Finance 340: Group Projects

Paul Westbrook
Financial Statements
29:390:340

For most of the projects, use the database called ABI/Inform. Move your mouse pointer over Search Methods and click on Guided
[http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/indexes/search_guides/abi_inform.shtml]
1. Problems with one of the following: Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, Arthur Andersen.
Use ABI. Select Current file and use these keywords: [company name] and fraud

2. Employee costs
Start with the CCH Business Owner's Toolkit section called "People Who Work for You." Click on Paying your employees and Benefits for your workers. [http://www.toolkit.cch.com/text/P05_0000.asp]

3. Franchising
a. Use ABI. Select Backfile and use these keywords: financial statement and franchising
b. Use ABI. Select Backfile and use these keywords: boston market and franchises

4. Exchange rates
Use ABI. Select Backfile and use these keywords: financial statement and foreign exchange

5. Corporate dividends
Use ABI. Select Current file and use these keywords: dividends and tax or taxes or taxation

6. Expenses for a new business
a. Go to CCH Business Owner's Toolkit and click on Business Finance and use the Income Statement Template.
Then click on Starting Your Business and use the Cash Flow Sensitivity Analysis Worksheet. [http://www.toolkit.cch.com/tools/tools.asp]
b. Check out Sample Business Plans
Use the Excel files provided to see one year's worth of pro forma financials. [http://www.toolkit.cch.com/tools/buspln_m.asp]

7. Sarbanes-Oxley
Use ABI. Select Current file and use these keywords: financial statement and sarbanes

8. Internet companies
Use ABI. Select Current file and use these keywords: electronic commerce and tax or taxes or taxation and accounting

9. and 10. Corporate annual reports.
a. Use either the Investor Relations Information Network or the Annual Report Gallery to locate a company's latest annual report to shareholders. [http://www.irin.com] and [http://www.reportgallery.com]
b. Search FreeEDGAR to locate a company's annual report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, either by ticker symbol or by company name. Note that you will have to register with the site before you can view any filings. Look for 10-K as the FORM TYPE. [http://www.freeedgar.com]
c. You can also search the US Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR Database to locate the 10-K's. After entering a company name, limit your search results by entering 10-K next to Form Type. [http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html]
10.
On the US SEC site, click on the SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) number for other companies in the same industry.

11. Rutgers University's annual report
Avoid this project. The Finances section of the Rutgers Fact Book is not very detailed. [Note that this is a PDF file which requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader.] [http://oirap.rutgers.edu/instchar/factpdf/financ02.pdf]
For more information, consult the Business Research Guide. [http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/rr_gateway/research_guides/busi/business.shtml]
http://newarkwww.rutgers.edu/RBS/fin340.htm
Revised 30 Jan 2003
Ka-Neng Au (au@newark.rutgers.edu)
Questions? Comments?