Construction Manager reports that Interserve’s shares have been suspended and it faces the prospect of a pre-pack administration as early as this evening after its shareholders rejected a rescue plan backed by the board and the company’s lenders.
The result follows a crunch general meeting earlier today, which saw 59.4% of shareholders vote against the plan.
Interserve said it would now convene an urgent board meeting to consider the company’s options.
In a statement to the City it said: "In the absence of any viable alternative, it expects to implement an alternative deleveraging transaction, which is likely to involve the company making an application for administration and, if the order is granted, the immediate sale of the company’s business and assets (i.e. the entire group) to a newly-incorporated company, to be owned by the existing lenders."
"The alternative transaction will be implemented very quickly and via a carefully-managed process and the administration and sale is expected to be completed this evening, ensuring that the business will continue to operate as normal for customers and suppliers.Â
"It will provide the group with a strong financial position, allowing it to grow and develop the business, to deliver on its long-term strategy and protect the group’s employees (including the beneficiaries of the group’s pension schemes)."
The move would effectively wipe out Interserve’s shareholders, who were voting on a proposed debt for equity swap that would have left lenders with 95% of the business and the shareholders’ stake diluted down to 5%.
The deal required 50% shareholder approval but was opposed by the largest shareholder Coltrane Asset Management.
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What a load of ol’ toot. Transition of existing assets from one company to another owned by the same people. What on earth is that going to achieve in terms of making sure the business isn’t ill-managed or over-stretched in the future?
A direct result of our government, or lack there of’s inability to make a decision on our future trade deals with Europe. The industry relies heavily on the free movement of workers and the uncertainty surrounding this ridiculous situation will continue to have lasting effects. Their total inability to understand the real world is staggering.