The stock quoted Louvain technology company Option is the new ‘Onderneming van het Jaar’. This year, Ernst & Young has organized the 11th edition of the ‘Onderneming van het Jaar’, in collaboration with De Tijd, Fortis Bank and Kanaal Z. Option was chosen as the winner from a selection of six finalists that were nominated, including: Arinso, Artwork Systems, Cartamundi, Delta Light, JBC and Option. Option was nominated for the second year running.
Option CEO Jan Callewaert was awarded the prize by the Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. And, for the first time, Minister-president Yves Leterme awarded ‘The Flemish Government Prize for the Most Promising Company’. The West Flanders company Televic is the first winner of this award.
11th ‘Onderneming van het Jaar’
The election of ‘Onderneming van het Jaar’ has now reached its 11th edition. Ernst & Young organised the election for the first time in Belgium in 1995, with the aim of drawing attention to successful companies that have earned it and to honour them for their accomplishments. “Since then, our award has grown to have permanent value, with high prestige in the Flemish business world. It has become an annual tradition for Prime Minister Verhofstadt to award it. We are very happy that our initiative has built up a particularly strong reputation through the years and has acquired such cachet. This makes it possible for us to highlight the enterprising spirit of our country in a suitable way,” says Jo Sanders, Head of Ernst & Young Advisory.
“We are very glad that the Flemish Government also wishes to contribute. With the first award of ‘The Flemish Government Prize for the Most Promising Company’, Minister-president Yves Leterme wants to emphasize that entrepreneurship is high up on the Flemish Government’s agenda. After all, traditionally Flanders has been a bastion of entrepreneurs, who form the basis of our prosperity with their smaller or larger businesses,” continues Jo Sanders.
Option takes its place in the impressive list of prizewinners alongside Deceuninck (2004), Miko (2003), Omega Pharma (2002), Resilux (2001), Melexis (2000), Sioen Industries (1999), Compex (1998), Icos Vision Systems (1997), ECA (1996) and Real Software (1995).
Jury honours Option and rewards Televic
Jury chairman Paul Buysse says about the ‘Onderneming van het Jaar’: “The jury was impressed by the vigour of the management and the rock-solid belief that they displayed in the further growth of the company. With unceasing dedication they have always continued working further on the development of the company, which has undergone spectacular growth. They also have always had an eye for profitable growth together with constant international expansion of their technological base. Option’s management applies the core elements of corporate governance and communicates realistically with its stakeholders. The company fulfilled almost all of the criteria the jury had set. And Option’s success has an inspiring effect.”
To be eligible for “Onderneming van het Jaar”, a number of basic criteria are applied. Candidates must fulfil a number of quantitative specifications and then a thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis and audit is performed by Ernst & Young experts. On the basis of this exhaustive dossier, six companies were ultimately nominated as finalists: Arinso, Artwork Systems, Cartamundi, Delta Light, JBC and Option. Based on these presentations and the comprehensive dossier, the jury ultimately chose Option as ‘Onderneming van het Jaar 2005’.
For ‘The Flemish Government Prize for the Most Promising Company’ the jury’s preference went to Televic. With this new prize, a first generation company that has grown strongly and scores top marks in one of the criteria (entrepreneurship, strategic vision, innovation, internationalisation, competitiveness and responsible management) has been garlanded.
The jury for ‘Onderneming van het Jaar’ consists of representatives from the business and academic world and for several years it has been under the chairmanship of Baron Paul Buysse. The jury was composed of Clement De Meersman (CEO of Deceuninck and 2004 winner), Martin De Prycker (CEO of Barco), Rik Duyck (|Chairman of Flemish Management Association), Philippe Muyters (Managing Director of VOKA), Geert Noels (Managing Director and Chief Economist at Petercam), Hans Crijns (Professor at Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School), Michèle Sioen (CEO of Sioen Industries), Marc Van Cauteren (Chief Editor at De Tijd) and Paul Windey (Chairman of National Labour Council).
Profile: OPTION, winner of ‘Onderneming van het Jaar 2005’
Option, founded in 1987, is a stock quoted technology company that designs innovative wireless broadband solutions and develops, produces and sells to network operators and IT manufacturers worldwide.
The company, with branches in Belgium, Germany and Ireland, has over 230 staff members and is recruiting yet more highly skilled engineers to steer the current growth phase. Option achieved a turnover of 102.5 million euro in 2004, an increase of 80% on 2003’s figure.
Jan Callewaert, Option’s CEO, and his team, with their vision and well thought out business approach, have successfully piloted Option through turbulent times. The breakthrough came in 2002. The launch of the GPRS GlobeTrotter data card, together with Vodafone, provided the first product success. With this data card, people can, via a notebook, surf wirelessly on the Internet, read and send emails, consult business networks etc. In 2004 the product family was further expanded to 5 data cards, including new product successes such as the GlobeTrotter 3G/GPRS data card using the UMTS networks and the GlobeTrotter FUSION data card that makes UMTS, GPRS and Wi-Fi connections possible. The customer base was also powerfully expanded with names like T-Mobile, Orange, Airtel India, Cingular etc.
For 2005, new HSDPA data cards are on the menu as well as the launch of a new product family of ‘wireless modules’ for incorporating into PCs. The 2005 figures already herald further growth: the turnover may reach 175 million euro, a rise of 70% on 2004.