Robert Smith
@bondhack.ft.com
Corporate Finance Editor at the Financial Times.
Have a tip? Email: robert.smith@ft.com / robert.smith.ft@proton.me | Signal: robert_smith_ft.55
Have a tip? Email: robert.smith@ft.com / robert.smith.ft@proton.me | Signal: robert_smith_ft.55
This is very good from @stephenkb.bsky.social. It’s a pattern we’ve seen across our public institutions; the wreckers push them degrade their service and then use the consequences of that as evidence for the need to privatise them.
on.ft.com/43l4lV3
on.ft.com/43l4lV3
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 AM
This is very good from @stephenkb.bsky.social. It’s a pattern we’ve seen across our public institutions; the wreckers push them degrade their service and then use the consequences of that as evidence for the need to privatise them.
on.ft.com/43l4lV3
on.ft.com/43l4lV3
Very normal scenes at a very normal session of the very normal United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
More First Brands drama here from the incomparable @pollard.bsky.social and @sindap.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/7f58...
More First Brands drama here from the incomparable @pollard.bsky.social and @sindap.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/7f58...
November 7, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Very normal scenes at a very normal session of the very normal United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
More First Brands drama here from the incomparable @pollard.bsky.social and @sindap.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/7f58...
More First Brands drama here from the incomparable @pollard.bsky.social and @sindap.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/7f58...
In the last few days, the First Brands situation has escalated from “suspected” to “alleged” fraud.
Our crack bankruptcy reporters @sindap.bsky.social and @pollard.bsky.social have had you covered.
Our crack bankruptcy reporters @sindap.bsky.social and @pollard.bsky.social have had you covered.
November 4, 2025 at 6:58 PM
In the last few days, the First Brands situation has escalated from “suspected” to “alleged” fraud.
Our crack bankruptcy reporters @sindap.bsky.social and @pollard.bsky.social have had you covered.
Our crack bankruptcy reporters @sindap.bsky.social and @pollard.bsky.social have had you covered.
So many great details in this compelling @annanicolaou.bsky.social profile of the guardian of Michael Jackson's estate, but from a financial perspective I particularly enjoyed his unique approach to taking on distressed debt mavens Fortress www.ft.com/content/f425...
November 1, 2025 at 5:51 PM
So many great details in this compelling @annanicolaou.bsky.social profile of the guardian of Michael Jackson's estate, but from a financial perspective I particularly enjoyed his unique approach to taking on distressed debt mavens Fortress www.ft.com/content/f425...
If you're after a wild weekend read, check out our deep dive into the flashy Utah leasing firm that somehow racked up $2bn of exposure to the First Brands debt debacle
Featuring prominent Mormon sports stars, a private jet, cheerleaders and an epic corporate rap video
www.ft.com/content/f0ae...
Featuring prominent Mormon sports stars, a private jet, cheerleaders and an epic corporate rap video
www.ft.com/content/f0ae...
November 1, 2025 at 2:35 PM
If you're after a wild weekend read, check out our deep dive into the flashy Utah leasing firm that somehow racked up $2bn of exposure to the First Brands debt debacle
Featuring prominent Mormon sports stars, a private jet, cheerleaders and an epic corporate rap video
www.ft.com/content/f0ae...
Featuring prominent Mormon sports stars, a private jet, cheerleaders and an epic corporate rap video
www.ft.com/content/f0ae...
Guys, don’t worry, it’s a one-off, credit markets are fine. Well there was First Brands as well I guess. And Tricolor. But as Junior Soprano said, these things come in threes, so I’m sure it’s done with now.
October 16, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Guys, don’t worry, it’s a one-off, credit markets are fine. Well there was First Brands as well I guess. And Tricolor. But as Junior Soprano said, these things come in threes, so I’m sure it’s done with now.
Ah…. there they were already!
FT story on September 1st.
FT story on September 1st.
October 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Ah…. there they were already!
FT story on September 1st.
FT story on September 1st.
