors in particular countries.
Gary Price's List of Lists
A comprehensive listing of links to business-related rankings (eg: top companies in particular fields) available on the web.
World Stock Exchanges
This site lists stock exchanges worldwide; stock exchange websites in turn may provide stock quotes and links to websites, news and announcements from listed companies.
Hoovers Online
Capsule summaries of financial and contact information for over 14,000 public and private companies are available free; more detailed information is available to subscribers.