Republic New York Corporation was the holding company for the Republic National Bank of New York and the Safra Republic Bank. The company was controlled by billionaire Edmond Safra, who was killed in a fire in his Monte Carlo penthouse apartment by his nurse Ted Maher. Republic New York Corporation was sold shortly after its chairman's death to HSBC Bank USA, the US subsidiary of HSBC of the UK.
If billionaire Edmond Safra wasn't killed in a fire, HSBC Bank USA would not own Republic New York Corporation.
The context statement only says that Republic New York Corporation was sold to HSBC shortly after Safra's death. He may have still sold it to HSBC had he lived, or HSBC may still have owned it if Safra had died by another means other than a fire. 