Computer-implemented company risk analysis and profile generation

Abstract

Computer-implemented company risk analysis and profile generation systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of analyzing risk associated with a plurality of companies includes receiving accounting information about the plurality of companies, receiving legal information about the plurality of companies, and receiving regulatory information about the plurality of companies. The accounting, the legal, and the regulatory information is utilized to assign a risk rating to each of the plurality of companies and to generate a profile for each of the plurality of companies. The risk ratings and the profiles are stored in an electronic database. Access to the electronic database is provided through a web site that enables a user to selectively retrieve the risk rating and the profile for a particular one of the plurality of companies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method of analyzing risk associated with a plurality of companies, the method comprising:
 receiving accounting information about the plurality of companies;   receiving legal information about the plurality of companies;   receiving regulatory information about the plurality of companies;   utilizing the accounting information, the legal information, and the regulatory information to assign a risk rating to each of the plurality of companies;   utilizing the accounting information, the legal information, and the regulatory information to generate a profile for each of the plurality of companies;   storing the risk ratings and the profiles in an electronic database; and   providing access to the electronic database through a web site that enables a user to selectively retrieve the risk rating and the profile for a particular one of the plurality of companies.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the profiles comprises generating summaries of the accounting information, the legal information, and the regulatory information, and including the summaries in the profiles. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 periodically updating the risk ratings and the profiles; and   providing access to the updated risk ratings and profiles.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein assigning a risk rating comprise assigning a numerical risk score to each of the plurality of companies. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing access comprises providing access on an industry specific basis. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing access comprises providing access on a subscription basis. 
     
     
         7 . A computer-implemented method of analyzing risk associated with a plurality of companies, the method comprising:
 receiving information about the plurality of companies from a plurality of different sources;   utilizing the information to identify risk factors for each of the companies;   assigning a risk rating to each of the companies based on the identified risk factors;   generating a profile for each of the companies based on the identified risk factors;   storing the risk ratings and the profiles in an electronic database;   providing access to the electronic database that enables a user to selectively retrieve the risk rating and the profile for a particular one of the plurality of companies;   periodically updating the risk rating and the profile for each of the plurality of companies based on additional information received about the plurality of companies;   storing the updated risk ratings and profiles in the electronic database; and   providing access to the electronic database that enables a user to selectively retrieve the updated risk rating and the updated profile for the particular one of the plurality of companies.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein providing access to the electronic database comprises providing access through a web site. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein providing access to the electronic database comprises providing access on a subscription basis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein receiving information comprises receiving accounting information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein receiving information comprises receiving legal information. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein receiving information comprises receiving regulatory information. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented system for analyzing risk associated with a plurality of companies, the system comprising:
 a company information module that is configured to gather information about the plurality of companies from a plurality of different sources;   a company information analysis module that is configured to utilize the information to identify risk factor for each of the companies;   a risk assessment module that is configured to assign a risk rating to each of the companies based on the identified risk factors;   a profile generator module that is configured to generate a profile for each of the companies based on the identified risk factors;   a database that stores the risk ratings and the profiles; and   an interface to a computer server that provides access to the risk ratings and the profiles stored in the database.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the information comprises accounting information. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the information comprises legal information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the information comprises regulatory information. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the profiles include summaries of the accounting, the legal, and the regulatory information. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the risk ratings comprise numerical scores. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the risk assessment module and the profile generator periodically update the risk ratings and the profiles. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the interface provides access on a subscription basis.