Tina Green

Christina, Lady Green (commonly referred to as Tina Green, born 1948 or 1949)^[2] is a Monaco-based, South African-born businesswoman.

Married to British retail businessman Sir Philip Green, her second husband, Tina Green owns all the family shares in Jersey-registered Taveta Investments. As a result, she has been referred to as the wealthiest^[3] and second wealthiest woman in the UK.^[4]

Taveta Investments

Via Jersey-registered Taveta Investments and its subsidiaries, Green owns 2,300 shops in the United Kingdom. Taveta's assets include:^[2]

• 92% of Arcadia Group, parent of Topshop, Burton and Dorothy Perkins^[5][6]
• British Home Stores(BHS)^[5]
• Sears 'Shoe Express' chain^[6]
• 53% owner of Owen Owen Holdings^[7]
• In September 1999, Green became a shareholder in the parent of Mark One^[7]
• A £23m-plus shareholding in Marks & Spencer during an attempt to purchase the company at the beginning of 2000^[6]

As a result Taveta, and hence Tina Green, control 12% of the UK clothing retail market, making it/her the second-largest operator in the sector. The leader, Marks & Spencer, has been the target of three unsuccessful takeover bids from Taveta.

Criticisms

Green's wealth stems from her relationship with her second husband, British retail businessman Sir Philip Green. The arrangement between the married couple – with working-week London resident Sir Philip CEO or Chairman of all companies, while Tina remains sole shareholder via Jersey based Taveta Investments, but resident in Monaco – means that the couple minimise UK taxation liability.

As a result, Sir Philip has become the target of activist group UK Uncut, initially in November 2010 for his history of corporate tax avoidance. The group targeted Sir Philip specifically as a UK Government advisor.^[8]

Green, the Arcadia retail group tycoon, became the focus of anger over the programme of government cuts that campaigners said could be avoided if tax dodging was stamped out, bringing in some £25bn a year to the public purse and reducing the national debt. On 4 December 2010 campaigners staged a sit-in at Arcadia's flagship London Oxford Street Topshop store, and in Brighton a few glued themselves to the branch windows. Other high streets in towns and cities across Britain saw similar protests in a day of action against the tax arrangements of rich individuals and big businesses.

As Taveta Investments is owned by Tina, protestors claim that the couple avoid paying £285 million in UK personal income tax, that would be payable if a UK resident owned the company.^[9] In November 2005, Sir Philip approved a dividend payout that benefitted his family via Taveta/Tina Green by £1.2bn, paid for by a loan taken out by Arcadia, cutting Arcadia's corporation tax as interest charges on the loan were offset against profits.^[10] The payout was the biggest annual dividend payout to an individual by a British company.^[5]

Personal life

Green has been married twice. Her first marriage to Greek-South African jazz drummer turned retailer Robert Palos ended in divorce.^[11] They had two children: artist and author Stasha Palos and private equity investor Brett Palos.^[12][13]

She is married to Sir Philip Green. They have two children: Chloe, who released her own line of designer shoes under the Topshop brand in 2012^[14][15] and Brandon.^[16]

References