SNL Energy Announces Formation of the SNL Energy ERCOT Broker Index

Charlottesville, VA – On September 8, 2006, SNL Energy will begin posting the first broker-based index in North American power. SNL Energy's ERCOT Broker Index is a next day ERCOT index based on transactional information from OTC energy brokers Amerex, ICAP, and Tullett Prebon. SNL Energy will provide data aggregation, error checking, and daily posting of the Index. The Index will be posted for public use on SNL Energy's website at www.snl.com/ercot/snlindex.aspx, along with the previous day's Index, starting at 12:00 PM EDT on September 8, 2006. The Index will be comprised of next day ERCOT transactions for the Houston Zone, North Zone, Northeast Zone, South Zone, West Zone, and Seller's Choice markets. Historical Index information will soon be available for purchase from SNL Energy.

"SNL Energy is excited to host the first energy broker index in North American power. An easily accessible, transaction-based index is exactly what the OTC ERCOT market needs to gain liquidity," says Randy Rischard, Publisher, SNL Energy. Mike Prokop, Senior Vice President, Amerex Energy adds, "The ERCOT Broker Index is another example of how the OTC brokers have come together to address the needs of their customers. We are fully committed, as a group, to providing the market with an accurate, transaction-based ERCOT index to promote price transparency and liquidity."

For further information please visit www.snl.com/energy.

About Amerex Energy

Amerex is a leading over-the-counter energy brokerage offering services in electricity, natural gas, crude oil, fuel oil, petroleum products, coal, gas liquids, freight, emission credits and allowances and energy data services. Founded in 1978, Amerex has offices in Houston, New Jersey, London, Monaco, Singapore and Tokyo. Amerex offers liquidity and timely execution to meet the needs of a global client network of more than 1,000 firms including thousands of traders and risk management professionals. For additional information, please visit www.amerexenergy.com.

About ICAP Energy

ICAP Energy is the energy-focused commodity arm of ICAP plc, providing specialist intermediary execution and clearing services for base and precious metals, emission credits, crude oil and oil products, electricity, natural gas, coal, freight and weather derivatives. ICAP Energy is a leading global energy broker with operations in ten centers throughout the world. For additional information, please visit www.icapenergy.com.

ICAP is the world's largest inter-dealer broker and following the acquisition of the BrokerTec fixed income securities businesses is the world's leading electronic broker of fixed income securities with a daily average transaction volume in excess of $1 trillion, 50% of which is electronic. The Group is active in the wholesale market for OTC derivatives, fixed income securities, money market products, foreign exchange, energy, credit and equity derivatives.

About Prebon Energy

Prebon Energy is a leading global energy broker providing power marketers, utilities, producers, risk managers and institutions with a single comprehensive source for price information and liquidity in a broad and expanding range of energy markets, including natural gas, oil and power.

Prebon Energy is a division of Tullett Prebon, the inter dealer broker and part of Collins Stewart Tullett plc. Tullett Prebon operates as an intermediary in wholesale financial markets facilitating the trading activities of its clients, in particular commercial and investment banks. The business now covers seven major product groups: Volatility, Rates, Non Banking & Sterling Cash, Treasury, Energy, Credit & CDS, and Equities. Tullett Prebon's electronic trading platform, TradeBlade(TM), was launched in January 2006 and currently trades two products, US Dollar Repos and US Treasuries. For additional information, please visit www.tullettprebon.com.

About SNL Energy

SNL Energy is a division of SNL Financial, LC focused on developing leading edge information products for the energy and financial communities. Every day thousands of industry professionals rely on our news and data for the most accurate, comprehensive, relevant, and timely information.

SNL Financial is the premier sector-specific information and research firm in the financial information marketplace. SNL collects, standardizes and disseminates all relevant corporate, financial, market, asset, and M&A data -- plus news and analysis -- for the industries we cover: energy, banking, insurance, specialized financial services, real estate, gaming and lodging. For additional information, please visit www.snl.com/energy.