Company acquisition analysis formulating queries with imprecise domains

This paper describes the use of fuzzy logic and approximate reasoning in the evaluation and selection of candidate companies from large, public and private databases. The integrated fuzzy logic system extends SQL database queries with fuzzy screening to actually screen, select, and rank companies from such public services such as Standard and Poors, Valueline and Dunn and Broadstreet. A second phase of the fuzzy system, not discussed in this paper, provides post-selection analysis by evaluating candidate corporate financial statements-balance sheets and income statements-using fuzzy metrics to determine whether or not the company is within target guidelines. An illustration schematically describes the complete system as it was originally configured