Conglomerate

The JSW Group is a $3.7 billion worth conglomerate with interests in steel, energy, minerals and mining, aluminium, infrastructure and logistics, cement and IT. The Group projects its power sector company, JSW Energy, as one of its companies to watch out for. JSW's projects, notably its power plants in Jaigad, in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra, and its plans to set up aluminium smelters and mines in the tribal tracts of Andhra Pradesh have attracted significant resistance from local communities, including farmers.

One of the key companies in the family promoted Jindal Group, JSPL has grown from a moderately performing company in the steel sector to the largest sponge iron manufacturer in the world. Steered by Naveen Jindal, a Member of Parliament (2009), and one of four heirs to the business founded by his father, O.P. Jindal, JSPL realised a 2008 turnover in excess of $2 billion (Indian Rupee 100 billion. US $1 = Rs.

Textron is a multi-industry company that operates in 33 countries, and is headquartered in Providence, RI, USA. The company manufactures a variety of weapons, and is infamous for making land mines and cluster bombs which remain un-detonated for years, routinely killing civilians.

General Electric Co. manufactures electrical equipment, lighting products and household appliances. It also owns the broadcasting network NBC. In terms of market capitalization, GE is the world's second largest company and also second in the BrandZ ranking. In the 1960s, aspects of U.S. tax laws and accounting practices led to a rise in the assembly of conglomerates. GE, which was a conglomerate long before the term was coined, is arguably the most successful organization of this type.

In the wake of former CEO Dennis Kozlowski's downfall, the conglomerate that he had built through a binge of acquisitions was broken up into three three publicly held companies: Covidien (formerly Tyco Healthcare Group), Tyco Electronics, and Tyco International, which retained the manufacturing conglomerate's Fire and Security and its Engineered Products and Services businesses. Tyco Fire and Security was renamed ADT Worldwide. Tyco International remains a large manufacturer of water control devices, home and business security and construction steel frames, and other products.

Decatur, Illinois-based Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) is one of the world's largest agricultural conglomerates. Its business is primarily structured around the processing and trading of oilseeds (e.g. soy, palm), corn, wheat and cocoa. ADM is also a leading manufacturer of protein meal, corn sweeteners, flour, ethanol and vegetable oil.

Reliance industries is one of India's largest companies with a profit of US $2.033 billion in 2006. Indian Petrochemicals Corporation and Reliance Industries merged in financial year 2006-2007. In November 2006 the Reliance launched its first retail mega-store, "Reliance Fresh" in Hyderabad, expanding to 96 stores at the end of FY 2006-2007.

Tata Sons is the promoter and major shareholder of all key companies of the Tata Group. The chairman of Tata Sons has traditionally been the chairman of the Tata Group. About 66 percent of the equity capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts endowed by members of the Tata family.

Established in Denmark in 1904, A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, more commonly known as Maersk, is one of the biggest corporate conglomerates in the world with business activities in different sectors. Seaborne transportation and shipping logistics are the main business of the group as the largest ship operator and supply vessel operator in the world. The shipping units maintain a fleet of more than 550 container ships. The company also does offshore drilling and transportationg for gas and oil, primarily in the North Sea.

Orascom is an Egyptian business group. It holds a portfolio of business activities ranging from contracting to railways and navigation services to manufacturing, and also maintains significant holdings in telecommunications, information technology, and networking. It has recently acquired a contract to establish telecommunication service in post-war iraq. Inspite of other famous and more influential competitors orascom got this project which in itself is evidence of political rigging.

Orascom was founded in 1950 by Onsi Sawiris.