Post on CEO private Novo channel Maybe this is related to the NVO main board ever so directly, or more indirectly???: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/doj-crackdown-activist-short-sellers-has-expanded-target-more-30-firms
Organized bashing/misinformation/accusations/etc. could well be a business tactic, as it is for -seemingly- some of these 30 firms being investigated.
Some of this is valid and fair- such as uncovering things that are untoward in certain businesses out there. No problem! The problem comes, when a "short activist" firm runs out of good legitimate shorts and stories - do they make up additional ones, or attack companies which may or may not seem like a potential target after shorting the stock naked??? It is easy to believe that this is very tempting, for some participants. Find an angle, short the stock, and hire som bashers..... Who knows for sure?
I know that Eric Sprott has long suspected that such organized shorting activity is happening in some canadian juniors. He is even involved with an organization as I recall trying to change the rules to prevent it.