The London Stock Exchange published on Thursday an exclusive list of 1,000 small and medium businesses whose operation inspires the European Union, with five Croatian companies listed: DIV, Šerif Export-Import, Gradatin, Logista i Pet-Prom
The list is published annually by the LSE to present to potential investors companies with the greatest growth potential, Tportal.hr reports on June 17, 2016. To make the list, harsh criteria had to be met: they need to be privately owned, registered in EU, with an annual income between 20 and 300 million Euro and must have an increase in income over the last five years.
Five Croatian companies on the list had an average annual income of 37 million Euro and employment growth of 38%, the report states.
The largest on the list is the DIV from Samobor, owned by Tomislav Debeljak, but the star of the LSE is Šerif Export Import, a Zagreb based company dealing with wood export, notably beech and oak. The company is described in detail by the LSE.
“The company was founded just recently, in 1990, but trade has been present in the family for three generations,” describes Amor Baraković, director of Šerif, who base business is export of wood building material and furniture, with an increase of renewable energy sources and biomass recently. They are the largest exporter of wood to Egypt.
“The expansion of business to additional sectors is the best opportunity we have. Other chances are offered in the Far East, a market with an excellent alternative to the European one,” says Baraković His company made over 40 million Euro income last year, with a 4 million profit.
The British were also impressed by the Logista company, dealing with distribution and mobile technologies, as well as i Gradatin, a company dealing with domestic and industrial waste. The last name on the list is Pet-Prom, in the construction business.
