Teh Hong Eng Investments Holdings Limited & Anor v Kropz Plc & Ors

Facts

The claimants, Teh Hong Eng Investments Holding Limited and Meridian Investment Group Pte Limited, brought a high value Commercial Court claim against Kropz plc, Cominco Resources Limited and Mr Michael John Nunn arising out of rights of first refusal over shares in Cominco. The particulars of claim allege that the first and second defendants procured breaches of those rights of first refusal, and advance a range of further claims including deceit, bribery, intimidation by threats of unlawful action, criminal conduct under section 17 of the Theft Act and unlawful means conspiracy, together with a section on causation, loss and damage. The first and second defendants served a request for further information dated 19 March 2025, seeking a response by 2 April 2025. The proceedings were then stayed for much of the intervening period under consent orders made in April and July 2025, a further consent order of Butcher J in December 2025, and a consent order of Jacobs J dated 23 June 2026 which extended time for defences pending the determination of this application. The first and second defendants applied for an order requiring the claimants to answer the request before filing and serving their defences.