KPMG'S e-Discovery Service Offering Positioned As "Visionary" In Analyst's Report

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, was positioned by Gartner, Inc., in the Visionaries Quadrant of the analyst organization's recent Magic Quadrant for e-Discovery Software* report.

"We believe Gartner's positioning of KPMG in the Visionaries Quadrant underscores our long-held view that KPMG's e-Discovery services help our clients more effectively meet their needs responding to discovery requests -- whether as part of a litigation, investigation or regulatory proceeding," said Richard H. Girgenti, a KPMG principal and leader of the firm's Forensic service line. "Many organizations have come to rely on our software and experienced litigation and consulting professionals to help cut through complex reservoirs of stored data to comply with e-discovery requests."

KPMG’s Lynne Doughtie Honored By Consulting Magazine

Big4.com, the premier social networking forum for professionals and alumni of Accenture, Andersen, BearingPoint, Capgemini, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC, reports that a KPMG LLP Vice-Chair and leader of Advisory has been named to Top 25 Consultants” for 2012 in the category of “Excellence in Leadership” by Consulting magazine.

Lynne M. Doughtie oversees a team of around 7,000 people in the Americas and is responsible for setting Advisory’s strategic direction. She also assists clients as they adapt and transform their business to compete and win in the new economy.

KPMG and Apptio Form Business Alliance to Offer Comprehensive IT Solution

KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, and Apptio, a leading provider of Technology Business Management (TBM) solutions, today announced the formation of a business alliance that can help clients strengthen their Information Technology organizations and processes.

Apptio's TBM solutions enable companies to manage the cost, quality and value of IT Services and key technology initiatives. Global enterprises in industries, such as financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and technology, rely on Apptio to manage more than $101 billion in annual IT spending.

KPMG will leverage Apptio's enterprise Software as a Service (SaaS) platform as well as its applications in IT strategy and CIO advisory engagements to help clients better understand how costs are flowing through their IT infrastructures. The increased understanding can help them make better decisions on key technology initiatives such as applications rationalization, platform standardization, data center consolidation, service-level optimization and storage optimization.

The alliance with Apptio is the latest evidence of the KPMG's growth strategy. "Alliances help us deliver differentiated solutions, technology specialization and complementary services that our clients expect from KPMG," said S. Singh Mecker, KPMG's head of strategic alliances and go-to-market partnerships.

Matt Bishop, KPMG's U.S. leader for IT strategy and performance advisory services, said many companies have expressed interest in transforming their IT departments so that they can deliver greater value.

"By combining KPMG's IT advisory practices with Apptio's TBM solutions, our clients will have a practical roadmap that promises to help them achieve their IT transformation goals," Bishop said.

KPMG has built an Apptio consulting network to deliver configuration services and IT optimization services for joint clients. The network is staffed by practitioners who have undergone extensive Apptio training and certification. Additionally, a broader team of KPMG IT strategy and performance client partners and consultants have been trained on the Apptio solution to help their clients drive IT transformation initiatives.

Sunny Gupta, president and chief executive officer at Apptio, said many Fortune 1000 companies have selected Apptio to achieve greater transparency into the cost of their IT products and services, and to drive significant optimization, process and organizational change.

"KPMG provides a complementary set of experience and services that our customers require to achieve their Technology Business Management objectives," Gupta said. "The deep specialization that KPMG brings to this alliance will lead to increased adoption of TBM in leading enterprises across the globe."

About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International.") KPMG International's member firms have 145,000 people, including more than 8,000 partners, in 152 countries.

About Apptio

Apptio is a leading provider of Technology Business Management (TBM) solutions for managing the business of IT. Apptio delivers highly automated and integrated IT processes including transparency, benchmarking, planning, and performance management, enabling CIOs to translate IT capabilities into a language that business leaders understand.

KPMG LLP's Claudia Saran Named to Consulting Magazine's 2011 Women Leaders in Consulting List

Claudia Saran, leader of KPMG LLP's People & Change services, has been named to Consulting magazine's 2011 list of Women Leaders in Consulting, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm announced today. Saran was recognized in the "Client Service" category and was one of only ten women honored overall.

