DUBLIN - Wednesday, December 3rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- SMBC Aviation Capital, the world’s third largest aircraft lessor, announces that it has been assigned a BBB+ corporate credit rating by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) and a BBB long-term issuer default rating by Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”).

BBB+ is now the highest rating that S&P currently has on an aircraft lessor, and both agencies cited a range of positive factors behind their assessments of SMBC Aviation Capital. These included the strategic importance of the company to its shareholders, its diversified customer base, consistent profitability, stable funding costs, active aircraft trading strategy, and high quality, young fleet.

Commenting on the news, Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital, said: “We are very pleased to have received such resounding endorsements of the strength of our business from both S&P and Fitch. The ratings a ... Read more »

Symphony Platform to Enable Secure Directory of Vetted Identities for Financial Services

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Wednesday, December 3rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Symphony Communication Services LLC, a secure communication and workflow technology company, announced that it is acquiring technology assets developed by Collaboration Services, the open messaging network from Markit. In October, Symphony was formed by a group of the world's leading financial institutions. This acquisition represents the company's first major transaction since its founding.

With technology acquired from Markit, Symphony will provide a secure directory for managing contacts across the financial services industry. Symphony will populate the directory with vetted contacts from firms and users validated by network participants, allowing for enhanced identity management. Further streamlining communication and improving productivity, the directory will make it simple to lo ... Read more »

Tokyo - Wednesday, December 3rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

ICARP2014

(BUSINESS WIRE) - Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO:6502) today announced the development of a new technology that uses solar energy, the power of the sun, to generate carbon compounds from carbon dioxide and water, and to deliver a viable chemical feedstock or fuel with potential for use in industry. Toshiba introduced the technology at the 2014 International Conference on Artificial Photosynthesis (ICARP2014) on 26 November, at the Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center in Japan.

Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, widely understood to be a major cause of global warming1, continue to increase. There are also concerns about the exhaustion of fossil fuels, which are spurring interest in adoption of renewable energy sources2. Artificial photosynthesis technologies that use solar energy to generate carbon compounds from carbon dioxide and water are seen as promising means to resolve both i ... Read more »

SAN FRANCISCO - Wednesday, December 3rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Andersen Tax is proud to announce the establishment of two locations in Poland through the addition of Sendero Taxperience Sp. z o.o. Sendero Taxperience is the result of a merger between Sendero Tax & Law and the Poland office of Taxperience, the current Andersen family representative in the Netherlands. With locations in Warsaw and Wroclaw, Sendero Taxperience provides comprehensive service to clients throughout Poland and beyond.

“Our new Polish colleagues are of the highest caliber and are fully committed to the same values that have allowed our firm to grow at such a significant rate,” shared Mark Vorsatz, CEO of Andersen Tax. “The addition of these relationships in Poland provides a building block for future growth in the region.”

A total of 35 professionals and eight Managing Directors will join Andersen Tax’s global organization including Al ... Read more »