ForwardThinking April/May 2017 Grant Thornton

ForwardThinking
Insights to help solve today’s most pressing issues
and tackle tomorrow’s challenges
April/May2017

ABOUT FORWARDTHINKING
ForwardThinking|April/May 2017
Today’s global business environment is marked by mounting regulatory requirements,
profound technology changes, and a complex and competitive marketplace. We seek
to bring high-quality service to our clients and relevant insights on the issues affecting
their businesses.
ForwardTftinking is a look ahead at the latest knowledge and insights available from
Grant Thornton LLP for our clients. It includes a collection of our research, thought
leadership and a schedule of upcoming webcasts and events.
The distinctive perspectives and featured events in ForwardTftinking aim to help our
clients navigate the opportunities, risks and challenges affecting their businesses.

THEFUTUREOFGROWTH
AND INDUSTRIES
TheFutureofGrowthandIndustries
WebcastSeries:TrendstoWatch for
2020
April 17, 2017
This webcast examines two major disruptors
impacting many industries as we look forward
to the next three to five years: a trend toward
populism and the impact of continuing
technology innovation. Join us to learn more
about how these disruptors might impact your
future vision.
WebcastsThought
leadership
TheFutureofGrowth and
Industries:Driving Growth,
ManagingDisruption
April 2017
This report outlines
challenges facing various
industries as they look toward
2020. The insights provided
include recent research
findings and ideas to prepare
your business for the future.

ForwardThinking|Q1 2017
TORECEIVE
ONGOING INSIGHTS:
• Download ForwardThinking, our bi-monthlyguide
to help you address today's pressing business
issues and tackle tomorrow's challenges
• Subscribe to receive regular communications,
newsletters and timely alerts
• Register for live webcasts or view
on-demand episodes

CULTURE
Thought leadership
TalentPlanningAccelerates
Performance forHigh-
GrowthCompanies
Attracting and retaining
talent is the first step to
having a high-performing,
healthy organization. To stay
competitive, high-growth
companies need to develop
and update their talent plans
to attract and retain the talent
they need. Yet, only 22% of
fast-growing businesses give
themselves an “A” at talent
planning. A few, fundamental
actions can make a
substantial difference.
Transforming an organization’s culture at strategic moments, whether during an integration or
implementation of a new long-term strategy or to simply stay competitive, can challenge even the most
progressive organizations. Sustaining a strong culture requires work from everyone, but especially from
senior leadership. By modeling and reinforcing the best possible behavior, employees will be better
prepared to navigate uncertainty and support their organization’s mission.
TrendsinFinancial
ExecutiveCompensation
April2017
Our annual survey, in
partnership with Financial
Executives International,
examines trends infinancial
executive compensation.
TAX
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIPTIONS
HumanCapital
BulletinNewsletter
Subscribe to our monthly
e-newsletter addressing
recent legislative, regulatory
and statutory compensation
and benefits issues and other
human capital matters.

Webcasts
CurrentDevelopmentsinExecutive
Compensation:ProxyInsights,
RegulatoryUpdatesandGlobal
CompensationIssues
May25, 2017
Tuneintoourwebcast as we discuss the latest
executive compensationdevelopments based
on ourworkwithpublic andprivatecompanies.
Wewillalso discuss proxyinsights, regulatory
updates andglobal equity compensation.
Sponsorships and events
WorldatWorkTotal Rewards
Users'Conference
May 7-10,2017
Washington, D.C.
The conference is one of
the premier events in the
compensation and benefits
arena. More than 1,200
attendees, 200 speakers and
100 solutions providers
typically attend. The
audience includes leaders in
total rewards, compensation,
sales compensation, executive
compensation, benefits and
work-life effectiveness.

GOVERNANCEAND
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Powerful trends are putting extreme pressure on organizations as regulatory demands continue to
change. The ability to respond quickly to regulatory requirements is critical for companies. Myriad rules
and regulations across all industries are affecting compliance efforts, further elevating reporting quality
and integrity discussions to the top of executive and board meetings.
ADVISORY
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIPTIONS
CorporateGovernorNewsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter
covering issues related
to compliance, corporate
governance, board member
roles and responsibilities,
internal controls, risk, fraud
detection and prevention,
and more.
ForensicAlertNewsletter
Subscribe to our periodic
newsletter to receive relevant
insights on timely topics to
guide the decision-making
process of in-house counsel
when confronted with fraud
and regulatory issues.
RiskPerspectives
Subscribe to our series
featuring content that dives
into the most critical risk and
compliance issues facing our
clients today. Content will
be delivered via a series of
surveys, reports, webcasts
and thought leadership.
TAXNEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIPTIONS
StateandLocal
ThinkingNewsletter
Subscribe toour monthly
e-newslettercovering
state andlocal
taxdevelopments.
TaxHotTopics Newsletter
Subscribe to our biweekly
e-newsletter addressing a
wide range of tax regulatory,
legal and legislative issues.

