Where do I find information on privately held companies?- Part 1

The above question I am sure has been asked by many researchers over the years.  I just noticed a recent post from my SCIP (Strategic Competitive Intelligence Professionals) group dealing with this issue. 

As you know, privately held companies are not required to file any annual reports or other disclosures as required by the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission).  Many corporate experts believe companies go through periods of "going public" or "taking it private" in order raise awareness (and money) for new ventures or to follow new ventures or ideas in a different direction without investor interaction.

The recent "taking it private" move  by Hugh Hefner's Playboy Enterprises after years of being a  publicly held corporation was an example of heading in a different direction.  Mr. Hefner , seeking to be in charge of his own company again , will reportedly concentrate on the "Playboy brand and the magazine's editorial direction rather than creating products." (NPR , April 2010)


That said......what are good resources out there?......let's start with subscribed databases

1. Skyminder Information Services- a pay-as-you-go database with good coverage of medium and small sized companies and DNB (Dun and Bradstreet) reports at an extra cost.  Service covers US and international companies.

2. Capital IQ- a rich (and expensive) web-based business and analytical tool from Standard & Poor.   This service covers a large number of companies/corporations in addition to providing
financial analysis; covers mainly US companies.

3. Kompass North America- covers many major international companies.  Subscriptions are reasonable and can be purchased in "blocks." Kompass, describing itself as a B-2-B database, can provide information on international companies by products and services as well as name.

4. Dun & Bradstreet- a proven business resource and one familiar to everyone in the information profession.  My only caveat is remember.........the majority of company information in the DNB database comes from the companies themselves..............



Will cover several "if-it-is-free-it-must-be-for-me" resources in my next post.

CI & law firms- more of "where to begin"

I want to post more "how-to" tips for establishing a law firm initiative in competitive intelligence (CI).  So here goes......Suggestions may seem too apparent; but given this fairly new and exploding information tool for many firms, large and small---we all need building blocks.

• What will be the role of CI in your firm? Experts in tracking CI know success within a firm is the result of cooperation between the library/information center, marketing and business development factors. Get as many players and skill sets thinking and working on competitive intelligence.
• Where within your firm can CI be applied? Helping to target new areas of business or influence client services or examining your competitors' client base?
• Know your firm's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats....do some SWOT analysis. (more details on this process later in the blog)  Learn how your firm compares and can best position its strengths or zero in on possible weaknesses and threats.
• Look at internal data, i.e. balance sheets and billing statements  and compare with "external data", i.e. market landscape and client industries- to gauge your firm's potential profits and business growth.
• ......and most important...self promote!  Look at ways to brand, deliver and successfully start working with CI in your firm.