RBA offloads 50pc Securency stake

AAP, The West Australian February 12, 2013, 7:26 am
A man walks out as another man walks into the Reserve Bank of Australia in Sydney, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011. Australia's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point Tuesday in a bid to boost the nation's economy amid financial uncertainty across the globe. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

The West Australian © A man walks out as another man walks into the Reserve Bank of Australia in Sydney, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011. Australia's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point Tuesday in a bid to boost the nation's economy amid financial uncertainty across the globe. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Reserve Bank of Australia has sold its 50 per cent stake in money printing firm Securency for $65 million.

The RBA's stake will be bought by Innovia Films, the UK film maker that already owns the other 50 per stake in Securency.

The central bank has been seeking to sell its stake in Securency since late 2010.

The RBA will receive about $65 million for the sale, above the $54 million its interest in Securency was valued at in the bank's financial accounts for 2011/12.

Agents of Securency have been accused of offering bribes to overseas officials to gain business.

Internal investigations in 2007 found no wrongdoing, and it was not until 2009 that the RBA brought in the Australian Federal Police.

The RBA on Tuesday released the findings of an independent review of its oversight of its note printing subsidiaries.

The review found that more oversight could have been applied to the companies, but the RBA took appropriate action when it appeared the companies were not performing in line with the bank's expectations.

The RBA's wholly-owned note printing subsidiary Note Printing Australia will remain in the bank's control.


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