Tina Green

Tina Green
"Christina Green" redirect here. For the 9-year old 2011 Tucson shooting victim, see 2011 Tucson shooting#Victims
Lady Christina Green
Born South Africa
Occupation Businesswoman
Spouse Robert Palos
Philip Green
Children Chloe Green, Brandon Green, Brett Palos[1]

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 presently include [2]:

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

Criticism: Tax avoidance arrangement

Green's wealth stems from her relationship with her second husband, British retail busisessman 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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] The payout was the biggest annual dividend payout to an individual by a British company.[5]

References

  1. ^ FT.com / UK - Plot thickens
  2. ^ a b Uncovered: Green's Empress of Arcadia | This is Money
  3. ^ Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: At last, 10% of women crash into the rich list
  4. ^ Lady Tina Green - Britain's richest women - Pictures - Money - Virgin Media
  5. ^ a b c Sunday Times - Rich List
  6. ^ a b c Is Philip Green the right man to be helping the Chancellor? | Mail Online
  7. ^ Tayloy, Matthew (29 November 2010). "Philip Green to be target of corporate tax avoidance protest". Guardian Unlimited (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/29/philip-green-protest-alleged-tax-avoidance. Retrieved 2010-11-30. 
  8. ^ Mathiason, Nick (27 March 2005). "Where the rich stash their cash". The Observer (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2005/mar/27/theobserver.observerbusiness2. Retrieved 2009-04-25. 
  9. ^ "Analysis: The rich get richer in poor old Britain". Independent on Sunday (London). 19 March 2006. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/analysis-the-rich-get-richer-in-poor-old-britain-470417.html. Retrieved 2009-04-25. 
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