We are pleased to present to you the first 2009 edition of TCS BaNCS, the quarterly newsletter from TCS Financial Solutions. Once again, we are proud to highlight a number of outstanding customer success stories and thought leadership articles. This issue of TCS BaNCS takes a special focus on banking and finance in the Middle East. Our clients in the region continue to experience strong revenue growth and dynamic new business opportunities despite a very challenging global economic outlook.

 Cover Story

Winning the race to the future

The race to build a substantial derivatives platform in the Middle East has been won. The winner: NASDAQ Dubai.

By R. Vivekanand, Global Head, TCS BaNCS Market Infrastructure, TCS Financial Solutions

The timely launch of derivatives trading enables NASDAQ Dubai to become the preeminent exchange for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and a premier destination for foreign investment, with financial market standards and instruments comparable to those at other international exchanges in New York, London and Hong Kong.

Case Study: Arab Bank Australia

Bank provides breadth of service to a focused market segment

TCS BaNCS Core Banking and TCS BaNCS Link power Arab Bank Australia’s core processing and front-end delivery capabilities to process account opening, deposit and loan processing and international payments that span traditional banking silos.

Case Study: Takaful International Corp.

 Islamic insurer improves underwriting and efficiency

Backed by the scalability and flexibility of TCS BaNCS, Takaful International has ample room to grow from its current market share in Bahrain of 10 percent. In fact, the company in mid-2008 established an operation in Kuwait, from which it intends to extend its successful experience in Bahrain.