Finding historical company data can be a daunting task. Thanks to just a few databases available from CBS Library this task, however, is made a lot easier.

Before embarking on a hunt for financial data it may be advantageous to understand the available options and the exact preconditions for finding the relevant data:

  • Historical accounts: generally speaking you can expect to find financial data dating back 5 years from the current year in the company databases, i.e. they are updated dynamically. Historical accounts, thus, are to be understood as data older than 5 years, looking back from the current year.
  • Company types: listed vs. non-listed companies. Finding historical data and annual reports from listed companies in financial databases such as Thomson One banker and Bloomberg is relatively easy.
  • In the case of non-listed companies you need to distinguish Danish from non-Danish companies as databases such as Bisnode and Navne & Numre Erhverv maintain a 5-year archive of data as well as annual reports for Danish companies whereas financial data – but not annual reports – from more than 100 mill companies worldwide is available from Orbis.

Earlier data is available from other versions of the AMADEUS and ORBIS databases.

AMADEUS - company database with a European focus. CBS offers access to historical data about European companies from the mid-90s to present.

ORBIS - global company database. CBS offers access to historical data from around 2000 to present.

Historical data by ORBIS and AMADEUS are available to CBS researchers and students via a stand-alone PC.

Please contact Erik Sonne (es.lib@cbs.dk) or CBS Library (library@cbs.dk) for more details or to make a booking.

Find more detailed information about historical financial data in the library guide to company information (Danish only).