Collapsed Ralan Group was insolvent in 2014

Collapsed Ralan Group was insolvent in 2014
Joel RobinsonDecember 7, 2020

The collapsed apartment developer the Ralan Group has been operating insolvent since at least 2014.

That's the view of administrator Grant Thornton, who have submitted their final report to ASIC.

"Based on our investigations, The Ralan Group has been operating insolvent since at least 30 June 2014," the report noted.

"Our in-depth investigation has found that The Ralan Group was trading insolvent from at least February 2014 when its primary builder, Steve Nolan Construction entered into Voluntary Administration and it relied on released purchaser deposit monies to bail itself out of the financial hole.

"It never recovered from this event. At no time from 2014 onwards was The Ralan Group in a position to pay all creditors in full."

The Ralan Group, one of the country's biggest private apartment developers, fell in to administration earlier this year with estimated debts of around $500 million. Debts at collapse were $564 million.

It's been revealed banks and financiers are owed $238 million, while individuals and creditors are owed a further $241 million.

There are around 1,500 individual creditors.

Grant Thornton suggest it is difficult to say how much creditors could get back, however they estimate between "nil to two cents in the dollar."

Funds came in to the group over the last three years from lenders who provided finance, the sale of properties from completed developments and purchasers who agreed to release their deposit in return for interest of between 15 per cent and 20 per cent.

Grant Thornton believe the practice of Ralan Group boss William O'Dwyer broke the law.

"We believe there is evidence that several sections of the Corporations Act have been breached." Thornton advised.

Creditors will now be given the opportunity to consider the report at the second meeting of creditors to be held on 9 December where the future of the Group will be determined.

Joel Robinson

Joel Robinson is a property journalist based in Sydney. Joel has been writing about the residential real estate market for the last five years, specializing in market trends and the economics and finance behind buying and selling real estate.

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