Sometimes they’re up; sometimes they’re down. And sometimes they’re all over the map.

For 25 years, Oregon Business has been tracking the fortunes of the state’s largest private companies in the annual Private 150 list through ups and downs, dips and rebounds, boom times and recession.
So which was it in 2007?

It depends what you measure, and how. Combined revenues for all 150 companies are down $1.2 billion to $39.8 billion from last year, a 2.9% drop. The billion-dollar club shrank from nine companies to six, with timber titan Hampton Affiliates falling below the barrier and retirement home developer Colson & Colson selling off its core business for $6.8 billion.

Average revenues per company were also down 3.5%, to $265.2 million. But that figure may be distorted because this year’s 150 companies are not the same as last year’s. Notably lacking is the fast-growing virtual payment business Vesta Corp., which reported more than $1 billion in sales last year but declined to share information this year. A more accurate measure: Among the 140 companies that made the list in both 2008 and 2007, revenues were up 1.3%.

Oregon isn’t as reliant on timber money as it was 25 years ago, but forest products and building materials remain the biggest sector among the Private 150. Shuttered mills were a big factor as jobs for this year’s Private 150 fell 6.8% overall and remained flat in Oregon.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Some businesses, such as Integra Telecom, have grown through acquisitions. Others, such as Fortis Construction and Vigor Industrial, have expanded into new areas. Still others, such as Far West Fibers and Columbia Helicopters, have sidestepped the downturn by finding new opportunities within a general downturn.
With fuel costs soaring and home values falling, it pays to be nimble.

BEN JACKLET

ARTICLE: Oregon's top private companies learn to adapt

List compiled by research editor Brandon Sawyer.

Ranks 1-50

*Doing business as Ray’s Food Place, Shop Smart, PriceLess Foods, and Pharmacy Express.
**Rank based on last year’s revenue data.

Companies are ranked based on revenue from most recent fiscal year as reported to Oregon Business by a company representative. Companies must be privately held and headquartered in Oregon.

NR: Not ranked in 2007. Empty fields reflect information not received.

Please contact Brandon Sawyer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 503.223.0304 regarding corrections or comments about the Private 150. To participate in the list next year, go to www.oregonbusiness.com/Private150.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Title
Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Email (will not be displayed)
Write the displayed characters
l have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment