Debt deal for Slater and Gordon

SLATER and Gordon boss Andrew Grech has quit and the board of the besieged law firm will be cleaned out under a debt restructuring deal that passes almost full ownership of the company to its lenders.

Lenders holding three quarters of Slater and Gordon’s debt, led by private equity firm Anchorage Capital, will own 95 per cent of the company’s shares under the recapitalisation deal announced yesterday.

After months of negotia- tions with lenders, the current board has unanimously supported the deal that will oust it, and has pledged to vote all shares it controls in support of the new arrangement.

The recapitalisation deal is contingent on shareholder approval and the settlement of a class action brought by rival law firm, Maurice Blackburn, representing thousands of shareholders.

Also among conditions for approval are an independent expert finding the law firm will remain solvent and that the deal is either “fair and reasonable” or “not fair but reasonable” to shareholders.

“The recapitalisation is intended to provide the company with a sustainable level of senior secured debt and a stable platform for its future operations in both Australia and the UK,” the company said in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

The lenders will set up loan facilities worth $35 million, with some existing debt placed in a $30 million facility and a new $5 million facility established.

Existing shareholders will control just 5 per cent of the company after the recapitalisation. Managing director Mr Grech has quit his role but will remain on the board, with all directors to resign as new board members are appointed. Chief executive Hayden Stephens will continue to lead the company in Australia, while Ken Fowlie will stay as UK CEO.