Articles

Is Nyrstar’s board of directors truly caught between a rock and a hard place? That metaphor positions the board as a victim. In reality, it has uncritically aligned itself with the interests of its majority shareholder, Trafigura. In a recent interview with De Tijd, Marc Taeymans, an independent board member at Nyrstar, portrayed the company as a collatoral casuality in a dispute between Trafigura and minority shareholders. This portrayal is not only inaccurate—it is perilous

The financial newspaper De Tijd published an opinion by Kris Vansanten in which he argues that Nyrstar should finally act in line with...

The wheels of justice turn slowly – too slowly – and this undermines the credibility of the rule of law. In an opinion piece in De Tijd,...

“You're losing.” With these harsh words, Jamie Dimon, CEO of the world's largest bank, addressed Europe today in the Financial Times....

Minority shareholders sound the alarm about poor governance, conflicts of interest, mismanagement, and excessive spending. Nyrstar NV, a...

Another unexpected twist in the Nyrstar case: Kris Peeters withdraws as candidate director. What could be going on? Kris Peeters - © Filip Naudts CC-BY-SA 4.0 Until recently, Mr. Peeters was a director at the European Investment Bank (EIB). Some research reveals that Article 6.1 of the EIB's Code of Conduct for the Board of Directors stipulates the following after the end of such a mandate: "Former Members of the Board of Directors have the duty to behave with integrity an

The integrity of corporate governance is under increasing scrutiny — and rightfully so. Belgium’s recent history has shown how vulnerable...

In recent posts, I warned about Europe’s eroding grip on critical industrial capabilities. Now, new evidence from Australia confirms just...

While the EU voices its ambitions for strategic defence autonomy, technological leadership, and green transition goals, it has quietly...

Last April, De Tijd warned that Europe must build 40 new mines and metal factories by 2030 to meet its own green transition targets — a...

Opinion: Recent events have cast a spotlight on the troubling role of major law firms in enabling corporate misconduct. Law professor ...

It’s official: Allen & Overy Shearman (A&O) has inked a deal with Donald Trump. A&O is one of five so-called “elite” law firms that have...

Another case of the #CuckooStrategy in action. Trafigura ’s playbook is becoming painfully familiar: leverage special situations emerging...

The truncated communication from Nyrstar clearly does not please the Financial Services and Markets Authority ( FSMA ) and the Antwerp...

‘It seems that the justice system wants to send a strong message to politicians’, this week in Trends Tendances. Does the justice system...

The classic 'principal-agent problem' played a central role in the Nyrstar case. Kris Vansanten describes how board members and legal...

Summary : In April 2025, Trafigura agreed to a $75.8 million settlement with Brazilian authorities, resolving civil cases stemming from...

Public Eye’s latest podcast investigates the Angolan corruption scandal involving Trafigura. It sheds light on how the company allegedly...

"Trafigura Group will pay $126 million and plead guilty to US charges related to bribery in Brazil, in the latest case involving...

'Critical infrastructure and smelting capacity are a national security issue and therefore they need some kind of government ownership or...