It's hard enough to be a Big 4 firm these days that you don't need this. New York-based United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a little upset with any and all companies that are doing business in Iran and just because you claim that you are a protector of the capital markets, that doesn't earn you a free pass.
The Financial Times reports that UANI's latest target is none other than the House of Klynveld and the lobby group sent a letter to Tim Flynn stating their displeasure with KPMG's ties to their independent member firm in Iran, Bayat Rayan. Flynn, who is stepping down as the Chairman of KPMG this summer, probably isn't too psyched to have the firm lumped into the cross-hairs of UANI, who has relentlessly pressured companies to stop doing business in Iran.
The FT reported that the UANI set its sights on KPMG "after [a] week-long campaign against Ingersoll Rand ended with the Dublin-based diversified industrial company announcing on March 8 it was instructing its subsidiaries not to sell products ultimately destined for Iran."
We contacted KPMG for comment but have not yet heard back regarding a response from the firm. According to the letter, UANI will take "any and all action we deem necessary to hold KPMG accountable for its inappropriate business relationships with Iran," which sounds pretty serious.
Although we're not sure what 'any and all action' will entail but for T Fly's sake, we suggest he gets this resolved sooner rather than later. If he doesn't, he can expect calls from Bill O'Reilly and his mug next to Ahmadinejad's on the Factor.
KPMG is latest target for activists seeking to cut corporate ties to Iran [FT]
