AvantGard Payments will provide Johnson Controls with flexible workflows, audit capabilities and multibank connectivity.

The AvantGard solution will be hosted by SunGard and will provide a platform to help improve control and security across all payment operations. It will help Johnson Controls to standardize its payments processing and connect directly with its bank partners. The solution will initially be rolled out to Johnson Controls' European operations on a country-by-country basis before a second phase of implementation to all remaining locations.

Jean-Philippe De-Waele, treasurer for Johnson Controls' European and African operations, said, "We needed a single payments solution that could meet our business, hosting and connectivity needs. We chose SunGard's AvantGard Payments not only because of SunGard's strong reputation and international presence, but because the solution offers full SWIFT integration in a hosted environment."

Hans Cobben, group vice president for global payments and messaging at SunGard, commented, "Access to new SWIFT services and direct multibank connectivity has become increasingly important for most corporations. SunGard's AvantGard Payments can help by providing flexible payments functionality and SWIFT integration capabilities. As a hosted solution, AvantGard also offers high levels of security and messaging standards."

Separately, National Securities, an independent full service brokerage firm, has gone live on SunGard's Brass order management system (OMS) using the new Brass ASP virtual server delivery model. The virtual server helps eliminate a firm's infrastructure, and reduce implementation time and maintenance costs. It uses business critical, virtual infrastructure technologies with no hardware requirements, providing customers with go-live capability of four weeks, on average.

SunGard's Brass OMS provides an enterprise-wide direct market access and market making toolset along with a a suite of automation, reporting and compliance tools. Broker-dealers can connect to global trading destinations through SunGard's three proprietary networks, providing access to 150 markets worldwide.

Billy Groeneveld, director of trading for National Holdings Corp, said, "With Brass, SunGard delivers a comprehensive trading platform. By using Brass OMS, we can monitor all trading activity while helping provide security and best execution for our customers. The Brass ASP virtual server delivery model helps us avoid infrastructure and costs associated with hardware-based systems."

The new ASP virtual server delivery option is one of four connectivity options in the Brass flexible deployment program. Firms can also choose a dedicated secure telecommunications line or ASP delivery model.

Satish Mujumdar, chief operating officer of SunGard's Brass business unit, said, "SunGard's new delivery option for Brass via an ASP virtual server offers our customers flexibility and the ability to customize to their requirements. It can also help customers reduce costs, worry less about infrastructure and focus on revenue drivers that can increase profitability. The Brass ASP virtual server delivery model is an ideal solution for businesses with satellite offices or can be used aspart of an organization's contingency plan."