Electricity Procurement Yields Savings for Colleges and Universities

NewWhite Paper Provides a Strategy for College and University Officials Looking
to Manage Volatile Electricity Costs
PHILADELPHIA--(Business Wire)--
In today`s unprecedented economic environment, colleges and universities are
searching for cost efficiencies in every facet of campus operations. Faced with
a complex regulatory market and volatile energy prices that have increased as
much as 38 percent in a single year, several innovative colleges and
universities are now using an electricity procurement strategy, called Managed
Heat Rate, as an effective means to control prices and reap significant savings.

A new white paper, "Managed Heat Rate - How Colleges and Universities Can Secure
Best Electricity Prices," developed by ARAMARK Higher Education and Amerex
Energy Services, details how Managed Heat Rate, an innovative product that
capitalizes on deregulation, can potentially deliver long-term savings in excess
of traditional fixed-price electricity contracts. The white paper is available,
at no charge, at www.aramarkhighered.com.

"The current economy has spurred many school officials to explore all avenues in
search of cost efficiencies," said Michael Leone, Senior Vice President, ARAMARK
Higher Education. "The Managed Heat Rate strategy allows institutions to reduce
the volatility and expense of electricity procurement."

Available in states that have deregulated electricity markets, Managed Heat Rate
uniquely separates, and then procures, the primary components that determine
ever-changing electricity prices. Colleges and universities can purchase the
components individually when they reach an attractive price point.

"In deregulated states, Managed Heat Rate manages risk by locking-in prices and
securing predictable rates over the contracted period," said Larry Allen, Senior
Energy Manager, Amerex Energy Services. "This strategy has proven very effective
in helping educational institutions control energy costs."

The white paper includes Managed Heat Rate case studies highlighting Baylor
University, Loyola University and Saint Xavier University, complete with quotes
from the chief financial officers of these institutions.

Loyola University and Saint Xavier University, both located in Illinois, became
the first educational institutions in the State to contract for deregulated
electric power using a Heat Rate pricing model. Amerex Energy Services
successfully unbundled the electric price components in Illinois, allowing
ARAMARK to introduce this innovative approach to its client partners as a means
to manage escalating utility budgets.

About Amerex
Amerex Energy Services is a division of Amerex Brokers LLC. Amerex Energy
Services is a national energy consultant that provides industrial, commercial
and institutional clients with a wide array of sophisticated energy and
energy-related financial tools designed to provide a stable platform to manage
risk. Founded in 1978, Amerex is a leading over-the-counter energy brokerage
offering services in electricity, natural gas, emission credits and allowances,
renewable energy credits, retail energy procurement and energy data services.
From its office in Houston, 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. Amerex Brokers LLC is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of GFI Group Inc. (Nasdaq: GFIG), a leading inter-dealer
broker specializing in over-the-counter derivatives products and related
securities. GFI provides brokerage services, market data and analytics software
products for a range of credit, financial, equity and commodity instruments. GFI
operates one of the largest OTC energy brokerage businesses in North America
both directly and through its Amerex and StarSupply businesses.

About ARAMARK Higher Education
ARAMARK Higher Education is dedicated to excellence in dining, facility,
conference center, and stadium and arena services. ARAMARK enhances the living
and learning experience and environment for more than 600 colleges and
universities throughout North America. Dining services offered include: master
planning; culinary development and venue design; catering; residential,
quick-serve, and express dining concepts. Facility services offered include:
facilities maintenance; custodial; grounds; energy management; capital project
management; and building commissioning. For more information, visit
www.aramarkhighered.com.

About ARAMARK
ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food
services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care
institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and
businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine`s 2009 list of "World`s Most
Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked number one in its industry, consistently
ranking since 1998 as one of the top three most admired companies in its
industry as evaluated by peers and analysts. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly
address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities
by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and
wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has
approximately 260,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at
the company`s Web site, www.aramark.com.

ARAMARK
David Gargione, 215-238-3559
gargione-david@aramark.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009