Deal or no deal? Answer the question Mr English

Revelations that the second largest lender to Solid Energy is trying to veto the debt restructure shows that Bill English was far too hasty in claiming the deal was done, says Labour’s SOEs spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove.

“Ten days ago Bill English said of the Solid Energy restructure: ‘As far as we're concerned we've got a deal. We're past the stage of saying whether we're going to liquidate or negotiate’[1].

“Now it turns out that Bank of Tokyo is taking legal action that could stop the deal from going ahead.

“Bill English was clearly far too hasty in claiming success. This deal has already dragged on for over a year and now it’s heading for the courts.

“I have one question for Mr Bill English. Deal or no deal?

“The Government has failed to resolve the problems facing Solid Energy since 2009 when it received the first of many warnings about the company. The Government was asleep at the wheel. Its negligence was instrumental in running the company into the ground.

“Now its ham-fisted approach is going to drag it out even more. The poor workers at Solid Energy have to wait even longer to know their fate,” says Clayton Cosgrove.

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[1] http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9237227/Deal-on-Solid-Energy-wrapped-up-says-English

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