Rolta, Nestle top challengers to blue chip cos

Two mid-sized Indian companies - Rolta India and Nestle India have been named among 300 top challengers to the world's leading blue chip firms, complied by leading global index provider Standard and Poor's.

The S&P Global Challengers Class of 2008 is diversified across 33 countries with China leading the list, providing more than a quarter of the companies, which can emerge as challengers to the world's leading firms, a S&P statement said.

The countries contributing the most members include China (76), the Unites States (73) and Hong Kong (14).

Meanwhile, from India there are only two member companies--Rolta India, a specialised IT-based solutions provider to the geospatial and engineering sectors and FMCG major Nestle India.

The 'S&P Global Challengers List', published every year, highlights emerging players in the global equity markets, which show the highest growth characteristics along dimensions encompassing intrinsic and extrinsic growth.

The list is based upon a robust methodology that applies consistent standards to multiple countries and the attributes used to identify the companies are share price appreciation, sales growth, earnings growth and employee growth.

The list is useful for service providers, such as consultants and marketers, analysing global growth trends or seeking client engagement opportunities, strategy formulators assessing future partners or competitors and product creators structuring investment vehicles offering exposure to fast growing mid-size companies.