History

As of 1 January 2010, all BDO network member companies from 119 countries are brought under a single brand — BDO. As a result, all BDO member companies employ unified principles when providing services to clients, which stipulate that they provide the highest quality services, consistently apply the concept of proximity to the client, and ensure the direct participation of partners in solving clients’ problems. At the same time, all BDO companies can access the international knowledge database of the global network and use audit tools exclusively designed for BDO network members. The statutory name of BDO in Russia changes from ZAO BDO Unicon to ZAO BDO.

BDO in Russia celebrates its twentieth anniversary with significant new wins. The company becomes the first Russian audit and consulting firm to be simultaneously registered with the New York and London Stock Exchanges, meaning that audit reports attested by BDO in Russia are considered to provide part of the necessary supporting documentation for Russian companies placing securities on these stock exchanges. The company also becomes an official Deutsche Börse listing partner.

A general agreement is signed, which provides for cooperation between BDO in Russia and the State Hermitage Museum. The company becomes official adviser to the Hermitage on certain Russian and international projects.

Meanwhile, the company is among the first audit and consulting firms to start providing information on its services via the RTS website, and is linked from the RTS homepage, as part of a pool of consultants, financial advisers, market makers, auditors, legal advisers, PR and IR agencies that are qualified to provide services related to the preparation of securities for issuing and placement on the stock market.

Andrei Dubinskiy is rated among the top five managers at leading Russian companies, based on 2007 performance. He wins the ARISTOS-2007 Award, jointly established by the Russian Managers’ Association and Kommersant Publishing House.

BDO in Russia includes asset and liability valuations (PPA, purchase price allocation) in accordance with US GAAP and independent financial investigations, and dispute settlement (forensic) into the range of services it offers. The company also starts to provide IPO-related services.

BDO in Russia becomes involved in the Sochi Winter Olympic bid campaign, a “Project of National Significance.” At the same time, BDO consultants provide direct assistance in developing a concept paper on the Federal Program on “The development of Sochi as an alpine health resort in the period 2006-2014,” which is then submitted to the Russian government for approval.

The company is 15 years old. Based on its 2003 performance, BDO in Russia was rated:

• The number 1 Russian company in the Expert rating of Russia’s Largest Audit and Consulting Groups
• The number 1 Russian company in the Commersant-Money rating of Russia’s Top 100 Audit Firms
• Number 1 in the Izvestiya rating of Russia’s Largest Audit and Consulting Firms
  

The company accepts a proposal from the BDO global network to merge Unicon and BDO’s operations in Russia, thereby becoming the holder of exclusive rights to provide services in Russia under the BDO brand.

Growth of the company’s SAP service line reaches 60-70% per annum, with revenue from SAP activities exceeding USD 4 million. The company has operational revenues of above USD 17 million.

The company is 10 years old, reaching the first milestone in the foundation of its corporate traditions, as its history begins to be measured in decades. The Macro-Economic Research Center (MERC) is established within the company, with a view to offering clients long-term advantages based on the findings of macro-environment surveys. MERC offers a new service — the presentation of professional information, providing an objective assessment of the situation in key sectors and industries. The findings of MERC’s macroeconomic research prove popular with developing Russian and foreign companies, the general public, and with leading media and public authorities. In 2001, the business weekly Company rated the firm “Company of the Year” in the Audit and Consulting Category, as a result of the establishment and development of MERC.

The company becomes the first Russian audit firm approved by the State Duma to audit the RF Central Bank (previously, only major international audit companies had been engaged to audit the bank). The company saw annual turnover of USD 10 million for the first time in its history.

Unicon begins to leverage the experience it has accumulated and invests heavily in training its employees, as well as in the development and implementation of new business technologies. In cooperation with PWC, a leading British business school organizes a special training program for the firm’s managers, so that they can go on to create business opportunities that are new to Russia at this time. The company tops the ratings of major Russian audit and consulting firms, based on its annual performance.

The company adds a new dimension to its professional operations with the introduction of an IT system and Internet access. A major project is completed for Bratsk Aluminum Factory, involving the development and implementation of an integrated accounting, financial control and planning system called the “Antheus 2001 Crisis Management System.”

The company is established under the Unicon brand (this brand had been on the Russian market since 1989) and completed its first project — the development and implementation of a procurement system for the decentralized economic environment on behalf of Norilsk Nickel.