Form 20-F

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 20-F

(Mark One)

 

¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

þ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                          to                         

OR

 

¨ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report                         

 

Commission file numbers    Barclays PLC      1-09246   
   Barclays Bank PLC      1-10257   

BARCLAYS PLC

BARCLAYS BANK PLC

(Exact Names of Registrants as Specified in their Charter[s])

ENGLAND

(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

1 CHURCHILL PLACE, LONDON E14 5HP, ENGLAND

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

PATRICK GONSALVES, +44 (0)20 7116 2901, PATRICK.GONSALVES@BARCLAYS.COM

1 CHURCHILL PLACE, LONDON E14 5HP, ENGLAND

*(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Barclays PLC

 

Title of Each Class     

Name of Each Exchange

On Which Registered      

25p ordinary shares    New York Stock Exchange*


Title of Each Class     

Name of Each Exchange

On Which Registered    

American Depository Shares, each
representing four 25p ordinary shares

   New York Stock Exchange

4.375% Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes due
2024

   New York Stock Exchange
2.75% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2019    New York Stock Exchange
2.00% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2018    New York Stock Exchange
3.65% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2025    New York Stock Exchange
2.875% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2020    New York Stock Exchange
5.25% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2045    New York Stock Exchange
3.25% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2021    New York Stock Exchange
4.375% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2026    New York Stock Exchange

 

  * Not for trading, but in connection with the registration of American Depository Shares, pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Barclays Bank PLC

 

Title of Each Class

 

  

Name of Each Exchange

On Which Registered

 

Callable Floating Rate Notes 2035    New York Stock Exchange
Non-Cumulative Callable Dollar Preference Shares, Series 2    New York Stock Exchange*

American Depository Shares, Series 2, each representing one Non-Cumulative Callable Dollar Preference Share, Series 2

   New York Stock Exchange
Non-Cumulative Callable Dollar Preference Shares, Series 3    New York Stock Exchange*

American Depository Shares, Series 3, each representing one Non-Cumulative Callable Dollar Preference Share, Series 3

   New York Stock Exchange
Non-Cumulative Callable Dollar Preference Shares, Series 4    New York Stock Exchange*

American Depository Shares, Series 4, each representing one Non-Cumulative Callable Dollar Preference Share, Series 4

   New York Stock Exchange
Non-Cumulative Callable Dollar Preference Shares, Series 5    New York Stock Exchange*

American Depository Shares, Series 5, each representing one Non-Cumulative Callable Dollar Preference Share, Series 5

   New York Stock Exchange
5.140% Lower Tier 2 Notes due October 2020    New York Stock Exchange
Floating Rate Senior Notes due December 9 2016    New York Stock Exchange


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* Not for trading, but in connection with the registration of American Depository Shares, pursuant to the requirements to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuers’ classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

 

Barclays PLC    25p ordinary shares      16,804,603,949   
Barclays Bank PLC    £1 ordinary shares      2,342,558,515   
   £1 preference shares      1,000   
   £100 preference shares      20,930   
   100 preference shares      31,856   
   $0.25 preference shares      237,000,000   
   $100 preference shares      58,133   

Indicate by check mark if each registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes þ    No ¨

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrants are not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act 1934.

Yes ¨    No þ

Note—Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants: (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes þ    No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically and posted on their corporate Web sites, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes ¨    No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Barclays PLC

 

Large Accelerated Filer þ      Accelerated Filer ¨      Non-Accelerated Filer ¨   

Barclays Bank PLC

 

Large Accelerated Filer ¨      Accelerated Filer ¨      Non-Accelerated Filer þ   

*Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

U.S. GAAP ¨

International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board  þ

Other ¨


*If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:

Item 17 ¨

Item 18 ¨

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ¨    No þ

(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS.)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

Yes ¨    No ¨


SEC Form 20-F Cross reference information

 

Form 20-F item number   

Page and caption references

in this document*

1   Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers    Not applicable
2   Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable    Not applicable
3   Key Information   
  A.    Selected financial data    186, 189, 312-313, 431-432
  B.    Capitalization and indebtedness    Not applicable
  C.    Reason for the offer and use of proceeds    Not applicable
  D.    Risk factors    87-94
4   Information on the Company   
  A.    History and development of the company   

43-44, 285-286 (note 36), 291 (note 38), 299-305 (note 46), 434-435, 476-478

  B.    Business overview    i (Market and other data), 177, 181-182, 191-192, 215, 218-220 (note 1), 231-233 (note 15), 261-271 (note 29)
  C.    Organizational structure    285-286 (note 36), 299-305 (note 46)
  D.    Property, plants and equipment    255 (Note 23), 256-257 (Note 24), 258 (Note 25)
4A   Unresolved staff comments    Not applicable
5   Operating and Financial Review and Prospects   
  A.    Operating results    145-146, 177-182, 184-208, 221-306
  B.    Liquidity and capital resources    103-105, 115-116, 130, 148-171, 177-182, 231-233 (note 15), 272-275 (note 30), 276 (note 31), 291-293 (note 39), 297 (note 43), 441
  C.    Research and development, patents and licenses, etc.    Not applicable
  D.    Trend information   
  E.    Off-balance sheet arrangements    261 (note 28), 286-290 (note 37), 291-293 (note 39)
  F.    Tabular disclosure of contractual obligations    411
  G.    Safe harbor    i (Forward-looking statements)
6   Directors, Senior Management and Employees   
  A.    Directors and senior management    3-5, 324-329
  B.    Compensation    50-83, 281-284 (note 35), 294-296 (note 41)
  C.    Board practices    6-49, 67-71
  D.    Employees    49 (Full time employees by region), 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 202, 204
  E.    Share ownership    50-83, 279-280 (note 34), 294-296 (note 41), 333-335
7   Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions   
  A.    Major shareholders    44, 323
  B.   

Related party transactions

   294-296 (note 41), 431, 453 (note r)
  C.    Interests of experts and counsel    Not applicable
8   Financial Information   
  A.    Consolidated statements and other financial information    184-185, 208-305, 434-455
  B.    Significant changes    Not applicable
9   The Offer and Listing   
  A.    Offer and listing details    312-314
  B.    Plan of distribution    Not applicable
  C.    Markets    312-314
  D.    Selling shareholders    Not applicable
  E.    Dilution    Not applicable
  F.    Expenses of the issue    Not applicable
10   Additional Information   
  A.    Share capital    Not applicable
  B.    Memorandum and Articles of Association    43-45, 307-311
  C.    Material contracts    81-82, 276 (note 31)
  D.    Exchange controls    318
  E.    Taxation    314-318
  F.    Dividends and paying assets    Not applicable
  G.    Statement by experts    Not applicable
  H.    Documents on display    318
  I.    Subsidiary information    285-286 (note 36) 299-305 (note 46)
11   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk    101-102, 138-147, 297 (note 43), 376-391


Form 20-F item number   

Page and caption references

in this document*

12   Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities   
  A.    Debt Securities    Not applicable
  B.    Warrants and Rights    Not applicable
  C.    Other Securities    Not applicable
  D.    American Depositary Shares    312, 316-320
13   Defaults, Dividends Arrearages and Delinquencies    Not applicable
14   Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds    Not applicable
15   Controls and Procedures   
  A.    Disclosure controls and procedures    324
  B.    Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting    40
  C.    Attestation report of the registered public accounting firm    210
  D.    Changes in internal control over financial reporting    40
16A   Audit Committee Financial Expert    10
16B   Code of Ethics    322
16C   Principal Accountant Fees and Services    16-18, 296 (note 42), 321 (External auditor objectivity and independence: Non-Audit Services)
16D   Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees    Not applicable
16E   Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers    45, 276 (Share repurchase)
16F   Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant    324
16G   Corporate Governance    322
17   Financial Statements    Not applicable (See Item 8)
18   Financial Statements    Not applicable (See Item 8)
19   Exhibits    Exhibit Index

 

  * Captions have been included only in respect of pages with multiple sections on the same page in order to identify the relevant caption on that page covered by the corresponding Form 20-F item number.


 

 

 

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Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC

2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F


The term Barclays or Group refers to Barclays PLC together with its subsidiaries. Unless otherwise stated, the income statement analysis compares the year ended 31 December 2015 to the corresponding twelve months of 2014 and balance sheet analysis as at 31 December 2015 with comparatives relating to 31 December 2014. The abbreviations ‘£m’ and ‘£bn’ represent millions and thousands of millions of Pounds Sterling respectively; and the abbreviations ‘$m’ and ‘$bn’ represent millions and thousands of millions of US Dollars respectively.

Comparatives have been restated to reflect the implementation of the Group structure changes and the reallocation of elements of the Head Office results under the revised business structure. These restatements were detailed in our Form 6-K filed with the SEC dated 14 July 2014.

References throughout this document to ‘provisions for ongoing investigations and litigation including Foreign Exchange’ mean ‘provisions held for certain aspects of ongoing investigations involving certain authorities and litigation including Foreign Exchange.’

The information in this document does not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015, which include certain information required for the Joint Annual Report on Form 20-F of Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC to the US SEC (2015 20-F) and which contain an unqualified audit report under Section 495 of the Companies Act 2006 (which does not make any statements under Section 498 of the Companies Act 2006) have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies in accordance with Section 441 of the Companies Act 2006.

Barclays is a frequent issuer in the debt capital markets and regularly meets with investors via formal road-shows and other ad hoc meetings. Consistent with its usual practice, Barclays expects that from time to time over the coming quarter it will meet with investors globally to discuss these results and other matters relating to the Group.

Strategic Update

On 1 March 2016, Barclays also announced certain strategy updates of the Group, including in relation to reorganisation of operating segments into Barclays UK and Barclays Corporate & International, the intention to reduce the Group’s stake in Barclays Africa Group Limited, the contribution of certain assets to the Non-Core segment, revised guidance on future dividends and new Group financial targets. Further information can be found in the Form 6-K regarding the “Group Chief Executive Officer—Strategy Update” filed by Barclays on 1 March 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Certain non-IFRS measures

Barclays management believes that the non-International Financial Reporting Standards (non-IFRS) measures included in this document provide valuable information to readers of its financial statements because they enable the reader to identify a more consistent basis for comparing the business’ performance between financial periods, and provide more detail concerning the elements of performance which the managers of these businesses are most directly able to influence or are relevant for an assessment of the Group. They also reflect an important aspect of the way in which operating targets are defined and performance is monitored by Barclays management. However, any non-IFRS measures in this document are not a substitute for IFRS measures and readers should consider the IFRS measures as well. As management reviews the adjusting items described below at a Group level, segmental results are presented excluding these items in accordance with IFRS 8; “Operating Segments”. Statutory and adjusted performance is reconciled at a Group level only.

Key non-IFRS measures included in this document, and the most directly comparable IFRS measures, are:

– Adjusted profit before tax is the non-IFRS equivalent of profit before tax as it excludes the impact of own credit, impairment of goodwill and other assets relating to businesses being disposed, provisions for UK customer redress, gain on US Lehman acquisition assets, provisions for ongoing investigations and litigation including Foreign Exchange, losses on sale relating to the Spanish, Portuguese and Italian businesses, Education, Social Housing, and Local Authority (ESHLA) revision of valuation methodology, and gain on valuation of a component of the defined retirement benefit liability. A reconciliation to IFRS is presented on page 192 for the Group;

– Adjusted profit after tax represents profit after tax excluding the post-tax impact of own credit, impairment of goodwill and other assets relating to businesses being disposed, provisions for UK customer redress, gain on US Lehman acquisition assets, provisions for ongoing investigations and litigation including Foreign Exchange, loss on sale relating to the Spanish, Portuguese and Italian businesses, Education, Social Housing, and Local Authority (ESHLA) revision of valuation methodology, and gain on valuation of a component of the defined retirement benefit liability. A reconciliation to IFRS is presented on page 192 for the Group;


– Adjusted attributable profit represents adjusted profit after tax less profit attributable to non-controlling interests. The comparable IFRS measure is attributable profit. A reconciliation to IFRS is provided on page 192 for the Group;

– Adjusted income and adjusted total income net of insurance claims represents total income net of insurance claims adjusted to exclude the impact of own credit, revision of Education, Social Housing, and Local Authority (ESHLA) valuation methodology and gain on US Lehman acquisition assets. A reconciliation to IFRS is presented on page 192 for the Group;

– Adjusted net operating income represents net operating income excluding the impact of own credit; the gain on US Lehman acquisition assets and revision of ESHLA valuation methodology. A reconciliation to IFRS is presented on page 192 for the Group;

– Adjusted total operating expenses represents operating expenses excluding impairment of goodwill and other assets relating to businesses being disposed, provisions for UK customer redress, provisions for ongoing investigations and litigation including Foreign Exchange and gain on valuation of a component of the defined retirement benefit liability. A reconciliation to IFRS is presented on page 192 for the Group;

– Adjusted litigation and conduct represents litigation and conduct excluding the provisions for UK customer redress and the provision for ongoing investigations and litigation including Foreign Exchange. A reconciliation to IFRS is presented on page 192 for the Group;

– Adjusted cost: income ratio represents adjusted operating expenses (defined above) compared to adjusted income (defined above). A reconciliation to IFRS is presented on page 192 for the Group;

– Adjusted compensation: net operating income ratio represents compensation costs: net operating income ratio excluding the impact of own credit; and the revision of ESHLA valuation methodology. A reconciliation is provided on page 192 for the Group;

– Adjusted compensation: operating income ratio represents compensation costs: operating income ratio excluding the impact of credit impairment charges and other provisions; own credit; gain on US Lehman acquisition and revision of ESHLA valuation methodology. A reconciliation is provided on page 192 for the Group;

– Adjusted basic earnings per share represents adjusted attributable profit (page 205) divided by the basic weighted average number of shares in issue. The comparable IFRS measure is basic earnings per share, which represents profit after tax and non-controlling interests, divided by the basic weighted average number of shares in issue. A reconciliation to IFRS is provided on page 192 for the Group;

– Adjusted return on average shareholders’ equity represents annualised adjusted profit after tax for the period attributable to ordinary shareholders, including an adjustment for the tax credit in reserves in respect of other equity instruments, as a proportion of average shareholders’ equity, excluding non-controlling interests, the impact of own credit on retained earnings, and other equity instruments. The comparable IFRS measure is return on average shareholders’ equity which represents annualised profit after tax for the period attributable to ordinary shareholders, including an adjustment for the tax credit in reserves in respect of other equity instruments, as a proportion of average shareholders’ equity, excluding non-controlling interests and other equity instruments. A reconciliation to IFRS is provided on page 192 for the Group;

– Adjusted return on average tangible shareholders’ equity represents annualised adjusted profit after tax for the period attributable to ordinary shareholders, including an adjustment for the tax credit in reserves in respect of other equity instruments, as a proportion of average shareholders’ equity excluding non-controlling interests, the impact of own credit on retained earnings, and other equity instruments adjusted for the deduction of intangible assets and goodwill. The comparable IFRS measure is return on average tangible shareholders’ equity which represents annualised profit after tax for the period attributable to ordinary shareholders, including an adjustment for the tax credit in reserves in respect of other equity instruments, as a proportion of average shareholders’ equity excluding non-controlling interests and other equity instruments adjusted for the deduction of intangible assets and goodwill. A reconciliation to IFRS is provided on page 192 for the Group;

– Barclays Core results are non-IFRS measures because they represent the sum of five Operating Segments, each of which is prepared in accordance with IFRS 8; “Operating Segments”: Personal and Corporate Banking, Barclaycard, Africa Banking, Investment Bank and Head Office. A reconciliation to IFRS is provided on pages 191 and 192;


– Constant currency results are calculated by converting ZAR results into GBP using the average exchange rate for the year ended 31 December 2015 for the income statement and the 31 December 2015 closing exchange rate for the balance sheet to eliminate the impact of movement in exchange rates between the two periods;

– Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) is calculated according to the definition and methodology detailed in the standard provided by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The original guidelines released in December 2010 (‘Basel III: International Framework for Liquidity Risk Measurement, Standards and Monitoring’, December 2010) were revised in October 2014 (‘Basel III: The Net Stable Funding Ratio’, October 2014). The metric is a regulatory ratio that is not yet finalised in local regulations and, as such, represents a non-IFRS measure. This definition and the methodology used to calculate this metric is subject to further revisions ahead of the implementation date and our interpretation of this calculation may not be consistent with that of other financial institutions;

– Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) is calculated according to the Commission Delegated Regulation of October 2014 that supplements Regulation (EU) 575/2013 (CRDIV) published by the European Commission in June 2013. The metric is applicable from 01 October 2015 and as such is a binding measure as at 31 December 2015;

– Transitional CET1 ratio according to FSA October 2012. This measure is calculated by taking into account the statement of the Financial Services Authority, the predecessor of the Prudential Regulation Authority, on CRD IV transitional provisions in October 2012, assuming such provisions were applied as at 1 January 2014. This ratio is used as the relevant measure starting 1 January 2014 for purposes of determining whether the automatic write-down trigger (specified as a Transitional CET1 ratio according to FSA October 2012 of less than 7.00%) has occurred under the terms of the Contingent Capital Notes issued by Barclays Bank PLC on November 21, 2012 (CUSIP: 06740L8C2) and April 10, 2013 (CUSIP: 06739FHK0). Please refer to page 150 for a reconciliation of this measure to CRD IV CET1 ratio.

Forward-looking statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the Group. Barclays cautions readers that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results or other financial condition or performance measures could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘seek’, ‘continue’, ‘aim’, ‘anticipate’, ‘target’, ‘projected’, ‘expect’, ‘estimate’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘goal’, ‘believe’, ‘achieve’ or other words of similar meaning. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the Group’s future financial position, income growth, assets, impairment charges and provisions, business strategy, capital, leverage and other regulatory ratios, payment of dividends (including dividend pay-out ratios), projected levels of growth in the banking and financial markets, projected costs or savings, original and revised commitments and targets in connection with the strategic cost programme and the Group Strategy Update, rundown of assets and businesses within Barclays Non-Core, estimates of capital expenditures and plans and objectives for future operations, projected employee numbers and other statements that are not historical fact. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances. These may be affected by changes in legislation, the development of standards and interpretations under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), evolving practices with regard to the interpretation and application of accounting and regulatory standards, the outcome of current and future legal proceedings and regulatory investigations, future levels of conduct provisions, the policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, geopolitical risks and the impact of competition. In addition, factors including (but not limited to) the following may have an effect: capital, leverage and other regulatory rules (including with regard to the future structure of the Group) applicable to past, current and future periods; United Kingdom (UK), United States (US), Africa, Eurozone and global macroeconomic and business conditions; the effects of continued volatility in credit markets; market related risks such as changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates; effects of changes in valuation of credit market exposures; changes in valuation of issued securities; volatility in capital markets; changes in credit ratings of any entities within the Group or any securities issued by such entities; the potential for one or more countries exiting the Eurozone; the implementation of the strategic cost programme; and the success of future acquisitions, disposals and other strategic transactions. A number of these influences and factors are beyond the Group’s control. As a result, the Group’s actual future results, dividend payments, and capital and leverage ratios may differ materially from the plans, goals, and expectations set forth in the Group’s forward-looking statements. Additional risks and factors which may impact the Group’s future financial condition and performance are identified in our filings with the SEC which are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.


Any forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date they are made and it should not be assumed that they have been revised or updated in the light of new information or future events. Except as required by the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority, the London Stock Exchange plc (the LSE) or applicable law, Barclays expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Barclays’ expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. The reader should, however, consult any additional disclosures that Barclays has made or may make in documents it has published or may publish via the Regulatory News Service of the LSE and/or has filed or may file with the SEC.

Market and other data

This document contains information, including statistical data, about certain Barclays markets and its competitive position. Except as otherwise indicated, this information is taken or derived from Datastream and other external sources. Barclays cannot guarantee the accuracy of information taken from external sources, or that, in respect of internal estimates, a third party using different methods would obtain the same estimates as Barclays.

Uses of Internet addresses

This document contains inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document.

References to Pillar 3 report

This document contains references throughout to Barclays annual risk report, the Pillar 3. Reference to the aforementioned report is made for information purposes only, and information found in said report is not incorporated by reference into this document.


Contents

    

 

Governance

     Page   

 

Our corporate governance processes and the role they play in supporting the delivery of our strategy, including reports from the Chairman and each of the Board Committee Chairmen.

  

 

Directors’ report

  

 

 

 

2

 

  

  

§  Who we are

     3   
  

§  What we did in 2015

     6   
  

§  How we comply

     35   
  

§  Other statutory information

     42   
   People      46   
   Remuneration report      50   

 

Risk review

 

    

 

Page

 

  

 

The management of risk plays a central role in the execution of Barclays’ strategy and insight into the level of risk across businesses and portfolios and the material risks and uncertainties the Group face are key areas of management focus.

   Material existing and emerging risks      56   
   Risk management      94   
   Risk performance      110   
  

§  Credit risk

     111   
  

§  Market risk

     138   
  

§  Funding risk - capital

     148   
  

§  Funding risk - liquidity

     154   
  

§  Operational risk

     172   
  

§  Conduct risk

     174   
  

§  Supervision and regulation

     177   

 

Financial review

     Page   

 

A review of the performance of Barclays, including the key performance indicators, and our businesses’ contribution to the overall performance of the Group.

  

 

Key performance indicators

  

 

 

 

184

 

  

   Consolidated summary income statement      186   
   Income statement commentary      187   
   Consolidated summary balance sheet      189   
   Balance sheet commentary      190   
   Analysis of results by business      191   
   Margins analysis      207   

Financial statements

 

    

 

Page

 

  

 

Detailed analysis of our statutory accounts, independently audited and providing in-depth disclosure on the financial performance of the Group.

   Consolidated financial statements      209   
   Notes to the financial statements      221   
  

§   Performance/return

     187   
  

§  Assets and liabilities held at fair value

     230   
  

§  Financial instruments held at amortised cost

     253   
  

§  Non-current assets and other investments

     255   
  

§  Accruals, provisions, contingent liabilities and legal proceedings

     259   
  

§  Capital instruments, equity and reserves

     272   
  

§  Employee benefits

     279   
  

§  Scope of consolidation

     285   
  

§  Other disclosure matters

     294   

 

Additional information

 

    

 

Page

 

  

 

   Additional shareholder information      307   
   Additional information      321   
   Barclays’ approach to managing risks   
  

§  Risk management strategy, governance and risk culture

     336   
  

§  Management of credit risk

     354   
  

§  Management of counterparty credit risk and credit risk mitigation techniques

     370   
  

§  Management of market risk

     376   
  

§  Management of operational risk

     393   
  

§  Management of funding risk

     397   
  

§  Management of conduct risk

     406   
   Additional financial disclosure      410   
   Barclays Bank PLC data      434   
   Glossary      456   
   Shareholder information      476   
 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  1


Governance

Contents

 

 

Our corporate governance processes and the role they play in supporting the delivery of our strategy, including reports from the Chairman and each of the Board Committee Chairmen.

 

 

          

Page 

 

Governance: Directors’ report    

 

Who we are

    

 

§   Board of Directors

 

 

    

§   Group Executive Committee

 
      

§   Board diversity

 

 

 

        

 

What we did in 2015

    

 

§   Chairman’s introduction

 

 

    

§   Deputy Chairman’s statement

 
    

§   Board Audit Committee Report

 
    

§   Board Risk Committee Report

  19 
    

§   Board Reputation Committee Report

  24 
      

§   Board Nominations Committee Report

 

 

27 

 

 

How we comply

 

 

 

35 

 

 

Other statutory information

 

 

 

42 

 

 

People

 

 

 

46 

 

 

Remuneration report

 

 

 

50 

 

 

2  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

Who we are

Board of Directors1

 

 

Board of Directorsa

Barclays understands the importance of having a Board containing the right balance of skills, experience and diversity and the composition of the Board is regularly reviewed by the Board Nominations Committee. The skills and experience of the current Directors and the value they bring to the Board is described below. Full biographies can be accessed online via home.barclays/investorrelations

 

     

LOGO

John McFarlane

Chairman

 

Age: 68

Appointed:

1 January 2015

 

 

     

 

Relevant skills and experience

John is a former CEO of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited with extensive financial services experience across retail, commercial and investment banking, gained both globally and in the UK. John has a proven track record of implementing cost reduction, cultural transformation and driving through strategic change; most recently demonstrated during his time as chairman of Aviva plc. He is also an experienced non-executive director and chairman. John became Chairman at the conclusion of the April 2015 AGM. He became Executive Chairman in July 2015 and held this position until 1 December 2015, when he resumed the role of Chairman.

 

Other principal appointments

Old Oak Holdings Limited; Westfield Corporation;

Chairman, The CityUK

 

Committees

Nom*

 

LOGO

Jes Staley

Group Chief Executive

 

Age: 59

Appointed:

1 December 2015

 

     

Relevant skills and experience

Jes has nearly four decades of extensive experience in banking and financial services. He worked for more than 30 years at JP Morgan, initially training as a commercial banker, and later advancing to the leadership of major businesses involving equities, private banking and asset management, and ultimately heading the company’s global investment bank. Most recently, Jes served as managing partner at BlueMountain Capital. These roles have provided him with a vast experience in leadership and he brings a wealth of investment banking knowledge to the Board. Jes joined Barclays as Group Chief Executive on 1 December 2015.

 

Other principal appointments

None

 

Committees

None

 

LOGO

Sir Gerry Grimstone

Deputy Chairman and

Senior Independent

Director

 

Age: 66

Appointed:

1 January 2016

 

   

Relevant skills and experience

Sir Gerry brings to the Board a wealth of investment banking, financial services and commercial experience gained through his senior roles at Schroders and his various former board positions. Sir Gerry has global business experience across the UK, Hong Kong, the Middle East and the US.

 

Sir Gerry has significant experience as a non-executive director and chairman. He is currently the chairman of Standard Life plc, independent non-executive board member of Deloitte LLP and the lead non-executive at the Ministry of Defence.

 

Other principal appointments

Financial Services Trade and Investment Board;

The Shareholder Executive

 

Committees

Nom, Rep*

 

LOGO

 

Mike Ashley

Non-executive

 

Age: 61

Appointed:

18 September 2013

 

     

Relevant skills and experience

Mike has deep knowledge of auditing and associated regulatory issues, having worked at KPMG for over 20 years, where he was a partner. Mike was the lead engagement partner on the audits of large financial services groups including HSBC, Standard Chartered and the Bank of England. While at KPMG, Mike was Head of Quality and Risk Management for KPMG Europe LLP, responsible for the management of professional risks and quality control. He also held the role of KPMG UK’s Ethics Partner.

