Baugur, the Icelandic investment group that owns large swathes of the UK high street, is considering selling some of its retail interests over the summer. Sunday Telegraph

Baugur’s debut UK purchase was Hamleys, the famous London toy store, in June 2003. Since then the company has bought – alone or as part of a consortium – Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb, the jewellers, House of Fraser, Iceland, Julian Graves, Whittard of Chelsea and fashion retailers Oasis, Karen Millen, Jane Norman and MK One. It also has stakes in Woolworths and Moss Bros.

In the past the company has made money by refinancing its operations. However, Gunnar Sigurdsson, managing director of the group's retail division, said Baugur could start to offload assets in the summer.

'Perhaps in the months to come we will be in a position to do something,' said Sigurdsson. 'We are constantly evaluating our portfolio and improving value how we can.'