UK

Alderley features on the official Iranian vendor website, “VList” – the ‘petroleum and energy vendor source search engine of I.R. Iran’

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"With some of the world’s largest oil and gas reserves and increasing investment in the local oil and gas industry, Iran continues to represent a key market of interest for Alderley. Describing the 2018 Iran Oil Show, Mahesh Kumar; Alderley’s Middle East Sales Director, comments that “it is a fantastic platform to meet with existing customers from Alderley’s large installed base of over 40 modular packages, as well as new prospects in this growing market. We are looking forward to another successful Iran Oil show next month.” Following the success of last year’s exhibition, returning Alderley experts Andrew Palmer and Gary Morrow will be joined on this year’s stand by Mahesh Kumar and our local partner Shahram Sadeghi from Artman System Co. At the exhibition, Alderley will be highlighting their capabilities as the leading independent system integrators and technical service experts for modular packages in the energy industry. Whether integrated onto a single skid, or structured across multiple skids, Alderley can deliver Metering Systems, Produced Water Systems, Electrical, Hydraulic and Pneumatic Control Systems, Modular Packages Solutions and Services, to name but a few capabilities." (Alderley, "Alderley to exhibit at the IRan Oil Show 2018," 4/19/2018).

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In May 2017 Alderley announced its partnership with Artman Systems Company to manufacture locally and support clients with the transfer of technology and service support in Iran.

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"SMS will be exhibiting along with the Alderley Group at the 22nd Iran International Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition from the 6th - 9th May 2017. SMS will be promoting its range of Hydraulic, Pneumatic and Electrical Control Systems along with their offshore and onshore services.  The business will also demonstrate its full project and multi-disciplined engineering capabilities. Gary Morrow, Business Development Director, comments, 'We are looking forward to attending the Iran Oil and Gas show so that we can highlight SMS's expertise in delivering quality solutions and services.  We pride ourselves on meeting the specific requirements of our clients and the exhibition will allow us to discuss with our customers how we can support them locally now and in the future.'" (SMS, "SMS To Exhibit At The Iran Oil Show 2017," 4/20/17).

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Alderley have just re-entered into the Iranian market since the lifting of sanctions and as a big player in the market previously, Alderley already have a large installed base of over 40 modular packages in the region.  In order to ensure systems are running at optimal capacity, Alderley have been proactively engaging with existing clients and have visited various sites such as Abadan Refinery, Darquain and Assaluyeh to provide maintenance and engineering support services. Eric Maddock, Business Development Director, Alderley AFZE comments, “This is a good time for Alderley to re-enter the Iranian market and, as part of giving our clients the best support for their systems, we are extremely pleased to announce our new partners in the region: Artman System Company.  Artman have an excellent reputation in Iran and have a full understanding of the market place and our clients.  Together we have developed a strong presence and will be able to manufacture locally and support our clients with the transfer of technology and service support.” (Alderley, "Alderley to Exhibit At The Iran Oil Show 2017," 4/24/17).

"Iran has asked the Bank of England to set up special clearing accounts for its banks, but has so far been rebuffed in its effort to resolve an impasse that has left it excluded from banking in London more than a year after sanctions were lifted. Tehran has been hoping for swift reintegration into global trade after its deal in 2015 aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of international sanctions. Its failure to persuade Western banks to accept its business has been one of the main choke points preventing its rehabilitation. Banking sources from both Iran and the West, and Iranian political sources close to the talks, said Tehran has approached the Bank of England to seek clearing accounts directly with the UK central bank." (Reuters,  "Iran Struggles to Coax Bank of England To Open Clearing Accounts," 3/20/2017).

Reuters reported that RSA “would evaluate potential opportunities in the [Iran].”  (Reuters, “Global insurers plot cautious course to Iran,” 1/24/2016). 

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RSA was “eagerly looking at Iran for business opportunities.  (Insurance Asia News, “Global firms look to Iran for opportunities,” 1/26/2016).  

“Mr. Hosseini co-founded The Luxe London, a U.K.-based startup that has been selling luxury goods to Iranians directly from Europe, eliminating middlemen and leaving little doubt about the authenticity of products. The Luxe London has done hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of sales in the past year and a half, he said, a sign that retailers may have online solutions to address the lack of confidence in locally available luxury goods.” (The Wall Street Journal, "Luxury Brands Struggle to Steer Iranians Away From Knockoffs," 1/23/2017). 

"ExxonMobil did business with Iran, Syria and Sudan through a European subsidiary while President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of State was a top executive of the oil giant and those countries were under U.S. sanctions as state sponsors of terrorism, Securities and Exchange Commission filings show. That business connection is likely to surface Wednesday at a confirmation hearing for ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The sales were conducted in 2003, 2004 and 2005 by Infineum, in which ExxonMobil owned a 50% share, according to SEC documents unearthed by American Bridge, a Democratic research group. ExxonMobil told USA TODAY the transactions were legal because Infineum, a joint venture with Shell Corporation, was based in Europe and the transactions did not involve any U.S. employees. The filings, from 2006, show that the company had $53.2 million in sales to Iran, $600,000 in sales to Sudan and $1.1 million in sales to Syria during those three years." ( USA Today,  "ExxonMobil and Iran did business under secretary of State nominee Tillerson," 1/9/2017).

