BAYERNS BEST 50

BAYERNS BEST 50 has been initiated in 2002 by GrowthPlus Germany (now Europe's 500 Entrepreneurs for Growth). Europe's 500 Entrepreneurs for Growth and its German office proposed to the Bavarian Ministry for Economic Affairs to publish and award the 50 fastest-growing companies of Bavaria, and to honour them for their outstanding entrepreneurial performances.

BAYERNS BEST 50 is conducted by Europe's 500 Entrepreneurs for Growth and its research partners, Rödl & Partner and Creditreform, according to the Europe's 500 eligibility and selection criteria. The ranking uses the Birch Index over the five-year period, focusing on employment creation. The Birch Index combines both relative and absolute employment growth recorded by participating companies over the reference period.

BAYERNS BEST 50 Listing & Award 2005

On 15th June 2005, the Bavarian Minister for Economy, Dr. Otto Wiesheu and Martin Schoeller, president Europe's 500 - Entrepreneurs for Growth honored the 50 fastest growing Bavarian companies. These companies created 10.000 new jobs and achieved an increase of revenues of 1,8 billion Euro in total within the last 5 years. They were selected out of al ist of 600 qualified companies in Bavaria ranked according to the Birch Indes. The festive award ceremony and gala dinner with 300 people from the industry, politics and media took place at the Munich Residence.

Criteria for Participation to BAYERNS BEST 50 Listing

1. To be an entrepreneurial-driven company located in Bavaria
2. The entrepreneur holds 15% of shares or in case of a stock company, at least 5% of shares
3. The company has existed for at least four years (since 2000)
4. The company has a minimum of 50 or a maximum of 2.000 employees by the end of 2004
5. The company is profitable and shows a strong growth in both revenue and job creation since 2000
6. Growth can be due to both organic growth or a combination of organic growth and acquisition

Companies that have been awarded in the last two years (2003 and 2004) can participate again in 2006 Listing and Award, after a one-year pause.

To register for BAYERNS BEST 50 Listing and Award 2006, information will follow.

For full information in German language, please click on Application or visit German Information section on the left column menu.

For further information, please visit this website www.bayernsbestfuenfzig.de or contact Mrs. Petra Stadler (tel. +49/89 55277 206 or e-mail petra.stadler@eu500.com).