Times are tough for the New Look fashion chain. A planned £1.7 billion flotation was abandoned in2010 and the group had a poor Christmas.Singh, 61, founded the Weymouth company in 1969 after borrowing £5,000 from his parents to open the first shop.Since 1996, the business has taken on outside investors, been floated and taken private again.

The family has made £275m before tax over the years. Singh, who recently returned as interim executive chairman, has retained a 22.5% stake, worth £180m.