 

Other principal appointments

ICAEW Ethics Standards Committee; European Financial Reporting Advisory Group’s Technical Expert Group; Chairman, Government Internal Audit Agency; Charity Commission; International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants

 

Committees

Aud*, Nom, Ris

 

LOGO

Tim Breedon

Non-executive

 

Age: 58

Appointed:

1 November 2012

 

     

Relevant skills and experience

Tim joined Barclays after a distinguished career with Legal & General, where, among other roles, he was the group chief executive until June 2012. Tim’s experience as a CEO enables him to provide challenge, advice and support to the Executive on performance and decision-making.

 

Tim brings to the Board extensive financial services experience, knowledge of risk management and UK and EU regulation, as well as an understanding of the key issues for investors.

 

Other principal appointments

Marie Curie Cancer Care; Chairman, Apax Global

Alpha Limited

 

Committees

Aud, Nom, Rem, Ris*

 

LOGO

Crawford Gillies

Non-executive

 

Age: 59

Appointed:

1 May 2014

 

     

Relevant skills and experience

Crawford has extensive business and management experience, gained with Bain & Company and Standard Life plc. These roles have provided him with experience in strategic decision-making and knowledge of company strategy across various sectors and geographical locations.

 

Crawford has also held board and committee chairman positions during his career, notably as chairman of the remuneration committees of Standard Life plc and MITIE Group PLC.

 

Crawford intends to retire from his position at Standard Life plc in 2016.

 

Other principal appointments

SSE plc; Control Risks Group Holdings Limited

 

Committees

Aud, Nom, Rem*

 

LOGO

Reuben Jeffery III

Non-executive

 

Age: 62

Appointed:

16 July 2009

 

   

Relevant skills and experience

Reuben has extensive financial services experience, particularly within investment banking and wealth management, through his role as CEO and president of Rockefeller & Co. Inc. and Rockefeller Financial Services Inc. and his former senior roles with Goldman Sachs, including as the managing partner of the Paris office.

 

His various government roles in the US, including as chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, provides the Board with insight into the US political and regulatory environment.

 

Other principal appointments

International Advisory Council of the China Securities Regulatory Commission; Advisory Board of Towerbrook Capital Partners LP; Advisory Board of J. Rothschild Capital Management Limited; Financial Services Volunteer Corps; The Asia Foundation

 

Committees

Nom, Ris

 

 

a  Full Director biographies can be found on pages 324 to 327
1  The composition of the Board is correct as at 29 February 2016.

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  3


 

 

LOGO

Wendy Lucas-Bull

Non-executive

 

Age: 62

Appointed:

19 September 2013

 

     

Relevant skills and experience

Wendy has significant financial services and African banking experience gained through CEO and senior executive roles on the boards of large South African banks, including Barclays Africa Group Limited. As a CEO she has a track record of successful financial turnaround and cultural transformation of a major South African bank. Her expertise in asset management, investment, commercial and retail banking on the continent is invaluable to the Board given its operations in the region.

 

Wendy’s previous experience of leading on a number of conduct-related consultations also provides Barclays with valuable insight into conduct risk issues.

 

Other principal appointments

Chairman, Barclays Africa Group Limited; Chairman, Absa Bank Limited; Chairman, Absa Financial Services; Afrika Tikkun NPC (non-profit); Peotona Group Holdings

 

Committees

Rep

 

     

LOGO

Tushar Morzaria

Group Finance

Director

 

Age: 47

Appointed:

15 October 2013

 

     

Relevant skills and experience

Tushar joined Barclays in 2013 having spent the previous four years in senior management roles with JP Morgan, most recently as the CFO of its Corporate & Investment Bank.

 

Throughout his time with JP Morgan he gained strategic financial management and regulatory relations experience. Since joining the Board he has been a driving influence on the Group’s strategic cost programme, and managing the Group’s capital plan, particularly in response to structural reform.

 

Other principal appointments

None

 

Committees

None

 

     

LOGO

Dambisa Moyo

Non-executive

 

Age: 47

Appointed:

1 May 2010

 

     

Relevant skills and experience

Dambisa is an international economist and commentator on the global economy, having completed a PhD in economics. Dambisa has a background in financial services and a wide knowledge and understanding of African economic, political and social issues, in addition to her experience as a director of companies with complex, global operations.

 

Other principal appointments

SABMiller Plc; Barrick Gold Corporation; Seagate Technology plc

 

Committees

Rem, Rep

 

     

LOGO

Frits van Paasschen

Non-executive

 

Age: 54

Appointed:

1 August 2013

 

   

Relevant skills and experience

Frits is an experienced director, having held the position of CEO and non-executive director in a number of leading global organisations, most recently as CEO of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. These roles have provided him with both a global business perspective and a clear understanding of key management issues, as well as experience of enhancing customer experience in a retail environment.

 

Other principal appointments

None

 

Committees

Rep

 

     

LOGO

Diane de Saint Victor

Non-executive

 

Age: 61

Appointed:

1 March 2013

 

     

Relevant skills and experience

Diane holds the roles of executive director, general counsel and company secretary of ABB Limited, a listed international power and automation technologies company. Diane’s legal background, combined with her knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements, bring a unique perspective to the discussions of the Board and its Committees.

 

Other principal appointments

None

 

Committees

Aud, Rep

 

     

LOGO

Diane Schueneman

Non-executive

 

Age: 63

Appointed:

25 June 2015

 

     

Relevant skills and experience

Diane joined Barclays after an extensive career at Merrill Lynch, holding a variety of senior roles. Diane brings a wealth of experience in managing global, cross-discipline business operations, client services and technology in the financial services industry. Diane’s experience is a good addition to discussions of the Board and the Board Risk Committee. Diane will also join the Board Audit Committee with effect from 1 March 2016.

 

Other principal appointments

None

 

Committees

Ris

 

     

LOGO

Steve Thieke

Non-executive

 

Age: 69

Appointed:

7 January 2014

 

     

Relevant skills and experience

Steve has significant experience in financial services, in both investment banking with JP Morgan, where among other roles he served as the chairman of the risk management committee, and in regulation, through roles with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Financial Services Authority. Steve also has significant board experience, having served in both executive and non-executive director roles in his career.

 

Other principal appointments

None

 

Committees

Rem, Ris

 

     

Company Secretary

 

   
     

LOGO

Lawrence Dickinson

Age: 58

Appointed:

19 September 2002

 

     

Relevant skills and experience

Since joining Barclays as a graduate in 1979, Lawrence has worked in a number of roles, including as Chief of Staff to the CEO and as the Private Bank’s Chief Operating Officer. Lawrence is a member and Treasurer of the GC100, the Association of General Counsels and Company Secretaries of the FTSE100. In August 2015 Lawrence also became Group Chief of Staff to the Chairman.

 

 

Committee membership key
Aud   Board Audit Committee
Nom   Board Nominations Committee
Rem   Board Remuneration Committee
Rep   Board Reputation Committee
Ris   Board Risk Committee
*   Committee Chairman

 

4  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

Who we are

Group Executive Committee1

 

 

Group Executive Committeea

Biographies for Jes Staley, Group Chief Executive, and Tushar Morzaria, Group Finance Director, who are members of the Group Executive Committee, which is chaired by Jes Staley, can be found on pages 324 and 326.

 

         
LOGO     LOGO     LOGO

 

Michael Harte

   

 

Bob Hoyt

   

 

Thomas King

Chief Operations and     Group General     Chief Executive,

Technology Officer

 

     

Counsel

 

     

Investment Bank

 

LOGO     LOGO     LOGO

 

Robert Le Blanc

   

 

Jonathan Moulds

   

 

Maria Ramos

Chief Risk Officer     Group Chief     Chief Executive,
   

Operating Officer

 

   

Barclays Africa Group

 

         
LOGO     LOGO     LOGO

 

Tristram Roberts

   

 

Michael Roemer

   

 

Amer Sajed

Group Human     Group Head of     Interim Chief
Resources Director     Compliance     Executive,
       

Barclaycard

 

         
LOGO        

 

Ashok Vaswani

       
Chief Executive,        
Personal and        
Corporate Banking        

 

a  Executive Committee biographies can be found on pages 327 to 329
1  The composition of the Group Executive Committee is correct as at 29 February 2016.

 

 

Board diversity

The Board has a balanced and diverse range of skills and experience. All Board appointments are made on merit, in the context of the diversity of skills, experience, background and gender required to be effective.

Balance of non-executive Directors: executive Directors

 

LOGO

     1       Chairman    1
     2       Executive Directors    2
     3       Non-executive Directors    11
        
        
        
        
        
                    

 

  
Gender balance

 

Male: Female

  
10:4     

Length of tenure

(Chairman and non-executive Directors)

 

0-3 years

  
9   

LOGO

 

 

3-6 years

  
2   

LOGO

 

 

>6 years

  
1   

LOGO

 

Geographical mix

(Chairman and non-executive Directors)

 

UK

5   

LOGO

 

 

Continental Europe

1   

LOGO

 

 

US

4   

LOGO

 

 

Other

  
2   

LOGO

 

 

Industry/background experience

(Chairman and non-executive Directors)a

     

Financial Services

   10

Political/regulatory contacts

   9

Current/recent Chair/CEO

   8

Accountancy/financial

   2

International (US)

   4

International (Europe)

   4

International (Rest of the World)

   4

Operations and Technology

   1

Retail/marketing

   1

Note

a Individual Directors may fall into one or more categories

  

 

 

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  5


What we did in 2015

Chairman’s introduction

 

 

LOGO

“The role of any board, and one in which I passionately believe, is to create and deliver long-term, sustainable value.”

 

 

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders

I joined Barclays in January 2015 as a non-executive Director and succeeded Sir David Walker as Chairman following the April 2015 Annual General Meeting (AGM). I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to Sir David for all that he did for Barclays during his tenure.

This is my first report to you as Chairman and is perhaps not quite the report I anticipated writing when I first took up this role. From 17 July to 30 November 2015, I served as Executive Chairman, the Board having asked me to take on this role on an interim basis following its decision to search for a new Group Chief Executive to succeed Antony Jenkins. I welcome the flexibility afforded to us by the UK Corporate Governance Code that allowed us to operate under these revised governance arrangements for a short period of time and ensure continuity of focus and leadership. I was ably supported by my fellow Directors and by the Group Executive Committee during my period as Executive Chairman and thank them for their individual and collective guidance and input. I was delighted that, under the leadership of Sir Michael Rake, we were able to progress the search for a new Group Chief Executive quickly and welcome Jes Staley to the Board in December 2015, at which point I reverted to my role of non-executive Chairman. Jes has a track record as an outstanding leader and I believe he has the skills and experience to take Barclays forward to deliver improved shareholder returns and reclaim its position as the UK’s pre-eminent bank. Jes and I are already enjoying a constructive and positive time working together.

The role of the Board

The role of any board, and one in which I passionately believe, is to create and deliver long-term, sustainable value. Barclays is a standout brand and has first-class retail, cards, commercial and investment banking businesses, but this has not translated into shareholder value in recent years. To deliver that value sustainably, we need to be much more focused on what is attractive, what we are good at, and where we are good at it. Put simply, we need to create a tangible and compelling reason for our shareholders to invest in us. This has driven the Board’s focus on three priorities during 2015: focus on our core segments and markets; generate shareholder value; and instil a high performance and customer culture, with strong ethical values.

Board appointments, performance and succession planning

One of the key aspects of my role as Chairman, and one which was especially important during my tenure as Executive Chairman, is to ensure that Barclays has an effective and cohesive, yet challenging Board, with the optimum balance of experience, skills, expertise and personal attributes. I have sought to promote a culture of integrity and transparency, enabling Board debate that allows diverse perspectives and constructive challenge. Certainly, the Board did not shy away from difficult conversations and decisions during 2015, always with a focus on what was needed to drive forward execution of the strategy to generate sustainable value for Barclays and its shareholders.

The Barclays Board has undergone a significant amount of change in recent years and saw further changes during 2015. In addition to my own appointment, we welcomed Diane Schueneman to the Board in June 2015 and Jes Staley in December 2015. Diane brings valuable operations and technology experience to the Board. Sir David Walker and Sir John Sunderland left the Board in April 2015, following the AGM, with Antony Jenkins leaving the Board in July 2015. Finally, in October 2015, we announced that Sir Gerry Grimstone would succeed Sir Michael Rake as Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director with effect from 1 January 2016. Sir Michael retired from the Board at the end of 2015 and I would like to thank him for his dedicated service and commitment over his eight years as a non-executive Director, including being Senior Independent Director since October 2011 and Deputy Chairman since July 2012. Sir Michael offers his own perspective on governance during 2015 on page 8.

 

 

6  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Chairman’s introduction

 

 

I am also delighted to report that we have met the Board diversity target we set back in 2012, which was that 25% of the Board by the end of 2015 should be women. We have now agreed a new diversity target, which is that 33% of the Board by the end of 2020 should be women, although our overriding principle is that all appointments to the Board are made on merit, taking into account the skills and experience that the Board needs now and may need in the future to support delivery of our strategy.

I am on record as saying that Barclays needs to reduce its internal bureaucracy by becoming leaner and more agile and consequently more effective and the Board and its processes are no exception to this. One of the steps I took on becoming Chairman was to review the Board’s governance structure, with assistance from the Company Secretary, in order to simplify and streamline the principal Board Committees, in particular those Board Committees with responsibility for oversight of risk. As a result, the Board decided to disband the Board Enterprise Wide Risk Committee, with its responsibilities for oversight of enterprise-wide risk being assumed by the Board as a whole. We also concluded that the Board Financial Risk Committee should assume responsibility for oversight of the capital and financial aspects of operational risk, in addition to financial risk, leaving the Board Conduct, Operational and Reputational Risk Committee to focus on conduct and culture, reputational risk and citizenship. The Board Audit Committee continued to focus on the control aspects of operational risk. The Board Committees have subsequently been renamed to more accurately reflect their responsibilities.

As part of our discussions on Board and Board Committee succession planning, membership of each Committee was also reviewed to ensure that it had the right balance of skills, experience and perspectives and also to ensure that individual Directors were not being over-burdened by Committee responsibilities. Board Committees play a vital role in supporting the Board in its oversight of internal control and financial reporting, risk and risk management and reward and remuneration. Each of the Board Committee Chairmen report below on how their committees discharged their responsibilities during 2015 and the material matters each considered. The Board Nominations Committee has continued to play a role in succession planning for Group Executive Committee and senior leadership roles and, having had the opportunity during 2015, as Executive Chairman, to work even more closely with Group Executive Committee members, I was able to bring some fresh perspectives on the talent pipeline and talent management processes. More detail on the Board Nominations Committee’s work on succession planning can be found on page 28.

It is important to periodically obtain an independent perspective on the effectiveness of the Board and particularly so in a year when our conventional Board governance processes were temporarily revised. We have conducted an externally facilitated review of the effectiveness of the Board each year since 2004, and for 2015 we asked Independent Board Evaluation to facilitate that review. I am pleased to advise that the overall outcome of the review was that the Board is operating effectively, although there are some areas that could be enhanced. A report on the evaluation process and the outcomes may be found on pages 33 and 34.

 

Culture and values

People matter more than anything else in any business: it is a company’s people that make it great help it stand out from its competitors and make it an attractive proposition for customers and investors. As a Board, we are responsible for ensuring that Barclays’ people do things – the right things – in the right way by setting the tone from the top, by living Barclays’ culture and values in everything that we do and in the decisions we make, by holding the Group Executive Committee to account for the integrity of our Purpose and Values and by creating a culture in which doing the right thing is integral to the way we operate, globally. In an organisation as large and as complex as Barclays, that can be, and is, a challenge, but we are only too alive to the consequence of getting this wrong. I have personally endorsed our Code of Conduct, The Barclays Way, and the Board Reputation Committee has been monitoring, on behalf of the Board, the progress we are making to embed cultural change.

Shareholder and regulatory engagement

Meaningful engagement with our shareholders and regulators is a key pillar of our approach to corporate governance. We welcome open and constructive discussion with our stakeholders, particularly with regard to governance and succession planning, strategy and remuneration. You can read more about how we have engaged with key stakeholders during 2015 in this report. I also hope to meet with many of our private shareholders at our AGM, which will be held on 28 April 2016. A significant activity during 2015 was our external audit tender, on which we engaged with a number of our major shareholders, and you can read a report from Tim Breedon, who chaired our Audit Tender Oversight Sub-Committee, on page 18.

Looking ahead

2015 has not been without its challenges, but I believe that we now have the leadership in place to take forward execution of our strategy at pace, to deliver on our priorities and generate the long-term sustainable value that will benefit not only Barclays’ shareholders, but society at large.

 

 

LOGO

John McFarlane

Chairman

29 February 2016

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  7


What we did in 2015

Statement from Sir Michael Rake,

Deputy Chairman until 31 December 2015

 

 

 

LOGO

“In asking the Chairman to take on executive responsibilities…we were mindful of the need to ensure that our Board governance arrangements remained effective.”

 

 

Board allocation of time (%)

 

                   2015         2014   
LOGO     1      Strategy formulation and      56         47   
    implementation monitoring      
    2      Finance (incl. capital and liquidity)      11         17   
    3      Governance and Risk (incl. regulatory issues)      29         32   
    4      Other (incl. compensation)      4         4   
         
         
         
         
         

Dear Fellow Shareholders

In early July 2015, we announced the departure of Antony Jenkins as Group Chief Executive and the appointment of John McFarlane as Executive Chairman, pending the appointment of a new Group Chief Executive. The non-executive Directors had reflected long and hard on the issue of Group leadership and had concluded that new leadership, bringing a new set of skills, was required to accelerate the pace of execution going forward. These events were extensively reported at the time and, rather than revisit them, I would simply like to reiterate here the Board’s appreciation of Antony’s contribution at what was a critical period for Barclays.

In asking the Chairman to take on executive responsibilities, albeit for an interim period, we were mindful of the need to ensure that our Board governance arrangements remained effective and to maintain an appropriate balance of responsibilities on the Board and in the running of the Company until such time as a new Group Chief Executive was appointed. I wanted to give you my perspective on how we approached that and, in particular, how my role as Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director evolved during this time.

First, as Executive Chairman, John McFarlane relinquished his membership of the principal Board Committees on which he served, to ensure they continued to be composed solely of non-executive Directors and without any impediment to their ability to provide independent and constructive challenge to executive management. Specifically, John stood down as Chairman of both the Board Nominations Committee and the Board Reputation Committee and I became Chairman of both committees in his place.

Secondly, I took primary responsibility for the search for a new Group Chief Executive, leading the Board Nominations Committee through this process. As the relationship between the Chairman and Group Chief Executive is pivotal to the effectiveness of the Board, John worked closely with me during this process and his insight and guidance on the skills and qualities we needed in the new Group Chief Executive was invaluable. During the search process, I reported regularly to my non-executive colleagues on the Board on progress and on potential candidates, ensuring that they had the opportunity to provide their views and feedback. You can read more about the search for our new Group Chief Executive on page 32. We announced in late October 2015 that Jes Staley would join the Board as Group Chief Executive with effect from 1 December 2015. John subsequently resumed his chairmanship of the Board Nominations Committee, however, I continued to chair the Board Reputation Committee for the remainder of 2015.

Thirdly, my general interaction with our main stakeholders – our major shareholders and our regulators in the UK and US – increased during the period that John served as Executive Chairman.

Finally, I also maintained close contact with both John and members of senior management to ensure there were no significant issues arising from a governance perspective during this period.

2015 was my last year on the Barclays Board. I joined the Board in January 2008 and served through an eventful and difficult period for both Barclays and the financial services industry as a whole. Barclays announced in October 2015 that I would retire from the Board with effect from 31 December 2015 and I have spent time with my successor as Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director, Sir Gerry Grimstone, to ensure a smooth handover. I have been proud to serve on the Barclays Board and wish my fellow Directors continuing success for the future.

 

LOGO

Sir Michael Rake

Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director until

31 December 2015

 

 

8  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Audit Committee report

 

 

 

LOGO

 

“We have continued to play a role in changing the culture and building a greater sense of personal accountability, not just at a senior level within the Group but throughout the organisation, for maintaining the control environment.”

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders

 

My report for 2014 emphasised the role the Committee has in ensuring that Barclays operates with a strong control environment and, in particular, the role it is playing in changing the culture and building a greater sense of personal accountability, not just at a senior level within the Group but throughout the organisation, for maintaining that control environment. During 2015, with the agreement of the Board and the Board Risk Committee, the Committee assumed primary responsibility for assessing and tracking the progress of embedding the Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF), which is the way in which Barclays approaches enterprise risk management and is the bedrock of our management of internal risk and control. In particular, the Committee was keen to find ways in which the ERMF could be linked to the Group’s assessment of Management’s Control Approach (MCA), both to drive the right behaviours and provide a more objective method of assessing MCA. In terms of specific control issues, an area of focus for the Committee during 2015 was operations and technology, where there are a number of material control issues the Group is addressing. In assessing control issues for disclosure, the Committee has applied similar definitions to those used for assessing internal financial controls for the purposes of Sarbanes-Oxley and has concluded that there are no control issues that are considered to be a material weakness, which would therefore merit specific disclosure. Further details may be found in the Risk Management and Internal Control section on page 39. The Committee also continued to address the significant judgements that need to be made in connection with the Group’s financial statements, primarily those relating to conduct and litigation provisions and the valuations of specific financial instruments, derivatives assets and portfolios, particularly those where there is a lack of observable market data. More details of the material matters addressed by the Committee are given in the report below. The Committee also spent time carefully considering the requirements of the new viability statement and confirmed that, as indicated in last year’s report, three years was the appropriate period, as it accorded with the Group’s Medium Term Plan.

 

A significant activity for the Committee during 2015 was the external audit tender, which was conducted by an Audit Tender Oversight Sub-Committee, chaired by Tim Breedon. As I was until 2013 a partner of KPMG, one of the bidding audit firms, I took no part in the external audit tender process, other than providing input to its initial design. Tim Breedon reports separately on the external audit tender process below.

 

  

 

The role of Board Audit Committee Chairman continues to be a full and busy one. During 2015, I had significant interaction with our regulators, meeting with representatives from our UK and US regulators and also participating in trilateral meetings with our auditors and UK regulators. I also took the opportunity to liaise with my fellow audit committee chairmen in other financial services companies, to discuss common issues and share practice, and I met with a group of investors to discuss disclosure issues, in particular with regard to realised profits. I carried on with my practice of meeting with representatives from senior management to discuss specific issues, such as customer complaints or cyber risk, in addition to my regular meetings with the Group Finance Director and Chief Internal Auditor. I also visited Barclays Africa, attending the African chairmen’s conference. I held regular private meetings with my fellow Committee members ahead of Committee meetings to ensure I had a good sense of the matters that concerned them most and likewise met regularly with the lead audit partner of the external auditor.

 

Committee performance

 

The Committee’s performance during 2015 was evaluated as part of the independently facilitated Board effectiveness review and I am pleased to report that the outcomes were positive. The Committee was regarded as effective and considered to be very thorough and detailed. The review commented on the continuing need to balance the demands of a busy agenda and programme of work with the need to cover issues in appropriate detail. We will also be seeking to strengthen the level of technical accounting experience on the Committee. You can read more about the outcomes of the Board effectiveness review on pages 33 and 34.

 

Looking ahead

 

Barclays continues to face an unprecedented level of change, driven by both internal and external factors and it will be critical to ensure that a culture of strong control is maintained as the Group implements its strategy and also as it positions itself for structural reform. The Committee will continue to seek to ensure that management maintains its focus on building personal accountability for upholding a strong and effective control environment and is supportive of the pilot programme being implemented in 2016 that will require certain business personnel to spend time working in a control function before being promoted. 2016 will also see the Committee focus on the transition to a new auditor, KPMG, who will become Barclays auditor with effect from the 2017 financial year. We will be seeking to ensure that the quality of the audit performed by the existing auditor, PwC, is maintained until the end of its tenure and that KPMG has completed the steps it needs to undertake to ensure it is fully independent of Barclays’ and has a strong understanding of the business before it takes up office.

 

LOGO

 

Mike Ashley

Chairman, Board Audit Committee

29 February 2016

 

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Committee composition and meetings

The Committee is composed solely of independent non-executive Directors. Dambisa Moyo retired from the Committee at the end of August 2015 following a review of Board Committee composition and size by the Board, which resulted in the membership of each Board Committee being refreshed. Diane Schueneman was appointed to the Committee with effect from 1 March 2016. Mike Ashley is the designated financial expert on the Committee for the purposes of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Although each member of the Committee has financial and/or financial services experience, the Board has determined that the Committee would benefit from additional direct accounting and auditing experience and consideration is being given to further appointments to the Committee in order to deepen its expertise in these areas. You can find more details of the experience of Committee members in their biographies on pages 3 and 4.

The Committee met 10 times in 2015 and the chart on page 17 shows how it allocated its time. One meeting was held purely to consider presentations from the three audit firms bidding for the external audit tender and was not attended by Mike Ashley. Committee meetings were attended by management, including the Group Chief Executive, Group Finance Director, Chief Internal Auditor, Chief Risk Officer, General Counsel and Head of Compliance, as well as representatives from the businesses and other functions. The lead audit partner of the external auditor attended all Committee meetings, except the meeting to evaluate the external audit tender proposals, and the Committee held a number of private sessions with each of the Chief Internal Auditor or the lead audit partner, which were not attended by management.

 

Member    Meetings attended/eligible to attend
Mike Ashley*    9/10
Tim Breedon    10/10
Crawford Gillies    10/10
Dambisa Moyo (to 31 August 2015)    6/7
Diane de Saint Victor    7/10

 

* Did not attend the meeting that considered the appointment of a new statutory auditor given that KPMG, where until 2013 he was a partner, was one of the bidding audit firms.
Unable to attend certain meetings owing to prior business commitments. Input was provided to the Committee Chairman prior to the meeting.

