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Company Research
Resources and search tips for researching companies.
Key Databases for Private Companies
Check multiple sources for a more complete picture of a company.
Company Directories & Profiles
- AtoZ Databases This link opens in a new windowProvides access to a directory of U.S. business, household, and healthcare information.
- PrivCo This link opens in a new windowU.S. and international companies, M&A deals, VC funding, and more.
- Capital IQ This link opens in a new windowData on U.S. and international public and private companies, M&A deals, executives and boards worldwide; news, investment research, and more. Includes powerful screening tools, chart builders, and Office Plug-In modeling tool. By S&P Global. Please note that UTSA does not subscribe to Capital IQ PRO.
Access to Capital IQ is for current faculty, staff, and students only and requires approval by Capital IQ. To request a new Capital IQ account:
1. Click on the Capital IQ database link above; login with abc123 and passphrase; complete DUO authentication.
2. Click on New User in the top right header and enter your utsa.edu email.
3. Check your email box for confirmation and finish the sign-up. Your login credentials will be provided via email from Capital IQ.
Once your Capital IQ account is created, for future access you will need to use the proxied link to Capital IQ above on the library database page, and then your personal Capital IQ credentials to log in.
To download Office Plug-in, go to My Capital IQ tab > My Profile > Downloads. See research guide for more information. You may also complete Capital IQ training at S&P Market Intelligence Academic Resource Center. - ORBIS (Bureau van Dyke) This link opens in a new windowBureau van Dijk is a Moody's Analytics company. ORBIS contains financial information on listed and private companies from 220+ countries; bank and insurance reports; comprehensive ownership/subsidiary coverage; directors and contacts; market reports, M&A activity and more. Features the ability to screen based on 100+ criteria. Complementary access to the Pan-European dataset (AMADEUS), global company dataset (OSIRIS), and ORBIS dataset through WRDS under Bureau van Dijk data.
News about Private Companies
- Nexis Uni (LexisNexis) This link opens in a new windowFor company profiles, go to Guided Search on the left > Company Info. For news stories and trade publications, go to All News.
- Business Source Complete (EBSCO) This link opens in a new windowProvides full-text coverage for over 9,400 general and scholarly business journals and other sources in marketing, management, economics, finance, accounting, and international business. Includes full-text business books; case studies; investment research, industry, market research, and country reports; and SWOT analyses. Includes the Harvard Business Review. Some coverage begins in 1886.
- ABI/INFORM Collection (ProQuest) This link opens in a new windowAggregator. Academic, trade, popular business publications; newspapers including the Wall Street Journal; wires; reports, and more.
- Wall Street Journal (Current) | WSJ.com This link opens in a new windowRegister for free access to WSJ.com and the WSJ apps. Includes all WSJ articles, videos, interactive features, digital print daily edition, and more.
- San Antonio Business Journal This link opens in a new windowProvides in-depth coverage and breaking news on the business communities in the local San Antonio area. Users must first register for an account using their UTSA email address to access the content.. After a personal account is created, users may login directly on the SABJ site.
Please refer to this Research Guide for additional information on registration and access.
Where to Find Information about Private Companies
Limitations:
- While U.S. privately-held companies are not required to file financial data with the SEC, they have to registrer with the state governments. Company information is limited; registration and a fee are usually required to access information.
- Unless private companies willingly provide annual reports or appear in the news articles, it may prove difficult to research them.
- Information on private companies is often provided as estimates or ranges.
- Disclosure requirements for private companies in other countries may differ from the U.S.
Private Company Research Strategy
Get ideas about private company research strategies here:
- Checklists for Private Company ResearchOjala, M. (2011). Checklists for private company research. Online, 35(1), 48-50.
Some sources may not be available via UTSA Libraries.
Start your research on Google, review your results. Check the UTSA databases for private companies listed above. Other recommended sources:
- Web directoriesCheck whether a company is listed in these directories.
- e-Secretary of State: Entity SearchFind registered companies in each U.S. state.
- Texas SOSDirectFind registered entities in TX. Fee-based.
- LinkedIn Company DirectoryCheck if a company has a profile on LinkedIn. Additional information may require a personal login and an upgrade to a professional membership.
- Glassdoor.comCompany insights provided by anonymous employees.
- Trade and Industry AssociationsSearch Encyclopedia of Associations in the Gale Directory Library for trade associations by topic. Contact associations for expert advice.
- Washington Information Directory (2022-2023)Find relevant local, state, and federal government agencies, judicial offices, public interest groups, nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations, International organizations, and more.
Form D Filings
Privately held companies that raise capital are required to file a Form D with the SEC as a notice of an exempt offering of securities. Form D filings may show investments by venture capital, angel investors, or pooled investment funds.
A Form D filing contains:
- Amount of money raised
- Equity or debt issuance
- Industry category
- Names of the executives and directors
- Addresses for the company, executives, and directors
- Other information - brokers used, commission paid
State security regulators may have additional filing requirements.
- SEC Form D GuideA compliance guide for small entities and others.
- FormDs.comData collected from SEC Form D filings. Filter by date, amounts, industries, new or amended, equity or debt, state, distance, exemptions & exclusions.