How First Brands Group collapsed | FT

Company Overview & Debt Concerns - First Brands Group, a fast-growing US auto parts maker, faces potential multi-billion dollar losses for its lenders due to a possible restructuring or bankruptcy [1][2] - The company has nearly $6 billion in debt and billions more in off-balance sheet financing linked to invoices [3] - Investors underestimated the scale of First Brand's under-the-radar financing [3] - Lenders struggled to find public information about First Brand's owner, Patrick James, who was previously sued for alleged fraudulent conduct [6] Supply Chain Finance & Due Diligence - First Brands' situation highlights due diligence standards in the booming private credit markets [2] - The company's use of invoice finance raised concerns among debt investors [5] - Supply chain finance, used by First Brands, is often poorly disclosed and has been at the center of scandals like Greenill Capital's collapse [4] Industry Impact - The US auto parts sector is heavily dependent on overseas manufacturers and is already affected by tariff policies [7] - Some of First Brand's customers also heavily use supply chain finance, drawing scrutiny from credit rating agencies [8] - A First Brands fiasco could have broader spillover effects into the real economy [8]