Enterprise Inns

Enterprise Inns, the leased and tenanted pubs operator, beat contenders including Brit Insurance, the insurer, easyJet, the no-frills airline, European Metal Recycling (EMR), which recycles metal-based products, and Sports World, the sports clothing and equipment maker. The jury was impressed by Enterprise Inn’s record of generating growth through the delivery of a clear business model while maintaining profitability. Honourable mentions went to EMR and easyJet.

Serco

Serco won in this category for its consistent growth under political pressure, including opposition from trade unions. The task management contractor was praised for taking a UK model and expanding it into multiple markets. It has a presence on the Continent, in America and Australia and is looking towards the Middle East and China. Serco beat competition that included Scottish & Southern Energy. Carphone Warehouse, which has a broad reach across Europe, received an honourable mention.

EasyJet

This category honours those companies that have made the best use of opportunities created by the widening of Europe. EasyJet, which last year was a runner-up in the growth category and winner in the innovation category, prevailed. The jury was impressed by easyJet’s success in creating and meeting demand and in instigating its own market across Europe. Honourable mention went to Taylor Nelson Sofres, the market research company, and SIG, which supplies insulation.

Aviva

Aviva won for its success in moving into the whole of Europe. The jury picked the company for its ability to introduce concepts into markets that do not have a long history of using them — therefore, educating the market — and its ability to make and integrate effective acquisitions. Aviva fended off competition that included Carphone Warehouse and DSG International, which were singled out for honourable mentions. Also on the shortlist was Gallaher, the tobacco company, and Rexam, the packaging group.

Yell

The jury examined the success of cross-border acquisitions made by UK-based companies between mid-2004 and April this year. Yell, the classified advertising company, beat its fellow contenders Arriva, the transportation group, European Metal Recycling (EMR), the international IT services provider LogicaCMG, and Qinetiq, the defence and security company. The jury gave the award after Yell’s £2 billion acquisition of TPI of Spain, commending its use of IT to realise synergies. EMR received an honourable mention.

Ineos

Ineos, the privately held company that bought Innovene, the petrochemical company, for $9 billion, making it the world’s third- biggest chemicals company by revenue, prevailed. The company took the gong in the growth category last year. This time Inoes saw off Barclays, which acquired Absa, of South Africa, and National Express, which entered Spain last year by acquiring Alsa. Vodafone received an honourable mention for its execution of deals, including a public auction on TV for one asset. WPP’s acquisition of Grey Global was commended but the jury questioned the extent of synergy benefits.