Sectoral Analysis Most Represented Sectors Most Valuable Sectors Banking Industry in Top 500 Quarterly Updates Outlook Alphabetical Listing Region Wise Listing Sector Total Income Net Profit Net Worth Export NPM RoNW    Insights Insights I Insights II Insights III The changing face of Top 500 Overview     Preface|Foreword|Executive Summary|Methodology|Economy Update|Industry Insights|Definition & Calculations|Award Winners|Company Listing|Launch Event|Editorial Team|Sponsors Listing Ranking

The Indian economy has continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace, in the face of the global financial meltdown and the subsequent economic crisis of the past year. However, various stimuli packages coupled with positive policy initiatives in economic and financial areas seemed to have acted as growth drivers for India Inc to recoup its growth momentum gradually. The consistent resilience shown by corporate India is testimony to the strong economic fundamentals and abundant opportunities offered by the Indian economy. ‘India’s Top 500 Companies 2009’ captures the indomitable spirit and high level of flexibility displayed by the leading Indian companies in paving a strong rebound for further growth. Some key highlights from the publication are as follows:

• A 19.2% growth in the aggregate total income of the Top 500 Companies in FY09 underscores India’s high degree of recovery level amidst the financial crisis of the previous year. In fact, the total income of all 500 companies at Rs 27,538 bn was equivalent to around 49.4% of India’s GDP at market prices in FY09.

• The 62 PSUs continue to lead the 500 companies in terms of 47.8% share in the total income. They also continued to be generous in dividend payments and dominated the dividend payouts accounting for over 45.3% of the total dividends paid by the Top 500 Companies.

• The foreign companies enjoy higher profit margins with an NPM of 11.3% as compared with an NPM of 9.2% and 6.9% for private sector and public sector enterprises.

• Although the Top 500 Companies managed to sustain the topline, 61% increase in interest outgo expense coupled with forex losses as opposed to forex gains in the previous year seems to have resulted in their net profit decline by 6.9%.

• The drop in profitability coupled with tough liquidity conditions forced the companies to cut dividend payments – with the total dividends paid by Top 500 Companies declining by 3% y-o-y.

• The total debt of the non-financial companies of Top 500 increased by 40.1% to Rs 7,640 bn. The long-term debt, which accounted for around three-fourth of the total debt, increased by 43.2%.

• This year’s edition includes 42 new entrants and of these, over 22 new entrants have outperformed their sector averages due to a high degree of operating efficiency and consequently have earned a better topline and a commensurately strong equity performance that has ensured their inclusion in the Top 500 list.

India, with its enormous opportunities and untapped potential, will have an important role to play in the global economy, as it has started its way back on the road to a strong recovery. D&B India is committed to record the economic and corporate transition through the future editions of the ‘India’s Top 500 Companies’.

Kaushal Sampat
Chief Operating Officer
Dun & Bradstreet India