Forbes Global's 200 Companies: Best Under a Billion in Sales lists CSE Global, Eastern Asia Technology, HTL International, Omni Mold, Seksun and Unisteel Technology as the best Singapore-listed companies in the category.

The list comprises companies based outside the US with annual sales in the latest reported year of less than US$1 billion.

Of the roughly 19,000 stocks that qualify, Forbes Global screened out most that did not have operating margins of at least 5 per cent in the most recent year, and average returns on equity of at least 5 per cent in the previous five years.

The 4,000 remaining companies were then graded against one another in various one and five-year performance categories, and the 200 finalists were chosen from among 500 with the best results.

The list excluded non-operating firms and those at which an overwhelming majority of shares are owned by one or a small group of shareholders.

India led the Asian region with 18 companies on the list. Australia had 11, Hong Kong had nine and Thailand and Indonesia had seven each. Singapore came in next, ahead of Japan, which had five companies.

The six Singapore companies are not new-comers to investors. Their stocks have been among the top performers this year, despite relatively small market capitalisations. All have attracted keen interest by portfolio investors.

HTL International last year attracted Morgan Stanley Private Equity as a strategic investor. Unisteel accounts for between one and 2 per cent of Henderson Global Technology Fund.