Big Four leaving Russia and Belarus.

Audit firms PwC, EY, Deloitte, and KPMG severed ties with their businesses in Russia and Belarus, becoming the first of the “Big Four” to leave the countries after the Kremlin invaded Ukraine. PwC said it was severing ties with its Russian branch, which has 3,700 partners and employees in 11 offices in the country. The businesses will continue to operate as independent organizations without an official connection to the global brand. PwC’s new independent divisions in Russia and Belarus will be renamed and continue working for local clients as well as serving international companies that operate in those countries.