ABBI Abraxis Bioscience (MM)

Apple Makes First-Ever Appearance on List NEW YORK, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hughes Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:HUGH) is the fastest growing technology company in North America, followed by Ticket Software LLC, Starent Networks Corp. (NASDAQ:STAR), Abraxis BioScience Inc. (NASDAQ:ABBI) and Pure Digital Technologies Inc., according to the 2008 Deloitte Technology Fast 500. The award is a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications and life sciences companies in North America based on percentage of fiscal year revenue growth over five years (2003-2007). "Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 recognizes technology companies who have achieved extraordinary growth in North America's most innovative and competitive sectors," said Phil Asmundson, Deloitte LLP vice chairman and national managing partner for Technology, Media and Telecommunications. "We congratulate all of our Fast 500 winners on this significant accomplishment." "Now more than ever, fast growth companies of all sizes are a bright spot not to be overlooked," added Mark Jensen, national managing partner of Deloitte LLP's Venture Capital Services. "Historically, it is the fastest growing businesses that spur innovation, job creation and economic growth in general." Top Five Companies in Deloitte's 2008 Technology Fast 500 The top five Fast 500 winners are: -- Number 1 - Hughes Communications Inc., a Germantown, Maryland-based provider of broadband networks and services, reported a revenue growth rate over five years of 138,762 percent, moving from revenues of $699,000 in 2003 to $970,648,000 in 2007. This is its first appearance on Deloitte's Fast 500 ranking. -- Number 2 - Ticket Software LLC, a Vernon, Conn.-based privately held company that provides software solutions for the ticket industry, reported revenues of $83,760,000 in 2007, a leap of 111,580 percent from 2003 revenues of $75,000. This is its first appearance on the Fast 500 ranking. -- Number 3 - Starent Networks Corp., a Tewksbury, Mass.-based company that provides networking solutions for mobile operators, reported revenues of $145,797,000 in 2007, a leap of 80,008 percent from 2003 revenues of $182,000. This is its first appearance on the Fast 500 ranking. -- Number 4 - Abraxis BioScience Inc., a Los Angeles-based biotechnology company providing progressive therapeutics and core technologies, reported revenues of $333,686,000 in 2007, a leap of 77,682 percent from 2003 revenues of $429,000. This is its first appearance on the Fast 500 listing. -- Number 5 - Pure Digital Technologies Inc., a San Francisco-based, privately held developer of digital imaging equipment and solutions, reported revenues of $54,616,000 in 2007, an increase of 44,667 percent from 2003 revenues of $122,000. This is its first appearance on the Fast 500 ranking. Growth percentages for the 2008 Technology Fast 500 companies ranged from 242 percent to 138,762 percent. The overall average growth of the Fast 500 companies was 3,043 percent, the highest since 2004 when Google topped the list, and up from 1,823 percent in 2007. The top five companies' average growth rate was 90,540 percent. Billion Dollar Companies Prove Fast and Consistent The 2008 Fast 500 list includes 20 companies that reported more than $1 billion in revenues in 2007, up from 17 such companies last year. The two fastest growing billion dollar companies on the list area also two well-known brands: -- Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) - The fastest growing company in the 2004 rankings continued its pace with 1,032 percent five-year growth, an extremely strong pace for a business with $16.6 billion in 2007 revenue. -- Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) - Making its first-ever appearance on the list, Apple's success led to 2007 revenues of $24 billion and five-year growth of 287 percent. And in terms of consistently strong growth, measured by consecutive appearances on the Deloitte Fast 500, the two leaders are: -- Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) - This biotechnology/pharmaceutical company based in Foster City, Calif. has 10 consecutive appearances. -- Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) - The Ontario, Canada-based maker of the popular Blackberry has nine consecutive appearances on the list. Rising Stars - 10 Fast-Growth Companies Less Than Five Years Old As an accompaniment to the Fast 500, Deloitte also recognizes 10 "Rising Star" companies. Eligibility for "Rising Star" companies is the same as for Fast 500 companies, except that they must have been in business a minimum of three years but less than five years; they are selected based on percentage revenue growth over three years, from fiscal years 2005-2007. Deloitte's Top 3 "Rising Stars" for 2008 are: -- Criterion Systems, a privately held software company based in Vienna, Virginia, with 6,232 percent growth over three years. -- Synoptek, a privately held software company based in Santa Ana, Calif., with 1,657 percent growth over three years. -- MED Trends Inc., a privately held software company based in Rockville, Maryland, with 1,607 percent growth over three years. "Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 Rising Stars recognizes the new companies that have entered the marketplace with force and quickly grown their revenue in today's highly competitive technology landscape," said Jensen. "We congratulate this year's winners for the remarkable three-year growth that propelled them to the ranks of our 2008 Rising Stars." For the complete Deloitte Technology Fast 500 rankings, please visit http://www.fast500.com/. Qualifying Criteria The Fast 500 ranks the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications and life sciences companies in North America. It is compiled from Deloitte's regional North American Fast 50 programs, nominations submitted directly to the Fast 500 and public company database research. Companies are selected based on percentage revenue growth from 2003 to 2007. To be considered, Fast 500 and Fast 50 entrants must have the following criteria: -- Must own proprietary intellectual property or proprietary technology that contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues or devotes a significant proportion of revenues to research and development of technology. Using other companies' technology or intellectual property in a unique way does not qualify. -- Base-year operating revenues must be at least $50,000 USD or CD, and current-year operating revenues must be at least $5 million USD or CD. Companies are required to submit tax returns or audited financial statements with their nominations to complete their eligibility. -- Be in business a minimum of five years. -- Be headquartered in North America. Subsidiaries or divisions are not eligible (unless they have some public ownership and are separately traded). Deloitte selects 10 fast growing young companies as "Rising Stars." To qualify as a Rising Star, entrants must have been in business three or four years. Rankings are based on companies' percentage fiscal year revenue growth over three years (2005-2007). Other qualifications are the same as for Fast 500 and Fast 50 companies. About Deloitte As used in this press release, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and Deloitte Services LP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. DATASOURCE: Deloitte CONTACT: Jonathan Gandal, Public Relations of Deloitte, +1-203-708-4115, ; or Anisha Sharma of Hill & Knowlton, +1-212-885-0604, Web Site: http://www.deloitte.com/us http://www.fast500.com/

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