GFI Energy Ventures of Los Angeles, Caminus Energy Ltd. ofCambridge, England, SS&C Technologies, Oaktree CapitalManagement and RIT Capital partners plc are combining forces toform GFI Caminus, a new enterprise that will provide comprehensiveconsulting services and software technology to the power and gastrading industry.

GFI Caminus has made a substantial investment, acquiring amajority interest in ZAI*NET Software L.P., a provider of energyand financial trading and risk management software for globalmarkets, according to a press release issued by GFI EnergyVentures. The new enterprise also has acquired Caminus Energy Ltd.,an energy strategy firm involved in the privatization andderegulation of the United Kingdom gas and electric markets.Caminus has developed price and market forecasting models andclaims an advisory role to gas and electric regulators andutilities in the UK and on the Continent.

GFI Energy Ventures “originates and leads investments inbusinesses benefiting from and facilitating the deregulation,competition and technological change in the energy industryworldwide,” the companies said.

“The consensus of industry experts and regulators is that therewill be at least $750 billion in annual retail power transactionsin the United States by the year 2000, with three times that rangeon a worldwide basis,” said Lawrence Gilson, GFI Energy president.”Until now, no single entity had the products, the industryexpertise, the geographic reach and the financial backing tosupport the transactions in this huge new market.”

Gilson said the transactions, all completed this week, were partof an integrated strategy involving an investment of about $25million with the potential for considerably more.

SS&C Technologies, providers of financial softwaresolutions, services and expertise to asset managers of large-scalesophisticated investment enterprises, such as pension funds andbanks, is an investor and part owner of GFI Caminus. The technologycompany has granted GFI Caminus an exclusive license to market itssoftware products in the energy market.

Oaktree Capital Management of Los Angeles is the lead investor.Also investing are RIT Capital Partners, the London-basedinvestment company chaired by Lord Rothschild, and principals ofCaminus Energy.

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