The UK’s Serious Fraud Office has charged Barclays and four of its former executives - including its ex-CEO John Varley - over a series of capital raisings carried out at the height of the financial crisis.

The SFO said on Tuesday that it has charged the UK bank and four individuals with conspiracy to commit fraud related to two 2008 capital raisings with Qatar Holding and Challenger Universal, as well as a $3bn loan that year from Qatar through its ministry of economy and finance.