NEW YORK and LONDON, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial Models Company Inc. (FMC), a leading provider of technology solutions and services to the investment world, today announced a significant expansion of its relationship with SWIFT(TM) that will result in an unprecedented open, global network for the automation of securities messages and services.

Through the enhanced relationship, FMCNet clients will have access to the SWIFT network to facilitate two-way communications for securities transaction messaging. Similarly, SWIFT customers will have the ability to communicate with investment managers, custodians and brokers via FMCNet's central matching and rules-based trade management solutions.

"There are gaps that exist today in post-trade STP which FMCNet intends to address by bringing communities together to create more seamless global trade communications. We are pleased that FMCNet has been designated as an ETC service provider. FMCNet has created a network to network interface for several large buy-side institutions, who have been relying on FMCNet for SWIFT transmissions for over 6 years", says Jose Manso, Managing Director, FMCNet.

FMCNet offers the most comprehensive trade management solution in the industry, by virtue of its wide-ranging instrument coverage and inherent flexibility. SWIFT clients will have the ability to leverage these capabilities, using their existing message formats which are supported by FMCNet. A simplified interface to FMCNet also means SWIFT users can extend their automated processes through existing technology.

In terms of messaging destinations, the SWIFT-FMCNet connection will provide FMC clients and SWIFT users with an open and broader network. Extended network availability is especially significant for those who require access to global custodians, investment managers and brokers but are not in a position, either financially or technologically, to join SWIFT.

"We are delighted about FMC's expanding relationship with SWIFT," said Teresa Nolan, SWIFT Regional Director, Securities, UK and Nordics. "SWIFT is focused on increasing STP message flow for its global members and is therefore excited to see FMCNet offer its central matching and rules-based trade management solution on the network."

SWIFT encourages the use of its network for a variety of securities message flows. Investment managers globally can easily interface with FMCNet's services using standard or proprietary allocation messaging formats.

"SWIFT continues to advocate extending its automated messaging capabilities in the post-trade/pre-settlement arena to its securities clients globally; adding FMCNet as an ETC provider furthers this mandate," said Robert Davies, SWIFT Regional Director for North America.

With nearly 300 clients worldwide, FMCNet represents the future of post-trade STP. FMCNet creates a fully automated path, from execution of trade through to settlement, while retaining the flexibility and interoperability to integrate with internal systems across multiple instrument types. Utilizing secure, anytime and anywhere Web browser access, FMCNet provides centralized SSI maintenance, message translation services and interfaces into other networks including SWIFT. FMCNet also offers the option of a non-prescriptive local matching or a central matching utility for real time messaging between counterparties, ensuring a further reduction in trade failures and recurring costs.

About SWIFT

SWIFT is the industry-owned co-operative supplying secure, standardized messaging services and interface software to 7,650 financial institutions in over 200 countries. The SWIFT community includes banks, broker/dealers and investment managers, as well as their market infrastructures in payments, securities, treasury and trade. For more information about SWIFT please visit: http://www.swift.com .

About Financial Models Company Inc.

Established in 1976, Financial Models Company Inc. is a global leader in delivering advanced technology solutions to the investment management community. FMC products and services are available either as "best of breed" solutions or as an integrated suite. From its headquarters in Toronto, and subsidiaries in the United States, Australia and Europe, FMC supports over 500 clients managing in excess of CAN$3 trillion. FMC is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (Symbol: FMC).

For more information, visit FMC's web site at http://www.fmco.com .

Web site: http://www.fmco.com

Tim Lane of Aah!Communications Inc., +1-212-245-5225, tlane@aahcommunications.com, for Financial Models in New York