5 Thai companies on the 2011 list

Five Thai companies have made their way to the list of Forbes' 2011 Best Under a Billion in Asia Pacific, from over 15,000 companies with annual revenue between US$5 million and $1 billion.

Shorlisted from publicly traded companies which show growth in sales and earnings growth, as well as return on equity in the past 12 months and over three years are;

1) Advanced Information Technology (designs and installs IT systems)

2) Brooker Group (business, investment and real estate consultancy services)

3) Bualuang Securities (Investment and securities businesses)

4) Polyplex (exports biaxially oriented polyester (BOPET) films)

5) Robinson Department Store (chain department stores)

Yet, from the 200 companies list, Chinese and Hong Kong companies steal the limelight with 65 companies from these markets showed exceptional sales and earnings growth. The list ranks public companies in the Asia Pacific region with annual revenue between $5million and $1 billion. They are also screened for return on equity.

"Essentially these are our picks of the companies that have best managed through the economic volatility that began in 2008. Most navigated the global credit crunch with little to no debt on their balance sheets. On average, the companies on the list have a 13 per cent debt-to-equity ratio, and 67 of these companies carry no 21 of the 65 Chinese and Hong Kong companies on the list are returnees from last year. On average sales among them grew 43 per cent over the last 3-year period; earnings per share

grew 50% over the same time. The winning companies include 361 Degrees International, which manufactures sporting goods, Alibaba.com, the business-to-business e-commerce technology company, Changchun Faway Automobile Components, and China Donxiang Group, maker of sports apparel, footwear and accessories," said Tim Ferguson, editor of Forbes Asia.

India makes a strong showing on the list with the second highest number of companies that made the cut (35). The best performers include SRF, which manufactures chemical-based industrial intermediates, Polyplex, which makes polyester film, and Glodyne Technoserve, an IT services company.

Companies from Taiwan came in third place with 25 entries, including Gintech Energy and Sino-American Silicon Products which makes silicon wafers used for solar energy products.

Vietnam makes the biggest jump with 10 companies, nine more than last year. The companies that debut on the list include Petrovietnam Low Pressure Gas Distribution and DHG Pharmaceutical.