"was relieved" würde ich nicht verwenden. Könnte auch mißverstanden werden als "Der Vorstand war erleichtert". Würde zwar u.U. auch passen, ist aber was anderes, oder?

Entlastung des Vorstandes = approval of the acts of directors
Would be one possibility

Clearly there is confusion about the type of 'Entlastung' we're dealing with here. Britta, can you shed any more light on it from your context?? In what way was the board 'entlastet'??

As var as I know, this may be the only sentence Britta may have. E.g. the minutes of a shareholder meeting normally don't say in particular from what acts the Vorstand way "entlastet". It's a general term.

Perhaps "exonerated" or "discharged" would fit the bill.

Hi Poppidirk. Yes, if the preceding text had talked about something going wrong for which it transpired the board had not been in any way responsible, then 'exonerated' would indeed work well here.

Hi, 2XRed ;-)

Here's a short (brief??) description ...

Linklaters benutzt in seinen englischen Dokumenten für unsere GmbH Geschäftsführer immer "discharged" für die normale Entlastung am Ende des Geschäftsjahres.

Blimey! Well that changes things a bit. As I've never come across this concept in a UK company or association, I'd say the line needs a rather longer explanation than just 'was exonerated'.

Although long-winded, something like the following would seem to get across the intended meaning:

The formal resolution relieving directors of liability to members for the period under review was duly passed.

Schäfer Wirtschaftswörterbuch

release of managing board from responsibility for management;
discharge of managing board

Entlastung erteilen:
to releaase members of a board from responsibility for management during the preceding year

Da Linklaters eine der größten Rechtsanwaltskanzleien in der Welt ist, unser Gesellschafter des Deutschen nicht mächtig und Linklaters juristisch verantwortlich für die Korrektheit der Übersetzung denke ich doch, das "discharge" ausreichen sollte...

Außerdem zahlen wir reichlich dafür ;-)

In the US, agendas for the last meeting of the board of directors for the year typically have an item "Release of the board", which may be understood as releasing them from their responsibilities (even if they will then serve another term), approving their performance; but this need not be stated. "Release" is sufficient.

Dietl/Lorenz, Wörterbuch für Recht, Wirtschaft und Politik

Laut Creifelds, Rechtswörterbuch, bedeutet Entlastung eines Vorstands, Vormunds usw. das Einverständnis mit seiner Geschäftsführung sowie in der Regel Verzicht auf hieraus entstandene Ersatzansprüche.

Der Vorschlag von Dietl/Lorenz ist relativ knapp, aber doch beschreibend. Ich halte ihn für sinnvoll.

See here for Nestle annual report using "release of the board" http://www.nestle.com/INVESTORS/CORPORATEGOVE...

release appears to be correct. "Exoneration" etc. are clearly wrong, for that implies (in a criminal law context) that a person was charged with a crime and then found not-guilty.