You may notice some changes to this year's Top Companies - all designed to make it a better read. The stories have been arranged in categories that collect data around a single theme. New sections have been added that expand our coverage; some parts have been removed or combined.
This year we also launch a more comprehensive Top Companies online product, which gives FM subscribers extensive search and analysis tools www.topcompanies.co.za.
These are the obvious signs of what has been happening behind the scenes. Top Companies is a big project that represents the work of many at the FM and beyond. The people involved are listed in the masthead - my thanks must go to all of them, for their sterling efforts and for putting up with me shaking the boat.
Top Companies is SA's most-read rankings database, affording all SA's listed companies the opportunity to see how they stack up against one another. It should also help investors make educated decisions, based on the relative performance of listed companies. For the general reader, Top Companies provides a thorough comparison of SA companies' financial performance.
As a team, we are looking for ways to improve Top Companies. That is why, this year, you will find a reader survey inserted into your copy and available on the website at www.topcompanies.co.za. Please take the time to complete and return the questionnaire. Apart from getting the chance to win a holiday package, you will help us make Top Companies a more comprehensive and relevant product.
Next year you can expect significant changes based on your response. Top Companies is a product that must move with the times, and we are always looking for ways to move with the markets that we cover. But in your hands now is what we believe to be the best source of financial data in SA.