LC-group - the leading distributor of computer equipment on the Russian market - and its four subsidiaries Citilink, Elsie, Lizard and Denikin have announced the new corporate name - MERLION.
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On January 21, MERLION - the largest computer components distributor on the Russian market - held its first press conference at "Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow" hotel. The press conference covered LC-group 2003 results and announced the new company name - MERLION. Featured speakers included the President of MERLION (LC-group) Alexey Sonk, Chief Executive Officer Nikolay Artemenko, Marketing Director Vadim Yarotskiy. For the first time the officials of the largest Russian distribution company publicly spoke about the company's activities and results in 2003, outlined key priorities of business development and growth for the coming year. MERLION also gave its assessment of the current state of the Russian computer equipment market and development prospects for the near future.)
'For five consecutive years the growth rate of the Russian computer market is way above of the global trends, - said the company President A. Sonk. - The Russian computer market is today the largest in EMEA region, the third after Germany and the Great Britain in the European rating, and ranked second after Germany by capacity of the distribution market. However, in spite of a fast development (18 to 30 % by various sources), the computer equipment market in Russia is still far from satiation. This allows to forecast with a great degree of certainty high growth rates (20-30 %) for 2004. After the explosive growth of portable computers in the new year mobile solutions, I believe, will remain the most dynamically developing market segment. The experience of European countries suggests also significant growth of demand for digital and other high-tech equipment. LC-group, now MERLION, is growing and developing with the market and continues to seize new opportunities. As a market leader, our primary objective is to make high-tech products available for every Russian citizen'.)
According to the company's Chief Executive Officer N. Artemenko, '...2003 sales of PC components showed 30% growth compared to previous year. In 2004 the company intends to keep the same growth rate'.)
The company also announced its new corporate name during the press conference - MERLION, and demonstrated key elements of the new corporate style. According to V. Yarotskiy, MERLION (LC-group) Marketing Director, the prime reason for renaming is the need to get through the message to partners, that famous Russian distribution companies Citilink, Elsie, Lizard and Denikin are not individual entities, but they are the parts of the single company. From the business efficiency point of view, it's preferable to manage a single brand. This is also much more convenient for the partners. Re-branding will be gradually carried out throughout 2004. In conclusion, V. Yarotskiy emphasized that " LC-group will maintain its reputation of a precise and reliable partner, operating under the new name MERLION".
