FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                  97-116

 Meredith Cross, Deputy Director of the Division of Corporation
                        Finance, to Leave
                                
     December 17, 1997, Washington, DC  --  The Securities and
Exchange Commission today announced that Meredith Cross, deputy
director of the Division of Corporation Finance, will leave the
Commission at the end of January 1998 to become a partner at the
Washington, DC law firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering.

     Cross, who started at the Commission in September 1990 and
has served as deputy director of the Division of Corporation
Finance since 1994, will focus on corporate and securities law.

     SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt said, "We will miss Meredith's
leadership, professionalism, good humor and affable ways.  Her
practical and creative approach to problem-solving has been
instrumental in the SEC's ability to craft sensible regulatory
measures.  Meredith's counsel on a broad range of issues has been
invaluable to me and the Commission."

     Division Director Brian Lane, added, "Meredith's departure
will be a tremendous personal loss to me and the Division.  I
know she will be a great success in private practice."

     A successor has not been named yet.

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