Billionaire retailer Green shops for a bargain

By Mark Potter

LONDON (Reuters) - Retailer Philip Green has made billions by spotting bargains and putting his own money on the line. Now he is looking for a deal to take control of swathes of Icelandic investor Baugur's shopping empire.

Green, who already owns fashion chain Top Shop and department stores operator Bhs, said on Saturday he was in talks with Baugur, Icelandic banks and the government of the crisis-hit north Atlantic island to take on much of Baugur's debt.

This could give him effective control of Baugur's retail empire, which includes fashion brand Karen Millen, House of Fraser department stores and Hamley's toy store, and seal his status as undisputed king of Britain's shopping streets.

Green told Reuters he would use his own money to take on what is estimated to be over 1 billion pounds of debt, not for the first time putting his own cash on the line.

Most famously Green has tried, and failed, twice to buy landmark British clothing and foods group Marks & Spencer, each time offering to foot some of the bill himself.

The second offer, pitched at 400 pence a share, confirmed his eye for a bargain. Within three years Marks & Spencer (M&S) shares, under the stewardship of rival Stuart Rose, hit a record high of 759 pence.

M&S was the one that got away. But plenty of other struggling businesses have been bought at cut prices and turned into big money-spinners by the 56-year-old who, according to the Sunday Times' Rich List for 2008, is Britain's ninth wealthiest man with a fortune of over 4.3 billion pounds.

Green's first million came from buying failing fashion chain Jean Jeannie. He negotiated a repayments freeze with its main banks while he turned the business around and eventually sold it for a big profit.