Committee role and responsibilities

The Committee is responsible for:

 

§   assessing the integrity of the Group’s financial reporting and satisfying itself that any significant financial judgements made by management are sound

 

§   evaluating the effectiveness of the Group’s internal controls, including internal financial controls and

 

§   scrutinising the activities and performance of the internal and external auditors, including monitoring their independence and objectivity.

 

LOGO  

The Committee’s terms of reference are available at

home.barclays/corporategovernance

    

 

 

 

 

 

10  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Audit Committee report

 

 

 

The Committee’s work

The significant matters addressed by the Committee during 2015 are described below.

Significant financial statement reporting issues

Assumptions and estimates or judgements are an unavoidable and significant part of the financial reporting process and are evaluated carefully by the Committee ahead of the publication of Barclays’ results announcements. The Committee examined in detail the main judgements and assumptions made by management, any sensitivity analyses performed and the conclusions drawn from the available information and evidence, with the main areas of focus during the year set out below. Where appropriate, the Committee sought input and guidance from the external auditor and welcomed its challenge on specific matters. In addition to these main areas of focus, the Committee also covered matters relating to Barclays’ pension scheme, taxation and accounting policy choices.

    

 
Area of focus    Reporting issue    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken

Conduct provisions

(see Note 27 to the financial statements).

   Barclays makes certain assumptions and estimates, analysis of which underpins provisions made for the costs of customer redress, such as for Payment Protection Insurance (PPI), Packaged Bank Accounts (PBA) and rates provided to certain customers on foreign exchange transactions.   

In debating Barclays’ financial results statements, the Committee examined the provisions held for the costs of customer redress.

 

In respect of PPI, the Committee:

§  analysed the judgements and estimates with regard to the PPI provision, taking into account estimated overturn rates, the estimation policy on missing data, and complaints trend data

§  evaluated Financial Ombudsman Service overturn rates and trends, provisions utilisation, latest flow forecasts and how reasonable high and low end scenarios had been determined in order to assess the range of reasonable possible future costs

§  debated proposed additional provisions and whether the analysis performed by management was consistent with prior periods

§  assessed the Group’s ability to forecast trends in PPI complaints, discussing the levels of uncertainty in the projections

§  debated the potential range of outcomes that might arise from the Plevin case (the 2014 UK Supreme Court ruling in Plevin v Paragon Personal Finance Ltd) and the potential impact on the future range of provisions arising from the proposed timebar on claims.

   The Committee agreed that an additional provision of £150m should be taken at the first quarter but requested a full review of forecasts for PPI redress for the second quarter 2015. Having assessed the outputs of that review, it agreed to increase the provision at the half year by £600m. Following the review at the third quarter, the Committee concluded that no additional provisions were required but asked management to conduct further review and analysis for the 2015 year end to ensure that provisions were within an acceptable range. In deliberating the analyses presented by management in connection with the 2015 full year results, and considering in particular the potential impact resulting from the FCA’s consultation on introducing a time limit for claims and addressing the Plevin case, the Committee agreed with management’s proposal to increase the provision at the year end by £1,450m. The Committee and management will continue to monitor closely any changes in customer or claims management companies’ behaviour in light of the Plevin case and the proposed timebar.
      With regard to PBA redress, the Committee:   

The Committee endorsed management’s recommendation that an expense of £282m for PBA should be provided for in the first half and agreed it should be disclosed as a separate item in the interim results. Having examined claims trend data, it concluded that no further provisions were required during 2015.

 

The Committee agreed with the proposal to make a provision of £290m in the third quarter and that this provision should be separately disclosed. The remediation is still at an early stage and the Committee noted that there were no significant developments in the fourth quarter. The Committee therefore agreed that no adjustment was required in the provision at the end of 2015.

         

§  debated the practice of providing for future costs where persistent levels of complaints are received

§  assessed PBA claims experience throughout 2015, examining the level of provisions against forecast volumes and actual claims experience

§  evaluated management’s analysis of complaint levels and trends and the outputs of product reviews.

 

In relation to redress to certain customers regarding rates provided on foreign exchange transactions, the Committee:

§  examined the results of the internal review conducted by management on foreign exchange transactions

§  evaluated the Group’s proposal for calculating remediation for the customers affected.

 

  

 

 

 

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Area of focus    Reporting issue    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken

Legal, competition and regulatory provisions

(see Notes 27 and 29 to the financial statements).

   Barclays makes judgements in respect of provisions for legal, competition and regulatory matters.   

§  Evaluated advice on the status of current legal, competition and regulatory matters.

§  Assessed management’s judgements and estimates of the levels of provisions to be taken and the adequacy of those provisions, based on available information and evidence.

  

The Committee discussed provisions and utilisation for Foreign Exchange and ISDAFix litigation and agreed that any residual provision should be retained and not released in the first half.

 

Having reviewed the information available to determine what could be reliably estimated, the Committee agreed that the provision at the full year should be set at £1,237m for ongoing investigations and litigation including Foreign Exchange.

 

Further information may be found on pages 266 and 267.

 

Valuations

(see Notes 13 to 18 to the financial statements).

   Barclays exercises judgement in the valuation and disclosure of financial instruments, derivative assets and certain portfolios, particularly where quoted market prices are not available, in particular the Group’s Education, Social Housing and Local Authority (ESHLA) portfolio, which during 2015 represented the most material judgement in view of widening credit spreads on social housing bonds and budget changes impacting social housing portfolios.   

§  Debated fair value balance sheet items. This included evaluating a report from the Valuations Committee, analysing social housing bonds credit spread performance and debating the appropriateness of the valuation model.

§  Assessed how the ESHLA portfolio might be accounted for under IFRS 9.

§  Debated uncollateralised derivatives and differences in pricing ranges and the potential impact on the Group’s financial statements.

§  Examined the significant valuation disparity between the Group and a counterparty in relation to a specific long-dated derivative portfolio.

 

  

The Committee concluded that there should be no change to the fair value approach. It also agreed with management’s recommendation that an additional prudential valuation adjustment of £300m should be made in respect of the ESHLA portfolio, reflecting an increase in credit uncertainty for social housing sector loans arising from some widening of social housing bond credit spreads.

 

The Committee noted that despite attempts by the front office trading team, the Group Finance Director and the Chairman of the Committee, it had not proved possible to gain a complete understanding of the causes of the valuation disparity from the relevant counterparty. Nonetheless, a significant element was understandable in light of the different underlying positions held and the Committee took further comfort from a third party valuation provided in relation to ongoing consideration of restructuring the trades. The Committee concluded that the Group’s valuation methodology was appropriate and also noted that the Group was protected against counterparty credit risk through a collateral escrow arrangement.

 

Impairment

(see Note 7 to the financial statements).

   Where appropriate, Barclays models potential impairment performance, allowing for certain assumptions and sensitivities, to agree allowances for credit impairment, including agreeing the timing of the recognition of any impairment and estimating the size, particularly where forbearance has been granted.   

§  Assessed impairment experience against forecast and whether impairment provisions were appropriate.

§  Evaluated the results of the review and stress tests conducted by management of the Group’s exposures to the oil and gas sector in light of the reduction in oil prices.

§  Debated management’s analysis of the emergence and outturn periods for the Barclaycard portfolios.

  

The Committee agreed with the proposed adjustments to emergence and outcome periods and determined that the allowances for credit impairment on loans and advances were appropriate and adequately supported by model outputs.

 

In relation to the oil and gas sector, the Committee determined that the proposed provisions were appropriate but noted that further stress was possible in the event of a prolonged period of lower oil prices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Audit Committee report

 

 

 

 

Area of focus    Reporting issue    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken

Going concern

(see page 45 for further information).

   Barclays is required to confirm that the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate.   

§  Assessed a working capital report prepared by Barclays Treasury, covering forecast and stress tested forecasts for liquidity and capital compared to current and future regulatory requirements, while taking into account levels of conduct and litigation provisioning and possible further provisions that may be required.

 

   After examining forecast working capital, along with Barclays’ ability to generate capital and raise funding in current market conditions, the Committee concluded that Barclays’ liquidity and capital position remained appropriate, that there were no material uncertainties and that the going concern basis of accounting remained appropriate.

Viability

   For the 2015 reporting year onwards, the Directors are required to make a statement in the Annual Report as to the longer-term viability of Barclays.   

§  At the request of the Board, evaluated at the year end a report from management that set out the view of Barclays’ longer-term viability. This report was based on Barclays Medium Term Plan (MTP) and covered forecasts for capital, liquidity and leverage, including forecast performance against regulatory targets, outcomes of the stress test of the MTP and forecast capital and liquidity performance against stress hurdle rates, funding and liquidity forecasts and an assessment of global risk themes and the Group’s risk profile.

 

   Taking into account the assessment by the Board Risk Committee of stress testing results and risk appetite, the Committee agreed to recommend the viability statement to the Board for approval, although it emphasised the need for the statement to refer specifically to the key risks to viability, in particular those outside the Group’s direct control.

Fair, balanced and understandable reporting

(including Country by Country reporting and Pillar 3 reporting).

   Barclays is required to ensure that its external reporting is fair, balanced and understandable.   

§  At the request of the Board, assessed, via discussion with and challenge of management, whether disclosures in Barclays’ published financial statements were fair, balanced and understandable, taking into account comments received from investors and others.

§  Evaluated reports from the Disclosure Committee on its assessment of the content, accuracy and tone of the disclosures.

§  Sought and obtained confirmation from the Group Chief Executive and Group Finance Director that they considered the disclosures to be fair, balanced and understandable.

§  Evaluated the outputs of Barclays’ Turnbull assessments and Sarbanes- Oxley s404 internal control process.

§  Established via reports from management that there were no indications of fraud relating to financial reporting matters.

§  Assessed disclosure controls and procedures.

§  Requested that management report on and evidence the basis on which representations to the external auditors were made.

 

  

Having assessed all of the available information and the assurances provided by management, the Committee concluded that the processes underlying the preparation of Barclays’ published financial statements were appropriate in ensuring that those statements were fair, balanced and understandable.

 

In assessing Barclays’ financial results statements, the Committee requested that certain amendments were made to disclosures on litigation and also provided input on other key disclosure items, including the US Wealth disposal, guidance on Barclays Non-Core, adjusting items, dividends and outlook statements. It also debated the proposed statements to be made by the Chairman and Group Chief Executive, suggesting amendments.

 

The Committee concluded that the disclosures and process underlying the production of the 2015 Annual Report and Financial Statements were appropriate and recommended to the Board that the 2015 Annual Report and Financial Statements are fair, balanced and understandable.

 

 

 

 

 

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Other significant matters

Other matters addressed by the Committee focused on the effectiveness of Barclays’ internal controls, the performance and effectiveness of the internal audit function, the performance, objectivity and independence of the external auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) and the arrangements being made to ensure that the incoming auditor, KPMG LLP (KPMG), achieves full independence prior to commencing the Barclays’ audit. The most significant matters are described below.

    

 
Area of focus    Matter addressed    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken

Internal control

Read more about the Barclays’ Internal control and risk management processes on page 39.

   The effectiveness of the control environment in operations and technology (O&T) and the status and remediation of any material control issues.   

§  Evaluated on a regular basis, the O&T control environment, including the status of any open material control issues, emerging risks and closed control issues, taking the opportunity to directly challenge and question functional leaders.

§  Scrutinised the status of specific material control issues and their associated remediation plans, including in particular those relating to access management, security of secret and confidential data, cyber risk, IT infrastructure and application issues and third party supplier management.

§  Debated any slippage to remediation programmes and whether this was a cultural indicator of the Group’s approach.

§  Conducted a deep dive on security of secure and confidential data control issues, discussing in particular the cultural changes that the businesses needed to make.

§  Assessed the threat presented by cyber risk, including the impact of any confirmed cyber attacks.

§  Debated the progress of remediation of third party supplier management control issues, including the potential impacts of the Group’s focus on cost management and of decentralisation.

 

  

Having assessed the status of material control issues and their remediation, the Committee suggested that resilience should be elevated as a material control issue and requested a deep dive. The deep dive has been scheduled for early 2016. The Committee also requested further updates on cyber risk and third party supplier management, both of which are scheduled to take place in early 2016.

 

The Committee requested a deep dive on access management control issues, which took place during 2015.

     The effectiveness of the business control environment, including the status of any material control issues and the progress of specific remediation plans.   

§  Assessed individual reports on the control environment in PCB, Barclaycard, Barclays Africa and US Investment Banking operations, including questioning directly the heads of those businesses.

§  Debated the importance of maintaining an effective control environment as the Group decentralises certain functional activities.

 

   The Committee requested, and received, an update on decentralisation and its potential impact on the Group’s control environment.
     The progress being made on embedding the ERMF to support a strong and effective internal control environment.   

§  Assessed the results of a self-assessment pilot exercise conducted by the principal business units, as the first line of defence.

§  Evaluated a proposal for a revised approach to the internal control attestation process to link it to the ERMF.

§  Deliberated on the challenge of embedding conduct risk management as part of the ERMF.

§  Debated the effectiveness of the systems being used to support risk and control assessments by the first line of defence.

§  Focused on the need for effective challenge by the second line of defence.

§  Debated what metrics could be used to provide line of sight to control issues and whether a more objective approach to MCA ratings could be developed.

 

   The Committee suggested to management that the assessment of MCA ratings could be more closely aligned to the ERMF. It subsequently considered and approved a proposal to align the MCA and ERMF, recommending that this be implemented with effect from 1 January 2016. The Committee requested further work on the revised approach to the internal control attestation process, so that the revised approach could be implemented for the 2015 year end attestation. The Committee asked for a further update on the effectiveness of the challenge by the second line of defence once all risk and control assessments had been completed. This update is scheduled to be provided in early 2016.

 

 

 

14  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Audit Committee report

 

 

 

 

Area of focus    Matter addressed    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken
     The adequacy of the Group’s arrangements to allow employees to raise concerns in confidence without fear of retaliation and the outcomes of any substantiated cases.   

§  Debated the enhancements made to the Group’s whistleblowing framework, including changes in the team, communications to employees and re-publication of the Raising Concerns Policy.

§  Evaluated the level of substantiated cases and trends in reporting.

  

The Committee welcomed the steps that had been taken to strengthen the Group whistleblowing team and to enhance awareness and visibility across the Group of whistleblowing processes and the Raising Concerns Policy. It asked for more granular reporting to be made to the Committee, including ensuring that any cases of retaliation were clearly highlighted and that Barclays Africa incidents were reported to the Committee on the same basis as the rest of the Group. This information is now being received.

 

To enable an assessment of effectiveness, the Committee asked for Barclays’ processes to be benchmarked against its peers. It was subsequently presented with the results of the benchmarking exercise and concluded that Barclays’ processes were appropriate.

 

Internal audit    The performance of internal audit and delivery of the internal audit plan, including scope of work performed, the level of resources and the methodology and coverage of the internal audit plan.   

§  Focused on how to accelerate the remediation of any control weaknesses and the importance of having a culture of closing issues effectively, including debating a new approach to audit issues management, which requires issues to be remediated within six months of identification, with any extension to that time period requiring the approval of a member of the Group Executive Committee.

§  Evaluated progress of the internal audit plan for 2015 and debated the plan for 2016, including assessing the proposed internal audit coverage and key control themes identified.

§  Assessed internal audit resources and attrition levels.

§  Debated the outcomes from Barclays Internal Audit’s annual self-assessment.

  

The Committee supported the approach to enforcing even greater accountability and ensuring greater visibility at Group Executive Committee and senior management level of the remediation of control issues and audit issues management. It confirmed its agreement to the key control themes identified by internal audit, although it asked for execution risk to be covered specifically. The Committee approved changes to internal audit’s methodology and the approach to audit coverage and issues validation, which has been implemented from 1 January 2016. The Committee asked for internal audit reports to comment as a matter of course on the effectiveness of both first and second lines of defence when evaluating their audit findings. Having assessed internal audit’s reports on a regular basis, the Committee confirmed completion of the internal audit plan for the first half of 2015 and approved the plan for the second half of the year, including approving the resources requested. It also approved the plan for the first half of 2016. In view of the Group’s focus on cost management, the Committee asked for an assessment of the impact on the internal audit plan of any proposed headcount reductions and for this to be reported to the Committee along with any revised plan. The Committee was content with the outcomes of the self-assessment of internal audit performance, although requested an update on the quality assurance programme, which will be provided in 2016.

 

 

 

 

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Area of focus    Matter addressed    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken
External audit    The work and performance of PwC, including the maintenance of audit quality during the period of transition to a new auditor.   

§  Convened a separate session with the key members of the PwC audit team to discuss the 2015 audit plan and agree areas of focus.

§  Assessed regular reports from PwC on the progress of the 2015 audit and any material issues identified.

§  Debated the draft audit opinion ahead of 2015 year end.

 

The Committee was also briefed by PwC on critical accounting estimates, where significant judgement is needed.

  

The Committee approved the audit plan and the main areas of focus, including impairment, valuations, conduct redress provisions, litigation and regulation and IT systems and controls. The Committee asked PwC to comment on the Group’s reconciliations processes and how they compared to other financial institutions.

 

Read more about the Committee’s role in assessing the performance, effectiveness and independence of the external auditor and the quality of the external audit below.

 

     The external audit tender, which was conducted during 2015, and the arrangements for the transition to a new auditor.   

§  Received regular updates from the Audit Tender Oversight Sub-Committee on the progress of the audit tender.

§  Convened a special meeting to evaluate final presentations from the three audit firms who responded to the request for proposal.

§  Assessed and endorsed the proposed process to ensure that KPMG was independent by 1 July 2016.

  

The Committee decided to look further at potential reputation risk before making a recommendation to the Board. Having done so, it concluded on two firms for recommendation to the Board for consideration, indicating its preferred option of KPMG. In July 2015, Barclays announced the appointment of KPMG as its statutory auditor with effect from the 2017 financial year.

 

Read more about the external audit tender and the processes in place to ensure KPMG’s independence below.

 

 

The Committee also covered the following matters:

§  ensured it was updated on the implementation of IFRS 9, including the work under way to develop the Group’s approach, project status, resourcing and employee training. The Committee requested, and received, a specific briefing session on IFRS 9, covering the key assumptions and judgements that will be required

§  debated the Group’s plan for recovery and resolution and the process by which it was developed, including assessing the forward-looking trigger indicators

§  tracked progress of plans to ensure an attestation could be made to the Group’s regulators with regard to financial crime controls

§  assessed status reports on the Group’s controls around client assets and encouraged management to ensure that complexity, and the associated compliance costs, was taken into account when deciding which products to be offered

§  evaluated regular reports on regulatory issues

§  approved revisions to its terms of reference and recommended them to the Board for approval

§  approved a revised Group Retail Impairment Policy.

Assessing external auditor effectiveness, auditor objectivity and independence and non-audit services

The Committee is responsible for assessing the effectiveness, objectivity and independence of the Group’s auditor, PwC. This responsibility was discharged throughout the year at formal committee meetings, during private meetings with PwC and via discussions with key executive stakeholders. In addition to the matters noted above, during 2015, the Committee:

§  approved the terms of the audit engagement letter and associated fees, on behalf of the Board, having scrutinised the results of Barclays’ formal evaluation of PwC. More information on the formal evaluation is provided below

§  appraised PwC’s approach to key accounting judgements and how they were communicated and agreed with management and the Committee

§  recognising that PwC, and its predecessor firms, has been Barclays external auditor since 1896 and that it had been more than 10 years since the external audit was last tendered, conducted an external audit tender, identified KPMG as the preferred candidate for appointment as Barclays’ new auditor and made a recommendation to the Board. Details of the audit tender process, which was overseen by the Audit Tender Oversight Sub-Committee, can be found on page 18

§  discussed and agreed revisions to the Group Policy on the Provision of Services by the Group Statutory Auditor and regularly analysed reports from management on the services that PwC provided to Barclays. Following the appointment of KPMG as auditor from 1 January 2017, the Committee also commenced oversight of new non-audit service engagements with KPMG in recognition of the potential threats to independence. Read more about non-audit services below

§  instructed Barclays Internal Audit to undertake a review of a sample of non-audit services provided by PwC to ensure that the final deliverables aligned to the scope of work approved by the Committee. No concerns were identified by this review

§  evaluated and approved revisions to the Group Policy on Employment of Employees from the Statutory Auditor and ensured compliance with the policy by regularly assessing reports from management detailing any appointments made

§  analysed the results of the inspection of PwC by the Financial Reporting Council’s Audit Quality Review Team and confirmed support for the actions PwC proposed to take to address areas identified for improvement

§  assessed the draft report to the PRA prepared by PwC regarding its detailed audit work on specific topics, in particular, impairment.

PwC’s performance, independence and objectivity during 2015 were formally assessed at the beginning of 2016. A questionnaire incorporating best practice recommendations from a number of professional and governance bodies, and taking account of key findings from the 2014 review, was completed by key stakeholders across the Group. The questionnaire was designed to evaluate PwC’s audit process in its entirety and addressed matters including the quality of planning and communication, technical knowledge, the level of scrutiny and challenge applied and PwC’s understanding of the business. The subsequent report provided empirical data on which the Committee assessed PwC. It also reflected specific comments made by respondents, giving the Committee a valuable insight into management’s views. The Committee was particularly interested in assessing whether audit quality was being maintained throughout the period of transition to a new auditor. The results of the evaluation confirmed that both PwC and the audit process were effective. Having considered the results of the evaluation, the Committee recommended to the Board and to shareholders that PwC should be reappointed as the Group’s auditors at the AGM on 28 April 2016, noting that this would be PwC’s final year as Group auditor.

 

 

 

 

16  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Audit Committee report

 

 

 

Non-audit services

In order to safeguard the auditor’s independence and objectivity, Barclays has in place a policy setting out the circumstances in which the auditor may be engaged to provide services other than those covered by the Group audit. The Group Policy on the Provision of Services by the Group Statutory Auditor (the Policy) applies to all Barclays’ subsidiaries and other material entities over which Barclays has significant influence. The core principle of the Policy is that non-audit services (other than those legally required to be carried out by the Group’s auditor) should only be performed by the auditor in certain, controlled circumstances. The Policy sets out those types of services that are strictly prohibited and those that are allowable in principle. Any service types that do not fall within either list are considered by the Committee Chairman on a case by case basis, supported by a risk assessment provided by management.

The Committee has pre-approved all allowable services up to £100,000, or £25,000 for tax advisory services, however, all proposed work, regardless of the fees, must be sponsored by a senior executive and recorded on a centralised online system, with a detailed explanation of the clear commercial benefit arising from engaging the auditor over other potential service providers. The audit firm engagement partner must also confirm that the engagement has been approved in accordance with the auditor’s own internal ethical standards and does not pose any threat to the auditor’s independence or objectivity.

All requests to engage the auditor are assessed by independent management before work can commence. Requests for allowable service types in respect of which the fees are expected to meet or exceed the above thresholds must be approved by the Chairman of the Committee before work is permitted to begin. Services where the fees are expected to be £250,000 or higher must be approved by the Committee as a whole. All expenses and disbursements must be included in the fees calculation.

During 2015, all engagements where expected fees met or exceeded the above thresholds were evaluated by either the Committee Chairman or the Committee as a whole who, before confirming any approval, assured themselves that there was justifiable reason for engaging the auditor and that its independence and objectivity would not be threatened. Two requests were declined in 2015 (2014: two). On a quarterly basis, the Committee scrutinised details of individually approved and pre-approved services undertaken by the auditor in order to satisfy itself that they posed no risk to the auditor’s independence, either in isolation or on an aggregated basis. A breakdown of the fees paid to the auditor for non-audit work can be found in Note 42 on page 296, with non-audit fees representing 23.5% (2014: 25.7%) of the audit fee. Significant categories of engagement undertaken in 2015 included:

 

§   attest and assurance services required by regulators in connection with reviews of internal controls including reviews of the suitability of design and operating effectiveness of controls related to custody of securities and funds within Barclays Wealth Americas

 

§   tax compliance services in respect of assignments initiated pre-January 2011 in connection with Barclays international and expatriate employees, involving co-ordination and filing of statutory tax returns, social security applications and additional compliance filings

 

§   transaction support on secured funding transactions, including the provision of audits required by the Bank of England and the issue of comfort letters

 

§   provision of advice and market insight in respect of regulatory requirements relating to remuneration structure, incentive funding and risk adjustment and remuneration reporting.

Independence of KPMG

Following the appointment of KPMG as Barclays’ auditor with effect from 1 January 2017, the Committee was concerned to ensure that KPMG obtained independence from Barclays during 2016, enabling it to familiarise itself with Barclays and receive a structured, formal handover from PwC. In order to ensure KPMG’s independence, and to allow the Committee to assess whether any non-audit work being conducted by KPMG in the meantime is appropriate, both in terms of type and scale, Barclays is in the process of exiting any current relationships or assignments that may prevent KPMG obtaining independent status and

has implemented procedures to manage the types of relationships and assignments that KPMG provides going forward. In particular, KPMG is not permitted to provide any service that may continue beyond mid-2016 if it has potential to cause independence issues. Since October 2015, the Committee has required all new engagements to be considered in light of the Policy and is maintaining oversight of them on the same basis as for the current auditor. The Committee has reserved the right to decline any proposed engagement with KPMG.

The fees paid to KPMG for non-audit work during 2015 were £38m. Significant categories of engagement undertaken in 2015 included:

 

§   international tax compliance services for expatriate employees of Barclays, including expatriate tax returns, tax counselling, tax equalisation, international social security and other employment tax issues

 

§   independent approved person review (s.166) of interest rate swaps to small businesses, covering the sale of interest rate hedging products to retail customers

 

§   the building of an internal lean self-sufficiency capability to support end-to-end value stream improvements of core business processes within Group Operations and Technology

 

§   assistance in the establishment and running of the programme management office associated with the African brand migration project

 

§   support in the implementation of the Group conduct risk programme

 

§   support with the development of the anti-money laundering programme and the provision of related advice

 

§   support for Barclaycard in the assessment and restructuring of its pricing model

 

§   review and remediation of know your customer documentation requirements for Barclays politically exposed persons and special focus clients in the US, UK, Switzerland, Monaco, India, Singapore and Hong Kong

 

§   support for the development and embedding of the Basel II-compliant models in Spain.

