, Columnist
Argos Tat is Buyout Gold
Retailer wouldn't just be a shiny but worthless adornment
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Argos has been a quirky presence on the British high street for more than 40 years, a handy place for those seeking anything from cheap jewelry to reasonably-priced vacuum cleaners. But the rise of Amazon has left its business model, a unique collision of home-shopping and city-center stores, looking like a well-thumbed version of one of its catalogs: slightly tatty.
That's opened the door to possible bid interest in Argos owner Home Retail Group, according to the Sunday Times newspaper, as private equity firms ponder whether this is a bargain to compare with a 19.99 pounds ($30) diamond heart pendant. (The newspaper didn't identify the bidders or say where it got the information.)