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Why the Electronic Arts deal is a 'head scratcher,' plus First Brands files for bankruptcy
Youtube· 2025-09-29 21:57
[Music] Hello and welcome to Ask for a Trend. I'm Josh Lipton. Over the next half hour, we're breaking down the trends of today that'll move stocks tomorrow.There's a lot to keep track of, so we're focusing on what you need to know to get ahead of the curve. Here's some of the trends we're going to be diving into. Stocks climb Monday as investors eyed a looming US government shutdown.At the end of the session, all the major indices did end the day higher. The gaming world may be playing at a new level after ...
Troubled Auto-Parts Firm First Brands Goes Quiet as Loans Plunge
MINT· 2025-09-20 04:12
Core Viewpoint - First Brands Group is facing significant financial distress, with creditors experiencing billions in paper losses due to concerns over the company's off-balance sheet financing and lack of communication, leading to a drastic decline in the value of its debt [1][2][3]. Group 1: Financial Distress and Debt Issues - First Brands has approximately $6 billion in debt, with a $2 billion loan due in 2027 that has fallen to under 50 cents on the dollar from over 90 cents in just over a week [7][13]. - The company's riskier junior loans have plummeted below 20 cents, indicating severe market distress [7]. - Concerns about the company's financial practices, particularly its reliance on factoring for 70% of its revenues, have raised alarms among investors [11][12]. Group 2: Market Reactions and Investor Sentiment - Investors have reacted by selling loans to mitigate losses, and some have organized for potential restructuring [3][4]. - Apollo Global Management and Diameter Capital Partners have closed out their short bets against First Brands, reflecting a significant shift in market sentiment [6]. - The situation has drawn parallels to other recent credit market disruptions, highlighting broader concerns about opaque financing arrangements [5]. Group 3: Company Background and Ownership - First Brands, owned by Patrick James, has expanded through debt-funded acquisitions, primarily selling auto parts through major retailers [8]. - The company has been under scrutiny since pausing a proposed debt refinancing in August, prompting calls for a quality of earnings report [9][10]. - Fitch Ratings has rated First Brands at B, indicating a junk status, and noted the challenges posed by the large sum of debt maturing in 2027 [13][14].