NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2005

Contact: Angie Joe
713.743.8153 (office)
713.617.7138 (pager)
ajoe@uh.edu

ENERGY EXPERTS DISCUSS CHANGING MARKETPLACE
DURING UPCOMING UH-GEMI CONFERENCE

For the third consecutive year, experts will explore possible solutions to problems confronting the volatile energy market during a conference sponsored by the University of Houston’s Global Energy Management Institute (UH-GEMI).

Presenters will discuss the changing marketplace, credit crunch, risk management and legal issues at the Third Annual Energy Trading and Marketing Conference: Rebuilding the Business. Keynote speakers are Chris Conway, president, Gas and Power Commercial, Conoco Phillips, and David Sobotka, managing director, Merrill Lynch Global Commodities Group.

The day-long event will take place Jan. 20 at the University Hilton.

“UH-GEMI continues to track the industry’s progress to help industry observers prepare for what’s ahead,” said Jeff Graefe, UH-GEMI director of operations. “During the two previous conferences, we discussed market clearing and restoring confidence. This year, we’ll focus on what we can do to move the trading business forward again.”

Following lunch, two breakout sessions will be offered. One will focus on legal and regulatory issues while the other will highlight risk management. Attorneys attending the legal session will receive two hours of continuing education credit.

For more information about the conference, go to www.bauer.uh.edu/gemi/trading.

WHAT: Third Annual Energy Trading and Marketing Conference: Rebuilding the Business
WHO: UH-GEMI
WHEN: Thursday, January 20
8:30 – Registration
9 a.m. – Opening Keynote Address, Chris Conway, Conoco Phillips
9:30 a.m. – Mid-morning Keynote Address, David Sobotka, Merrill Lynch Global Commodities Group
10 a.m. – Credit Crunch Still Lives for Energy Trading
11 a.m. – Sarbanes-Oxley and Energy
Noon – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Track Break Outs: Legal/Regulatory and Risk Management
4 p.m. – Reception
WHERE: University of Houston Hilton, Waldorf-Astoria Ballroom, Shamrock Ballroom

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.