Information for private companies is only minimally available as they are not required to disclose information to the government or the public.

• Hoover’s Handbooks
   

Hoover publishes Handbook of American Business, Handbook of World Business, Handbook of Emerging Companies, and Handbook of High Tech Companies. These handbooks profile leading companies with a statement of the nature of business, company history, product line or services, names of competitors, and ranking in the Fortune, Business Week, and Forbes annual ranked lists.  Available online through Proquest and Lexis-Nexis (select Business, then Company Profiles).

• International Directory of Company Histories
  Location: Business Table  Call Number:  HD2721 .I63
  Now available online through the Gale Virtual Reference Library

This directory profiles 1,250 of the world’s largest and most influential companies. Most of which are U. S. companies.