directors and officers (D&O) News

Argo Shareholder Voce Ends Battle over Board Members, Alleges ‘Underhanded Tactics’

An activist Argo shareholder that had accused the insurer of extravagant spending and other corporate missteps has ended its battle to nominate a slate of new board members. Voce Capital Management said on May 21 it has withdrawn its nominations …

VW’s Porsche Unit to Pay $599M to End German Probe into Rigged Diesel Engines

Volkswagen AG’s Porsche sportscar unit agreed to pay 535 million euros ($599 million) to end a probe into rigged diesel engines, bringing the total amount of fines in its home country to more than 2.3 billion euros. The carmaker won’t …

Ex-Executives at French Telecoms Group Orange on Trial over Wave of Staff Suicides

Former bosses at leading French telecoms group Orange were due to go on trial on Monday over a series of suicides at the company in the late 2000s – a traumatic episode that shocked the nation and raised questions over …

Activist Hedge Fund Voce Urges Argo to Cut $100M in Expenses, Nominates Directors

An activist hedge fund on Tuesday nominated five directors and urged insurance company Argo Group International Holdings Ltd to cut $100 million in expenses, including corporate jets and housing for its chief executive. Voce Capital Management LLC wants Argo shareholders …

Battle of Words Continues Between Argo Group and Activist Shareholder

An activist Argo Group shareholder accuses the company of using a corporate jet for 1,500 flights in recent months and questions whether the trips were exclusively for business purposes. So goes the latest salvo fired against the company in advance …

Chubb Expands Insurance Coverage in Canada for Private Equity Firms

Chubb is providing expanded insurance coverage, called “Private Equity+”, to address “the unique risks of Canadian private equity firms.” These extended offerings help transfer and mitigate many of the private equity firms’ most significant liabilities by combining in one policy …

Explaining Europe’s Growing Money Laundering Scandal

The largest ever money laundering scandal in Europe is rippling through the region’s banks. It began in the Baltics and has engulfed several Nordic lenders, notably Denmark’s Danske and Sweden’s Swedbank, who had large Baltic operations. Here are some facts …

Fallout Grows from Swedbank’s Money Laundering Scandal as Chairman Quits

A week after Swedbank AB fired its chief executive officer, the lender is parting ways with its chairman as a multibillion dollar money-laundering scandal forces top-level changes. Lars Idermark has decided to leave Sweden’s oldest bank and biggest mortgage lender …

Money Launderers Could Begin Targeting Smaller Banks, Warns Denmark

Denmark’s financial watchdog is warning that smaller banks need to be on high alert for signs of money laundering as larger lenders tighten their surveillance systems. Jesper Berg, director general of the Financial Supervisory Authority in Copenhagen, said Denmark is …

Swedbank Fires CEO on Growing Investor Criticism of Handling of Laundering Scandal

Swedbank dismissed Birgitte Bonnesen as chief executive on Thursday only an hour before its annual meeting after disgruntled shareholders rounded on her handling of a rapidly-growing money laundering scandal. The lender had repeatedly said it had faith in Bonnesen to …