The Wall Street Journal (Paris) - French car maker Renault SA said Thursday that it has finalized compensation for three senior managers wrongfully dismissed in January after an industrial-espionage investigation.
"Renault welcomes the positive outcome to the negotiations on compensation for the harm done to Michel Balthazard, Bertrand Rochette and Matthieu Tenenbaum," the company said.
The company didn't disclose terms of the compensation.
Renault said Mr. Tenenbaum has accepted its offer to return to the company. He will join the Corporate Strategy and Planning Department on Monday, the company said. Renault added that it is "pleased with his decision."
Messrs. Balthazard and Rochette decided not to return to the company, Renault said, adding: "Renault thanks them for the quality of their work at the group and wishes them every success in the future."
Top Renault executives received an anonymous letter in August that accused Mr. Balthazard—head of advanced projects, such as Renault's electric-vehicle program—and others at the company of selling strategic secrets. Officials in Renault's internal-security department later said they had uncovered suspicious bank accounts, and alleged that Mr. Balthazard and two colleagues received bribes.
The three senior managers were fired in early January, and company bosses told the media that they had evidence that the three had taken money in return for divulging aspects of Renault's business model for electric cars.
The three fired managers declared their innocence from the beginning and, in March, the Paris state prosecutor said the case was probably not one of espionage, raising the possibility of a fraud attempt. Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn apologized publicly to the three fired managers.
