ICI General Membership Meeting, Largest Gathering of Mutual Fund Industry, Scheduled for May 11-13

Washington, DC, April 6, 2005 – The Investment Company Institute’s 2005 General Membership Meeting (GMM) will be held Wednesday, May 11 through Friday, May 13 in Washington, DC. The meeting is the largest annual gathering of the nation’s mutual fund executives and service providers. 

The conference theme, “Our Commitment: Shareholders First,” is a reference to the fund industry's responsibilities to the 92 million Americans who own mutual fund shares.

Those responsibilities will be the main focus of this year’s program. The opening session is a panel discussion titled "Shareholders First," moderated by Boston Research Group President Warren Cormier, during which industry leaders will analyze video clips of recent shareholder interviews. The three-day program will also feature panel discussions on changing investor behavior and investor education, an address by ICI President Paul Schott Stevens, and a two-day series of concurrent track sessions on the following topics:

• Compelling Business Issues,
• The Mutual Fund Investor, and
• Mutual Fund Distribution and Media Perspectives.

Other highlights of the program include:

Thursday, May 12, Keynote Address. Gordon Bethune, former CEO and Chairman of Continental Airlines, will discuss the importance of customer service and strong corporate ethics.

Thursday, May 12, Luncheon Program. Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author of Tipping Point and Blink, will discuss his books and link sociological and physiological studies with the everyday and mundane, and make connections between new ideas and older problems.

Friday, May 13, Closing Session. A panel of industry equity analysts will share their views about the key opportunities and challenges facing the asset management industry. They will share their views on what the fund industry might look like in five years.

Registration is $650 for Institute members and $1,200 for nonmembers.