David C. Dufendach, Partner, Valuation Services, Grant Thornton LLP to Speak at KC’s Event on Goodwill Impairment In the Face of the Global Financial Meltdown on 1/28/10

New York, NY, November 18, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The Knowledge Group/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, the leading producer of regulatory focused webcasts, has announced today David C. Dufendach, CPA/ABV, ASA, Partner, Valuation Services, Grant Thornton LLP will speak at the Knowledge Congress’ upcoming webcast entitled: “Goodwill Impairment In the Face of the Global Financial Meltdown”. This 2-hour event is scheduled for January 28, 2010, Thursday, at 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT. (For further details of the event and an updated list of panelists, please visit: http://www.knowledgecongress.org/event_2010_Goodwill_updated.html)

Event Synopsis:

The Global Financial meltdown had ushered in a flurry of goodwill impairment activity this year and some experts think this could get even worse in Q4. Most North American firms have opted to “take the pain” via a full impairment charges all at once, while their European counterparts have decided to whittle it down via many smaller charges hoping for a market rebound. It’s believed that US companies are taking the one time hits mainly because of possibility of SEC enforcement action. In any event, it’s clear on both sides of the pond that with values declining and the cost of refinancing steadily rising, valuations is a tough business.

The Knowledge Group is putting together a panel of distinguished professionals and experts who will help examine the approaches including the good, the bad, & the ugly of each. Join this live webcast to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the issues surrounding goodwill impairment in these turbulent financial times.

About David C. Dufendach, CPA/ABV, ASA

David C. Dufendach, CPA/ABV, ASA, Partner in Grant Thornton LLP’s Valuation Services Group, specializes in the valuation of businesses and business segments, intellectual property and intangible assets, financial instruments, derivatives, and related matters, for financial reporting and other purposes. Dave holds an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a BA in Business Administration from the University of Washington. Mr. Dufendach has published articles in Valuation Strategies and Business Valuation Review. He is a guest lecturer in the University of Washington MBA program and Law School, as well as the Seattle University MBA program. Mr. Dufendach is a current member of the AICPA Business Valuation Committee. He is also a member of the American Society of Appraisers, the American Institute of CPAs, and the Washington Society of CPAs.

About Grant Thornton LLP

Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International, one of the six global accounting, tax and business advisory organizations. Through member firms in more than 110 countries, including 50 offices in the United States, the partners and employees of Grant Thornton member firms provide personalized attention and the highest quality service to public and private clients around the globe.

For more information about David C. Dufendach and Grant Thornton LLP, please visit the website at www.grantthornton.com.

About The Knowledge Group, LLC/The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series

The Knowledge Congress is a series of live webcasts produced by The Knowledge Group, LLC, which examine trends, regulatory, and technology changes across a variety of industries. “We bring together the world's leading authorities and industry participants through informative two-hour webcasts that study the impact of changing regulations and help businesses succeed through proper regulatory compliance.” To contact or to register to an event, please visit: www.knowledgecongress.org.

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