The Statutory Audit Services for Large Companies Market Investigation (Mandatory Use of Competitive Tender Processes and Audit Committee Responsibilities) Order 2014

Barclays intends to comply with the requirements of The Statutory Audit Services for Large Companies Market Investigation (Mandatory Use of Competitive Tender Processes and Audit Committee Responsibilities) Order 2014, which relates to the frequency and governance of tenders for the appointment of the external auditor and the setting of a policy on the provision of non-audit services.

Board Audit Committee allocation of time (%)

 

                   2015         2014   

 

LOGO

 

 

 

 

1

 

  

 

 

Control issues

  

 

 

 

18

 

  

  

 

 

 

24

 

  

    2      Business control environment      16         10   
    3      Financial results      27         42   
    4      Internal audit matters      7         8   
    5      External audit matters (including external audit tender)      26         11   
    6      Other (including governance and compliance)      6         5   
         
         
         
 

 

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  17


    

    

    

 

 

                          
 

Governance in Action – external audit tender

 

As indicated in last year’s Annual Report, Barclays decided to undertake an external audit tender in 2015, with a view to replacing our external audit firm from the 2017 financial year onwards. This was done to conform with the auditor rotation requirements of the final statutory audit services order published in October 2014 by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, which took effect in January 2015.

 

In December 2014, we established an Audit Tender Oversight Sub-Committee, to oversee the external audit. I was asked to chair the Sub-Committee and Crawford Gillies and Colin Beggs, Chairman of the BAGL Audit Committee, were the other members. The tender process completed in summer 2015 and the Board announced in July 2015 that it had appointed KPMG as Barclays Auditor with effect from the 2017 financial year.

 

One of the Sub-Committee’s key objectives was to ensure that the selection process was efficient, fair, effective, open and transparent. It established and published the following weighted key assessment criteria: Audit Quality (50%), Cultural Fit (20%), Corporate Fit (15%) and Experience (15%). No fee information was available to the Board Audit Committee before the recommendation was finalised. Three levels of governance were implemented to manage and support the process.

 

     

Timeline and key activities

 

LOGO

 

   
 

Governance body

 

  

Purpose

 

         
 

 

Core Audit Tender

Team

  

 

§  Assist the audit firms to put the best solution forward for consideration.

§  Conduct a detailed assessment of the audit firms following the design approved by the Audit Tender Oversight Sub-Committee.

 

         
 

 

Audit Tender Oversight

Sub-Committee

  

 

§  Agree objectives and desired outcomes for the audit tender.

§  Approve the design of the audit tender process.

§  Construct and agree a shortlist of firms to be asked to participate.

§  Oversee the implementation of the audit tender process.

 

         
 

 

Board Audit Committee

  

 

§  Recommend to the Board, from at least two potential candidates, the preferred firm to be appointed.

 

         
 

 

A number of firms were invited to participate in the audit tender, including firms outside the ‘Big 4’ auditors. We published key information on the tender in a timely manner, including making the request for proposal available on Barclays’ website. We also wrote to our major shareholders, setting out the process and details of the tendering audit firms, which we considered essential to transparency. Enhanced compliance procedures were established. We then undertook a broad and structured evaluation of each firm through site visits and workshops with the tendering firms, covering all the major businesses of the Group, the control functions and specific audit exercises, which were also attended by members of the Board Audit Committee. Ongoing feedback was provided to the tendering audit firms through a single point of contact in order to ensure that each was given the best chance possible of putting forward a credible proposal to the Board Audit Committee.

 

At the conclusion of the audit tender process, the Board Audit Committee was able to recommend to the Board the preferred firm to be appointed, from two shortlisted firms. All tendering firms met the minimum thresholds set by the Audit Tender Oversight Sub- Committee and, following a full assessment of the proposals and detailed questioning of the audit firms, KPMG was identified as the preferred firm, based on audit quality, evaluation scores and its extensive experience of auditing banks. Mike Ashley and Sir Michael Rake, both former partners of KPMG, took no part in the evaluation process or the Board Audit Committee’s recommendation and both recused themselves when the Board discussed and approved the appointment.

 

Tim Breedon

Chairman, Audit Tender Oversight Sub-Committee

 

         
                        

 

 

18  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Risk Committee reporta

 

 

 

      

LOGO

 

“In 2016 the Committee will continue to supervise the level and deployment of risk appetite, as well as the Group’s funding and capital position, as we respond to regulatory requirements and our expectations of continued volatility in external conditions.”

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders

 

Over the past year, the Board Risk Committee reviewed management’s responses to a range of external challenges. These included a slowdown in China and other emerging markets, falling oil and commodity prices, as well as some industry trends toward more aggressive lending terms in certain core markets, including UK property and international leveraged finance. Risk appetite, as well as country, sector and individual exposures, were carefully monitored to ensure that business activity and limits appropriately reflected external risks. We were pleased to see impairment remain broadly flat on 2014 levels and within planning expectations, despite increasingly challenging conditions in some markets.

 

A key activity for the Committee is recommending risk appetite to the Board and monitoring performance against the agreed appetite on its behalf. The context in which we set our Medium Term Plan (MTP) and risk appetite for 2015 was based on our assessment of our key markets, including risk factors arising from the near term geopolitical, macroeconomic and market environment and the potential for further conduct and litigation charges. Matters for particular focus were the UK housing market, where new mortgage regulations, a potential rise in interest rates, the growth in the buy-to-let market and ongoing high levels of household debt were expected to have an impact; continuing economic and political uncertainty in Europe; weak economic prospects for South Africa; and the potential effects of ongoing weakness in oil prices. 2015 risk appetite and risk triggers were set to position Barclays conservatively given this environment. During 2015, significant stress in emerging markets and economies became evident, underpinned by a slowing in the Chinese economy and resultant market volatility. Consequently, Barclays took early action to reduce its risk appetite to emerging markets, particularly Africa, and also remained vigilant to the potential impacts arising from a downturn in economic growth, indebtedness generally and further weakness in capital markets.

 

At the end of 2014, the Committee asked for a review of the Group’s process for setting risk appetite and during 2015 approved a revised methodology that takes a scenario-based approach, with stress testing as the basis of the risk appetite framework. This revised methodology was used to set risk appetite for 2016, with the Committee also approving the stress testing themes, the severity of the proposed stress and the financial constraints.

 

Note

a   The name of the Committee changed from the Board Financial Risk Committee in June 2015

  

Another key area of focus during 2015 was the structural reform programme, where the Committee was asked by the Group Chairman to oversee progress of the planning process, particularly with regard to structural options, their capital and liquidity implications and the potential risks for the Group, its customers and for the financial system. Now that the programme has moved into its implementation phase, the Board will directly oversee programme execution, although the Committee will continue to exercise oversight of capital and liquidity aspects, including assessing capital on a legal entity basis. From July 2015, the Committee also assumed oversight responsibility for operational risk, agreeing to focus on the financial and capital aspects of operational risk, while the Board Audit Committee oversees the control aspects.

 

The role of Board Risk Committee Chairman is not confined to the Committee’s regular meetings. During 2015, I continued to have significant interaction with our regulators, meeting regularly with representatives from our UK and US regulators. I held regular meetings with the Chief Risk Officer and members of his senior management team, with Barclays Treasurer and the Chief Operating Officer. I also liaised closely with the Chairman of Board Audit Committee, particularly on those matters where the remit of the two committees might overlap, including with regard to the implementation of the Enterprise Risk Management Framework and operational risk issues.

 

Committee performance

 

The Committee’s performance during 2015 was evaluated as part of the independently facilitated annual Board effectiveness review and I am happy to report that the outcomes were positive. The Committee was regarded as effective and as taking a thorough and detailed approach to its responsibilities. The main area identified for improvement was ensuring that the papers presented to the Committee strike the right balance between providing data for information and providing insight and analysis to encourage greater debate and I will be working with the Chief Risk Officer and Barclays Treasurer to address this during 2016. You can read more about the outcomes of the Board effectiveness review on pages 33 and 34.

 

Looking ahead

 

The Committee expects its areas of focus for 2016 to be guided by the ongoing level of change faced by the Group as it implements its strategy and executes the structural reform programme, with a particular focus on capital and liquidity management across legal entities. We will also continue to monitor and react to any emerging risks arising in our key markets in the UK, US and South Africa as a consequence of any macroeconomic deterioration or disruption in financial market conditions.

 

 

LOGO

 

Tim Breedon

Chairman, Board Risk Committee

29 February 2016

      

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  19


    

    

    

 

 

 

Committee composition and meetings

The Committee is comprised solely of independent non-executive Directors. Following a review by the Board during 2015 of Board Committee composition, Dambisa Moyo stepped down from the Committee with effect from 31 August 2015 and Diane Schueneman joined the Committee with effect from 1 September 2015. Details of the skills and experience of the Committee members can be found in their biographies on pages 3 and 4.

The Committee met seven times in 2015, with two of the meetings held in New York. Two additional meetings were held at short notice for the sole purpose of considering and approving revised risk limits in connection with specific transactions and, with the consent of the Committee Chairman, were not attended by all Committee members. The chart on page 23 shows how the Committee allocated its time during 2015. Committee meetings were attended by management, including the Group Chief Executive, Group Finance Director, Chief Internal Auditor, Chief Risk Officer, Barclays Treasurer and General Counsel, as well as representatives from the businesses. Representatives from the external auditor also attended meetings.

Member      Meetings attended/eligible to attend   
Tim Breedon      7/7   
Mike Ashley      7/7   
Reuben Jeffery III*      5/7   
Dambisa Moyo (to 31 August 2015)*      3/5   
Diane Schueneman (from 1 Sept 2015)      2/2   
Steve Thieke*      5/7   
* with the consent of the Chairman did not attend the two meetings held at short notice to consider specific transaction limits

Committee role and responsibilities

The Committee’s responsibilities include:

 

§   recommending to the Board the total level of financial and operational risk the Group is prepared to take (risk appetite) to create long-term shareholder value

 

§   monitoring financial and operational risk appetite, including setting limits for individual types of risk, e.g., credit, market and funding risk

 

§   monitoring the Group’s financial and operational risk profile

 

§   ensuring that financial and operational risk is taken into account during the due diligence phase of any strategic transaction and

 

§   providing input from a financial and operational risk perspective into the deliberations of the Board Remuneration Committee.

 

LOGO  

The Committee’s terms of reference are available at

home.barclays/corporategovernance

 

 

The Committee’s work

The significant matters addressed by the Committee during 2015 are described below:

 

Area of focus    Matter addressed    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken
Risk appetite, i.e. the level of risk the Group chooses to take in pursuit of its business objectives.    The methodology for calculating the level of risk appetite.   

§  Requested a review of the Group’s risk appetite process and methodology and debated proposals from management to move to a scenario-based stress testing approach.

§  Evaluated the proposed MTP stress test, agreeing on a scenario involving a global recession from an economic slowdown in China.

§  Debated the severity of the scenario and how it would apply across the Group’s main markets of the UK, US and South Africa and how it aligned to regulatory stress tests.

  

The Committee challenged the parameters proposed by management and asked for a parameter to be linked to PBT. It also asked for early consideration to be given to the impact of IFRS 9 on the Group’s risk appetite and stress testing assumptions. This work is under way and will be reported to the Committee in the first half of 2016. Given the change in methodology, the Committee requested early sight of the design and outputs as the new risk appetite process was implemented, resulting in a workshop being held in December 2015. All non-executive Directors were invited to attend the workshop.

 

Stress testing, i.e. testing whether the Group’s financial position and risk profile provide sufficient resilience to withstand the impact of severe economic stress.

 

   The Group’s stress testing exercises, including scenario selection and constraints, the results and implications of stress tests, including stress tests run by the Bank of England (BoE), and regulatory feedback on the methodology and results.   

§  Debated proposals from management to move to a scenario-based risk appetite setting approach and approved a change to the Group’s methodology.

§  Assessed the progress of the BoE stress test and evaluated the preliminary results, including discussing any potential areas of sensitivity.

 

   The Committee approved the stress test results for submission to the BoE. It subsequently evaluated the BoE stress testing results and feedback from the BoE on the stress test.

 

 

 

20  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Risk Committee report

 

 

 

 

Area of focus    Matter addressed    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken
Structural reform, i.e. the progress of structural reform, including the challenges to execution.    The impact of structural reform on the Group’s principal risks, including the impact on capital and liquidity for individual Group legal entities and the potential overall impact on the safety and soundness of the UK financial system.   

§  Debated structural reform and the impact on the capital and liquidity flight paths for individual legal entities, in particular, the prospective credit rating of Barclays Bank PLC in the structural reform structure.

§  Evaluated the respective impacts on capital, liquidity and on the general safeness and soundness of the Group of different ring fence bank (RFB) structures.

  

The Committee recognised the design and implementation challenges of the programme and supported management in proposing structures and perimeters that best ensured the safety and soundness of all elements of the Group. It requested a workshop on structural reform to provide the Committee with an in-depth view of the key challenges. The workshop was held in December 2015 and all non-executive Directors were invited to attend.

 

Liquidity and funding, i.e. having sufficient financial resources available to enable the Group to meet its obligations as they fall due.    Compliance with regulatory requirements and internal liquidity risk appetite (LRA).   

§  Assessed on a regular basis liquidity performance against requirements.

§  Debated the credit ratings of Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC and potential market reaction to a ratings downgrade following removal of sovereign support notching.

§  Questioned the cost of additional liquidity and asked for options to reduce the cost to be considered.

 

   The Committee ensured that management had in place options to manage any impact on liquidity of a ratings downgrade. It agreed that the cost of maintaining surplus liquidity was appropriate.

Capital and leverage,

i.e., having sufficient capital resources to meet the Group’s regulatory requirements, maintain its credit rating and support growth and strategic options.

 

   The flight path to achieving required regulatory and internal targets and capital and leverage ratios.   

§  Debated on a regular basis, capital performance against plan, tracking the capital flight path, any challenges/headwinds and regulatory developments.

§  Evaluated options to maximise capital and capital ratios in order to meet regulatory and market expectations.

 

   The Committee supported the forecast trajectory and the actions identified by management to manage the Group’s capital position.
Country risk, i.e. the levels of risk the Group is prepared to take in specific countries.    The potential impact on the Group’s risk profile of political instability and economic weakness in South Africa, one of its main markets.   

§  Debated economic conditions in South Africa and the future outlook.

§  Examined the actions already taken to manage risks, improve controls and asset quality and develop triggers for additional action in the event of further macro deterioration.

§  Monitored the impact on South Africa of the slowdown in China and the fall in commodity prices.

  

The Committee sought additional information around the actions that had been taken to manage the risk profile in South Africa, including the impact of the actions taken to date. It requested a deep dive on the risk profile of the South African business, inviting the South African business heads to present on the actions that had been taken and how the business was positioned for a further economic downturn, including the impact of a further country rating downgrade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  21


    

    

    

 

 

 

 

Area of focus    Matter addressed    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken
Political and economic risk, i.e. the impact on the Group’s risk profile of political and economic developments and macroeconomic conditions.    The potential impact on the Group’s risk profile of political developments, such as the UK general election and budget statement, the potential exit of countries from the Eurozone, and weakening macroeconomic conditions, such as disruption and volatility in financial markets.   

§  Assessed the potential impact of the UK general election and steps that could be taken to manage any market volatility.

§  Evaluated the potential risks arising from a general macroeconomic slowdown and from financial markets disruption, including the global impact of the economic slowdown in China.

§  Assessed global consumer indebtedness indicators and the potential impact of rising consumer debt on the Group’s risk profile.

§  Debated the Group’s Eurozone exposures in the context of the potential break-up of the Eurozone in the event of a Greek exit and assessed the Group’s levels of redenomination risk in the Eurozone.

 

   The Committee asked management to evaluate macroeconomic conditions and market indicators to inform the strategic plan and risk appetite proposals for 2016, so that the Group is positioned appropriately.

Retail credit risk,

i.e. UK property market, interest rate risk.

   The potential overheating of the UK housing market, particularly in London and the South East and the Group’s risk appetite for and management of sectors such as the buy-to-let sector.   

§  Debated UK property market indicators and conditions, particularly in the high loan to value (LTV) and the buy-to-let markets and potential economic and political risks to that market.

§  Evaluated the Group’s lending criteria and its approach to assessing customers on affordability.

§  Assessed the potential impact of an increase in interest rates on customers, including how customers had been stress tested and assessed against affordability criteria.

 

   The Committee encouraged management to continue to take a conservative approach to UK mortgage lending in the buy-to-let market and emphasised the need to keep risks and exposures within agreed appetite.

Specific sector risk,

i.e. the Group’s risk profile in sectors showing signs of stress, such as the oil sector.

   The Group’s exposures to the oil and commodities sectors in light of the price weakness and volatility in these sectors during 2015.   

§  Regularly assessed the Group’s exposures to the oil sector, including assessing steps taken with regard to the credit strategy for the sector, how the portfolio was performing and whether this was in line with expectations.

§  Evaluated the Group’s exposures to the commodities sector and actions taken to identify any names at risk and reduce exposures.

 

   The Committee supported the actions that had been taken by management to manage the Group’s risks and exposures to the oil and commodities sectors. It requested a stress test to assess the impact of further (and longer) oil price weakness on the Group’s lending portfolio, including indirect exposure.

Operational Risk

From 1 July 2015, the Committee took responsibility for oversight of the capital and financial aspects of operational risk.

   The Group’s operational risk capital requirements and any material changes to the Group’s operational risk profile and performance versus risk appetite.   

§  Evaluated operational risk capital and debated the potential for an increase in regulatory operational capital requirements.

§  Debated whether Barclays advanced status for calculating operational risk capital should be retained.

§  Tracked operational risk key indicators via regular reports from the Head of Operational Risk.

 

   The Committee focused its oversight of operational risk on the financial and capital implications, debating in particular the potential impact of regulatory operational risk requirements.

 

 

 

22  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Risk Committee report

 

 

                    
Area of focus    Matter addressed    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken    
 

Risk governance,

i.e. the capability, governance and controls that the Group has over the management of risk.

   The development of a scorecard to assist the Committee in assessing risk capability across the Group; further enhancement to the limit framework and governance of leveraged finance; the actions being taken to enhance controls and governance around risk models.   

§  Requested development of a risk capability scorecard.

§  Regularly debated conditions in the leveraged finance market, tracking market indicators and the Group’s risk exposures and assessing the limit framework for leveraged finance and underwriting, including proposed changes to the framework to strengthen controls.

§  Assessed the progress of enhancements to risk models controls and governance, including the role of the Group’s Independent Validation Unit.

§  Evaluated revisions proposed to the ERMF.

 

  

The Committee approved the approach to the risk capability scorecard and requested a formal annual assessment of capability, with the option of an external assessment every three years. The Committee approved a revised limit framework for leveraged finance transactions and approved underwriting limits in general. The Committee concluded that good progress had been made on enhancing the controls and governance around risk models and asked management to focus on improving the quality of models and data quality further. The Committee also recommended the revised ERMF to the Board for approval.

 

   
 
Remuneration    The scope of any risk adjustments to be taken into account by the Board Remuneration Committee when making remuneration decisions for 2015.   

§   Evaluated the Risk function’s view of performance, which informed remuneration decisions for 2015.

  

The Committee supported the Risk function’s view of 2015 risk performance and endorsed the report that had been submitted to the Board Remuneration Committee.

 

The Remuneration Report on pages 50 to 83 includes more detail on how risk is taken into account in remuneration decisions.

 

   
 

In addition, the Committee also covered the following matters in 2015:

 

§  regularly tracked the utilisation of risk appetite and evaluated the Group’s risk profile

 

§  evaluated the impact of the Swiss franc revaluation on the Group’s electronic trading systems and asked for any lessons learned to be applied to other electronic platforms

 

§  debated risk related matters arising from regulatory assessments and the actions needed to address any specific issues raised

 

§  approved regulatory submissions, including the Individual Capital Adequacy Assessment Process and the Individual Liquidity Adequacy Assessment

 

§  assessed and debated a report on its own performance during 2014, including considering whether its remit should be revised to cover operational risk and assessing the degree of challenge and support and value it provided to the Risk function

 

§  discussed and agreed on its own training needs, resulting in two workshops being held in 2015, one on risk appetite and one on structural reform, with a further briefing session on the impact of IFRS 9 planned for 2016

 

§  approved amendments to its terms of reference to reflect its revised remit and to ensure they remained in line with best practice and

 

§  discussed and agreed its specific responsibilities for the oversight of operational risk, focusing on the capital and financial impacts, leaving the Board Audit Committee to oversee operational risk control issues.

    Board Risk Committee allocation of time (%)    
                      2015    2014    
   

 

LOGO

  1   Risk profile/risk appetite    43    57  
        (including capital and liquidity management)        
      2   Key risk issues    31    19  
      3   Internal control/risk policies    11    11  
      4   Other (including remuneration and    15    13  
        governance issues)        
               
               
               
   

LOGO

   Read more about Barclays’ risk management on pages 95 to    
       109 and 336 to 409    
          
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
 

    

 

 

                                  

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  23


    

What we did in 2015

Board Reputation Committee reporta

 

 

 

LOGO

 

‘The Committee’s responsibilities were reshaped during 2015 to focus on three main pillars: conduct and compliance; reputation; and citizenship.’

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders

The Board Reputation Committee underwent a period of change during 2015, in terms of both a reassessment of Board Committee responsibilities and membership. John McFarlane succeeded Reuben Jeffery III as Chairman of the Committee in March 2015 and, following John’s appointment as Executive Chairman in July 2015, the Board asked me to assume the role of Committee Chairman, a position I held until my retirement from the Board at the end of December 2015.

 

The Committee’s responsibilities were reshaped during 2015 to focus on three main pillars: conduct and compliance; reputation; and citizenship. Culture and conduct are the bedrock of the organisation and, with the right culture, much of Barclays’ exposure to conduct risk can be reduced. To this end, the Committee has continued to focus on these issues, assessing progress against plans for embedding our conduct risk programme and implementing cultural change throughout the Group. We assessed deep-dive reports into conduct risk within key businesses, such as Barclays Africa and the Cards business, and evaluated the findings of a report by Air Marshal Sir David Walker, commissioned by management to give an independent view on whether we are making progress with cultural change. I am pleased to report that, although there is more to be done, progress on both has been good and there is strong commitment throughout the Group to embedding the necessary changes.

 

The Committee also tracked the exposure of Barclays, and the financial sector generally, to reputational risks. Reputational risk is a risk type that is constantly evolving, with potential new risks emerging while we are implementing controls to manage identified risks. Consequently, we have taken a thematic approach to identifying our key reputational risks and have ensured that we look ahead to identify emerging risks enabling us to mitigate them early. You can read more on pages 25 and 26 about the significant matters addressed during the year.

      

 

Committee performance

As part of the annual Board effectiveness review the performance of the Board’s committees was considered and I am pleased to report that the Committee is considered to be effective. The Committee is relatively new and areas for improvement included continuing to refine its agenda, particularly with regard to compliance and conduct risk, and ensuring that it does not duplicate the work of other Board Committees. Please turn to the report of the Board effectiveness review on pages 33 and 34 for more details.

 

Looking ahead

My successor, Sir Gerry Grimstone, will be assessing the areas of focus for the Committee in 2016 and I wish him and the Committee well for the future.

 

LOGO

 

Sir Michael Rake

Chairman, Board Reputation Committee until 31 December 2015

 

Committee composition and meetings

The Committee comprises independent non-executive Directors, with the exception of Wendy Lucas-Bull, who the Board has decided to deem as non-independent for the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code, owing to her position as Chairman of Barclays Africa Group Limited. During 2015, there were a number of changes to the membership of the Committee, which are set out in the table below.

 

The Committee met four times during 2015 and the chart on page 26 shows how it allocated its time. Committee meetings were attended by management, including the Group Chief Executive, Chief Internal Auditor, Chief Risk Officer, General Counsel, Group Corporate Relations Director and the Heads of Compliance, Conduct Risk and Operational Risk, as well as representatives from the businesses and other functions.

 

     Member    Meetings attended/eligible to attend
     Reuben Jeffery III (Chairman and member to
31 March 2015)
   1/1
     John McFarlane (Chairman from 1 April 2015 –
16 July 2015)
   2/2
     Sir Michael Rake (Chairman and member from
17 July 2015 – 31 December 2015)
   2/2
     Mike Ashley (to 31 August 2015)    2/2
     Tim Breedon (to 31 August 2015)    2/2
     Wendy Lucas-Bull    4/4
     Dambisa Moyo    4/4
     Diane de Saint Victor    4/4
     Sir John Sunderland (to 23 April 2015)    1/1
     Frits van Paasschen (from 1 September 2015)    2/2
    

 

Committee role and responsibilities

The principal purpose of the Committee is to:

 

§  ensure, on behalf of the Board, the efficiency of the processes for identification and management of conduct and reputational risk and

 

§  oversee Barclays’ Citizenship Strategy, including the management of Barclays’ economic, social and environmental contribution.

 

Until the end of June 2015, the Committee also had responsibility for oversight of operational risk. Following a review by the Board of its governance arrangements, responsibility for the oversight of the capital and financial aspects of operational risk was reallocated to the Board Financial Risk Committee, which was renamed the Board Risk Committee. The Board Audit Committee oversees the control aspects of operational risk.

 

     LOGO  

The Committee’s terms of reference are available at

home.barclays

 

Note

a   Formerly called the Board Conduct, Operational and Reputational Risk Committee

 

        

 

24  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Reputation Committee report

 

 

 

The Committee’s work

The significant matters addressed by the Committee during 2015 are described below:

 

Area of focus    Matter addressed    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken
Conduct risk    Progress on embedding the conduct risk management framework, focus on specific conduct risks and continued reduction of customer complaint levels.   

§  Continued its monitoring of the conduct risk programme via quarterly reports from management.

§  Specifically assessed the status of the conduct risk programmes in Barclays Africa and across the Cards business.

§  Monitored regulators’ views of Barclays’ conduct risk management and reporting via updates from management.

§  Assessed progress made in reducing numbers of complaints, including those escalated to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

 

   The Committee welcomed the progress made in embedding the conduct risk programme and requested more visibility of the status of specific conduct risks. It encouraged management to continue to apply lessons learned from past events to prevent similar events occurring now or in the future. It was content with the progress made in embedding conduct risk in Barclays Africa, but encouraged greater simplification of the governance structures and communication. It also encouraged management to do more to reduce the number of complaints.

Operational risk

(to July 2015)

   The management of Barclays’ operational risk profile and exposure to significant operational risks.   