Thought leadership
FASBProposal Addresses
Accountingfor Down
RoundFeatures
FASB issues proposal to address
narrow aspects of distinguishing
liabilities fromequity.
FASBAccountingStandards
Update(ASU)Covers
Technical Corrections
andImprovements
The FASB recently issued ASU
2016-19, TechnicalCorrections
and Improvements, which
affects a wide variety of topics
in the codification and applies
to all reporting entities.
Highlights ofthe2016 AICPA
Conference onCurrent SEC
andPCAOBDevelopments:
WorkingTogethertoProtect
Investors
This publication provides a
summary of the key themes and
other important topics discussed
during the AICPA conference.
FASBMakesMoreTechnical
ChangestoRevenueGuidance
The Board issued ASU 2016-
20, Technical Corrections
and Improvements to Topic
606, Revenue from Contracts
with Customers, which affects
narrow aspects of the new
revenue recognition guidance.
FASBClarifies theDefinition
ofa ‘Business’
Qualifying as a Public
Business Entity (PBE) could
have a significant impact
on an entity’s financial
reporting, including different
transition and effective-date
requirements under new
accounting standards.
SEC ReleasesSmallEntity
ComplianceGuide
The Small Entity Compliance
Guide summarizes and
explains rules adopted by the
SEC, but it is not a substitute
for SEC rules. Only an
SEC ruleprovides complete
and definitive information
regarding its requirements.
2017PrivateCompanyAudit
CommitteeOutlook:What’sOn
YourAuditCommitteeAgenda?
Private company audit
committees have full agendas
and finite resources, which
can make keeping abreast of
certain items a challenge. This
is particularly so in these times
of ongoing disruption and
increasing risks — risks that
audit committees are responsible
for containing. Grant Thornton
has identified a number of items
for audit committees in private
companies to consider during
the course of 2017.
FASBSimplifies Goodwill
ImpairmentTest
The FASB issued ASU 2017-
04, Simplifying the Test for
Goodwill Impairment, which
amends how an entity measures
a goodwill impairment loss
by eliminating Step 2 from the
annual or interim goodwill
impairment test.
FASBAddressesComments
onDebtPremium
Amortization Proposal
FASB addressesthe comments
on debt premium amortization
proposal and highlights from
February 1, 2017 meeting.
Section 501(r)Audits
AreUnderway:HowYou
Can Prepare
All tax-exempt hospitals must
comply with the Internal
Revenue Code (IRC) Section
501(r) regulations. While the
regulations are not new, at
the outset they gave some
health systems pause, and
consideration of different
protocols andknowledge
sharing work streams that likely
did not exist before. This article
covers tips, tactics and tools so
you can perform a thorough
checkup on your compliance.
Final Regulations
Retroactively Affect
NonrecognitiononOutbound
Transfers ofForeign Goodwill
The Treasury and the
IRS recently issued final
regulations relating to
certain transfers of property
by U.S. persons to foreign
corporations (T.D. 9803).
FinCENExtendsGeneralFiling
DeadlineforForeignBankand
FinancialAccounts(FBAR),
ContinuesYearlyExtensionfor
Certain Individuals
The new annual due date for
filing Form 114, Report of
Foreign Bank and Financial
Accounts (FBAR) for foreign
financial accounts is April
15, 2017, with an automatic
extension for a six-month period
ending on October 15, 2017.
IRSIssuesFinal Regulations
onInformationReporting and
RecordMaintenance for
Certain Disregarded Entities
The Treasury and the IRS
recently released final
regulations (T.D. 9796) that
treat a domestic disregarded
entity wholly owned by a
foreign person as a domestic
corporation separate from
its owner.

