![[RANKED] These are the Richest Southeast Asian Companies 2019, According to Forbes](https://seasia.co/img/articles/large-wilmar-headquarters-singapore-01-8bd7724e7c7160a3a412e6cefd7bccad.jpg?p=articles-md)
Forbes Asia recently unveiled its inaugural Best Over A Billion list which consisted of Asia-Pacific's 200 best-performing listed companies.
All of the listed companies generated more than US$1 billion in a year in this region.
The industries that made some pretty big bucks include banking, retail, real estate, transportation, manufacturing, and food and beverage.
According to Forbes , from a universe of 3.200 listed companies in the Asia Pacific region, candidates for the Best Over A Billion list are evaluated based on more than a dozen metrics including their average five-year sales, operating income growth, return on capital, and projected growth over the next one to two years. Those having the highest composite score earned a place in the final list of 200.
The leaders for Southeast Asia when it comes to sales are as follows:
- Wilmar International (Singapore) US$44.5 billion
- Charoen Pokphand Foods (Thailand) US$16.8 billion
- SM Investments (Philippines) US$7.9 billion
- Gudang Garam (Indonesia) US$6.7 billion
- Vingroup (Vietnam) US$5.3 billion
- Public Bank (Malaysia) US$5 billion
Thailand sports the most number of billion dollar companies in the list among Southeast Asian countries -- a whopping 14. Coming in second is Indonesia with 11, Singapore with nine, Vietnam and Malaysia with seven and six respectively.
Singapore's agribusiness company, Wilmar International, heads the region with the largest number of revenue generated, coming in third just after Alibaba and Tencent Holdings with US$44.7 billion in sales.
However, in terms of market value, Indonesia's Bank Central Asia leads the Southeast Asian companies with US$52.1 billion, a spot above Nintendo, Mashable reported.
The list also highlights the connection between the companies and members of Forbes Asia’s rich lists.
“The Best Over A Billion list provides an incredible insight into which are Asia’s best-run big companies. Nearly two thirds of the companies on this list are controlled by or connected to families or individuals who have appeared on Forbes Asia’s rich lists,” says Justin Doebele, Editor, Forbes Asia.
Once example is San Miguel Food and Beverage which counts the Philippine billionaires Ramon Ang and Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr., among its biggest shareholders and are CEO and Chaiman, respectively. The company’s shares have surged over 20% this year, outperforming the local stock market benchmark. Ramon Ang is the subject of the cover story in he September issue of Forbes Asia.