Saran has more than 20 years' experience in consulting, and prior to her Advisory role at KPMG held leadership positions at several global management-consulting organizations. Working with clients in a variety of industries and geographies, she has led engagements in the areas of Organizational and Cultural Transformation, Change Management, Organization Design, Human Resource Function Optimization, and Leadership/Talent Management.

Lynne Doughtie, KPMG vice chair – Advisory, said, "Claudia represents the best of KPMG. In helping many of the world's leading organizations address core cultural and human capital issues, Claudia is at the forefront of one of the fastest growing and most strategically important areas we're seeing in the marketplace. Her accomplishments speak for themselves and she is well deserving of this distinguished honor."

Saran is a frequent speaker, appearing before organizations such as Women Corporate Directors (WCD), the Women's Foodservice Forum, and the Sourcing Interests Group, on topics including Organizational Transformation, Women in Leadership, and Strategic Change Management.

Saran said, "For me, this award reinforces the importance of women leaders as role models. All of this year's award recipients are highly capable women. Understanding that people look to you to set an example, and taking that role to heart, is one of the most important responsibilities of a leader."

KPMG's People & Change practice, launched by Saran in 2009, helps clients address their human capital and organization challenges. Saran is also a member of the Board of Directors of KPMG's U.S. member firm.

A member of KPMG's Women's Advisory Board, Saran serves as a mentor to many at KPMG, ranging from entry-level associates to her partner-level peers. She is also on the board of HFS Chicago Scholars, an organization that works with economically disadvantaged Chicago high school students who show academic and leadership promise. Saran is also a member of the Chicago Economic Club, the Kellogg Executive Women's Network, and the University of Illinois Alumni Association.

A resident of Chicago, Saran, holds an MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, Evanston, Ill., and a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ill.

About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International.") KPMG International's member firms have 138,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 150 countries.

KPMG LLP Completes Acquisition of Optimum Solutions

KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Optimum Solutions, a leading provider of management consulting and implementation services for organizations utilizing Oracle Corp.'s enterprise software. The acquisition was initially announced on September 29, 2011.

"The addition of Optimum Solutions immediately helps KPMG address the growing, broad-based demand for ERP and HR transformation capabilities we're seeing in the market," said John B. Veihmeyer, KPMG LLP Chairman and CEO. "We're very pleased to welcome Optimum's great team to KPMG and look forward to their smooth transition into the firm."

The Optimum acquisition strengthens KPMG's Oracle consulting business, helping clients use technology to transform key operations such as human capital management (HCM), finance and accounting, business intelligence and supply chain management.

"Optimum's experienced professionals enhance KPMG's system implementation capabilities and further support our ability to help clients anticipate market dynamics, define growth strategies, manage talent across borders and optimize their operations," said Lynne Doughtie, KPMG LLP vice chair - Advisory.

"The Optimum team is proud to be joining KPMG and realizing the tremendous opportunities we see in helping clients execute their large-scale enterprise transformation initiatives," said John Houtary, Chief Executive Officer of Optimum.

Financial terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.

About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International.") KPMG International's member firms have 138,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 150 countries.

About Optimum Solutions

Optimum Solutions is an Oracle Platinum Partner and leading implementer of Oracle® E-Business Suite, Oracle's PeopleSoft Enterprise and Oracle® Business Intelligence solutions. Combining superior product knowledge with a deep understanding of enterprise business processes and industry best practices, Optimum Solutions partners with clients to help support them in their strategic, tactical and transformation initiatives.

KPMG Acquiring Optimum Solutions to Strengthen Fast Growing Oracle Consulting Business

KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, today announced it has agreed to acquire Optimum Solutions, an Oracle Platinum Partner, strengthening KPMG's ability to help clients use technology to transform key operations such as human capital management (HCM), finance and accounting, business intelligence and supply chain management.

The transaction is expected to close later this fall. Financial terms will not be disclosed.

Founded in 1999 and based in San Francisco, Optimum provides management consulting and implementation services for organizations utilizing Oracle Corp.'s enterprise software.

As an industry-leading HCM Oracle solution provider, Optimum is strongly positioned to address clients' enterprise resource planning (ERP), human capital and business intelligence needs, helping them to more effectively and profitably manage their operations.

