Blue Media Tops Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50

Contact: Lidija Nanus
Deloitte in Macedonia
Director of Deloitte in Macedonia
+389 2 311 1300

Skopje, 7 December 2006 — Blue Media Sp. z o.o. tops the list of the fastest growing companies in Central Europe as recognised by Deloitte. The 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 five countries: the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia and Poland.

Blue Media Sp. z o.o. from Poland, an integrator of innovative information technologies in economic sectors such as telecommunication, banking and finance, has won first place in this year’s Technology Fast 50 Awards. Their revenue has grown over 7,591 percent over the period of five years and has moved from last year’s tenth position to a leading one this year.

The second place belongs to a Polish company Travelplanet.pl, an internet travel services provider with growth of 7,379 percent and the third position was won by a Czech e-shopping provider Internet Mall, a.s. with growth of 3,945 percent over the period of five years.

“Deloitte’s CE Technology Fast 50 companies have shown the strength, vision and tenacity to succeed in today’s very competitive technology environment,” said Jiri Polak, Regional Managing Partner for Technology, Media & Telecommunications, Deloitte Central Europe. “Blue Media Sp. z o.o., and the 49 other fastest growing Central European companies are showing how quickly they can exploit new market opportunities and how they are achieving this over time,” he said.

Winners are selected based on percentage revenue growth over five years from 2001 to 2005. To be considered, Technology Fast 50 entrants must: have operating revenues of at least EUR 50,000 from the year 2001; 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. Subsidiaries and divisions are not eligible, unless they have some public ownership and are separately traded. For further information about this programme please visit www.fast50ce.com.

“The greatest challenges the technology companies are facing”, says Jiri Polak, “are firstly: finding, hiring, retaining qualified employees and secondly: keeping up with the competitive pressure of technological advances and rapid market changes. At the same time they see the best growth factor in both high quality employees and exceptional or unique product(s).”

“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 have operated in the market for between three and five years and their 2002 revenues exceeded EUR 30,000,” says Polák. “A company nominated for this category may be a Rising Star for not more than two years.”

This year’s Rising Star, with a revenue increase of 2,187 percent is a newcomer - Alerant Information Technology Inc., a Hungarian firm focusing on implementation and independent development of software. Another Hungarian company Onlinet Ltd. and the Czech company Invia.cz follow. The Hungarian companies Dataplex, last year at the third position, and Adverticum Zrt, an internet advertising solutions provider, celebrate their Rising Star success at the fourth and fifth place.

The reach of the competition is becoming global and the winners of the Central European programme are automatically nominated to the Europe-wide Technology Fast 500. The results of this competition will be announced on 27 November 2006 in Paris. For more information please visit www.fast500europe.com.

###

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 nearly 150 countries. With access to the deep intellectual capital of 135,000 people worldwide, Deloitte delivers services in four professional areas - audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services - and serves more than one-half 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 3,000 people in more than 40 offices in 17 countries.

In Macedonia the services are provided by DT Deloitte & Touche, DOOEL, Skopje, (jointly referred to as “Deloitte Macedonia”) which is an affiliate of Deloitte Central Europe Holdings Limited. Deloitte Macedonia is one of the leading professional services organizations in the country providing services in four professional areas - audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services through over 10 national and specialized expatriate professionals. Known as an employer of choice for innovative human resources programs, it is dedicated to helping its clients and its people excel.

Last Updated: