Platts Announces Top 250: The World's Top Performing Energy Companies

Singapore (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Asian, Regional Company Performance on the Rise; Resurgence
Noted Among Non-Oil Companies, Especially Electricity

Major oil companies have maintained their stronghold as the
world's most financially effective energy businesses, according to
the 2008 Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company rankings announced
here Monday evening. But the rankings also point to a performance
resurgence by non-oil firms, such as electric utilities, and to the
rising importance and influence of Asia- Pacific companies.

Against a backdrop of climbing global demand, record-high prices
and market volatility, it was Exxon Mobil Corp. that once again
surpassed its competitors to take the number one spot in the Platts
Top 250 for the fourth consecutive year. In second and third place
were Royal Dutch Shell plc and France's Total SA, respectively.

While US companies still make up the largest overall bloc in the
Platts rankings, America's share of the top spots is down 30% since
the rankings began seven years ago. Behind Exxon Mobil, this year's
US top finishers were Chevron Corp., Valero Energy Corp. and
ConocoPhillips. Participation in the lead 100 slots by Europe, Middle
East, and Africa (EMEA) has risen by 38% since 2001. The best 2008
EMEA performers were Shell, Total, BP, Russia's Rosneft and Italy's
ENI. Asia's share of the Top 250's upper tier has climbed nearly 30%
across the ranking's history. This year's top performing Asian energy
business was PetroChina Co., Ltd., which placed ninth worldwide, and
ahead of many long-entrenched names on the roster. Second, third,
fourth and fifth-place finishers in Asia were China Petroleum &
Chemical Company (known as Sinopec), Reliance Industries Ltd., Oil &
Natural Gas Corp. Ltd., and PTT Plc.

"The globalization of the energy marketplace is increasingly
reflected in the results of the Platts rankings," said Platts
President Victoria Chu Pao. "We're pleased to recognize the
leadership achievements of so many regional energy companies that
continue to climb the ranks of the global Top 250."

In addition to unveiling the Top 250 Global Energy Companies,
which scores the world's best performing energy companies on a
combination of assets, revenues, profits and return on invested
capital, Platts on Monday celebrated the accomplishments of the Top
15 Asian Energy Companies, the Top 10 Fastest-Growing Asian Energy
Companies, and the Top Asian Energy Companies in each of eight
industry segments. To be ranked, companies must have assets greater
than (US) $2 billion and must be publicly listed. The performance
rankings were unveiled at the 3rd annual Asia Leadership Awards
recognition dinner at the St. Regis Hotel in Singapore, attended by
some 200 energy executives, largely from the Asia-Pacific region.

A year-on-year comparison of the Top 250 shows that all of the
companies gaining ground within the lead 20 positions are non-U.S.
companies. In fact, three of the largest energy companies in the
world are now Russian: Rosneft Oil Company ranks sixth and Gazprom
OAO jumped seven places to 10th, overtaking fellow Russian Federation
company Lukoil, now in 11th place. And within the top 50, Russia
holds seven slots and the Asia-Pacific region holds eight, three of
which are Indian companies.

In terms of industry sector performance, the 2008 Platts ranking
showed that integrated oil companies maintained their strong presence
in the list's upper tier, as they have for years. But it also
revealed a resurgence of non-oil companies within the 50-100 ranks.
Platts believes that three factors contributed: a wave of mergers and
takeovers; improved hedging strategies by power and gas companies and
normalization after price hits in 2004-2006; and accelerated trends
of deregulation, public listing and/or financial reporting among
eastern European, Middle Eastern, Asian and Latin American energy
businesses.

Abu Dhabi National Energy Company and Saudi Electricity Company
are the first from the Persian Gulf region to place in the Top 250
rankings, illustrating a trend toward greater financial data
transparency and disclosure. In addition to this latter placement,
it's notable that electric utilities, at large, are now ahead of
where they were in 2005 in comparison with oil majors' profits.

Now in its second year, the Platts roster of the world's
Fastest-Growing Energy Companies by revenue showed 11 of the 14
rapid-growth firms of 2007 returned to the list in 2008. Notable
regional movements included the first-time presence of a Middle East
firm in the lead 20 slots. Japan's sole representation within the
roster, Inpex Holdings Inc. jumped from spot 17 in 2007 to sixth
place in 2008.

Offering the evening's keynote address was Singapore's Senior
Minister of State for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran, who highlighted
not only Asia's increased representation within the Platts Fastest
Growing and Top 250 lists, but also the expanding role that Asia and
the Pacific Rim are assuming in the global energy sustainability
dialogue. Prior to the Asia Leadership Awards recognition dinner,
energy company representatives discussed energy outlook and key
industry issues at the 6th annual Platts Top 250 Executive Summit.

The evening's key sponsor for the third consecutive year was
Logical Information Machines, a provider of data, analytics and
research to the energy and financial sectors and whose customers are
among the world's largest hedge funds, mutual funds, banks and energy
concerns.

For the complete Platts Top 250 Global Energy Companies list and
additional information, visit: http://www.platts.com/top250/.

About Platts

Platts, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), is a
leading global provider of energy and commodities information. With
nearly a century of business experience, Platts serves customers
across more than 150 countries. An independent provider, Platts
serves the oil, natural gas, electricity, emissions, nuclear power,
coal, petrochemical, shipping, and metals markets from 17 offices
worldwide. Platts' real-time news, pricing, analytical services and
conferences help markets operate with transparency and efficiency.
Traders, risk managers, analysts, and industry leaders depend upon
Platts to help them make better trading and investment decisions.
Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

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Contact:
Kathleen Tanzy, +1-212-904-2860, kathleen_tanzy@platts.com; Asia:
Casey Yew, +65-653-06552; Europe: Shiona Ramage, +44-207-1766153