Philip Green may bid for Barneys

Philip Green may bid for Barneys.

The British billionaire Philip Green said Tuesday that he would consider buying Barneys, the department store owned by Jones Apparel Group.

"We'll have a look," Green said during an interview at the London flagship store of his Topshop chain, after it began selling a range of clothing designed by the model Kate Moss. "If it's seriously for sale, it's well within our capability."

Jones Apparel may split up its retail units after failing to find a buyer last year, Women's Wear Daily said in January, citing financial and industry sources that it did not identify. The Barneys New York unit could be sold for $800 million to $900 million, according to the report. Barneys also has stores in other U.S. cities including Chicago and Beverly Hills, California.