Grays Group enters voluntary administration following sale to Slattery Auctions

Jason Preston and Damien Pasfield of McGrathNicol were appointed voluntary administrators of Grays.com Pty Ltd and 19 related entities on 3 October 2025, just days after the 102-year-old online auction platform was acquired by Slattery Auctions from Quadrant Private Equity.

The appointment is part of what Slattery described as a strategic approach to manage legacy liabilities while integrating the two auction brands. The administrators confirmed Grays continues to trade as normal, with all auctions, staff, and client accounts operating without interruption and funding in place from Slattery to cover wages and ongoing operations.

Founded in 1922, Grays was sold by Quadrant for about $2 million after years of financial pressure and reputational damage, including a $10 million Federal Court penalty in 2024 for misleading car buyers over vehicle faults and model details. The company was also carrying roughly $10 million in debt at the time of sale, which was reportedly paid by Slattery as part of the sale. The acquisition expands Slattery’s national footprint to more than 450 staff and 20 sites.

McGrathNicol said it is working closely with Slattery Auctions, employees, and financiers to assess the group’s position and explore recapitalisation or restructuring options aimed at securing a long-term sustainable future for the merged operation.