"Our clients are working harder than ever to transform their operations and effectively use technology to enable this change," said John B. Veihmeyer, Chairman and CEO of the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm. "Optimum's deep ERP expertise will enhance the ability of KPMG's existing Oracle implementation practice to help our clients address business needs through technology-enabled solutions, especially in the areas of HCM and business intelligence."

The combined offering will also help clients better leverage their human capital and empower their talent with the right information, at the right time, to improve performance and drive profitable growth. Optimum's focus on Oracle's latest Fusion HCM product suite - a key set of applications in Oracle's product strategy -- will add to KPMG's capabilities in this important area.

"Optimum's respected marketplace reputation and strong client base complement KPMG's fast- growing transformation capabilities, further enhancing our Oracle consulting services," Veihmeyer said.

John Houtary, Chief Executive Officer of Optimum, said, "Combining Optimum's enterprise business processes knowledge, industry-leading Oracle product expertise, and technology integration experience with the KPMG brand, global footprint and vast capabilities in people, process, technology and risk consulting, positions us extremely well to help our clients execute large-scale enterprise transformation initiatives. Joining the KPMG team takes Optimum to the next level in our ability to serve our clients."

Lynne M. Doughtie, recently announced KPMG LLP vice chair -- Advisory, added, "Optimum's highly experienced people and in-demand capabilities are directly aligned with KPMG's growth strategy. They're an ideal fit that will provide added value to clients from day one and will complement other KPMG investments in the business transformation space, including KPMG's recent acquisition of EquaTerra announced in February."

About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International.") KPMG International's member firms have 138,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 150 countries.

About Optimum Solutions

Optimum Solutions is an Oracle Platinum Partner and leading implementer of Oracle® E-Business Suite, Oracle's PeopleSoft Enterprise and Oracle® Business Intelligence solutions. Combining superior product knowledge with a deep understanding of enterprise business processes and industry best practices, Optimum Solutions partners with clients to help support them in their strategic, tactical and transformation initiatives.

KPMG LLP Names Lynne M. Doughtie Vice Chair - Advisory

Lynne M. Doughtie, 48, has been named vice chair -- Advisory, and Carl Carande, 46, has been named national managing partner -- Advisory, for KPMG LLP, according to an announcement by John B. Veihmeyer, Chairman and CEO of the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm.

Doughtie, who most recently served as national managing partner -- Advisory, will succeed Mark Goodburn, recently announced as global head of Advisory for KPMG International. Carande, who was previously KPMG LLP's national account leader for the banking and finance sector, will succeed Doughtie as national managing partner -- Advisory.

Doughtie will be a member of KPMG LLP's management committee and will lead Advisory for KPMG in the Americas Region, a network of KPMG member firms which includes more than 7,000 Advisory partners and professionals.

"Building on Advisory's exceptional success is critical to KPMG's growth strategy," Veihmeyer said. "Lynne's extensive leadership and client experience is ideally suited to help our clients as they respond to new risk environments, manage through rapidly changing public policy and regulatory reform, and take advantage of emerging trends such as Cloud, digital media and advanced data management."

Doughtie will also sit on KPMG International's global Advisory leadership team. Through this critical role, Doughtie will work closely with colleagues from around the world to ensure the global needs of KPMG member firm clients are seamlessly addressed across geographic borders.

"Lynne has a deep understanding of our clients' most important issues and has an outstanding track record of successfully leading broad and diverse teams," said Goodburn. "She brings a wealth of talent and will be a key voice among KPMG International's global Advisory leaders."

While serving as national managing partner -- Advisory, Doughtie has also helped lead KPMG LLP's service quality initiatives, advanced the firm's knowledge management capabilities and worked closely with several of the firm's largest accounts.

Earlier in her 25-year career with the firm, Doughtie held various regional IT Advisory and risk management leadership roles. She has also received a number of honors and recognitions, including Consulting Magazine's "Top Women Leaders in Consulting," Accounting Today's "Women in Accounting" and Diversity Journal's "Women Worth Watching."

Carl S. Carande, National Managing Partner -- Advisory

In his new national managing partner role, Carande will be responsible for teaming with Doughtie to execute KPMG LLP's Advisory growth strategy, people initiatives and service quality activities.

In his previous position, Carande served as the firm's national account leader for the banking and finance sector, leading several of the firm's large global accounts.

