Czech firms rank again among the top 10 companies in this year’s Central European Technology Fast 50 awards

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – October 17, 2007 — Internet Mall and Cleverlance experienced growth of 1,368% and 1,266%, respectively, over five years. Polish Blue Media Sp. z o.o. with record-breaking revenue growth of 11,226% over five years is again the overall winner of the 8th Technology Fast 50 annual ranking measuring the growth of technological companies in Central Europe. Technology Fast 50 winners experienced average revenue growth of 910%.

Polish technology firms leading the regional industry development

Blue Media Sp. z o.o., again tops the list of the fastest growing companies in Central Europe. Deloitte’s Central European Technology Fast 50 is the only regional annual award programme that ranks technology companies located in Central Europe by revenue growth over five years. The first places in the Technology Fast 50 programme were won by firms from six countries: the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia, and Poland and, for the first time, Bulgaria.

Blue Media Sp. z o.o. from Poland, an integrator of innovative information technologies in economic sectors such as telecommunications, banking and finance, has won first place in this year’s Technology Fast 50 Awards. Their revenue has grown over 11,226% over five years, an increase of 3,635% compared to the previous year.

Again, second place belongs to a Polish company, Travelplanet.pl, an internet travel services provider with growth of 4,798% and third place was won by a newcomer, Bulgarian company UNIVERSAL K, a producer and provider of hi-tech products for telecommunication companies, with growth of 2,900% over five years.

Czech Internet Mall and Cleverlance Enterprise Solutions ranked eighth and tenth, respectively.

Overall diversity reflects the continued health of the technology sector

Dariusz Nachyla, Head of Technology Fast 50 in Central Europe, comments: “ Software companies, totalling 24 in this year’s competition, continued to dominate; ‘dot.com’ companies whose participation in the competition grew by 11% compared to the previous year have experienced notable growth as well. The overall diversity of this year's Fast 50 reflects the continued health of the technology sector in Central Europe. The combination of innovative new services and products with sustained growth in traditional areas of activity bodes well for the growth of technology-based companies well into the 21st Century.”

Winners are selected based on percentage revenue growth over five years from 2002 to 2006. To be considered, Technology Fast 50 entrants must: have operating revenues of at least EUR 50,000 in the year 2002; be headquartered in Central Europe and own proprietary technology that contributes to a significant portion of its operating revenues. Using other companies' technology or intellectual property in a unique way does not qualify. For further information about this programme please visit www.fast50ce.com.

“ On the one hand, according to 51% of interviewed CEOs, the greatest challenges technology companies are facing this year are, again, finding, hiring and retaining qualified employees. On the other hand, 40% of companies see the key growth factor in high calibre staff, an opinion which has prevailed for the past four years; another 27% of companies consider keeping up with the latest technological advances to be of utmost importance,” says Dariusz Nachyla.

Polish companies rising to the stars

“ In the Rising Star category, we nominate companies which have achieved extraordinary success but which have not operated in the market long enough to meet the criteria for the Fast 50 listing. Rising Stars are market newcomers that have operated in the market between three and four years and their 2004 revenues exceeded EUR 30,000,” says Dariusz Nachyla.

This year’s Rising Star, with record-breaking revenue growth of 12,667% over the past three years is Hoopla.pl. A Polish e-shopping provider Agito.pl became second and Telerik Corp., a Bulgarian software seller and application provider, was ranked as third. MEMOS Software, a Czech customised software developer was placed among the top five newcomers.

• Deloitte Technology Fast 50 CE
• Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA

The reach of the competition is becoming global and the winners of the Central European programme automatically included in the Europe-wide Technology Fast 500. The results of this competition will be announced on November 26, 2007 in London. For more information please visit www.fast500europe.com.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, its member firms, and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is an organization of member firms around the world devoted to excellence in providing professional services and advice, focused on client service through a global strategy executed locally in over 140 countries. With access to the deep intellectual capital of 150,000 people worldwide, Deloitte delivers services in four professional areas - audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services - and serves more than 80 percent of the world’s largest companies, as well as large national enterprises, public institutions, locally important clients, and successful, fast-growing global growth companies. Services are not provided by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein, and, for regulatory and other reasons, certain member firms do not provide services in all four professional areas. As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other’s acts or omissions. Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the names “Deloitte”, “Deloitte & Touche”,“Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu”, or other related names.

Deloitte Central Europe is a regional organisation of entities organised under the umbrella of Deloitte Central Europe Holdings Limited, the member firm in Central Europe of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Services are provided by the subsidiaries and affiliates of Deloitte Central Europe Holdings Limited, which are separate and independent legal entities. The subsidiaries and affiliates of Deloitte Central Europe Holdings Limited are among the region’s leading professional services firms, providing services through more than 3,500 people in more than 30 offices in 17 countries.

In the Czech Republic, the services are provided by Deloitte Advisory s.r.o., by Deloitte Audit s.r.o. and by Deloitte BPO G&I a.s. (jointly referred to as “Deloitte Czech Republic”) which are affiliates of Deloitte Central Europe Holdings Limited. Deloitte Czech Republic is one of the leading professional services organizations in the country providing services in audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services through over 650 national and expatriate professionals.