50 Ukrainian companies entered the table of the top 500 companies in Central and Eastern Europe. The rankings are being prepared for the sixth consecutive year by specialists of the international audit company Deloitte.

For the second consecutive year, the growth rate of Ukrainian companies has considerably exceeded the average growth rate of other companies operating in Central and Eastern Europe. Ukrainian companies that joined the rankings continued the positive trend set in 2010 following an increase in revenues by an average of 24%, outshining many other countries included in the survey. In comparison, the revenue growth of the 500 largest companies in Central and Eastern Europe averaged 9.8% in 2011.

“The ratings data once again has confirmed that an increase or decrease in companies’ income not only depends on the economic environment, but also on the ability of leaders to respond promptly and flexibly to ever-changing conditions and make the right decision. Ukrainian companies have survived the very difficult crisis period of 2008 and 2009, and those who remain standing acquired a substantial level of sound leadership skills," said Vladimir Vakht, Managing Partner of Deloitte in Ukraine. According to Vakht, Ukrainian businesses are already “in standby position for more turbulence in the economic environment.”

Following the year-end results, total revenues for the region’s 500 leading companies returned to the levels achieved in 2008 before the region was hit by the global crisis. Despite the increase in revenues, however, the economic outlook  after analyzing the financial performance of companies in the region during 2011 is not optimistic, and the decline in company revenues by 3.5% during 2011 is cited as the main reason for the negative prognosis.

Out of the 50 Ukrainian companies included in the rankings, 42 companies posted increases in revenue. The only countries with a higher proportion of companies posting revenue increases than Ukraine in 2011 were Romania and Bulgaria. Poland, Ukraine’s neighbor, for example, saw a quarter of its companies in the rankings posting a drop in revenues during 2011.

Top 10 largest companies

This year, the list of the 10 largest companies was joined by two state-owned enterprises: Naftogaz and Energorynok. Metinvest Holding was the highest ranking Ukrainian company, being the fourth-largest company in Central and Eastern Europe following a 44.3% increase in its revenues.

The companies comprising the 10 largest companies changed little. Seven of the top ten places were held by companies operating in the energy and resources sector, with the other places taken by the retailer Jeronimo Martins and manufacturing companies Škoda Auto and Metinvest. Lotos was the only company to join the top 10, moving up from eleventh to seventh place. The companies holding the top three positions in the rankings remain unchanged: PKN Orlen, MOL, and Škoda.

Industry review

In 2011 manufacturing became one of the sectors with the most dynamic rate of growth in Ukraine, with companies posting a growth rate of 34%. The consumer business and transportation sector saw revenues increase by 24%, while energy and resources companies posted growth of 20%.

Nevertheless, energy companies lead the pack in terms of overall revenues, with 14 companies in the power sector accounting for 41% of all the income generated by the Ukrainian companies included in the survey.

For the second consecutive year, the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) sector showed very poor results, attributed to fierce competition and market saturation, and experiencing a 1% drop in revenues.

Results for Q1 of 2012

According to the Q1 results for 2012 on companies’ performances, economies in the region did see growth slow down. After a recovery in business during 2010-2011, companies posted slower growth rates in Q1 of 2012. During this period, the companies surveyed posted an average growth in revenues of 7%, while Ukrainian companies posted an 11% increase in revenues over the same period.

Key business figures surveyed by Deloitte expect a further worsening of the economic situation. According to Vladimir Vakht, we should expect a further weakening of the economy in 2012. However, he believes that business is maintaining a high state of readiness for a new wave of crises and leaders will manage to maintain their positions. “Business has become more effective and careful in choosing its partners and investment projects. We see many examples of companies actively exploiting development opportunities, even during a period of economic slowdown,” said Vladimir Vakht.

Delloite