Prior to joining KPMG LLP, Carande spent 13 years at Bank of America where he held management positions in both their retail and commercial banking divisions. He also has deep expertise in merger integration, strategic planning and process reengineering.

"Carl's 25 years of experience and his success leading KPMG engagement teams at some of the world's top banking and financial service organizations has prepared him well for this new role," said Veihmeyer.

Henry Keizer, Deputy Chairman and COO of KPMG LLP said, "Lynne and Carl both bring impressive credentials to their new roles, and have demonstrated exceptional team building and management capabilities. We're very confident in their abilities to help our clients manage and execute their business strategies, particularly during these increasingly complex times."

Doughtie and Carande will assume their new roles on Oct. 1, 2011.

Biographical Information:

Lynne M. Doughtie, KPMG LLP Vice Chair -- Advisory

Lynne M. Doughtie has held several key leadership positions during her 25-year career with KPMG LLP and has extensive experience dealing with the complex needs of some of the firm's largest clients.

As national managing partner of KPMG's U.S. Advisory business, Doughtie was responsible for driving profitable growth of Advisory services and oversight of key people initiatives to maintain KPMG's recognition as an "Employer of Choice."

Doughtie's focus also included Advisory's quality initiatives – oversight of the tools, training and support that Advisory professionals receive to ensure they meet both regulatory mandates and KPMG's own rigorous standards for professionalism and integrity. She also led the practice's industries program and knowledge management function.

Doughtie served in an international capacity as the global Advisory Clients & Sectors leader, supporting several of KPMG member firms' largest global clients.

Drawing upon her earlier career with KPMG LLP, Doughtie brings extensive experience in audit, IT governance and controls, and enterprise risk management within a variety of industry sectors.

Doughtie is a graduate of Virginia Tech University where she received a B.S. in Accounting and earned her CPA in Virginia and New York.

Carl S. Carande, National Managing Partner -- Advisory

Carl Carande most recently served as national account leader for Banking and Finance in KPMG's U.S. Advisory business. Prior to joining the U.S. firm, Carl was the global corporate cash management pricing and analysis director for Bank of America.

Carande has 25 years of commercial and retail banking experience with major U.S. global and regional banks in the areas of merger integration, commercial product pricing and analysis, productivity modeling, process reengineering and internal control best practices.

He has been a member of KPMG LLP's financial risk management Advisory team specializing in financial services, post deal integration, and profit improvement.

Carande received his B.S. from California State University and his MBA from Golden Gate University.

About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"). KPMG International's member firms have 138,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 150 countries.

KPMG's Linda Gallagher Named to Consulting Magazine's 2011 'Top 25 Consultants' List

KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, announced today that Linda Gallagher, principal in KPMG's Advisory practice, has been named to Consulting magazine's list of the Top 25 Consultants for 2011.

Gallagher, recognized by Consulting for her "Excellence in Financial Services," leads KPMG's U.S. Financial Services Regulatory Practice. She and her team work with some of the largest global financial services firms to anticipate and address regulatory risks and challenges affecting business strategies and operations.

"I want to thank Consulting for recognizing my accomplishments, which truly reflect the work of so many talented people at KPMG," said Gallagher. "With such monumental change underway in the financial services industry, it's an exciting time to be a consultant. I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some of the world's leading organizations as they transform their businesses."

Mark A. Goodburn, KPMG LLP vice chairman and head of Advisory, added, "I couldn't think of a better choice for this recognition. In addition to Linda being one of our most talented leaders, she is also a wonderful person. I congratulate Linda on behalf of the leadership team at KPMG, and wish her continued success in the future."

"We were incredibly impressed with the 400 or so nominations we received this year," said Consulting Editor-in-Chief, Joe Kornik. "Each year, the Top 25 nominations get stronger, and this year we heard from a lot more clients than we normally do, which is fantastic."

Gallagher has more than 30 years of financial services experience, focusing primarily on regulatory matters. She founded KPMG's compliance practice, which has evolved into a large team of professionals who work directly with clients as they face unprecedented changes in financial regulation. She is also a key sponsor of KPMG's Financial Services Regulatory Reform Center of Excellence, dedicated to analyzing the implications of the Dodd-Frank Act across the financial industry.