Thought leadership
ProposedChanges toForm
5500 WouldHaveSignificant
Impacton Employers
Newly proposed changes to
benefit plan reporting on Form
5500 would have a significant
impact not only on employers
but also on participants,
fiduciaries and third-party
serviceproviders..
IRSReleases DraftProposed
Regulationsfor BBA
PartnershipAudits
Treasury and the IRS released
draft proposed regulations
(REG-136118-15) providing
detail into the administration of
the new centralized partnership
audit regime enacted as part of
the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA)
of 2015, which replaces the
partnership audit rules of the Tax
Equity and Fiscal Responsibility
Act of 1982 (TEFRA).
IRSModifiesExtendedDue
DatesforC CorporationFilers
On Feb. 7, 2017, the IRS released
a statement confirming that
calendar year C corporations
filing Form 1120, U.S.
Corporation Income Tax Return
that timely file an extension,
would be granted an automatic
six-month extension to file an
income taxreturn.
IRSAnnouncesList ofIssues
tobeTargeted asLarge
Business Audit‘Campaigns’
The IRS Large Business and
International (LB&I) division
announced on Jan. 31, 2017,
a list of 13 different campaigns
the government would pursue
as part of its move toward issue-
based examinations affecting
large and midsized businesses.
Envision and Achieve an
Optimal Future for Your
TaxDepartment
This article discusses the
benefits of adopting a vision
to help raise the focus of your
tax specialists from compliance
and transaction activities to
strategic collaboration and
planning. The result will be a
tax department that is acting as
an internal business partner and
contributing to the growth of the
whole organization.
RegulatoryRollback Could
Affect HowBanks Address
Risk
Mark Lastner, managing
director, Financial Services
practice, shares the suggestions
he is giving to his banking
clients to navigate the current
environment.

Webcasts
FinishingStrongintheASC606
Marathon:AnIn-DepthLookat
Steps1 and2 oftheNew
RevenueModel
April26, 2017
Inpart 2, we’ll revisit the scope of the new
revenue guidance inadditionto pointingout some
of the most common implementation challenges
inSteps 1 (Identifying the contract) and 2
(Identifying the performance obligations) of the
new5-step revenue model.
BeProactiveinPreparingYour
Partnershipfor 2018
April27, 2017
New "draftproposed" partnership auditrules
and possible tax reform legislation are likely to
fill2018 withchallenges and opportunities for
partnerships. This webcast willprovide highlights
of the potentialchanges and tips for preparing
for 2018 intoday’s uncertain environment.
NewLeaseAccountingStandard:
What You NeedtoKnow
April 5, 2017
Please joinus as Chris Stephenson, principal in
Grant Thornton's Financial Management
practice, takes a deep dive intothe new FASB
standard around lease accounting witha focus
on actions companies might take to implement
it. The discussion willbe moderated by Greg
Ross, our Real Estate practice leader, who
willalso share howthe standard affects real
estate companies.
Marathon:AnIn-DepthLook April
18, 2017
Inpart 1 of a 5-part webcast series, we’ll
examine the implementation process required to
design processes, integrate systems and
account for downstream impacts across the
business. Even as businesses finish their
technical accounting assessment process,
many may have underestimated the potential
pitfalls and overlooked best practices they need
to consider during the implementation process.

Webcasts
Not-For-ProfitAccounting,
RegulatoryandUniform
GuidanceUpdate
May24, 2017
This webcast willcover the latest accounting
and regulatory updates, witha focus on ASU
2016-14, Presentation of Financial Statements
of Not-for-Profit Entities and the federal Office
of Managementand Budget Uniform Guidance.
Our presenters willprovide updates on the status
of other current FASB projects, as wellas hot
topics including the newlease and revenue
recognition standards.
FinishingStrongintheASC 606
Marathon:AnIn-DepthLookat
Licensing,Modifications,and
OtherPotential Hurdles
June 13, 2017
Inpart 5, we’llexplore thenew licensing
guidance, as wellas some of themore
challenging areas of ASC 606, including
modifications and theprincipalversus
agent assessment.
SecuringIncentivesAround
RepatriatedFunds
May4, 2017
This program will walk you through real-life on-
shoring examples and review pertinent criteria
to identify best practices, as well as pitfalls to
avoid when attempting to secure incentives.
Marathon:AnIn-DepthLookatSteps
3 and4 oftheNewRevenueModel
May10, 2017
Inpart 3, we’ll explore some of the most
common implementation challenges in
applying Step 3 (Determining the transaction
price) and Step 4 (Allocating the transaction
price to the performance obligations).
Marathon:AnIn-DepthLookatStep5
andContractCosts
May23, 2017
Inpart 4, we’llexplore some of the most
common implementation challenges inapplying
Step 5 (recognizing revenue when or as an
entitysatisfies its performance obligations) and
the guidance on contract costs.

