KPMG Continues To Boost Its Alternative Investment Funds Practice With Several New Hires

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- KPMG, LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, is adding several new hires to its Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) practice's national team, in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The practice is also making additional moves to boost experience and expertise in alternative investments in the firm's West Coast offices.

"KPMG is clearly dedicated to serving the Alternative Investments Industry and we are continuing to invest our resources to further broaden and enhance our team, which includes bringing in some of the very best people in the industry," said Al Fichera, national partner in charge, Alternative Investment Funds – Audit.

The Alternative Investments industry faces a series of challenges presented by globalization and by the evolving regulatory landscape in the U.S., Asia and Europe. In particular, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), private fund systemic risk reporting (Form PF), and the Alternative Investment Fund Manager's (AIFM) Directive place substantial new reporting and disclosure requirements upon alternative investment funds.

"KPMG is determined to put in place the best team of talent in the industry focusing on serving Alternative Investment firms, large, medium and small," said Chuck Walker, national partner in charge, Alternative Investment Funds – Tax.  

The new hires include:

Martin A. Griffiths, Principal
Martin A. Griffiths has joined the Los Angeles office as a principal in the Federal Tax practice. Martin, who has 27 years of real estate experience, will be KPMG's West Coast real estate tax practice lead. Martin also has extensive experience with pass-through entities, including real estate funds and real estate investment trusts (REITs).  Before joining KPMG, he was senior vice president at Irvine Company, overseeing its income and property tax group.

K. Peter Ritter, Principal
K. Peter Ritter has joined KPMG as a principal in KPMG LLP's San Francisco Federal Tax practice. He has more than 19 years of experience advising clients on a wide variety of federal income tax matters.  Pete came to KPMG from the law firm O'Melveny & Myers LLP where he was a tax partner resident in its San Francisco office and where he gained extensive experience in the Alternative Investments sector. He has broad experience in areas relating to hedge funds, private equity funds and real estate funds.  In addition, Pete has significant expertise in connection with the formation, operation and liquidation of public and private REITs.

Dan Prager, Managing Director
Daniel (Dan) Prager has joined KPMG as a managing director in its Federal Tax AIF practice. Based in Los Angeles, he will focus on helping grow the AIF practice in the West. He is a valuable addition to the team, having 13 years of domestic and international tax experience. Dan most recently served as head of Corporate Finance for Telefonica Czech Republic. Earlier in his career he was the Vice President for tax at Ares Management and prior to that he held several positions at KPMG in the firm's Mergers and Acquisitions practice.

In addition,

Richard Hinton, Seconded Partner
Richard Hinton has joined KPMG's San Francisco AIF practice, as a Seconded Partner with a focus on the hedge fund industry. Richard has 16 years of experience with KPMG, and has held several positions within the audit and advisory functions, both in the UK and globally. Previously, as an audit engagement partner in London, he provided audit and risk advisory services to a portfolio of hedge funds, pension funds, investment managers and administrators. Richard also established and led the team responsible for rolling out KPMG's FATCA proposition to clients in the United Kingdom.

Graeme Fletcher, Principal
Graeme M. Fletcher is a principal in International Corporate Services, who transferred from KPMG's Atlanta office to San Francisco. Working with the existing Bay Area Alternative Investments resources in Tax, Audit and Advisory, Graeme's focus is to develop and lead an Alternative Investment-focused International Tax effort to serve the Bay Area marketplace.

About KPMG's Alternative Investment Funds Practice
KPMG's Alternative Investment Funds practice focuses on providing audit, tax and advisory services to hedge, private equity, real estate, infrastructure and fund of funds, and is an integral part of the firm's Financial Services line of business. Our Alternative Investment Funds professionals are deeply experienced in the issues, trends, and risks relevant to companies as they meet the multifaceted challenges of regulatory reform, market developments and increased competition.

About KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.kpmg.com/us), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International").  KPMG International's member firms have 145,000 people, including more than 8,000 partners, in 152 countries.

Contact: Pete Settles
KPMG LLP
201-505-6065
732-546-4212 (mobile)
[email protected]
On Twitter: @pgsettles

SOURCE KPMG LLP