Previously, Gallagher served as a Professional Accounting Fellow at the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the forerunner of the Office of Thrift Supervision, and was a three-year Advisory Board member of the American Bankers Association Regulatory Compliance Conference. She is a nationally recognized speaker and author on compliance and regulatory risk management and consumer protection topics.

A resident of Great Falls, Virginia, Gallagher earned a B.S. degree in Accounting from The University of Alabama.

About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International.") KPMG International's member firms have 138,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 150 countries.

KPMG Acquires Health Care Consultancy HIO Group Incorporated (HIO)

KPMG LLP (Canada) today announces the acquisition of HIO Group Incorporated (HIO), a leading operations and quality improvement health care consulting firm in Canada with Lean Six Sigma credentials. This deal strengthens KPMG's commitment to creating meaningful improvements in health care quality, access, and sustainability.

HIO is recognized for its ability to improve quality of care, reduce wait times, and lower costs for a range of health care clients.

"This latest addition to our health care portfolio is another strong example of KPMG's commitment to Canada's health care advisory practice. HIO's experience and expertise working with clients to tackle some of the toughest and most complex problems will significantly enhance our ability to work with clients to address the global challenge of providing affordable health care at the highest possible quality to citizens and patients alike," says Jeff Smith, Canadian Managing Partner of KPMG's Advisory practice.

HIO senior management and staff will be integrated into KPMG's Advisory practice. The HIO team includes clinicians, engineers, senior managers, and management consultants with extensive experience in advising clients across the health care continuum (governments, health authorities, hospitals and community organizations). HIO's core expertise includes:

• Reducing patient wait times (e.g. emergency care, surgery, diagnostic imaging)
• Improving quality of care (e.g. lowering readmission rates)
• Improving efficiency and value (e.g. inventory, logistics)
• Training executives, clinicians, and staff (e.g. lean health care certification).

"HIO has developed a great reputation for working collaboratively with clients to use evidence to improve quality and performance outcomes for patients," says Georgina Black, National Healthcare Practice Leader at KPMG.

HIO has worked with over 65 hospitals to support performance improvement initiatives that have reduced wait times and paperwork so that clinicians can spend more time with patients, and build skill sets within health care providers so that continuous improvement becomes part of the organization's culture.

"This deal brings together HIO's operations and quality improvement expertise with the strategy and system transformation specialization of KPMG" said Dylan Hardy, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of HIO. "It represents the combination of two health care practices that share a vision for transforming the performance and sustainability of Canadian health care," added Gordon Burrill, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of HIO.

This transaction supports KPMG's growth strategy, which in part focuses on developing opportunities in targeted high-demand market sectors. KPMG is a leader in the Canadian healthcare advisory industry.

KPMG LLP the audit, tax, and advisory firm, a Canadian limited liability partnership established under the laws of Ontario, is the Canadian member firm of KPMG International. KPMG International's member firms have 140,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 146 countries.

KPMG Acquires Edmonton-Based Sumera Management Consulting

KPMG LLP (Canada) has announced the acquisition of Sumera Management Consulting.

Sumera is a fast-growing firm focused on strategy and organizational effectiveness in the public, healthcare, and social services sectors. Sumera's senior management and staff will be fully integrated into KPMG's Advisory practice in Alberta.

"This significantly increases our capabilities, giving KPMG an edge as the top tier Advisory firm, particularly in the high-growth area of healthcare," says Jeff Smith, Canadian Managing Partner of KPMG's Advisory practice.

The acquisition also brings together two similar cultures with a track record for improving quality, performance outcomes, and fiscal sustainability in the public sector. "Our clients will benefit from the increased capability and experience of two teams coming together to provide solutions to a variety of complex problems in the health and social services sector in Western Canada," says Georgina Black, National Healthcare Practice Leader at KPMG. "Nationally, this acquisition supports KPMG's strategy to help our clients successfully address the global challenge to provide affordable healthcare at the highest possible quality."

Sumera is recognized for assisting public sector clients in strategy and planning, program development, systems review, and evaluation and performance measurement.

"We are truly excited to be joining the KPMG family," says Rob Skrypnek, CEO and Managing Director of Sumera Management Consulting. "We strongly believe that this new partnership will result in exceptional service and outcomes for our clients in Alberta, Western Canada, and nationally."

