Beijing Enterprises Water Group

What is it?

The Hong Kong-listed water services arm of Beijing Enterprises Holdings, involved in water supply and wastewater treatment in mainland China.

What has it done?

If 2008 was a year of acquisitions for BEWG, 2009 was the year it emerged as a serious player in the Chinese water and wastewater market. Its run of contract wins was second to none - the company effectively doubled the treatment capacity within its portfolio, and also made inroads into the international market, paving the way for a landmark wastewater deal with the Malaysian government.

What makes it special?

• In the space of just 12 months, BEWG left the competition standing, signing nearly 20 separate deals to own and operate water and wastewater treatment facilities in China, with a combined design capacity of over 2 million m³/d.

• The company’s successes helped the share price to nearly triple over the course of 2009, outperforming the benchmark Hang Seng stock index by 130%.

• BEWG is committed to getting big - quickly. The signing of a memorandum of understanding for a $2 billion contract to develop 19 wastewater treatment plants in Malaysia amply demonstrates BEWG’s international ambitions, and the company is currently negotiating with Norwegian desalter Aqualyng ahead of an entry into China’s seawater desalination market.