republicfirst8k.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934




Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
October 1, 2009

Republic First Bancorp, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
000-17007
(Commission File Number)
23-2486815
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

50 South 16th Street, Suite 2400, Philadelphia, PA  19102
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(215)-735-4422
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[   ]
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
[   ]
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
[   ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
[   ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act

 
 
 

Item 4.01.
Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
 
 
On October 1, 2009, Republic First Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) was notified that the audit practice of Beard Miller Company LLP (“Beard”) an independent registered public accounting firm, was combined with ParenteBeard LLC (“ParenteBeard”) in a transaction pursuant to which Beard combined its operations with ParenteBeard and certain of the professional staff and partners of Beard joined ParenteBeard either as employees or partners of ParenteBeard.  On October 1, 2009, Beard notified the Company that the client-auditor relationship between the Company and Beard had ceased.  With the approval of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, ParenteBeard was engaged as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm upon the cessation of the client-auditor relationship with Beard.
 
Prior to engaging ParenteBeard, the Company did not consult with ParenteBeard regarding the application of accounting principles to a specific completed or contemplated transaction or regarding the type of audit opinions that might be rendered by ParenteBeard on the Company’s financial statements, and ParenteBeard did not provide any written or oral advice that was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any such accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue.
 
The report of independent registered public accounting firm of Beard regarding the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
 
During the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, and during the interim period from the end of the most recently completed fiscal year through October 1, 2009, the date of resignation, there were no disagreements with Beard on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Beard would have caused it to make reference to such disagreement in its reports.
 
The Company provided Beard with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K prior to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and requested that Beard furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with above statements and, if it does not agree, the respects in which it does not agree.  A copy of the letter, dated October 1, 2009, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
The following exhibit is filed with this Form 8-K:
 
 
Exhibit No.
Description
 
 
16.1
Letter from Beard Miller Company LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated October 1, 2009.


 
 
 

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 

 
REPUBLIC FIRST BANCORP, INC.
 
Date:  October 1, 2009
By:          Frank A. Cavallaro                                  
Frank A. Cavallaro
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer



 
 
 

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit No.
Description
 
16.1
Letter from Beard Miller Company LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated October 1, 2009.