CRH ranked as one of 400 best firms by `Forbes Magazine'

Building materials group CRH has made the A list of Forbes Magazine's annual report on industry. Ranked as one of the 400 best companies CRH takes its place alongside groups such as healthcare giant Pfizer, car manufacturer Daimler Chrsysler and Montreal-based Bombardier, which owns Shorts in Belfast.

Forbes, which normally publishes a list of its International 800 has also started its first A list, a selection of the world's 400 best companies. The magazine surveyed 27 industries and profiled the top-ranked company. "Size alone does not get a company onto the A list," according to Forbes. "It must also have a past record of above-average profitability and returns to shareholders, combined with strong earnings prospects for the year ahead," it says. Among the criteria for the list were that companies must have a minimum of $5 billion (4.3 billion) in annual revenue or a market capitalisation of $5 billion.

CRH certainly took its place among the luminaries on the list. Other companies which made the list include food and consumer products group Unilever, electronics giant Dell and telecommunications group Vodafone.

The ranking is unlikely to do CRH any harm as the magazine has a strong following among the international business community. The magazine, published this week, includes a short profile of the group, outlining its investment strategy and includes some quotes from its chief executive, Mr Don Godson.

Not that CRH is resting on its laurels. The company is currently engaged in a recommended bid for the British brick manufacturer Ibstock, which is worth £435 million (552.3 million), between the price being offered and the debt which must be taken on.