Minister Martin announces ACI Global Tech Centre for Limerick

151 new high technology positions to be created in 3 companies in the Mid-West

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin TD today (Tuesday 17^th April 2007) announced that ACI Worldwide, a leading international provider of software for electronic payment systems, has established a new global technical resource centre in Limerick. Supported by IDA Ireland, the centre will be a value-added operation and will create 100 new high level positions in R&D, software, technical support and finance. All employees will require 3^rd level qualifications.

The Limerick centre, ACI Worldwide Ireland, will oversee remote software development operations and will offer industry leading programming and product architecture expertise in several geographic regions to service and support a growing international customer base. The first regional centre has been established in Timisoara, Romania. The Limerick office will also help optimise supply chain efficiencies, serve as the focal point for international marketing, product development and commercialisation efforts for key products within ACI’s product family, and will manage the intellectual property rights of key ACI software solutions, including the BASE24-eps™ enterprise payment system.

Minister Martin said “this is excellent news for Limerick. It will offer high quality employment opportunities with 50% of the new positions across R&D and technical areas. There was considerable competition across Europe for this investment and we are delighted that Limerick could provide the level of skills, expertise and an innovative environment that ACI requires for all its future business developments.”

Iain Kenny, Managing Director, ACI Worldwide Ireland, said “We believe our opportunities for growth exist primarily in international markets. The Limerick facility plays directly into our globalisation strategy by providing us with a centre of expertise to support our growing international customer base. Redefining our infrastructure is critical to our globalisation strategy, and this facility will ensure ACI remains competitive in the international market.”

Minister Martin also announced two further new investments for Limerick –

Rovsing A/S, of Denmark, is to establish a software development centre in the LERO building at the National Technology Park, Plassey. Rovsing specialises in the development of critical software tools for the validation and test of software used for the functional and electronic testing of satellites, in areas such as data handling systems, navigation, communication and timing for electrical ground support equipment and ground systems for spacecraft.

Supported by IDA Ireland, Rovsing will create 30 high level positions requiring software and hardware engineering skills, and qualifications starting at Masters Degree level. Rovsing Ireland Ltd., the new Limerick operation, will focus on contracts for the European Space Agency and its presence here will enhance the Irish supply capabilities within the European Space programme. Rovsing will also work with LERO, the Irish Software Engineering Research Centre at the University of Limerick, which specialises in high reliability software for the automotive sector.

AR Europe Limited is the new European distribution headquarters for the US based company AR Corporate. AR Corporate, established in 1969, is a global leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of high power, broadband radio frequency (RF) amplifiers. AR Europe will be responsible for all sales, marketing, finance, customer support and distribution of the AR Corp. product line. AR Europe in Limerick will create 21 highly skilled positions over the next three years.

Minister Martin concluded “the Mid-West’s ability to attract these three investments is a tribute to the co-operation and commitment throughout the region between the various organisations, state agencies, educational representatives and the people of the whole region. They are to be congratulated for having worked together to create a desirable location for cutting-edge investment from global companies that have a myriad of locations to chose from. These companies are of the highest calibre in terms of innovation and technology with a strong focus on developing collaborative partnerships with academic institutions in the region and are exactly the type of investments we are continuously seeking to win for Ireland.”

Media Contacts:

ACI Worldwide - Jim Maxwell Tel: 402.390.8906 maxwellj@aciworldwide.com

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment - Press Office, Tel: 01 - 6312200

IDA Ireland, - Tel: 01 - 6034000

Notes for Editors

About ACI Worldwide - Every second of every day, ACI solutions are at work processing electronic payments, managing risk, automating back office systems and providing application infrastructure services. Founded in 1975, ACI is a leading international provider of solutions for retail banking, wholesale banking and cross-industry systems. ACI serves more than 800 customers in 83 countries including many of the world's largest financial institutions, retailers and payment processors. Visit ACI Worldwide on the Internet at www.aciworldwide.com.

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