Barratt Developments almost went bust in the last crisis. In 2007, the housebuilder got caught in a bidding war for its smaller rival, Wilson Bowden, and ended up paying a whopping £2.2bn. The move saddled it with £1.7bn of debt.
As banks and markets crashed the following year, Barratt had to cut 1,200 jobs, write down the value of its land bank and renegotiate terms with its lenders. Then chief executive Mark Clare came under severe pressure, but managed to stay afloat.
At his side from 2009 as finance chief was David Thomas, who stepped up to the top job when Clare retired six years later. Under the leadership of the 57-year-old, Barratt is in much better shape to weather the coronavirus storm.
Fears around