Former Conservatrix owner holds DNB liable
The former shareholder claims €53 million in damages and invokes an earlier court ruling concerning the supervisor.
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The former shareholder of life insurer Conservatrix is holding De Nederlandsche Bank and the Dutch State liable for €53 million. The shareholder is invoking a court ruling concerning the way DNB provided information during the transfer of the insurer.
The Conservatrix Group says that the Amsterdam District Court previously established that DNB gave the court incomplete information about an attempted rescue. According to the former shareholder, that ruling has consequences for the damage incurred during the transfer.
Conservatrix ran into financial difficulties in 2017 and was transferred to an American investor for one euro. The insurer nevertheless went bankrupt in 2020. At the time, DNB’s intervention was intended to protect policyholders and financial stability.
The new notice of liability is not compensation and does not mean that DNB or the State have been found liable. According to his lawyer, the former shareholder is seeking a settlement, but has not ruled out further proceedings.
DNB rejected liability in an earlier response. The cabinet also stressed in answers to the Lower House (Tweede Kamer) that the ongoing proceedings do not concern an automatic right of policyholders to compensation.
The case could affect the assessment of supervision and government intervention in troubled financial institutions. For now, the main certainty is that a new claim has been filed; whether it will lead to compensation has not yet been established.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- A former shareholder has held DNB and the State liable for €53 million.
- The claim follows an earlier court ruling concerning information provided by DNB.
- There has not yet been a ruling on the new damages claim.
Left
Arguments Supervisors must be fully transparent when they intervene in financial institutions. If inadequate information has caused damage, the government should not leave policyholders or shareholders to bear it.
Values Public accountability, protection of citizens and fair redress.
Consequences Compensation could restore confidence, but could also cost public funds.
Centre
Arguments The court must establish separately whether there is a causal link and demonstrable damage. Supervision should be rigorously evaluated without paralysing supervisors in retrospect when they intervene during crises.
Values Legal certainty, due care and financial stability.
Consequences A nuanced ruling could guide future rescue operations without placing every risk on the State.
Right
Arguments The government should not automatically bear the losses arising from entrepreneurship or a failed takeover. Only proven errors causing direct damage justify compensation.
Values Market discipline, limited government and protection of taxpayers.
Consequences Broad compensation could increase future supervision costs and the willingness to intervene.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article clearly distinguishes between a notice of liability and proven liability. The legal background was checked against ANP and parliamentary answers.
- confirmed The former shareholder is claiming €53 million. — ANP report of 28 October 2026. source
- confirmed Conservatrix was transferred for one euro in 2017. — ANP and the Lower House describe the transfer. source
- confirmed DNB rejected liability. — Earlier formal response from DNB as reported by the policyholders’ foundation. source
Editor's note
The notice of liability was reported by ANP. The precise legal basis and likelihood of success have not yet been established.Sources
- Conservatrix stelt DNB aansprakelijk voor 53 miljoen euro schade — ANP via ZeelandNet
- Antwoord op vragen over de uitspraak in de zaak Conservatrix — Tweede Kamer