This transaction supports KPMG's growth strategy, which in part focuses on developing opportunities in targeted high-demand market sectors; the firm is a leader in the Canadian healthcare advisory sector.

KPMG Corporate Finance LLC Advises RWD Technologies, LLC on Sale to General Physics Corporation

KPMG Corporate Finance LLC, a leading middle market investment bank, today announced that it was the exclusive financial adviser to RWD Technologies, LLC ("RWD" or the "Company") on the sale to General Physics Corporation (GP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE: GPX). It is expected that the deal will close in approximately 60 days.

RWD Technologies, LLC is a leading provider of training, operational performance-improvement solutions and strategic consulting services. Headquartered in Baltimore, with offices throughout North America, Europe, and South America, RWD was recently named one of Training Industry's Top 20 IT Training Companies for the third consecutive year, and serves Fortune 500 clients in a variety of industries including manufacturing, energy, automotive, healthcare, and the public sector. General Physics Corporation is a leading global performance improvement solutions provider of sales and technical training, e-Learning solutions, management consulting and engineering services.

"We are very pleased to have advised RWD on the successful sale of its consulting services, training and operational performance-improvement solutions business to General Physics Corporation," said Stephen Guy, Managing Director with KPMG Corporate Finance LLC in Baltimore, who led KPMG's investment banking deal team working with RWD. "We're privileged to have advised the shareholders of RWD on back-to-back sale transactions seeking to maximize the value of the entire business enterprise."

After KPMG Corporate Finance LLC helped RWD successfully divest of its software division in July 2010, RWD's shareholders sought a strategic partner for the legacy training and consulting business that could leverage the company's strong growth prospects, blue-chip customer base, and broad service offerings.

"With last year's sale of our software division to ANCILE Solutions, Inc. and the restructuring of our consulting business, RWD has undergone significant changes over the past year," said Laurens "Mac" MacLure, Jr., President and CEO of RWD Technologies. "As we continued to focus on the growth of our core training and performance improvement services, we felt that a transaction with GP would offer a better growth platform for our business. KPMG Corporate Finance was instrumental in identifying this deal, highlighting RWD's key attributes to prospective acquirers and negotiating a great result for the shareholders."

MacLure added, "KPMG Corporate Finance has been our trusted adviser on both sale transactions, providing constant support and advice throughout the process and was able to deliver a successful transaction that exceeded the shareholders' expectations. The combination of RWD and GP will result in greater market power and a formidable performance improvement consulting firm."

About KPMG Corporate Finance LLC

KPMG Corporate Finance LLC provides a broad range of investment banking and advisory services to its domestic and international clients. Operating in 82 countries, KPMG International's member firms' corporate finance practices (KPMG) comprise more than 2,100 professionals who are able to meet the needs of clients across the globe. As a leading financial adviser, KPMG ranked first globally in 2010 completing 269 deals totaling US$16.5 billion, according to Thomson Reuters SDC's global M&A middle market league tables.

KPMG Corporate Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is a member of FINRA and SIPC and is registered as a broker dealer with the SEC. KPMG Corporate Finance LLC is a subsidiary of KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. For general inquiries regarding KPMG Corporate Finance, please contact U.S. Leader Phil Isom at 312-665-1911.

About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.us.kpmg.com), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International.") KPMG International's member firms have 138,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 150 countries.

ITSMA Study Shows IBM and HP Top the List for Consulting and Technology Services Brands

ITSMA saw some significant changes in its Tenth Annual Brand Tracking Study for Professional Services and Solutions. The study results show that IBM still tops the list for mentions when buyers name consulting and technology services firms; however, for the first time, HP has dethroned Accenture in second place for top-of-mind awareness. Indian-heritage companies, including Cognizant, HCL, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Wipro, are making progress with building their brands, although they still lag the US- and European-based providers.

The study also shows that outsourcing is an area of opportunity for services and solutions providers. While the majority of buyers that are currently not outsourcing have no intention of doing so in the near future, one-third of those that currently outsource expect to outsource even more. This points to the importance and value of targeted marketing programs, such as account-based marketing, that are successful in growing business with current clients.

