Belgian authorities have seized €65.2 million ($76 million) as part of a cross-border criminal inquiry tied to a French investigation into suspected tax fraud and money laundering involving McKinsey, French and Belgian prosecutors said on Friday.
The probe in France was initiated by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office in March 2022. That action followed a French Senate examination into the expanding role and influence of private consulting firms on public policy, which prompted closer scrutiny of the sector.
French investigators conducted searches of McKinsey offices in May 2022. Subsequent investigative steps included questioning of witnesses and suspects in 2025 and again in 2026, according to statements from prosecutors. As the French prosecutor's office sought assistance from its Belgian counterpart, authorities in Brussels carried out the asset seizure.
Belgian officials said the amount confiscated - €65.2 million - corresponds to roughly 96% of the tax shortfall estimated by French prosecutors in connection with the case. The seizure is a tangible enforcement measure taken under the cross-border cooperation requested by the French authorities.
McKinsey responded to the developments by saying it is cooperating with the French authorities and denying any misconduct. The firm stated: "We reaffirm that we are committed to complying with our tax obligations in France and in every country that we operate in. We remain fully focused on serving our clients in France and continue to do so to the highest professional standards."
The sequence of events detailed by prosecutors - from the March 2022 opening of the inquiry, the May 2022 office searches, through witness interviews in 2025 and 2026 and the recent Belgian seizure - outlines a multi-year, cross-border investigation. Prosecutors have not provided further public details on the next procedural steps or on any charges.
At this stage, the investigation remains active and the legal process is ongoing. Belgian action to seize assets reflects cooperation between national prosecutorial offices in response to information and requests from French authorities. McKinsey's public denial of wrongdoing and stated cooperation with investigators remain the firm's official position.