EDITORS MESSAGE MARCH

MARCH 2010

THERE’S a few fresh faces in town – all of whom will be revealed in this bumper issue of Brisbane Business News’ Top Companies edition.

The prospect of getting beyond the half year reporting season without too many scratches has presented many a challenge for the 50 ASX-listed companies on our 2010 list.

A few companies have fallen off the pile this year due to takeovers and corporate turmoil, but that means the floodgates have also opened for 10 new companies – Bow Energy almost broke the halfway mark, as Northern Energy Corporation, Orocobre, Alchemia, Blue Energy, Norton Gold Fields, Reef Casino Trust, Citigold Corporation, Impedimed and Comet Ridge all made the cut.

Suncorp-Metway once again sits aloft the No.1 position – this time by a country mile, as Macarthur Coal, Flight Centre and PanAust all burst into the top 10.

The biggest falls came from Trinity Group, Metal Storm and Progen Pharmaceuticals, while others such as Divine Limited and Forest Place Group clambered to survive.

It was a particularly tough year for property, but according to McCullough Robertson Lawyers managing partner Brett Heading, residential property at least is showing signs of recovery.

Last year this same editor’s message started with the line ‘it’s not all bad Brisbane’ but this second edition of Brisbane’s Top Public Companies has a different tone, in a more positive direction. It’s not necessarily ‘all good’, but many companies are floating on the contagious optimism that emanates from the river city, while increasing market cap along the way.

In this special edition, we cover a vast array of sectors and businesses, all vying for a share of a market which, in its speculative way, has ranked them accordingly.

After such volatility rattling the capital markets in 2009, it’s a ‘let’s get on with it’ sentiment now as we move forward toward a more prosperous second half.

In the pages that follow, you will read interviews with the CEOs and managing directors who are positioned to helm their companies and their future growth.

For many this means heralding in a new style of leadership. That’s what happens when the playing field is levelled.

There’s a change in the air and that means renewed opportunities.