Philip Green '˜pays out £363m' to pensioners at collapsed BHS

Sir Philip Green says he has paid £363 million to settle the pension schemes of collapsed retailer BHS.
Sir Philip GreenSir Philip Green
Sir Philip Green

The billionaire tycoon said the amount, significantly less than the £571 million deficit the firm was left with when it went bust in April last year, represents a “significantly better” outcome than the schemes entering the Pension Protection Fund (PPF).

The collapse of the high-street giant left thousands out of work and the deficit in its pension scheme affected approximately 22,000 holders.

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News of the settlement comes after Sir Philip was grilled by MPs over the sale of the chain, which he owned for 15 years before selling it for £1 to former bankrupt Dominic Chappell.

Sir Philip said: “I have today made a voluntary contribution of up to £363 million to enable the trustees of the BHS pension schemes to achieve a significantly better outcome than the schemes entering the Pension Protection Fund, which was the goal from the outset.

“The settlement follows lengthy, complex discussions with the Pensions Regulator and the PPF, both of which are satisfied with the solution that has been offered.

“To achieve a significantly better outcome than entering the PPF, the contribution required to achieve this long-term solution was arrived at by the actuaries for both The Regulator and the Trustees.”

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The fallout from the chain’s collapse, which impacted 11,000 jobs, sparked a lengthy parliamentary inquiry and left its high-profile former owners potentially facing a criminal investigation.

MPs also called for the Topshop billionaire to be stripped of his knighthood.

But Sir Philip said Tuesday’s settlement brings “this matter to a conclusion” and apologised to the affected pensioners.

He added: “All relevant notices, including legal matters and claims from the Pensions Regulator, have been withdrawn, bringing this matter to a conclusion.

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“Once again I would like to apologise to the BHS pensioners for this last year of uncertainty, which was clearly never the intention when the business was sold in March 2015.

“I am also happy to confirm that any of the pensioners that have faced cuts over the last year will now be brought back to their original BHS starting level pension and will all be made whole.

“I hope that this solution puts their minds at rest and closes this sorry chapter for them.”

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