Macquarie Group controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2021
Macquarie faces civic-group backlash over Haeyang Energy takeover
Public backlash
In 2021, civic groups in Gwangju opposed Macquarie Group's takeover of Haeyang Energy and warned of more aggressive protests, saying they planned a rally outside Macquarie's Seoul office. Macquarie refuted the claims, stated that the city government sets gas rates, and said it would continue communicating with the groups. The dispute centered on the takeover of the gas supplier and the civic groups' planned protest outside the company's Seoul office.
Civic groups in Gwangju opposed Macquarie's takeover of Haeyang Energy and warned of more aggressive protests; they said they planned a rally outside Macquarie's Seoul office. Macquarie refuted the claims, said the city government sets gas rates, and said it would continue communicating with the groups.
Company response
Denial — Macquarie
Macquarie, however, refuted the claims, citing the possibility of a misunderstanding.
Clarification — Macquarie
“We are not authorized to fix the gas rate, because the city government has the right to decide it,” a spokeswoman at Macquarie's Seoul office said.
Source excerpt
Nine groups in the region, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice and the Justice Party, said they will hold a rally next Tuesday in front of Macquarie's Seoul office.
Macquarie is facing difficulties in resolving a conflict with civic groups in Gwangju over its recent takeover of Haeyang Energy, the southwestern metropolitan city's exclusive gas supplier, from Glenwood Private Equity.
They expressed concerns about the possibilities of a price hike, Haeyang Energy's insolvency, job instability and deterioration of the working environment at the company.
2017
Thames Water debt and environmental controversy
Macquarie's former ownership of Thames Water was criticized after debt increased substantially and shareholder dividends were paid while the utility later faced serious pollution and sewage-discharge problems. Macquarie emphasized the capital investment undertaken during its ownership and rejected the implication that its tenure alone explained the utility's later problems.
2010
Telephony-bundling litigation criticism
Macquarie Equipment Rentals was criticized by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission over legal action involving small businesses caught in misleading telecommunications-bundling arrangements.