The UK has a higher number of successful smaller companies than any other country outside the US, according to a survey published today.

International business magazine Forbes Global included 29 UK firms on its annual list of the 200 best companies outside America with annual sales of less than £600 million.

The performance was a significant improvement on 2002, when just 13 UK firms featured.

India was the second most prominent country this year, with 18 businesses featured in the table. France had 14 entries and Germany seven.

Forbes said the success of UK companies was partly due to currency movements but could also be explained by the strength of its domestic economy.

Among the UK firms to feature were clothing giant French Connection, restaurant chain Ask Central, pawnbroker Albemarle and Bond and chip designer Arm Holdings.

To be considered for the table, firms had to meet a number of criteria, including minimum profit levels and returns on equity.

They were then graded against each other in various one and five-year performance categories.

The 200 finalists were chosen from among 500 companies with the best results.

Monday October 20, 2003