As a Gold Certified Partner, XSP demonstrates expertise with Microsoft technologies and a proven ability to meet the needs of its global clients. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support.

The XSP v5 platform is XSP's state-of-the-art solution developed to automate each step in the processing of global Corporate Actions. A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, XSP has re-engineered its platform using advanced Microsoft technologies. The XSP v5 platform is built around a service-oriented architecture (SOA), utilizing the Microsoft .NET Framework components and Web Services for global enterprise-wide processing. Accredited with the SWIFTReady label, the XSP v5 platform is SWIFT 15022 compliant and combines cutting-edge technology with feature-rich functionality to mitigate operational risks and costs for end-to-end straight-through processing.

"We are pleased to continue our status as Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for 2009/2010," said Dan Retzer, Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer at XSP. "This allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our clients. XSP has achieved this elite status for the third consecutive year and this achievement marks more than ten years as a Microsoft partner. In addition to receiving our ISV/Software Solutions competency, XSP also earned an additional competency in Security Solutions with this year's Partner renewal. The benefits provided through our Gold Certified Partner status strengthen our opportunities to enhance the Corporate Actions solutions that we provide for our clients, driving more efficiencies and value in the market."

"Microsoft recognizes XSP as a continued Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in Corporate Actions automation using Microsoft software," said Craig Saint-Amour, U.S. Capital Markets Industry Solutions Director for Microsoft Corp. "With the Microsoft Partner Program, XSP has access to specialized training, skills and support, allowing the company to develop innovative solutions that enhance the capabilities of our mutual clients."

As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, XSP had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner's capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to clients looking for a particular type of solution. Each Competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.

The ISV/Software Solutions Competency recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a particular solution set. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained this competency have a successful record of developing and marketing packed software based on Microsoft technologies.

The Security Solutions Competency is designed to recognize the unique skills and requirements of partners specializing in delivering security-based solutions. Microsoft partners enrolled in this competency have proven their expertise in advanced security solutions to help protect client information assets by building solutions such as security management and operations, anti-malware protection and network-edge security, and identity and access management solutions.

"Security is a priority for Microsoft, and we rely on our partners to help us deliver security-based solutions to our clients," said Mark Hassall, Director in the Core Infrastructure Marketing group at Microsoft Corp. "As global financial institutions continue to automate their Corporate Actions processes, solutions competencies such as this one enable XSP to better identify and showcase their security solutions skills to respond to increasing client demands to better secure and optimize their infrastructure."