A lot more exclusive detail on Point Bonita's fund structure, beyond those that Jefferies disclosed today, in update to story (w/ @ericgplatt.ft.com and @ortenca.bsky.social) on.ft.com/42soiJ9
October 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
A lot more exclusive detail on Point Bonita's fund structure, beyond those that Jefferies disclosed today, in update to story (w/ @ericgplatt.ft.com and @ortenca.bsky.social) on.ft.com/42soiJ9
Even US bankruptcy courts, the vengeful Old Testament God of American capitalism, take a rest on a Sunday
October 5, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Even US bankruptcy courts, the vengeful Old Testament God of American capitalism, take a rest on a Sunday
The musics still playing, even though some of the performers are being carried out in body bags
October 3, 2025 at 11:31 PM
The musics still playing, even though some of the performers are being carried out in body bags
Feels like ABS investors might be about to get a painful lesson in how effective “back-up servicers” are in practice
September 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Feels like ABS investors might be about to get a painful lesson in how effective “back-up servicers” are in practice
They've just updated the piece to replace the "rocket concert" typo with "rock concert". The misspellings of Roula's name remain.
September 12, 2025 at 1:07 PM
They've just updated the piece to replace the "rocket concert" typo with "rock concert". The misspellings of Roula's name remain.
I checked the recording, just in case it was a verbal fumble he recorded accurately. Roula definitely said "rock concert"!
September 12, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I checked the recording, just in case it was a verbal fumble he recorded accurately. Roula definitely said "rock concert"!
I checked the recording, just in case it was a verbal fumble he recorded accurately. Roula definitely said "rock concert"!
September 12, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I checked the recording, just in case it was a verbal fumble he recorded accurately. Roula definitely said "rock concert"!
Some amusing stuff in this dispatch from the FT Weekend Festival, but amazing how sloppy the writing / subbing is. Manages to misspell Roula Khalaf's name two different ways!
thecritic.co.uk/britains-eli...
thecritic.co.uk/britains-eli...
September 12, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Some amusing stuff in this dispatch from the FT Weekend Festival, but amazing how sloppy the writing / subbing is. Manages to misspell Roula Khalaf's name two different ways!
thecritic.co.uk/britains-eli...
thecritic.co.uk/britains-eli...
Cuban clearly hasn’t watched the episode and its depth of reporting that suggests this was a salary cap skirting mechanism.
I’ve covered so many financial shenanigans stories involving supposedly sensible/smart actors. “X isn’t that dumb” is such a common refrain. And yet they frequently are!
I’ve covered so many financial shenanigans stories involving supposedly sensible/smart actors. “X isn’t that dumb” is such a common refrain. And yet they frequently are!
September 4, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Cuban clearly hasn’t watched the episode and its depth of reporting that suggests this was a salary cap skirting mechanism.
I’ve covered so many financial shenanigans stories involving supposedly sensible/smart actors. “X isn’t that dumb” is such a common refrain. And yet they frequently are!
I’ve covered so many financial shenanigans stories involving supposedly sensible/smart actors. “X isn’t that dumb” is such a common refrain. And yet they frequently are!
I’m increasingly of the opinion that Bryan Johnson is simply doing one of the greatest extended bits in comedy history
August 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM
I’m increasingly of the opinion that Bryan Johnson is simply doing one of the greatest extended bits in comedy history
entirely normal state of affairs for two independent companies that just happen by coincidence to have similar names
August 22, 2025 at 8:37 AM
entirely normal state of affairs for two independent companies that just happen by coincidence to have similar names
Naturally, the story is the sort of turgidly written allegory that most teenagers would roll their eyes at if it featured in a YA sci-fi novel.
August 19, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Naturally, the story is the sort of turgidly written allegory that most teenagers would roll their eyes at if it featured in a YA sci-fi novel.
Very good, proper and normal that erstwhile SBF whisperer Will MacAskill asked for the software's consent before posting this online.
August 18, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Very good, proper and normal that erstwhile SBF whisperer Will MacAskill asked for the software's consent before posting this online.
Not sure Zuber Issa’s explanation of why EG Group gave the brothers interest-free loans to buy private jets passes the smell test!
From interview with my colleague Ivan Levingston: on.ft.com/45F2f3P
From interview with my colleague Ivan Levingston: on.ft.com/45F2f3P
August 10, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Not sure Zuber Issa’s explanation of why EG Group gave the brothers interest-free loans to buy private jets passes the smell test!
From interview with my colleague Ivan Levingston: on.ft.com/45F2f3P
From interview with my colleague Ivan Levingston: on.ft.com/45F2f3P
