World Best Companies 2009

8/9/2019 World Best Companies 2009

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No. 40 Kao

2008 Annual Sales (millions): $13,247

Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 11.16%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 4.04%

The Japanese manufacturer of personal care and cleaning products and specialty chemicals

has succeeded by focusing on premium cosmetics and personal/household care

products.Kao, with 30% of its revenue from international sales, has operations in Asia,

Australia, North America, Europe, and South Africa.

No. 39 Fresenius


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 14.8%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 1.4%

Fresenius is the world's largest provider of kidney dialysis products and services. The

German company is seeing demand grow for its dialysis products in emerging markets as

more people are able to afford the treatments.

No. 38 ExxonMobil


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 12.6%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 4.1%

ExxonMobilis the largest global integrated energy company. The U.S. company's key to

success is its global presence, disciplined investment decisions, and a focus on the long

term.

No. 37 Bidvest


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 14.4%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 4.0%

Bidvest is a conglomerate with emphasis on food service. The South African company, which
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has grown thanks to an entrepreneurial spirit and decentralized structure, also has holdings

in logistics and retailing. Bidvest has made acquisitions around the world, including Australia

and Central Europe, to become a global player.

No. 36 Praxair


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 13.1%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 5.6%

A global provider of industrial gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, helium, and hydrogenthe

largest in North and South AmericaU.S.-basedPraxair has thrived thanks to superior

distribution and strong M&A activity.

No. 35 ConocoPhillips


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 17.4%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 1.5%

ConocoPhillips is an integrated energy company, with units in exploration and refining, as

well as petrochemical and platics production and even emerging energy technologies. The

Houston company has been active in M&A to build reserves and increase production.

No. 34 Anheuser-Busch InBev


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 17.7%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 2.0%

Anheuser-Busch InBev, based in Leuven, Belgium, is the world's largest brewer, with a

portfolio of approximately 300 brands that include Budweiser, Stella Artois, Beck's, Michelob,

and Corona. The acquisition of Anheuser-Busch by Belgian brewer InBev established thisglobal colossus, but an intense focus on brand marketing is a key to its continued success.

No. 33 Bilfinger & Berger


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 16.4%
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Value CAGR (2004-2008): 3.5%

Bilfinger & Bergerlong ago escaped the anemic German construction market to build and

manage large projects all over the world. The company has lately benefited from stimulus

spending by governments.

No. 32 Telefnica


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 18.2%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 2.8%

Telefnica is the leading telecommunications operator in the Spanish- and Portuguese-

speaking world. The Madrid company has grown thanks to an exceptionally broad

diversification of products and services.

No. 31 Oracle


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 22.0%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 1.2%

Thanks to a string of acquisitions and an integrated suite of software applications, Silicon

Valley-basedOracle is world's largest business software company.

No. 30 Apache


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 23.4%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 0.1%

Apache's business is the exploration, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil,

and natural gas liquids. One key to the U.S. company's success has been a diversifiedenergy portfolio. The picture above is Apache's Hatton natural gas field in southwestern

Saskatchewan.

No. 29 Saipem

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Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 23.5%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 0.1%

Saipem provides engineering and project management services to design oil and gas

pipelines around the world. The Italian contractor can credit its success to focusing ontechnologically challenging projects and activities in remote areas. Above is a photo of

Saipem's Scarabeo 7 semi-submersible drilling rig docked in Cape Town, South Africa.

No. 28 Schlumberger


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 24.0%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 0.5%

Schlumbergeris a global oilfield and information services company. The U.S. company has

succeeded by entering new markets and transferring leading-edge technology and

knowledge, while maintaining the local culture.

No. 27 Li & Fung


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 23.9%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 1.2%

Li & Fung is a global export trading company. The Hong Kong-based company operates one

of the most agile and efficient supply chains in the world.

No. 26 Tenaris


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 26.4%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 0.6%

Tenaris supplies pipes and services to companies around the world in the oil and gas sector.

The Luxembourg company also serves engineering companies constructing oil and gas

gathering, transportation, and processing facilities.
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No. 25 Komatsu


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 18.3%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 4.6%

Komatsu is the second largest construction equipment manufacturer. Despite the challenges

the construction industry has faced recently, the Japanese company has continued to grow

thanks to emerging markets such as China.

