Slater Walker was a British industrial conglomerate turned bank that got into financial difficulties in the 1970s. It specialised in corporate raids. Its fall shook the British banking system at the time, and it had to be bailed out by the Bank of England after it was unable to refinance its debt during the secondary banking crisis of 1973–75, forcing its founder Jim Slater to quit.
In 1964, investor Jim Slater acquired control of H Lotery & Co Ltd, a £1.5m public company, which with his business partner Peter Walker - a Conservative MP - they renamed Slater, Walker Securities. The company performed what became known as corporate raids on public, mainly industrial companies.[1]
Slater Walker then changed strategy, from a corporate-conglomerate into what eventually was recognised as an unauthorised and unlicensed international investment bank, through gradual disposal of its industrial interests.[citation needed]
At its peak, capitalized at over £200 million, the company held deposits totalling £95m, managed £250m of funds and looked after 29,000 pensions.[2] It had grown to be not only a bank but also an investment and insurance empire with stakes in industrial companies. It had acquired Singapore conglomerate Haw Par Brothers International in 1971[3] and Dutch investment bank Kempen & Co in 1972 which became its international division.[citation needed]
Collapse
In 1974, it got into financial difficulty after having trouble refinancing its debt during the secondary banking crisis of 1973–75. By 1975, the problems led to its having to be supported by the Bank of England.[4]
In 1975, the Singapore Government investigated what became known as the Spydar affair, into dealings in a Far East Slater Walker company which resulted in Richard Tarling, the company's sole director, ending up in Changi prison after extradition in 1978.[5] Slater subsequently resigned as Chairman in October 1975, because the Singapore Government began to try to extradite him from the UK for alleged offences by the company in Singapore.[citation needed] In addition an ill-timed attempt to take over Hill Samuel resulted in the loss of city confidence in Slater Walker.[6]
Following the takeover of the company by the Bank of England in 1976, James Goldsmith replaced Slater which caused consternation in the UK government, where the new boss was regarded with as much suspicion as the old:[1]
'I am surprised to see Mr Goldsmith appointed chief executive,’ wrote one civil servant. ‘He is hardly a noted banking figure and indeed, his reputation, as far as the general public is concerned, is that of a playboy and speculator'.
15 charges were brought against Slater for offences against the Companies Act by the Department of Trade, referring to the alleged misuse of more than £4 million of company funds in share deals. The case, brought by HM Treasury and the Singapore Government, was thrown out in 1977.[7]
In 1979, Slater was charged and convicted on 15 counts under Section 54 of the Companies Act 1948; all related to loans made to affiliated companies for buying stock in the Slater Walker group. He was fined £15 on each charge.[8] Jim Slater became for a time a "minus millionaire" while Peter Walker's political career survived.[6]
Present
The business was subsequently renamed Britannia Arrow.[9] After the purchase of INVESCO and Montagu Investment Management, the company was renamed INVESCO MIM in 1990. (The MIM was later dropped). After a merger with AIM Investments, the company was renamed Amvescap.[10]
References
^ ab"'Read this and weep': lessons not learned from Slater Walker". The Spectator. February 10, 2010.
^"The Times & The Sunday Times". www.thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
^"Untitled". The Straits Times. Singapore. 11 June 1971. Retrieved 7 October 2017 – via Singapore National Library.
^The provision of financial assistance to Slater Walker Bank in 1975 2007-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
^Alex Hendry (17 June 1978). "Slater man to face trial abroad". Daily Express. No. 24, 248. p. 3.
^ ab"Obituary: Lord Walker of Worcester". The Telegraph. 23 June 2020.
