Lessons from FTX:
The Cost of Ignoring ODD

As financial bubbles burst and markets enter periods of disruption, investors are frequently reminded of the cost of due diligence shortcuts. This white paper explores some of the key due diligence issues already identified in the evolving FTX scandal. 

Wirecard: Due Diligence Lessons for the Asset Management Industry

The implosion of Wirecard is one of the most stunning corporate failures in recent years. The high flying company was the prestigious symbol of corporate Germany’s pivot to fintech and a darling of the EU technology industry. In 2018 the firm joined the 30 companies in Germany’s DAX stock index with a capitalization of €25bn, with the fintech payments processing company symbolically replacing “old economy” Commerzbank. Now Wirecard has the reputation of being the only member of the DAX ever to go into liquidation.

Castle Hall has identified four themes from the Wirecard debacle which are relevant to the asset management industry. As investors conduct due diligence, be it on hedge funds, private equity, real estate, infrastructure or long only funds, Wirecard provides valuable insights which can be applied to our own industry.