By Mark Potter

LONDON (Reuters) - Fashion retailer New Look is close to signing deals to expand into Ukraine and Poland, and is also looking to enter the Baltic countries, China and India over the coming years, its chief executive told Reuters.

New Look - Summer 2009

"We're very close to a deal in Ukraine and very close to a deal in Poland. So I'd expect those deals to be certainly signed in probably the next few months," Carl McPhail said in a telephone interview on Wednesday 3 June.

McPhail said New Look was talking to potential franchise partners in both countries, but that it still might decide to open wholly-owned stores in Poland.

China and India were longer-term projects, but "certainly on the agenda ... within our five year plan," he said.

"There is major interest in the business," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday 3 June, New Look posted a 10 percent rise in annual earnings, boosted by a strong performance in its main markets in the UK and Ireland, where it runs 612 stores.

The privately-owned firm also has shops in France, Belgium, the Middle East and Russia.

(Reporting by Mark Potter; editing by Rhys Jones)