With shares of Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) halted on news pending, reports have surfaced from the New York Times that KPMG has resigned as the company's auditor. The resignation comes after a KPMG senior partner was fired for providing inside information to an unnamed individual who then traded on the information.

It is unclear if the trading halt is related. The NYSE has confirmed to StreetInsider.com that the company has requested the trading halt.

Herbalife has been a battleground stock between hedge fund mangers Bill Ackman - who is short the stock and said its a pyramid scheme - and Carl Icahn - who owns a large long position.

In addition to the KPMG news, other speculation has centered around a Carl Icahn tender offer.

Corporate News Hedge Funds Insiders' Blog Rumors Trader Talk Trading Halts

Herbalife's (HLF) Fate Continues to Be Dominated by Outside ForcesApril 9, 2013 1:01 PM KPMG Statement on Insider Trading, Resignation from Two ClientsApril 9, 2013 10:23 AM Herbalife (HLF) Auditor Resigns After Providing Insider InformationApril 9, 2013 10:07 AM Herbalife (HLF) Peers Trade Lower on News Auditor ResignsApril 9, 2013 9:59 AM KPMG said to resign as Herbalife (HLF) auditorApril 9, 2013 9:54 AM Herbalife (HLF) Peers on Watch on Trading HaltApril 9, 2013 9:41 AM NYSE says Herbalife (HLF) requested trading halt on news pendingApril 9, 2013 9:37 AM Herbalife Ltd. (HLF) Opening DelayedApril 9, 2013 9:29 AM Buy Herbalife! Ackman's Foresight Under Fire Following JCPenney (JCP) ShakeupApril 9, 2013 7:35 AM