Ortenca
@ortenca.bsky.social
Banking Editor @financialtimes.com 🇦🇱 in London and 🗽 in between
Wonderfully detailed account from my FT colleagues of how Leopold Aschenbrenner became situationally aware that leverage works just as powerfully on the way down. www.ft.com/content/620b...
How Leopold Aschenbrenner, the ‘golden child’ of the AI trade, was laid low
The $20bn hedge fund manager’s wild ride ended with a call to Ken Griffin
ft.com
This is an episode I've been keen to do ever since we launched The Story of Money. This week we explore the absolutely WILD 1990s pyramid schemes of Albania, in relative scale the equivalent to about 1,000 Bernie Madoffs at the same time. www.ft.com/content/5083...
The financial scams that brought Albania to the brink of war
1997 was the country’s year of financial horror
ft.com
Great deep dive into how US law firm's entanglement with Jeffrey Epstein brought down its boss - led by the amazing @kayewiggins.ft.com www.ft.com/content/064e...
Apollo, Paul Weiss and Epstein: how a star client brought down a Big Law boss
Apollo’s Leon Black asked lawyer Brad Karp to settle a fee dispute with Jeffrey Epstein. It was the start of a years-long relationship
ft.com
Terrific reporting by colleagues: a bank gone horribly wrong as.ft.com/r/b32d4c15-1... @bondhack.ft.com @ortenca.bsky.social @costasmourselas.bsky.social
How Deutsche Bank rolled out the red carpet for Jeffrey Epstein
[FREE TO READ] German lender waved through convicted sex offender’s millions despite compliance concerns
as.ft.com
Former Barclays boss Jes Staley repeatedly denied he acted as a trustee for Jeffrey Epstein's estate during his testimony in court last March. Documents released by the DOJ appear to show otherwise. www.ft.com/content/f459...
Epstein trustee document contradicts Jes Staley testimony
Signed 2014 contract shows former Barclays boss would be paid $250,000 a year for role
ft.com
“I would love to take photos of you in a Snow White costume. You can get it from the costume store,” Jeffrey Epstein wrote to a woman three weeks before Jes Staley's now infamous email: “that was fun. Say hi to Snow White” Our scoop below 👇
Robert Smith@bondhack.ft.com · 6mo agoJeffrey Epstein asked an unidentified woman to buy a Snow White costume just weeks before former Barclays chief executive Jes Staley’s infamous exchange with the convicted sex offender about the Disney character. 🤯 story from @kadhim.bsky.social, @ortenca.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/6a76...
Nigel Farage attended Davos on a pass sponsored by the family office of Iranian billionaire Sasan Ghandehari, which told the WEF that the Reform UK leader had advised the company since 2018. W @ortenca.bsky.social and Anna Gross as.ft.com/r/9d784a9c-e...
Nigel Farage attended Davos as adviser to Iranian billionaire
[FREE TO READ] Reform UK leader’s pass and hotel costs for World Economic Forum event were paid for by Sasan Ghandehari
as.ft.com
New on FT: as.ft.com/r/169805cf-5... Nigel Farage attended Davos as adviser to Iranian billionaire
Nigel Farage attended Davos as adviser to Iranian billionaire
[FREE TO READ] Reform UK leader’s pass and hotel costs for World Economic Forum event were paid for by Sasan Ghandehari
as.ft.com
💥 Kyiv's G7 allies to descend on Davos in bid to force Donald Trump to personally endorse US security guarantees to post-ceasefire Ukraine, as European capitals worry he is yet to agree steps drawn up by his administration w @mjruehl.bsky.social & @ortenca.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/4d68cc30-b...
