Thomas Cook: information for customers, employees, creditors and shareholders

23 Sep 2019 12:56 PM

Information for customers, employees, creditors and shareholders of Thomas Cook in liquidation.

On 23 September 2019, winding up orders were made against Thomas Cook Group plc and associated companies. The court appointed the Official Receiver as the Liquidator.

The court has appointed Special Managers to assist the Official Receiver with the liquidation. Insolvency Practitioners from AlixPartners have been appointed as Special Managers over the airline and tour operator companies. Insolvency Practitioners from KPMG LLP have been appointed as Special Managers to the Group’s retail division and to its aircraft maintenance companies.

Information for customers

All Thomas Cook bookings, including flights and holidays, have now been cancelled. All of Thomas Cook’s retail shops will close with immediate effect.

The Government is working with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to help passengers return to the UK. Depending on your location, this will be either on CAA-operated flights or by using existing flights with other airlines. This will apply to both ATOL protected passengers and those who are not protected.

If you are already abroad you will find all the information you need about your arrangements to return to the UK on the CAA website.

If you are due to depart from a UK airport with Thomas Cook Airlines, please do not travel to your UK airport as your flight will not be operating and you will not be able to travel.

Further information is available on the CAA’s website.

Information for employees

If you have been told that you are being made redundant, the information in this section provides advice about claiming money you’re owed and where you can seek support.

Who is eligible?

You can apply to the Insolvency Service for redundancy and other payments if:

You can’t apply to the Insolvency Service if you live in Northern Ireland. Find out about your rights in Northern Ireland if your employer is insolvent.

If you live outside of England, Scotland and Wales, and also spent the majority of your employment outside of England, Scotland, and Wales, you will need to apply to the redundancy scheme in that jurisdiction.

How to apply

The Special Managers will give you details about how to apply and will also give you a case reference number (for example CN12345678).

Once you have this information you can apply online.

Paying your claim

On average the Insolvency Service’s redundancy payments service pays redundancy and related claims within 14 days of receipt of information.

Special arrangements are being put in place to pay sooner if practicable to do so.

Find more information about what we can pay.

Factsheet: finding a new job, managing your finances and benefits available to you.

Employees of Thomas Cook’s airline and tour operator companies should approach AlixPartners for further information about how to make a claim via their dedicated website.

Employees of Thomas Cook’s retail and aircraft maintenance companies should approach KPMG for further information about how to make a claim via their dedicated website or TCemployees@kpmg.co.uk.

Please don’t contact us about how to claim or to check the status of your application. This will help us deal with everyone’s application as quickly as possible.

Information for creditors

You will need to register as a creditor in the liquidation if:

To register as a creditor you will need to complete a Proof of Debt form which you should then email to the Special Managers.

Creditors of Thomas Cook’s airline and tour operator companies will need to complete a Proof of Debt form and submit to AlixPartners. Further information can be found on AlixPartners’ dedicated website.

Creditors of Thomas Cook’s retail and aircraft maintenance companies will need to complete a Proof of Debt form and submit to KPMG. Further information be found on KPMG’s dedicated website.

Once you have registered and the Special Manager receives your Proof of Debt form they will add you to the list of creditors and include you on future correspondence about the case.

Information for shareholders

Thomas Cook Group plc’s listing with the London Stock Exchange has been suspended. At the present time Thomas Cook shares cannot be traded on the exchange.

Unfortunately, as a result of the liquidation appointments, there is no prospect of a return to Thomas Cook’s shareholders.

Shareholders should be aware of any approaches in the form of third parties offering to dispose of their shares, in exchange for the up-front payment of fees. The FCA website has information about how to avoid and report share scams.

Companies in liquidation and Special Manager appointments

On 23 September 2019 Simon Appell, Alastair Beveridge, Dan Imison and Ben Browne of AlixPartners were appointed Special Managers to assist the Official Receiver carry out his duties in the following airline and tour operator companies in liquidation:

Thomas Cook Airlines Limited

Thomas Cook Group Treasury Limited

Thomas Cook Tour Operations Limited

Thomas Cook Airlines Treasury plc

Thomas Cook In Destination Management Limited

Thomas Cook Group Tour Operations Limited

Thomas Cook Group plc

Thomas Cook Money Limited

Thomas Cook Services Limited

My Travel Group Limited

Thomas Cook Investments (2) Limited

Thomas Cook Continental Holdings Limited

Blue Sea Overseas Investments Limited

Thomas Cook Group UK Limited

Thomas Cook Finance 2 Plc

Thomas Cook Group Airlines Limited

Thomas Cook West Investments Limited

Thomas Cook UK Limited

Thomas Cook UK Travel Limited

Further information is available on AlixPartners dedicated website.

On 23 September 2019 Blair Nimmo, Jim Tucker, David Pike, Mike Pink and Ben Leith of KPMG were appointed Special Managers to assist the Official Receiver carry out his duties in the following retail and aircraft maintenance companies in liquidation:

Thomas Cook Aircraft Engineering Limited

Thomas Cook Retail Limited

TCCT Retail Limited

The Freedom Travel Group Limited

Future Travel Limited

Travel and Financial Services Limited

Retail Travel Limited

Further information is available on KMPG dedicated website.