Achmea
Global 500 rank: 395
Country: Netherlands
The largest insurance group in the Netherlands spent 2013 streamlining the company by selling their Bulgarian insurance business and Irish loan portfolio. Going forward they plan to further expand into the Australian insurance market, and remain focused on customer service and cost savings.
Photo: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Agricultural Development Bank of China
Global 500 rank: 491
Country: China
The state-owned bank is heavily involved in the country’s effort to develop its rural areas. With $433 billion in assets at the end of 2013, it ranks among the top 10 banks in the world, according to SNL Financial.
Photo: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Alimentation Couche-Tard
Global 500 rank: 329
Country: Canada
The Canadian convenience store operator has sites all over North America, Asia, Mexico and UAE. Last year it saw a 55% increase in revenues mainly thanks to a string of acquisitions. The latest, Norway’s Statoil Fuel & Retail, added 2,300 European stores to its network, bringing the total to more than 12,600 stores.
Photo: Sandy Huffaker/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Antarchile
Global 500 rank: 488
Country: Chile
The Chilean holdings company was started in the 1950s by two Italian immigrant brothers. It invests primarily in the forestry, fishing, electric and energy industries. Last year it saw a 7% increase in revenues which catapulted it onto the Global 500.
Courtesy: Antarchile
Bohai Steel Group
Global 500 rank: 327
Country: China
A state-owned iron and steel firm based in Tianjin, Bohai was formed in 2010 through the merger of four enterprises. According to trade association Worldsteel, it was the 15th largest steel producer in the world by tonnage. (No. 1 in steel? AccelorMittal, ranked 101 on the Global 500.)
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CEFC China Energy
Global 500 rank: 349
Country: China
The privately held company specializes in trading of oil, natural gas and petrochemicals. With revenue of $34 billion in 2013, it is the 66th largest (of 95) Chinese companies on the Global 500.
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China Development Bank
Global 500 rank: 122
Country: China
The highest-ranking newcomer to the Global 500 reported revenue of $71.3 billion and profit of $12.9 billion. The bank says it supported the government’s macroeconomic policies through $160.2 billion in loans to support new urbanization projects.
Photo: Brent Winebrenner/Lonely Planet—Getty
China Energy Engineering
Global 500 rank: 465
Country: China
The Chinese engineering company is responsible for 90% of the country’s electricity and energy projects. It also has nearly 200 projects in 60 other countries, which range from traditional fossil fuel to nuclear to hydroelectric. With more than 140,000 employees, the company saw revenues grow 16.4% in 2013 to $25.8 billion, earning it a spot in the Global 500.
China General Technology
Global 500 rank: 469
Country: China
The state-owned Chinese company is a leading importer and exporter of light industrial products and medical and health products. It also distributes and services mobile devices. The value of its contracts reached a record high in 2013 of $24.9 billion; among its notable wins: a power station in Liberia and transmission project in Kenya.
Courtesy: Genertec
Duke Energy
Global 500 rank: 485
Country: United States
Duke, helmed by Lynn Good, is one of two arrivals to the list with female CEOs (the other is China General Technology, a complete list can be found here). It is the largest electrical power holding company in the United States and returns to the list after a seven-year hiatus. Last year Duke established a new organization to develop renewable energy programs.
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Enbridge
Global 500 rank: 377
Country: Canada
The Canadian transporter of gas and oil saw a 29% increase in revenues to nearly $32 billion. For the last 12 years, Enbridge has been named one of the top 50 corporate citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights, but Canadians are protesting against recent plans to build a 1,200-kilometer oil pipeline.
Photo: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Energy Transfer Equity
Global 500 rank: 213
Country: United States
The Dallas-based company owns and operates one of the largest and most diversified portfolios of energy assets in the United States. It currently has approximately 43,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquids, refined products, and crude oil pipelines. The company’s reported 2013 revenue soared 182% to $48.8 billion following the 2012 merger of one of its subsidiaries with gas retailer and logistics company Sunoco.
Photo: J. G. Domke/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Fuji Heavy Industries
Global 500 rank: 494
Country: Japan
Fuji Heavy Industries, returns to the list (it last appeared in 2005 at No. 461). It is best known for its line of Subaru automobiles, which helped boost the company’s performance. Strong demand for the automaker’s Forester and Impreza models, Subaru’s overseas sales increased 14.6% to 643,000 units, led by the U.S. sales growth of 23.6% to 442,000 units As a result, the company’s revenue rose slightly to $24 billion.
Photo: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Hanwha
Global 500 rank: 331
Country: South Korea
Hanwha is one of the largest conglomerates in South Korea with businesses stretching from explosives to aerospace to financial services. Its revenue increased 11.8% to $35.4 billion despite a 53% drop in profits to $118.8 million. The company, which last appeared on the Global 500 in 2011 with a ranking of 321, is one of four returnees.