Association ofCertified Anti-
MoneyLaunderingSpecialists
(ACAMS)AnnualInternational
Anti-MoneyLaundering(AML)
&Financial CrimeConference
April 3-5,2017
Hollywood, FL
Grant Thornton is a sponsor
of this conference, which is
the most trusted source for
bringing together institutions
from around the world
with the goal of building a
united front against money
launderers, financial criminals
and terrorist organizations.
Conference attendees will
gather under one roof to
generate ideas and learn the
latest trends and techniques for
fighting financial crime.
UniversityofSanDiego
TransferPricing Symposium
April 27-28,2017
San Diego, CA
This symposium brings
together government, academic
and industry experts to
discuss critically important
international issues facing
today’s transfer pricing
professionals. You will gain
insights for strategies and
practices that you can apply to
your organization’s planning
and policies.
Private EquityInternational
(PEI)Compliance Forum
May 9-10,2017
NewYork, NY
of the PEI Compliance
Forum, which explores the
taxation, regulatory and
compliance issues that are
pertinent to private equity
operations professionals. Join
experienced chief compliance
officers, general counsels
and SEC officials who will
share their insights on the
latest topics relevant to the
compliance community.

GROWTHAND
VALUE CREATION
MiddleMarketQ42016:
HowConfidentare youinthe
TrumpAdministration?
Only time will tell what
the PresidentTrump
administration really means for
the middle market. But if the
first quarterly barometer taken
since November’s historicU.S.
presidential election is any
indication, business leaders
— whether reacting to more
positive economic indicatorsor
anticipating a more business-
friendly administration — are
very optimistic about the
future. In fact, confidence is
at the highest level since the
survey started more than five
years ago.
Ninety percent of companies grow for one year, but only 8% can do it five years in a row. Why?Because
sustained growth means new markets, new processes, new regulatory issues and new ways of operating,
all of which may introduce risk and delay success. For dynamic organizations to fully achieve their
objectives, financial measures and process efficiencies, new ways of working and stakeholder
relationships must grow.
Thought leadership
Performance Improvement
Can DriveSustainability
Excellence
As a relatively new
management concept,
environmental
is likely not integrated into the
overall management of your
organization. Learn how to
bridge this gap and discover
the two primary ways that
sustainability initiatives drive
improved profitability
and ROI.
ReignitingGrowthinaLow
GrowthEconomy
In a slow growth economy,
all companies are looking
for strategies to reignite their
business strategies.Our
National Managing Partner for
Clients, Market and Industries
Nichole Jordan shares her
insights on what companies
should do now, based on recent
research conducted by
Grant Thornton.
HowBetter DataCan Pave
theRoadtoRetailNirvana As
consumers’ love affair with
technology grows stronger and
the brick-and-mortar shopper
experience blends with the
digital world to become one
retail experience, retailers
are becoming savvier about
using data to keep a sharp
competitive edge. To achieve
retail nirvana, the customer
must get what they want
when they want it. In turn, the
retailer must have the tools to
deliver what customers need
when and where they need it.

