SEC Staff Announce Regional CCOutreach Seminars

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2007-32

Washington, D.C., March 5, 2007 - As part of the SEC's CCOutreach program, which serves to enhance communication and coordination with mutual fund and investment adviser chief compliance officers (CCOs), the SEC staff is pleased to announce that the dates and locations of regional CCOutreach seminars are available on the SEC's website, and registration is now open, on a first come first served basis, with priority going to all mutual fund and investment adviser CCOs.

The topics to be addressed at the regional seminars include

• the examination and risk assessment process;
• books and records and disclosures and filings;
• brokerage arrangements, best execution, trade allocation, and soft dollars;
• portfolio management; and
• marketing, performance, advertising, and distribution.

SEC examiners will discuss the risk identification and assessment process used by examiners, and how the risk identification process can help funds and advisers establish and maintain strong and comprehensive compliance programs. The seminars will also address the information and documents requested during SEC exams; various analyses and "forensic tests" that may be performed using this information; frequent exam findings; and factors to consider when establishing compliance controls.

Lori Richards, Director of the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, said, "We believe that by focusing our CCOutreach regional programs on the key compliance issues that are of most interest to CCOs, we will further our goal of assisting CCOs in developing and enhancing effective fund and adviser compliance programs for the benefit of investors."

Seating at the regional seminars will be limited, with CCOs given priority on a first come, first served basis. Information regarding the regional seminars, including the dates and locations, is available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/info/ccoutreach.htm. For additional information, please send an email to CCOutreach@sec.gov.

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2007/2007-32.htm