BHS collapse could leave £35m bill to taxpayers

The collapse of department store chain BHS could cost British taxpayers in the region of £35m ($50.7m, €44.8m), according to the administrator's report.

The retailer, which entered administration on 25 April, after it failed to reach a last-minute deal to stay afloat, owes £15.5m in VAT and £20m in "residual employee claims", which will have to be footed by the government's Redundancy Payments Service.

In its report, which was seen by the Guardian, BHS administrator Duff & Phelps revealed it expects to make a partial repayment to the company's creditors. However, the administrator did not specify the amount involved and warned it could be as little as 3p in the pound.

Duff & Phelps added that while examining the high street company's accounts, it encountered a number of transactions that will require further investigation.

"During our preliminary investigations there are a number of transactions that on the face of it may require investigation," the report said.

"Additional information is required to understand the true nature of the transactions. The joint administrators will keep the creditors informed of any significant development."

BHS collapsed after owing more than £1.1bn to various creditors, including a £571m pension deficit, £358m to landlords and £48.5m to suppliers.

On 3 June, the administrators announced they would close all remaining 163 BHS stores across the UK, after a suitable buyer could not be found for the embattled chain. The decision means that 8,000 members of staff are likely to lose their jobs, while an additional 3,000 contractor jobs could also be at risk.

A parliamentary inquiry has since been launched to examine the black hole in the company's pension fund, which was fully funded a decade ago.

The administrator's report also confirmed that Sir Philip Green's Arcadia Group is owned £35m, adding the debt is likely to be fully repaid.

However, that is expected to attract even more criticism towards Green, the former owner of BHS, who sold the 88-year-old business to Dominic Chappell for £1 in 2015, and who has been blamed for his role in the collapse.

Speaking before MPs on Wednesday (8 June), Chappell, who had thrice been declared bankrupt before taking control of the high street chain, said a "screaming and shouting" Green had blocked a last-ditch rescue plan put forward by Mike Ashley's Sports Direct.

"Philip [Green] went absolutely crazy, screaming and shouting down the phone that he didn't want to get involved with Mike Ashley," Chappell told MPs, adding the Arcadia boss then decided to call in a £35m loan.