Expert magazine, issue number 39, October 22, 2001

On October 18, the results of a national business award 'Company of the Year 2001' were drawn. The contest has been held in Russia annually since 1999. Last year, among the winners of the award were the Tyumen Oil Company (TNK), VimpelCom, Russky Aluminum and several other well-known companies. This year, the contest was held under the auspices of the Trade and Industry Chamber of the Russian Federation. Among its organizers were the 'Republic' public relations bureau and the 'Business Open' company, which are traditionally responsible for the contest, and a new organizer, i.e. RIA RosBusinessConsulting. Certainly, new blood was good for the contest: competition among nominees for the award was stronger than it had ever been before. Another reason for that is probably because the contest drew the attention of the government. Thus, the Inform VES investment agency, affiliated with Russia's Economic Development and Trade Ministry, announced that it would give priorities to the winners in realizing its investment projects.

The method of selecting the winners of the contest was based on the 'America's Most Admired Companies' rating, published by the Fortune magazine. The winners were selected by an expert board, comprising leading specialists of consulting and auditing firms, investment companies, banks and the mass media, as well as public officials. In the first round, three nominees for the final round were selected in each category, and in the second round - 'Companies of the Year' were chosen.

"Being an organizer of the contest certainly has minuses," Director General of the 'Republic' public relations bureau Natalya Alova said. "At the same time, to tell the truth my professional ambitions are satisfied by the possibility of simply standing in one line with the best of the best at an award ceremony, even though I am among those presenting awards." Director General of the company RosBusinessConsulting Yuri Rovensky commented on the results of the contest: "It is hard for me to tell, whether the 'Company of the Year' succeeded or not. My opinion can't help but be biased. The only thing I can say, is that we, the organizers, did our best to make this project successful. We see the reaction of the business community, and this proves the award to be important for the Russian economy. That is why, we are thinking about the 'Company of the Year 2002' already."

WINNERS OF THE "COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2001"

COMPANY AWARD CATEGORY LUKoil Best Company of the Fuel and Energy Sector MDM-Bank Best Financial Company Severstal Best Manufacturer of Industrial Products NIKoil Best Provider of Business Services on financial markets) Dixis Best Distributor/Trading Company Rosinter Best Provider of Consumer Services Bryntsalov A (Ferein) Best Producer of Consumer Goods M-Video Best Retailer Company

COMPANY COMPANY The East line group Discovery of the Year Award MDM group The Most Dynamically Developing Company Norilsky Nikel Social Security Award Avtokran Branch Revival Award The Atlant M holding Best Management Award The Vitrina A advertising group Best Marketing Award The Bridge financial group Business Reputation Award MTU-Intel Best Internet Provider of the Year Gazprom Award of the Business Press The Assoneft association Award for the Support of Small and Medium business The Alliance group Award for the Development of Economic Ties Between the CIS Countries Gamma Group Award for the Effective Investment and Banking Activity Sluzhba 77 Award for the Use of New Technologies in Business Rosno Award for the Development of National Insurance Services Market