Robert Smith
@bondhack.ft.com
Corporate Finance Editor at the Financial Times.
Have a tip? Email: [email protected] / [email protected] | Signal: robert_smith_ft.55
Have a tip? Email: [email protected] / [email protected] | Signal: robert_smith_ft.55
It’s all going well so far tbf
January 5, 2026 at 6:39 PM
It’s all going well so far tbf
Went to check if this screenshot (posted by @aric.bsky.social) was real (it is) and then made the mistake of also scrolling through Grok's replies on X. Still constantly cranking out sexualised images of young girls. Beyond bleak.
January 5, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Went to check if this screenshot (posted by @aric.bsky.social) was real (it is) and then made the mistake of also scrolling through Grok's replies on X. Still constantly cranking out sexualised images of young girls. Beyond bleak.
Hedge funds considering providing yet another DIP loan to First Brands Group
December 10, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Hedge funds considering providing yet another DIP loan to First Brands Group
December 9, 2025 at 4:44 PM
(sadly not. the third time.)
December 8, 2025 at 1:02 PM
(sadly not. the third time.)
And their previous opus on taxes on higher earners post-Budget:
December 8, 2025 at 12:59 PM
And their previous opus on taxes on higher earners post-Budget:
Some of the best content on the FT.com is not being produced by FT journalists, but by below-the-line commenter Winter Cruise Allowance.
Here's their take on the new taxes on cash held in stocks-and-shares ISAs:
Here's their take on the new taxes on cash held in stocks-and-shares ISAs:
December 8, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Some of the best content on the FT.com is not being produced by FT journalists, but by below-the-line commenter Winter Cruise Allowance.
Here's their take on the new taxes on cash held in stocks-and-shares ISAs:
Here's their take on the new taxes on cash held in stocks-and-shares ISAs:
Coppermills water treatment works in Walthamstow serves as many as four million Londoners.
The creaking facility was built in the 1960s and its pumping station is now on its last legs. Construction of a new system will not be finished until 2031. The consequences of a failure would be catastrophic:
The creaking facility was built in the 1960s and its pumping station is now on its last legs. Construction of a new system will not be finished until 2031. The consequences of a failure would be catastrophic:
November 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Coppermills water treatment works in Walthamstow serves as many as four million Londoners.
The creaking facility was built in the 1960s and its pumping station is now on its last legs. Construction of a new system will not be finished until 2031. The consequences of a failure would be catastrophic:
The creaking facility was built in the 1960s and its pumping station is now on its last legs. Construction of a new system will not be finished until 2031. The consequences of a failure would be catastrophic:
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...