No. 24 Sasol


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 14.4%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 10.8%

Sasolis South Africa's largest chemical company, specializing in coal-to-liquid and gas-to-

liquid technologies. The company has been able to commercialize these technologies and

has built plants in growth markets such as Qatar, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan.

No. 23 Khne & Nagel

2008 Annual Sales (millions): $16.904

Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 20.5%Value CAGR (2004-2008): 7.7%

Swiss logistics company Khne & Nagel benefited from the boom in international trade

during the past decade. It was hit by the recent slump when trade volumes plummeted, but

profit has been pretty stable because of cost-cutting. The company has used the downturn to

build market share. Pictured above is a sea freight vessel.

No. 22 Petrobras


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 22.7%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 5.5%

Petrobras is the largest company headquartered in the Southern Hemisphere, with

operations involved in the exploration and production of oil and gas properties. It also has
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refining and distribution operations, as well as electricity generation, transmission, and

distribution units, among other energy activities. The company's growth has been fueled by

booming domestic demand, technology exports, and M&A activities. Pictured above is the

view of the Petrobras P-51 semi-submersible offshore oil platform under construction at the

Brasfelf shipyard south of Rio de Janeiro.

No. 21 Mapfre


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 24.3%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 4.2%

Mapfre has a broad array of offerings covering nearly all forms of commercial and personal

insurance. The Spanish company's growth has been fueled by international expansion.

No. 20 Teva Pharmaceutical


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 20.4%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 8.6%

Based in Israel, Teva is the largest generic pharmaceuticals manufacturer. The company

produces generic drugs faster and in greater quantities than its competition, and it's also the

only generic drugmaker with its own branded drug, Copaxone, for treatment of multiple

sclerosis. More than 80% of its sales (over $11 billion in 2008) come from the U.S. and

Europe. The generics market worldwide is growing much faster than the prescription

business as governments and insurers push for the use of less expensive generics. Pictured

above is Teva Chairman Eli Hurvitz.

No. 19 Occidental Petroleum



Occidental Petroleumis the fourth largest U.S. oil and gas company. A pipeline of projects

has helped to fuel organic growth. The Dolphin Gas Project pipeline (pictured above) runs

from Al Ain to Fujairah on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates.
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No. 18 America Movil


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 19.9%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 10.3%

Mexico'sAmerica Movilis the fourth largest mobile network operator. It has thrived thanks to

its expansion across Latin America.

No. 17 Amazon.com


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 29.0%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 1.2%

Based in Seattle, Amazon.com is a global e-commerce leader. One key to the company's

growth has been its commitment to process improvements. More recently, however, Amazon

has also found success with its e-book reader, the Kindle.

No. 16 CNOOC


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 28.6%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 3.2%

China'sCNOOC deals in the exploration, development, production, and sale of crude oil,

natural gas, and other petroleum products. It has experienced strong growth and has been

active in mergers and acquisitions. CNOOC Chairman Fu Chengyu is pictured during a

speech to the 10th Asian-Europe Business Forum in Helsinki.

No. 15 ABB

2008 Annual Sales (millions): $35,262Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 11.8%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 21.1%

Switzerland'sABB provides power and automation technologies to utility and industry

customers worldwide.
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No. 14 Fluor


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 24.2%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 10.3%

Giant engineering contractorFluoroffers engineering, procurement, construction

management, and project management services worldwide. The U.S. company's broad

service portfolio and global reach have helped fuel its growth. Pictured above: Fluor's

corporate headquarters.

No. 13 World Fuel Services


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 34.5%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 4.0%

World Fuel Services markets fuel products and services for the aviation industry. The U.S.

company also sells marine and land fuel products and related services.

No. 12 Jacobs Engineering



U.S. contractor Jacobs Engineeringprovides engineering and technical services for

government and commercial clients around the world.

No. 11 Reliance Industries



Indian chemicals manufacturer Reliance Industrieshas found success by vertically

integrating its supply chain and diversifying its portfolio. Reliance Chairman Mukesh D.

