ICF Systems Switches Connectivity to TNS

One of Germany’s leading full service IT providers for exchange and finance businesses, ICF Systems, has enhanced its services to clients with fast, secure and reliable trading connectivity provided by Transaction Network Services’ extensive global IP network, its Secure Trading Extranet. Transaction Network Services, Inc. (NYSE:TNS) is working with ICF Systems to outsource connectivity and give customers using its IT systems a single scalable, fully-managed connection, where previously several leased lines may have been required. This single connection will enable firms to access multiple services, such as trading, market data and trading applications. ICF Systems’ customized solutions are used by banks, securities traders and financial institutions across Germany and the Netherlands. The company specialises in trading, information and reporting systems, with links to numerous local and international exchanges, including Xetra, Xontro, Eurex, and Euronext Cash/Liffe, among others. ICF Systems also operates the full infrastructure for the Bavarian stock exchange in Munich. Marcus Bingel, CEO of ICF Systems, said: "Our decision to select the TNS system is part of a national project devised to promote growth and extend our reach by offering customers unrivalled coverage. "Providing connectivity with exchanges is a key focus of our business and TNS’ impressive roster of these vital market participants was a major factor in our decision to switch to TNS’ Secure Trading Extranet. "One simple connection is all our customers will need to be able to access an extensive community of interest. We can also reciprocate the benefits by offering those organizations on TNS’ network access to our IT solutions.” ICF Systems provides a full service offering for all major exchange systems including consulting, contracting, hardware supply, connectivity, desktop management and support. Alex Walker, Senior Vice President of Global Sales for TNS’ Financial Services Division, said: "We’re delighted to be working with ICF Systems and providing its customers with fully managed, scalable connectivity. "In addition to offering ICF more cost-effective and secure connections, we can support new relationships with any other endpoint on the network. This includes exchanges in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Greece, Singapore and Thailand.” Established in 1998, and with an annual turnover of more than €40 million (£27 million), ICF Systems will also be using TNS’ Wide Area Network service to share information internally, between its data centres in Frankfurt and customers in Bremen, Oldenburg, Dusseldorf and Bad Vilbel. TNS’ Secure Trading Extranet connects over 1,000 financial community end-points, representing more than 550 buy and sell-side institutions, market data and software vendors, exchanges and alternative trading venues. It boasts over 100 points of presence and provides services to 29 countries across America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region, with its reach extending to many more. Financial institutions using TNS’ network can access a variety of mission critical trade-related messages, data and applications which support order routing, trade executions, direct market access and algorithmic trading. For further information about TNS log onto www.tnsfinancial.com About Transaction Network Services Transaction Network Services (TNS) is an international communications company that enables payments, money and voices to move around the world. TNS’ mission is to enable the world to transact. It does this through a broad range of networking, communications and value added services, which it provides to many of the world’s leading retailers, banks/processors, telecommunications companies and financial markets. Since its inception in 1990, TNS has designed and implemented multiple data networks, each designed specifically for the transport of transaction-oriented data. TNS' networks support a variety of widely accepted communications protocols and are designed to be scalable and accessible by multiple methods. Today, TNS has 32 offices across 29 countries with the ability to provide services in other countries. For further information about TNS, visit www.tnsi.com Statements and information contained in our press releases and newsletters that are not descriptions of historical fact may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or performance and from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods. www.tnsi.com