Knowing a client’s business needs, delivering on those needs, and saving a client money are most important to buyers. Given the continuing conservative investment environment, it came as no surprise that “is able to save you money” landed among the top requirements. Buyers of professional services and solutions will choose the company that knows them best and can get the job done with the least amount of risk. They want a trusted business partner who understands their business needs and will deliver on those.

ITSMA IDENTIFIES A FEW LEADERS AND A LOT OF FOLLOWERS

ITSMA determines brand leadership by assigning each company a Brand Equity Index (BEI) score, which is calculated by weighting and summing individual firms’ ratings for unaided awareness, aided awareness, top-of-mind recall, familiarity, and favorability.

Based on its BEI, IBM emerges with the highest brand equity for the examined professional services firms. Other top achievers include HP and Accenture. The next tier of BEI ranked companies includes Capgemini, Deloitte, and KPMG.

In all, there are a few market leaders and a large pack of followers; the market remains fragmented with plenty of opportunity. “Other” companies, or those named only once, commanded 40% of the unaided awareness.

BRANDING IS AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENTIATOR

ITSMA’s Senior Vice President of Research, Julie Schwartz, observes: “Strong brands are still the cornerstone of successful Consulting and Technology Services firms. Marketers use branding to differentiate their companies from competitors, which is especially important in an environment where they are “losing control” of the message due to the rise of social media. Given the challenges, it is surprising how few companies take a comprehensive approach to understanding their brand position and reputation.”

METHODOLOGY

ITSMA interviewed 510 senior IT and business decision makers based in the US, UK, France, Germany, Brazil, and Australia. Study respondents all held director, vice president, or C-level positions and represented organizations with revenue or operating budgets ranging from $100 million to over $20 billion in seven major industries:

• Communications
• Energy/utilities
• Financial services
• Healthcare
• Life Sciences
• Manufacturing
• Public sector

Respondents qualified for inclusion based on their involvement in purchasing professional services and solutions, defined as “technology and/or related business services (such as consulting, systems integration or implementation, or outsourcing) applied to address customer business objectives and valued at $100,000 or more.” The report examined 13 professional services and solutions firms, including Accenture, Capgemini, Cognizant, CSC, Deloitte, HCL, HP, IBM Global Services, Infosys, KPMG, Mahindra Satyam, TCS, and Wipro.

For more information on the study, please see http://www.itsma.com/research/professional-services-and-solutions-2010-study/
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About ITSMA

ITSMA specializes in helping companies market and sell services and solutions more effectively. We work with the world's leading technology, communications, and professional services providers to generate increased demand, strengthen customer relationships, and improve brand differentiation. ITSMA annual program clients include business leaders such as AT&T, Cisco, Cognizant, CSC, Deloitte, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, and Tata Consultancy Services, among others. Our comprehensive research, consulting, and training on topics including ITSMA Account-Based Marketing℠, Brand Positioning, and Solutions Development provide the insight and experience companies need to improve business results. ITSMA is based near Boston, and has offices in London and Tokyo. Learn more at http://www.itsma.com/.

KPMG Acquires Ledjit Consulting Inc.

KPMG LLP (Canada) announced today that it has acquired Ledjit Consulting Inc., Canada's premiere e-Discovery and Information Management (EDD/IM) firm specialized in the business of Bridging the Gap between IT and the Law®. With this acquisition, KPMG becomes Canada's first firm offering all of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM), expanding on the services in which the firm is already a recognized leader. Ledjit's client base, including a variety of multi-national corporations, will benefit from KPMG's depth and breadth of Advisory knowledge and skills.

"The addition of Ledjit professionals and their e-discovery skills positions KPMG as a leading Advisor to corporations and law firms on how to proactively manage records from creation to destruction, and in the course of litigation and investigation. We are building on our ability to deliver strategies that enable organizations to become more efficient and effective in all sectors," said Bill Thomas, CEO and Senior Partner of KPMG.

Ledjit's former president, Dominic Jaar, is one of the few Canadians to be recognized as a North American thought leader in the information management field. He and his Ledjit colleagues are highly regarded in the legal community across the country and abroad. All members of the Ledjit team have joined KPMG and will work with the firm's existing E-Discovery practice by complementing it with an information management specialty.

