CCBN Seminar and Interactive Panel Discussions to Highlight Best Practices in Web Disclosure.

Business/Technology Editors

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 2002

CCBN to Host Event Discussing New Challenges in the Era of Corporate Responsibility; Featuring Keynote Address from Former SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt

CCBN, the leading provider of Internet-based shareholder communications services, will host two panel discussions on using the Internet as a corporate disclosure tool as part of its "Best Practices in Web Disclosure" event on October 2. This timely event will feature a keynote address from Arthur Levitt, senior advisor of The Carlyle Group and former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as two separate panel discussions offering the insights of fund managers, analysts and corporate investor relations experts about how to effectively communicate with shareholders to increase investor confidence. The discussions will also explore how companies are harnessing investor relations (IR) Web sites and webcasts to keep shareholders fully informed of their compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a law recently passed by the SEC to deter and punish corporate and accounting fraud.

During his keynote address, Levitt will discuss the effect the current market downturn has had on investor confidence, the strength of our capital markets, and the steps necessary to restore investor confidence and reforms needed to boost accountability, transparency and corporate responsibility.

CCBN's first panel discussion, "IR Web Sites and the New Disclosure Paradigm" will examine the significant role of the IR Web site in corporate disclosure. Panelists will discuss the need for more complete and thorough disclosure of corporate governance, the importance of making SEC filings available on a company's IR Web site in real-time and the benefits of communicating non-financial measures via the Web. Participants include the following:

-- Jane McCahon, Consultant, Conway Communications and Former Chairman of NIRI, Moderator

-- S. Kelley MacDonald, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, State Street Corporation, Panelist

-- Joe Schepers, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, Ribapharm, Panelist

-- Mickey Foster, Vice President, Corporate & Investor Relations, Millennium Chemicals, Panelist

The second panel discussion, "Transparency and Webcasting," will focus on the role webcasting plays in corporate disclosure from the birth of Regulation Fair Disclosure to today's more stringent disclosure requirements. The following panelists will discuss the role of non-financial factors in stock valuation, how webcasting can increase transparency with investors and the pros and cons of using conference call transcripts and summaries.

-- Jeffrey Rudman, Chair, Corporate and Securities Litigation Group, Hale and Dorr LLP, Moderator

-- Robert G. Burrows, Director, Corporate Communications, Gene Logic, Inc., Panelist

-- Jim Chiafery, Principal, East Jackson Associates, Panelist

-- John Nadel, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations & Financial Management, MetLife, Panelist

-- Dave Morrow, Editor-in-Chief, TheStreet.com, Panelist

Where:

Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan, 1605 Broadway, New York

The audio portion of the panel discussion will be available via live webcast on CCBN's Web site (www.ccbn.com). A video webcast will be available after the event. To register, please e-mail Danielle Goode, [e-mail].

When:

Wednesday, October 2, 2002, Breakfast and registration: 8:00 a.m. - 8:40 a.m.

Welcome address by CCBN CEO and First Call Founder Jeff Parker: 8:40 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Arthur Levitt Keynote Address: 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

"IR Web Sites and the New Disclosure Paradigm" Panel: 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

"Transparency and Webcasting" Panel: 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.