SYDNEY--24 Oct--AsiaNet/InfoQuest FIRE PROTECTION… COLOGNE: VdS Schadenverhutung, the globally renowned German testing andcertification institution, is presenting its services at CHINA FIRE 2006 inBeijing, an opportunity for Chinese manufacturers of high-quality fireprotection products to find out about the VdS certification system at firsthand. http://www.vds.de SALARY SURVEY... SYDNEY: Aquent, a global firm specialising in staffing solutions for themarketing, communications and creative industries, Tuesday announced thefindings of its annual Asia Pacific Salary Survey and industry monitor for2006-2007 -- called the Aquent Orange Book. http://www.aquent.com SYNCROSOFT LICENSES... HAMBURG: Syncrosoft, a provider of innovative DRM, software and IPprotection solutions, Tuesday announced it has signed a technology licensingagreement with Microsoft Corp. that enables them to integrate Syncrosoft'sMCFACT Technology into future products. http://www.syncrosoft.com RENAULT CELEBRATES... PARIS: The Renault F1 Team is organizing an outstanding event in France tocelebrate its two new titles of FIA Formula 1 World Champion and Drivers andConstructors: the Champs de Mars, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower will be thesite of a human fresco staged by 500 people on Tuesday, October 24 at 5:00 p.m.(Paris time). http://www.renaultf1.com/championdumonde/france/press AUCKLAND OFFICE... AUCKLAND: Custom House, one of the largest foreign exchange companies in theworld, has established an Asia Pacific regional head office in Auckland thathas become a model business operation for the company. www.customhouse.com LEVERAGED BUYOUT... SINGAPORE: Sidley Austin LLP Monday announced that the firm representedMerrill Lynch (Singapore) Private Limited, as financial advisor, arranger andplacement agent in the US$279 million leveraged buyout of PT Berau Coal,Indonesia's fourth largest coal mining company. SUPPLY CONTRACT... NASHVILLE, Tenn.: Cellnet Technology, Inc. Monday announced at Autovation2006 that it has signed a supply contract to facilitate deployment of UtiliNetmesh radio technology with Arc Innovations Limited. http://www.cellnet.com http://www.arcinnovations.co.nz http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz DESIGN FLOW... MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and FREMONT, Calif.: Synopsys, Inc., a world leader insemiconductor design software, and Virage Logic Corporation, a pioneer inSilicon Aware IP and a leading provider of semiconductor intellectual property(IP) platforms, Monday announced initial availability of a test referencedesign flow for cost-effective testing and repair of embedded memories forsystem-on-chip (SoC) designs. http://www.synopsys.com TENDER OFFERS... WASHINGTON: Fannie Mae Monday announced that it will conduct cash tenderoffers for the repurchase of up to $21.04 billion of callable debt securitiesduring the week of October 23, 2006. http://www.fanniemae.com APEX EXPANDS... HERNDON, Va.: Setting the goal to grow its workforce by 1,000 by the firstquarter of 2007, Apex Publishing will boost capacity and expand geographicallyto meet the growing needs of its customers of data conversion and imagingservices. http://www.apexcovantage.com ACONEX SELECTED... MELBOURNE: Aconex, www.aconex.com , a global provider of IT to theconstruction and engineering industries, has been selected to provide itsonline information management service to the main section of the world'slargest current construction project-- the US$11.2 billion East-West Highway development in Algeria. NEW MICROCONTROLLERS... ROUSSET, France: Atmel Corporation has added three new microcontrollers toits SAM7 family of ARM7(TM)-based USB MCUs. http://www.atmel.com MEGA SHOW... HONG KONG: Presented by Kenfair International (Holdings) Limited, the 15thHong Kong International Toys & Gifts Show and the 14th Asian Gifts Premium &Household Products Show (collectively known as "Mega Show Part 1") has come toits last day. www.kenfair.com STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP... TOKYO and MOSCOW: NTT Communications Corporation and Closed Joint StockCompany TransTeleCom (TTC), Russia's leading backbone telecom operator, havesigned a Memorandum of Understanding regarding strategic partnerships formutual data network business development. US CERTIFICATION... TAIPEI: System General Corporation -- the leader in Desktop PC power supplycontroller ICs -- Monday announced that its forward ATX reference design haspassed US 80 PLUS certification for energy efficiency. http://www.sg.com.tw/ INTERNET RADIO... NEW YORK: To celebrate the launch of SIRIUS Internet Radio (SIR), its new CDquality, Internet-only version, SIRIUS Satellite Radio is offering a freetwo-day trial on October 25 and 26. http://www.sirius.com NEW FACTORY... HONG KONG: Esquel Group Chairman Marjorie Yang presided over the officialopening of Esquel's new woven factory in Gaoming on October 20. (AsiaNet is a consortium of leading news agencies distributing unedited,translated news releases for worldwide clients. Visit www.asianetnews.net forfull-text versions.)