Best of European Business 2007
The 2007 <h>"Best of European Business"</h> competition was launched on November 14 with awards ceremonies celebrating outstanding business achievement in Poland and Spain. Awards ceremonies in Poland and Spain launched the third annual "Best of European Business" competition sponsored by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants on 14 November. The events mark the beginning of a pan-European competition across eight of the European Union's strongest economies throughout the remaining months of 2007 and early 2008. High-level juries in both countries selected the strongest performers in two categories, for both large and medium-sized enterprises: Profitable Growth and Cross-border M&A. Additional prizes were presented for international competitiveness (Poland) and best overall corporate performance (Grand Prize, Spain). Held in the Royal Palace, the Polish awards presentation in Warsaw highlighted the strong presence of the country's company's on the global market. Fashion house LPP S.A., known for its smart approach to accessories and high-fashion streetware won the large company award in the Profitable Growth category. The jury selected the country's largest mining equipment manufacturer, Fabryka Maszyn FAMUR SA, as the medium-sized enterprise winner in the same category. PKN Orlen, the oil refiner and petrol retailer accepted the Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions award in Poland, having boosted its business following the takeover as major shareholder of Lithuania's Mažeikių Nafta, the largest company in the Baltic States, from Yukos Oil. | ||
Two companies received awards for their international competitiveness, a category unique to the Polish competition. Shipyard giants Stocznia Remontowa im. J. Piłsudskiego S.A. were recognized with the large company award in this category, while a 2006 winner – automotive supplier firm Inter Groclin Auto S.A. – was praised for its expansion to Eastern markets and received the medium-sized enterprise award. Grand Prize in Spain to Telefónica Over 100 guests and jury members celebrated the success of the winners of the BEB Spain competition at the Stock Exchange in Madrid on the same evening. The jury, which included Professor Jordi Canals, Dean of the IESE Business School and Amparo Moraleda, the President of IBM Spain, Portugal, Greece, Israel and Turkey, chose brand food manufacturer Grupo SOS and engineering consulting specialist Sener as winners in the Profitable Growth category. Spanish energy provider IBERDROLA and environmental service provider Befesa, were honored in the Cross-border M&A category. The jury highlighted IBERDROLA's successful acquisition and integration of SP into its business operations as the primary reason for awarding the company these honors. Befesa's reach into markets from Brasil to Algeria through various buy-ups was particularly impressive, the jury noted. | ||
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Telefónica, the telecommunications giant was presented the Grand Prize of the evening. The company had previously won a 2006 BEB award for its 'Europeanness,' following the acquisition of O2. This year the jury focused on the companies impressive client reach across its entire service offering, from fixed lines to mobile phones and digital television in 20 European and Latin American countries. All winners of the eight national competitions, to be held in the coming months in Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark and the United Kingdom, will be eligible for the pan-European awards in the competition, to be presented in the context of the European Business Summit on 21 February, 2008 in Brussels. And the winners are... Poland Profitable Growth The big company winner is LPP S.A., owner of the popular CROPPTOWN accessories boutiques and RESERVED clothing stores. The group has become a true force on the Polish retail market. Founded in 1995, the company's design headquarters remain in Gdańsk, including the selection of appropriate materials for their different lines of clothing and accessories. In addition, the packaging is designed here and the logistics operation that is behind their successful venture was also developed in the port city. The group has successfully expanded into markets outside of Poland: The first RESERVED store in Estonia opened in February 2002 in Tallinn. Today, the company has 32 stores abroad (in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Ukraine) and 47 in Poland. Mid-size company winner in this category is Fabryka Maszyn FAMUR SA, the largest Polish manufacturer and supplier of technologically advanced equipment and machines for the mining industry. A global player in this sector, the group encompasses an expansive, highly diversified range of equipment and machines used in underground and open-pit mining, and in crude oil and gas extraction. In addition, their equipment is used in the railroad and cement industries. Cross-border Mergers&Acquisitions PKN Orlen, winner of the only BEB Cross-border Mergers&Acquistions is a major European oil refiner, and petrol retailer. As of June 2006 the company is Poland's and Central Europe's largest publicly traded firm with major operations in Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, and the Baltic States. It operates a wide network of retail outlets across. In May of 2006 PKN Orlen announced its largest investment ever, when it took over majority share of Lithuania's Mažeikių Nafta, the largest company in the Baltic States, from Yukos. When the takeover is complete PKN Orlen will be Central Europe's largest company International Competitiveness The large company winner in this category is Gdańska Stocznia Remontowa im. J. Piłsudskiego S.A., a leader amongst European ship repair yards and a major player on the world market. Established in 1952, Remontowa specializes in ship repairs and conversions, design and construction of new ships, offshore units and steel structures. Over 200 vessels and offshore units from all over the world, are repaired or converted at Remontowa annually. The Group's slipways and docks allow for the construction of: ferries, container carriers, training and research ships, offshore units, floating docks and steel structures. Last year's winner in the 'Europeanness' category - Inter Groclin Auto S.A. - is this year's mid-size company winner in international competitiveness. The automotive supplier firm generates more than 98% of its sales abroad, mostly in Sweden, Belgium, France, Germany, and Portugal. Its core business remains in car seat upholstery. Thanks to the high quality of its products, the Polish supplier now counts Audi, Mercedes, Renault and Volvo among its customers. In 2003, Inter Groclin began building production facilities in the Ukraine to expand further east. | ||
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Spain
Profitable Growth Grupo SOS, the international brand food company is the 2007 large enterprise winner in the growth category in Spain. Carbonell, the world's best selling olive oil is one of its core brands, alongside its strong global rice brands Abu Bint, Lassie Saludaes, Adolphus, Comet and Blue Ribbon. Its international presence extends to 90 countries on all five continents. In 2006 its net profits amounted to EUR 10.7 million with EUR 715 million in sales. The medium-sized winner in this category is SENER Grupo de Ingeniería. Sener is an engineering, consultancy and systems integration company, whose main objective is to provide its clients with the most efficient technological solutions to their problems. It is also active in aeronautics, automotive and built environment. The company is strongly invested in green energies, particularly solar systems. In addition, it has excelled in developing a distinctive controlling and accountancy system for clients. In 2006 the company posted sales of EUR 518 million. Cross-border Mergers & Acquisitions Large company winner in this category is IBERDROLA, the Spanish energy giant. Represented in 40 countries all across the globe, it is the largest wind energy producer in the world. It distributes 127,000+ kWh to 18.5 million customers in Spain and Latin America. With the purchase of SP, Iberdrola now boasts an overall annual production of 124,670 GWh and 2006 sales worth EUR 11,017 million. Environmental service provider Befesa Medio Ambiente is the medium-sized enterprise winner in this category. In addition, it has longstanding experience in aluminum waste recycling, steel and galvanization waste recycling and industrial waste management and engineering activities. In addition to core economies across Europe, the company is present in Ukraine, Russia, Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, India, China, Algeria and Morocco. In 2006, sales amounted to EUR 555 million, with an EBITDA of EUR 58 million. Grand Prize The jury awarded the Grand Prize of the competition to Telefónica, last year's winner in the Cross-border M&A category. Third in the world in terms of client access, it surpassed the 200 million customer mark in 2006 across all of its services – fixed line, mobile phones and internet services. Its market presence extends across 20 countries in Europe and Latin America. Last year the company recorded sales of EUR 52.9 million. If you have comments or questions on this or any other story, please do not hesitate to contact us:  |
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