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Oaktree Capital Management Selects Interface Software's InterAction® 5 to Support Firm-Wide CRM Initiative

Asset management firm found user-friendly interface, Outlook synchronization and data quality tools to be crucial differentiators

OAK BROOK (IL), 14 January, 2003: Interface Software announced today that Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, has selected InterAction 5 to support the firm's strategic CRM initiative. Oaktree is a 255-person asset management firm based in Los Angeles with offices in New York, London, Singapore and Tokyo. The firm will deploy InterAction 5 to provide sales support to its marketing and client relations efforts.

InterAction 5 will be integrated with Oaktree's homegrown accounting and portfolio management systems to deliver a 360-degree view of client activities within the firm. Having a single point of access to the firm's Relationship Intelligence is critical to support marketing and client relations. "When our marketing representatives call on clients, it is critical that they have the ability to view their clients' existing investments, as well as new opportunities that clients might be interested in," explained Ossama Ghebrial, Oaktree's senior vice president of MIS. "It was difficult pulling this information together without a user-friendly system."

Oaktree had undertaken an extensive search for a replacement CRM solution. After narrowing the field of choices, the firm chose InterAction 5 for three primary reasons. The first was ease of use for professionals, which was essential for successful implementation. InterAction 5 offers a Web-based user interface that enables executive-level professionals easy access to the firm's repository of Relationship Intelligence, such as who knows whom and specific deals that clients have been involved with in the past. "The user interface was designed specifically for professionals in service organizations. This focus was lacking in the mainstream CRM packages we looked at," said Mr. Ghebrial.

Second, InterAction 5 offered sophisticated integration with the firm's Microsoft Outlook® contact manager, which was also essential to win user support. Among other things, InterAction 5 automatically synchronizes professionals' Outlook contacts with the centralized knowledge base and enables users to log emails and calendar events as activities within the system. "Many of our users prefer Outlook as opposed to having to learn an entirely new CRM system," explained Mr. Ghebrial. "Therefore for our new system to succeed, it was essential that we be able to provide CRM functionality to them directly in Outlook."

Finally, InterAction 5's data quality and data change management functionality were also key to Oaktree's decision. The system provides built-in tools enabling data stewards - individuals charged with maintaining CRM data - to manage changes to the data and streamline the process for keeping it clean and up to date. "InterAction 5 is configurable so that changes made to key client information can be sent to our data steward for review before they are permanently saved to the database, which allows us to keep tight controls over our data," said Mr. Ghebrial. "It also provides tools for mass updates and cleansing - such as when area codes and phone numbers change—which will significantly reduce our costs of maintaining the system."

"The asset management industry is built upon a complex network of personal relationships," said Barry Solomon, Interface Software's executive vice president. "Investing in a CRM infrastructure capable of leveraging those relationships is essential for success in this challenging economy. InterAction 5 is unique in its ability to support these needs."

About Interface Software
Interface Software is the leading provider of CRM solutions enabling professional services firms to create the Relationship Intelligence they need to generate new business and enhance client service. Its flagship product, InterAction, is a flexible and uniquely designed platform that delivers this Relationship Intelligence throughout the organization, quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively. Relationship Intelligence is a firm-wide asset that reveals the unique and complex connections between people, companies, relationships, experience and expertise, empowering professionals to leverage who and what they know to uncover new revenue opportunities, differentiate themselves from the competition and enhance client service. InterAction is internet-enabled, allowing professionals to view information however they choose—through knowledge management platforms, corporate portals, intranets, extranets and wireless devices. Interface Software has received numerous accolades, including the Inc 500, the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 50 for Greater Chicagoland, the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500 and the Upside Hot 100. For more information please visit Interface Software's website at www.interaction.com.

About Oaktree Capital Management
Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, is a U.S.-based investment management firm with more than $25 billion in assets under management in specialized investment strategies. These strategies include emerging market equities; domestic and European high yield bonds; domestic, international and high income convertible securities; principal activities (for control); distressed debt; opportunistic real estate investments; and mezzanine debt. It has grown to comprise approximately 255 people in offices located in Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, London and Singapore, and it is 100% owned by 56 key employees. Its institutional clients include Fortune 100 companies, large public pension funds, university endowments, private foundations and high net worth individuals. www.oaktreecapital.com

 
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InterAction is a registered trademark of Interface Software, Inc. All other product names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.