§  Monitored Barclays’ operational risk profile via quarterly reports from management.

§  Evaluated management’s strategy for addressing cyber risk and monitored its progress.

§  Assessed Barclays’ exposure to technology risk and examined plans to resolve identified control issues by the end of the year.

  

The Committee focused its attention on emerging risks and those to which the Group’s exposure was increasing. It supported tactical and strategic actions proposed by management to mitigate the Group’s risks, including endorsing management’s strategy for addressing cyber risk. The Committee also satisfied itself that progress in managing technology risk was good and there was a healthy focus on embedding the right culture.

 

Reputational issues    Ensuring that Barclays anticipates, identifies and manages reputational issues that may impact it or the industry now or in the future.   

§  Tracked Barclays’ exposure to reputational risks via twice-yearly management reports.

§  Examined the effectiveness of the current reputation risk framework, including assessing case studies on specific reputational matters.

 

   The Committee took a thematic approach to its assessment of reputational risks and guided management in its approach to managing them. It satisfied itself as to the effectiveness of the reputation risk framework.

 

 

 

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  25


 

 

 

 

 

                    
Area of focus    Matter addressed    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken    
 
Cultural change    The progress being made on embedding of cultural change.   

§  Evaluated the outputs of an independent review by Air Marshal Sir David Walker.

§  Assessed an industry-wide report by the Group of Thirty (G30) into banking conduct and culture and how Barclays’ practices benchmarked against the best practices and suggestions outlined in that report.

  

The Committee endorsed Air Marshal Sir David Walker’s report, which confirmed its view that progress had been good but that there was more to do to achieve the cultural change required. It encouraged management to continue to prioritise progress on cultural change. The Committee also concluded that many of the actions Barclays had taken in response to the Salz Review recommendations had aligned its practices with those proposed in the G30 report.

 

   
 
Citizenship    The delivery of the 2015 Citizenship Plan and development of a Shared Growth Plan for 2016-2018.   

§  Tracked progress against the current 2015 Citizenship plan via six-monthly reports from management.

§  With the current Citizenship Plan coming to completion, evaluated the proposed Shared Growth Plan for 2016-2018.

  

The Committee noted that all targets in the 2015 Citizenship Plan had been met or exceeded, with the exception of our new and renewed household lending target, which had not been possible to achieve owing to market and trading conditions. It endorsed the 2016-2018 Shared Growth Plan, particularly the proposal to link the plan to Barclays’ core purpose and values and to focus on employability skills.

 

 

   
 

The Committee also covered the following matters:

 

§   assessed progress of the programme to implement enhanced controls in the Investment Bank over conflicts of interest between Barclays and third parties

 

§    evaluated outcomes of regulatory thematic reviews of conduct issues and controls

 

§   evaluated the levels of attestation by colleagues globally to The Barclays Way, the Group’s code of conduct

 

§    assessed the status of specific remediation programmes being implemented by the business

 

    Board Reputation Committee allocation of time (%)       
                       2015         2014       
   

 

LOGO

 

    1      Citizenship      6         2       
        2      Reputational issues      13         7       
     

 

 

 

3

 

  

  Culture, conduct and compliance      57         52       
        4      Operational risk      19         33       
        5      Other      6         6       
                 
                 
                 
                 

§   provided input to the Board Remuneration Committee on conduct and reputation issues to be taken into consideration for 2015 remuneration decisions

 

§    tracked progress against the Compliance function’s business plan, including updates on resourcing and attrition levels

 

§   monitored progress of Barclays’ plans for compliance with the Volcker Rule (restrictions on proprietary trading and certain fund investments by banks operating in the US)

 

§    assessed and discussed a report on the Committee’s performance during 2014

 

§   approved revisions to its terms of reference and recommended them to the Board for approval and

 

§    considered and approved Group Compliance Policies.

    LOGO  

  Read more about Barclays’ risk management on

 pages 95 to 109 and 336 to 409

   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   

    

 

                                 

 

26  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Nominations Committee reporta

 

 

 

LOGO

 

“The importance of people as a driving force in sustaining a business over the long term.”

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders

I have often stressed the importance of people as a driving force in sustaining a business over the long term through their expertise, innovation and commitment. This is equally true of your Board, where it is crucially important that we have strong leaders able to make tough, strategic decisions while energising colleagues and galvanising them into action. It is with this in mind that the Committee approached appointments.

 

During 2015 we announced the appointment of two new non-executive Directors and a new Group Chief Executive. Board Committee membership was refreshed and we also took the opportunity to review the composition and roles of the Board Committees. In addition, we considered the requirements for independent non-executive directors for the boards of our strategically significant subsidiaries, including those that will be formed as the Group implements structural reform. We continued to foster executive succession by supporting new initiatives and by directly engaging with senior executives, for example, by mentoring individual senior executives, in order to nurture high potential individuals and help build a stronger succession pipeline.

 

The Committee was pleased that the Board achieved its target of having 25% female representation on the Board by the end of 2015. The target has subsequently been increased to 33% by 2020. While we also achieved our aspiration to reach 23% female representation within our senior leadership population by the end of 2015, we recognise that we need to sustain our focus to attract more senior women to Barclays, and to enable women to grow their careers with us. That will ensure we reach our 2018 goal of 26% women in senior leadership roles. We remain committed to maintaining the momentum of our gender diversity programme.

 

Committee performance

As part of the annual Board effectiveness review, a separate exercise was conducted to assess the Committee’s performance. The assessment found that the Committee is performing effectively. Please see the report on the Board effectiveness review on pages 33 and 34 for more details. I would like to thank my fellow Committee members for their hard work and support during 2015, particularly Sir Michael Rake, who chaired the Committee during the period that I was Executive Chairman, and led the search for a new Group Chief Executive.

 

     

 

Looking ahead

We are preparing to implement a new structure in 2016 which will enable us to prepare for structural reform, simplify the organisation and speed up execution of the individual business strategies. These changes give us the opportunity to make sure that we have the right people in senior roles and that we also take action to build strength in each of the business executive teams for the longer term.

 

LOGO

 

John McFarlane

Chairman, Board Nominations Committee

29 February 2016

 

Committee composition and meetings

The Committee is composed solely of independent non-executive Directors. John McFarlane, as Chairman of the Board, is also Chairman of the Committee. Mike Ashley, Tim Breedon, Crawford Gillies, being the Chairmen of each of the other Board Committees, Reuben Jeffery III and Sir Gerry Grimstone, the Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director, are also members of the Committee. Details of the skills and experience of the Committee members can be found in their biographies on pages 3 and 4.

 

During 2015, there were eight meetings of the Committee, including four additional meetings on Group Chief Executive succession. Attendance by members at Committee meetings is shown below. The chart on page 30 shows how the Committee allocated its time during 2015.

Committee meetings were attended by the Group Chief Executive or Executive Chairman, with the HR Director, the Global Head of Leadership, Learning & Talent, the Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion and representatives from Spencer Stuart presenting on specific items.

 

    Member    Meetings attended/eligible to attend
    Sir David Walker (Chairman until 23 April 2015)    2/2
    John McFarlane* (Chairman from 24 April 2015 –
16 July 2015 and from 1 December 2015)*
   4/4
    Sir Michael Rake (Chairman from 17 July 2015 to
1 December 2015)
   8/8
    Mike Ashley    8/8
    Tim Breedon    7/8
    Crawford Gillies (from 24 April 2015)    7/7
    Reuben Jeffery III    6/7
    Sir John Sunderland (until 23 April 2015)    2/2
   

 

*   John McFarlane stood down as a member of the Committee during the period 17 July – 30 November 2015, when he was Executive Chairman. No Director with executive responsibilities may be a member of the Committee

†  did not attend one meeting owing to prior business commitments

 

Note

The Chairman and the Group Chief Executive excuse themselves from meetings when the Committee focuses on the matter of succession to their roles.

 

Committee role and responsibilities

The principal purpose of the Committee is to:

 

§  support and advise the Board in ensuring that the composition of the Board and its Committees is appropriate and enables them to function effectively

 

§  examine the skills, experience and diversity on the Board and plan succession for key Board appointments, planning ahead to deal with upcoming retirements and to fill any expected skills gaps

 

§  provide oversight, at Board level, of the Group’s talent management programme and diversity and inclusion initiatives

 

§  agree the annual Board effectiveness review process and monitor the progress of any actions arising, and

 

§  keep the Board’s governance arrangements under review and make appropriate recommendations to the Board to ensure that they are consistent with best practice corporate governance standards.

 

    LOGO  

You can find the Committee’s terms of reference at

home.barclays/corporategovernance

Note

a   The name of the Committee changed from the Board Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee in June 2015

 

       

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  27


    

    

    

 

 

The Committee’s work

The significant matters addressed by the Committee during 2015 are described below:

 

Area of focus    Matter addressed    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken
Board appointments    The refreshment of Board and Board Committee membership to secure individuals with the desired skills and experience needed on the Board in light of future strategic direction.   

§  Conducted a search for successors to Sir Michael Rake and Antony Jenkins.

§  Evaluated a gap analysis of the skills and experience on the Board and identified the requirement for new non-executive Directors with financial services experience, and the preference to appoint more UK-based Directors given the time commitments associated with Board Committee appointments.

 

  

The Committee recommended the appointments of Sir Gerry Grimstone as Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director, Jes Staley as Group Chief Executive and Diane Schueneman as a non-executive Director.

 

Please refer to pages 30 and 32 for details of the Board’s approach to recruitment of new Directors and the case study of the recruitment of Jes Staley in particular.

 

Board and Board Committee structure, size and composition    The restructure of the Board and Board Committees to allow the Board to focus on the Group’s commercial and strategic performance. The optimum size of the Board, the potential impact of structural reform and the need to constitute subsidiary boards.   

§  Reassessed the structure, size and composition of the Board and Board Committees, as well as the current roles and responsibilities of the Board Committees, and recommended a number of changes to the Board.

§  Requested a working plan for Board succession over the next three years.

  

The Committee agreed that the size of the Board should be reduced over time and more matters should be delegated to the principal Board Committees. The Committee agreed that non-executive Directors should normally not serve on more than two Board Committees, to avoid being over-stretched, and to reduce the Committees in size over time to a maximum of four members, while taking care to ensure appropriate cross-membership. The Committee recommended revised Board-level responsibilities for oversight of risk, including the Board re-taking overall responsibility for enterprise-wide risk, disbanding the Board Enterprise Wide Risk Committee and reallocating responsibility for oversight of the capital and financial aspects of operational risk to the Board Risk Committee.

 

Succession planning and talent management    The management of Board succession and oversight of the leadership needs of the Group to enable it to meet its strategic aims and its changing make-up resulting from the effects of structural reform.   

§  Examined regular reports on succession plans and talent management of the leadership of the Group to address succession planning in the short-term and internal talent development.

 

§  Debated options for Directors to engage with members of the Group Executive Committee and senior management to help in nurturing high potential individuals and to support building a stronger succession pipeline.

  

The Committee agreed a proposal for Committee members to partner high potential senior management. The Committee endorsed the Group’s rapid development programme for high potential talent and agreed to support the programme by providing an insight into the role of the Board and its priorities. The Committee also endorsed the introduction of an improved talent assessment process and assessed the efficacy of the Group’s external talent acquisition process. The Committee examined the results of internal and external benchmarking exercises, including external benchmarking of senior management roles against similar roles in equivalent companies as part of the work on Group Executive Committee succession.

 

 

 

 

 

28  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Nominations Committee report

 

 

 

 

Area of focus    Matter addressed    Role of the Committee    Conclusion/action taken
Board effectiveness    The 2015 Board effectiveness review of the Board and its Committees. The progress made against the actions identified in the 2014 Board effectiveness review.   

§   Considered the effectiveness of the 2014 Board effectiveness review process and agreed the approach to be taken to the 2015 Board effectiveness review.

§   Regularly examined progress of the action plan arising from the outcomes of the 2014 Board effectiveness review.

  

The Committee set the criteria for conduct of the 2015 Board effectiveness review, including the appointment of a new external facilitator, Independent Board Evaluation, and agreed an action plan to address the matters arising from the 2014 Board effectiveness review.

 

See pages 33 and 34 for a full description of the process and outputs from the 2014 and 2015 effectiveness reviews.

 

Governance implications of structural reform    The establishment of governance principles for the Group under structural reform.   

§   Scrutinised proposed governance guiding principles for the Group post-structural reform, which set out ultimate decision-making powers, while respecting the rights and responsibilities of the boards of the strategically significant subsidiaries: the ring-fence bank (RFB), Barclays Bank PLC, the US Intermediate Holding Company (IHC) and Barclays Africa Group (BAGL).

§  Discussed the potential composition of the RFB and Barclays Bank PLC boards in light of regulatory requirements.

 

   The Committee endorsed and supported the governance guiding principles. The Committee provided views on the outline board and committee composition of the RFB and Barclays Bank PLC for the Board’s consideration.
Significant subsidiary board composition    The composition of Barclays’ US IHC board and associated committees.   

§   Determined the required structure and composition of the IHC board.

§   Endorsed the implementation of measures to allow potential future IHC board candidates the opportunity to build their knowledge of Barclays US businesses ahead of the formal creation of the IHC board in 2016.

  

The Committee agreed the proposed composition of the IHC board, including the appointments of Steve Thieke as chairman and Diane Schueneman as a non-executive director. It oversaw the establishment of a US Governance Review Board to allow proposed IHC board members to familiarise themselves with Barclays’ US businesses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  29


    

    

    

 

 

 

 

In addition the Committee covered the following matters:

 

§   the review of non-executive Directors’ performance, independence and time commitment as part of the Committee’s assessment of their eligibility for re-election

 

§   consideration of a new target for Board diversity beyond the end of 2015 in the Company’s Board Diversity Policy and recommended it to the Board for approval

 

§   updating of the Charter of Expectations and Corporate Governance in Barclays

 

§   proposals for the 2015 Corporate Governance Report

 

§   its annual review of the Directors’ register of interests and authorisations granted and

 

§   changes to the Committee’s terms of reference.

Board Nominations Committee allocation of time (%)

 

                   2015         2014   

 

LOGO

    1      Corporate governance matters      17         21   
    2      Board and Committee composition      24         20   
    3      Succession planning and talent (includging CEO succession)      47         43   
    4      Board effectiveness      6         11   
    5      Other      6         5   
         
         
         

Appointment and re-election of Directors

The Committee reviews Board and Board Committee composition, including potential new non-executive Directors, at each of its meetings. In addition to seeking successors for known retirements from the Board, the Committee monitors the skills and experience the Group needs to be able to deliver its strategic aims, to govern the Group appropriately, to ensure that risks threatening performance are identified and either addressed or mitigated, and to set ‘the tone from the top’ in terms of Barclays’ corporate culture and values. In 2015, the Committee also focused on the need to identify non-executive directors to serve on the boards of the Group’s strategically significant subsidiaries.

When considering a new appointment to the Board, the Committee relies on assessments of the current and expected Board and Board Committee composition, in order to assess the timeline for appointments, and a skills matrix that identifies the core competencies, skills, experience and diversity required for the Board to function effectively, with target weightings for each attribute. These assessments are regularly updated to take account of the Group’s needs over time.

The approach to recruiting new non-executive Directors is to create an individual specification with reference to the role requirements, including time commitment, the key competencies and behaviours set out in our Charter of Expectations and the desired key skills and experience identified from the skills matrix. The curriculum vitae and references of

potential candidates are assessed by the Committee as a whole, before shortlisted candidates are interviewed by members of the Committee. For certain Board positions, the Committee seeks engagement with key shareholders and Barclays’ regulators as part of the selection process. Feedback from these parties is taken into account before any recommendation is made to the Board, which is kept informed of progress throughout the selection and recruitment process. An illustration of the rigorous process applied to appointments can be found in the case study and timeline of the process to identify Jes Staley as Group Chief Executive, which is set out on page 32.

Executive search firms MWM Consulting, Egon Zehnder International and Spencer Stuart were instructed to assist with our Director searches in 2015. None of these firms has any other connection with Barclays, other than to provide executive recruitment services. Open advertising for Board positions was not used during 2015, as the Committee believes that targeted recruitment is the optimal way of recruiting for Board positions.

Barclays announced the appointment of two new non-executive Directors during 2015: Diane Schueneman and Sir Gerry Grimstone. In addition, Barclays announced the appointment of Jes Staley as Group Chief Executive. Each of them brings valued skills and experience which contribute to the efficacy of the Board as a whole. As previously reported, Diane Schueneman brings expertise in operations and technology to the Board, which she gained in financial services organisations, as well as wide-ranging experience of implementing change and achieving turnaround in business success and profitability. Sir Gerry Grimstone, who succeeded Sir Michael Rake as Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director, is well known, commands great respect within the financial services industry and brings immense experience, integrity and knowledge to his roles at Barclays. Jes Staley has the leadership skills and wide-ranging experience to deliver shareholder value and to take the Group forward strategically and, in particular, possesses a good understanding of corporate and investment banking. Biographical information is provided on pages 3 and 4, with further details available online at home.barclays

Changes in the composition of the Board and the Committee’s reassessment of the structure, size and composition of the Board and its Committees resulted in a refresh of the membership of Board Committees, as well as their roles and responsibilities, during 2015. Details of the changes are included in each of the Board Committee reports.

The Directors in office at the end of 2015 were subject to an effectiveness review, as described below. Based on the results of the review, the Board accepted the view of the Committee that each Director proposed for re-election continued to be effective and that they had each demonstrated the level of commitment required in connection with their role on the Board and the needs of the business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

30  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Nominations Committee report

 

 

 

 

Diversity statement

The Financial Reporting Council maintains that one of the ways in which constructive board debate can be encouraged is through having sufficient diversity on the board. Barclays agrees with this view and, when it adopted a Board Diversity Policy in 2012, stated the Board’s aspirational goal of achieving 25% female representation on the Board by 2015. Female representation on the Board exceeded 25% at the end of 2015, having increased during the year with the appointment of Diane Schueneman. Noting that the latest progress report on Women on Boards from the Davies Review has suggested a target of 33% by 2020, Barclays has adopted this new target in its Board Diversity Policy.

The Committee assisted the Board in achieving its target of 25% by ensuring that this was recorded on the Board skills matrix and, in particular, that the search firms were aware of the priority. The Committee also supported a number of initiatives to grow the talent pipeline within the Group and sought opportunities to engage with female members of senior management. Diversity as a whole, including gender, was also taken into account when evaluating the effectiveness of the Board. The comprehensive brief provided to Independent Board Evaluation for this year’s review included an evaluation of boardroom dynamics and the effects of diversity. The consultant accordingly assessed the impact of diversity including gender, age, the internationality of the Directors, the breadth of experience, qualifications and skills, concluding that there was a good degree of diversity on the Board with a range of different experiences and outlooks and that the Chairman should continue to nurture inputs from all Directors to derive the benefits of this diversity.

Below Board level, Barclays met its target of 23% female representation among the Managing Director and Director population in 2015. To achieve the target, the Committee endorsed programmes to embed accountability for diversity and inclusion throughout the Group. These efforts included Balanced Scorecard aligned targets for hiring, promotion and attrition set for each business or function, expansion of diversity data to include greater focus, expanding global campaigns to raise awareness and refined communications to drive impact. More details of Barclays’ diversity and inclusion strategy may be found on pages 47 to 49.

 

LOGO   

You can find the Board Diversity Policy at

home.barclays/corporategovernance

Review of Board and Board Committee effectiveness

Barclays conducts an externally facilitated review of the effectiveness of the Board, Board Committees, individual Directors and the Chairman each year. For 2015, the effectiveness review was facilitated by Independent Board Evaluation, an independent external consultancy with no other connection with Barclays. The review process involved the consultant, Ffion Hague, attending certain Board and Board Committee meetings in November and December 2015 as an observer, alongside detailed interviews conducted according to a set agenda with Directors, members of the Group Executive Committee, the Company Secretary and other members of the executive and senior management. Feedback was also sought from external stakeholders. Independent Board Evaluation prepared a report for the Board on the findings from the review process, which was presented to the Board in December 2015. In addition, the Chairman was provided with a report and feedback on the performance of each of the Directors and the Senior Independent Director received a report on the Chairman. A similar process was followed for the Board Committees. Independent Board Evaluation provided feedback to each of the Committee Chairmen on the performance of each Committee. The feedback is scheduled to be discussed by each Committee in early 2016.

Having assessed the findings of the effectiveness review, the Directors were satisfied that the Board and each of its Committees operated effectively during 2015. Nonetheless, the Board identified a number of actions to help maintain and improve its effectiveness. These, together with an update on the actions taken following the 2014 review, are set out on pages 33 and 34.

Directors’ Conflicts of Interest

Barclays requires Directors to declare any potential or actual conflict of interest that could interfere with a Director’s ability to act in the best interests of the Group. The Board has adopted procedures for ensuring that its powers to authorise Directors’ conflicts operate effectively. A register of actual and potential conflicts and of any authorisation of a conflict granted by the Board is maintained by the Company Secretary and reviewed annually by the Board Nominations Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  31


    

    

    

 

 

 

 

LOGO    

Governance in action: the appointment of

Jes Staley

 

Role requirements

The Committee, which has responsibility for identifying suitable candidates to join the Board, agreed the desired attributes for a successor to Antony Jenkins as Group Chief Executive (CEO). In addition to strong and motivational leadership qualities, the Committee sought candidates with significant experience of retail and/or commercial and investment banking in large scale, complex organisations and an excellent track record of delivery and credibility with regulators and internal and external stakeholders. Personal attributes sought included strategic thinking and the ability to lead and manage change, especially cultural change.

 

Process

The Committee directed the selection process. As the Chairman had accepted the role of Executive Chairman until a successor was in place, it was agreed that he would step down from the Committee to ensure that it remained composed of independent non-executive Directors and that I would lead the process. It was also agreed that the Committee as a whole would be involved in shortlisting and interviewing candidates and, once preferred candidates had been agreed, to involve the rest of the Board and key senior executives. Spencer Stuart, an external search consultant, was engaged to assist with the search and selection process.

 

Search

Having established that there were currently no potential candidates within the Group with the spread and depth of experience required for the role, the Committee examined a ‘long list’ of candidates produced as a result of the global search and received a presentation from Spencer Stuart covering the prospects for consideration. The Committee identified the most credible prospects to be contacted and invited to interview and requested that the views of the Group’s regulators on the preferred type of candidate for the role also be obtained.

 

I asked Committee members to consider sources for potential candidates that might be approached directly and to recommend potential candidates for the role. In addition, although John McFarlane did not take part in the selection process, he was consulted for his view and insights. I also ensured that Board members were kept up-to-date throughout the process.

 

Recruitment

As Jes Staley emerged as the preferred candidate and had confirmed his interest in the role, he undertook a series of interviews involving me, the Chairman and members of the Committee. He also met with the remaining members of the Board and the Group Executive Committee.

 

In addition to the regular communication with Directors, the Board held an additional meeting specifically to discuss the proposed appointment and to allow Directors to share their feedback on Jes Staley before approving his appointment, which was announced on 28 October 2015.

 

LOGO

 

Sir Michael Rake

 

 

 

 

32  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

What we did in 2015

Board Nominations Committee report

 

 

 

Review of Board and Board Committee effectiveness

 

 

Board priorities

 

   

 

Exhibiting and upholding the Company’s values

 

   

 

Leveraging Board experience in support of executives

 

   

 

Greater awareness of Board Committee work

 

       

2014 findings

To refine the Board’s priorities for 2015.

   

2014 findings

To continue the embedding of cultural change across and deeper into the organisation and provide effective oversight of progress.

   

2014 findings

To continue to build effective relationships between the Board and business and functional heads.

   

2014 findings

To continue to deepen the Board’s focus on the key priorities and main issues facing each of the Board Committees and to ensure that the Board Committee structure remains appropriate and fit for purpose.

 

       

Actions taken in 2015

In 2015 the Board re-focused its time on three key themes:

 

§  focus on core

§  accelerate earnings growth

§  high performance ethic.

 

A set of execution priorities was developed for each theme  and progress against these priorities was reported to the Board on a regular basis.

 

   

Actions taken in 2015

The Board Reputation Committee received reports on the progress of cultural change in 2015.

 

Members of senior management completed a survey on cultural change, the results of which were shared with the Board Reputation Committee.

 

The results of the employee opinion survey and a values survey were shared with the Board.

   

Actions taken in 2015

John McFarlane has, and will continue to, discuss his key priorities as Chairman with senior management.

 

Members of the Board Nominations Committee are mentoring high-potential senior managers.

   

Actions taken in 2015

The Board Committee structure was updated in 2015, following review by the Board Nominations Committee. The revised structure was approved by the Board and implemented from July 2015.

 

In line with prior years, all non-executive Directors may attend Board Committee meetings on request, with the agreement of the Committee Chairman. All non-executive Directors were invited to attend Board Risk Committee workshops on risk appetite and on structural reform.

 

       

2015 findings

To ensure that the Board agenda is optimised, including time for ‘blue-sky’ discussion of major risks.

   

2015 findings

No specific matters were raised during the 2015 review.

   

2015 findings

To continue to ensure that all non-executive Directors have the  opportunity to contribute to strategic debate.

   

2015 findings

To continue to raise awareness across all Board members of the significant issues considered by Board Committees and to continue to refine the remit and scope of the Board Reputation Committee.

 

       

Actions to be taken in 2016

We will identify opportunities for more free-ranging Board discussions, including discussion of risk.

 

A revised set of Board objectives will be agreed in order to track progress.

   

Actions to be taken in 2016

No actions are proposed for 2016.

   

Actions to be taken in 2016

We will continue to identify ways in which the skills and experience of individual non-executive Directors may be leveraged, including partnering individual non-executive Directors with members of the Group Executive Committee.

   

Actions to be taken in 2016

We will provide opportunities for Board Committee Chairmen to provide more detailed briefings to non-Committee members on the work of their Committee.

 

We will review the role and scope of the Board Reputation Committee with its new Chairman.

 

 

 

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  33


    

    

    

 

 

                             

 

Improvements to the Board appointment process

 

   

 

Director induction

 

   

 

Effective handling of legacy issues

 

   

 

Dealing more strategically with global regulation

 

   
         

2014 findings

To continue to ensure that the Board has sufficient visibility of executive succession planning and the talent pipeline.

