MASCON Global Limited is Fastest Growing Tech Company in Chicagoland on Deloitte Technology Fast 500 List of Fastest Growing Tech Companies in North America.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 22, 2003

11 Chicagoland Companies On Deloitte 2003 Technology Fast 500 List

MASCON Global Limited of Schaumburg, IL is the fastest growing technology company in Chicagoland, according to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, which ranks the fastest growing technology companies based on average percentage fiscal year revenue growth over five years (1998-2002). MASCON Global Limited ranked Number 14th on the Fast 500.

"The success and growth of Deloitte Technology Fast 500 winners is tremendous, especially considering the current economic environment," said Jerry Sullivan, partner in charge of the Technology, Media, & Telecommunications (TMT) Group at Deloitte. "We're pleased to see the Chicago technology community represented so strongly on the list of Fast 500 winners. These companies are the leaders of tomorrow who will have a strong impact on technology, innovation and the way we do business, both here locally and across the globe."

"We were thrilled to be ranked Number One on Deloitte's Chicagoland Fast 50 list, and we are equally pleased to be included on the Deloitte Fast 500 list," said Nandu Thondavadi, CEO of MASCON Global Limited. "This accolade validates our position as a leader in technology and business not only locally, but also across the United States."

MASCON Global Limited, a software services firm, showed a 31,322 percent growth from $163,000 in 1998 to $51,218,000 in 2002. It has been on the list three times and was ranked the Chicagoland's Number One ranking company in 2001.

Ranked Number 73 in the Fast 500, Universal Access Global Holdings, a communications/networking company based in Chicago, IL, showed a 6,110% percent increase from $1,629,000 in 1998 to $101,155,000 in 2002. It has been on the list four times and was ranked Number One ranking company in Chicagoland in 2002.

Other Chicagoland companies on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list include CoolSavings, Inc., Telution, Inc., Geneca, LLC, Hubbard One, Sportvision, Inc., MIICRO, Inc., Click Commerce, Inc., and Stericycle, Inc. Ranking for the Fast 500 is based on percentage growth in fiscal year revenue over five years (1998-2002).

Chicagoland Companies Grew an Average 4,680 Percent

Fast 500 companies in Chicagoland grew an average of 4,680 percent, compared with the national average of 5,493 percent. Growth percentages for the 2003 Fast 500 winners ranged from 296,080 percent to 469 percent. Combined, the top five 2003 Fast 500 winners' growth rate percentages averaged 177,851 percent.

Software Companies Loosen Grip but Still dominate the Fast 500

Thirty-nine percent (196 companies) of the 2003 Fast 500 winners are in the software industry, down from 48 percent in 2002 and 57 percent in 2001. Companies in the life sciences industry represented 19 percent (94 companies) of the winners, up from 16 percent in 2002 and 15 percent in 2001. Internet companies represented 18 percent (89 companies), up significantly from 10 percent in 2002 and 15 percent in 2001. Communications and networking companies accounted for 16 percent (78 companies), up slightly from 15 percent in 2002 and 13 percent in 2001.

Computer and peripheral companies represented 4 percent (21 companies), consistent with 4 percent in 2002 and down slightly from 6 percent in 2001. Semiconductor and electronics companies represented 4 percent (22 companies), down from 7 percent in 2002 and 6 percent in 2001.

Number 1 Fast 500 Winner TheraSense Inc. Grew 296,080 Percent

TheraSense Inc. (NASDAQ:THER) topped the 2003 Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the fastest growing technology companies in North America based on average percentage revenue growth over five years (fiscal year revenues 1998-2002). The first life sciences company to ever top the Fast 500 ranking, TheraSense had a revenue growth rate over five years of 296,080 percent, from revenues of $60,000 in 1998 to $177,708,000 in 2002. Based in Alameda, Calif., TheraSense develops, manufactures and sells easy-to-use glucose monitoring systems that dramatically reduce the pain of testing for people with diabetes.

The Top Three

In addition to Number 1-ranked TheraSense Inc. the top five Fast 500 winners include:

Number 2-ranked PAETEC Communications Inc. (www.paetec.com), a privately held communications/networking company based in Fairport, N.Y., had a five-year revenue growth rate of 192,701 percent. Its revenues grew from $150,000 in 1998 to $289,202,000 in 2002. A former Rising Star in the 2001 Fast 500 program, PAETEC provides local long distance as well as integrated communications services to businesses, healthcare organizations, and educational facilities throughout the United States.

Number 3-ranked Z-Tel Technologies Inc. (www.z-tel.com), a communications/ networking company based in Tampa, Fla. Z-Tel (NASDAQ:ZTEL) had a growth rate of 167,939 percent, from revenues of $140,000 in 1998 to $235,255,000 in 2002. Z-Tel was the first national local telephone service provider in the United States and offers service to residential and business customers in most states, covering a larger geographic area than any regional Bell company.

Qualifying Criteria for the Fast 500

The Fast 500 list is compiled from Deloitte's 20 regional North American Fast 50 programs, nominations submitted directly to the Fast 500, and public company database research. To qualify for the Fast 500, entrants must have had 1998 operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD and $75,000 CD for the United States and Canada, respectively; and 2002 operating revenues must be at least $1 million USD or CD.

Entrants must also be public or private companies headquartered in North America and must be a "technology company," defined as a company that owns proprietary technology that contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues; or devotes a significant proportion of revenues to the research and development of technology. Using other companies' technology in a unique way does not qualify.

About Deloitte

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Note: For a complete list of the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 winners for 2003 and past years, visit www.fast500.com.

All names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies and are used for information purposes only.

The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 contains general information only, and Deloitte is not, by means of this program, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. The Technology Fast 500 is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect you or your business. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. In addition, prediction of future events is inherently subject to both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to vary materially. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect you or your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person or entity that relies on this program.