On Monday 18 December, the European Commission decided to open an in-depth investigation into the Dutch tax schemes applicable to a subsidiary of IKEA between 2006 and 2011 and since 2012, which it believes may run counter to EU state aid rules.
Since the early 1980s, IKEA’s commercial model has been based on a franchising system. The parent company of IKEA does not therefore own the individual shops of the brand throughout the world, but these must pay a franchising licence corresponding...