Finance Glossary

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Kickbacks

Definition:

It's a flying butterfly karate move on a karate mat but on Wall Street and in corporate America, it's illegal. Specifically, a kickback is when a buyer who is supposed to be buying on behalf of the best interests of her company, gets money "under the table" or privately (think: briefcase full of cash exchanged on a wharf at midnight) in return for placing a big buy order with the seller.