Greensill Claims PTSD After SoftBank Funding Talks in Court

Updated⁢ June 10, 2025

Lex Greensill testified in London’s High Court that he continues to suffer from⁤ post-traumatic stress disorder following tense negotiations with SoftBank. These talks occurred as he sought funding to rescue his ⁤lending firm, Greensill Capital, before its collapse in 2021. The Greensill Capital collapse sent shockwaves through financial circles.

Greensill described challenging ⁣discussions with the Japanese technology group in⁤ late 2020. This⁤ marked his first public testimony⁣ since Greensill Capital entered administration in March 2021.He⁢ characterized SoftBank as “intensely ⁣political,” alleging⁢ they demanded “silence” regarding a⁢ controversial transaction. This transaction, he said, could have alarmed SoftBank investors. Greensill ⁤further ⁢accused SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son of breaking a crucial verbal agreement⁣ and imposing “painful” terms during late-night negotiations.

Greensill, neatly dressed ⁤in‍ court, is not ⁣a defendant ⁢in the case. The dispute centers on an investment fund of Credit Suisse seeking ⁢over⁢ $440 million from SoftBank. The fund claims this sum‍ was intended to cover losses‍ suffered by clients ⁤of the defunct Swiss bank due to investments linked to Greensill Capital.SoftBank denies these ⁢claims, with its lawyers arguing the case is⁣ an attempt to ⁢blame a party⁣ with “deep pockets” for losses caused by the claimants’ own negligence. The complex financial arrangements underscore the risks associated with invoice lending and ‍supply chain finance.

SoftBank’s lawyers also pointed to a 2021 interview where Greensill allegedly⁣ displayed “hostility” toward SoftBank,⁢ claiming his company had⁣ been “thoroughly⁢ fucked” by⁣ them. SoftBank’s⁢ Vision Funds had invested $1.5 billion in Greensill Capital ‍in 2019, making them a major investor in the invoice lending start-up. ⁤The Greensill SoftBank dispute highlights the volatile nature ‍of high-stakes financial partnerships.

Greensill told the court that Son had initially agreed to mentor him during frequent⁣ trips to Tokyo, praising Son’s visionary abilities.however, their relationship ⁣deteriorated. Greensill claimed Son made a verbal commitment⁣ to guarantee⁤ a risky loan to one of⁣ the⁢ Vision Fund’s companies, only to later deny remembering the⁢ conversation. This disagreement led ⁤to intense negotiations where ⁢SoftBank agreed to provide $440 million to cover losses for Greensill Capital’s investors related to the restructuring of Katerra, a U.S. construction start-up. In ⁤return, SoftBank gained a larger stake in Greensill’s firm and othre concessions.

Greensill ⁣said Son also “extracted a personal guarantee” from him worth $50 million during⁤ a phone call in⁢ the early hours ⁢of the morning. He told the court that these talks‍ left him with ⁣“third-degree burns to ⁤most of ⁣my body”.

Further negotiations for an additional ⁤$1.5 billion emergency loan ⁣from SoftBank occurred over Christmas 2020. Greensill described this period as extremely⁣ stressful, with his birthday being “one of ⁢the least pleasant days of my life” as it became clear SoftBank was unlikely to approve the loan. He also alleged a “cone ⁣of silence” surrounded negotiations with ⁤SoftBank regarding the Katerra restructuring, designed to prevent an immediate negative impact on SoftBank’s financial statements. Greensill claimed SoftBank feared public knowledge of the‍ situation would negatively affect their share price.

“They didn’t want the ⁤world to know, because it would have⁤ been ‍very bad for their share price,” Greensill claimed.

Greensill confirmed he had previously told a⁣ liquidator that ⁣Son used⁢ SoftBank’s stock to fund his lifestyle. According to ⁢the interview transcript, Greensill stated that Son’s extravagant lifestyle was financed by borrowing against his SoftBank stock. ⁤The trial continues, with further details expected to emerge ⁤regarding the ⁣Greensill SoftBank dispute and the Greensill Capital collapse.

What’s next

The trial is ongoing, and further testimonies are anticipated to shed more light on the‍ complex⁢ financial dealings⁢ between Greensill Capital and SoftBank, perhaps revealing more about the circumstances surrounding the⁣ Greensill Capital collapse⁢ and the subsequent legal battles.