As many as 13 Indian companies, including Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) - the flagship concern of the Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Group, Infosys Technologies and Tata Steel, have made it to the list of Forbes' 50 best listed companies in the Asia-Pacific region.
More than in most years, Forbes Asia’s list of the 50 best big public companies in the region this year is a guide to the outfits that have real staying power. Companies that racked up big numbers when times were good had to show sterner stuff this year.
"Our list is a mix of giant, established companies- this year that list includes Australian miner BHP Billiton, Hong Kong conglomerate Noble Group and Indian oil and gas heavyweight Reliance Industries spearheaded by Mukesh Ambani -- and smaller outfits such as Agile property Holdings, Anhui Conch Cement and digital China Holdings," Forbes Asia said in a statement.
In the Forbes list, there are four Indian entities, Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, Infosys Technologies and Tata Consultancy Services among the top ten firms in terms of market value, while Reliance Industries, a Reliance Group Enterprise features in the top ten in terms of sales.
Other than Reliance, Infosys and Tata Steel, the other Indian firms that have made it to the prestigious list include -- Adani Enterprise, Axis Bank, Bharat Heavy Electricals, Bharti Airtel, HDFC bank, Jindal Steel & Power, Larsen and Toubro, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro.
The Indian league had four newcomers this year - Adani Enterprises, Axis Bank, Jindal Steel & Power and Tata Consultancy Services - and among the Indian firms returning to the list include Bharat Heavy Electricals, Larsen & Toubro and Reliance Industries.
Let’s see what Forbes said when asked, “How do companies make it to the Asia’s Fab 50 list?”
“This year we started with a universe of 910 companies with at least $3 billion in revenue or a $3 billion market capitalization. We whittle down the candidates by first looking at each company's five-year track record for revenue, operating earnings and return on capital. Then we look at the most recent results, share-price movements and the outlook for the year ahead. A loss in the last fiscal year knocks the company out. Judgment calls must be made, given the differences in transparency, accounting and conditions among countries. In the end, we think it's a valuable exercise that calls attention to great management and entrepreneurial skill.”
From the above statement, we can draw a conclusion that the list included companies that have revenue and market capitalisation of at least $3 billion and a five year record of operating profitability and return on equity.
The other criteria for being in the list include long term profitability, sales and earnings growth, stock price appreciation, projects earnings, quality of management and entrepreneurial skills.