LONDON, October 29 /PRNewswire/ --

SunGard has packaged its Ambit Payments solution together with Sun Microsystems' software and hardware to deliver a pre-tested and pre-configured solution for corporate payments. The new solution, Ambit Corporate Payments Express, will be offered as an off-the-shelf solution that will help banks capture new corporate payments and cash management services business (www.sungard.com/ambit).

AMSTERDAM, October 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Avantium announced today the successful completion of a EUR 18 million private financing round. Avantium is active in the development and commercialization of Furanics, Avantium's next generation biofuel and bioplastic, and the improvement of pharmaceutical products. The financing will be used to accelerate its two proprietary development programs. The focus of the next-generation biofuel and bioplastic program is on large scale production of Furanics and extensive car testing. Avantium's pharmaceutical program encompasses the improvement of selected existing drugs. Aescap Venture acted as lead investor in the financing. Other partners of the investment syndicate are Capricorn Cleantech Fund, ING Corporate Investments and Navitas Capital.

AUSTIN, Texas, October 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Ringdale(R), Inc., a global technology leader in network enhancing connectivity solutions, is pleased to report record interest in its IP-based Access Control, Time Attendance and newly launched Home Automation products at GITEX Technology Week conference and exhibition held last week in Dubai.

Ringdale's Home Automation solution, which was unveiled at GITEX, integrates with the Apple(R) iPod(R) touch and iPhone(TM) as the remote control, and manages everything from outdoor and indoor lighting, security systems and access control, air conditioning, irrigation, garage doors, wireless computer connections, CCTV and IP phones.

NAIROBI, October 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Mbegu Trust Announces Winners of Dear Barack Obama / Dear John McCain Nationwide Schools' Competition - Obamamania Sweeps Kenyan Secondary Schools - 879 Schools and 13,959 Students Take Part - Over one Million Ksh Prize Money Awarded - Seven out of Eight Winners are Girls

ATLANTA, October 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Business Trends Quarterly podcast highlights the benefits of a Managed File Transfer solution

Stonebranch(R), Inc., (www.stonebranch.com) the innovation leader in Enterprise Systems Management, today announced that it participated in a panel discussion on Managed File Transfer moderated by Mike Karp from Enterprise Management Associates (EMA). The podcast takes an in-depth look at Managed File Transfer and its benefits including end-to-end visibility and audit capabilities of all data movement as well as compliance with regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), GBLA and HIPAA.

PARIS, October 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Australian Carrier Offers Advanced Services on Industry's First IP/MPLS Terabit Service Router Platform

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced it has been selected by AAPT, one of Australia's three largest telecommunications companies, as the strategic partner for a network transformation project that will expand and enhance its portfolio of premium business services offered to the Australian market.