Republic First Bancorp Announces Governance Changes

Rhea-AI Summary

Republic First Bancorp (NASDAQ: FRBK) has announced significant corporate governance changes aimed at enhancing shareholder value. Harry D. Madonna has been appointed as the Interim Board Chairman, while Lisa R. Jacobs steps in as Corporate Secretary. The Board has restructured its committee compositions, including the Audit, Nominating, and Compensation Committees. Additionally, the Company has terminated related-party contracts with Brian Communications and InterArch Design, to engage independent service providers. These moves are positioned to align Board interests more closely with those of shareholders.

Positive

• Appointment of Harry D. Madonna as Interim Board Chairman enhances leadership continuity.
• Termination of related-party contracts could improve company independence and transparency.

Negative

• None.

Names Harry D. Madonna Interim Board Chairman

Reconstitutes Committees of Republic First Bancorp and Republic Bank

Terminates Related-Party Contracts

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Republic First Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRBK) (the “Company”), the parent company of Republic First Bank d/b/a Republic Bank (the “Bank”), today announced several corporate governance changes as the Company and its Board of Directors (the “Board”) seek to maximize shareholder value.

• Harry D. Madonna, Esq., Republic Bank’s founder, has been appointed Interim Chairman of the Board.
• Lisa R. Jacobs, Esq. has been appointed Corporate Secretary of the Company, the position from which Mr. Madonna resigned in connection with his appointment to Interim Chairman.
• Benjamin C. Duster, IV has been appointed Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board.
• The Board has reconstituted the composition of the Audit, Nominating and Compensation Committees of the Board, and the Asset Liability and Compliance and Risk Management Committees of the Bank.

Harris Wildstein, Lead Independent Director of the Board, said, “We are pleased to announce these changes to our governance, which we believe enhance the Board’s alignment with shareholders and put the Company in a stronger position to maximize shareholder value. Mr. Madonna’s longstanding service to the Bank since founding it in 1988, coupled with Mr. Duster’s financial skillsets, will be invaluable as we continue to forge a successful path forward.”

The Company also today announced that it has terminated its agreements with Brian Communications and InterArch Design, Inc. and its affiliates, eliminating those related-party contracts. The Board intends to run a thorough process to identity and engage service providers, which are fully independent of the Company and its Board, to perform these services going forward.

Mr. Madonna concluded: “I am honored to be entrusted once again as Interim Chairman. The shareholder-friendly changes we are implementing today, including terminating related-party contracts, will ensure the Board’s interests are even more aligned with those of our shareholders going forward. Today marks a pivotal point in our Bank’s evolution, as the Board seeks to execute on our top responsibilities of being fierce fiduciaries for our shareholders and serving all of the Bank’s stakeholders.”

About Republic Bank

Republic Bank is the operating name for Republic First Bank. Republic First Bank is a full-service, state-chartered commercial bank, whose deposits are insured up to the applicable limits by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Bank provides diversified financial products through its 34 offices located in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey; Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania and New York County in New York. The bank also offers a wide range of residential mortgage products through its mortgage division, Oak Mortgage Company. For more information about Republic Bank, please visit www.myrepublicbank.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The Company may from time to time make written or oral “forward-looking statements”, including statements contained in this release and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company's beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates, and intentions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. These factors include competition, timing, credit risks of lending activities, changes in general economic conditions, price pressures on loan and deposit products, and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC. The words “may”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All such statements are made in good faith by the Company pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company, except as may be required by applicable law or regulations.

Important Additional Information

The Company intends to file a proxy statement and may file a proxy card with the SEC in connection with the Company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2022 Annual Meeting”) and, in connection therewith, the Company, certain of its directors and executive officers will be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company's shareholders in connection with such meeting. SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ SUCH PROXY STATEMENT, ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2022 ANNUAL MEETING. The Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders contains information regarding the direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, of the Company's directors and executive officers in the Company's securities. Information regarding subsequent changes to their holdings of the Company's securities can be found in the SEC filings on Forms 3, 4, and 5, which are available on the Company's website at http://investors.myrepublicbank.com/ or through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Information can also be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 on file with the SEC. Updated information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the 2022 Annual Meeting. Shareholders will be able to obtain the definitive proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC at no charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available at no charge at the Company's website at http://investors.myrepublicbank.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220714005515/en/

Gasthalter & Co.

Jonathan Gasthalter/Amanda Shpiner

(212) 257-4170

Source: Republic First Bancorp, Inc.

FAQ

What recent changes did Republic First Bancorp announce regarding its board governance?

Republic First Bancorp has appointed Harry D. Madonna as Interim Board Chairman and restructured its board committees to maximize shareholder value.

Who were appointed to key positions in Republic First Bancorp?

Harry D. Madonna was appointed Interim Chairman, and Lisa R. Jacobs became Corporate Secretary. Benjamin C. Duster IV was appointed Chair of the Audit Committee.

What actions did Republic First Bancorp take regarding related-party contracts?

The company terminated its agreements with Brian Communications and InterArch Design, focusing on engaging independent service providers.

How are the governance changes at Republic First Bancorp expected to impact shareholders?

These governance changes aim to better align the interests of the Board with those of shareholders, potentially enhancing shareholder value.