Representatives of Siemens AG have named Andy Mattes president and CEO of Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc. (ICN), the U.S. arm of the fixed-line networks business. Effective May 1, 2004, Mattes will succeed George C. Nolen, who became president and CEO of Siemens Corporation in the U.S. in January 2004.

Since January 2001, Mattes has served on the Group Board of Siemens Information and Communication Networks, the global governing board of the fixed-line networks group. He will perform his new duties from the unit's U.S. headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., while remaining on the ICN Group Board and retaining his responsibility for the worldwide business of the Enterprise Networks division. This decision underscores the importance of expanding ICN's business and market share in the United States.

As head of Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc., Mattes is charged with continuing the drive for profitability and growth in the U.S. market. In fiscal year 2003, ended Sept. 30, 2003, Siemens ICN USA posted sales of $1.3 billion; globally in fiscal year 2003, Siemens ICN posted sales of $7.7 billion. Siemens ICN returned to profitability globally and in the United States in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2003.

Mattes played a key role in developing ICN's LifeWorks vision, which addresses the new landscape of business and personal communications by integrating home, business and carrier networks as well as wired and wireless networks. On the ICN Group Board, he will have responsibility for coordinating all activities in this area and for driving forward the process of turning this concept into international market success.

Mattes joined Siemens in 1985 and has held a variety of sales and management positions. From 1999 to 2000, Mattes served as president of the Enterprise Networks division at Siemens ICN and was responsible for driving the global product development, strategy and vision for the HiPathTM product family. From 1997 through 1998, Mattes was responsible for international sales at Siemens Private Communications Networks. From 1987 to 1991, Mattes held a number of management posts in the United States. Born in 1961, Mattes holds a degree in business from the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany.

Representatives of Permeo Technologies Inc., a provider of next-generation SSL VPN solutions have announced the appointment of Michael S. Bennett as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Bennett takes the helm as the company moves to its next stage in the application security market.

Bennett was the chairman and CEO of Mission Critical Software. After leading the company to profitability and taking Mission Critical public in 1999, Bennett led the company in a merger with NetIQ Corporation in 2000 where he subsequently served as executive chairman. Previous to Mission Critical, Bennett led numerous companies successfully as CEO including Learmonth & Burchett Management Systems plc and Summagraphics. Mr. Bennett was also a senior executive with Dell Inc.

Most recently Bennett was co-founder of AlterPoint an Austin, Texas based company where he remains as chairman. During the last several years Bennett has lent his talent to many startups intent on creating a market winning strategy and driving effective sales, marketing and product delivery.

Founded in Dallas, Texas, in June 2001, Permeo is a privately held spin-off from NEC USA.

Light Biology Inc., a startup biotech company based on technology developed at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, has been acquired by NimbleGen Systems Inc. of Madison, Wis.

Light Biology was formed in the late 1990s, to commercialize technology developed by Dr. Harold "Skip" Garner, professor of biochemistry and internal medicine at UT Southwestern. Using methods similar to those used for manufacturing semiconductors, Dr. Garner invented a new way to make DNA microarrays, which are used in scientific research to analyze the structure and function of genes at the molecular level.

The system, called Digital Optical Chemistry (DOC), uses Texas Instruments Digital Light Processing technology - instead of traditional film processing - to manufacture specialized DNA microarrays more quickly and cost effectively than previously possible. With the acquisition, NimbleGen will now own all of Light Biology's assets and patent rights to the DOC technology.

The enormous size of the human genome necessitates this careful target selection to tune experiments to address specific questions, Dr. Garner added. A need has emerged to have rapidly customizable microarrays, making the DOC technology a valuable research tool.

Dr. Garner's DOC technology and NimbleGen's Maskless Array Synthesis (MAS) technology will now give scientists who use DNA microarrays the ability to customize the analysis of hundreds of thousands of small segments of genetic material in a matter of hours. Traditional microarrays often do not allow customized analysis of different genetic material and are costly for researchers to purchase.

As part of the acquisition agreement, Dr. Garner will join NimbleGen's Scientific Advisory Board.

Richardson-based STARTech Early Ventures established Light Biology Inc. in 2001, based on an agreement with UT Southwestern to commercialize Dr. Garner's DOC technology. After developing the business plans and negotiating with potential partners over a period of time, it was decided that the right strategic move was to combine with another company that was more advanced in its commercial development.

The deal strengthens NimbleGen's patent portfolio surrounding the synthesis of DNA. With the acquisition of Light Biology and its intellectual property, NimbleGen says it will be able to enhance its operations in the United States.

Representations of Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc. (ANS) and microHelix, Inc. have announced that ANS has agreed to acquire the assets of microHelix's Cable and Wire Division, which is operated out of Portland, Oregon, for approximately $2 million in cash and assumed liabilities.

microHelix currently supplies coated fine wire, antennas, and certain other products to ANS and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hi-Tronics Designs, Inc. ANS said that the acquisition represents a vertical integration of an important component supplier and provides ANS with additional engineering resources and intellectual property for the design and development of new products.

microHelix believes the sale of the Cable and Wire Division assets will generate sufficient cash to reduce debt and to provide working capital to allow it to successfully grow its Ultrasound Division. Following the closing of the transaction, microHelix will continue to operate its Ultrasound Division from its facilities in Tucson, Arizona, Nogales, Mexico and State College, Pennsylvania.

The transaction is subject to customary terms and conditions, including shareholder approval by microHelix's shareholders. microHelix's Board of Directors has approved the transaction and will submit the transaction to its shareholders for approval. ANS and microHelix expect to complete the transaction in April 2004.

Advanced Neuromodulation Systems designs, develops, manufactures and markets implantable systems used to manage chronic intractable pain and other disorders of the central nervous system.

microHelix, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of customized electronic interconnect systems for the medical and commercial markets.

Representatives of EDS announced the company has named John Egan to the new post of vice president of Business Development for China. He will be responsible for advancing the strategic agenda of the EDS enterprise in China, including growth of its core outsourcing business. Egan will report to Chairman and CEO Michael Jordan and will be based in Shanghai.

Egan also was named A.T. Kearney managing director for Greater China. A.T. Kearney is the high-value management consulting subsidiary of EDS. In this role, he will report to the co-leaders of A.T. Kearney's Asia Pacific profit center, Yoshinori Ando and Arthur Bert.

Egan previously served as an executive vice president of A.T. Kearney, responsible for leading the firm's service practices worldwide. Prior to that, he was managing director for A.T. Kearney's European operations.

Egan has more than 30 years of consulting experience. He joined A.T. Kearney in 1968 and was elected an officer in 1979. He introduced the firm's geography-industry-service matrix, which was instrumental in achieving rapid growth during the '90s. He also served as A.T. Kearney's first global quality officer, developing many of the programs used today to measure the quality of client work and results.

Before joining A.T. Kearney, Egan was a marketing research analyst with Interlake Steel Corp. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Northwestern University and pursued doctorate-level training in economics at the University of Chicago.

Allegiance Telecom, Inc. has announced it has reached a settlement with Level 3 Communications, Inc. to terminate a vendor agreement.

The settlement, which is subject to approval of the Allegiance bankruptcy court and other conditions, would terminate a multi-year contract Level 3 has to purchase wholesale dial access services, including the use of operating equipment, from Allegiance.

Level 3 assumed the contract with Allegiance as part of its acquisition of Genuity's assets last year. To settle some disputes regarding the contract, Level 3 has agreed to pay Allegiance $54 million in cash for the contract and associated assets.

Allegiance Telecom is a facilities-based national local exchange carrier headquartered in Dallas, Texas.