The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) roundtable

CFTC ANNOUNCES APRIL 6, 2005 CPO and COMMODITY POOL INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE

Washington, D.C. - The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will hold a roundtable on Commodity Pool Operators (CPOs) and the commodity pool industry on Wednesday, April 6, 2005, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The roundtable is scheduled to be held in the first floor Hearing Room at the Commission’s Headquarters, 1155 21st Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

The roundtable will focus on the growth, innovation and regulation of the commodity pool industry over the last 30 years and the challenges and issues faced by the industry. There are approximately 1,900 CFTC-registered CPOs, which sponsor, operate or advise 3,500 commodity pools, holding more than $600 billion in net assets. The roundtable will have five panels composed of regulators, industry participants, investors and academics. Each panel will examine different topics and issues facing the commodity pool industry.

Acting Chairman Sharon Brown-Hruska, who will chair the roundtable, said “The CFTC has overseen the commodity pool industry for 30 years. This industry, which includes many of the largest hedge funds, plays an extremely important role in the functioning of the futures markets in the United States as well as the rest of the world. It is essential that the Commission understand, work with, and strive to enhance this important and growing industry. The roundtable will provide us with an excellent forum to accomplish these goals.”

The roundtable will be open to the public. A draft agenda and list of roundtable participants in PDF format is attached to the Press Release. The agenda, along with biographies of the panelists and presentations, in PDF format will be posted on the CFTC’s website – cftc.gov/cftc/cftchome – and will be updated as materials are received. For further information, contact the Commission’s Office of External Affairs at (202) 418-5080. # # #

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Office of External Affairs (202) 418-5080 Three Lafayette Centre 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20581 Release: #5061-05 For Release: March 24, 2005