In Hellas Telecommunications (Luxembourg) [2017] EWHC 3465 (Ch), the High Court ordered respondent liquidators to disclose the identity of third-party litigation funders and the terms on which funding was provided in order to facilitate an application for security of costs.

Facts

On 15 January 2018 Carillion PLC and a number of its subsidiary companies (Carillion) went into liquidation, with the High Court appointing the Official Receiver as liquidator and six partners of PWC as special managers.

Those clients who have contracts with Carillion or who are owed money may find the following guidance useful:

On 15 January 2018, Carillion, the UK’s second-largest builder and one of the Government’s largest contractors, was placed into compulsory liquidation and the Official Receiver was appointed as liquidator, with Michael John Andrew Jervis, David James Kelly, David Christian Chubb, Peter Dickens, David Matthew Hammond and Russell Downs of PwC being appointed as special managers to assist in the wind down of the business and realisation of its assets.

As has been widely reported, Carillion companies are being liquidated. This will affect their suppliers and the extended supply chain, including suppliers of contract workers and CIS subcontractors. There will be a lot of focus on debt and enforceability of things like pay when paid clauses (which, contrary to popular belief, are not always enforceable).

Construction giant Carillion is headed into liquidation, putting billions of pounds worth of contracts into potential chaos.

The fallout from the failure of the UK’s second largest construction firm will affect many and generate many column inches asking the fundamental question: how could it happen? The truth is, the construction sector remains extremely difficult, and a large failure of this type had been expected by industry watchers for some time.

The Pugachev tale

Carillion’s entry in to liquidation is likely to have ramifications for all the actors in the construction industry for some time to come. The most immediate impact will concern payments. The aim of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (amended by the Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 - generically, ‘the Act’) is to ensure that cash keeps moving in the construction industry, but what happens when a main contractor becomes insolvent?

In the recent case of R (Monarch Airlines Limited (in administration)) v Airport Coordination Limited [2017] EWCA Civ 1892, the Court of Appeal considered whether an airline that had fallen into administration could still be allocated valuable slots at airports.

In recent months certain restructuring processes have gained quite some notoriety in press headlines in connection with a number of UK businesses. This article provides secured lenders with a brief recap on the key points to note in relation to CVAs (Company Voluntary Arrangements) and what Liquidation means in the context of Carillion.

Retail CVAs

The compulsory liquidation of Carillion is likely to have a wide ranging effect on the construction industry in the UK. The impact may well be felt by other contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers as well as engaged professionals such as architects, engineers and project managers. The insolvency may give rise to calls on bonds or guarantees and affect insurance arrangements.

In this bulletin we summarise what has happened and offer immediate advice.