Shares of Slater & Gordon Limited (ASX: SGH) are soaring again today, rising 14% and lifting above the 30 cent mark for the first time in more than a month.
Indeed, Slater & Gordon's shares are still a long way away from the heights they achieved a little more than 12 months ago when they peaked above $8. Since then, investors have been forced to endure profit warnings, a major impairment of its recent Quindell acquisition in the UK and the threat of multiple class actions – not to mention the potential threat of bankruptcy.
On that final point however, it seems the threat of bankruptcy may have been mitigated, for now, which would explain the recent (and minor) rebound. With an enormous pile of debt littering its balance sheet, the company only has until the end of the month to satisfy its banking syndicate – including National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) – that it can remain viable as a business, but recent reports suggested it was close to reaching an agreement.
This would likely involve hefty cost reductions across the business while the pressure would also be on CEO Andrew Grech to find a way to convert its work in progress (WIP) into cash – something that the business has struggled to do in its time as a public company.
However, the fact that Slater & Gordon's shares are still trading more than 96% below their peak price from roughly 12 months ago reflects the fact the business still faces enormous risks. Indeed, there is even the risk that Slater & Gordon won't be able to continue as a going concern beyond 31 March 2017, if an agreement is not reached.
Although it seems some investors are inclined to speculate on the company's future, and bet on a potential turnaround, long-term Foolish investors would be wise to consider other alternatives instead.
