Adaptiv Analytics is designed promote better-informed trading decisions through providing a framework for distributing portfolio-level risk calculations across a grid of servers, thereby producing a more risk-sensitive credit change metric, the firm said in a statement.

Counterparty credit risk is a top concern following last year’s unprecedented events, in particular the collapse of Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns, and calculating credit exposures is also becoming increasingly complex due to factors such as the use of multiple prime brokerages and the number of new products firms are offering. The scalability of any technology is also a priority, not least due to the accelerated merger and acquisition activity and client churn resulting from the crisis.

Adaptiv Analytics is to be distributed across Nordea’s server grid so the bank will be able to scale the system as its calculation requirements grow, SunGard said. The system will also accommodate the addition of new products into the simulation as required.

“We selected Adaptiv Analytics because we required a calculation engine that is capable of performing under highly volatile conditions, where performance and reliability are key,” said Peter Lunding, business chief information officer, Capital Markets Products, at Nordea.

“The current financial climate has made it more important than ever for our customers to be able to rely on proven, robust risk management systems.  With Adaptiv Analytics, our aim was to help remove many of the headaches involved in running complex credit exposure calculations, and to provide Nordea with real transparency in the fastest time possible," said Juerg Hunziker, president of SunGard’s Adaptiv business unit.