KPMG

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KPMG
Type Swiss Cooperative
Founded 1987; merger of Peat Marwick International and Klynveld Main Goerdeler
Headquarters Amsterdam, Netherlands
New York City, NY, U.S.
Key people Tim Flynn (Chairman and CEO)

John B. Harrison, Chairman KPMG Asia Pacific Region

Ben van der Veer, Chairman KPMG Europe, Middle East and Africa Region
Industry Professional services
Services Audit
Tax
Advisory
Revenue ▲$19.8 billion USD (2007)
Employees 123,000+
Website www.kpmg.com

KPMG is one of the largest professional services firms in the world. KPMG employs over 123,000 people[1] in a global network of member firms spanning over 145 countries[2]. Composite revenues of KPMG member firms in 2007 were $19.8 billion USD (17.4% growth from 2006)[1]. KPMG has three lines of services: audit services, tax services, and advisory services.

KPMG is a Big Four auditor, alongside PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

Contents

[edit] Name

The name of the firm, KPMG, is not actually an initialism. However, the roots of the name stem from four partners in the firms that merged to form KPMG.

Headquarters of KPMG LLP, the United States-based member firm of KPMG International, at 345 Park Avenue, New York City, New York.
Headquarters of KPMG LLP, the United States-based member firm of KPMG International, at 345 Park Avenue, New York City, New York.

[edit] History

  • In 1870, William Barclay Peat formed an accounting firm in London[3]
  • In 1877 accountancy firm Thomson McLintock opens in Glasgow[3]
  • In 1911, William Barclay Peat & Co. and Marwick Mitchell & Co. merged to form Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co, later known as Peat Marwick.
  • In 1979, Thomson McLintock forms KMG (Klynveld Main Goerdeler) a grouping of independent national practices to create a strong European-based international firm.[3]
  • In 1987 Thomson McLintock/KMG and Peat Marwick joined forces in the first mega-merger of large accounting firms and formed KPMG.[3]
  • In 1997, KPMG and Ernst & Young announced that they were to merge, in a manoeuvre largely seen as a spoiling tactic over the merger of Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand. However that merger, to form PricewaterhouseCoopers, was granted regulatory approval while the KPMG/Ernst & Young tie-up was later abandoned.[4]
  • In 2001, KPMG divested its U.S. consulting firm through an IPO of KPMG Consulting Inc, which is now called BearingPoint, Inc..[5]
  • In 2002, the UK and Dutch consulting arms were sold to Atos Origin.[6]
  • In 2003, KPMG agreed to pay $125 million to settle a lawsuit stemming from the firm's audits of the drug chain Rite Aid.[7]
  • In 2003, KPMG divested itself of its legal arm, Klegal.[8]
  • In 2004, KPMG agreed to pay $115 million to settle lawsuits stemming from the collapse of software company Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products NV.[9]
  • In 2005, the U.S. member firm admitted criminal wrongdoing in a multi-billion dollar tax shelter fraud.[10]
  • In 2006, Fannie Mae sued KPMG for malpractice for approving years of erroneous financial statements.[11]
  • In February 2007, KPMG Germany investigated for ignoring questionable payments in Siemens bribery case.[12]
  • In October 2007, KPMG's member firms in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein merged to form KPMG Europe LLP. They now have joint Chairmen, John Griffith-Jones and Ralf Nonnenmacher.[3]
  • In March 2008, KPMG accused of enabling “improper and imprudent practices” at New Century Financial, a failed mortgage company.[13]
  • In March 2008, KPMG agreed to pay $80 million to settle suits from Xerox shareholders over manipulated earnings reports.[14]

[edit] Legal structure and executives

Each national KPMG firm is an independent legal entity and is a member of KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative registered in the Swiss Canton of Zug. KPMG International changed its legal structure from a Swiss Verein to a cooperative under Swiss law in 2003.[15]

KPMG International is led by:

  • Timothy P. Flynn, Chairman and CEO of KPMG LLP (US), has led KPMG International since October 01 2007;
  • Carlson Tong and John B. Harrison, Chairman-Asia Pacific Region, Partner of KPMG in China and Hong Kong;
  • Timothy P. Flynn, Chairman-Americas Region, Chairman of KPMG in the United States;
  • Ben van der Veer, Chairman-Europe, Middle East and Africa Region, Chairman of KPMG in the Netherlands.
The 34 story KPMG Center in Dallas, Texas.
The 34 story KPMG Center in Dallas, Texas.

