Bache Commodities Ltd selects FinArch´s Financial Studio solution for Basel II calculations and regulatory reporting

Ghent/London - March 17 2008.  Financial Architects (FinArch), international provider of a Finance Resource Planning (FRP) platform for the finance industry, today announced that Bache Commodities Ltd, the London based commodity trading branch of the North American Prudential Group, has selected FinArch's Financial Studio solution for Basel II calculations and regulatory reporting for FSA IRR. Finarch’s software package includes both a sophisticated calculation engine and a complete regulatory reporting solution. The software combined with the knowledge and experience of FinArch's staff in the area of Basel II and reporting, is a powerful resource specifically for  commodity trading.

FinArch is considered by Gartner to be one of the global leaders in the provision of Basel II solutions. As part of the Financial Studio suite, FinArch's Basel II solution can be extended to incorporate a range of extensive internal and external reporting capabilities. Financial Studio is a broad solution for the Finance and Risk function. Functionality for both Risk and Finance is provided in a single solution using a common finance and risk data warehouse. FinArch believe that this concept, known as FRP, is the future of risk and finance solutions.

FRP allows banks to progressively transform their finance and risk back office, removing the constantly changing pressure of regulatory change from the critical path of business operations. While solving immediate needs such as Basel II and regulatory reporting, Financial Studio provides a platform for progressive strategic transformation.

"Basel II is not just about regulatory reporting, it requires an in depth knowledge of Capital Management and a strong understanding of our customer's business,” said Nigel Lee, Chief Commercial Officer. “FinArch has established itself as a global leader in the area of Basel II and Capital Management. Our new relationship with Bache Commodities is significant both in terms of our growth in all areas of banking and finance, and also as an affirmation of our continued growth in the UK."

FinArch's Basel II solution embraces much more than a basic, rapid, short-term compliance solution. It enables the banks to meet regulatory demands for stricter compliance, while at the same time gaining additional business benefits by improving reporting flows, increasing return on IT investment, and turning compliance into a cost saving exercise. It is a future-proof solution, as it guarantees automatic future compliance through the software updates on supervisory changes that we provide as part of our continuous commitment to our customers.

It also supports expansion from a Basel II Standardised Approach into IRB. And as it shares a common data model with the more advanced Financial Studio capital management solutions, it ensures a smooth transition to an advanced risk package, or to a complete FRP (Finance Resource Planning) platform, in case the bank should wish to embrace one integrated solution that leverages the convergence between compliance, accounting, MIS, and risk management issues.

About Bache Commodities

Bache Commodities Limited, is the London-based arm of Prudential Financial Inc.’s global commodities and financial derivatives business, which operates under the brand name Bache Commodities.  With 120 years of experience in the commodities markets, Bache Commodities is a leading player in global commodities and financial markets.  Bache Commodities offers a broad range of commodity, financial futures and options capabilities, market making on a spot and forward basis in both precious and base metals, as well as foreign exchange, trading and clearing services on virtually any commodities or derivatives exchange around the world.   Bache Commodities Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.  Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

www.prudentialbache.com

About FinArch

FinArch (Financial Architects nv), with offices in the major financial centres worldwide, is a global value leader in providing a new generation of financial management software. The concept of the platform
and the integrated approach of the different modules enable innovative financial institutions to quickly implement tactical solutions meeting the overall strategic objectives in financial reporting.

FinArch provides a unique blend of domain expertise, operational services, and technology solutions that accelerate and facilitate financial institutions' ambition to implement a cost effective and
reliable financial management platform.

www.finarch.com

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