Amid the financial crisis in 2008, Barclays raised $15
billion from Qatar and other investors. The infusion of capital saved the
European bank from needing a government bailout. Unfortunately, the bank may
not have disclosed the $390 million paid to the Qatari government for “advisory
services” as part of the fund-raising, and the $3 billion loan facility that
Barclays made available to that government.[1]
The bank, along with three of its executives at the time were charged in 2017 with
conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, and providing unlawful
financial assistance—in other words, paying a bribe to avoid needing an E.U. or
state-level bailout. According to Amanda Staveley, a European financier,
Barclays improperly favored the Qataris in the fund-raising. The relationship
between the bank and the Qatari government rings of “mutual back-scratching.” Admittedly,
any business deal involves both parties benefiting, and in much of the world
bribery is de facto necessary cost of doing business. Nevertheless, Barclays
may have had an organizational culture similar to that of Wells Fargo in which
anything goes in pursuit of profit.
The full essay is at "Bribery at Barclays."
1. Chad
Bray, “Former
Barclays Executives Appear in Court Over Qatar Deal,” The New York Times, July 3, 2017.
