This latest expansion will create 75 new jobs bringing total employment at Wombat’s European development centre in Belfast to almost 200 by 2010. Invest Northern Ireland has offered £945,000 of support towards the project which will deliver an additional £3.1million annually in wages and salaries, and was instrumental in securing the initial investment by Wombat in 2005.
Speaking at Blackstaff Studios this morning, the First Minister said: "This week, we have an opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland as an investment location to some of the world’s most prestigious companies.
"It is extremely appropriate therefore that this morning, an agreement has been signed which will lead to Wombat expanding its European software development centre in Belfast. We were pleased to visit the New York Stock Exchange and meet Duncan on his first day as CEO last year, and I am delighted that he has joined us today as a friend and once again as an investor in Northern Ireland and our people."
The deputy First Minister added: "With this third investment, Wombat is sending out a clear vote of confidence in our talented people and the potential they offer firms in growth sectors such as ICT.
"I hope that as delegates return home to the US, they will be taking with them a more positive image of this region, one which is attracting investment and reinvestment from some of the world’s highest profile companies."
Duncan Niederauer, CEO of NYSE Euronext added: "With the addition of Wombat to the NYSE Euronext family in March 2008, we immediately recognised the value that the Belfast centre would contribute to our business and customers, both in Europe and globally.
"I continue to be impressed with the levels of skills possessed by local software developers and engineers. Combined with the ongoing support of Invest NI, I am confident that Northern Ireland will continue to deliver the competitive edge we require to meet increasing global demand for our innovative technology products and services. We seek to be an employer of choice and to attract the best and brightest professionals. Wombat, a member of NYSE Euronext Advanced Trading Solutions, specialises in the development of advanced software solutions for global financial markets. Wombat’s products are used to transmit stock exchange data around financial institutions at high speed so that rapid trading decisions can be made.
Notes to Editors:
1. Wombat was acquired by NYSE Euronext ("NYX") in March 2008 for $200million and is now a unit of NYSE Euronext Advanced Trading Solutions.
2. About NYSE Euronext Advanced Trading Solutions
- A unit of NYSE Euronext (NYX), NYSE Euronext Advanced Trading Solutions is a leader in providing complete connectivity, data management and transaction solutions for trading firms, vendors and financial markets throughout the world. Offering a suite of comprehensive, best-of-breed commercial technology solutions that include advanced end-to-end market data management, global exchange connectivity and matching technologies, co-location systems, and super low-latency order routing capabilities, NYSE Euronext Advanced Trading Solutions' products attract and enable the free flow of liquidity for high-volume markets around the world.
- This unit operates SFTI, one of the world's largest, most reliable financial transaction networks; NYSE TransactTools(sm), the high-performance, end-to-end connectivity software; and Wombat, offering the industry's most advanced platform for real-time market data distribution and integration. With offices across the U.S., Europe, Singapore and Japan, NYSE Euronext Advanced Trading Solutions' commitment to superior development, engineering and customer service has earned the trust to power the trading operations of hundreds of global financial institutions, including core technology for 17 of the world's 20 largest securities firms.
3. For additional information access the NYSE website 
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4. Media enquiries to Paddy Cullen 028 9052 1840 and Jeremy Gardner 028 9052 1905, OFMDFM Press Office. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