[edit] Services

KPMG offers the following services lines:[16]

  • Audit
  • Tax
  • Advisory

Audit: KPMG offers Services such as Statutory Audit, Audit related Services, and Financial Statement Audit

Tax: KPMG offers Business Tax services, and Personal Tax services.

Advisory: KPMG offers Transaction Services (M&A and Corporate Finance), Restructuring Services, IT Advisory, Financial Risk Management Services, Corporate Finance Services, Accounting Advisory Services, Business Performance Services, Forensics, and Internal Audit Services.

[edit] Audit clients

KPMG member firms serve as the independent auditors for a large number of major corporations:

[edit] Tax shelter fraud

Main article: KPMG tax shelter fraud

In early 2005, the United States member firm, KPMG LLP, was accused by the United States Department of Justice of fraud in marketing abusive tax shelters. KPMG LLP admitted criminal wrongdoing in creating fraudulent tax shelters to help wealthy clients avoid $2.5 billion in taxes and agreed to pay $456 million in penalties in exchange for a deferred prosecution agreement. KPMG LLP would not face criminal prosecution if it complied with the terms of its agreement with the government. On January 3, 2007, the criminal conspiracy charges against KPMG were dropped.[17] However, Federal Attorney Michael J. Garcia stated that the charges could be reinstated if KPMG does not continue to submit to continued monitorship through September 2008.[18]

Before the settlement, the firm, on the advice of its counsel Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, removed several tax partners and admitted "unlawful conduct" by those partners. The firm agreed to cooperate with DOJ's investigation and help prosecute former partners who had devised and sold the tax shelters. Additionally, the firm hired former U.S. district judge Sven Erik Holmes to monitor its legal and regulatory affairs.

[edit] Staff

KPMG is one of the top 10 companies for working mothers.[19] It is also ranked No. 71 on Fortune Magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For, voted for by employees.[20]

KPMG ranks No. 5 out of 125 among companies with the best training programs according to "Training Magazine".[21]

KPMG was the preferred employer among the Big Four accounting firms according to College Grad.com.[22] It was also ranked No.11 on the list of "50 Best Places to Launch a Career".[23]

[edit] Corporate Anthem and Internet Cliche

The firm has also achieved widespread notoriety for its corporate anthem, entitled "Our Vision of Global Strategy". The song has enjoyed cult status online.[24]

[edit] Sponsorship and Media

In February of 2008, Phil Mickelson, ranked one of the best golfers in the world, signed a three-year global sponsorship deal with KPMG. As part of the agreement, Mickelson will wear the KPMG logo on his head wear during all golf related appearances. Mickelson will also attend a number of KPMG sponsored marketing events.[25]

[edit] Notable current and former employees

[edit] Business

[edit] Politics and public service

[edit] Other

[edit] Media representation

Tax Me if You Can - PBS Frontline documentary into corporate tax avoidance and its implications, including the role of KPMG in tax related services

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b KPMG revenues grow 17.4%
  2. ^ About KPMG
  3. ^ a b c d e KPMG - History
  4. ^ Ernst & Young, KPMG merger to create US juggernaut
  5. ^ KPMG Consulting becomes Bearing Point
  6. ^ French Atos buys two KPMG consulting units
  7. ^ KPMG agrees to settle Rite Aid suit.
  8. ^ Are they off their trollies? New Statesman article
  9. ^ KPMG Pays $115 Million to Settle Suit
  10. ^ KPMG tax shelter case postponed
  11. ^ Fannie Sues KPMG for Approving Bad Numbers
  12. ^ KPMG Germany's Failure to Spot Siemens Problems Raises Questions
  13. ^ Report Assails Auditor for Work at Failed Home Lender
  14. ^ KPMG and Xerox Settle Securities Lawsuit
  15. ^ Handelsregister des Kantons Zug (Registration Number CH-020.6.900.276-5), http://hrazg.ch/
  16. ^ KPMG Global Services
  17. ^ Charge Against KPMG Dropped Carrie Johnson, January 4, 2007, Washington Post
  18. ^ Prosecutors end tax-shelter case against KPMG, dropping charge after settlement January 3, 2007, International Herald Tribune
  19. ^ Working Mother
  20. ^ Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For
  21. ^ Extract from Training Magazine
  22. ^ College Grad.com
  23. ^ Best Places to launch a career
  24. ^ IT anthems: KPMG
  25. ^ Mickelson signs agreement with KPMG LLP
  26. ^ 'Tis the season to project stats Jonah Keri, February 14, 2007, ESPN

[edit] External links

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Big Four auditors