Primark interested in Allders?

The British discount retailer Primark is reputedy considering purchasing some of Allder's department stores.Allders, the troubled department store chain, was put on the market by the property group Minerva. It consists of 25 department stores and 20 home furnishing stores. It is believed that Primark, which is owned by Associated British Foods, would only be interested in part of the chain.

Parties to have shown interest in Allders include retail tycoon Philip Green and Phil Cox, Allder's commercial director and former Asda finance director. However, according to experts, the two will have a hard time financing the deal. Primark operates approximately 120 stores throughout the UK and Ireland. This past fiscal year saw the company's operating profit climb by 23% to GBP 108 million.