The critic Fred Cohn, in recounting the sorry tale for Opera News, assigns a substantial portion of the blame to the investment banker Susan Baker, who became the chairman of the board in 2004, and presided over a string of oblivious decisions.

NEWYORKER: Diminuendo

As soon as Antonveneta's board had accepted it, BPI stepped in, pulling every available string to thwart the Dutch.

ECONOMIST: Dutch courage pays off | The