SEC clears Republic Bank of allegations

Republic Bank Limited (RBL) has expressed its satisfaction, having been cleared by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of recently-made concert party allegations.

Mr. Robert Le Hunte, Director of African Operations of Republic Bank, said: “We are pleased with results of the investigations published by the SEC in the January 12, 2015, issue of the Daily Graphic”.

It states categorically that “The Commission did not find a concert party relationship between Yellow Tide and Republic Bank with the intent of cooperating to consolidate control of HFC Bank”.

This confirms Republic Bank’s commitment to abide by the laws, rules and regulations that govern the territories in which they operate. The bank’s recent winning of the Supreme Court case, with respect to the action filed by HFC Bank in the High Court, endorses Republic Bank’s adherence to due process in Ghana as well as its confidence in Ghanaian state institutions.

The bank looks forward to swift action by all interested parties toward concluding the long outstanding MTO — an internationally widely recognised process that attempts to give the ultimate owners of the company — i.e. the shareholders — the opportunity to make a decision on their shares.

Also embedded in this process is the opportunity for members of the board of HFC Bank, collectively or individually, to accept or reject the offer being put forward to them by the potential offerer, the statement said

Republic Bank is proud of its reputation for respecting boundaries of the law, and looks forward to working to bring this MTO process to an end. The bank remains committed to the social and economic development of Ghana through its INVESTMENT in HFC Bank.

Republic Bank Limited is one of the largest and most successful independent commercial banks in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Republic Bank has served retail-banking customers, corporate clients and governments throughout the region for 175 years.

Republic Bank Group employs over 4,300 people in 71 branches throughout Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Guyana, the Cayman Islands and Barbados.