FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 99-6 SEC TO HOST SMALL BUSINESS TOWN HALL MEETING IN SEATTLE, WA Washington, D.C., January 19, 1999 -- The Commission today announced that a small business town hall meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 18, 1999 at the Hotel Monaco at 1101 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, Washington. The small business town hall meetings, which are being conducted throughout the United States, convey basic information to small business about fundamental requirements that must be addressed when these businesses wish to raise capital through the public sale of securities. In addition, the Commission hopes to learn more about the concerns and problems facing small businesses in raising capital so that programs can be designed to meet their needs, consistent with the protection of investors. Brian J. Lane, Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, will be the featured speaker of the Seattle Small Business Town Hall Meeting, which is being co-sponsored by the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and MIT Enterprise Forum of the Northwest. Other speakers include Lyn Hamilton, Deputy District Director for the Seattle District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Deborah Bortner, Director of Securities for the Department of Financial Institutions for the State of Washington, and Steven Loyd, Chairman of the Northwest Capital Network. A question and answer period will follow the presentations. For further information, contact Barbara Jacobs or Janice McGuirk in the Office of Small Business in the Division of Corporation Finance, at (202) 942-2950. Or, please send an e-mail message to the small business electronic mailbox at "e-prospectus@sec.gov". There is no charge for the town hall meeting; however, we encourage you to make reservations by contacting Shiho Otsuka at the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce at (206) 389-7269 or by e-mail at shihoo@seattlechamber.com. # # #