5 QuestionsyouShouldbe
AskingtoPrepare for
theFuture
Nichole Jordan, national
managing partner, Markets,
Clients & Industry, poses five
questions to assess how well
you are prepared to navigate
change and prepare for
what’s ahead.
TheStateofTheNot-For-
Profit Sector in2017
Watch this video and learn
more about our fourth annual
report, State of the Not-for-
Profit Sector 2017. We offer
in-depth knowledge and
experienced-based insightson
important developments and
challenges facingnonprofit
leadership, and how to position
your organization for long-
termsuccess.
StateofHigherEducation
In2017 — Viewpoints,
Approaches andSolutions
Watch this video and learn
more about our sixth annual
report, State of Higher
Education in 2017. We offer
in-depth knowledge and
experienced-based insights
on important developments
andchallenges facing higher
education leadership, and how
to position your institution for
long-term success.
Thought leadership
ManufacturingConvergence
andthe Fourth
IndustrialRevolution
Jeff French, national managing
partner, Consumer and
Industrial Products practice,
describes what is driving the
change in the manufacturing
industry and how
manufacturers can seize new
opportunities.
KeepingUpWith
Convergence inthe
TechnologyIndustry
Steve Perkins,National
Managing Director,
Technology Industry Practice,
explains how convergence
in the technology industry is
affecting the value chain and
describes how this will change
the technology industry.
WorkingCapital: Finding
ExtraCash toFundGrowth
April2017
Most middle-marketbusinesses
are satisfied with their current
working capital performance.
But is their satisfaction
justified? At many companies,
if there’s enough money to
meet payroll and pay the bills,
the discussion on working
capital ends. That is a missed
opportunity, as even modest
improvements in working
capital performance can free up
millions of dollars for
strategic investments in
organizationalpriorities.
NationalCenter for the
Middle MarketReport
April2017
This quarterly report
and content series gauges
the sentiment of middle-
market organizations.
TheFuture ofGrowthand
Industries:DrivingGrowth,
ManagingDisruption
April2017
This report outlines
challenges facing various
industries as they look toward
2020. The insights provided
include recent research
findings and ideas to prepare
your business for the future.
TheFuture ofGrowth
andIndustriesofAsset
Management
May2017
Disruptive forces are
challenging norms in the
asset management industry.
Hedge fund companies cannot
control the forces of change,
but they have several "levers"
to influence organizational
value: create value; protect value
and transform value. Discover
future trends and business issues
impacting the future of the
hedge fund industry.
TheFutureofGrowthand
Industriesof Banking
May2017
Since the Great Recession,
banks have been trying to find
a new normal. The reality is
that there is none. There is
only the reality of disruptive
forces constantly challenging
banking industrynorms.
Banks cannot control these
forces of change, but they
have several levers to influence
organizational value. As banks
have struggled to devise a
robust and efficient approach
to these issues, this report
discusses future trends and
steps that banks can take in
tackling thesechallenges.
The Future of Growth and
Industries of Life Sciences
May2017
Disruptive forces are
life sciences industry. Life
sciences companiescannot
but they have several tools to
influence organizational value:
Create value; protect value and
transform value. Tfte Growtft
and Future of Life Sciences
Report explores the value levers
life sciences companies can
activate today to prepare for the
challenges andopportunities
oftomorrow.

Webcasts
TheFutureofGrowthandIndustries
WebcastSeries:TrendstoWatch for
2020
April 17, 2017
This webcast examines twomajor disruptors
impactingmany industries as we lookforwardto the
nextthree to five years: a trendtowardpopulism
and theimpactof continuing technologyinnovation.
Join us to learnmore abouthowthese disruptors
mightimpactyourfuture vision.
PrivateEquityand Transactions
April 18, 2017
As oilprices have recovered these past several
months, signs of optimism among energyinvestors
have emerged. Stability,however, remainselusive.
Join us as we examine what's aheadfor private
equityandtransactions intheenergy industry.
IndustriesofManufacturing
May2017
manufacturing companies are
trying to find a new normal;
the reality is that there is no
new normal, there is only
new. Disruptive forces are
manufacturing industry.
Manufacturing companies
cannot control the forces of
change, but they have several
levers to create, protect and
transform organizational
value. Tfte Growtft and Future
of Manufacturing Report
explores the value levers
manufacturing companies
can activate today to prepare
for the challenges and
opportunities of tomorrow.
IndustriesofTechnology
May2017
technology companies have
been trying to find a new
normal. The reality is there
is none. Disruptive forces
are challenging norms in the
technology industry.Although
technology companies cannot
they have several levers to
influence organizational value.
Thought leadership

A panel of C-suite executives
with successful private equity-
backed companies willdiscuss
the role of the private equity
investor, their experiences
working with private equity
and what makes a successful
partnership, as part of
InterGrowth 2017. The
panelists will also share first-
hand experiences and their
insights on value creation —
the opportunities, challenges
and lessons learned.
Sponsorships
and events
Middle-Market Insights
Theater–Live
From Intergrowth!
April 25,2017
Las Vegas,NV
ManufacturingSuccess:
Build,TransformandProtectValue
Into2020
May9, 2017
Manufacturing companies are trying to
finda new normal, but the reality is that
there is no new normal, there is only new.
Disruptive forces are challenging norms in
the manufacturing industry. Manufacturing
companies cannot control the forces of
change, but they have several levers to
influence organizational value. This webcast
willshare how to:
• Assess the disruptive forces impacting the
industry and companies withinthe industry
• Determine strategies to address issues
identifiedas future challenges
• Explain the value levers that companies can
activate to manage future risks
IndustriesofTechnology
May17, 2017
This webcast showcases research about
the futurechallenges for companies inthe
technology industry. Join Steve Perkins,
Grant Thornton's Technology practice leader,
as we explore the value levers technology
companies can activate today to prepare for
the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.
Webcasts

LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY
Thought leadership
Recommendations on
Modernizing ITAcquisitions
This article provides our
recommendations and
comments to the Senate
Finance Committee about
current IT modernization
and acquisition practices.
This includes our most recent
Federal Acquisition Executive
Survey, where we conducted
extensive interviews at
all levels of the federal
acquisition workforce. We
also outline our approach to
implement agile acquisitions
at government agencies.
Today’s organizations are working differently — they are facing global competition, changing customer
and employee expectations, evolving regulation and more. The strategic application and use of
technology can often help companies drive innovation and competitive advantage. Today’s technologies,
including cloud, social media and the Internet of things, can accelerate business performance and help
companies gain visibility into their operations and derive actionable insights to efficiently achieve
their objectives.
AgileAcquisition
ExecutionGuide This
guideis designed
for program and project
managers, as well as
procurement professionals.
The guide explains that the
root cause of many large-scale
IT initiative challenges can be
traced back to procurement
practices that presumethe
use of predictive, plan-based
implementation methods.
KeepingUpWith
Convergence inthe
TechnologyIndustry
Steve Perkins, National
Managing Director,
Technology Industry Practice,
explains how convergence in
the technology industry is
affecting the value chain and
describes how this will change
the technology industry.

Webcasts
IncludingTaleoinYourOracle
ERPInvestment
April 19, 2017
Oracle TaleoCloud is anindustry-leading talent
management solutionthatis partof Oracle’s
overallHuman CapitalManagement Cloud
Applications.The solutionoffers capabilities
necessary to supportan organization's needs in
theidentification andretention of its talent base.
The Oracle Taleo Cloud applicationscan
supplementan organization’sHCMsystems and
providethe tools necessary for yourhuman
resources (HR)business partners to meet
enterprise goals. During this presentationGrant
Thornton willdiscuss:
• HR talentmanagement challenges
• AboutOracle Taleo Cloud and ERP
• Implementation insights
Association for Computers
&Taxation(ACT):2017
AnnualConference
May 22-24,2017
Clearwater Beach,FL
This conference is tax and
technology focused, with
attendees primarily interested
in how to better automate
their corporate taxfunction.
AcceleratingArchitecturalTrends-
Platformasa Business Model
April 27, 2017
Tomorrow'stechnologywinners willbuildand
orchestratepervasive andcompellingplatforms
thatconnect producers and consumers.
Technology companies thatownsuccessful
platform communities willbe ableto tapintoand
monetize user-generated content, creativityand
data. This webcast explores:
• The emerging trends and associated risks
of platform communities
• Acquisition strategies: Pitfalls and
hiddenopportunities
• This session willhelpdevelop an
understandingof howtheplatform business
redefinesvaluecreation.

OPERATIONALEXCELLENCE
HowanApparel and
FootwearGiantMakes
SustainabilitytheNorm,
Notthe Exception
This article explores how
one apparel and footwear
giant is making sustainability
the norm, not the exception
within their organization.
HowManufacturers Can
DriveaSustainable
SupplyChain
Companies at the top of the
sustainability movement
know that teaming up
with their suppliers is key
to creating a sustainable
supply chain. This article
shares three critical steps
that manufacturers can
take in establishing a more
sustainable supply chain, and
five questions to consider
when changing suppliers.
Organizations are constantly challenged to flourish and gain advantage in an increasingly complex and
ever-changing environment. To maintain growth, organizations must remain flexible, agile and profitable,
which often requires new operating models to support the evolving needs of the business. The key is to
understand which business processes no longer make sense and which ones should remain, while
ensuring activities are being performed more efficiently and effectively and with less risk.
Thought leadership
AgileAcquisition:The7
Stepsfor Agile Buying
The article reviews seven steps
government can take to adapt
existing acquisition practices
to support Agile delivery
techniques and deliver more
value, faster.
TechnologyTransformation
atOCHOCandy-AQ&AWith
DenisRing
OCHO Candy shows its
love for candy lovers by
crafting organic alternatives to
traditional candy bars.. Denis
Ring is the founder at OCHO
Candy and has firsthand
experience learning how
technology can transform a
business. Denis spoke to us
about how technology helped
him increase production and
reduce cost of goods. He also
describes the role technology
plays in helping him innovate
his product line. Watch him
talk about the game-changing
role technology has played in
his business.

