Advisory awards

Project implemented with PricewaterhouseCoopers’ support was selected as a Gold Winner in the SAP Quality Awards 2010

A SAP implementation project for SOCAR (State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic) delivered with the support of PricewaterhouseCoopers was selected as a Gold Winner in the SAP Quality Awards 2010. The project won in the Large Enterprise Implementation category for the CIS region. The SAP Quality Awards recognise companies who have achieved high quality implementation and project management that meets high international standards.

Within the project PricewaterhouseCoopers developed a long-term SAP implementation program and successfully delivered six SAP ERP modules: accounting, human resources, procurement, sales & distribution, risk management and treasury management.

In particular the project helped SOCAR to achieve the following results:

• Increase its investment attractiveness
• Improve the quality of accounting and financial reporting
• Significantly upgrade HR management and payroll
• Improve business processes in sales and distribution, treasury management
• Enhance the manageability and security of information flows

"This award is a recognition of our successful accomplishment of a major transformational project. The team was able to optimise SOCAR’s management model and underlying systems by capturing business requirements, defining and designing new business processes, training users and implementing the solution," says Alexey Bourlatsky, Partner, Consulting, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

PricewaterhouseCoopers ranked as Adviser of the year to private equity in CEE

PricewaterhouseCoopers has been named Adviser of the Year to Private Equity in CEE by unquote", a leading news and research agency in the Private Equity industry.

PricewaterhouseCoopers ranked as the best Treasury Consultant of the year

For the 9th and 4th consecutive year, PwC has won the TMI award for Best Treasury Consultant of the year, and by a long shot.

Treasury Management International (TMI) is a leading publication dedicated to corporate treasury professionals with a worldwide circulation of around 18.000.

PricewaterhouseCoopers ranked as Financial Advisory Firm of the year in Eastern Europe and Financial Due Diligence Advisor of the year in Russia

29 October 2009 — ACQ Finance Magazine announced the winners of the 4th ACQ Global Awards - 2009

ACQ Finance Magazine, a publication designed to help its readers make the most of their deals, has ranked PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as the best firm in two nominations: Financial Advisory firm of the year 2009 in Eastern Europe and Financial Due Diligence Advisor of the year 2009 in Russia.

This is a great achievement for PwC, as it was the first year that ACQ Finance Magazine ranked PwC in the competition for this reputable award. These most recent awards confirm PwC’s strong market position as a leading provider of financial advisory services.

PwC’s knowledge and skills used to help its clients complete large leveraged deals and overcome problems even in taught economy condition. Awards that have been received by PwC Financial Advisory team proves our sustainable and consequential development. Recently Acquisitions Monthly Magazine, the premier source for international news, features and analysis relating to the M&A and buyouts industry, has named PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Lead Financial Advisor for the year 2009.

PricewaterhouseCoopers named Russian Lead Financial Advisor for the year 2009

8 April 2009 — Acquisitions Monthly Magazine, the premier source for international news, features and analysis relating to the M&A and buyouts industry, has named PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Lead Financial Advisor for the year 2009.

This is a great achievement for PwC, as it was the first year that PwC network participated in the competition for this reputable award. This most recent award confirms PwC’s strong market position as a leading provider of financial advisory services.

Mark Okes-Voysey, managing partner advisory CEE, PricewaterhouseCoopers, comments:

“Russia offers unique investment opportunities in Europe. PwC advised on all four of the first four large international private equity deals completed in Russia. We focus and invest in our people and practice. We combine our due diligence expertise with innovative new tax structuring solutions to get the best deal for our clients.”

Michael Knoll, partner, head of M&A lead advisory, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said:

“We launched our M&A Lead Advisory practice only 2.5 years ago, but have been able to quickly establish ourselves, which is reflected by various successfully closed deals. I attribute this success to a number of factors, but believe that our “one firm” approach, which allows us to leverage various skills in a pre-deal, deal and post-deal context, was instrumental. Furthermore, I believe that one of the other main differentiating factors is our unparalleled global corporate finance network, which allows us to “match” sellers with buyers.”

Jonathan Thornton, partner, private equity leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers:

“The deal environment has changed very significantly over the last six months, but the skill set we used to help our clients complete large leveraged deals is proving invaluable to helping those of our clients who are now struggling to meet their debt repayments. These skills include quickly grasping the main business issues that a company is facing, whether it is the impact of the rouble devaluation or declines in their markets, and finding appropriate solutions through operational or debt restructuring or innovative tax structuring. In addition to this, many Russian companies are not able to quickly meet the information requirements of foreign lenders and we can assist companies in preparing and presenting credible information that gives lenders comfort in the viability of the business.”

In 2009, Kennedy Information, the leading source of research, news and information for the consulting profession, identified PricewaterhouseCoopers as:

• #1 worldwide Business Consulting practice by revenue*
• #1 in the global crisis and recovery consulting market**

* Business Consulting includes Strategy, Operations Management, Human Resources and Business Advisory Services consulting. Source: Kennedy, “Global Consulting Marketplace 2008-2011”; © Kennedy Information, Inc.; used with permission.

**Source: Kennedy, Crisis and Recovery Consulting Marketplace 2009-2012; © Kennedy Information, Inc.; used with permission.

PricewaterhouseCoopers won two products awards at Private Equity News Awards for Excellence in Advisory Services in Europe 2008

The annual Awards for Excellence in Advisory Services in Europe 2008 were held on the 7th October at The Banqueting House, London. The event was organized by Private Equity News, which provides daily news and analysis for Europe’s private equity industry.

PricewaterhouseCoopers won two products awards at Private Equity News Awards Europe 2008. For the third year running Transaction Services won the 'Commercial and market due diligence team of the year' award and, helped by this track record, beat off stiff competition to win the 'Financial due diligence team of the year' for the first time.

The awards recognize the achievements of advisers to the buyout industry in Europe and were voted on by an independent panel.

In 2008, Kennedy Information, the leading source of research, news and information for the consulting profession, identified PricewaterhouseCoopers as: No 1 worldwide Business Consulting practice by revenue.^*

^* Business Consulting includes Strategy, Operations Management, Human Resources and Business Advisory Services consulting. Source: Kennedy, “Global Consulting Marketplace 2008-2011”; © Kennedy Information, Inc.; used with permission