Ukraine’s G7 allies to press Donald Trump in crunch talks at Davos
[FREE TO READ] Leaders of Italy, Germany, France, Canada and UK will seek US president’s personal endorsement on security guarantees
as.ft.com
And if you're not an FT subscriber, this gift link is good for 300 clicks. Story with the great Jill R Shah, @ericgplatt.ft.com and @ortenca.bsky.social on.ft.com/43GYfOR
The flashy Utah-based leasing firm that lent billions to First Brands
[FREE TO READ] Onset Financial called itself a ‘dominant force’ in financing everything from chickens to helicopters. It ended up as First Brands’ biggest creditor
on.ft.com
A few short weeks ago, Patrick James was scarcely known outside the murkier corners of credit markets. Now, with billions of dollars apparently missing, he is at the centre of a $12bn nightmare on Wall Street. Full story w/ @ortenca.bsky.social and @ericgplatt.ft.com 👇 www.ft.com/content/8373...
The secretive First Brands founder, his $12bn debt and the future of private credit
Patrick James borrowed billions — even after presiding over a string of failed businesses
ft.com
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
BREAKING: Jefferies earned undisclosed fees on financing it provided to First Brands Group, in an arrangement other lenders say may have violated terms of their own credit agreement with the bankrupt car parts company. Full story w/ @ericgplatt.ft.com & @ortenca.bsky.social here: on.ft.com/430jWZT
Jefferies earned undisclosed fees on First Brands ‘side letter’ financing
[FREE TO READ] Lenders to bankrupt car parts group believe arrangement may have breached loan covenant
on.ft.com
🚨BREAKING NEWS ON FIRST BRANDS GROUP'S OFF BALANCE SHEET DEBT🚨 Entities tied to First Brands and its founder Patrick James have filed for bankruptcy protection, compounding issues at the car parts supplier whose troubles have roiled credit markets. Story w/ @ortenca.bsky.social on.ft.com/4nfPEul
First Brands-linked entities file for bankruptcy
[FREE TO READ] Rapid unravelling of heavily indebted car parts supplier has caught credit markets off guard
on.ft.com
Carlos Alcaraz surges past Jannik Sinner to win the U.S. Open 🏆 It is Alcaraz’s sixth Grand Slam title and his second at the U.S. Open. The result takes him back to world No. 1, ending Sinner’s 65-week stay at the top of the tennis world rankings.
Milan’s expat ‘explosion’ brings new buzz to Italy’s financial centre on.ft.com/4mK03hM
Milan’s expat ‘explosion’ brings new buzz to Italy’s financial centre
Favourable tax regime is drawing wealthy newcomers and changing the city’s dynamic
on.ft.com
Trump has taken an unprecedented step in trying to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook. The law stipulates that a president can only remove an official if there is "cause," a term that is vague and has no precedent www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/u... @tonyromm.bsky.social @bencasselman.bsky.social @nytimes.com
Trump Says He Is Removing Lisa Cook From Federal Reserve Board
nytimes.com
We wanted to know if the money that the EU has put into rearmament is turning into production capacity — and the answer is: yes. Industry is rearming.
Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 12mo agoAnalysis of radar satellite data shows rearmament on a historic scale, stretching over 7mn sq metres of new industrial development on.ft.com/3HsEbYG
The FT View: The longer it has continued, the more it has borne the hallmarks of a vengeful assault by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government to destroy the very fabric of Palestinian society. https://on.ft.com/3UBv3Us
Gazans Are Dying of Starvation www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/w...
Gazans Are Dying of Starvation
nytimes.com
The competition for junior talent on Wall Street reached a new peak this summer. This week on Behind the Money, @sindap.bsky.social and @ortenca.bsky.social explain why, and what this means for Wall St's top investment banks and private equity firms. 🎧: podfollow.com/behind-the-m...
When a pension fund makes a hedge fund size bet - was it for the Italian national interest? Rpt by Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli and @ortenca.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/c4ad...
Absolute must read from @stephenfoleyft.bsky.social on.ft.com/46fh6Tx Tony Blair’s staff took part in ‘Gaza Riviera’ project with BCG
Tony Blair’s staff took part in ‘Gaza Riviera’ project with BCG
Former UK prime minister’s institute participated in meetings on plan to turn shattered enclave into trading hub
on.ft.com
