Minister for the Cabinet Office (): In August 2022, Bain &
Company and its global affiliates were excluded from bidding for
UK Government business. Following the decision, Bain &
Company have cooperated with our investigations, and have
provided considerable additional information on their
self-cleansing actions. They have also agreed to a period of
rigorous monitoring for a minimum of two years, during which
their continued compliance will be assessed. Given the progress
made since the exclusion, we can confirm that while Bain &
Company South Africa, Inc. will remain excluded from UK
Government business, Bain & Company, Inc. and its affiliates
outside of South Africa are no longer excluded from bidding for
government work.
Following robust and intensive dialogue with Bain & Company
since the exclusion decision was made in August, which has
received the full cooperation from the company, we have concluded
that Bain & Company, Inc. and its affiliates outside of South
Africa, including both Bain & Company, Inc. United Kingdom
and BuyingTeam Limited (trading as Proxima), can bid for UK
Government work.
Since the exclusion decision in August 2022, Bain & Company
have responded by producing detailed evidence of the measures
they have taken internally (including related to the way Bain
& Company handles bids for UK Government work), which was not
available to the Cabinet Office previously.
This decision is subject to a regular and thorough period of
close monitoring, for a minimum of two years, so we can be
satisfied that the company continues to uphold the measures they
have now put in place.
During the monitoring period, Bain & Company has agreed that
it will engage further with the Cabinet Office to provide
evidence that their governance, organisation and internal
processes are now working and will continue to work as they
should do to prevent anything similar happening again.
Bain & Company South Africa, Inc. remains excluded from
bidding for UK Government procurements until 4 January 2025,
given the findings of the Zondo Commission on its prior
involvement with the South African Revenue Service. Bain &
Company South Africa has acknowledged it did not fully clarify
the facts and circumstances regarding its work for the South
African Revenue Service in a comprehensive manner.
Bain & Company has previously apologised for the fact that
Bain & Company South Africa’s work in South Africa
contributed to damaging a critical public institution and
acknowledged that its cooperation with investigating authorities
fell short.
We will review any new information that comes to light, including
as a result of any potential reconsideration by the South African
Government of their decision to ban Bain & Company South
Africa.
Bain & Company has welcomed this robust external challenge,
to help ensure that going forward their governance is of a
consistently high standard, that the self-cleansing actions put
in place are operational and that any new issues arising are
being managed and communicated transparently.
We strongly condemn corporate malpractice and will not hesitate
to exclude suppliers should they be found to not be upholding the
highest standards.
