Barclays Africa, today, announced it was not ending its operations in Africa in response to viral reports stating that the company was leaving the continent. According to the article published on the Financial Times on Friday, Barclays’ new Chief Executive, Jes Staley, was to announce the exit of the British bank from Africa on Tuesday.
“After a review of the African business led by Jes Staley, the bank’s board decided last week that, in principle, it made strategic sense to get out of the continent, according to people familiar with the matter,” read the article on Financial Times.
Ventures Africa also published a closely-related article on Sunday, explaining probable reasons why the company may be exiting the continent as well as the possible buyers for the bank’s operations in Africa. However, Barclays Africa sent a tweet stressing that the company would not exit its African operations and no jobs would be lost.
@VenturesAfrica Barclays Africa is not closing its operations and there will be no job losses.
— Barclays Africa (@BarclaysAfrica) February 29, 2016
The company also sent out a series of messages on their twitter page, informing the people about its commitment to Africa:
We remain committed to Africa, where we continue to be optimistic about our growth prospects & to operate in the normal course of business.
— Barclays Africa (@BarclaysAfrica) February 29, 2016
The @Barclays board is evaluating its strategic options in relation to its BAGL shareholding. We expect to update the market on 1 March.
— Barclays Africa (@BarclaysAfrica) February 29, 2016
Barclays Africa is financially-independent, listed independently, and we are not closing our operations in Africa. pic.twitter.com/cPlPqq29kc
— Barclays Africa (@BarclaysAfrica) February 29, 2016
Barclays Africa remains committed to Africa, continues to be optimistic about growth prospects, & operates normally. pic.twitter.com/wPY4Lx1gK3
— Barclays Africa (@BarclaysAfrica) February 29, 2016