Ambani (pictured above) also is relying on petrochemicals and gas production to help drive

future growth.
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No. 10 BHP Billiton


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 29.5%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 13.5%

BHP Billiton is the world's largest diversified mining company, with exploration and

production projects spanning the globe. The Australian company's focus on quality, low cost,

and sustainable development has helped it weather the global economic crisis. In the photo

above, coal trucks pass each other at BHP Billiton's Mt. Arthur coal mine in Muswellbrook,

Australia.

No. 9 Inditex


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 25.0%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 18.6%

Inditex is a multinational clothing retailer with eight brands to serve multiple customer

segments. The company has outperformed its peers by having a continuous cycle of textile

design and marketing, as well as efficient distribution of new clothing lines via a tightly

integrated supply chain. The Spanish retailer has 4,430 stores across a variety of outlets, the

biggest of which is Zara. It continues to expandmost recently in Asiawhile other retailers

retrench.

No. 8 Monsanto


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 20.1%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 23.7%

Monsanto is a leader in the development of genetically engineered seeds and growth

hormones. The U.S. company uses continuous R&D to keep successful products in itspipeline. Pictured are Monsanto's "low-lin" soybeans, which produce a soy oil that could help

reduce trans fats in many foods.

No. 7 MTN

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Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 30.8%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 17.6%

South African mobile service provider MTN took a chance on the continent and proved that

bringing mobile service to emerging markets such as Nigeria, Syria, Iran, Ghana, andCameroon, among other countries, could have dramatic economic effects.

No. 6 GDF Suez


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 39.9%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 16.7%

Created by the 2008 tieup of Gaz de France and French utility group Suez, GDF Suezis now

one of Europe's biggest energy groups. The company has spun off non-core water and

waste-management activities. Excluding effects of the merger, sales growth over the past

five years has ranged from 4% to 15% annually.

No. 5 Hyundai Heavy Industries


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 17.4%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 42.6%

Hyundai Heavy Industries is the world's largest shipbuilding company. Its sales soared in

recent years thanks to a shipbuilding boom, which lasted until the global economy sank into

crisis last year. Hyundai Heavy, the biggest beneficiary of the shipbuilding boom, has

diversified its business to offshore structures, marine engines, large-scale transformers and

generators, construction equipment, and power plants.

No. 4 Doosan Heavy Industries

2008 Annual Sales (millions): $15,269Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 34.2%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 25.8%

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction is a flagship company of Doosan Group, one of the

major family-controlled conglomerates in Korea called chaebol. Its primary focus has been

the construction of power plants, but recently it has expanded to nuclear power plants and
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desalination plants, which has served Doosan particularly well during the economic crisis. Its

growth has been fueled by the 2005 purchase of a controlling stake in Daewoo Heavy

Industries & Machinery, a construction equipment maker that was renamed Doosan

Infracore. The company is feeling a financial pinch because it relied heavily on borrowing for

the $4.9 billion takeover of Bobcat in 2007, the largest acquisition of a foreign company inKorea's corporate history. Pictured above: Kyle Busch of the Doosan Infracore Toyota Team

celebrates after winning the Nascar Nationwide Series race at the Hermanos Rodriguez

speedway in Mexico City in 2008.

No. 3 Apple


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 40.7%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 24.2%

In the world of computers and consumer electronics, there is no company more synonymous

with innovation than Apple. Credit the stewardship of CEO Steve Jobs for reviving the

company's Mac computer line, creating the now iconic line of iPod digital music players, and

pushing into the crowded cell-phone market with the popular iPhone. Now rivals are

scrambling to catch another Apple innovation, the iPhone App Store.

No. 2 Google


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 61.7%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 8.6%

Google first found success with its search engine. Now the towering leader in search, the

Mountain View (Calif.) company has aggressively expanded its offerings to e-mail and

instant messaging, Web browsing, social networking, and most recently an operating

system.

No. 1 Nintendo


Sales CAGR (2004-2008): 35.7%

Value CAGR (2004-2008): 38.1%

The leader in the video game industry,Nintendo has sold millions of gaming systems around
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the world, including the popular Wii system, which has proven to be a true disrupter of the

entertainment industry. With visionary leadership and a three-tiered product development

process that brings together top management, development staff, and marketing and

administrative teams, the Japanese game maker been able to create new hardware without

sticking to conventional notions in the video game industry.

Documents

World Best Companies 2009