SEC Staff Announces CCOutreach Regional Seminars for Adviser and Fund Chief Compliance Officers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2008-27

Washington, D.C., March 3, 2008 - The Securities and Exchange Commission staff today announced the schedule and beginning of registration for 25 regional seminars to help mutual fund and investment adviser chief compliance officers improve their effectiveness for the benefit of investors throughout the country.

The CCOutreach regional seminars for investment adviser and mutual fund chief compliance officers (CCOs) will be held in April, May, and June in various cities. They will focus on compliance areas that SEC examiners frequently find to be deficient at firms during examinations of investment advisers and investment companies.

"By focusing the 2008 regional seminars on the particular compliance areas where improvement will do the most good for investors, we can help CCOs be proactive and ensure compliance in these areas," said Lori Richards, Director of the SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations. "These seminars enable CCOs to better understand the tests examiners use to identify deficiencies and how other firms address weaknesses. CCOs can then use similar tests and compliance controls at their own firms to safeguard investors."

SEC examiners will discuss deficiencies, how the SEC identifies them, and corrective actions funds and advisers have taken to address them. Additionally, some seminars will feature supplemental sessions designed to address the compliance concerns of smaller and newly-registered investment advisers.

The CCOutreach program was formed to promote open communications and coordination on mutual fund, investment adviser, and broker-dealer compliance issues.

Seating at the seminars is limited, with mutual fund and investment adviser CCOs given priority on a first-come, first-served basis. Information regarding the regional seminars, including dates and locations and registration instructions, is available on the SEC's Web site at http://www.sec.gov/info/iaicccoutreach.htm. For additional information, please e-mail CCOutreach@sec.gov.

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2008/2008-27.htm