   

2014 findings

To extend the new Director induction programme to involve senior executives below Group Executive Committee level and to continue to support new Board Committee Chairmen.

 

   

2014 findings

To continue to focus on the existing priority of overseeing the resolution of legacy issues.

   

2014 findings

To continue to focus the Board’s  time on strategy and strategic options.

   
         

Actions taken in 2015

The non-executive Directors attended a briefing on talent management and succession planning in April 2015.

 

The Board Nominations Committee considered Group Executive Committee succession in October 2015. In November 2015, the HR Director attended the Board meeting to provide an update on talent and succession.

   

Actions taken in 2015

Directors have been offered the opportunity of additional meetings with senior executives as part of their induction programmes.

   

Actions taken in 2015

Work has continued in 2015 to resolve historical legal and conduct risks. Several outstanding  issues have been resolved in 2015.

   

Actions taken in 2015

Additional time was allocated to the discussion of business strategy at Board meetings in 2015. In particular, the Investment Bank and structural reform were both covered in depth.

 

The Group’s three strategic priorities: focus on core; accelerate earnings growth; and high performance ethic, were developed with the Board’s collective input.

 

Representatives from the Group’s UK and US regulators attended Board and Board Committee meetings during the year.

 

   
         

2015 findings

To continue to assess the skills and experience needed on the Board and to ensure that Board composition is balanced between UK and international members.

 

To enhance Board succession planning, particularly in respect of key roles.

 

   

2015 findings

To enhance the Board training and induction programme, with particular focus on the training needs of Board members from outside the financial services sector.

   

2015 findings

No specific matters were raised during the 2015 review.

   

2015 findings

To continue to provide opportunities for Board members  to provide early input to thinking on major issues and decisions.

   
         

Actions to be taken in 2016

We will develop a revised Board succession plan for discussion by the Board Nominations Committee, including planning for succession to key roles, considering the optimum size of the Board and the balance of UK and overseas Directors.

 

We will schedule additional updates to the Board on talent  management and succession planning.

 

   

Actions to be taken in 2016

We will schedule as part of the Board’s training programme for 2016 specific briefings for non-executive Directors who do not have a financial services background.

   

Actions to be taken in 2016

No actions are proposed for 2016.

   

Actions to be taken in 2016

We will continue to allocate sufficient time for Board discussion of strategic priorities and options.

   
 

    

 

 

                           

 

34  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

How we comply

 

 

Leadership

The Role of the Board

As members of the Board of Directors, we have a collective responsibility to create and deliver sustainable value for our shareholders, in a manner that is supported by the right culture, values and behaviours throughout the Group. To support our role in determining the strategic objectives and policies of the Group, there exists a well-defined Corporate Governance framework. We aim to achieve long-term and sustainable value and it is our responsibility as the Board to ensure that management effectively delivers on short-term objectives, while promoting the long-term growth of Barclays.

In addition, we have further responsibility for ensuring that management maintains both an effective system of internal control and an effective risk management and oversight process. When carrying out these responsibilities we consider the Group’s business and reputation, the materiality of risks that are inherent in the business and the relevant costs and benefits of implementing controls. The Group’s internal control system provides assurance of internal financial controls, compliance with law and regulation and effective and efficient operations.

The Board is the decision-making body for those matters that are considered of significance to the Group owing to their strategic, financial or reputational implications or consequences. To retain control of these key decisions, certain matters have been identified that only we as the Board can approve and there is in place a formal schedule of powers reserved to the Board. As Directors we must act in accordance with the Company’s constitution and only exercise powers for the purposes for which they have been conferred. A summary of the matters reserved to the Board is available at home.barclays/corporategovernance. These matters include the approval of Barclays’ strategy, interim and full year financial statements and any major acquisitions, mergers, disposals or capital expenditure.

Specific responsibilities have been delegated to Board Committees and each Committee has its own terms of reference, which are available on home.barclays/corporategovernance. Each Committee reports to, and has its terms of reference approved by, the Board and the minutes of Committee meetings are shared with the Board. The main Board Committees are the Board Audit Committee, the Board Nominations Committee, the Board Remuneration Committee, the Board Reputation Committee and the Board Risk Committee.

In addition to the principal Board Committees, the Regulatory Investigations Committee, which was formed in late 2012, focuses on providing Board-level oversight of regulatory investigations. This Committee met six times in 2015. John McFarlane is Chairman of the Committee and the other current Committee members are Mike Ashley, Sir Gerry Grimstone, Diane de Saint Victor and Jes Staley. Antony Jenkins, Sir Michael Rake, Sir John Sunderland and Sir David Walker also served on the Committee during 2015, stepping down when they left the Board.

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  35


 

 

 

 

Attendance

In 2015 we attended both scheduled and additional Board meetings, as disclosed in the table below. The Chairman met privately with non-executive Directors ahead of scheduled Board meetings. If, owing to exceptional circumstances, a Director was not able to attend a Board meeting, he or she ensured that their views were known to the Chairman.

 

 

Board attendance

  Independent     
 
 
 
Scheduled
meetings
eligible to
attend
  
  
  
  
    
 
 
Scheduled
meetings
attended
  
  
  
    
 
 
 
Additional
meetings
eligible to
attend
  
  
  
  
    
 
 
Additional
meetings
attended
  
  
  

Group Chairman

                                       

John McFarlane

  On appointment      8         8         2         2   
                                         

Executive Directors

                                       

Tushar Morzariaa

  Executive Director      8         8         2         1   

Jes Staley

  Executive Director      1         1         0         0   
                                         

Non-executive Directors

                                       

Mike Ashley

  Independent      8         8         2         2   

Tim Breedon

  Independent      8         8         2         2   

Crawford Gillies

  Independent      8         8         2         2   

Reuben Jeffery III

  Independent      8         7         2         2   

Wendy Lucas-Bullb

  Non-Independent      8         8         2         2   

Dambisa Moyo

  Independent      8         8         2         1   

Frits van Paasschen

  Independent      8         8         2         2   

Sir Michael Rake

  Deputy Chairman, Senior Independent Director      8         7         2         2   

Diane de Saint Victor

  Independent      8         8         2         2   

Diane Schueneman

  Independent      5         5         1         1   

Steve Thieke

  Independent      8         8         2         2   
                                         

Former Directors

                                       

Sir David Walker

  On appointment      3         3         0         0   

Antony Jenkins

  Executive Director      4         4         1         1   

Sir John Sunderland

  Independent      3         3         0         0   
                                         

Secretary

                                       

Lawrence Dickinson

         8         8         2         2   

Notes

a  Although eligible to attend, as an executive Director, Tushar Morzaria did not attend the additional meeting held to consider and approve the appointment of the new Group Chief Executive.
b  Although we have reached the conclusion that all non-executive Directors exhibit independence of character and judgement, we continue to disclose that, for the purposes of the Code, Wendy Lucas-Bull was not designated as independent owing to her chairmanship of Barclays Africa Group Limited, a 62%-owned subsidiary of Barclays.

 

36  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

How we comply

 

 

Board Governance Framework

 

LOGO

 

 

As a Board we may, under the authority of our Articles of Association and where appropriate, delegate all or any of our powers to an individual Director or to a Committee of Directors. Further information on the operations of each of the Barclays Board Committees can be found on the pages referenced above. Board Committee membership is reviewed regularly by the Board Nominations Committee.

Roles on the Board

As Directors we have established a division of responsibilities between running the Board and running the business of the Group. It is the responsibility of the Chairman to lead the Board and to ensure that it operates effectively, while the responsibility for the day-to-day management of Barclays has been delegated to the Group Chief Executive.

Role profiles setting out the responsibilities of the Chairman, the Group Chief Executive, Deputy Chairman, Senior Independent Director, non-executive Directors, Executive Directors, Committee Chairmen and the Company Secretary can be found in Barclays Charter of Expectations, which is available on home.barclays/corporategovernance. Barclays Charter of Expectations also sets out high-performance indicators for non-executive Directors.

The Group Chief Executive is supported by the Group Executive Committee, which is responsible for making and implementing operational decisions while running the Group’s day-to-day business. Further information on the Group Executive Committee can be found on page 5. The Group Executive Management structure has been designed to support management’s decision-making responsibilities, aligned to personal accountability and delegated authority, while embedding risk and control in business decision-making.

Effectiveness

Composition of the Board

The Board Nominations Committee is responsible for reviewing Board composition, considering succession plans for both the Board and senior executives, selecting and appointing new Directors and considering the results of the Board effectiveness review. For more information on the work of this Committee in 2015 please turn to page 27.

Our individual biographies can be found on pages 3 and 4: these include our relevant skills and experience, Board Committee membership and any other principal appointments. Details of changes to the Board in 2015 and year to date are disclosed on page 6.

The Board currently comprises a Chairman, who was independent on appointment, two Executive Directors and 11 non-executive Directors. In line with the Code, independent non-executive Directors form a majority of our Board. Each year we consider the independence of our non-executive Directors, using the guidance set out in the Code and behaviours determined by us as essential in order for a Director to be considered independent. These independence criteria are disclosed in Corporate Governance in Barclays, which can be viewed at home.barclays/corporategovernance. Having considered this guidance, we have determined those non-executive Directors who are standing for re-election at the 2016 AGM to be independent.

Executive Directors’ service contracts and the letters of appointment for the Chairman and non-executive Directors are available for inspection at the Company’s registered office.

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  37


 

 

 

 

We carry out an annual effectiveness review in order to evaluate our performance as a Board. This evaluation includes an assessment of the effectiveness of Board Committees and individual Directors, to ensure that each of us continues to contribute effectively to the decision-making of the Board. Independence and the existence of any conflicts of interest are considered as part of the effectiveness evaluation. We take the outcomes of the review into account when deciding whether Directors will offer themselves for election or re-election at the AGM.

More information on the Board effectiveness review can be found on page 33 and 34.

Time commitment

In order to effectively discharge our responsibilities, non-executive Directors must commit sufficient time to their role. Set out below is the average time commitment for each non-executive position on the Board. In practice, however, time commitment is agreed on an individual basis and for certain Board positions additional time commitment will often be required in order to fulfil extra responsibilities, such as those of the Deputy Chairman, Senior Independent Director and Committee Chairmen. In addition, in exceptional circumstances, we are expected to commit significantly more time than disclosed below.

 

Role   Expected time commitment
Chairman   80% of a full-time position
Deputy Chairman   0.5 days a week
Senior Independent Director   As required to fulfil the role
Non-executive Director   30-36 days a year (membership of one Board Committee included, increasing to 40-50 days a year if a member of two Board Committees)
Committee Chairmen   50-60 days (inclusive of non-executive Director time commitment)

It is expected that our Chairman will commit as much time as is necessary to fulfil his duties, with his responsibilities to Barclays taking priority over other business commitments. The Chairman and non-executive Directors are also expected to allocate sufficient time to understanding the business, through meetings with regulators and executives and undergoing training to ensure ongoing business awareness. This time is in addition to that spent preparing for, and attending, Board and Board Committee meetings. When appropriate, a Director joining a Board Committee will be given a specific Board Committee induction programme.

Induction

Following appointment, each Director undergoes a comprehensive induction that has been tailored to individual requirements. The personal induction programme is designed and organised by the Company Secretary in consultation with the Chairman and in doing so they consider how to develop each Director’s understanding of how the Group works and the key issues that it faces.

The purpose of the induction programme is to provide Directors with the information they need to become as effective as possible within the shortest practicable time after joining the Board. Typically, a new Director will meet with members of the Group Executive Committee and senior management, allowing an opportunity to familiarise themselves with various businesses and discuss specific matters with senior individuals. When an induction programme is complete, in addition to understanding the Group’s business, a new Director should have a clear understanding of Barclays’ relationships with its shareholders, regulators and customers and clients.

In 2015, John McFarlane and Diane Schueneman both received tailored induction programmes on joining the Board. Feedback was sought from both new Directors to ensure that the induction programme remains effective.

Training and development

In order to ensure that our non-executive Directors have the necessary knowledge and understanding of the Group’s business to enable them to contribute effectively at Board and Board Committee meetings they are regularly provided with the opportunity for training and development.

As part of the annual performance evaluation process the individual development needs of each non-executive Director are reviewed and discussed with the Chairman. Training can be provided through one-to-one meetings with senior executives, in order to receive further insight into a particular area of the Group’s business, or as part of dedicated training on a particular issue identified by the Directors and the Company Secretary.

Our Directors have a continuing responsibility to fulfil their duties as members of the Board and Board Committees and this is managed through the provision of focused training and development opportunities.

During 2015, non-executive Directors attended briefings on the following subjects:

 

§   talent management and succession planning

 

§   Senior Managers Regime, and
§   operational resilience.

Board Committees also undertook specific training and details can be found in the respective Committee Chairmen’s reports.

During 2015, individual Directors also attended regular meetings with our regulators, external auditors and major shareholders. In addition, the Board Audit Tender Oversight Sub-Committee carried out site visits as part of the audit tender process.

The following provides more detail of a specific training session that took place in 2015.

 

 

Governance in action: training and development

 

Following the July 2015 Board meeting, the non-executive Directors attended a briefing session on the Senior Managers Regime, led by Barclays Compliance. The Senior Managers Regime commences in March 2016 and, although only certain non-executive Directors will be in scope, there are a number of governance, reporting and conduct requirements that will apply to all Board Directors. The briefing session provided an overview of the Senior Managers Regime, with particular focus on the following:

 

§  an introduction to ‘Reasonable Steps’, including practical examples

 

§  the roles and responsibilities of non-executive Directors in scope

 

§  guidance for non-executive Directors who are not in scope, and

 

§  the Conduct Rules (standards that will be expected of all employees in a regulated firm).

 

In addition, Barclays Compliance detailed the work needed in order for Barclays to be ready for implementation of the regime in early 2016. This timetable included scheduling individual briefing sessions with in-scope non-executive Directors.

 

In late 2015/early 2016, Mike Ashley, Tim Breedon, Crawford Gillies and Sir Gerry Grimstone each had individual meetings with Barclays Compliance in order to cover the reasonable steps that, as a result of their particular role on the Board, each of them will be expected to take under the Senior Managers Regime. The session included a review of case studies, which focused on each Director’s prescribed responsibilities under the Senior Managers Regime. The Directors were briefed ahead of the meetings and provided with supporting documentation in advance. These meetings were also attended by the Company Secretary and external advisers.

 

 

 

38  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

How we comply

 

 

Information provided to the Board

As set out in the Code, the Chairman is responsible for ensuring that the Board receives accurate, timely and high quality information about the Company’s performance at appropriate intervals and in an appropriate manner to enable it to take sound decisions, monitor effectively and provide advice to promote the success of the Company. Our Company Secretary supports the Chairman in ensuring good information flows between the Board, the Board Committees and the senior executives. In addition to providing dedicated support for the Board, the Company Secretary maintains dialogue with our Directors in order to confirm that the information they require in order to fulfil their responsibilities as a member of the Board is being received. If there is a need for independent and professional advice this can be sought by the Board, via the Company Secretary or directly, at Barclays expense.

Directors expect to be kept informed of key developments in the business by both the Executive Directors and senior management, and take seriously their responsibility to request any further explanations as required. The Board and Board Committee annual forward calendars of business are formulated to ensure that Directors receive regular reports and presentations, in addition to periodic communications advising of any updates to the business of the Company, current events and the regulatory environment.

Accountability

Risk management and internal control

The Directors have responsibility for ensuring that management maintain an effective system of risk management and internal control and for assessing its effectiveness. Such a system is designed to identify, evaluate and manage, rather than eliminate, the risk of failure to achieve business objectives and can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss.

Barclays is committed to operating within a strong system of internal control that enables business to be transacted and risk taken without exposing itself to unacceptable potential losses or reputational damage. Barclays has an overarching framework that sets out the Group’s approach to internal governance (the Barclays Guide). The Barclays Guide establishes the mechanisms and processes by which the Board directs the organisation, through setting the tone and expectations from the top, delegating its authority and assessing compliance.

A key component of the Barclays Guide is the Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF). The purpose of the ERMF is to identify and set minimum requirements in respect of the main risks to achieving the Group’s strategic objectives and to provide reasonable assurance that internal controls are effective. The key elements of the Group’s system of internal control, which is aligned to the recommendations of The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013 COSO), are set out in the risk control frameworks relating to each of the Group’s principal and key risks. As well as incorporating our internal requirements, these reflect material Group-wide legal and regulatory requirements relating to internal control and assurance.

Effectiveness of internal controls

Key controls are assessed on a regular basis for both design and operating effectiveness. Issues arising out of business risk and control assessments and other internal and external sources are examined to identify pervasive themes. Where appropriate, control issues are reported to the Board Audit Committee. In addition, regular reports are made to the Board Audit Committee by management, Barclays Internal Audit and the Finance, Compliance and Legal functions covering, in particular, financial controls, compliance and other operational controls.

Risk management and internal control framework

The ERMF is the Group’s internal control framework. It is refreshed annually with an assessment of operational maturity provided to the Board Audit Committee. In 2015, the Board Audit Committee received quarterly reports on the effectiveness of the control environment: these reports covered risks and controls including financial, operational and compliance risk.

The Board Audit Committee formally reviews the system of internal control and risk management annually. Throughout the year ending 31 December 2015 and to date, the Group has operated a system of internal control that provides reasonable assurance of effective operations covering all controls, including financial and operational controls and compliance with laws and regulations. Processes are in place for identifying, evaluating and managing the principal risks facing the Group in accordance with the Guidance on Risk Management, Internal Control and Related Financial and Business Reporting published by the Financial Reporting Council.

The review of the effectiveness of the system of risk management and internal control is achieved through a four-step approach which is centred on reviewing the effectiveness of the Barclays Guide and its component parts, including the ERMF.

 

1. Governance Risk and Control meetings of the business and functional executive committees monitor, review and challenge the effective operation of key risk management and control processes, including the results of audits and reviews undertaken by Barclays Internal Audit (which include assessments of the control environment and management’s control approach) and examinations and assessments undertaken by our primary regulators, on an ongoing basis as part of the system of risk management and internal control. The remediation of issues identified within the control environment is regularly monitored by management and the Board Audit Committee.

 

2. Testing of the Governance Risk and Control meetings held within the executive committees provides assurance that the committees are effectively overseeing the control environment and associated risk management and internal control processes.

 

3. The owners of the key governance processes which comprise the Barclays Guide undertake a review to confirm that processes have been implemented and are operating effectively.

 

4. The annual review of the system of risk management and internal control brings together the results of the activities completed in steps 1 to 3 to ensure that each of the key processes has been effectively reviewed.

In 2015, the Board received regular reports covering risks of Group-level significance. Over the year, the Board Risk Committee and the Board Reputation Committee examined reports covering the principal risks (credit risk, market risk, capital risk, liquidity risk, operational risk and conduct risk) as well as reports on risk measurement methodologies and risk appetite. Further details of risk management procedures and potential risk factors are given in the Risk Management section on pages 87 to 93.

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  39


    

    

    

 

 

Controls over financial reporting

A framework of disclosure controls and procedures is in place to support the approval of the Group’s financial statements. The Legal and Technical Review Committee is responsible for examining the Group’s financial reports and disclosures to ensure that they have been subject to adequate verification and comply with applicable standards and legislation. The Committee reports its conclusions to the Disclosure Committee. The Disclosure Committee examines the content, accuracy and tone of the disclosures and reports its conclusions to the Board Audit Committee, which debates its conclusions and provides further challenge. Finally, the Board scrutinises and approves results announcements and the Annual Report and ensures that appropriate disclosures have been made. This governance process ensures that both management and the Board are given sufficient opportunity to debate and challenge the Group’s financial statements and other significant disclosures before they are made public.

Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the principal executive and principal financial officers to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union and issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets; provide reasonable assurances that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorisations of management and the respective Directors; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorised acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that internal controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management has assessed Barclays PLC Group’s and Barclays Bank PLC Group’s internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2015. In making its assessment, management has utilised the criteria set forth by the 2013 COSO framework. Management concluded that, based on its assessment, the internal control over financial reporting was effective as of 31 December 2015. Our independent registered public accounting firm has issued a report on Barclays PLC’s internal control over financial reporting, which is set out on page 210.

The system of internal financial and operational controls is also subject to regulatory oversight in the UK and overseas. Further information on supervision by the financial services regulators is provided under Supervision and Regulation in the Risk review section on pages 177 to 182.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting

There have been no changes in the Group’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report which have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Group’s internal control over financial reporting.

Remuneration

We have delegated responsibility to the Board Remuneration Committee to determine the remuneration arrangements for the Chairman, our Executive Directors and other senior executives and certain other Group employees, as determined by the Committee. Additional information on the Board Remuneration Committee, including its membership and activities in 2015, can be found on pages 70 and 71 in the Directors’ remuneration report, which forms part of the corporate governance statement.

Stakeholder engagement

We describe below how we engage with our stakeholders.

Investor engagement

The Board is committed to promoting effective channels of communication with shareholders and upholding good corporate governance as a means of building stronger and more engaged relationships with them. Our comprehensive investor engagement initiatives help us to understand their views about Barclays, which are communicated regularly to the Board. Our shareholder communication guidelines, which underpin all investor engagement, are available on our website at home.barclays/barclays-investor-relations/corporate-governance/shareholder-communication-guidelines.html.

Institutional investors

In 2015, our engagement with institutional investors took place throughout the year, following our quarterly results as well as outside the reporting cycle. This allowed the opportunity for existing and potential investors to engage with us regularly, and promoted dialogue on longer-term strategic developments, as well as about the recent financial performance of the Group.

The Directors, in conjunction with the senior executive team and Investor Relations, participated in varied forms of engagement across multiple geographic locations, reflecting the diverse nature of our equity and debt institutional ownership. Divisional management also presented extensively to investors, promoting greater awareness and understanding of our operational businesses and other functions.

In the past year, discussions with investors focused on the continued execution of our strategic plan outlined in 2014, and the steps taken in 2015 to improve our returns to shareholders, while adapting to the changing regulatory environment and addressing legacy issues. Meetings focused on corporate governance matters also took place throughout the year, covering topics including management changes, remuneration and other AGM-related matters. Following the appointment of Sir Gerry Grimstone as Senior Independent Director on 1 January 2016, our major investors were offered a meeting with him.

During 2015, we held quarterly results briefings, including an in-person presentation for the 2014 results announcement in March 2015, and quarterly breakfast briefings for equity and debt sellside analysts, hosted by the Group Finance Director. For fixed income investors, we held conference calls at our full year and half year results, hosted by our Group Finance Director and Group Treasurer, as well as quarterly briefings for credit analysts.

An independent audit of investor views took place in April 2015. Interviews with a cross-section of institutional shareholders and non-holders, were conducted on specific topics including strategy, business performance and the management team. The findings of the investor audit were presented to the Board.

To enable the effective distribution of information to all investors, transcripts of executive management speeches were uploaded to the investor relations section of the website, alongside associated presentation materials. In 2015, we received the UK Investor Relations Society’s award for the Best Use of Digital Communications, reinforcing the importance placed on using our website to engage with the market. For example, we introduced short videos providing a summary of our results from our Chairman, Group Chief Executive and Group Finance Director.

 

 

40  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

How we comply

 

 

Private shareholders

Throughout 2015, we continued to communicate with our private shareholders using our shareholder mailings. Also, shareholders can choose to sign up to Shareview so that they receive information about Barclays and their shareholding directly by email. On a practical level, over 60,000 shareholders did not cash their Shares Not Taken Up (SNTU) cheque following the Rights Issue in September 2013. During 2015, we conducted a tracing process to reunite these shareholders with their SNTU monies together with any unclaimed dividends. By the end of the year, we had returned over £2.2m to our shareholders. In addition, we launched a special share dealing service in October 2015 for shareholders holding 4,000 shares or less. Shareholders could donate their sale proceeds to ShareGift if they wished. Shareholders donated nearly £130,000.

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Our AGM continues to be a key date in the diary for the Board. It affords us our primary opportunity to engage with shareholders, particularly our private shareholders, on the key issues facing the Group and any questions they may have. The majority of Directors, including the Chairman, were available for informal discussion before and after the formal business of our 2015 AGM. All resolutions proposed at the 2015 AGM, which were considered on a poll, were passed with votes for ranging from 88.5% to 99.9% of the total votes cast.

The 2016 AGM will be held on Thursday 28 April 2016 at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The Notice of AGM can be found in a separate document, which is sent out at least 20 working days before the AGM and also made available at home.barclays/agm. Voting on the resolutions will again be by poll and the results will be announced via the Regulatory News Service and made available on our website on the same day. We encourage any shareholders who are unable to attend on the day to vote in advance of the meeting via home.barclays/investorrelations/vote or through Shareview (www.shareview.co.uk).

LOGO

 

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  41


Other statutory information

 

 

The Directors present their report together with the audited accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015.

Other information that is relevant to the Directors’ Report, and which is incorporated by reference into this report, can be located as follows:

 

Contents     Page   
   
Employee involvement     44-49   
Policy concerning the employment of disabled persons     48   
Financial instruments     230-254   
Hedge accounting policy     231   
Remuneration policy, including details of the remuneration of each Director and Directors’ interests in shares     50-83   
Corporate governance report     2-49   
Risk review     84-182   

Disclosures required pursuant to Listing Rule 9.8.4R can be found on the following pages:

 

    

 

 

 

Page

 

  

   
Long-term incentive schemes      77   
Director emoluments      295   
Allotment for cash of equity securities      276   
Waiver of dividends      42   

The particulars of important events affecting the Company since the financial year end can be found in Note 29 Legal, competition and regulatory matters.

Profit and dividends

The adjusted profit for the financial year, after taxation, was £3,713m (2014: £3,798m). Statutory profit after tax for 2015 was £623m (2014: £845m). The final dividend for 2015 of 3.5p per share will be paid on 5 April 2016 to shareholders whose names are on the Register of Members at the close of business on 11 March 2016. With the interim dividends totalling 3p per ordinary share, paid in June, September and December 2015, the total distribution for 2015 is 6.5p (2014: 6.5p) per ordinary share. The interim and final dividends for 2015 amounted to £1,081m (2014: £1,057m).

The nominee companies of certain Barclays’ employees benefit trusts holding shares in Barclays in connection with the operation of the Company’s share plans have lodged evergreen dividend waivers on shares held by them that have not been allocated to employees. The total amount of dividends waived during the year ended 31 December 2015 was £6.4m.