WorkingCapital: Finding
ExtraCash toFundGrowth
April2017
Most middle-market
businesses are satisfied with
their current working capital
performance. But is their
satisfaction justified? At many
companies, if there’s enough
money to meet payroll and
pay the bills, the discussion
on working capital ends. That
is a missed opportunity, as
even modest improvements in
working capital performance
can free up millions of dollars
for strategic investments in
organizational priorities.
YourSupplyChainor Your
Brand:Solvingfor Buyer
DemandandDynamics
April2017
Our article will cover
customer demand and
dynamics as key drivers in
supply chain management. It
will also highlight the need to
understand the impact of your
buyer base to make the right
optimization choices.
Thought leadership
Reinvestment:Incentivesfor
SupplyChainReshoring
April2017
The article will explore the U.S.
reinvestment plans, incentives
and how manufacturers can
optimize results in an on-
shoring environment.
SupplyChain Infographic
April2017
Your supply chain is critical
to sound corporate financial
performance. Optimize it
with integrated planning and
your business wins. Based on
the results of our Innovate
to Optimize tfte Financial
Performance of YourSupply
Cftain report, this top 10
list will highlight the most
valuable key performance
indicators of your supply
chain’s financial performance.
FinancialManagement
ResearchReport
May2017
Financial Executive
International (FEI) and
Grant Thornton explore
financial executives' most
pressing financialmanagement
business issues in a new joint
research report.
Financial Officer or
ValueOfficer?
May2017
In today's manufacturing
organization, CFOs are
expected to deliver more than
the financials. This article
will highlight the areas of
technology, risk and analytics
where manufacturing CFOs
are now spending time beyond
their traditional financial role.

Webcasts
StrengtheningYourNot-For-
ProfitOrganization'sBrand
April 19, 2017
Your brand is more thanjust your name and
logo — it’s the impression inthe minds of
everyone whois aware of your
organization. Itis shaped by your leaders,
employees, communications, website,
programs, partnerships, results and many
other elements. Maintaininga positive
brand requires considerable planning,
research, expertise and time. This webcast
willdiscuss the significant benefits to your
organization, as wellas the challenges
organizations face inbuilding and
maintaininga successful brand.
This webcast is presented exclusively for
Grant Thornton clients.
TransactionCosts:Whenisthe
SafeHarborNotSo Safe?
May 11, 2017
Join ourwebcast as we discuss situations
aroundthe treatmentof transaction costs
includinghowtheIRS has respondedto
certainpositionsthatsome may have
considered“safe."
LeadingEdge National
Association ofManufacturers
May 23,2017
Houston, TX
Your supply chain is critical
to sound corporate financial
performance. Optimize it
with integrated planning and
your business wins. This
event, in partnership with
the National Association of
Manufacturers, explores the
key attributes of optimization
—and how to effect change
—based on quantitativeand
qualitative feedback from
manufacturing executives.

THENEWADMINISTRATION’S
IMPACTON BUSINESS
TaxReformOutlook:
FrequentlyAskedQuestions
The potential for sweeping
tax changes is greater now
than in decades, but many
open questions remain.
Businesses and individuals
are scrambling to understand
when tax reform could be
enacted, when it would
be made effective, what is
actually being proposed, how
the proposals are likely to
evolve, and what taxpayers
can and should do before
reform is completed. Our
FAQs report addresses these
issues and more.
Only time will tell what the Donald Trump administration really means for business. Many companies are
patiently waiting to see how his policies will affect their industry – from trade to tax reform, health care and
more. Although there’s uncertainty surrounding the administration’s policy agenda, business leaders are
anticipating his policies with both curiosity and cautious optimism.
Thought leadership
TrumpandHouse
RepublicansStill Seeking
Agreement onBorder
Adjustability Proposal
The Trump administration
recently expressed wariness
over the border adjustability
proposal at the heart of the
GOP tax blueprint. House
Republicans want to make
business taxes “border
adjustable,” meaning that
gross receipts from exports
would be excluded from
income, while the cost of
any imported goods or parts
could not be deducted. The
Ways and Means Committee
is hurrying to convert its
blueprint into a full legislative
draft, but is facing skepticism
from Trump on
border adjustability.
TrumpIssuesOrders toHalt
TaxRegulationsand Attacks
ACA
President Trump used his
first week in office to issue a
pair of orders that will stem
the flow of tax regulations
and could lead to changes in
health care-related
tax guidance.

