German heiress claims landmark pre-nuptial victory

Katrin Radmacher, a German heiress with a fortune of about £100 million, has earned a legal victory today in her efforts to get a pre-nuptial agreement with her former husband recognised in the UK.

The 39-year-old made an agreement in Germany with her former husband, Frenchman Nicolas Granatino, 37, that he would not make any claims on her fortune if they split up.

Miss Radmacher and Mr Granatino married in 1996 and had two daughters, but divorced in 2006.

Despite their pre-nuptial agreement, Mr Granatino, was awarded £5.85 million by a High Court judge last year.

But the Court of Appeal today overturned this decision – which could lead to pre-nuptial agreements becoming enforceable in the UK, as they already are in France and Germany.

The breakdown of the couple's marriage is said to have stemmed from Mr Granatino's decision to give up a lucrative job in 2003 to become a biotechnology researcher at Oxford University, earning £30,000 a year.

Mr Granatino's debts of about £700,000 will be paid off by the heiress - a move she had agreed to - and he will receive about £1 million in lieu of maintenance.

Miss Radmacher will also provide a £2.5 million fund for a house which her former husband must return when their youngest daughter, currently six, is 22 years old.