^. 2007-06-11. Archived from the original on 2007-06-11. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
^"Lucky Jim: business profile of Jim Slater". Telegraph. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
^"Slater Walker now Britannia". The Glasgow Herald. 1977-07-08. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
^Chernoff, Joel (1994-07-25). "Invesco's u.k. business hit hard". Pensions & Investments. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
February 15, 2023
slater, walker, british, industrial, conglomerate, turned, bank, that, into, financial, difficulties, 1970s, specialised, corporate, raids, fall, shook, british, banking, system, time, bailed, bank, england, after, unable, refinance, debt, during, secondary, b. Slater Walker was a British industrial conglomerate turned bank that got into financial difficulties in the 1970s It specialised in corporate raids Its fall shook the British banking system at the time and it had to be bailed out by the Bank of England after it was unable to refinance its debt during the secondary banking crisis of 1973 75 forcing its founder Jim Slater to quit Contents 1 History 1 1 Collapse 2 Present 3 ReferencesHistory EditIn 1964 investor Jim Slater acquired control of H Lotery amp Co Ltd a 1 5m public company which with his business partner Peter Walker a Conservative MP they renamed Slater Walker Securities The company performed what became known as corporate raids on public mainly industrial companies 1 Slater Walker then changed strategy from a corporate conglomerate into what eventually was recognised as an unauthorised and unlicensed international investment bank through gradual disposal of its industrial interests citation needed At its peak capitalized at over 200 million the company held deposits totalling 95m managed 250m of funds and looked after 29 000 pensions 2 It had grown to be not only a bank but also an investment and insurance empire with stakes in industrial companies It had acquired Singapore conglomerate Haw Par Brothers International in 1971 3 and Dutch investment bank Kempen amp Co in 1972 which became its international division citation needed Collapse Edit In 1974 it got into financial difficulty after having trouble refinancing its debt during the secondary banking crisis of 1973 75 By 1975 the problems led to its having to be supported by the Bank of England 4 In 1975 the Singapore Government investigated what became known as the Spydar affair into dealings in a Far East Slater Walker company which resulted in Richard Tarling the company s sole director ending up in Changi prison after extradition in 1978 5 Slater subsequently resigned as Chairman in October 1975 because the Singapore Government began to try to extradite him from the UK for alleged offences by the company in Singapore citation needed In addition an ill timed attempt to take over Hill Samuel resulted in the loss of city confidence in Slater Walker 6 Following the takeover of the company by the Bank of England in 1976 James Goldsmith replaced Slater which caused consternation in the UK government where the new boss was regarded with as much suspicion as the old 1 I am surprised to see Mr Goldsmith appointed chief executive wrote one civil servant He is hardly a noted banking figure and indeed his reputation as far as the general public is concerned is that of a playboy and speculator 15 charges were brought against Slater for offences against the Companies Act by the Department of Trade referring to the alleged misuse of more than 4 million of company funds in share deals The case brought by HM Treasury and the Singapore Government was thrown out in 1977 7 In 1979 Slater was charged and convicted on 15 counts under Section 54 of the Companies Act 1948 all related to loans made to affiliated companies for buying stock in the Slater Walker group He was fined 15 on each charge 8 Jim Slater became for a time a minus millionaire while Peter Walker s political career survived 6 Present EditThe business was subsequently renamed Britannia Arrow 9 After the purchase of INVESCO and Montagu Investment Management the company was renamed INVESCO MIM in 1990 The MIM was later dropped After a merger with AIM Investments the company was renamed Amvescap 10 References Edit a b Read this and weep lessons not learned from Slater Walker The Spectator February 10 2010 The Times amp The Sunday Times www thetimes co uk Retrieved 2021 05 13 Untitled The Straits Times Singapore 11 June 1971 Retrieved 7 October 2017 via Singapore National Library The provision of financial assistance to Slater Walker Bank in 1975 Archived 2007 10 05 at the Wayback Machine Alex Hendry 17 June 1978 Slater man to face trial abroad Daily Express No 24 248 p 3 a b Obituary Lord Walker of Worcester The Telegraph 23 June 2020 FOI disclosure Slater Walker 230905 2007 06 11 Archived from the original on 2007 06 11 Retrieved 2021 05 13 Lucky Jim business profile of Jim Slater Telegraph Retrieved 2018 02 11 Slater Walker now Britannia The Glasgow Herald 1977 07 08 Retrieved 2014 10 08 Chernoff Joel 1994 07 25 Invesco s u k business hit hard Pensions amp Investments Retrieved 2014 10 08 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Slater Walker amp oldid 1127390950, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
