A recent article in South Africa's Business Day has highlighted further concerns over the World Bank's handling of the Canadian company, Acres, which was barred from participating in the Bank's projects for three years in July for corruption. The article notes that a month before, Acres was taken over by another engineering firm, Hatch. At present it is not clear if the sanctions will apply to the new firm, and in a recent statement, the Bank said that "it was aware of the acquisition" but has no comment as to how the move relates to the sanctions committee hearing into Acres.