LONDON – Troubled UK finance firm Greensill is reportedly on the brink of bankruptcy – a development that would send shockwaves through the sector, ensnaring clients and risking up to 50,000 jobs worldwide.
Greensill specialises in short-term supply chain financing to provide capital for businesses around the world, but now faces mounting questions over its opaque and complex accounting methods.
The London-headquartered finance firm, founded in 2011 by Australian Lex Greensill with activities spanning Australia and the US, is preparing to file for insolvency according to the Financial Times and Bloomberg News.
However, an industry source told AFP that private equity firm Apollo Global Management Fund and partner Athene were nearing a rescue deal that could provide US$100 million (RM400 million) in new financing.
‘Considerable uncertainties’
The company was plunged into fresh crisis on Monday when lender Credit Suisse suspended US$10 billion in funds after discovering that US$4.6 billion of insurance underpinning Greensill contracts had expired.
Credit Suisse blamed “considerable uncertainties” over valuation of assets – and yesterday, it began winding down some funds to redistribute cash to investors.
Swiss asset manager GAM, meanwhile, severed its ties with Greensill.
In another heavy blow, on Wednesday Germany’s financial watchdog froze the operations of Greensill’s German banking subsidiary, citing an “imminent risk” of over-indebtedness.
The public prosecutor’s office in Bremen told AFP that it has begun a preliminary probe.
German media reported that regulator Bafin has filed a criminal complaint against Greensill Bank over allegations it falsified balance sheets.
Bafin on Wednesday froze payments in and out of Greensill Bank, essentially closing it down.
It also expressed concern about accounting irregularities, including dealings with the GFG Alliance Group headed by Indian-British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta.
“During a special forensic audit, Bafin found that Greensill Bank AG was unable to provide evidence of the existence of receivables in its balance sheet that it had purchased from the GFG Alliance Group,” Bafin said.
A collapse of Greensill Bank would also have big consequences for the investments of local authorities.
For example, the German town of Monheim am Rhein could potentially lose €38 million or €1,000 per inhabitant.
The bank – whose total assets amounted to €4.5 billion at the end of 2020 – describes itself as a refinancing institution for its parent group.
‘Catastrophic’ consequences
The worsening Greensill crisis dates back to March 1 when Australia’s New South Wales’ Supreme Court dismissed its claim against insurer Tokio Marine, which had withdrawn cover for the US$4.6 billion of loans issued to Greensill’s customers.
Greensill’s lawyer, in a filing, had warned of “catastrophic” consequences if the cover was not renewed.
The group would be unable to provide funding to clients who are “likely” to become insolvent.
As a result, more than 50,000 jobs, including over 7,000 in Australia, may be at risk across both the group and its customer base, the lawyer warned.
Both Greensill and Tokio Marine have not responded to requests for comment from AFP. – AFP, March 6, 2021
