1. Europe’s 500

2. Europe’s plight H H The number one issue facing Europe today is unemployment – –In 1970, unemployment in the EU was 2.3% - half the level of unemployment in the USA – –However, since 1970, 30 million jobs have been created in the USA, compared with 5 million in the EU H H Today unemployment in the EU is more than double the level in the USA

3. The key to employment growth in the USA H Fast growing medium sized companies have created 80% of the new jobs in the USA –1 in 5 of all medium sized companies in the USA is fast growing, compared with 1 in 25 in Europe –There are not enough fast growing companies in Europe H Europe must increase the number of fast growing companies

4. What is Growth Plus ? H Growth Plus is the association which brings together Europe’s most dynamic, job creating entrepreneurs. Our principle objectives are: –To promote entrepreneurship in Europe –To work with the European Institutions and Nationals Governments to improve the environment for high growth companies –Provide education and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs leading fast growing companies

5. Mission H Our mission is to promote entrepreneurship throughout Europe and to advise policy makers so as to improve the environment for growth companies.

6. Vision H We would like to live in a world where growth companies are recognised as the job and prosperity creators. H We want to live in a society where children grow up thinking and behaving in an entrepreneurial manner by taking responsibility for his own future.

7. Growth Plus Products H Chapters –Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain –Forming: Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, U.K. H Europe’s 500 –published annually –lists Europe’s fastest growing companies H Research Reports –published annually –studies Europe’s 500 growth companies and strategies H Annual Conference

8. Funding Sources H Membership dues H Strategic & Other Partners –3i –Arthur Andersen –Boston Consulting Group –BMW –State of Bavaria –Worldcom Group of P.R. companies H Project income (conference registrations, etc.)

9. Objective of the Europe’s 500 H Identify Europe’s fastest growing entrepreneurial companies H Demonstrate the impact of growth companies on job and wealth creation H Identify role-models H Celebrate entrepreneurial success in Europe

10. E-500 : Finding The Winners 1998 Europe’s 500 List Final verification on top 750 Review by Country Experts Elimination/Selection of Companies Direct verification of 2,000 Nominations Marketing with Letter, Fax & Telephones 1997 Europe’s 2000 Nominations List Best lists per country Further data searches on Top 3,000 + also as suggested by Country Experts 5,000 plus list Screened by the Country Experts Elimination/Nomination of Companies 15,000 + Common Database Based on Dun & Bradstreet Model Searches on various Search Engines (D&B) Source 1 Group Nominations e.g. Partners, Usine Nouvelle,... Source 2 1995 Europe’s 500 database Data Updating Source 3 Individual Nominations Mainly through direct faxing Source 4 Source: Growth Plus, Europe’s Unlimited

11. Criteria H H Entrepreneur involvement H H Independence H H Growth in turnover & employment H H Organic growth H P H Profitability H H Size H H Minimum 3 years old H H Willing to particiapte

12. Birch Index H David Birch Employee Growth Index: The absolute difference in employment between the upper (1998) and the lower (1993) year, multiplied by Employment in the upper year divided by employment in the lower year. Example : if a company grew from 200 to 800 employees from 1993 to 1998, the Birch index would be : (800-200) X (800/200) = 600 x 4 = 2400

13. Employment Creation

14. Employment Statistics H New jobs: 227.311 H Percentage Growth Annual: 23.5% Cumulative: 187% H Average per company: 455 (from 243 in 1993 to 698 in 1998) H 53.2% had less than 100 employees in 1993 H 1998 Europe’s 500: 181.000 jobs

15. Breakdown By Country

16. Turnover Increase (Euro bn)

17. Turnover Statistics H Turnover increase: 30.2 Billion Euro H Percentage Growth Annual: 26.8% Cumulative: 228.8%

18. Sectors H Europe’s 500 cover all Sectors H Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Mining5 H Construction & Materials 22 H Manufacturing - total 166 H Transport & Logistics 17 H Trade - Wholesale & Retail 64 H Services - IT & Internet 127 H Services - Other 66

19. National Statistics H Number of Companies H Compared to 1998 H Sector

20. Conclusions H Mid-size Growth Companies are vital to create jobs in Europe H Growth companies exist in all countries H Growth companies can be found in all sectors H Government policy should focus on Growth Companies (Gazelles), not simply SME’s of Big Business.