Company information in Spain: a case study

There is a growing interest in the business opportunities afforded by Spain. Consequently the demand for information on Spanish companies is growing continually but the information is not always easy to find. This paper sets out to examine the sources that are available both in the UK and in Spain, both hard copy and online, and to examine the background to the way in which Spanish companies have developed and why it is often difficult to obtain the required information. Reasons for recent interest in the country are examined and mention made of the most common problems encountered. A description is given of the main sources of information with their relevant merits and demerits. In order to understand the reasons behind problems encountered a brief economic history of the country is given explaining how company registration in Spain differs from that in the UK. The different types of company are listed and recent changes in Spanish company legislation explained. The paper concludes by considering the possible position after 1992.