INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 25, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Former Ohio Congressman Michael G. Oxley, co-author of the landmark Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the second INVESTIndiana Equity Conference, to be held September 9 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Oxley, now senior advisor to The NASDAQ OMX Group Board of Directors, and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels are the keynote speakers headlining the invitation-only investment community event.
INVESTIndiana is a biennial conference featuring equity presentations from executives of publicly traded companies headquartered in Indiana. The 15 participating companies represent various industry sectors and sizes, including companies in pharmaceuticals, health and life sciences, manufacturing, materials, energy, high-tech, and the banking industry. The audience is a mix of regional and Wall Street fund managers, analysts and investment professionals.
Oxley, former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, will speak about recent developments affecting the investment industry. He and U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes co-authored the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, legislation designed to help restore Americans' confidence in the capital markets and created a new accounting oversight board for public companies. Today, the former Congressman provides strategic advice to the NASDAQ board on public policy issues, international business developments and issues affecting corporate clients.
"It is an honor to share my perspective with the regional investment community and Indiana's corporate and governmental leaders," said Mr. Oxley. "As regulatory reforms were put into place less than a decade ago after Enron and related scandals, so has the government reacted in response to abuses in the financial system that helped fuel the economic downturn in this country. Will the changes help substantially? I'll discuss my thoughts about that at the conference."
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels will welcome conference attendees and provide perspective about Indiana's economy in his opening remarks.
Daniels came from a successful career in business and government before being elected the state's 49th governor in 2004, holding top management positions at the Hudson Institute and Eli Lilly and Company, and served as Chief of Staff to Senator Richard Lugar, Senior Advisor to President Ronald Reagan and Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush.
"The professionals who attend INVESTIndiana should gain valuable investment and economic insight and perspective from these two important figures," said Terry McWilliams, an investor relations professional who chairs the conference. "As the world focuses its attention on the Indianapolis 500 every Memorial Day weekend, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a fitting location to showcase the financial results and future plans of these dynamic Indiana companies."
The Indianapolis financial analyst community, through the http://www.membersocieties.org/indianapolis/default.aspx">CFA Society of Indianapolis, is formally involved with the event. As an organizing sponsor, the CFA Society serves on an advisory board of financial, corporate and investor relations professionals planning and overseeing the conference. Also involved as an organizing sponsor is the http://www.financialexecutives.org/eweb/startpage.aspx?site=ch_ind">Financial Executives International chapter of Indianapolis, whose members include chief financial officers, treasurers and other financial executives.
Attendance is on an invitation-only, first-come, first-serve basis, with conference costs (admission, continental breakfast, lunch, and keynote speakers) for qualified institutional investors and analysts underwritten by the conference and its sponsors. Registration is available through http://www.invest-ind.com/">www.invest-ind.com but a registration code is required. Call INVESTIndiana to discuss qualifications to attend.
The title sponsors of INVESTIndiana are http://www.crowehorwath.com/">Crowe Horwath LLP, one of the nation's largest public accounting and consulting firms, and http://www.icemiller.com/">Ice Miller LLP, one of the largest law firms based in the Midwest with several nationally recognized practice areas.
"We are proud to recognize and support Indiana's publicly traded companies who contribute significantly to the national and global economies," stated Steve Hackman, partner at Ice Miller LLP. "We have represented many of the presenting companies in business, finance and SEC matters and are pleased to help showcase these companies to the investment community."
Said Crowe Horwath Partner Joe Scheidler: "INVESTIndiana highlights a diversity of industries and companies. This conference supports why Indiana is an excellent place for business and investment. Not only do we have a number of companies returning to present from two years ago but we also have the support of key personalities in the public arena," Scheidler said. "As a national firm with Indiana roots that provides audit, tax, risk, advisory and performance services to public and private companies, supporting an equity conference such as INVESTIndiana is a natural fit for Crowe."
Support for the conference also comes from platinum sponsor http://www.hilliard.com/">Hilliard Lyons, which provides comprehensive financial services and advice to clients through more than 70 offices in 13 states. Gold sponsors include http://www.nasdaqomx.com/">NASDAQ OMX, http://www.sbauerfunds.com/">SBAuer Funds LLC, Merrill Corporation and http://www.twst.com/">Wall Street Transcript, and in-kind gold sponsors http://www.bitwisesolutions.com/">BitWise Solutions, http://www.curran-connors.com/">Curran & Connors, http://www.markeys.com/">Markey's Rental & Staging and http://www.optimumcompanies.com/">Optimum Print Solutions. The Department of Finance at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business is as an educational partner of the event.
More information can be found at INVESTIndiana's Web site: http://www.invest-ind.com/">www.invest-ind.com.
EDITOR NOTE: An INVESTIndiana logo is available for publication. It can be downloaded from:
http://www.meetmax.com/upload/images/event_4621/invest-in%20logo%20blue%20and%20white%20cropped%20j-peg%20wTM.JPG
A biography of Michael G. Oxley can be downloaded from:
http://www.meetmax.com/upload/event_4621/Michael%20G%20Oxley%20bio%203-2010.pdf
A publication-ready photo of Mr. Oxley is available for download from the following URL:
http://www.meetmax.com/upload/event_4621/Michael%20Oxley%20photo.jpg
A photo of Governor Daniels is available for download at:
http://www.meetmax.com/upload/event_4621/Governor%20Daniels%20headshot.JPG
A PDF of Gov. Daniels' biography can be found at:
http://www.meetmax.com/upload/event_4621/The%20Honorable%20Mitch%20Daniels.pdf