Thought leadership
HatchExpresses
ReservationsAboutHouse
TaxBill, PlansIndependent
SenateAction
Senate Finance Committee
Chair Orrin Hatch, R-Utah,
has raised concerns about
the “border adjustability”
proposal in the House tax
reform blueprint and said
the Senate will produce an
independent tax bill.
AffordableCare Act:
Repealingor Replacing the
AffordableCare Act is not as
Costly asyouThink— Or Is
It?
President Trump and the
Republican-led Congress
are fulfilling a pledge to
repeal and replace the Patient
Protection and Affordable
Care Act (ACA). We identify
the most important potential
changes that could affect
individuals, employers,
providers and others in the
health care arena.
TheTrumpAdministration’s
impactonHealthCare Anne
McGeorge, national
managing partner, Health
Care practice, talks about
some of the presidential
directives that will affect
health care companies.
SurvivingDisruption in
HigherEducation Mark
Oster, national
managing partner, not-for-
profit and higher education
practices, assesses how
higher education institutions
are faring in the face of
disruption.
Private EquityOutlookUnder
theTrumpAdministration Sal
Fira, national managing
partner, Private Equity
practice, shares an outlook
for the industry and describes
developments that could
result during the
Trump presidency.
TheTrumpAdministration’s
Effect ontheOil and
GasIndustry
Kevin Schroeder, national
managing partner, Energy
practice shares his thoughtson
how the new administration's
policies could affect
global demand.
Webcasts
TheCongressionalAddress:How
PresidentTrumpWill Affect
YourBusiness
President Trump outlinedhis vision for change during
his first address to the115th Congress on February
28. There is stilluncertainty aboutthe new
administration’s policyagenda, thoughbusiness
leaders are anticipatinghis policies withboth
curiosityandcautiousoptimism. Join us as we recap
President Trump’s legislativeandpolicyagenda, and
discuss theimplications for businesses. We’llexplore
howhis policies willaffect healthcare, bankingand
manufacturing,andhowtax reformcould affect
yourbusiness.

RISKMANAGEMENT
Cybersecurity 2.0: Think
Like aCybercriminal to
CombatThreats
Conventional thinking on
cyber security is that it is
past its expiration date.
Companies spend big dollars
to head off cyber threats with
mixed success. Meanwhile,
business leaders routinely
acknowledge that attacks
against their organization
aren’t a matter of if, but
when. Their nervousness is
driven by everyday scenarios
of cyberattacks turning into
business crises. What’s a
forward-looking enterprise
to do?
Intoday’s ever-changing business environment of market complexity, globalization and increasing investor
expectations, managing risk while protecting value is more important than ever. Companies understand the
need to be more proactive in managing their risk to mitigate losses, reduce the risk of reputation damage,
and more. Leading organizations will find ways to harness risk to help grow their business and achieve
exceptional performance.
Thought leadership
The key to managing
threats isn’t necessarily
greater investment or even
manpower. Instead, ittakes
the imagination of a criminal
— seeing your own enterprise
as they would see it – in order
to reach a higher state,
phase 2.0, of cyber
security preparedness.
Strategic Risk:
Manufacturers' Largest and
MostUnderfunded Business
Threat
A majority of manufacturers
view strategic riskas
their organization’s most
significant threat. Learn what
else Grant Thornton found
in its Governance, Risk and
Compliance Survey
of manufacturers.
Financial Services: Poised
and Prepared for the Next
GreatLeap?
Powerful trends are putting
extreme pressure on financial
services organizations
as regulatory demands
continue to change,
disruptive competitors
multiply and technology
advancements escalate. To
help industry executives
identify opportunities and
plan for 2017 and beyond,
Grant Thornton deployed
its annual Governance, Risk
and Compliance Survey,
highlighting trends, activities
and challenges facing
today’s leaders.

Thought leadership
Performance-DrivenRisk
Management: An
IntegratedApproach
April,2017
Pushing limits entails
risk-taking that high-
performing individuals and
organizations often take while
others shun. Yet, achieving
high performance in the
current business environment
demands an understanding
of not only risk and risk
management, but also truly
integrated risk management
and how to realize it. As a
result of true integration, an
organization can pursuehigh
performance by reinforcing
its value proposition at the
strategic level, protecting
and delivering valueat
the operational level, and
managing the full range of
risks at every level.
This approach amounts
to performance-driven
risk management in that it
enables the organization
to take risks that are worth
taking, avoid those that
could be devastating and
clearly perceive the difference
between the two.
Risk Management Society
(RIMS) Annual Conference
April 23-26,2017
Philadelphia,PA
of the RIMS Annual
Conference, which features
the world’s largest exhibition
dedicated to risk management
and also includes more than
400 speakers presenting
on the full spectrum of
risk management. Explore
the breadth of financial
risks together with the
identification of procedures
to avoid or minimize
their impact.

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