SINGAPORE - Mr Bert Choong, the former chief executive and chairman of Nobel Design, is suing the current chairman and three other directors.

They are non-executive chairman AdrianChan Pengee, chief executive and managing director Terence Goon Eu Jin, chief operating officer Wee Ai Quey and independent director Teh Ban Lian.

Mainboard-listed furniture company Nobel Design Holdings announced on Tuesday that Mr Choong has begun legal proceedings against the four directors in the High Court.

Mr Choong is alleging that he has been defamed in an announcement by Nobel Design on Oct 17.

Nobel Design had said, for instance, that Mr Choong failed to disclose that Studio 216, a company in Kuala Lumpur that deals with the retail of household furniture, was set up in early February last year.

The firm added that Mr Choong failed to disclose that Studio 216 is engaged in the business of retailing furniture from Porada and Cierre, and this is in direct competition with Nobel Design's business interests in Malaysia.

The firm said that Mr Choong's claims do not involve Nobel Design, and it is not a party to the proceedings.

The directors have said that "individually and collectively, (they) are of the view that Bert's claims are baseless and wholly without merit".

The firm added that it is in the interests of the company that lawsuit is disclosed to shareholders, and assures them that legal proceedings will not affect day-to-day operations or have a material impact on business affairs.