McGill Facilities Management Limited - Case Update

The Joint Administrators of Dundee-based construction firm McGill Facililities Management Limited are taking legal action to enforce a significant debt owing by the company’s parent.

Barry Stewart and George Lafferty of Leonard Curtis were appointed Joint Administrators of the company in August 2022, after it was unable to secure funding to keep the business trading.

In their most recent progress report, the Joint Administrators describe how they discovered that £442,602 is owing to the company by its parent, McGill Holdings Ltd (formerly known as United Capital Investments Ltd), which is controlled by Graeme and Leanne Carling.

The Joint Administrators wrote to United Capital on a number of occasions seeking a proposal for repayment or evidence that the sums are not owing, neither of which was received. Accordingly, the Joint Administrators instructed TLT Solicitors to take formal steps to recover the balance owing. After a resolution was not reached, TLT prepared a summons which was served on United Capital.

The Joint Administrators also describe how they determined that payments to Bluelime Marketing Ltd (of which Graeme Carling was a director) and the Affinity Business Centres Limited (of which Graeme Carling is a director and Leanne Carling was a director) constituted unfair preferences. According to the directors, Bluelime Marketing is insolvent and unable to pay the £24,398.03 owing. The Joint Administrators will continue to pursue the amount until they receive evidence of the insolvency.

For its part, Affinity Business Centres paid itself longstanding arrears due for rent and property expenses to the prejudice of the general body of creditors. As such, the Joint Administrators intend to pursue the £87,060.16 owing to the company.

The Joint Administrators also explain that, on their appointment, they became aware of significant issues with the company’s pension schemes contributions. Specifically, it appears that 19 employees had contributions deducted from their salaries despite never being enrolled in the pension. The Joint Administrators, with the assistance of Evolve IS, have enrolled those affected so claims can be made for pension deductions made and not paid across to the pension providers. Full pension claims have been submitted to the RPO.

The report can be found HERE.