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STORY: Credit Suisse held its final shareholder meeting among protests and anger on Tuesday (April 4).

It marked a miserable end for the 167-year-old bank.

The lender was taken over by rival UBS last month after Swiss authorities invoked emergency legislation.

That bypassed Credit Suisse shareholders who would have otherwise had a say, and all but wiped them out.

Chairman Axel Lehmann apologized for taking the Swiss bank close to bankruptcy.

"I apologize that we were no longer able to stem the loss of trust that had accumulated over the years, and for disappointing you and I would like to apologize for that.”

Protesters gathered outside the meeting venue.

Some built a capsized boat to depict the bank's demise.

Credit Suisse came close to collapse before UBS rescued it with a $3 billion merger bankrolled by Swiss authorities.

The lender had been hit by years of scandals and losses.

“Until the end, we fought hard to find a solution. But ultimately, there were only two options: deal or bankruptcy. The merger had to go through, the terms had to be accepted."

The meeting was the first time Lehmann had publicly addressed stockholders since the takeover.

Shareholders voted to re-elect Lehmann as chairman at the meeting.

But it was close - with just over 55% in favor of keeping him in charge until the Swiss bank officially merges with UBS.