FTX Losses Prompt State Fund Temasek to Cut Pay

FTX’s bankruptcy prompted Temasek Holdings, to cut compensation for the team that recommended the investment and for senior management.

Disappointed business woman standing in fron of a Temasek sign in the rain.
Created by Gabor Kovacs from DailyCoin
  • Temasek Holdings cuts compensation for the team that recommended investing in FTX.
  • The investment led to a writedown of $275 million for Singaporeโ€™s state fund. 
  • Despite the setback, Temasek continues to focus on investing in early-stage companies and emerging technologies.

It is no secret that FTXโ€™s founder and former CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, managed to woo many sophisticated investors. These included managers of Singaporeโ€™s state fund Temasek, who will now see some accountability for their mistakes. 

On Monday, May 29, Temasek Holdings issued a statement revealing a cut in compensation for the team that recommended investing in the now-bankrupt FTX and its senior management team. This decision was made as a form of “collective accountability” for the failed investment.

The Fallout from the FTX Investment

The announcement comes after Temasek conducted an internal review of its investment in FTX, which resulted in a writedown of $275 million

Sponsored

FTX, once valued at $32 billion, filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States in November. Other investors, including SoftBank and Sequoia Capital, declared their investment zero following the bankruptcy filing. 

Temasek’s Chairman, Lim Boon Heng, expressed disappointment over the investment outcome and its negative impact on Temasek’s reputation.

โ€œAlthough there was no misconduct by the investment team in reaching their investment recommendation,โ€ Temasekโ€™s statement said,โ€ the investment team and senior management, who are ultimately responsible for investment decisions made, took collective accountability and had their compensation reduced.โ€ 

Temasek’s investment cost in FTX was 0.09% of its net portfolio value of $304 billion. Despite this setback, Temasek continues to focus on investing in early-stage companies and emerging technologies. 

On the Flipside

  • Temasek currently has no direct exposure to crypto assets.
  • Last year, Temasek said it conducted “extensive due diligence” on FTX, with its audited financial statement that “showed it to be profitable.”

Why This Matters

Temasek is one of the largest investment funds in emerging tech. Its shift away from crypto assets presents a significant loss for the industry. 

Read more about Temasekโ€™s investment in FTX: 

Singaporean Investment Firm Temasek Writes Off $275 Million Investment in Bankrupt FTX

Read more about venture capital in crypto: 

Venture Capital Crypto Funding: Who Gets the Most Now?

This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Author
David Marsanic

David Marsanic is DailyCoinโ€™s journalist, focusing on Solana and crypto exchanges. David currently doesnโ€™t hold any crypto.

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