“贝尔斯登”翻版？投行Jeffries是如何深陷First Brand“暴雷”

Core Insights - The sudden collapse of First Brands Group has led to a significant trust crisis on Wall Street, drawing comparisons to the Bear Stearns incident [1] - Jefferies Financial Group, which acted as both an advisor and financier for First Brands, faces severe scrutiny due to discrepancies in debt reporting and potential losses in its asset management division [1][2] Company Overview - First Brands Group, based in Cleveland, is a century-old automotive parts giant, known for products like oil filters and wipers, with major clients including Walmart, Amazon, and AutoZone [1][2] - The company filed for bankruptcy at the end of September 2025, admitting that over $2 billion of investor funds were unaccounted for [2] Jefferies Financial Group's Role - Jefferies has been closely associated with First Brands since 2014, providing financing and M&A advisory services [2] - The firm’s asset management division, Leucadia, purchased receivables from First Brands, becoming a key financier [2] Financial Practices and Risks - First Brands utilized a factoring model, selling future receivables to financial institutions for cash flow, which posed risks if the company manipulated accounts or double-pledged assets [3][4] - Jefferies failed to disclose high-risk operations in its marketing materials, misrepresenting First Brands' debt as approximately $5.9 billion, while actual debt was later revealed to exceed $11.6 billion [3] Crisis Development - In the summer of 2025, Jefferies was preparing new refinancing for First Brands, but warning signs emerged as institutions began shorting the company [5] - First Brands halted payments to Point Bonita and ceased communication with Jefferies, leading to internal unrest [5] - The company filed for bankruptcy shortly after, revealing undisclosed liabilities and significant discrepancies in receivables [6] Market Reaction - Following the news, Jefferies' stock plummeted by 18%, resulting in a market cap loss of approximately $2.5 billion, raising questions about its due diligence [7] - Jefferies' leadership defended the firm’s fundamentals, claiming the market reaction was exaggerated, but concerns about its judgment and risk exposure remain [7][8]