Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
The Financial Times reported EY gave Wirecard clean audits for over a decadeS1. On 25 June 2020 EY said there were clear indications of an elaborate and sophisticated fraudS5. On 31 March 2023 the audit oversight body APAS found professional duty violations in EY's audits for 2016 to 2018. It fined EY EUR 500,000 and barred it for two years from new public interest audit mandatesS2S8. In March 2024 EY said it would not appealS3. On 28 February 2025 the Bavarian Supreme Court held the investors' model case findings against EY not admissibleS4. In October 2026 the Federal Court of Justice upheld that outcomeS6S7. No court has ruled on EY's liability.
- Also known as
- EY Germany, EY, Ernst & Young
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Records from
- Germany
- Current status
- Operating German member firm of the EY network. It did not appeal the APAS sanctions over its Wirecard audits and said in March 2024 the proceedings were closedS3. The Federal Court of Justice upheld the end of the KapMuG model case against EY, as reported on 23 October 2026S6S7. Individual investor suits against EY remain pending.
Scope. This record covers EY's German audit firm and its audits of Wirecard AG. The Wirecard insolvency, the criminal case against former Wirecard managers and the missing EUR 1.9 billion sit in wirecard.json and are not repeated here.
Claims assessed
3 claims. Scores grade the evidence for each claim, not the organization.- Supported77Reports in April 2023 said the German audit oversight body APAS found professional duty violations in EY's Wirecard audits and barred it for two years from new listed audit clients.Press report, 3 April 20235 records citedAccounting
- Partly supported69EY said in June 2020 that there were clear indications of an elaborate and sophisticated fraud at Wirecard aimed at deliberate deception, presenting itself as deceived.Company statement, 25 June 20202 records citedFraud
- Unresolved59Thousands of Wirecard investors claimed in a KapMuG model case that EY is liable to them for its unqualified audit certificates for fiscal years 2014 to 2018.Official report, 28 February 20254 records citedAccounting
Cases and proceedings
- APAS and Ernst & Young GmbH WirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaftAbschlussprüferaufsichtsstelle (APAS) at the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control. Audit. Not published.Stage: Sanctions accepted without appeal according to EY.
- Wirecard investors (model claimant) v. Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft and othersBayerisches Oberstes Landesgericht. Civil. 101 Kap 1/22.Stage: Model case against EY ended after the Federal Court of Justice upheld the partial model decision, as reported on 23 October 2026.
Responses on record
- EY Germany, 3 April 2023, on Reports in April 2023 said the German audit oversight body APAS found professional duty vi...
EY said it cooperated fully and regretted that the fraud was not uncovered earlier.S2
- EY Germany, 27 March 2024, on Reports in April 2023 said the German audit oversight body APAS found professional duty vi...
EY said it would not appeal but did not share APAS's assessments in full.S3
Revision history
- Profile and 3 assessments first published. Records checked to 25 October 2026.
Source records
- S2Tier C Geldbußen und Einschränkungen bei neuen Mandaten: Apas sanktioniert EY nach Wirecard-SkandalLegal Tribune Online. Press report. 3 April 2023.Legal news report using dpa material. Supports the findings for fiscal years 2016 to 2018, the EUR 500,000 fine and EY's response.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S8Tier C Berufsaufsichtsverfahren der Abschlussprüfer in Sachen Wirecard: APAS verhängt Sanktionen gegen Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft EYVerlag Dr. Otto Schmidt. Press report. 4 April 2023.Legal publisher's report citing the APAS press release of 3 April 2023, with no byline. Supports the decision date and the ban terms. The APAS original was not reachable.
- S3Tier C Keine Rechtsmittel gegen Sanktionen: EY akzeptiert Strafen für Fehler bei WirecardChannelPartner. Press report. 27 March 2024.Trade report with no byline quoting an EY spokesperson. Finality is EY's statement, not a confirmed legal status.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S4Tier A Teil-Musterentscheid im Wirecard-KapMuG-Verfahren vom 28. Februar 2025Bayerisches Oberstes Landesgericht. Government press release. 28 February 2025.Court press release 1 of 2025 on the partial model decision, file 101 Kap 1/22. It does not decide liability and predates the federal appeal.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S6Tier C BGH beendet Musterverfahren gegen EY im Fall WirecardBondGuide. Press report. 23 October 2026.Report by Falko Bozicevic on the Federal Court of Justice ruling. It gives no decision date or file number.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S7Tier B Anlegerklagen in Sachen Wirecard: BGH entlässt EY aus dem Musterverfahren Die Anwälte des Musterklägers begrüßen die EntscheidungSchirp Schmidt-Morsbach Rechtsanwälte PartG mbB via EQS News on onvista. Company statement. 23 October 2026.Statement by the model claimant's lawyers, a party view. Supports the end of the model case and their plan to resume individual suits.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S1Tier C German audit watchdog bans EY over Wirecard workFinancial Times, republished by The Irish Times. Press report. 3 April 2023.Report by Olaf Storbeck based on people familiar with the matter. Supports the ban and fines but predates the formal decisions.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S5Tier C Accused of 'elaborate fraud', Wirecard files for insolvencyANSA, carrying AFP. Press report. 25 June 2020.Wire report quoting EY's June 2020 statement. It records EY's position, not a finding.Link working, checked 25 October 2026