CCOutreach National Seminar to Help Enhance Compliance Programs for Protection of Investors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2008-221

Washington, D.C., Sept. 23, 2008 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that chief compliance officers (CCOs) for mutual fund and investment advisers can begin registering for the agency's annual CCOutreach National Seminar to help them further enhance their compliance programs for the protection of investors.

The CCOutreach National Seminar will be held on Nov. 13, 2008, at the SEC's Washington, D.C., headquarters and will include panel discussions to highlight some of the compliance issues that are important for mutual funds and investment advisers in today's ever-changing market environment. Such current topics include sound practices with respect to valuation, prevention of insider trading, ensuring best execution, and making disclosures that are understandable and meaningful to investors.

"Effective compliance procedures at mutual fund and advisory firms are critical to the protection of nearly 100 million Americans who invest in mutual funds," said Lori Richards, Director of the SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations. "The CCOutreach program and its National Seminar enable the SEC staff to keep the lines of communication open with CCOs across the country to discuss the latest regulatory and compliance developments and ensure that firms have the necessary safeguards in place to protect investors."

Andrew J. Donohue, Director of the SEC's Division of Investment Management, added, "In these challenging times, CCOs play a vital role in overseeing compliance programs, including identifying and managing the risks that mutual funds and investment advisers face in today's complex markets. The CCOutreach Program continues to provide an invaluable tool for CCOs and SEC staff to exchange views as we further our common goal of protecting the nation's investors. I look forward to discussing the important issues facing CCOs and their firms at this year's National Seminar."

Registration materials and other information for the CCOutreach National Seminar for adviser and mutual fund CCOs are available on the SEC Web site.

The SEC's CCOutreach program is sponsored jointly by the agency's Division of Investment Management and the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations. The National Seminar will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, and attendance is limited to 500 people. Adviser and mutual fund CCOs will be given priority on a first-come, first-served basis. The seminar also will be webcast at www.sec.gov.

For additional questions, contact the SEC's Division of Investment Management at (202) 551-6733.

CCOs for broker-dealer firms should note that the next SEC/FINRA CCOutreach National Seminar for broker-dealer CCOs will be held in the spring of 2009.

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http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2008/2008-221.htm