Re Agreement

Gresham Computing PLC 07 September 2005 For immediate release 7 September 2005 Gresham Computing plc ('Gresham') HSBC Bank plc. becomes the first financial institution to sign-up to Cable & Wireless Real Time Nostro using SWIFTNet XML standards Gresham is pleased to report the following concerning the Real Time Nostro Service taken from a press release that Cable & Wireless has notified Gresham that it intends to make today at the Sibos conference and exhibition in Copenhagen: ''London -7 September 2005 - Cable & Wireless, the international telecommunications company, today announced that HSBC Bank plc. has become the first financial institution to sign-up as a provider of currency information into the Cable & Wireless Real Time Nostro (RTN) service using SWIFTNet XML standards. HSBC's decision to utilise the new generation of SWIFTNet XML standards for the delivery of currency information enables them to expand their currency clearing services and ensure the delivery of the data is fast, efficient and in an up-to-date format which complies with emerging industry standards. HSBC clients who subscribe to the Cable & Wireless RTN service will benefit from significantly reduced costs and risk across back office operations, including dramatic improvements in error detection and exceptions management. HSBC is one of the world's leading providers of multi-currency clearing services. They will provide information into the Cable & Wireless RTN service in over forty currencies giving the service extensive global reach. Many of the currencies are from the emerging growth areas in the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Asia. HSBC will also be the first bank to provide data to the Cable & Wireless RTN service from all of its clearing branches worldwide. Marilyn Spearing, Global Head of Sales for HSBC Global Transaction Banking, HSBC commented, 'Providing settlement data to the Cable & Wireless RTN service using SWIFTNet XML standards allows us to extend our investment in SWIFTNet and provide superior Nostro account information services to global customers. Using the XML standards will improve straight through processing efficiencies dramatically and raise the bar for streamlined communications with counterparties and customers.' Claudia Cassinari, Senior Product Manager, Banking Markets and SWIFTSolutions, SWIFT, added, 'Having solutions on the market which support SWIFTNet services and SWIFTStandards XML is critical for fast industry adoption of these new standards. There is also industry-wide recognition of the value of market co-operation, support for a common infrastructure and standards to exchange information. 'SWIFT works closely together with its partners to support this co-operation and help deliver SWIFT solutions into their client's environment. SWIFT is very pleased to be working closely with Cable & Wireless on cash reporting and their agreement with HSBC is evidence of the collaboration which is helping to drive adoption of common standards.' Gerard Hammarlund, Global Head of Sales, Cable & Wireless RTN said, 'HSBC's connectivity to the RTN service using SWIFTNet XML standards is an example of how banks are not only continuing to find different ways to leverage their investment in SWIFTNet, but also recognising that adoption of XML standards enables them to utilise new opportunities. The business case for XML standards is very strong and the instant benefits to using these standards are reductions in errors and improved customer services. 'The addition of a range of exotic currencies is also significant to users of the Cable & Wireless RTN service. Critical mass in terms of currency coverage is the key to obtaining maximum value from Cable & Wireless service and we're delighted that the addition of forty two currencies by HSBC, many of which are exotic, extends the currency coverage and value of the RTN service for users.' HSBC joins other leading banks such as ABN Amro, ANZ, Bangkok Bank, Bank of America, Barclays, Citibank, Commonwealth Bank of America, JPMorgan, Mizuho, National Australia Bank, National Bank of New Zealand, Royal Bank of Canada, and Standard Bank South Africa that have already agreed to provide data into the Cable & Wireless RTN service.' Andrew Walton-Green, Chief Executive Officer of Gresham, commented: 'The addition of HSBC Bank plc. is highly significant for a number of reasons, all of which increase the value of the service to users. With today's announcement the 4 largest banks in the world (Citibank, JP Morgan, HSBC and Bank of America) have now agreed to provide data, bringing the number of 'top 20' banks that have agreed to provide data to the service to 7 and the total number of data providers to 18. The global reach of HSBC brings more currencies to the service, including exotic currencies with perceived higher risk, enriching the service content.' A full copy of the Cable & Wireless update will in due course be available from the Cable & Wireless Real Time Nostro website www.cw.com/rtn and will also be available from the Gresham Computing plc website at www.gresham-computing.com The Sibos conference and exhibition continues until 9 September in Copenhagen and more information concerning Cable & Wireless RTN can be found on stand C282 (Cable & Wireless) and C294 (HSBC). Notes Size of bank is measured by Capital (Source: The Banker: 'Top 1000 World Banks at 31 December 2004', July 2005). - Ends - For further information, please contact: Gresham Computing plc +44 (0)20 7653 0200 Andrew Walton-Green Financial Dynamics +44 (0)207 831 3113 James Melville-Ross Cass Helstrip About Cable & Wireless Real Time Nostro Developed in close conjunction with the banking community, Cable & Wireless Real Time Nostro (Cable & Wireless RTN) offers institutions involved with foreign exchange and other international transactions a new way to share multi-bank, multi-currency 'Nostro' account data in real-time. This is in direct response to the banks' need to improve liquidity management, reduce risk, increase operational efficiencies and respond to customer demand. Cable & Wireless RTN is a subscription-based information service, providing Nostro agents and account holders with a single view of their Nostro positions in each currency, across bank accounts, irrespective of time-zones and systems, to help them manage their cash flows intra-day, rather than after the market has closed. Cable & Wireless RTN is a shared repository of information, hosted and managed centrally in Cable & Wireless' hosting facilities and available over an internet browser or via an application programme interface over SWIFTNet. Software from Gresham Computing normalises and aggregates the data into industry-standard XML for ready integration with the banks' existing systems. The provision of data to the Cable & Wireless RTN service does not generate revenue from the banks providing that data. Revenue is generated from users subscribing to the service in order to access the data. About Gresham Computing plc Gresham develops and implements software for banking, integration and storage. Many of the world's most successful banks and corporations choose from Gresham's range of innovative solutions to help improve their competitive edge and bottom line performance. Gresham Computing plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (GHT) and has offices throughout the world. The company's web site is www.gresham-computing.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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