mG miniGears SpA of Padua announced that it has been listed No. 272 among the fastest growing European companies included in the 2006 Europe's 500 Listing, the annual ranking of high growth, job-creating companies published by Europe's 500-Entrepreneurs for Growth and supported by Microsoft and KPMG. The 500 dynamic companies have managed to sustain growth since 2002, boosting employment at an average annual rate of 16% and sales at 18%. Despite the challenging business environment, these companies have created nearly 150,000 jobs across Europe in three years. mG miniGears has increased employment by 20%, and turnover by 22%, adding 83 new jobs. The 2006 Listing saw the emergence of winners from many of the new EU member states for the first time, including Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia ? all new qualifiers to the Listing this year, joined the Czech Republic which was listed for the first time in 2005. France and Germany received high rankings in western Europe. Alexander Bossard, CEO says, "This growth has been achieved in a difficult market environment. It shows that the team is able and wants to face up the difficulties and to take the opportunities. Companies like mG miniGears grow fast and manage to sustain their growth, making them excellent role models for Europe's future.? mG is one of 29 companies in the manufacturing sector that qualified for Europe's 500. "Mid-size businesses are the champions of economic growth in Europe. Today's mid-market companies are using technology to empower their workforce, recognising that people are at the core of success ? a trend that will see continued growth in Europe for years to come," says Gabriel Indalecio, Microsoft EMEA Senior Director of Small and Midsize Solutions and Partners. Awards will be presented to the winning companies in recognition of their performance and contribution to European economic welfare by European Commission Vice-President, G?nter Verheugen, in charge of Enterprise and Industry, at the Europe's 500 Awards on November 25 in Vienna.