S&P Forum to Examine Accounting Influence on Credit Markets Trends

Discussion will engage experts from across the spectrum on hot accounting
topics facing the capital markets

NEW YORK Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- With year-end reporting rapidly approaching, a
host of financial reporting constituents, including analysts,
standard-setters, auditors, regulators, and issuers are wrestling with a
number of accounting challenges. Along with issues related to finalizing and
analyzing current fiscal year reports, further questions remain about several
and quite significant looming changes to accounting and financial reporting
standards. Standard & Poor's hot topics conference "Accounting Influence on
Current and Future Credit Markets" to be held on December 10th in New York
will strive to deliver insights into how capital market participants are
tackling these issues. In particular, the conference will emphasize the
potential impact of these changes from a credit ratings perspective.

The interactive dialogue will consider what recent accounting and financial
reporting developments may mean for, and how they are affected by, the
economy, the continued challenging market and the changed landscape.
Additional front-of-mind industry topics to be addressed include fair value
accounting, off-balance-sheet and securitization activities, pension funding
and reporting, financial statements presentation and international financial
reporting standards.

Industry experts speaking at this complimentary forum will include:
-- Peter M. Carlson, Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting
Officer,
MetLife Inc.
-- Julie Erhardt, Deputy Chief Accountant, U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission
-- Patrick Finnegan, Board Member, International Accounting Standards
Board
-- Susan L. Freshour, Partner, Financial Services Industry, Deloitte &
Touche
-- James J. Leisenring, Board Member, International Accounting Standards
Board
-- Arthur Lindo, Associate Director and Chief Accountant, Federal Reserve
System
-- Matthew Schroeder, Managing Director, Head of Accounting Policy,
Goldman
Sachs, EITF member

-- Susan Stalnecker, Treasurer, DuPont

Standard & Poor's participants will be:
-- Neri Bukspan, Managing Director, Chief Quality Officer & Chief
Accountant
-- Joyce Joseph-Bell, Senior Director & North America Accounting
Specialist
Lead
-- Jonathan Nus, Director, Corporate & Government Ratings
-- Scott Sprinzen, Managing Director, Financial Institutions Ratings

-- David Wyss, Managing Director, Chief Economist

Event Details: Registration is complementary, but space is limited.

Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009
Time: 8:00 am - 12:15 pm (Breakfast will be served)
Location: The McGraw-Hill Auditorium, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
NY

A full conference agenda is available at:
http://www2.standardandpoors.com/spf/pdf/events/Accounting1209Agenda.pdf

Registration information can be found at:
http://profile.standardandpoors.com/content/accounting1209

Standard & Poor's, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), is
the world's foremost provider of independent credit ratings, indices, risk
evaluation, investment research and data. With offices in 23 countries and
markets, Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial
infrastructure and has played a leading role for nearly 150 years in providing
investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident
about their investment and financial decisions. For more information, visit
www.standardandpoors.com.

SOURCE Standard & Poor's

Members of the media wishing to attend the conference or obtain further
information should contact Jeff Sexton, +1-212-438-3448,
jeff_sexton@standardandpoors.com