We appreciate your inquiry concerning Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC) and welcome the opportunity to provide clarity on the elements you've highlighted.
Our commitment to transparency and accountability is paramount, and we value the engagement of NGOs in ensuring responsible business practices.

a. Investment Status:

Our organization has not been an investor in the company for the past two years. Our involvement during the tenure of our investment was characterized by a focus on sustainable practices and ethical considerations.

b. Land Expansion and Rehabilitation:

Throughout our investment period, our efforts were directed towards restoring the palm oil plantations on land where they already held land titles, rather than expansion. During that period, all land titles were available for review at Feronia’s offices in both Kinshasa and London. Several NGOs took advantage of this opportunity to inspect the titles during that time, ensuring transparency in PHC’s land-use practices.

c. International Complaint Mechanism (ICM):

We made a conscious decision to continue supporting the International Complaint Mechanism upon our exit. This decision underscores our commitment to upholding the highest standards of accountability and fostering the independence of the ICM process. We believe that this approach is essential for addressing any concerns that may arise and for ensuring a fair and impartial resolution mechanism.