Charles Schwab to Acquire Chicago Software Company Compliance11

The Charles Schwab Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire Compliance11, Inc., a Chicago-based provider of cloud-based, regulatory compliance software. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2011, subject to customary closing conditions.

Based in Chicago and founded in 2005, Compliance11, Inc. is a leading provider of cloud-based compliance automation software for public companies, brokerage firms, investment advisors, hedge funds, private equity firms and pension funds. Its highly scalable and customizable platform provides companies with a series of compliance tools to assist in managing their disclosure, tracking, surveillance and reporting needs, and more efficiently manage employee compliance.

Schwab's Designated Brokerage Services (DBS) business has provided employee trade monitoring services to employers in regulated industries for more than 15 years and now serves over 650 corporate relationships who monitor over $30 billion in assets across 130,000 employee accounts. DBS provides employee trading data to these companies, which helps them manage their responsibilities, while providing their employees all of the products, services and support Schwab has to offer.

"The range of firms monitoring their employees' investing and trading activities to ensure compliance with industry regulations is expanding," stated Jim McCool, executive vice president and head of Institutional Services at Schwab. "A heightened regulatory focus and attention to corporate reputational risk create more reason than ever for firms toseek out efficient solutions to helpmeet their compliance obligations."

"This combination of capabilities will put Schwab in a unique position," added Trish Cox, senior vice president of Schwab Corporate Brokerage Services. "By making Compliance11's technology available with our own investing, trading andreporting systems we can create a one-of-a-kind solution that brings great advantages to the corporate marketplace. For example, with an integrated platform, employers would be able to streamline the process of monitoring employee trades to comply with regulations, avoiding potential delays and inefficiencies."

"We are delighted to be joining forces with Schwab," said Tad Mitchell, Compliance11 president and CEO. "Innovation and excellent customer service are what have made us both great companies. We're looking forward to the opportunity to take both of these to the next level."