I also distinct got the sense that KPMG bungled this process. They seemed to bafflingly parlay Troy's position of strength into a position of weakness. Of course, all they really cared about was the bill at the end!
If your company is getting shopped to 43+ other companies, it's not a very strong position. This seems like KPMG responding to their incentives: sell the company and make like $250k, or don't sell the company and make "the biggest bill I've ever paid in my life".