HOSIE DEMANDS ASSURANCES OVER HBOS VOTE

HOSIE DEMANDS ASSURANCES OVER HBOS VOTE

SNP Treasury spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, has demanded assurances from the Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) board today (Tuesday) after receiving complaints from shareholders that they have not received their ballots in advance of this week’s vote on the acquisition by Lloyds TSB.

For shareholders not attending the HBOS shareholders meeting in Birmingham on Friday, the deadline for electronic shareholders was today, while certificated shareholders must vote by tomorrow.
Shareholders have reported not being notified of the electronic ballot and not receiving their voting card for the meeting despite it being scheduled to take place on Friday.
Mr Hosie said:
”Every shareholder must have their say, and it would be outrageous if people did not receive their ballots in time.
“It is bad enough that the UK Government is trying to force a shotgun wedding between HBOS and Lloyds, without shareholders being denied their vote as well.
”I am disturbed to learn from individual shareholders that they have yet to receive their ballots from the bank, and time has all but run out.
"Holding the ballot in Birmingham already makes it harder for Scottish shareholders to get to the meeting now shareholders are missing out on their only other opportunity to vote.
”Bank officials have had weeks to organise and ensure that shareholders receive their papers in good time, and it seems this has been bungled.”