Lex Greensill’s company was in the staid business of matching risk-averse investors with safe, short-term loans. Greensill, though, was a deal maker who often preferred more complicated investments in speculative ventures.

Greensill’s deal making eventually caught up with Greensill Capital. It attracted the attention of regulators, drew questions from business partners and led a crucial insurer to walk away. Greensill collapsed into insolvency earlier this month after regulators took over its German bank and Credit Suisse Group AG froze its investment funds.