Sir Philip Green’s retail empire Arcadia is on the brink of collapse despite an emergency loan offer.
The high street giant – which includes Topshop, Burton and Dorothy Perkins in its stable of clothing brands – could enter administration “within hours”, the BBC reported, citing senior company sources.
British sportswear tycoon Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group confirmed that it had offered a £50 million ($67m) loan to help Arcadia avoid bankruptcy.
But Arcadia does not consider the Frasers loan offer a serious proposal and is still expected to file for creditor protection soon, it was reported.
Arcadia’s collapse would put 13,000 jobs and 500 shops at risk.
Mr Ashley owns Newcastle United Football Club and bought troubled department store chain House of Fraser in 2018.
Frasers said: "The company can confirm that it has made an offer and provided draft terms to the Arcadia Group for a loan of up to £50m and is now awaiting a substantive response.
"Should the company and the Arcadia Group's efforts to agree an emergency funding package fail and the Arcadia Group enter into administration, the company would be interested in participating in any sale process."
Arcadia had been seeking extra cash to help meet its loan obligations after a shortfall in revenue because of the effects of coronavirus.
It said on Friday that the pandemic had had a "material impact" on trading, with lockdowns forcing shops to close, and that it was working on "a number of contingency options" to secure the future of its brands.
The failure would deliver another body blow to Mr Green, whose reputation took a battering after the high-profile collapse of retailer BHS four years ago.
In 2015, the billionaire sold BHS for just £1 to Dominic Chappell, a former bankrupt businessman with no retail experience.
BHS then collapsed a year later, resulting in 11,000 job losses and leaving a huge deficit in its pension fund.
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'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
Queen
Nicki Minaj
(Young Money/Cash Money)
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
