Deloitte & Touche Announces the Fastest Growing Technology Companies in North Carolina.

Business Editors

CHARLOTTE & RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 3, 2001

North Carolina technology companies still showing signs of growth

Technology companies throughout Charlotte and the Research Triangle continue to grow rapidly.

Today, Deloitte & Touche reveals the names of those companies on its North Carolina Technology Fast 50 list. The North Carolina program began in 1995 and recognizes the 50 fastest growing technology companies in the state.

"We are pleased to announce this year's fastest growing tech companies," said Tim Gilliam, partner in charge, North Carolina Technology Fast 50. "Sixty-six percent of the 2000 winners are represented this year and 15 companies appear on the list for the first time."

Included on the North Carolina Technology Fast 50 list in alphabetical order are:

aaiPharma, Inc. Advanced Internet Technologies Alliance of Professionals & Consultants, Inc. Analytical Sciences, Inc. ateb, Inc. ATI Industrial Automation CISYS Closure Medical Corporation Coventor, Inc. Cree, Inc. Design Automation, Inc. Digital Optics Corporation Educated Design & Development, Inc. Embrex, Inc. Engineous Software FormScape, Inc. Frisby Technologies, Inc. Global Knowledge, Inc. Health Decisions, Inc. ICAGEN, Inc. InfoVision Intelligent Information Systems (IIS) Ingelligent Technologies, Inc. Interface Technologies, Inc. Internetwork Engineering Rising Star Level 8 Systems Lineberry Research Associates, LLC Magellan Laboratories Incorporated MicroEdge, Inc. MicroMass Communications Nimbus Technologies, Inc. OnSphere PharmaResearch Corporation PPD, Inc. Red Hat, Inc. RF Micro Devices SAS Institute School Link, Inc. SIGCOM, Inc. SoftPro Corporation Synapse Technology, Inc. Tangram Enterprise Solutions, Inc. TogetherSoft Corporation Trainersoft Corp. Triangle Biomedical Sciences, Inc. Trimeris, Inc. TriPath Imaging, Inc. Ultimus Inc. YOUcentric, Inc.

On September 6, 2001, Deloitte & Touche will honor the North Carolina Technology Fast 50 and Rising Star winners at an awards banquet, where the actual rankings will be announced. The ceremony will take place at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Research Triangle Park.

To qualify for the North Carolina Technology Fast 50, technology companies must meet the following criteria:

-- Be in business for a minimum of five years with operating revenues of at
least $50,000 in 1996 and at least $1,000,000 in 2000.

-- Be public or private companies, headquartered in North Carolina.
Subsidiaries and divisions are not eligible unless they have some public
ownership and are separately traded.

-- Be a "technology company," specifically defined as a company that develops
proprietary technology, which contributes to a significant portion of the
company's operating revenues, manufactures a technology-related product or
devotes a high percentage of effort to the research and development of
technology.

Deloitte & Touche also recognizes Rising Star companies, which have the same criteria as the North Carolina Technology Fast 50 nominees, but are selected based on three-year revenue growth (1998 - 2000).

The North Carolina Technology Fast 50 finalists are eligible to compete in Deloitte & Touche's Technology Fast 500 program, which ranks the nation's top 500 fastest growing technology companies. Winners will be announced in November.

The North Carolina Technology Fast 50 program is presented by Deloitte & Touche, in association with The Business Journals of North Carolina, Carolantic Realty, Council for Entrepreneurial Development, F-O-R-T-U-N-E Personnel Consultants of Raleigh, Marsh, Inc. and Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice.

About Deloitte & Touche's Technology & Communications Group

The Technology & Communications Group is composed of professionals who have experience serving technology and communications companies throughout the world. Some of the areas in which they provide service include Internet, software, semiconductors, cable, media and publishing, communication utilities, networking, computers and peripherals, and related industries. These specialists understand the challenges that technology and communications companies face throughout all stages of their business growth cycle, and are committed to helping them succeed. Deloitte & Touche is a leader in providing strategic, financial, operational, and information technology assistance to its technology and communications clients.

About Deloitte & Touche

Deloitte & Touche, one of the nation's leading professional services firms, provides assurance and advisory, tax, and management consulting services through 30,000 people in more than 100 U.S. cities. The firm is dedicated to helping our clients and our people excel. Known as an employer of choice for innovative human resources programs, Deloitte & Touche has been recognized as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" by Fortune magazine for four consecutive years. Deloitte & Touche is part of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, one of the world's leading professional services firms, with more than 90,000 people in over 130 countries. For more information, please visit Deloitte & Touche's web site at www.us.deloitte.com.