Board of Directors

The names of the current Directors of Barclays PLC, along with their biographical details, are set out on pages 3 and 4 and are incorporated into this report by reference. Changes to Directors during the year are set out below.

 

Name   Role   

Effective date of appointment/    

resignation

 

Diane Schueneman

 

 

 

Non-executive Director

 

  

 

Appointed 25 June 2015

 

 

James (Jes) Staley

 

 

 

Executive Director

 

  

 

Appointed 1 December 2015

 

 

Sir Gerald (Gerry) Grimstone

 

 

 

Non-executive Director

 

  

 

Appointed 1 January 2016

 

 

Sir John Sunderland

 

 

 

Non-executive Director

 

  

 

Retired 23 April 2015

 

 

Sir David Walker

 

 

 

Non-executive Director

 

  

 

Retired 23 April 2015

 

 

Antony Jenkins

 

 

 

Executive Director

 

  

 

Resigned 16 July 2015

 

 

Sir Michael Rake

 

 

 

Non-executive Director

 

  

 

Retired 31 December 2015

 

John McFarlane succeeded Sir David Walker as Chairman of Barclays with effect from the conclusion of the Barclays PLC AGM in April 2015. John McFarlane held the position of Executive Chairman with effect from 17 July 2015 to 1 December 2015, when Jes Staley took up the position of Group Chief Executive.

 

 

42  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

Other statutory information

 

 

Appointment and retirement of Directors

The appointment and retirement of Directors is governed by the Company’s Articles of Association (the Articles), the UK Corporate Governance Code (the Code), the Companies Act 2006 and related legislation.

The Articles may only be amended by a special resolution of the shareholders. The Board has the power to appoint additional Directors or to fill a casual vacancy among the Directors. Any such Director holds office only until the next AGM and may offer himself/herself for election. The Code recommends that all directors of FTSE 350 companies should be subject to annual re-election.

Directors’ indemnities

Qualifying third party indemnity provisions (as defined by section 234 of the Companies Act 2006) were in force during the course of the financial year ended 31 December 2015 for the benefit of the then Directors and, at the date of this report, are in force for the benefit of the Directors in relation to certain losses and liabilities which they may incur (or have incurred) in connection with their duties, powers or office. In addition, the Company maintains Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance which gives appropriate cover for legal action brought against its Directors.

Qualifying pension scheme indemnity provisions (as defined by section 235 of the Companies Act 2006) were in force during the course of the financial year ended 31 December 2015 for the benefit of the then Directors, and at the date of this report are in force for the benefit of directors of Barclays Pension Funds Trustees Limited as Trustee of the Barclays Bank UK Retirement Fund. The directors of the Trustee are indemnified against liability incurred in connection with the Company’s activities as Trustee of the retirement fund.

Similarly, qualifying pension scheme indemnities were in force during 2015 for the benefit of Barclays Executive Schemes Trustees Limited as Trustee of Barclays Bank International Zambia Staff Pension Fund (1965), Barclays Capital International Pension Scheme (No.1), Barclays Capital Funded Unapproved Retirement Benefits Scheme, and Barclays PLC Funded Unapproved Retirement Benefits Scheme. The Directors of the Trustee are indemnified against the liability incurred in connection with the Company’s activities as Trustee of the schemes above.

Political donations

The Group did not give any money for political purposes in the UK, the rest of the EU or outside the EU, nor did it make any political donations to political parties or other political organisations, or to any independent election candidates, or incur any political expenditure during the year.

In accordance with the US Federal Election Campaign Act, Barclays provides administrative support to a federal Political Action Committee (PAC) in the US funded by the voluntary political contributions of eligible employees. The PAC is not controlled by Barclays, and all decisions regarding the amounts and recipients of contributions are directed by a steering committee comprising employees eligible to contribute to the PAC. Contributions to political organisations reported by the PAC during the calendar year 2015 totalled $79,500 (2014: $103,000).

Environment

Barclays’ climate action programme focuses on addressing environmental issues where we believe we have the greatest potential to make a difference. The programme focuses on managing our own carbon footprint and reducing our absolute carbon emissions, developing products and services to help enable the transition to a low-carbon economy, and managing the risks of climate change to our operations, clients, customers and society at large. We invest in improving the energy efficiency of our operations and offset the emissions remaining through the purchase of carbon credits. We also have a long-standing commitment to managing the environmental and social risks associated with our lending practices, which is embedded into our credit risk processes. A governance structure is in place to facilitate clear dialogue across the business and with suppliers around

issues of potential environmental and social risk.

We have disclosed global greenhouse gas emissions that we are responsible for as set out by the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013. We provide fuller disclosure across our carbon emissions within Barclays Citizenship Data Supplement found on our website home.barclays/citizenship.

 

    

Reporting 

yeara

2015 

  

Reporting 

yeara

2014 

  

Reporting 

yeara

2013 

  

Comparison 

yeara

2012 

Global GHG

emissionsb

                   

Total CO2e (tonnes)b

   701,600     853,376     1,036,755     1,119,145 

Scope 1 CO2e emissions (tonnes)c

   65,340     49,939     58,372     47,904 

Scope 2 CO2e emissions (tonnes)d

   500,086     678,443     791,766     880,995 

Scope 3 CO2e emissions (tonnes)e

   136,174     124,993     186,616     190,245 

Intensity ratio

                   

Total full time employees (FTE)

   129,400     132,300     139,600     139,200 

Total CO2e per FTE (tonnes)

   5.42     6.45     7.43     8.04 

Notes

a 2015, 2014 and 2013 reporting years cover Q4 from the previous year and Q1, 2, 3 of the reporting year in question. The carbon reporting year is not fully aligned to the financial reporting year covered by the Directors’ report. This report is produced earlier than previous carbon reporting to allow us to report within the year end financial reporting timelines. The 2012 reporting year is the full calendar year (Jan 2012 – Dec 2012).
b The methodology used to calculate our CO2e emissions is the operational control approach on reporting boundaries and carbon emissions methodology as defined by the World Resources Institute/World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WRI/WBCSD) Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG): A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, Revised Edition. Where properties are covered by Barclays’ consolidated financial statements but are leased to tenants who are invoiced for utilities, these emissions are not included in the Group GHG calculations. For properties where Barclays is the tenant, landlords provide Barclays with utility bills which are included in our emissions reporting.
  §   Scope 1 covers direct combustion of fuels and company–owned vehicles (from UK and South Africa only, which are the most material contributors).
  §   Scope 2 covers emissions from electricity and steam purchased for own use.
  §   Scope 3 covers indirect emissions from business travel (global flights and ground transport) from the UK and South Africa. We have improved our coverage for car hire data and now include data from the US and India. Ground transportation data (excluding Scope 1 company cars) covers those countries where this type of transport is material and robust data is available.

In cases where we have collected new data for previously unreported consumption, we have restated the baseline if the new data amounts to a material change greater than 1% of the total consumption. If the change is less than 1%, we have reported consumption from the point at which the data became available. If it is greater than 1%, we have restated the baseline and previous years’ figures based on actual or estimated figures. Reasons for restatements in data are due to more accurate data being available which led to replacements of estimates with actual data for 2012, 2013 and 2014.

c Fugitive emissions reported in Scope 1 for 2015, 2014 and 2013 cover emissions from UK, Americas, Asia-Pacific and South Africa. Fugitive emission data for 2012 is not available. Business travel reported in Scope 1 covers company cars in the UK and South Africa. This covers the majority of our employees where we have retail operations with car fleets.
d Scope 2 carbon emissions from electricity have been calculated using location–based carbon conversion factors as defined by the GHG Protocol 2015. We are mindful of the new location and market based methodology for accounting Scope 2 electricity emissions and these emissions will be reported in future reports.
e Scope 3 is limited to emissions from business travel which covers global flights and ground transport from the UK and South Africa. We have improved our coverage for car hire data and now include data from the US and India. Ground transportation data (excluding Scope 1 company cars) covers only countries where this type of transport is material and data is available.

Research and development

In the ordinary course of business, the Group develops new products and services in each of its business divisions.

Share capital

Share capital structure

The Company has ordinary shares in issue. The Company’s Articles also allow for the issuance of sterling, US dollar, euro and yen preference shares (preference shares). No preference shares have been issued as at 26 February 2016 (the latest practicable date for inclusion in this report). Ordinary shares therefore represent 100% of the total issued share

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  43


 

 

 

 

capital as at 31 December 2015 and as at 26 February 2016 (the latest practicable date for inclusion in this report). Details of the movement in ordinary share capital during the year can be found in Note 31 on page 276.

Voting

Every member who is present in person or represented at any general meeting of the Company, and who is entitled to vote, has one vote on a show of hands. Every proxy present has one vote. The proxy will have one vote for and one vote against a resolution if he/she has been instructed to vote for or against the resolution by different members or in one direction by a member while another member has permitted the proxy discretion as to how to vote. On a poll, every member who is present or represented and who is entitled to vote has one vote for every share held. In the case of joint holders, only the vote of the senior holder (as determined by order in the share register) or his proxy may be counted. If any sum payable remains unpaid in relation to a member’s shareholding, that member is not entitled to vote that share or exercise any other right in relation to a meeting of the Company unless the Board otherwise determine. If any member, or any other person appearing to be interested in any of the Company’s ordinary shares, is served with a notice under section 793 of the Companies Act 2006 and does not supply the Company with the information required in the notice, then the Board, in its absolute discretion, may direct that that member shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company. The Board may further direct that if the shares of the defaulting member represent 0.25% or more of the issued shares of the relevant class, that dividends or other monies payable on those shares shall be retained by the Company until the direction ceases to have effect and that no transfer of those shares shall be registered (other than certain specified ‘excepted transfers’). A direction ceases to have effect seven days after the Company has received the information requested, or when the Company is notified that an excepted transfer of all the relevant shares to a third party has occurred, or as the Board otherwise determines.

Transfers

Ordinary shares may be held in either certificated or uncertificated form. Certificated ordinary shares shall be transferred in writing in any usual or other form approved by the Secretary and executed by or on behalf of the transferor. Transfers of uncertificated ordinary shares shall be made in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and CREST Regulations.

The Board is not bound to register a transfer of partly-paid ordinary shares, or fully-paid shares in exceptional circumstances approved by the FCA. The Board may also decline to register an instrument of transfer of certificated ordinary shares unless it is duly stamped and deposited at the prescribed place and accompanied by the share certificate(s) and such other evidence as reasonably required by the Board to evidence right to transfer, it is in respect of one class of shares only, and it is in favour of a single transferee or not more than four joint transferees (except in the case of executors or trustees of a member).

In accordance with the provisions of Section 84 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015, preference shares may only be issued in registered form. Preference shares shall be transferred in writing in any usual or other form approved by the Secretary and executed by or on behalf of the transferor. The Company’s registrar shall register such transfers of preference shares by making the appropriate entries in the register of preference shares. Each preference share shall confer, in the event of a winding up or any return of capital by reduction of capital (other than, unless otherwise provided by their terms of issue, a redemption or purchase by the Company of any of its issued shares, or a reduction of share capital), the right to receive out of the surplus assets of the Company available for distribution among the members and in priority to the holders of the ordinary shares and any other shares in the Company ranking junior to the relevant series of preference shares and pari passu with any other class of preference shares (other than any class of shares then in issue ranking in priority to the relevant series of preference shares), repayment of the amount paid up or treated as paid up in respect of the nominal value of the preference share together with any premium which was paid or treated as paid when the preference share was issued in addition to an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends.

Variation of rights

The rights attached to any class of shares may be varied either with the consent in writing of the holders of at least 75% in nominal value of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. The rights of shares shall not (unless expressly provided by the rights attached to such shares) be deemed varied by the creation of further shares ranking equally with them or subsequent to them.

Limitations on foreign shareholders

There are no restrictions imposed by the Articles or (subject to the effect of any economic sanctions that may be in force from time to time) by current UK laws which relate only to non-residents of the UK and which limit the rights of such non-residents to hold or (when entitled to do so) vote the ordinary shares.

Exercisability of rights under an employee share scheme

Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs) operate in connection with certain of the Group’s Employee Share Plans (Plans). The trustees of the EBTs may exercise all rights attached to the shares in accordance with their fiduciary duties other than as specifically restricted in the relevant Plan governing documents. The trustees of the EBTs have informed the Company that their normal policy is to abstain from voting in respect of the Barclays shares held in trust. The trustees of the Global Sharepurchase EBT and UK Sharepurchase EBTs may vote in respect of Barclays shares held in the EBTs, but only as instructed by participants in those Plans in respect of their partnership shares and (when vested) matching and dividend shares. The trustees will not otherwise vote in respect of shares held in the Sharepurchase EBTs.

Special rights

There are no persons holding securities that carry special rights with regard to the control of the Company.

Major shareholdersa

Major shareholders do not have different voting rights from those of other shareholders. Information provided to the Company by major shareholders pursuant to the FCA’s Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules (DTRs) are published via a Regulatory Information Service and is available on the Company’s website. As at 31 December 2015, the Company had been notified under Rule 5 of the DTRs of the following holdings of voting rights in its shares.

 

    Person interested   

Number of

Barclays shares

    

% of total  

voting rights  

attaching to  

issued share  

capitala 

The Capital Group Companies Incb    1,172,090,125      6.98  
Qatar Holding LLCc    813,964,522      6.65  
BlackRock, Inc.d    822,938,075      5.02  
Norges Bank    506,870,056      3.02  

Notes

 

a Significant shareholders for the last 3 years are shown on page 323.
b The percentage of voting rights detailed above was calculated at the time of the relevant disclosures made in accordance with Rule 5 of the DTR.
c The Capital Group Companies Inc (CG) holds its shares via CG Management companies and funds. Part of the CG holding is held as American Depositary Receipts.
d Qatar Holding LLC is wholly owned by Qatar Investment Authority.
e Total shown includes 1,408,618 contracts for difference to which voting rights are attached. On 25 January 2016, BlackRock, Inc. disclosed, by way of a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC, beneficial ownership of 1,109,026,156 ordinary shares of the Company as of 31 December 2015, representing 6.6% of that class of shares.

Powers of Directors to issue or buy back the Company’s shares

The powers of the Directors are determined by the Companies Act 2006 and the Company’s Articles. The Directors are authorised to issue and allot shares and to buy back shares subject to annual shareholder approval at the AGM. Such authorities were granted by shareholders at the 2015 AGM. It will be proposed at the 2016 AGM that the Directors be granted new authorities to allot and buy back shares.

 

 

44  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Directors’ report

Other statutory information

 

 

Repurchase of shares

The Company did not repurchase any of its ordinary shares during 2015 (2014: none). As at 26 February 2016 (the latest practicable date for inclusion in this report) the Company had an unexpired authority to repurchase ordinary shares up to a maximum of 1,650,234,602 ordinary shares.

Change of control

There are no significant agreements to which the Company is a party that are affected by a change of control of the Company following a takeover bid. There are no agreements between the Company and its Directors or employees providing for compensation for loss of office or employment that occurs because of a takeover bid.

Going concern

The Group’s business activities and financial position, the factors likely to affect its future development and performance, and its objectives and policies in managing the financial risk to which it is exposed and its capital are discussed in the Risk Management section.

The Directors considered it appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis.

Disclosure of information to auditor

Each Director confirms that, so far as he/she is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditors are unaware and that each Director has taken all the steps that he/she ought to have taken as a Director to make himself/herself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of that information. This confirmation is given pursuant to section 418 of the Companies Act 2006 and should be interpreted in accordance with and subject to those provisions.

Directors’ responsibilities

The following statement, which should be read in conjunction with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm set out on page 210, is made with a view to distinguishing for shareholders the respective responsibilities of the Directors and of the auditors in relation to the accounts.

The Directors are required by the Companies Act 2006 to prepare accounts for each financial year and, with regards to Group accounts, in accordance with Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. The Directors have prepared group and individual accounts in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU. The accounts are required by law and IFRS to present fairly the financial position of the Company and the Group and the performance for that period. The Companies Act 2006 provides, in relation to such accounts, that references to accounts giving a true and fair view are references to fair presentation.

The Directors consider that, in preparing the accounts on pages 211 to 305, and the additional information contained on pages 111 to 182, the Group has used appropriate accounting policies, supported by reasonable judgements and estimates, and that all accounting standards which they consider to be applicable have been followed.

Having taken all the matters considered by the Board and brought to the attention of the Board during the year into account, the Directors are satisfied that the Annual Report and Financial Statements, taken as a whole, are fair, balanced, understandable, and provide the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s position and performance, business model and strategy.

Directors’ responsibility statement

The Directors have responsibility for ensuring that the Company and the Group keep accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Company and the Group which enable them to ensure the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

The Directors have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Group and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors, whose names and functions are set out on pages 3 and 4, confirm to the best of their knowledge that:

(a) the financial statements, prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounting standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, and

(b) the management report, which is incorporated into the Directors’ Report on pages 3 to 45, includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.

By order of the Board

Lawrence Dickinson

Company Secretary

29 February 2016

Barclays PLC

Registered in England, Company No. 48839

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  45


Governance

People

 

 

During 2015 we have continued our work to enhance support for our colleagues in their careers and to enable them to contribute to the long-term success of Barclays.

Culture, values and learning

We are into our third year of cultural change at Barclays. We have defined a common set of Values and Behaviours and embedded them into our core people processes so that they are recognised and understood by our colleagues. Having set the tone from the top by driving cultural change through our Group Executive Committee and business/ functional senior leaders, we have delivered a number of group-wide initiatives to embed the organisational culture. Our leadership development programme is underpinned by our Values, and ensures all senior management are aware of, and are enabled to role model our Values and Behaviours. Both the Barclays Leadership Academy and the Global Curriculum, which provides colleagues with development resources focused on personal and behavioural skill, are widely available and provide a consistent approach to core and leadership development.

We continue to assess candidate alignment to our Values and Behaviours through our recruitment and promotion processes and we also ensure new joiners attend the ‘Being Barclays’ Global Induction programme, which provides an in-depth experience of the Values and life at Barclays. All colleagues are required to attest and demonstrate their understanding of expected behaviours through the Global Code of Conduct (The Barclays Way).

Early careers and apprenticeships

Barclays is committed to helping young people achieve their ambitions when they enter the world of work, so our Early Careers proposition includes graduate, internship and apprenticeship programmes which provide structured support to young people. In 2015, we launched our Bolder Apprenticeship Programme, targeting long-term unemployed adults over the age of 24, which is the first of its kind in the UK and underlines our commitment to tackling societal issues and attracting diverse talent.

We provide pathways for progression from apprentice to graduate supported by recognised qualifications and, in doing so, help to create an internal talent pipeline. In 2015, Barclays hired over 1,000 interns, 800 graduates and have created over 2,500 apprenticeships since 2013. During 2015 we increased our gender diversity across our internship programmes by 8% to 42% female representation.

My Career and mentoring tool

Colleague development, both personal and professional, has been a priority in 2015. We launched the ‘My Career’ online portal which provides a wide range of information and tools to help colleagues understand their potential and make informed career decisions. We recognise the importance of great mentor relationships and have deployed an online tool to match mentors and mentees based on skill sets and experience.

Wellbeing

Our new global wellbeing programme, ‘Be Well’ launched in 2015, aiming to support employee engagement and improve health and well-being. The programme includes existing health and well-being resources, as well as new investment in areas such as employee health screenings, a global speaker series and a new global portal which acts as a gateway to education materials and events.

Performance management

Colleagues are encouraged to align their objectives to business and team goals and behavioural expectations are set in relation to our Values. Performance is assessed against both ‘what’ colleagues do and ‘how’ they do it. The ‘Values in Action’ framework provides all colleagues with the tools to assess ‘what’ objectives they achieved and ‘how’ they achieved them, together with a guide on expected behaviours in line with the Values. Our global recognition plan allows colleagues to recognise the outstanding achievements of those who have demonstrated our Values, with over 188,500 colleagues receiving a Values ‘Thank You’ in 2015.

Managing change

Where business restructuring has been necessary to support the transformation of our business and cost profile, we have consulted on potential job losses with employee representatives, as well as the impacted individuals. Our aim has been to treat all colleagues with respect and to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible. We have placed significant emphasis on both voluntary redundancy programmes as well as internal redeployment via “Internals First”.

Internals First supports colleagues who have been impacted by change and provides individual support to ensure that we retain talent within Barclays. Internals First is deployed in all our main locations and is managed by a dedicated team. In 2015, 935 colleagues registered for Internals First support and we redeployed 39% of them within Barclays. Throughout 2015, colleagues attended Internals First Career and Networking Events and opted for outplacement support services.

During 2015, we also developed ‘Be Informed’, which is available on both desktop and mobile devices. This intuitive support site gives transparent and helpful advice for colleagues who are impacted by change, including how to manage change, further career options available to them and where to go for help and support during periods of uncertainty.

When an employee does leave Barclays as a consequence of restructuring, our commitment is to ensure they are given the best support for the next stage in their career and life. Following an extensive review, a new globally consistent career transition service has been implemented which offers personalised advice and support for all employees placed at risk of redundancy.

Industrial relations

We continue to advocate and practise a partnership approach to industrial relations and value the relationships we have with over 30 trade unions, works councils and staff associations around the world. In particular, our formal partnership with Unite since 2000 is one of the longest standing in the UK. During 2015, we have continued to have regular, constructive dialogue with employee representatives on a wide range of topics that affect employees, facilitated through established regional consultation forums which bring together representatives from across our businesses.

We are confident that through all these established core people processes and others, we have created the right landscape at Barclays to sustain the desired organisational culture. We also believe that while we have a common purpose, Values, and vision, this can mean different things for different parts of our business and so we need to continue to shape our culture in a way that makes sense for each of our business areas. To that end, in 2015, each business CEO was tasked with driving the organisational culture for their business and we supported this by deploying business-specific training academies across the Group. This will continue into 2016.

 

 

46  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance

People

 

 

 

Your View

Barclays’ recognises the importance of listening to our colleagues and maintaining open, two-way dialogues between the organisation and colleagues. The views of our colleagues shape the decisions we make, helping us create an environment that colleagues want to work in, which we in turn believe will help drive high performance.

We deployed a global colleague survey, ‘Your View’ once again in 2015 to seek the views of colleagues. This year’s survey was more focused, based on the insights derived from the previous year’s survey, and asked for our colleagues’ views on a range of topics, including our Values, leadership and line management, the working environment, and citizenship. The results showed a near-universal understanding among colleagues of the Values and related behaviours (97% favourable) with 81% agreeing that role modelling the Values is central to creating the right culture at Barclays.

Compared to 2014, colleagues feel an increased sense of job accomplishment and enthusiasm, believe more strongly in Barclays’ goals, and are more likely to recommend Barclays as a place to work. Sustainable Engagement is at 75%, a 3% increase compared to 2014. This is a strong result, suggesting action taken during 2015 is having an impact, notwithstanding the continued and sustained change we have experienced. We have performed an in-depth review of the results of the survey with all senior leaders, and will continue to focus our efforts on improving employee engagement in 2016.

Barclays regularly updates employees regarding the financial and economic factors affecting the company’s performance throughout the year, using a variety of communications channels. These include CEO and senior leader email communications, line manager briefing packs, video interviews and talking points which are distributed to employees every quarter to coincide with Barclays’ financial reporting calendar. They are all designed to build awareness and understanding of Barclays’ results and the broader macroeconomic environment, and to drive dialogue around what the figures mean and how employees should respond. We also hold a variety of events for all employees, across each business division and function throughout the year, which provide employees the chance to hear directly from the CEO, ExCo member or leader and to ask them questions. We have also recently introduced an ‘Ask the Experts’ communication which gives perspectives from across the bank on what Barclays’ results mean and how they are received by different stakeholders such as investors, politicians and the media.

Flagship campaigns are released to all employees each quarter, covering topics such as wellbeing, recognition and dynamic working. Each quarter, colleagues and managers receive interactive updates to raise awareness of the tools being introduced to help them develop their careers at Barclays and to provide them with the opportunity to understand and engage in employee initiatives. Colleagues are also kept informed through regular intranet and email updates about the progress Barclays is making across activity such as our Diversity and Inclusion agenda, Performance Management and annual Pay and Reward processes.

Employees are invited to share their opinion on what it is like to work at Barclays through regular interactive events with senior leaders. These events provide employees with the opportunity to discuss their perspective on a range of areas to help senior management understand what is working well and where we need to improve. Any changes that are implemented as a result of colleague feedback are communicated through leadership briefings and engagement initiatives at an individual business/function level.

Colleagues are also encouraged to be involved with the company’s performance by participating in Barclays all-employee shareplans, which have been running successfully for over 10 years. Further details of our approach to remuneration are included in the Remuneration Report pages 53 and 54.

Diversity and inclusion

Barclays’ global Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) strategy sets out objectives, and frames our plans for each of five core pillars: Gender, LGBT, Disability, Multicultural and Multigenerational. Central to each pillar is building an inclusive culture, which is why we continue to build leadership competency about Unconscious Bias and have had more than 10,000 participants undertake the training. Following our 2014 programme to engage senior leaders, our ‘Everyday Ism’s’ programme has this year opened up dialogue with colleagues more widely focusing on stereotypes, assumptions and bias.

An important aspect of our D&I agenda is ensuring people from all backgrounds have equal opportunity to join, and progress through, our organisation. In support of this, we have established candidate shortlist diversity goals for senior positions to provide focus during talent decisions, and ensure hiring panels are diverse to broaden assessment perspectives.

This ethos begins with our most senior roles. Having achieved the target we set ourselves in 2012 to increase Board level diversity to 25%, we have now challenged ourselves to achieve a minimum of 33% by 2020. To strengthen the pipeline, we have consecutively achieved our year on year goals towards representation of women in senior roles to 26% by 2018. We have more to do, but are pleased when progress towards greater inclusion is recognised. During 2015, respected organisations such as Stonewall in the UK, Working Mother in the US and Community Business in Asia have praised our programmes and achievements, citing our D&I work as innovative and robust.

Gender

Sustaining progress towards our Balanced Scorecard and Board Diversity goals remains a core focus. Our Board membership has increased to four women, with one woman on Group Executive Committee. Our female senior leadership population stood at 23% at the end of 2015 representing a consecutive 1% increase year-on-year since 2011. Women are also leading countries where we operate, for example in Ireland, Brazil, Singapore, Botswana and Gibraltar.

