Ex-Breight Group manager sues shareholders
A former Breight Group manager has launched legal action against three of the company’s shareholders over a 15 per cent shareholding estimated to be worth up to $7.5 million.
A former manager of Breight Group has launched legal action against three of the company’s shareholders over a 15 per cent shareholding estimated to be worth up to $7.5 million.
Dominic Barlow this week lodged a writ in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, naming companies Rhode Ebrook, Skye Ebrook and Joward Well as defendants.
In the writ obtained by Business News, it is alleged Breight Group chief executive Stephen Easterbrook was the sole director of Rhode Ebrook, Brian Easterbrook was the director of Skye Ebrook and Joanne Powell was the sole director of Joward Well.
All three were directors of Breight Group, according to the writ.
However, Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents show Stephen Easterbrook as the sole owner and director of Rhode Ebrook and Skye Ebrook, while Ms Powell is listed as the owner and director of Joward Well.
In the writ, Mr Barlow claimed he was owed a 15 per cent shareholding under a shareholders agreement signed with co-director Stephen Easterbrook in 2019.
Mr Easterbrook's legal representative from Bennett law firm told Business News that Mr Barlow's court action was an opportunistic claim.
According to the writ, the value of a 15 per cent shareholding is estimated at between $3 million and $7.5 million, calculated from Breight Group’s total value estimation of between $20 million and $50 million.
In the writ, Mr Barlow claimed that the parties agreed to give him 15 per cent shareholding in Breight Group when he accepted the role of business strategy and development manager of the company, then named Pilbara Access, in January 2019.
He further claimed the agreement implied the parties would cooperate and do all things necessary to formalise a shareholders' agreement for Mr Barlow’s 15 per cent.
In the writ, Mr Barlow alleged the defendants stopped replying about the shareholders agreement process in early 2022, after he sent his marked-up amendments of the draft document to the company’s lawyer.
According to the writ, law firm Bennett sent Mr Barlow a letter to deny there was an agreement for a 15 per cent shareholding in December 2023.
In the writ, Mr Barlow alleged he has suffered damage by not receiving the shareholding in Breight Group, claiming damages and costs.
Mr Barlow left Breight Group in 2022, according to his LinkedIn page.
