Why Did World Bank Blacklist Wipro?
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Why did World Bank blacklist Wipro?

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After Satyam's fall from grace follow revelations of the World Bank banning India's third largest software services firm, Wipro, for following corrupt practices to bag deals. Wipro had not disclosed the four-year ban imposed on it in July 2007 to investors.

It said Wipro had "provided improper benefits to Bank staff" - which was one of the reasons cited for imposing a similar ban on Satyam Computer Services for eight years. The other reason given for banning Satyam was that it had failed to maintain documentation to support fees charged for its sub-contractors.

Wipro said the charge is related to allotment of 1,750 shares worth about $72,000 to employees of the World Bank in the company's maiden offer of American depository shares (ADS) in 2000 at the issue price. "Wipro representatives offered the World Bank, through its chief information officer and a senior staff, participation in the (ADS) programme and they directed this offer to members of their family and friends," the company said in a statement.

"All participants in the programme signed a conflict of interest statement that their purchase did not violate any ethics or conflict of interest policies of their company." Wipro further said "to date, Wipro's revenue from World Bank is insignificant.

Our inability to get future business from World Bank will not adversely affect our business and results of operations." The other four Indian entities barred by the World Bank are Megasoft Ltd, a product-based technology company also based in Hyderabad, Nestor Pharmaceuticals, Gap International and an individual, Surendra Singh.

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