The Court has handed down another ‘big money’ divorce decision, awarding the ex-wife of a businessman with a fortune estimated at over £130m a financial settlement valued at £48m.
John and Beverley Charman had been married for 30 years and virtually all of their wealth had been created during that time. The husband had offered his ex-wife £20m, which he considered generous as it was ‘more than anyone could spend in a lifetime’.
The Family Division of the High Court ruled that Mrs Charman should receive a lump sum of £40m and retain existing assets of £8m which were already in her name.
The size of the award – the largest ever made in a British court – has led to renewed calls for pre-nuptial agreements to be given legal status. At present, a pre-nuptial agreement is not binding in the UK.
