Getting Started With Subsidiary and Division Research

Subsidiaries and divisions are companies who may appear to operate as independent businesses, but they are in fact owned by a larger corporation.  For example, Anheuser-Busch, Inc is a large, well known company whose brands include Budweiser, Michelob and O'Doul's, but it is actually a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.  Corporations may have multiple subsidiaries and divisions.  Anheuser-Busch International, Busch Entertainment Corporation and Manufacturers Railway Company,  for example, are all subsidiaries or divisions of  Anheuser-Busch Companies, as well.   Subsidiaries and divisions are bought and sold, as are their parent companies, so it is critical to verify your company's identity before proceeding.

Corporations need only disclose information on their company as a whole, thus finding material on their subsidiaries and divisions may be as difficult as finding information on private companies. Occasionally, a public company will discuss the financial status and well-being of its subsidiaries in its annual and 10-K reports (see the annual reports section of this web site), but most of what you will learn will come second-hand, from news and business literature.

Remember, you may find information listed by the subsidiary/division name, but you may also find the organization discussed in relation to the owning company, so searching both company names is a good strategy.

Profiles:  One-Stop Resources
The following resources provide an array of information, including current news, brief histories and limited financial information on subsidiaries. They are useful for a quick, general overview of your company.
 
World Wide Web Resources
 
Hoover's Online
Hoover's is well known for its extensive collection of company profiles.

Yahoo Company Profiles
Limited information on subsidiaries.

CorpTech  Profiles 45,000 high technology companies.  80% of  coverage is on private companies.

Thomas Register  (free service, but requires registration)
 
Library Resources

See Subsidiaries Directories listed in the Company Research section of this web site.

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Current Information

If you need current news and developments for your corporation, use the resources in this section.  When searching for information, evaluate your sources carefully.
 

Reputable newspapers, magazines and journals have generally been screened for accuracy, objectivity, and reliability. You should be careful to evaluate the information you find in these resources, however, because some information will be more authoritative and reliable than others. (For a helpful guide to evaluating articles, see Colorado State University library's How to Evaluate Journal Articles.) 

Information on the World Wide Web is not monitored, edited or evaluated.  Consider the source of your site carefully.  (See Evaluating Web Resources, an excellent evaluation checklist developed by Erica Lilly, Coordinator for Electronic Services, Kent Sate University)

Corporate web sites may be valuable sources of company information, but you must keep in mind that your business has a vested interest in the image its web presence projects.    Consider carefully whether the information you obtain is objective and accurate.  You may want to verify some information with more than one source.

 
Newspapers

Magazines and Journal Articles

World Wide Web

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Local Information
You may also want to consult some resources in the area in which your company operates.  Local newspapers are an excellent source.  Also try the following organizations.

International Chamber of Commerce Directory
Chambers of Commerce often publish membership directories and have information on local companies.  This site Includes links to online local chambers with names and addresses.
 
Better Business Bureau
A good resource for finding out whether your company has had any complaints lodged against them.

Local Public Libraries
Local libraries may maintain news clipping files on companies in their area.  The above link is to State Libraries, which generally provide a directory with addresses and phone numbers (and some links) for all public libraries in the state.
 

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Company Histories

Company histories provide background information on your corporation.  You may find histories in books, chapters of books, and reference materials. Brief histories may be available in magazine or journal articles.  Often, corporations may include histories in the text of their annual report or in their web sites.

Books and Reference Materials
To find books or chapters of books on your company, search your local library catalog or (for OhioLINK patrons) OhioLINK Central Catalog. If you are certain of your company name, searching the  name as a Subject will provide you with a precise list of materials.  If you are unsure of the proper company name and/or a subject search has not produced any titles, searching by Word may produce good results.  For further help using OhioLINK Central see OhioLINK Central Catalog Search Help.
Connect to OhioLINK Central Catalog

Keep in mind that generally only the largest, most well known companies will actually have books written on them, so you may not find anything in the catalog on some companies.

If you do not find a book, try one of these collections of company histories from the OhioLINK catalog:

International Directory of Company Histories
Notable Corporate Chronologies
 

Other Resources for Company Histories
 
To find histories in magazines or journals, return to Magazine and Journal Articles in the Current Information section above.

To find histories in a company web site, see Corporate Web Sites in the Current Information section above.

 Financial Information

Annual Reports
Check the parent company annual report for any mention of the financial status of its subsidiary.  You will not find an annual report for the subsidiary itself.
 
You may find financial information on subsidiaries in Newspaper and Magazine articles.