Wednesday, 27 June 2012 14:06
Barclays senior execs waive bonuses after £59.5m FSA fine
Barclays has been fined £59.5m by the Financial Services Authority for misconduct, the biggest fine ever issued by the regulator.
The misconduct related to Barclays' treatment of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and Euro Interbank Offered Rate (EURIBOR) over several years.
LIBOR and EURIBOR are reference rates that indicate the interest rate banks charge when lending to each other.
Issues included Barclays seeking to influence the EURIBOR submissions of other banks contributing to the rate setting process and reducing its LIBOR submissions during the financial crisis over concerns of negative media comment.
It also made submissions which formed part of LIBOR and EURIBOR setting process that took into account requests from Barclays' interest rate derivate traders who sought to benefit from Barclays' trading position.
Barclays management Bob Diamond, Jerry del Missier, Chris Lucas and Rich Ricci have all agreed to forgo their annual bonus as a result.
Tracey McDermott, acting director of enforcement and financial crime, said: "The integrity of benchmark reference rates such as LIBOR and EURIBOR is of fundamental importance to both UK and international financial markets. Firms making submissions must not use those submissions as tools to promote their own interests.
"Making submissions to try to benefit trading positions is wholly unacceptable."
Barclays qualified for a 30 per cent discount due to settling at an early stage. Without the discount the fine would have been £85m. Barclays also have to pay a fine to the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the United States Department of Justice Fraud Section.
Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond said: "The events which gave rise to today's resolution relate to past actions which fell well short of the standards to which Barclays aspires in the conduct of its business.
"To reflect our collective responsibility as leaders, Chris Lucas, Jerry del Missier, Rich Ricci and I have voluntarily agreed with the board to forgo any considerations for an annual bonus this year."
The misconduct related to Barclays' treatment of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and Euro Interbank Offered Rate (EURIBOR) over several years.
LIBOR and EURIBOR are reference rates that indicate the interest rate banks charge when lending to each other.
Issues included Barclays seeking to influence the EURIBOR submissions of other banks contributing to the rate setting process and reducing its LIBOR submissions during the financial crisis over concerns of negative media comment.
It also made submissions which formed part of LIBOR and EURIBOR setting process that took into account requests from Barclays' interest rate derivate traders who sought to benefit from Barclays' trading position.
Barclays management Bob Diamond, Jerry del Missier, Chris Lucas and Rich Ricci have all agreed to forgo their annual bonus as a result.
Tracey McDermott, acting director of enforcement and financial crime, said: "The integrity of benchmark reference rates such as LIBOR and EURIBOR is of fundamental importance to both UK and international financial markets. Firms making submissions must not use those submissions as tools to promote their own interests.
"Making submissions to try to benefit trading positions is wholly unacceptable."
Barclays qualified for a 30 per cent discount due to settling at an early stage. Without the discount the fine would have been £85m. Barclays also have to pay a fine to the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the United States Department of Justice Fraud Section.
Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond said: "The events which gave rise to today's resolution relate to past actions which fell well short of the standards to which Barclays aspires in the conduct of its business.
"To reflect our collective responsibility as leaders, Chris Lucas, Jerry del Missier, Rich Ricci and I have voluntarily agreed with the board to forgo any considerations for an annual bonus this year."
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