Photo: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Itaú Unibanco Holding
Global 500 rank: 138
Country: Brazil
In 2013 the Brazilian conglomerate Itaúsa-Investimentos recategorized the way it accounts for its banking unit, which now puts Itaú Unibanco on the list. The bank, which has assets of $436 billion, is the second largest bank in Brazil, behind Banco do Brasil (assets of $553 billion).
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Lotte Shopping
Global 500 rank: 464
Country: South Korea
The department store chain, a fixture throughout Korea, is aggressively expanding inside and outside its borders. In 2013, it saw a 16% increase in revenues thanks to new store openings at home but also in China and Indonesia, with a focus on the young and fashion conscious. Going forward Lotte plans to open four department stores in Indonesia by 2018.
Photo: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Louis Dreyfus Commodities
Global 500 rank: 150
Country: Netherlands
The global finance conglomerate, with headquarters in the Netherlands, was founded in 1851 and is a global merchandizer of commodities and a processor of agricultural goods. Its sales last year were a record $63.6 billion, up 9% from 2012. Going forward it plans to invest $4 billion in mid-sized assets around the world by 2018.
Photo: Dado Galdieri/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Pacific Construction Group
Global 500 rank: 166
Country: China
The Chinese company is one of the largest, privately held enterprises in China, investing in everything from highway construction to real estate to wine brewing. It is embarking on a $3.5 billion project to flatten 700 mountains for a 500-square-mile development in the country’s west. (For more, see our story on Pacific Construction Group founder Yan Jiehe.)
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Perusahaan Listrik Negara
Global 500 rank: 477
Country: Indonesia
Perusahaan, the main electricity supplier in Indonesia, continues to benefit from the country’s booming, resource-driven economy. Its total number of customers in 2013 increased to 54 million from 50 million and revenue climbed 0.6% to $21.3 billion.
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Plains GP Holdings
Global 500 rank: 257
Country: United States
The Houston-based pipeline, transport and storage company has benefited from the continued natural gas expansion and had better-than-expected earnings for 2013 of 15 million or $0.10 per share. Its revenues increased 11.8% to $42.2 billion. It also launched a $1.62 billion expansion plan in 2013 and plans to invest an additional $1.7 billion in this year.
Qualcomm
Global 500 rank: 480
Country: United States
The San Diego-based wireless technology company boasted record financial performance in 2013. Its revenues climbed 30% to $25 billion on demand for its semiconductors and intellectual property for broadband mobile phone systems. Next up: A big push into the so-called Internet of Things, which aims to hook up appliances and accessories to the web.
Photo: Konrad Fiedler/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Rolls-Royce
Global 500 rank: 489
Country: Britain
The British defense contractor (not to be confused with the automaker, a BMW subsidiary) saw revenue jump 26% to $24.2 billion, earning it a spot on the Global 500 for the first time. Among management’s priorities going forward: Attracting and retaining more female employees.
Photo: Munshi Ahmed/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Russian Grids
Global 500 rank: 498
Country: Russia
The Russian power company has networks that extend over 2.2 million kilometers and some 473,000 substations. It saw a 19.2% increase in revenue in 2013 due to increased electricity sales. Currently it is considering long-term loans from Chinese banks to fund projects with the State Grid Corporation of China, including building a bridge for power supplies from Russia to China.
Photo: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg—Getty Images
Samsung C&T
Global 500 rank: 460
Country: South Korea
The original parent company of the Samsung Group now focuses on trading and construction. It is famous for projects such as Malaysia’s Petronas Towers and Taiwan’s Taipei 101. It was last on the list in 2011 at No. 492. Large overseas projects include the Riyadh metro in Saudi Arabia and the Doha metro in Qatar.
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Talanx
Global 500 rank: 302
Country: Germany
The third largest insurance group in Germany operates in more than 150 countries. 2013 was its first full year as a listed company and net income rose 25% despite natural disasters around Central Europe. Its most famous payout was about $45 million for the loss of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.
Unipol
Global 500 rank: 439
Country: Italy
The Italian financial group which operates in insurance and banking markets was propelled on the Global 500 by a 45% increase in revenue. The company attributes its growth to higher premiums. A merger with fellow insurer Fondiaria-SAI earlier this year should further contribute to top line expansion.
Photo: Nico Casamassima/AFP—Getty Images
VTB Bank
Global 500 rank: 443
Country: Russia
Russia’s second largest banking group (the largest is Sberbank at No. 186) saw record profits this year of $3.19 billion despite the economic slow-down in Russia. A new quality-focused strategy calls for improved business performance, cost reductions and enhanced risk management systems.
Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Bloomberg—Getty Images
