Lisbon member of Russell Bedford obtains licence to audit Portuguese listed companies

Worldwide accounting group Russell Bedford International has announced that its Lisbon member firm, J. Monteiro & Associados SROC, has obtained a licence from the Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários (CMVM) to perform financial audits of companies listed on the Lisbon Stock Exchange.

Commenting on his firm's success, managing partner José Monteiro explained: "This achievement is the result of our firm's recent growth together with our ability to demonstrate quality in all the services rendered to our clients."

J. Monteiro & Associados, a specialist audit firm with offices in Lisbon and Porto, joined Russell Bedford International in 2004. The firm is a registered audit practice - Sociedade de Revisores Oficiais de Contas (SROC) - and serves clients throughout Portugal. In addition to statutory financial audits, the services offered include voluntary audits, due diligence reviews and assistance with tax-related matters. Clients range from private companies to banks, insurance companies and governmental organisations.

The CMVM, the Portuguese Securities Market Commission, was established in 1991 to supervise and regulate entities operating within the securities and other financial instruments markets in Portugal.

For further information, contact José Monteiro at J. Monteiro & Associados on +351 21 712 0734 or Kempton Bedell-Harper at Russell Bedford International on +44 20 7410 0339. Alternatively, visit the website at www.russellbedford.com.

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Note to Editors

Russell Bedford International was established in 1983 by a group of medium-sized independent accounting practices aiming to counter the market dominance of the major multi-national accounting firms.

Russell Bedford is now a closely-connected global association of independent accounting and business consultancy firms in key locations around the world, and is represented by some 200 offices in more than 70 countries in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

All Russell Bedford affiliates are well-established firms offering international business advice and services to local and multinational clients. Most provide a full range of services comprising accounting, auditing, tax advice, general business guidance and financial consulting. In addition, many have special expertise in particular fields, such as international taxation or information technology.