At all levels, our gender pipeline is strengthening thanks to extensive programmes which focus on building capability and fostering gender intelligence. Our internal HeForShe campaign, in partnership with the United Nations, asks colleagues to pledge a specific commitment that will contribute to gender parity. Since launching HeForShe, 60% of new Women’s Initiative Network members have been male, and men have also taken active roles as mentors and sponsors.

Also new this year is our Returnship programme which is enabling senior women who needed to pause their career, the opportunity to refresh their skills and confidence in preparation for a return to leadership roles. For the eighth year running, we were pleased to be included in The Times Top 50 Workplaces for Women in the UK, and for the third successive year to be named in ‘Working Mother’ 100 Best Companies in the US.

Female representation

 

 

LOGO

Above shows the positive change in female representation within Barclays from 2014 (H2) to 2015 (H2)

 

 

LGBT

An inclusive culture is vital for colleagues to have the freedom and choice to bring their whole selves to work, and in particular for people to be open about their sexual orientation if they choose to. Our Your View survey saw 5% of global colleagues identifying as being LGBT globally, a 1% increase since 2014. Enabling that culture are our Global Allies – colleagues from every region who share our commitment to LGBT equality and who take an active role in shaping an LGBT-inclusive workplace. The Allies programme is led by Spectrum, our employee network for anyone interested in LGBT matters. Since 2001, Spectrum has been an important contributor of insight and innovation and now connects colleagues across the world, with the Spectrum App providing access outside the workplace.

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  47


    

    

    

 

 

‘#PrideHeroes’ was the theme of Pride in London, which we were again the lead sponsors of in 2015. More than 400 colleagues, leaders, friends and family came together for Pride, with many more joining other events across our regions of operation. A specially ‘Pride wrapped’ DLR train carried the ‘#RidewithPride’ message across London, with ATM’s up and down the UK communicating our support for LGBT equality. ATM messaging also conveyed our advocacy for IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia). For World AIDS Day, £ for £ matching augmented colleague fundraising for organisations leading on the treatment and prevention of AIDS.

Independent recognition reflects the sustained impact of our global work and further motivates us to continue to shape our culture so that colleagues can be themselves at work. In Singapore, we won best LGBT employee network at this year’s ALMA Awards, and Stonewall continue to name us as one of just eight ‘Star Performer’ organisations that are seen as leaders globally. Colleagues across a range of levels were this year recognised in the Financial Times OUTstanding list of 100 LGBT business leaders, and in the Pride Power List.

Disability

Our aspiration to become ‘the most accessible bank’ remains firm. Understanding where we need to focus attention is key which is why we value our Disability Listening forums to bring together colleagues who have insight with those who have influence to turn ideas into action. We listen to our customers too, directly and via our external partners – from RNIB to Leonard Cheshire – as part of our continual improvement ethos. Their feedback contributed to us becoming the first bank to receive an accreditation from AbilityNet for our Mobile Banking app, reflecting its improved accessibility functionality.

In another first, we successfully launched our Return on Disability Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs) on the New York Arca Stock Exchange. The ETNs are a first of a kind investment product, linked to the performance of an index developed in conjunction with The Return on Disability Group. They provide investors with exposure to US based companies that have acted to attract and serve people with disabilities, and their friends and family, as customers and employees.

Continually improving our own workplace is a steadfast aim, and is why we expanded ‘This Is Me’ from a UK to a global campaign. Originally focused on mental health, through ‘This Is Me’ colleagues tell their stories as to how disability touches their lives. The stories told via ‘This Is Me’ included members of our Reach employee network, which connects anyone interested in disability. The inclusive culture enabled by Reach is instrumental in helping us attract people who have a disability, so that they bring their talent to us. Our apprenticeship programme is just one career route that we are ensuring is fully accessible to all.

Awards and recognition from exemplar organisations, including the Business Disability Forum, indicates that we are fast moving towards our own ‘most accessible’ ambition but we want to share learning with others. To celebrate and recognise the 25th anniversary of the American Disability Act (ADA), we partnered with the New York Mayor’s Office to host the only B2B event in the ADA calendar to stimulate thought leadership and encourage partnership. Our Your view Survey saw over 6% of colleagues identifying as having a disability globally, a 1 percentage point improvement from previous year results.

We recognise ability is multi-faceted. We give full and fair consideration to applications from candidates who may have a disability. Our people processes ensure all colleagues can progress their careers, with comprehensive training and

development, and through tailored and needs-based workplace adjustments where relevant. Employees who become disabled during their employment with us can access a full range of services and support ensuring, where-ever possible, we retain their talent. Ongoing reviews ensure adjustments are updated and relevant to individual requirements, providing the ability for colleagues to move between roles with consistent support.

Multigenerational

We benefit from the diverse perspectives of employees from five generations and need to ensure our workplace is inclusive for all. ‘Work’ and ‘place’ are increasingly becoming less co-joined, with shifts in technology and generational expectations requiring us to think and act differently. Dynamic Working, our signature campaign relevant to colleagues’ every life stages with the strapline of ‘how do your work your life’, encourages dialogue about the integration of personal and professional responsibilities through smarter working. With flexibility and agility at the core, more than 12,000 line managers and their teams have participated in workshops, presentations and training to open up discussions about how work could be done differently.

Multigenerational

 

LOGO

Above shows the different generations working at Barclays and the percentage change over 2014 (H2) and 2015 (H2)

 

 

Changing careers is another important time, which is why our Armed Forces Transitioning, Employment and Rehabilitation (AFTER) programme also continued to see ex-military talent join our company, or be supported to gain relevant work-ready skills. Our ‘LifeSkills’ programme continue to prepare young people for their first steps into the world of work and our Emerge network ensures new joiners, whatever their career stage, feel connected from the moment they arrive.

In Singapore, we won the Most Empowering Company for Mums award by the National Trades Union Congress while in the US we were included in the ‘100 Best Companies for Working Mothers’. In the UK, our approach to Talent Attraction was recognised by Working Mums as well as by Business In the Community who felt our apprenticeship and ‘LifeSkills’ programmes were award winning.

 

 

48  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance

People

 

 

Multicultural

Our global footprint covers more than 50 countries, making multicultural inclusion imperative. Fostering cross-cultural connections is enabled by Embrace our multicultural network which brings together all those who share an interest in all aspects of race, ethnicity, nationality and faith. Embrace took an active role in Interfaith week, when leaders hosted discussions to gain insight and ideas for better serving our multicultural customers and clients, and for engaging colleagues across our global community. Embrace also helped us mark important cultural and religious calendar dates throughout 2015 such as Diwali and Eid, creating communications and events to bring to life the rich multicultural diversity of our people. Day-to-day, this diversity is enabled by, for example, a dedicated quiet room in many of our larger sites for prayer and reflection, and by serving halal and kosher food in our canteens.

Ensuring Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) female entrepreneurs can sustain and develop their businesses has been a shared focus via our partnership with the UK Women’s Business Council, and in 2015 we also supported the Black British Business Awards to celebrate the achievements of BAME leaders in the UK.

Insight from BAME colleagues has been put into practice for our attraction and recruitment processes, including profiling available roles in jobsites dedicated to the diverse job-seeker and targeting high calibre candidates for our apprenticeship programmes. 26% of our Bolder apprentices have been from a BAME background, evidencing our engagement approach is working but we will continue to strive to ensure our workforce is representative of our communities.

Multicultural

 

 

LOGO

Above shows the percentage of underrepresented populations that make up our global and regional populations. Note that underrepresented populations are defined regionally to ensure inclusion with all groups in the workplace

 

a UK includes Asian, Mixed, Black, Other and Non-disclosed.
b US includes Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Mixed, Black, Other and Non-disclosed.
c South Africa includes African, Indian, Coloured, Other, and Non-disclosed.

 

 

FTE by region

 

 

       2015         2014         2013   
United Kingdom      49,000         48,600         54,400   
Continental Eurpe      7,400         9,900         9,800   
Americas      10,600         10,900         11,100   
Africa and Middle East      43,600         44,700         45,800   
Asia Pacific      18,000         18,200         18,500   
Total      129,400         132,300         139,600   

    

 

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  49


Governance: Remuneration report

Annual statement from the Chairman of the Board Remuneration Committee

 

 

LOGO

 

‘The Committee’s priorities are to ensure that Barclays pays for sustainable performance, aligns remuneration with risk and delivers a greater proportion of the income we generate to our shareholders.’

 

 

   Remuneration Committee members

    Chairman

    Crawford Gillies (member from 1 May 2014,

                               Chairman from 24 April 2015)

    Sir John Sunderland (until 23 April 2015)

    Members

    Sir David Walker (until 23 April 2015)

    Tim Breedon

    Steve Thieke

    Dambisa Moyo (from 1 September 2015)

 

 

Contents

  

 

 

 

Page

 

  

   
Annual statement      50   
At a Glance – Performance and pay      52   
Remuneration policy for all employees      53   
2015 incentives      55   
Annual report on Directors’ remuneration      59   
Additional remuneration disclosures      72   
Directors’ remuneration policy (abridged)      75   
   

The tables marked ‘audited’ in the report have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

 

    

Dear Shareholders

I am pleased to introduce my first Remuneration report as Chairman of the Board Remuneration Committee, having taken over from Sir John Sunderland on 24 April 2015.

The Committee thought carefully about Barclays’ remuneration philosophy during 2015, and we agreed a revised, simplified statement, which articulates Barclays’ overarching approach to remuneration. This is set out in full on page 53 and is the background to our 2015 decisions.

The Committee’s priorities are to ensure that Barclays pays for sustainable performance, aligns remuneration with risk and delivers a greater proportion of the income we generate to our shareholders.

Performance and pay

The Committee’s 2015 pay decisions took full consideration of financial performance, both on an adjusted and a statutory basis, and non-financial performance including progress towards the 2018 targets within the Balanced Scorecard. The Committee also recognised the need to improve returns to shareholders and to accelerate delivery. We are committed to moving this forward in a manner that is consistent with Barclays’ Values to ensure that legacy events are not repeated.

Although there were improvements in the Core operating businesses, adjusted profit before tax was down 2% to £5,403m for 2015. Statutory profit before tax was down 8% at £2,073m. The Group’s capital position has continued to strengthen with a CRD IV fully loaded Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 11.4% and a leverage ratio of 4.5% at the end of the year. Cost targets have been met and Barclays Non-Core has made significant progress in reducing its risk weighted assets.

Against this background, the Group incentive pool for 2015 is again significantly lower than in prior years, down by £191m or 10% in absolute terms at £1,669m compared to the incentive pool of £1,860m for 2014. Similarly, the 2015 Investment Bank incentive pool is down 7%.

Total compensation costs are down 6%, and the compensation to adjusted net income ratio is 37.2%, down from 37.7% in 2014. Compensation to statutory net income ratio is 35.7%, down from 38.5% in 2014. The Core compensation to adjusted net income ratio is also down at 34.7% (2014: 35.7%). For a reconciliation of total incentive awards granted to the relevant income statement charge, see table on page 56.

Risk and conduct

A central feature of our remuneration philosophy is that remuneration must be aligned with risk, and with the conduct expectations of Barclays, our regulators and stakeholders. The Group incentive pool outlined above is after adjustments the Committee has made for both risk and conduct events. In addition to specific risk and conduct events, we also adjusted the incentive pool to take account of an overall assessment of a wide range of future risks, non-financial factors that can support the delivery of a strong conduct culture and other factors including reputation, impact on customers, markets and other stakeholders.

We have a robust process for considering risk and conduct issues as part of individual performance management reviews with outcomes reflected in individual incentive decisions. Individuals who are directly or indirectly accountable for risk and conduct events have had their remuneration adjusted as appropriate. This includes reductions in current year bonus levels and reductions in vesting amounts of deferred awards through the application of malus. Further details can be found on page 56.

Key remuneration decisions for executive Directors

2015 saw a change in Group Chief Executive. All of the associated remuneration decisions were made in accordance with the Directors’ remuneration policy approved by our shareholders at the 2014 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

We announced on 28 October 2015 that Jes Staley was to become Group Chief Executive with effect from 1 December 2015. He was appointed on a salary of £1,200,000 and Role Based Pay of £1,150,000 commensurate with market pay levels. He was not eligible for a 2015 bonus or a grant under the 2016-2018 long term incentive plan (LTIP) cycle. The Committee approved the grant of a share ‘buy-out’ award to compensate him for an unvested share award granted to him by a previous employer which was forfeited as a result of him joining Barclays.

 

 

50  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Remuneration report

Annual statement from the Chairman of the Board Remuneration Committee

 

 

The award was made on terms aligned to the forfeited award. Jes Staley satisfied, at the date of joining, the executive Directors’ shareholding requirement of four times salary through his personal purchase of 2,790,000 Barclays shares.

During the four month period between Antony Jenkins’ departure as Group Chief Executive and Jes Staley starting in the role, John McFarlane served as Executive Chairman. He indicated to the Committee that he did not wish his remuneration to be increased during that time, and therefore his fee remained unchanged for the period during which he served as Executive Chairman.

The Committee also approved compensation arrangements on Antony Jenkins’ departure as Group Chief Executive during the year. Further details can be found on page 68.

Bonuses for both of the executive Directors in role at the start of 2015 were determined against the financial, Balanced Scorecard and personal measures set at the beginning of the year. The Committee approved a pro-rated bonus award of £505,000 for Antony Jenkins. A 2015 bonus award of £701,000 was approved for Tushar Morzaria. Tushar Morzaria took on significantly increased executive responsibilities in the second half of 2015 and we regard this bonus as fully deserved in recognition of his strong performance. Further details of the Committee’s 2015 decisions for the executive Directors are set out on pages 59 to 61.

During the year, we also reviewed the performance measures of our LTIP to ensure they are appropriate given our strategy and align the interests of executive Directors and shareholders. We have changed the financial measures and given them an increased weighting of 70% for the award to be granted in 2016 and added a comprehensive Risk Scorecard as the new risk measure which will focus on Barclays’ management of principal risks (including Conduct Risk). Before formal approval, we engaged with shareholders on these changes. Tushar Morzaria is the only participant in this LTIP cycle. Further details are set out on pages 62 and 63.

Regulatory developments

The volume and pace of regulatory change has continued during 2015.

The PRA made revisions to the Remuneration part of its Rulebook (formerly the UK Remuneration Code) which apply from 1 January 2016. These include the seven, five and three year ‘tiered’ deferral requirements for Senior Managers and different categories of Material Risk Taker (MRT) respectively, and the potential extension of the clawback period to 10 years for Senior Managers (under certain circumstances). These changes, which apply globally to Barclays as a UK-headquartered bank, further emphasise the competitive disadvantages attributable to the lack of a global level regulatory ‘playing field’.

Further revisions to the Remuneration part of the PRA Rulebook are expected during 2016 as a consequence of the European Banking Authority’s (EBA) final Guidelines on sound remuneration policies. The most significant changes include a prohibition on the payment of dividends on deferred shares and an increase to a one year (from six months) holding period for incentive awards delivered in shares to the large majority of MRTs. The Guidelines apply from 1 January 2017. The application of the Guidelines to UK firms, once confirmed by the PRA and FCA, will contribute to changes to our Directors’ remuneration policy in 2017.

Agenda for 2016

In line with legal requirements, we will be seeking shareholder approval for our Directors’ remuneration policy at the 2017 AGM. As a Committee we will review our remuneration policy to ensure that future arrangements are fully aligned to our strategy to accelerate delivery to shareholders in a manner consistent with Barclays’ Values and also to meet new regulatory requirements. This will be developed over the coming months and we will engage constructively with shareholders and regulators as we do so.

Our Remuneration report

We have provided an ‘At a glance’ summary of 2015 performance and pay on the next page. The Annual report on Directors’ remuneration provides further details.

The report has been prepared in accordance with the remuneration disclosures required by the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013. The Remuneration report (other than the part containing the Directors’ remuneration policy) will be subject to an advisory vote by shareholders at the 2016 AGM.

On behalf of the Board

 

 

LOGO

Crawford Gillies

Chairman, Board Remuneration Committee

29 February 2016

 

 

51  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Remuneration report

At a Glance – Performance and pay

 

 

 

How did we perform and pay in 2015?

The Committee’s 2015 pay decisions took full consideration of financial and non-financial performance. Statutory profit before tax decreased between 2014 and 2015 by 8%, while the absolute reduction in the Group incentive pool was 10%.

Since 2010 the Group incentive pool has declined steadily, from £3,484m in 2010 to £1,669m in 2015 – a decrease of more than 50% over five years. Over the same period, Group statutory profit before tax is down 65%.

 

Group incentive pool

 

 

LOGO

 

 

How much were executive Directors paid in 2015?

All of the Committee’s 2015 decisions in relation to executive Directors’ remuneration were made within the parameters of the Directors’ remuneration policy which was approved at the 2014 AGM.

 

      

 

Antony Jenkinsa

£000

    

 

Tushar Morzaria

£000

  

  

    
 
Jes Staleyb
£000
  
  
       2015       2014       2015         2014         2015   
Fixed Pay               
Salary      598       1,100       800         800         100   
Role Based Pay (RBP)      516       950       750         750         96   
Benefits      89       100       82         95         48   
Pension      197       363       200         200         33   
Variable pay               
Annual Bonusc      505       1,100       701         900           
LTIPd      1,494       1,854                         
Total pay      3,399               5,467       2,533         2,745         277   

Notes

a The 2015 figures for Antony Jenkins relate to the period to 16 July 2015 when he ceased to be a Director, save in the case of the LTIP which relates to the whole period pursuant to the LTIP rules. In accordance with his contractual entitlements, Antony Jenkins will receive salary, RBP, benefits and pension, in instalments, until 7 July 2016 subject to mitigation. Full details of his leaving arrangements can be found on page 68.
b The 2015 figures for Jes Staley relate to the period from 1 December 2015 when he joined the Board as Group Chief Executive. On joining Barclays, Jes Staley was granted a share award of 896,450 Barclays shares to compensate him for an unvested share award granted to him by JP Morgan. The award will be delivered on 14 March 2016 in line with the vesting date of the original JP Morgan award.
c 2015 bonus awards reflect the formulaic outcome of 2015 performance against the financial measures and the Committee’s assessment of progress towards the Balanced Scorecard targets. These resulted in a total of 22.1% (out of 50% maximum) and 15% (out of 35%) of the maximum bonus being payable respectively. Personal objectives were assessed by the Committee on an individual basis.
d Over the 2013-2015 LTIP performance period, a return on risk weighted assets (RoRWA) of 0.21% and a loan loss rate (LLR) of 53 bps resulted in nil (out of 50%) outcome for RoRWA and 30% (out of 30%) for LLR. The Balanced Scorecard assessment was 9% (out of 20%). Therefore 39% of the maximum number of shares will be considered for release in March 2016, subject to an additional two year holding period.

How will executive Directors’ pay be structured?

2016 Fixed pay

 

      
 
Salary
£000
  
  
    
 
RBP
£000
  
  
    
 
Pension
£000
  
  
Jes Staley      1,200         1,150         396   
Tushar Morzaria      800         750         200   

Salary, RBP, pension and benefits are unchanged from 2015.

Variable pay      
2016 Annual Bonus      
Maximum 80% of fixed pay              

2016 performance measures and weighting:

     

Financial

     

    Adjusted profit before tax

     20%          

    CET1 ratio

     20%          

    Adjusted costs

         10%          
            50%  

Balanced Scorecard

      35%  

Personal objectives

            15%  

 

 

2016-2018 Long term incentive plan      
Maximum 120% of fixed pay              

2016-2018 cycle performance measures and weighting:

Financial

     

    Adjusted return on tangible equity (subject to CET1 ratio underpin)

     25%          

    CET1 ratio

     25%          

    Cost: income ratio

         20%          
            70% 

Balanced Scorecard

      15% 
Risk Scorecard (new Risk measure which will focus on Barclays’ management of principal risks, including Conduct Risk)             15% 

Tushar Morzaria is the only participant in the 2016-2018 LTIP cycle.

 

 

52  |  Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F   


Governance: Remuneration report

Remuneration policy for all employees

 

 

This section sets out Barclays’ remuneration policy for all employees, explaining the philosophy underlying the structure of remuneration packages, and how this links remuneration to the achievement of sustained high performance and long-term value creation.

 

Remuneration philosophy

In October 2015, the Committee formally adopted a revised, simplified remuneration philosophy which articulates Barclays’ overarching remuneration approach and is set out below.

 

 

Barclays’ Remuneration philosophy

 

    

 

Attract and retain talent needed to deliver Barclays’ strategy

 

  

 

Long term success depends on the talent of our employees. This means attracting and retaining an appropriate range of talent to deliver against our strategy, and paying the right amount for that talent

 

 

Align pay with investor interests

 

  

 

Ensure employees’ interests are aligned with those of investors (equity and debt holders), both in structure and the appropriate balance of returns

 

 

Reward sustainable performance

 

  

 

Sustainable performance means making a positive contribution to stakeholders, in both the short and longer term, playing a valuable role in society

 

 

Support Barclays’ Values and culture

 

  

 

Results must be achieved in a manner consistent with our Values. Our Values and culture should drive the way that business is conducted

 

 

Align with risk appetite, risk exposure and conduct expectations

 

  

 

Designed to reward employees for achieving results in line with the Bank’s risk appetite and conduct expectations

 

 

Be clear, transparent and as simple as possible

 

  

 

All employees and stakeholders should understand how we reward our employees. Remuneration structures should be as simple as possible so that everyone can understand how they work and the behaviours they reward

 

Remuneration and performance

Our remuneration philosophy applies to all employees across the whole of Barclays. It ensures that all employees are aligned with and support the achievement of Barclays’ Group priorities.

This is achieved by linking remuneration to a broad assessment of performance, based on expected standards of delivery and behaviour, which are discussed with employees at the start of, and throughout, the performance year. Under the Barclays’ performance management approach, employees are encouraged to align each of their objectives to business and team goals, and behavioural expectations are set in relation to our Values. This ensures that clear expectations are set for not only ‘what’ employees are expected to deliver, but also ‘how’ they are expected to go about it.

Individual performance is then evaluated against both the ‘what’ (performance against objectives) and the ‘how’ (demonstration of our Values). This evaluation takes into account various factors including:

 

§   performance against agreed objectives (both financial and non-financial) and core job responsibilities

 

§   adherence to relevant risk policies and procedures and control frameworks

 

§   behaviour in line with Barclays’ Values

 

§   colleague and stakeholder feedback

 

§   input from the Risk and Compliance functions where there are concerns about the behaviour of any individuals or the risk of the business undertaken.

There is no specific weighting between the financial and non-financial considerations for employees because all of them are important to the determination of the overall performance assessment.

Linking individual performance assessment and remuneration decisions to both the Barclays’ business strategy and our Values in this way promotes the delivery of sustainable individual and business performance, and establishes clear alignment between remuneration policy and Barclays’ strategy.

 

   Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F  |  53


 

    

    

    

 

Remuneration structure

The remuneration structure for employees is aligned with that for executive Directors, set out in detail in the Directors’ remuneration policy which was approved by shareholders at the 2014 AGM. A full copy of the policy can be found on the Barclays PLC website. An abridged version is at pages 75 to 83 of this Report.

Employees receive salary, pension and other benefits and are eligible to be considered for an annual bonus. Employees in some customer-facing businesses participate in incentive plans including plans based on a balanced scorecard of performance which has good customer outcomes at its centre. The plans also recognise how results have been achieved in line with Barclays’ Values. Some senior employees receive Role Based Pay (RBP). Remuneration of PRA Material Risk Takers (MRTs) is subject to the 2:1 maximum ratio of variable to fixed pay. A total of 1,523 (2014: 1,277) individuals were MRTs in 2015.

Barclays is a long standing supporter of the Living Wage. As an accredited Living Wage employer, Barclays commits to ensure that all permanent UK employees and those UK employees of third party contractors who provide services to us at our sites, are paid at least the current London or UK Living Wage. This is a commitment which we have also extended to all our UK employed apprentices.

Fixed remuneration

 

 

Salary

 

 

Salaries reflect individuals’ skills and experience and are reviewed annually in the context of annual performance assessment. They are increased where justified by role change, increased responsibility or a change in the latest available market data. Salaries may also be increased in line with local statutory requirements and in line with union and works council commitments.

 

 

Role Based Pay (RBP)

 

 

 

A small number of senior employees receive a class of fixed pay called RBP to recognise the seniority, breadth and depth of their role.

 

 

Pension and benefits

 

 

 

The provision of a competitive package of benefits is important to attracting and retaining the talented staff needed to deliver Barclays’ strategy. Employees have access to a range of country specific company funded benefits, including pension schemes, healthcare, life assurance and Barclays share plans as well as other voluntary employee funded benefits. The cost of providing these benefits is defined and controlled. Gracechurch Services Corporation is used to employ US nationals seconded overseas allowing them to retain eligibility to US benefits.

 

Variable remuneration

 

 

 

Annual bonus

 

 

Annual bonuses incentivise and reward the achievement of Group, business and individual objectives, and reward employees for demonstrating individual behaviours in line with Barclays’ Values.

 

 

 

 

 

The ability to recognise performance through variable remuneration enables the Group to control its cost base flexibly and to react to events and market circumstances. Bonuses remain a key feature of remuneration practice in the highly competitive and mobile market for talent in the financial services sector. The Committee is careful to control the proportion of variable to fixed remuneration paid to individuals.

 

 

 

 

 

Bonus deferral levels are significantly in excess of PRA requirements.

 

 

 

 

 

The typical deferral structures include:

 

 

    For MRTs:         For non-MRTs:         For Managing Directors in the Investment Bank:
 

Incentive award

   Amount deferred              

Incentive award

  

Amount deferred            

        Incentive award   

Amount deferred

  < £500,000    40%       Up to £65,000    0%       All values    100%
  ³ £500,000    60%       > £65,000   

Graduated level

of deferral

       

 

 

Deferred bonuses are generally delivered in equal portions as deferred cash under the Cash Value Plan (CVP) and deferred shares under the Share Value Plan (SVP), each typically vesting in annual tranches over three years subject to the rules of the plans (as amended from time to time) and continued service.

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred bonuses are subject to malus provisions which enable the Committee to reduce the vesting level of deferred bonuses (including to nil) at its discretion.