Wirecard AG
Wirecard AG published a series of statements in 2020 that track the collapse of its own earlier position. On 22 April 2020 it said a KPMG special review had found no evidence of balance sheet manipulationS2. KPMG's report a week later said data to prove revenues could not be obtainedS3. On 22 June 2020 the board said EUR 1.9 billion in trust account balances likely did not existS1. The company applied for insolvency on 25 June 2020S4. Munich prosecutors closed a probe into two Financial Times journalists in September 2020S5. A criminal trial of former managers was still running in October 2026S6.
- Also known as
- Wirecard, Wirecard Group
- Headquarters
- Germany
- Records from
- Germany
- Current status
- Wirecard AG filed an application to open insolvency proceedings at the Munich district court on 25 June 2020, citing impending insolvency and over-indebtednessS4. The criminal trial of former management at Munich Regional Court I had not reached a verdict as of 8 October 2026, and no later report of a verdict was foundS6.
Scope. This record covers Wirecard AG of Aschheim, Germany, and its group. It does not cover payment businesses later sold out of insolvency under new owners.
Claims assessed
4 claims. Scores grade the evidence for each claim, not the organization.- Supported68A Financial Times report of 30 January 2019, as relayed by Bloomberg News, said an executive overseeing Wirecard's Asia-Pacific accounting allegedly ordered potentially fraudulent transactions.Press report, 30 January 20195 records citedAccounting
- Contradicted84Wirecard said on 22 April 2020 that the KPMG special review had found no evidence for the public allegations of balance sheet manipulation.Company statement, 22 April 20204 records citedAccounting
- Outdated71After a BaFin criminal complaint, Munich prosecutors were investigating two Financial Times journalists over suspected securities law violations linked to their Wirecard reporting.Press report, 3 September 20202 records citedMarket conduct
- Unresolved58Munich prosecutors accuse the former Wirecard chief executive of fraud that caused about EUR 3 billion in damage, charges he denies.Press report, 8 October 20262 records citedFraud
Cases and proceedings
- Public prosecutor v. former Wirecard managersLandgericht München I (Munich Regional Court I). Criminal. Not published.Stage: Main hearing ongoing, evidence phase closing, verdict pending as of 8 October 2026
- Court rejected defence request to suspend the trialS6.
- Wirecard AGAmtsgericht München (Munich District Court). Insolvency. Not published.Stage: Application filed for insolvency due to impending insolvency and over-indebtedness
- Management board decides to file the insolvency applicationS4.
- Investigation following a BaFin complaint against several peopleStaatsanwaltschaft München I (Munich public prosecutor). Criminal. Not published.Stage: Closed as to the two journalists
- Probe into two FT journalists closed, as reported by APS5.
Responses on record
- Wirecard AG, 30 January 2019, on A Financial Times report of 30 January 2019, as relayed by Bloomberg News, said an executi...
Wirecard called the FT article "false, inaccurate, misleading and defamatory", according to Bloomberg.S7
- Wirecard AG, 28 April 2020, on Wirecard said on 22 April 2020 that the KPMG special review had found no evidence for the ...
Wirecard said the required data were mainly controlled by third parties and that later checks of revenue records found no deviations.S3
- Former Wirecard chief executive, 8 October 2026, on Munich prosecutors accuse the former Wirecard chief executive of fraud that caused about E...
Denies all allegations, according to dpa.S6
Revision history
- Profile and 4 assessments first published. Records checked to 25 October 2026.
Source records
- S6Tier C Wirecard: Verteidigung blitzt mit Aussetzung abdpa (published by t-online). Press report. 8 October 2026.Reports the trial stage, the EUR 3 billion damage figure from prosecutors and the denial. It does not set out the indictment.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S4Tier B ad hoc 2020Wirecard AG. Company statement. 25 June 2020.Listing of 2020 ad hoc notices with the text of the 25 June 2020 insolvency application notice. It does not show later court decisions in the insolvency.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S5Tier C German prosecutors drop probe of journalists over WirecardAssociated Press (published by 1010 WINS). Press report. 3 September 2020.Reports the BaFin complaint and the closure of the probe into two FT journalists. It is a wire account, not the prosecutor's notice.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S7Tier C Wirecard slumps after report on executive suspected of fraudBloomberg News (published by American Banker). Press report. 30 January 2019.Same day wire account of the FT report and Wirecard's rejection of it. It carries no named reporter and does not give the FT headline. It records an allegation only.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S3Tier B Wirecard AG: KPMG delivers report on special investigationWirecard AG. Company statement. 28 April 2020.Company summary of the KPMG report, including data gaps on Third Party Acquiring revenues. The full KPMG report was not read.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S2Tier B Wirecard AG: KPMG special review lasts until April 27 2020. Analysis so far provides no evidence of balance sheet manipulationWirecard AG. Company statement. 22 April 2020.Company account of interim KPMG findings. It records the reassurance later contradicted. It is not KPMG's own wording.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S1Tier B Wirecard AG: Statement of the Management Board about the current situation of the CompanyWirecard AG. Company statement. 22 June 2020.Company admission that EUR 1.9 billion in trust balances likely did not exist and that earlier business descriptions were incorrect. It does not assign individual responsibility.Link working, checked 25 October 2026