Launch of the 13th Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award

Company Brief

Chennai, May 16, 2011

Ernst & Young, the leading global professional services firm, today announced the nomination opening for its prestigious award program, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award 2011 - India. A salute to the 'Visionaries of the universe', the program invites nominations from outstanding entrepreneurs, including those based in tier II and tier III cities, presenting them an opportunity to mark their presence on the national stage.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program is the only award program to recognize entrepreneurs and was launched in the United States over 25 years ago. It is also a unique global award program which is currently held in over 50 countries and 130 cities. The Program also has the distinction of being the only award of this stature to be based on self-nominations. It follows a rigorous selection process, where finalists and winners are chosen by an independent jury comprising eminent business leaders. Nominations are open from 16 May to 16 August 2011

Further, in June 2011, Dilip Shanghvi, the India winner for 2010 will participate in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award Program in Monte Carlo, Monaco; where country winners meet every year and a global winner is announced

Says Rajiv Memani, CEO and Country Managing Partner, Ernst & Young India, "Ernst & Young deeply values the role of entrepreneurs in any economy, and entrepreneurship has been identified as one of the key differentiating themes for our global organisation. Since the launch of the Program in India 12 years ago, these awards have mirrored how Indian entrepreneurs have become the torchbearers of growth. In the recent past, the entrepreneurial drive displayed in India's tier II and tier III cities has also captured the interest of all and through this program we would also like to highlight many such exceptional stories."

Each year, the jury confers about 8 awards across different categories. For the 2010 award program in India, categories included Start-Up,Manufacturing, Healthcare and Consumer Products, Services, Energy and Infrastructure, Lifetime Achievement, Manager and Business Transformation.

Speaking of this announcement, Mr. Farokh Balsara Partner & National Leader for the Entrepreneur Of The Year Program (India) said, "We encourage stellar entrepreneurs to participate in the program and help foster the spirit of entrepreneurship. As the only global business award program, the Entrepreneur Of The Year brings tremendous recognition and prestige, apart from inducting winners and finalists into a worldwide network of the world's finest entrepreneurs."

Nomination forms are available on www.ey.com/in/eoy. More information is also available from the

Entrepreneur Of The Year Helpdesk (91-124-464 4088/ 4408)

Eligibility criteria for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award

The eligibility for the nomination to these awards requires the nominee to be an owner or manager, primarily responsible for the recent performance of a company. Founders of public companies are also eligible, provided they are still active in the top management. Apart from self-nominations, an entrepreneur may also be nominated by anyone associated with the individual.

Entrepreneurial spirit, financial performance, innovation, strategic direction, global and community impact and personal integrity are the key attributes considered by the jury.

The winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2011 - India will represent the country at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year in Monte Carlo in June 2012.

For further information, please contact:

Sampark Public Relations Pvt Ltd

Murugan.G

Mobile: +919841278904

Email: murugan.g@sampark.com