"Information management (not exclusively related to litigation), like records retention, is becoming a significant focus for major organizations," said Jaar, Associate Partner. "In the case of litigation, General Counsel are looking for cost-effective solutions to ensure the defensibility of their documents preservation and production efforts. This takes them into the Chief Information Officer's (CIO) or the Chief Technology Officer's (CTO) space which require the latter to understand their organization's legal obligations and have proven processes and procedures in place. KPMG now has a niche in bridging this gap," he said. In combination with recent acquisitions, this transaction continues to position KPMG as a leader in helping organizations transform their business operations and achieve their strategies.

About KPMG

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax, and advisory firm, a Canadian limited liability partnership established under the laws of Ontario, is the Canadian member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"). KPMG International's member firms have over 140,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 146 countries.

KPMG Report: Recession Hastening Move to Indirect Taxation as Governments Act to Increase Revenues

An urgent need for more revenue is pushing many governments into active moves to increase the tax take from indirect taxes, and a worldwide broadening of the tax base for corporate income taxes, KPMG International’s latest annual survey of tax rates affecting business has found.

Figures from KPMG’s 2009 Corporate and Indirect Tax Rate Survey showed that the long term slide in tax rates applied to company profits in Europe and Latin America has come to a halt in 2009.

But while this may be a pause before competitive pressures continue to drive corporate tax rates lower, there are some clear signs that any further cuts are likely to be paid for by widespread restrictions on tax allowances and tighter enforcement.

The survey shows that in Latin America, the average corporate tax rate this year was unchanged at 26.9 percent, the first time there has been no cut in rates since 2004.

In Europe, average rates stayed at 23.2 percent, the first time in 13 years that they have failed to fall year-on-year.

Only in the Asia Pacific region has the average rate this year matched the cuts of previous years, falling from 28.4 percent in 2008 to 27.5 percent in 2009.

Looking at indirect taxes, mainly Value Added Tax (VAT) or Goods and Services Tax (GST), rates in Europe have risen from 19.5 percent to 19.8 percent and in Latin America 15.9 percent to 16.2 percent.

Among the Asia-Pacific countries there was a marginal drop in indirect tax rate from 10.9 percent to 10.8 percent.

“Indirect taxes are generally very stable.” Said Niall Campbell, KPMG’s Global Head of Indirect Tax “Up until this year, taxes on corporate profits have tended to decline each year while indirect taxes have stayed roughly the same. So for the past five or six years, revenues from indirect taxes have quietly been contributing a larger and larger part of many government incomes.

“But now we are seeing more active moves in this direction. The number of countries with indirect tax systems is now over 150 and rising annually. Those governments that already have these systems are widening the range of services that attract VAT. Rates in Asia-Pacific are expected to rise as their systems develop and mature, and increases already planned are likely to take the average in the European Union up to 20 percent next year.

“All this is clear evidence of a major long term change in the way that many governments are funded. For companies, it means that the management of indirect taxes will become much more important.”

Turning to taxes on profits, many countries have used them as a competitive tool to attract corporate investment. But the urgent need for tax revenues to plug holes in public budgets around the world, as a result of the global recession, seems to have forced a subtle change in this policy.

This year, many governments have acted to widen and strengthen their tax bases by measures including:

* restricting the circumstances under which companies can use losses to reduce taxable profits,
* taking a more aggressive approach to enforcing transfer pricing rules,
* reducing the tax deductibility of interest payments.

At the same time, there has been a significant increase in international co-operation among tax authorities, especially on action against tax havens and exchange of information. It remains to be seen whether that co-operation is converted into pressure on those countries with the lowest rates to move closer to the average.

“It is likely that headline corporate tax rates will resume their fall in time, but companies are likely to find themselves paying for the reduced rate in other ways,” said Wilbert Kannekens, KPMG’s Global Head of International Corporate Tax. Overall effective tax rates for global companies may well rise, due to the broadening of the tax base.

“We might also be seeing the beginnings of renewed discussion on worldwide rather than territorial taxation. If that occurs, then the financial crisis will truly have triggered a revolution in the way companies are taxed as well as altering the dynamics of tax competition .”

Based on our analysis of global trends and on our professionals experiences throughout our network, KPMG firms have developed an approach, Driving Indirect Tax Performance, designed to assist global businesses in this assessment. This approach provides a practical framework within which the twin objectives of managing risk and creating value can be achieved, effectively and efficiently. View more information.