"The new agreement is the first between Iran and a company from a key Western ally of the United States since Washington last week announced it will pull out of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and Western powers. The U.S. said it was reinstalling sanctions against Iran. Managing Director of Pergas International Consortium Colin Rowley, and Bijan Alipour, managing director of National Iranian South Oil Co., signed a preliminary deed on the partnership in the presence of British Ambassador Rob Macaire in Tehran on Wednesday night. The project, if the agreement turns into a contract, will require more than $1 billion to produce 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day during the next decade in the 55-year old Karanj oil filed. The oil field is located in the country’s oil-rich province and currently produces 120,000 barrels of crude per day." (5/16/2018).

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"Pergas Consortium, a group of international oil and gas companies, submitted its development proposals for Karanj Oilfield, a reservoir in Khuzestan Province. Bijan Alipour, managing director of the National Iranian South Oil Company, made the statement on the sidelines of a meeting with Pergas officials, including Colin Rowley, in Tehran on Tuesday, the National Iranian Oil Company news portal reported. According to Alipour, the master plan is centered on strategies to boost output, finance plans and rehabilitate ramshackle installations, which will be securitized in NISOC's technical committees. NISOC signed a non-disclosure agreement with Pergas in 2016, based on which the latter was tasked with conducting studies on the field located 40 kilometers southeast of the namesake city." (October 18, 2017).

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"Managing Director of Pergas Consortium Colin Rowley says his consortium is ready to invest in Iranian petroleum industry, train workforce and transfer technology. Rowley made the remarks in an interview with Shana on the sidelines of ceremony of inking of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) by National South Oil Company (NISOC) and Pergas Consortium." (Shana, "Pergas Ready to Invest in Iranian Petroleum Industry," 11/23/2016).

According to an interview published in the International Accounting Bulletin in 2016, BDO has held talks with Iranian audit firms to discuss the possibility of entering the market.  In the interview, Abbas Vafadar, senior partner and managing director of the Iranian audit firm, Azmoon Pardaz Iran Mashhood, stated, “I believe that BDO has a more suita­ble structure for conducting business in Iran [compared to the “Big Four” accounting firms].”  Mr. Vafadar added, “BDO has also had talks with Iranian audit firms.”  (Id.). 

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BDO’s consulting division lists Iran as one of the countries in which it provides services.  (BDO Website, “BDO LLP”).

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"BDO had not engaged with the Iranian market for more than 35 years. BDO has held talks with Iranian audit firms to discuss the possibility of entering the market. In the interview, Abbas Vafadar, senior partner and managing director of the Iranian audit firm, Azmoon Pardaz Iran Mashhood, stated, 'I believe that BDO has a more suitable structure for conducting business in Iran [compared to the “Big Four” accounting firms].' Mr. Vafadar added, 'BDO has also had talks with Iranian audit firms.'" (International Accounting Bulletin, “The end of Iran’s isolation,” April 2016).

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BDO’s consulting division lists Iran as one of the countries in which it provides services. (BDO Website, “BDO LLP”).

"Hemmati also held talks with Munir Kabban, president of UIB Group, an international insurance and reinsurance company headquartered in London. He acknowledged the firm's efforts in training Iranian insurance experts." (Financial Tribune, "Lloyd's of London Eying Iran Insurance Opportunities," 11/21/2016).

Herbert Smith Freehills states on its website: "Herbert Smith Freehills has a leading practice in Iran, with our transactional experts being especially recognised in the Iranian oil and gas and power sectors. Our dedicated Iran Group brings together specialist lawyers from across our global network, to advise our clients with interests in Iran." (Herbert Smith Freehills)

"Luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent offers magical, 12 day journey to Islamic republic" (Inside Hook, "Where to Go Next: Iran," 5/11/2017).

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Promotes a tour called "Wonders of Persia" on its company website.

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One luxury tour company in the U.S. is promoting a new trip to the country for those willing to take the risk, describing it as the first opportunity to see an Iran opening up to the West after last year's nuclear deal. "We feel that Iran is one of the most exciting places that someone can travel to at this point in time, given the current climate in the country and what sort of changes have been taking place recently," said Stefanie Schmudde, product manager of Americas and Middle East for the Downers Grove, Illinois-based tour company Abercrombie & Kent... Abercrombie & Kent has planned its first Iran trip in early May, leaving just ahead of the country's presidential election. They say that interchange between American tourists and the Iranian people will help bridge the gap between the two nations. "I would not hesitate to send anybody," Schmudde said. "It's a very exciting destination that's really and truly on the cusp of change." (AP, "Visit Iran? US tour company says yes, despite recent arrests," 11/11/2016)